Saturday, August 28, 2010

FREE MOTIOIN QUILTING

I know....you all are saying

"So you have scraps"

WE ALL HAVE SCRAPS!!! What quilter doesn't have scraps!!

GET OFF YOUR STINKING SCRAP PILE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

WE ARE SICK OF HEARIN (the missing G was on purpose) ABOUT IT!!

Okay...Okay!!! I get it...okay!!

and here is what I am doing about it....

FREE MOTION QUILTING



I cut some rag squares with the Go cutter and the rag die....sandwiched them...and waaaaaalaaaa....a complete canvas for practicing free motion quilting.

At first, I was just doing random stitching and then thought, I have to have a plan...learn something if I am trying to free motion. Free motion is not just random sewing.

So my plan was to learn to sew over a previous line without making it look so stitchy in the middle......and that is where this design was born. I am sure I didn't create it but this is what was born in my free motion process.




What a great way to use scraps, learn a technique and then.....create a quilt for Project Linus.

This is for the contest over at Lady Bug Studios, it will be ending soon....none tooo soon for me (said with a tired smile).


I say this with all sincerity, I will be so happy if my sister wins, but I will also be sad....and you say why? I see how hard Greg is working, I have had some great conversations with Brooke over emails, I want him to win too. I will be happy for Greg is he wins and I will be sad for my sister is she loses...so.... we will just say that the real winners are the ones that will be recieving all the pillowcases and quilts. So best of luck Greg, you have some wonderful friends that have been cheering you on, what a blessing.

My sister also has had some wonderful friends but what has been the most fun was seeing our family of quilters come together and help my sister out....that is the sweetest thing I can think of. We all have lived so far away from each other. I created that Quilter's Corner blog so we could all post what we do and stay in touch that way....but this contest has been amazing for the sheer fact that when the going gets tough....you will always always have family watching your back.

Thanks to my mother and sisters, and nieces who have helped...to my wonderful friends that have rallied around my sister (to those amazing ones that are annonymous, doing something and not caring if they get the credit...what a selfless act...a big hug for you). Don't you all just feel the LOVE!!!

17 comments:

SewCalGal said...

Great post. Lovely quilt. Beautiful FMQ!

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Great idea! I've heard that some quilters turn their practice pieces into potholders but I like this idea better.

Stephanie said...

Gorgeous work!

BROOKE said...

Barb: you are so sweet. And how funny that last night I was looking at my own scrap basket and thinking - man I wish I knew how to rag quilt!

Tangos Treasures said...

Great idea for the quilting, your just too smart!!
Good luck to all the winners!

Elizabeth said...

Barb, that is a really great way to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Your FMQ is really coming along! Nice work!

xo -E

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

Beware of the FMQing....once it finds it's way into your life....then you become possessed and you can not stop.....I'm not even thinking Priest could stop this sort of possession!!!

I'm glad there are a lot of folks making things for others who are in need.

Hugs,
Kelly

Kim D. said...

Beautiful feathers Barb! Way to go, practice makes perfect! Best of luck to your sister and Greg on winning the Go. They sure have worked hard for it. Is the finale close?

Needled Mom said...

The love has been amazing!!!! I would hope to have that army on hand if I were in a contest like that.

Love the free motion quilting, Barb!

Unknown said...

love that apple fabric, and the free motion fabric......i've been playing around with free motion stars. i want the rag die next...

Wacky Woman said...

Ahhhhhhhh yes, quilting. I need lots of practice. Yours looks pretty darn good.

Carin said...

Barb what a good idea, I love the design you were practicing great job with that.

I bet you are torn with the love bug contest, you are right the biggest winners will be the people who receive all the lovely items being donated.

HUGS, Carin

Linda said...

Great idea about the Free Motion Quilting and using them for Project Linus...Your FMQ is looking good!
I'm so glad everyone has come together for the contest. It's great to see things like this. Good luck to your sister. It's too bad there can only be one winner but there has already been alot of winners in this contest!

Dana Gaffney said...

What a great idea. I really need to practice my FMQing, but I seem to do it on the wrong quilts.
I know how you feel, I will be sad for whoever doesn't win, including the third place person. She's been steadily quilting. Your family has really come through and that's another wonderful thing this contest has done. Soon, you can all have your lives back.

Crispy said...

I'm always so impressed seeing loops in free motion quilting. I can't draw them with a pencil, let alone a sewing machine!!

Crispy

Just JaiCi's Crafts said...

I love your scrap posts...they always make me laugh!!!

Linda said...

I love your humor and attitude! Thanks for this post...it brightened my day.