That's right, I'm updating the blog AND I've finished the newest video. I'm finally in a place where I'm not distracted by my longarms calling me (in the studio) or housework or yardwork (at home). I'm in Sandy, UT for the Utah Quilting and Sewing Marketplace (UQSM). My friend Lexi and I drove here yesterday, she's in class today, and I don't teach until tomorrow so I thought I'd make good use of a quiet day. I try really hard to keep the videos under 5 minutes but there's ton of information in this one, so it's longer than the others. For those of you close to me, those foam boards are available to block your quilts and I'll even help you get started. Give me a head-up and we'll make sure there's not covered with quilt blocks as a design wall. If you're not convinced it makes a difference, try it just once on a quilt with some wave.
Why block? As you'll see in the video, it takes care of any 'fluff' left in the quilt. The quilt will hang straighter if you are putting it into a show or the fair. Many people will look at a quilt that's blocked and not know why it looks better, it just does.
Blocking a Quilt
For those of you at the show - I'll be hanging out in the
A-1 Quilting Machines booth the rest of the week. Stop on by and
introduce yourself!
I also have some news - I'm moving the studio. After 10 years in the former church, it's time to move a little closer to home. At some point the Wheat Country Quilters will also meet in the new location. I need to get me settled in first. The last of the kids will graduate this spring and she needs to put her job in front of any work we may throw at her so I'll get those phone calls: "Can you come help me move equipment?". It's possible at 8 miles from the farm, completely stupid at 20. I'll have more information - and maybe some pictures - next time.
Happy Quilting!
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
MQX Quilt Festival - New England
What a blast!!!
Amazing quilts, fantastic students! I barely had a chance to check out some vendors. I brought home a couple pieces of silk radiance and one piece of dupioni silk, and a coffee cup. It's good that I didn't go too crazy, my luggage barely made the weight limits on the return trip at 48 and 49 pounds.
My Faculty ribbon was awarded to Patti Sandage from Middleton, TN on her quilt "Tuscany" in the Solo Artist category. I think you can tap the picture for a closer look. Patti did a great job on this quilt, and it was absolutely stunning in person!
I'm still working on editing a new YouTube video. I try to keep them under 5 minutes so I don't burn your internet usage, but this one may be a bit longer. It's sooo hard to edit my own work, it's like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard!
I plan to be in Odessa (WA) on Friday, April 11, at Experience Quilts, around 10am. I'll be dropping off quilts and picking up any that you've left for me. If you want to meet with me, please let me know so that I'll be looking for you!
My next trip is to teach at UQSM (formerly HMQS) in Salt Lake City. I hope it's a much fun as MQX was!
Happy Quilting!!
Shelley
Amazing quilts, fantastic students! I barely had a chance to check out some vendors. I brought home a couple pieces of silk radiance and one piece of dupioni silk, and a coffee cup. It's good that I didn't go too crazy, my luggage barely made the weight limits on the return trip at 48 and 49 pounds.
My Faculty ribbon was awarded to Patti Sandage from Middleton, TN on her quilt "Tuscany" in the Solo Artist category. I think you can tap the picture for a closer look. Patti did a great job on this quilt, and it was absolutely stunning in person!
 |
I'm still working on editing a new YouTube video. I try to keep them under 5 minutes so I don't burn your internet usage, but this one may be a bit longer. It's sooo hard to edit my own work, it's like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard!
I plan to be in Odessa (WA) on Friday, April 11, at Experience Quilts, around 10am. I'll be dropping off quilts and picking up any that you've left for me. If you want to meet with me, please let me know so that I'll be looking for you!
My next trip is to teach at UQSM (formerly HMQS) in Salt Lake City. I hope it's a much fun as MQX was!
Happy Quilting!!
Shelley
Monday, January 30, 2017
February 2017 Newsletter
So....did you watch the video?
Here's why I wanted you to see it: Fabric is printed straight! It can't be printed crooked or the printing wouldn't line up. There would be places that are overprinted or underprinted. I've seen it - my mom used to buy seconds for me to make doll clothes or my clothes when I was learning how to sew.
Why is this important? Here's this month's video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTvcCTHL7eY Yes, I know, I'm wearing thread. It's not unusual, but good grief!! By the time I saw it, I had already recorded the video three times. It wasn't happening again. You want Hollywood, this isn't it... Feel free to share - I was so happy when I figured this out! There are some really nice panels out there, I'm thrilled that I can finally use them!
