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Friday, March 12, 2010

Featured Quilt Blogger & One Year Anniversary

Hi Everyone! I am so honoured to be have been nominated to be featured as a quilt blogger on Park City Girl. I have admired Amy and her dedication as a quilter and a mom for a long time.

Tomorrow is also my 1 year anniversary as a blogger. What a year it has been! I have been in 12 swaps,  (one twice) and it was my friend Jane who helped me with my first baby steps in quilt swapping. I have completed lots of quilts, participated in quilt alongs and am now focused on my PHD. I am in a quilting bee with some of the most amazingly talented group of women I have ever met. Julie has impressed me with her neverending talent, Angela has given so much of her time to make the most exquisite charity quilts I have ever seen, and Rachel who gives so much with her tutorials, and quilt alongs while being pregnant with her 4th child. Darlene is so amazingly supportive and so incredible with embroidery, Nanette who has such a great sense for fabric and friendship, Barb who is a great quilter, and takes so much time to comment on other people's blogs and of course Amanda Jean whose tutorial I used for my Zig Zag quilt. 

I need to give a shout out too, to my Canadian gals. Myra who has helped me with my PHD and is always so generous about sharing others' work, Andrea who is a Kona Solids Queen and has just been featured in Moda Bake Shop, Lee who has been so supportive of me, and loves tulips as much as I do, Tammy who quilts my quilts and is the most talented long arm quilter I know, and Ariane, an amazing talented friend, far beyond my skills who actually lives in my town. To my supportive friend without a blog, who reads it and always reacts with amazement when I show her my work, thank you.  Lastly, of course my dh, children and parents who give me time to do something I love, sometime that is in my blood. I hope my hard work has kept them warm. I know I will not have mentioned everyone but I am so thankful for everyone who has helped me in my journey. I am know I have improved in leaps and bounds this year as a quilter, now I need to improve upon my picture taking skills! Aren't you glad I didn't win an Oscar! ;-)

Now, since it is my 1 year anniversary, I am having a giveaway. I want to know what inspires you in your craft or if you are a quilter, and machine quilt what tip can you give me to help me? I want to focus more on machine quilting this year. You need to answer one of these question to be eligible for the giveaway. It will be open until Wednesday, March 17 at 9:00 pm EST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be annouced Thursday.





It is an 8 fq collection  of Morningstar by Linda Hogag. My picture as always, doesn't do it justice. The reds are a beautiful cherry colour.

Looking forward to Year 2,

57 comments:

Darlene said...

Congratulations on being a "featured quilt blogger" - you deserve that place of honor. Enjoy!

A special congratulations on your one year blogiversary - has it really been a year? Thank you so much for honoring me, you've truly touched my heart. :-)

You are a very talented quilter don't ever doubt your talents and skills.

Continue to enjoy your quilting and blogging journey - I will continue to support and encourage.

Angela Nash said...

Congratulations on Amy's feature! And one year! Mine is coming up, too - I can hardly believe it.

That's quite a lot of fun in one year!

Live a Colorful Life said...

Just read your interview at Park City Girl. Thanks for sharing.

I quilt because it feeds my soul. I love the whole process (except for putting the quilt sandwich together). And I love the "community" that comes along with being a quilter.

I send most of my quilts out, so I don't have a good machine quilting tip. But I'm sure interested in reading some tips for that.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Congratulations on being a featured quilter! I loved reading more about you. And congrat's on your anniversary! As for a tip~ when machine quilting remember to breathe. Seriously! When I started I found myself holding my breath and if you keep breathing, you relax and find your rhythm. ;-)

Crafty Maine Mom said...

What Inspires Me:
I have only been quilting since November 2009, I am inspired by the amazing possibilities. I have always ben a sewer but not a quilter. Daily I see a fabric or a design that makes me smile and challenges me.

Janet said...

Congratulations on your interview on Amy's site.

What inspires me in quilting - my quilting friends and their work, the quilt store that I sometimes haunt (only one where I live), the beautiful outdoors where I spend as much time as I can, my children and grandchildren who have lots of ideas for things I can make.

Tips for machine quilting? I've only recently started machine quilting a large quilt - an I Spy for my granddaughter. I was intimidated and got a lot of encouragement from reading Leah DAy's blog - 365 days of free motion quilting. My tip would be to not be worried about being perfect. I am a perfectionist and had to train myself not to worry if I didn't exactly follow previous lines or if my flowers weren't perfectly oval or whatever.

