June Free Motion Quilting Challenge

SewCalGal, the hostess for the Free Motion Quilting Challenge, invited Cindy Needham to be June's free motion instructor. Cindy's incredible talent blows me away with not only her fabulous quilts but with her free motion quilting style and method of teaching! Cindy's work is very detailed yet she is quite laid back in creating her art. Her specialty is quilting with antique linens. Check out Cindy's website. I printed all her pages as they will always be a great read for reviewing and future reference.

The picture to the left is my first practice attempt. More practice needed! Yet I am inspired! I really focused on making my machine hum and purr!

Background music helped me to stay in rhythm. My favorite was listening to Shamrock and Thistle. Try it! You will absolutely find the Irish music perfect for when free motion quilting. Check some of the line ups at NPR Online Radio.

Time to get serious by making a drawing that will work with my fabric size. If you have been following me you know that I have been making each monthly sample into a wall hanging.

I love the idea of filling in around the main design, though my drawing doesn't reflect but one fill in style my finished piece included many more.

Being a novice I was being brave to use color thread that shows all the oops! Maybe I will learn from them.

Cindy Needham thank you so much for giving of your time! I had so much fun making this piece and using your ideas.

Free Motion Quilting Challenge April & May with SewCaGal

This display was an effort to kill two birds with one stone. Having been 3 months behind with SewCaGal's Free Motion Quilting Challenge. I used this piece for April's and May's Free Motion Quilting Challenge of the month.

Don Linn was April's instructor who shared a new way on transferring a quilting motif on a quilt being prepared to be quilted. Though I didn't use Don's particular motif I did use a motif from "Follow-the-Line Quilting Designs Volume Three" by Mary Covey. I used the continuous line feather pattern which became the stem and leaves for my large hexagon flower.

Don's method of transferring is a nice way of drawing a motif. He traces the pattern on tulle that is placed in an embroidery hoop. He uses permanent ink (Sharpie) to draw on the tulle. Once that is done the ink is set by placing your iron on nylon heat temperature. From there the drawn motif now can be traced onto the quilt with an water removable marking pen.

May's FMQ Challenge instructor was Leah Day. Her Free Motion Quilting tip was creating a curvy line and going back over it with stippling. Leah terms this as foundation quilting which I used for the background of my project. I love how this looks. It is a fun and easy free motion quilting motif. I like the idea of just going for it and not having to draw a design on the quilt top. This to me equates to being free. But for now and until the day comes that I perfect my free motion quilting skills - which I think will take another 150 hours or so I may need to rely on drawing my quilting designs on the quilt top.

I will be using this piece as a part of a wall hanging which is becoming even more improvisational than originally planned as I now have deviated from my original layout design.

I haven't sewn it together yet, but here is a picture that shows the pieces side by side.

Now I need to think about June's. Almost there.

Craftsy's June BOM & Graduation Weekend

  Craftsy's June Block of the Month

This month's blocks are from the nine block family. Blocks are Octagon Block and Greek Cross Block.I have made my fair share of nine block quilts, one of my favorite patterns that is simple but yet has many various designs that create a total new look for a quilt.

Octagon Block

Greek Cross Block

 Weekend with the Family

Tyler 

How quickly they grow up! Tyler is my oldest grandson. 

Tyler with his dad, my son and me on graduation day.

Tyler graduated with a 4.25% grade average from Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. 

I am so proud of him.

While in town for Tyler's graduation I went along to watch Caleb at baseball practice. 

Caleb is on a college showcase traveling team. He is an outfielder.

Caleb Suited Up 

 This is only one dresser top filled with Caleb's and his teams' baseball trophies.

Baseball Trophies

And here is Parker my youngest grandson. Oh my as I am writing this I am reminded that I need to go get him a birthday card. He will be 13 this upcoming Saturday.  In the picture below his dad allowed him to steer the boat while cruising on Falls Lake. 

Mindy was giving Parker instructions on how to get up on the wake board. Parker never did get there. More practice. Mindy didn't easily give up, but Parker got to the place where he was tired.

Flying Biscuit, FLAWs and Craftsy May BOM

FLAWs at Flying Biscuit Restaurant

Breakfast was divine not because of the food, though it was tasty and inviting, but it was due to sharing it with dear friends, and that is priceless. Hugs were offered before sitting down. How comfortable we have become with each other after working many years together in a ministry that supports women who face a crisis pregnancy or suffers from the after affects of having an abortion.

 The chattering began each bringing each other up to speed with the latest happenings in our lives. Karen had us in stitches telling about her day with her 90 year old mother-in-law riding a scooter as though she was on a race track through Target. Nanette with much pizzaz talked about her new job and the latest with her two sons. She is the encourager in our group. Teresa always so creative with scrap booking, photography, cooking, a fan of Pinterest and who loves RVing always has her techy toys. She is quite gifted. Louise who loves her family now volunteers at Samaritan's Purse and the Food Pantry. She has an awesome gift for hospitality who can talk to anyone. Not only can she talk to anyone she can do just about anything that she puts her mind to. We called her the "mom" at the Center. And then there is me bringing the latest going on in my family and business building. I love these ladies. There were two missing from the group today and we were sad that they couldn't be with us today. We missed you Bobbie and Leslie!

 Our waitress at Flying Biscuit had to come back to our table 3 times before we were settled enough to read the menu. What a great way to begin a weekend!

Craftsy May Block of the Month - Wonky 6-sided Log Cabin

Prior to meeting with the FLAWs (former ladies at work) I completed one of two of Craftsy's May block of the month. It is a Wonky 6-Sided Log Cabin Block, a great scrap buster beginning with a fussy cut butterfly as the center piece. I didn't watch the video so what was to be 5-sided wonky is now 6-sided wonky, but that is okay with me. It is an easy block where you sew fabric strips and trim on an angle to create a rounded wrap-a-round appearance. I chose to frame my wonky design rather than continuing sewing logs to each corner. Hopefully, before going to bed I will complete the second block which will also have a fussy cut block.

Works in Progress on the Design Board

 My design board is supporting 5 projects in the making. I have been working diligently during the past week to catch up with my challenges: Craftsy Block of the Month and Free Motion Quilting Challenge. Now that we have changed over to June I am now 3 months behind with FMQ and 1 month with Craftsy.

My day was completed by planting a Cleyera shrub and various plants: Caladium, Hosta, Coral Bells, the sweetest succulent plant, Ajuga and WireVine ground cover.  There was an area in my garden that needed some attention. Check out this website to see a great idea on how to use succulents  for wedding place cards.. I have recently grown a fondness for succulent plants. Mostly due to seeing some great ideas on Pinterest. Check out my Brilliant Garden Board on Pinterest.

Feel free to tell me about your latest quilting project, friend story or your day. I love hearing from each one that drops by. If you are not a blogger choose anonymous. Be sure to leave your name or screen name if you know that I will recognize it at the end of the message so I can respond.