And don't go getting all excited, I won't be making a new video every month. It's all I can do to come up with things that someone else hasn't already done. Although, there will be another video next month.
I spent December and January freezing my tush off. I avoided the cold studio by getting all the farm and business taxes done, and the income tax return information is all ready, I'm just waiting for a few more statements and I'm DONE! I finally braved the weather and went back to the studio last week. I started making samples for my upcoming teaching jobs and updating both of my longarm quilter focused books, taking a lot of pictures. Calving has begun and will continue for a couple of more months. I should probably get some pictures of those babies, too.
I plan to be at Experience Quilts in Odessa on Thursday, February 2 around 10am. One of the new tricks I've developed for the update to my Binding by Longarm book is the ability to attach bindings to the backs of quilts. Don't like hand stitching on the back? This might be the option you want. I've been playing around with Susie's Magic Binding. Here's my Back To Work Edge-to-Edge Special for February! Grab one of those unquilted UFOs you've got sitting around (we all do!) , and two colors of fabric for the bindings. I'll make the binding and attach them to the back of the quilt for the same price as just attaching the binding to the quilt. When you get it back, you'll be able to machine stitch to the top and your UnFinished Object will be a Done Finished Object!
Happy Quilting!
Shelley
Here's why I wanted you to see it: Fabric is printed straight! It can't be printed crooked or the printing wouldn't line up. There would be places that are overprinted or underprinted. I've seen it - my mom used to buy seconds for me to make doll clothes or my clothes when I was learning how to sew.
Why is this important? Here's this month's video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTvcCTHL7eY Yes, I know, I'm wearing thread. It's not unusual, but good grief!! By the time I saw it, I had already recorded the video three times. It wasn't happening again. You want Hollywood, this isn't it... Feel free to share - I was so happy when I figured this out! There are some really nice panels out there, I'm thrilled that I can finally use them!
And don't go getting all excited, I won't be making a new video every month. It's all I can do to come up with things that someone else hasn't already done. Although, there will be another video next month.
I spent December and January freezing my tush off. I avoided the cold studio by getting all the farm and business taxes done, and the income tax return information is all ready, I'm just waiting for a few more statements and I'm DONE! I finally braved the weather and went back to the studio last week. I started making samples for my upcoming teaching jobs and updating both of my longarm quilter focused books, taking a lot of pictures. Calving has begun and will continue for a couple of more months. I should probably get some pictures of those babies, too.
I plan to be at Experience Quilts in Odessa on Thursday, February 2 around 10am. One of the new tricks I've developed for the update to my Binding by Longarm book is the ability to attach bindings to the backs of quilts. Don't like hand stitching on the back? This might be the option you want. I've been playing around with Susie's Magic Binding. Here's my Back To Work Edge-to-Edge Special for February! Grab one of those unquilted UFOs you've got sitting around (we all do!) , and two colors of fabric for the bindings. I'll make the binding and attach them to the back of the quilt for the same price as just attaching the binding to the quilt. When you get it back, you'll be able to machine stitch to the top and your UnFinished Object will be a Done Finished Object!
Happy Quilting!
Shelley
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
The blog is BACK!
It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’m hoping to start putting my “Once-in-a-while-not-very-often”
Newsletter on here, there are some definite advantages to do doing this:
1) I
can attach pictures, and they’ll be right in line with what I’m hoping to tell
you.
2) I
can link to YouTube videos, other sites, and other blogs – sharing the brilliance
of other quilters and letting you know when I have a YouTube update (which may
or may not be quite so brilliant), too.
3) Prior
newsletters will be easier to find if you decide that there’s something that
you need to find again.
One definite disadvantage is that I'll have to change the names of my children so that I can still tell stories about the goofy things they do. Poor Don, there's no hiding that he's married to me, that he CHOSE me, and is still with me... Bwhahahahaha!!
My plan is to update the blog, then let
you know on my personal and business FaceBook pages Wheatridge Studios on FaceBook (Like and Follow!) that there’s been an
update. If you still want an e-mail
letting you know that I’ve put out an update, I’ll be doing that with a link to
the blog. If you use a blog roll (don’t
ask me what that is, I’ve never used one!) you can be notified that way, too.
I'm hoping to have the next update at the end of January or the beginning of February.
In the mean time, check out this video - it's a clue to what I'll be talking about in the next blog post How quilting fabric is made
Keep on working on those quilt tops - I'll be back to quilting in February.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