Terry said...

Congratulations! I am inspired by seeing what other people create. It makes me want to create something too! Thanks for the giveaway! :0)

Andrea said...

Congratulations being on Amy's feature post⁄! You deserve it. You are an inspiring quilter and always have so much on the go, yet you find the time to connect with other bloggers. I'm very grateful for that. It's great to get to know you and congrats on your one year of blogging...may there be many more.

As for machine quilting - well, I love machine quilting, I just can't stand the sandwich and basting part. I need a long arm. :-) A tip - lots of pinning... if you have a machine that has a regular size throat and find it too squishy and your shoulders/arm/neck on the right start to ache, turn your machine so that the throat is towards you and the machine/crank is furthest away from you. (perpendicular) and then try fm. It works really well for me.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Happy One Year Anniversary!

I've learned so much from many of the blogs you mentioned too. There are so many helpful bloggers out there.

Since I have been reading different quilting blogs this year, I have found that I allow myself more freedom in my quilting. I am more willing to try different ideas and techniques. We are all different and love different things. If I enjoy it, then it is good. Not everyone will like what I like.

I have never sent out a quilt to be quilted. I started tying quilts. Then I learned how to free motion quilt. That is what I mostly use. I do use straight line quilting periodically but only quilt in one direction. Without a walking foot, I tend to have fabric bunches if I go in different directions.

Practice is always a good idea. I also wouldn't quilt without wearing quilting gloves.

Lee D said...

Hey congrats on your blogging anniversary. Thanks too for mentioning me, you made my day. Why I love to quilt...it makes me feel good and I can get lost in my own little world. Tip, be sure to have good posture when machine quilting and take breaks, relax. If you are stippling try meandering with a pencil and paper first, practice on a some scraps first. have fun with it.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Hmmm, seems like I have know you longer, look at all you have done in your one year! and now to be a "featured quilt blogger". I am so happy for you and proud to know you! I enjoyed your story. Thank you for thinking of me as helping you on your journey. That is very special!
It was a beautiful, heartfelt post.

Yummy, yummy fabrics for your giveaway. I have no tips for machine quilting as I hand quilt. So, the thing that inspires me is others, I see what they do and think, Can I do that? Also fabric, I adore fabric and it inspires me too!

Ariane said...

Congratulations on being featured on Amy's blog!!! That is so exciting. I love all you shared. This way i can get to know you that much better.
Congratulations on your one year anniversary. Wow time does fly by. You inspire us all with your amazing projects. To help with quilting, I would just say go for it. Even if it is not perfect. We learn from our mistakes, and improve as we go. I am still learning to quilt . I have two big quilts that are waiting for me to quilt. I'm a bit afraid to do it on my little machines, but I will do it anyway. As soon as I have time, I will tackle these big projects.

Quilter Kathy said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary!
Blogging is fun, eh?!?
Re: machine quilting, I think it's most important to 1) start in the middle and work towards the edges, 2) use high quality thread, I prefer Aurifil, and 3) remember that each quilt you work on will improve your skills...practise practise practise!

scottylover said...

Congratulations on your one year anniversary! I found your blog through Park City Girl. I'm not a machine quilter so I can;t help you there.

What inspires me to quilt is fun I have picking out fabrics and deciding if I like them together, the joy I hope to bring when I give someone a quilted gift, and the changes of the seasons. Hope that helps! :)

Sandy A in St. Louis where spring is trying to make it's way!

carmel said...

congrats on the one year bloging!!
you did so much!!! i wish i had more time to do more!
other blogs and other sewing people inspire me and make me want to creat
thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on being featured! How fun is that?!! I really loved the write up you did with regards to your one year anniversary. I pop in sporatically and haven't had much time to participate in any swaps...I do barter. (you may have seen that) Hee!
Anyway..I'm a machine quilter. I've been quilting since 1980's. Honestly...practice is the answer. I guess as with anything in life you become good at is in time and with doing.
My entry to your giveaway is in hopes of winning but not for myself...there is a little somebody that you listed in your writeup that I would love to have this. SO...if my name is chosen I will be asking you to mail it to her.

Amy Friend said...

Congratulations on one year of blogging and your interview! I just read it over on Amy's blog. We've been lucky to have you involved in our Potholder Pass!

Doina said...

Great giveaway! Please count me in! My only source of inspiration for my products is the internet.

Barb said...

