Sharon Schamber

I think this woman is a genius, and a very good teacher. I sold one of my old sewing machines last spring and used some of the money from that to join her web site. I've learned so much from her videos there, and the ones on YouTube. I've been using a lot of her techniques. They really help with accuracy. I may never use pins again. I'm using the Elmer's Washable School Glue instead. My free-motion quilting has improved immensely since I quilted half a dozen charity quilts using her exercises to practice. I got the Halo and a Supreme Slider. Makes a huge difference for me. There are at least 20 free videos on her web site, also, at http://www.sharonschambernetwork.com/

NAYYY,

Pat in Rockport, TX

EMBROIDERY HOW TO

It's time I learned to do some basic embroidery. Can someone refer me to a book with instructions for dummies?

Today I had fun buying fabric which I probably could do without for a class I'm taking from Carol Britt in the annual retreat, Quilter's Rescue Mission, in Toccoa, GA the second week of Nov. I've been sorting the obscene mess of fabric spilling out of the closet in the quilt room and I have a long way to go. I see that as the sina qua non of making the room usable.

Still suffering from the sinus problem I had throughout Grace's Retreat and when I got home from shopping managed to fall sound asleep on the sofa for two hours. Hence, supper at 8 PM. I'm really psyched to do something with that room and start quilting again after a too long hiatus.

Jane

Working title

At the moment, I'm calling my WIP "Floral Frou-frou". I will be lucky to get this one done by the end of next year, LOL. I did get quite a bit of the outer border together yesterday, about half of it, and hope to get the rest done today, then it will be several days of work on the inner border, then doing the embroidery on the other three blocks (just a little vine, you may be able to see it on the block with the yo-yos pinned on), sewing blocks together, etc. I will put the yo-yos on after the quilt is basted (using Sharon Schamber's method) but before quilting.

Pat in Rockport, TX

This is the first time in a long time that I've been able to load pictures here, this is exciting! You are looking at my design wall--I'm making this variation of a Drunkard's Path quilt, and those two outside rows will be the borders. I recently treated myself to the entire set of Clover yoyo makers. The heart ones make great leaves. The flowers and leaves are just stuck on with pins right now. The flowers will have tiny yellow yoyo centers eventually. It's taking forever, but I think I'm going to like it when it's done. It will end up being around 80 inches square.

Pat in Rockport, TX

Thanks, Ladies!

Thank you, ladies! I knew you would both probably respond and you came through again. The quilt won't really be a memory type quilt. My family isn't into that kind of thing. But a friend of mine made a quilt for her dh several years ago just using shirting plaids. She sashed it with blue chambray and it turned out wonderfully. Always wanted to copy it. LOL

Also appreciated the tip on blends not having a fudge factor. Always good to know.

Thanks again,
Judy in AR

Plaid shirt remembrance quilt

I have been following Bonnie Hunter's blog for some time now. Do check it out. I love her ideas. She does use the 100% cottons but acquired her fabrics via "shirts by the pound" sale at a thrift shop. Bonnie also has a website with free patterns using scrap fabrics - all the leftovers we won't throw away but don't quite know what to do with them. Her patterns are very easy to follow and make good use of scraps. I believe her book is also available through Kansas City Star Quilts. It tells on her blog and website.

I tend to agree with Judy in Ohio about construction of your quilt. In your case it is more important to include the fabrics that the family is familiar with. It will probably be treasured as a keepsake seeing less use and abuse so I wouldn't worry too much about mixing the fabrics. You might want to keep the pattern simple - maybe even squares of I Spy type with sashing forming stars or even sashing representing an interest of your DsF. What I know about Poly/cotton is that it tends to be slippery and totally unforgiving in the "fudging" factor, thus my reason for suggesting easy patterns.
Laura in IA

Google has brought me this...

While googling for Roberta Horton's book on plaid quilts, I came across this site by Bonnie Hunter who has a new book called "Scraps and Shirttails" wherein she has put into print some of her experiences (and I presume patterns, etc) in quilting with shirt fabrics. I have not seen the book, but perhaps someone else here has done so and might share with us. Otherwise go to Bonnie's website listed below. It sounds as if she is selling the book direct from her website.
JudyPete

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/

Judy who makes shirting quilts??

I can't remember which Judy you are, but I have a question about shirting for quilts. Do you only use 100% cottons or do you use blends? Or do you mix them in the same quilt?

My dear step-father died last week and Mom gave me his pretty plaid sports shirts. I love the colors in them, but most are poly/cotton rather than 100%. I was just wondering about using them for quilts.

TIA
Judy in AR

columbia shuttle quilts

if anyone is still around from the time the quilts were made for families of the columbia space shuttle, i thot this might be of interest:

Pages from an Israeli astronaut's diary that survived the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia and a 37-mile fall to earth are going on display this weekend for the first time in Jerusalem. The diary belonged to Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut and one of seven crew members killed when Columbia disintegrated upon re-entering the atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003. Part of the restored diary will be displayed at the Israel Museum beginning Sunday.

you can read the entire article at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081003/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_astronaut_s_diary

i was just yesterday relating the story of the BB and the firefighter quilts for the cuyamaca volunteer firefighters who lost their homes in the huge san diego fire. just telling her about it gave me goosebumps to remember the day i got to present those quilts. if you remember, that came on the heels of the quilts being finished for the space shuttle astronaut families. hope some of you are still around on the BB.

dutchrose ---{-@