Blogger's Quilt Festival - Spring 2013 - Feathered Peacock Star

I have decided to enter my Feathered Peacock Star in the Professional quilting category of the Blogger's Quilt Festival - Spring 2013.

 

Here are myself and Rebecca Silbaugh, of Ruby Blue Quilting Studio, my quilter at the 2013 Lake Farm Parks quilt show in Northeastern Ohio.  This was my second Judy Niemeyer quilt and Becky did a great job with the quilting.  As the quilt came together, my husband mentioned that it reminded him of a Peacock, so Becky incorporated the shape of peacock feathers in the quilting.  Becky takes pictures to document her quilting and then shares them on her blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This quilt is currently touring with Beth, Becky's mom, from Cottonpickers Quilt shop.  It was recently in Michigan and will be in her shop's booth at National Quilting Association's Quilt Show in Columbus, Ohio in June.

 

Feathered Star Quilt - Step 2 - Judy and Brad Niemeyer

I have cut out the fabric for the 1st Chapter of my

Judy and Bard Niemeyer Feathered Star Quilt!

 

Thanks to Beth's help at Cottonpickers I have a great center star!!

 

 

 

It always amazes me how ugly the pieces are prior to final trimming!!

 

 

 

Much nicer now that they are trimmed!!  They still have the paper on the back.

 

 

I think Chapter 1 is going to look awesome when all the pieces are done!!

 

6 more of these wedges to go and then on to the second part of Chapter 1.

 

 

Feathered Star Quilt - Step 1 - Judy and Brad Niemeyer

Judy and Brad Niemeyer released some new patterns last week at the Checker's Open House.  I left a message for Beth at Cottonpickers Quilt Shop and requested that she save/order one for me.  Cottonpickers is now a certified Judy and Brad Niemeyer quilt shop!!  This means that Beth and Becky are working on a number of patterns so that they can offer classes this Winter!!!

 

It's the Feathered Star which is 60" x 60"

 

 

When you first look at this quilt you don't see a number of fabrics, but there are actually around 13-15 different ones.

 

The pattern is divided into 5 chapters and each one includes detailed instructions.  You start in the middle and work your way out.  All paper piecing is to be completed before any units are sewn together. 

 

I started looking throught my batik fabric stash last night and selected fabric for the 1st Chapter which includes the inner accent star.

 

 

Each chapter seems to include dark, medium and light fabrics.

 

I will be using a number of the fabrics from my Desert Sky quilt with some additions.

 

My biggest fear when starting a pattern is the selection of the fabrics.

 

This image is from EQ7 and uses the 4 fabrics I selected.

 

 

I think my selection of the star fabrics will work!!!

 

I will continue to update as this quilt comes together!!

New Long Arm Quilter and some Beautiful Quilts

The morning I found out about Jennifer's passing I was meeting with my new Long Arm Quilter.  I think Jennifer would be pleased with my choice.  Becky Silbaugh of Ruby Blue Quilts in Madison, Ohio.  Becky is the daughter of Beth Safik of Cottonpickers Quilt Shop in Chardon, Ohio.  Becky is a grapic designer, pattern designer and a great quilter.  She has won awards at the Lake Farm Park Quilt Show and has really added to her longarm skills.

 

That day I dropped off 3 quilts for her to complete.

 

Two of them where Day and Night Quilts by Eleanor Burns



 

The third one was my first Judy Niemeyer Quilt Desert Sky

 

 

I selected Fireside for the backing of these 3 quilts to make them all soft and cuddly.

 

I picked up all 3 quilts last Saturday and I can't wait to get them all binded!!

 

 

 

 

Becky did a great job on all 3 of the quilts.  You can see more pictures of these quilts on her 

Ruby Blue Quilts Blog

Desert Sky Quilt top is finished

Last night I was able to sew together the Desert Sky blocks.

I think it turned out really nice!!!

Now I have to decide what my next project should be!!!

 

I think the quilt might be upside down compared to this EQ7 image. 

 

Desert Sky Steps 6 and 7

I started removing the paper from the blocks earlier this week.  The process went pretty smoothly.  The pattern suggests reducing your stitch size by 1 to allow for easier removal of paper.  The important thing is to not pull so hard that you pull stitches out at the same time!