Congratulations! And so exciting to be featured on Amy's blog. My advice for machine quilting is to "just go for it." I've discovered that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

happy anniversary!! {and thanks for all the love!} you have been one of my biggest supporters from day #1 me.. i'm inspired by all the other quilt blogs i read.. people like you!!

Nanette Merrill said...

Well my dear Michelle, you inspire me, too! Thank you so much for your sweet words and happy anniversary. Isn't blogging one of the best ways to be motivated and shown things you'd never normally think of. That is the best way I tell people - blog, or read blogs, it teaches you so much. Keep on going!!

Lesly said...

Congratulations on your accomplishments! My tip for machine quilting is machine quilting gloves and the Kwick-Clip for pin-basting. These are life-saving gadgets!

allsewnup said...

Congratulations all around!

Let's see ~ a tip for machine quilting ~ keep the pedal down BUT
move your hands slowly. Try to fight the urge to move your quilt quickly under the needle.

Carolyn

Unknown said...

Whether it is designing patterns or quilting designs I always look toward the flower fields. Flowers are my biggest inspiration-then of course my cute girls too!
Kari
Fresh Cut Quilts

Bonnie said...

I am fairly new to quilting so can't really offer any advise. I am inspired by seeing other peoples quilts. The way they put colors together really helps.
Congratulations on your anniversary adn on you featured quilt blogger honor.
Bonnie in Iowa

Monica B said...

Congratulations on a year! I'm BRAND new to quilting myself so I don't have any tips for you, but I am so inspired when I see other people's work. Sometimes I think I could do that, and other times I think there is no way I could ever create something like that, but I love looking either way. =)

Pattie Crum said...

Congrats on the blog, I don't know where you get the time. I love looking at everybodys work. But I think I have quilting add because I get so excited to make something and rush to get the fabric and then I see something else that somebody made, and have to get that too, can you see my problem? I have a dozen things just waiting to get started and 7 tops that need quilting. I'm overwhelmed.

Erin said...

What inspires me in my crafting is almost always my mom. 99% of the things I make, I give to her. So I always look at things and wonder if my mom would be proud of me.

♥Duff said...

What inspires me is the online community. I do not do a LOT of quilting, but I've done so much more knowing that there are women all over the world who can connect, share, learn, and support one another!

thanks for the giveaway! You're a peach!

Jocelyn said...

Congratulations! And happy blogiversary! I think everyone has stated that practice is what helps with machine quilting. I also found using Sue Nickels book on Machine Quilting helped me work through the steps of using my domestic sewing machine. I found her book to be just like taking a class with her.

Kochernut Mama said...

I love to quilt because it gives me a feeling of not only accomplishment, but of actually making an heirloom for my family. I love the thought that in several generations my great-grandchildren (or further down the line) will be able to say that their great (great, great?) grandmother made that.

I am new to machine quilting as well...the largest I have done is a 54 X 54 wall hanging. The three things I can think of that have helped me is:

#1 quilting gloves, really helps you move the fabric and keeps your muscles from tensing up so bad.

#2 my walking foot...not sure if that is really a helpful tip ;)

#3 quilting clips to help keep your fabric rolled so you don't have to struggle with as much material.

Thank you for the giveaway...it's always exciting to get a chance to add to my already almost unmanageable stash :0)

Sara said...

I'm inspired by patterns I see, projects I have seen on blogs, a piece of fabric. So many different things. Congrats on one year of blogging :)

The Jenkins said...

Congrats on one year!!!

As for machine quilting, you need a walking foot for doing straight lines. It keeps all the fabrics together so nothing shifts while quilting.

Kirsten said...

Lovely giveaway! As for what inspires me...as I blogstalk I see all kinds of quilts and projects that I just HAVE to try myself, or that sets my brain whirling over new ideas. And continuiong to see waht other people accomplish keeps me motivated to actually complete my projects!

Little Miss Shabby said...

Congrats on your nomination! I am very inspired by all of the flickr quilting bees as well as quilty blogs. There are just so many amazing women(and men) out their sharing all kinds of things!

free indeed said...

One quilting tip I learned was to pull up the tail (bobbin thread) to the top before free motion quilting. It locks it on top and leaves your quilt back 'clean'.

Gwyneth said...

inspiration, hm? i love getting together with a couple close friends who also sew and quilt. we usually feed off each others ideas and it is so fun!

Val Miller said...

it's the fabric!! They (meaning all those talented peeps out there) keep making beautiful fabric, so I have to keep buying more, and that means I have to make more ...

