Saturday, July 23, 2011

Loving Everything About Quilting

 I absolutely love every aspect of making quilts and longarming. It's so much fun when I get a new customer's quilt in the mail or when a customer stops by my home to drop one of, too. It really makes you appreciate the amount of time each quilt takes. It's nice to admire the unique styles and color choices of so many creative people.
 This here is Julie's amazing scrappy blue and white star quilt. The crisp white backing shows off the quilting. But white can be dangerous if your longarm machine has tension problems or if your not careful with your stops and starts.
 This another one from Julie. I think this scrappy flannel quilt has so much character.
 Muslin backing.
While Julie's quilts are more scrappy with tiny 1 1/2" strips, Marinel loves feminine, flowery, and made with charm packs. This is her wreath quilt.
 Lovely solid, pink backing.
 Here is her charm pack quilt.
 
 Sometimes longarming has its more challenging moments and is full of firsts. This quilt was my very first silk table runner and I was extremely nervous the entire time. I didn't want to mess up the very expensive silk fabrics but I ended up not having any issues. A sharp needle and a slower than normal quilting speed eased my nerves. I'm so glad I didn't mess up Marjie's beautiful table runner. 
 
 I really love Marjie's house quilt because of the heart in the middle. Home is where the heart is. Her batik's really pop with the black background.
 
While it's fun to quilt for others, I like to relax and make my own every once in a while. I chose pink and green fabrics for this Yellow Brick Road quilt.
 The only thing I don't like about quilting (besides going on a fabric diet) is when I mess up on the first piece while chain piecing. It takes forever to unsew all of the mess ups.
 My best part of quilting is admiring the finished quilt... even though I haven't yet sewed on the binding.
 This is my eldest daughter's t-shirt quilt. She even picked out her own batiks. At first, I sewed on a wide border but later I decided it looked unproportional. I cut it down and luckily now I have enough for the binding. There's always a silver lining!
 Sometimes when you start a project, you don't plan it all out. I realized that my green sashing fabric was going to run out so I had to switch to another fabric.
 For the very last row of sashings, you can see I had to use a light pink and green sashing instead. I think my little mishap ended ok, though.
 My daughter picked this green hand dyed batik for the backing. Can you guess her favorite color? :)
 I'm sorry for this long post but I wanted to finish it before my computer goes crazy again. I haven't been able to visit all my favorite blogs while it's been on the fritz. Thank you for all the comments and I hope you understand.
Happy Quilting,

26 comments:

Quiltjane said...

Thank you for sharing all those beautiful quilts and the quilting designs.

julieQ said...

You are the most amazing quilter!!

Desley said...

I love the quilting on the silk table runner. What quilting design did you use?

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your quilting is gorgeous!!!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Thank you for the lovely quilt show! I have yet to try a silk project . All so nicely quilted.

Gari in AL said...

You really get to work on some beautiful quilts. And, after the unsewing I had to do yesterday, I do understand the problem you had with your piecing. But in the end, it is all worth it.

Denise in PA said...

I love the quilting pattern on the blue and white quilt! And, the silk table runner is beautiful - you can really see the silk in the photo! Great t-shirt quilt also, I'm sure your daughter loves it!

Teresa said...

You do beautiful quilting. Love the quilt you are working on too. Must be gratifying to see all the happy faces when the quilters receive their guilts back from you.

Chris H said...

There are some really lovely quilts there!

Tangos Treasures said...

Wow!! Beautiful quilts & quilting!!!

*karendianne. said...

What a lovley post. How nice to see all the goodies you have created.

StitchinByTheLake said...

Millie it's good to read a post from you - it's been a long time. The quilts are lovely but better still is your attitude. You make the best of whatever comes along and find joy in all that you do. I love that about you. :) blessings, marlene

Linda said...

Hi Millie, Now don't pass out.. I haven't blogged in awhile. Love your quilts. Beautiful quilting!!

Darlene said...

More beautiful quilts finished with your awesome quilting. Nice to 'see' you, Millie - I've missed you.

Quilter Kathy said...

Lot so great quilting going on at Millie's place! I knew whose quilts you had there the minute I saw them :) Julie will be so excited to see this quilting!

Talin's Corner said...

Beautiful quilting, thank you for sharing all the quilts. They are just gorgeous.

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

I'm with you, Millie - I love all parts of quilting, and what a lot of pretty ones you've shown here. Of course you know I think that your quilting just makes each one even better! Great work from all.

Terry said...

What beautiful quilts! Julie's are always so amazing!!

Sparky said...

Oh Millie first all of these quitls are over the top beautiful BUT the one with the circle and reds..OHHHHH I just love that...know I would love one like that..I would even like to know how to make something like that...wow...gosh sew nice to see you here ....missed you tons...

Zlaty said...

I love your daughter's quilt Millie! You did excellent job as usual on the other customer quilts!

Happy sewing!

Michelle said...

Stunning, wow...you have been a busy quilter...I've never quilted on silk {very interesting}. Best wishes to you!

Wendy said...

Millie, these beauties make me even more determined to finish my Sunkissed quilt and send it to you ... looking at all your quilting is having me trying to decide what backing I want on my quilt :) lol Wonderful work!!

ANNA said...

E'un piacere conoscerti e il tuo blog è veramente pino di lavori meravigliosi...ti seguirò a presto Anna

Quiltingranny said...

Amazingly talented you are Millie!

HOPE said...

I love that bow in the quilting...such a lovely quilt too!

I'm finishing up my first bed runner and ran my brain trying to come up with the proper quilting design...not what I wanted but...I am having fun with it.

Now I'm gleaning at quilt designs from my magazines..and practising with pencil and paper!!

YOU are sooo talented..I love to come and get inspired and smile.

HOPE

Anonymous said...

You do lovely work! I tried and couldn't really get the hang of longarming, but I really enjoy seeing what others can do with it. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm a topper, lol.

p.s. My daughter's name is Milly :-)


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