S Curve, Circle, and Basket Quilting

'Am working on a customer project of a wall piece of applique.  This a a beautifully done quilt top made by a skilled quilter so I need to do it justice with quilting.  I needed a background fill with interest and quilting of a flower basket .  Since it is not my quilt,  I can only show the quilting motifs used.  I love the background fill of echoed S curves and small circles.  Because there are plenty of curves in the applique designs, before I began any S curve quilting, I did a 1/4" straight stitch around the flower basket and the inside edge next to the border.  This adds a mental sense of order that benefit the many curves.   All the better with directional changes of echoed groups of S curves. A thread that is slightly darker than the background fabric makes the quilting show up.  I used a gorgeous longarm cone of a neutral  thread made by Glide (color name= Shell). By the way, my Gammill seems to like Glide threads.  Thank you  to whoever invented thread stands. In additon to the many drawers  of domestic machine threads 'stashed", I can also use some longarm threads on my domestic machine work.

The fabric used for the basket  was likened to curved cobblestone. The individual stones begged me to do a darker outline stitch in the mortar areas. This was not rocket science but you can see the improved texture of the individual 'bricks' that successfully translate to an interesting basket surface. .

Those pieces of applique that lie across the basket surface really show up.   (All applique was outlined with super thin monofilament before any work began on this quilt. )

My next effort will be to use the same monofilament to do as little quilting as possible on florals ( just enough to show off fussy cut fabrics  w/ petal changes)  I am not often  thrilled with  visable ( regular) thread atop florals. ( the exception...  sometimes stamens ).  This project will overall take nearly as much time as a lightly quilted  bed quilt but this piece of art  calls for special attention to show off the top makers work.

Honoring Diana's Sea Star

 How gorgeous and alive is this???!!!!!

Dear student from my last years retreat... Diana Bicknell's Sea Star quilt took second place at the Gem Of The Ocean Art Quilt Show in Oregon!!

The show juried in about 100 quilts from 5 different countries. 

Diana was just thrilled to be juried in .... and then..... she was surely even more thrilled when she learned her Sea Star won second place and some nice prize $.   

She used  Tsukineko inks and the pens on the quilt to make it look 3D. 

Congratulations Diana.... you deserve it... it's  stunning  :-) 

Hugs... Patt 

Never Give Up !!!!

From the bulletin board of a new friend!  Amen!

So Thankful for San Diego Friendship Quilters

What a wonderful world it was this last weekend.  We did 2 workshops and a guild lecture ( laugh session) across the weekend and Monday evening this week. Carol Kaplan was my program host extraordinaire. THANK YOU Carol.  Hope Campbell let me stay in her B and B room. Lots of help at the guild meeting too.. Thank you Mary Tabar, Wendy Mathieson, and many more. Life was pretty sweet for me this weekend. Thank You ALL.

 Sunday was a skill builder workshop called The Filling Station  where new filler motifs were tried  and those that  students liked would hopefully be applied  in their own work.  I don't usually show student work from this session as I wanted all to be free to try things without judgement/concern.  Click here if you wish to see what this class is about ( scroll down to the Quilters Filling Station entry).   Such fun/great students Sunday. THANK YOU ALL!!!!

Monday was a MEDIA MIXER with every students work different than another. Collaging to fabric, stamping, stenciling, etc.   So fun!
Here are a few I was able to catch as the day ended...

This happy piece was created by Gloria Muano...

I can't wait to see this fully finished. This is in the early design stage with pieces loosely placed where they will be put down permanently. Carol Kaplan has  calligraphy phrasing to add at home.  I love this neutral palette.

Here, Carol Kaplan and Elaine Swatnicki stand with Elaines finished collage. That was Monday afternoon.

Already I received a photo of her  quilted/ finished work.  AMAZING!  These collages each tell a story. So nice. I apologize I didn't get all photographed.  These make wonderful personalized gifts.

This piece was designed with a granddaughter in mind. . . One who longs to go to Paris.  I bet she gets to go. ;-D

There's quite a romantic feeling here... definitely a love of nature. 

You know there's an interesting story behind this fun piece 

Thanks to all who made my time so memorable. 

 If you'd like to more about this class, click here to go to pattsclasses.blogspot.com and scroll to Media Mixer.

Change is Coming! Thursday the 9th

Just a heads up for thursday Mar. 9th, ...  the hosting server for my web site/mail will change to a new company next Thursday.  If you have difficulty getting to my  web site or email... it is likely because the transition is in progress  as multiple direction servers around the web learn the new server location to direct queries and mail..   THANKs all...    You know this makes me nervous even though I've checked/ communicated  with the new hosting company a bunch.   Students  urgently looking for various one day class descriptions and supply lists may click here to go directly to  http://www.pattsclasses.blogspot.com