Melody said...

I tend to be inspired by the time of year. My quilts reflect the season in their colors.

I do not machine quilt yet but hope to start someday.

Patty said...

Congratulations!!I can machine baby quilts on my home machine and I saw a demo at a Bernina dealer who used a silicone spray for the base of her machine and table. It really seems to help cut down on the drag of the quilt.

KD-Quilts said...

Happy one year blogiversary! I have just joined the blogging world 2 months ago.
I haven't been quilting long but my inspirations come from all the wonderful blogs out there. And the best "tip" I have is basting spray...loves it...no more puckers on the backing!

SheilaC said...

I don't have much experience quilting so can't give you a tip.

But, I am inspired by the joy of giving! I always give every thing I make away, whether it is needlework or quilting! I hope to make a quilt for my OWN bed this year :)


Happy Anniversary and thanks for the give away!

SheilaC

Crystal Hendrix said...

I quilt to relieve stress. I love to when I am having a hard time to sit down and relax and sew. Then I have something AMAZING to look and cuddle with!!

Meghan said...

My inspiration usually comes from seeing others' completed projects, usually found on crafster.com or people's blogs. I also like looking at traditional blocks in some books I have and thinking of was I can "tweak" them.

I've only machine quilted two quilts, but my best advice is: use some scrap fabric and binding to make sure your tension is correct before diving into your quilt. This way, if it's off, you don't have to rip out the stitching and start over.

Happy blog-iversary!

Tong said...

Congratulations on your feature! My inspiration usually comes from other bloggers, their blogs and flickr photos. Some of my favourite blogs are redpepperquilts.com, filminthefridge.com, and favourite flickr group with TONS of amazing photos is http://www.flickr.com/groups/freshmodernquilts/

Thank you for the giveaway!

Deb said...

I love, love, love seeing pictures of others' finished quilts/patterns, etc. They really inspire me. Here's an example: Rachel over at p.s. i quilt just posted a swing quilt; it was beautiful!!! I loved the colors, size, everything. Now I've signed up to be notified when Fat Quarter Shop has the kits in stock! Being inspired gets expensive! :)

Mom on the Move! said...

I am inspired by all those great blogs and books out there. I love to thumb through and get ideas - there is a stack on my coffee table right now that I have gone through several times already. My favorite thing to do is hit the fabric store and just wonder around. I am a machine quilter - I can't imagine sitting and doing all this by hand. I don't have the patience for that unfortunately cause it would be great to be able to take a project somewhere while my 4 yr old plays. I don't have any great advice other than practice. I have lots of little pieces here and there where I have practiced stippeling which is what I am working on.

mascanlon said...

Wow, thanks for sharing your ideas and inspiration. The web is such a friendly place. Maybe next year i can get in on a swap!

Deanna said...

We like a lot of the same blogs, so, since we have so many of the same "friends" we should probably be friends, too. I don't have a blog myself, but I certainly receive inspiration reading others.

Thanks for the giveaway.

Jenna said...

Congratulations on your anniversary!

What inspires me is the contagious enthusiasm I find when I see someone else's creation. Once I catch it, I have to make something new myself.

Jeannette said...

Well since I am fairly new to quilting I don't really have advice for you :( however, what inspires me is all the stuff I see created in blog land! Congratulations too! I just started to blog not too comfortable yet.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Congratulations on your one year anniversary of blogging and also being featured on Amy's blog where I first read about you.
My tip to share is about machine quilting and maybe what you have heard before. It worked for me to just make up sandwiches and practice, practice, practice. Not perfect by any means, but comfortable and adequate now. I am still practicing.

Sharon@LoftyQuilts.com said...

Fabric color is what inspires me most, when quilting I like precision so I will draw my intended pattern with water soluble ink.

Jeanne said...

Congratulations! Please add my name to the drawing.

CJ said...

Just walking into my local fabric shop and seeing all the beautiful fabrics, esp. this spring I have found so many pretty spring colors and patterns, I can see them in a particulaar quilt pattern and boy do I get itchy fingers!!!

Debb said...

Congrats and happy one year

Myra said...

Wow! I guess I missed out on your 1-year giveaway while in Vegas, and playing catch-up Michelle!!! It was a lovely gift you offered!!! 8-)

Garsh... 8-)
Thanks for your kind words of me...

Happy stitchings, and here is to another year of blogging!!! ...?... I think I have an anniversary coming soon too!!?! 8-)