Yesterday was the first meeting of the Super Saturday Stitches at Cottonpickers Quilt Shop in Chardon, Ohio.  It is a group of quilters that met attending the From Marti and Me Club meetings.  Now we stay on Saturday afternoons for 3 hours to work on our projects.  I packed too many things and Jim was wondering if I was leaving for longer then the day!! 

I had some quilts that needed backings, so I had those in a bag, and backing for my Let It Snow quilt to stitch together.  Then I had 2 of my ArtBin Double Deeps filled with my Snail Tail and my Desert Sky projects.  I love these boxes, they help to keep my project organized.

Beth at Cottonpickers was having a Ping Pong ball sale, so I used my 30% to get backings for 3 of my quilts.  I need to contact Becky at Ruby Blue Quilts to get them on her schedule.

I spent part of the afternoon working on removing the paper from the blocks and then I used 45 minutes to put the blocks on my design wall so the other quilters could help me with my color placement.

I completed removing the paper today and I'm now ready to cut out the final six 7 inch blocks and complete the placement of the border blocks.

As you can see Nermal is helping me!!

Desert Sky Step 5

I have completed 16 of the blocks for my Desert Sky quilt.  So I have updated by EQ7 version of the quilt.  This will probably not be the final version.

What do you think?

Desert Sky Step 3 and 4

After cutting the fat quarters in to the designated pieces, Judy recommends using small binder clips to hold the fabrics together.

You need to separate the foundation pieces.

Judy explains the paper piecing way better then I can.

It works because of her step by step instructions.

And the use of the folding card and 1/4" add on ruler for trimming.

It always amazes me that something this ugly can turn into this!!!

Step 4 is going to take a while, I will post some pictures when I complete the curved piecing of the background piece.

I hope to get a block of time this weekend to work on this, or it's going to take forever!!

Desert Sky Step 1 and 2

The fabric has been selected.  It is 24 different Batiks Fat Quaters with unknown names and different manufacturers.  They range from Dark to Light.

Now it's time to cut out the first pieces.  I had to number nine of the darks 1 - 9 and match them with nine of the lights.  Then I divided the pile in half and followed the layout in the pattern. 

What's cool about Judy and Bradley's pattern is that they have you cut out pieces to use for the foundation piecing.  I was always concerned about not having big enough pieces.

This is a pictue of the first pile.  I have to complete the cutting of this pile and start on the remaining one.  Nine pieces of fabric can be cut with a sharp rotary cutter.

So now 18 of the 24 fabrics have been used.  The remaining 6 will be used for border blocks and solid blocks.

I will return with photos of the foundation piecing!!

Desert Sky - my first Judy Niemeyer quilt

I have selected 24 Batks and they have been cut into fat quarters.

They need a final pressing before I start cutting them into pieces!!

I also scanned all the fabrics so I can use EQ7 for help with placement of the fabrics.

I will post pictures as I go along so you can see my progess.

2012 Lake Metro Farmpark Quilt Show

Last night was the reception for the exhibitors and their guests at the 2012 Lake Metro Farmpark Quilt Show.  I invited my Mom Cindy, my Aunt Winnie and my sister Dawn is here from Florida.  It was great chance for them to enjoy something that is one of my great passions.

As soon as we walked in we spotted the Best of Show and Large General Pieced first place quilt, Amazon Star by Sue Wilson of Huron, Ohio.  This quilt was selected from the first place winners of all the categories

What an awesome quilt!!  This is a Judy Niemeyer pattern.  I have always loved Lone Star quilts and this may become a future project.  If I learn how to paper piece effectively.

Then we headed down the hallway heading for the reception.

In the hallway we found Jennifer McCann's entry Key Largo.

This wallhanging won a 3rd place in the Pictorial category.

After enjoying the wonderful food provided by J & J Catering of Kirtland, Ohio we went in search of my quilt!

I found Rebecca Silbaugh's award winning quilt Union Jack in the side room.

I have this pattern and will use it to make myself a scrap quilt.

I finally found my quilt Spinning Sampler just as you enter the room that holds the featured artists quilts, what an honor!

It's so cool seeing it hanging there with it's Red ribbon!!

I had Dawn take a picture of me with my quilt.

I hope everyone that attends the 2012 show has a great time experiencing all of this beautiful art!