Joan Ladendorf

This holiday weekend was full of friends and time outside. I hope everyone had a relaxing enjoyable holiday.

I had a reconnecting moment with an old friend this weekend. My DH clipped ads for local art fairs out of the paper. He can be so surprising after all these years.  On our way to the store we made a stop at one of the fairs. As we were walking through the artists booth I was automatically drawn into this booth.

Turns out this art is made from fiber and unexpectedly from a former member of PAQA – Joan Ladendorf.  I had not seen Joan in years, so I went up and reintroduced myself. She said of course she remembered me, but I wanted to make sure. I am terrible myself with names and really appreciate when people remind me who they are where I know them from. Anyway her work has really evolved since the days when I knew her, it was a real pleasure to see her new work and to visit with her in the heat of the day. Life is full of wonderful surprises.

Beautiful weather and good friends

My poppies are starting to bloom. I love to see them in all their glory and I have a gorgeous mix of poppy reds and soft melons, they look so pretty in the garden together.

We went to dinner last night at a dear friends house out in the country. It was a gorgeous day and evening. We sat outside to eat and had great political discussions. It is exhilarating to be able to debate with friends the world at large. To disagree and be happy afterwards that you got to air your ideas and no one’s feelings got hurt. We live in a great country.

Randi, Frieda and Betty three of the four dames.

The Quilt Show

Alex Anderson stopped by the booth in Mpls, we hadn't seen each other since Houston last year. It was great to reconnect and catch up on what is happening.  My scheduled appearance on the Quilt Show will be Episode #705 posting August 30, 2010. If you haven't already signed up for my newsletter you should send me your email. All the people on my newsletter will get to view the show for FREE. This is a great opportunity so tell a friend.

Machine Quilting

I had the most pleasant and gratifying experience while going into Quilt Market one morning this past week. A woman stopped me in the hall and introduced herself by saying she took my Machine Quilting class in Des Moines this past fall. She then proceeded to tell me how much she enjoyed it and how she finally got the hang of quilting because of this class and thought that it was the best class she had taken in a long time.

As a teacher this is what you hope to convey to all of your students and it is very rewarding to hear this kind of feed back. I personally have a hard time tooting my own horn.

I will be teaching this class again in the fall at Houston at the IQF show the first of November. If you have been wanting to improve your machine quilting skills here is your chance. Last year the class filled really fast and I hope if you are planning on going to the show that you get a chance to take this class if it is on your list. Go on line early to register.

“Woodland Treasures II” machine quilted with #30 weight rayon thread and YLI silk thread on cotton and silk fabric.

Quilt Market

Quilt Market is the wholesale end of the quilting industry. It is always an eye opener to see what the latest trends are. It seems to me there were a lot of people doing children’s clothing and purses. Purses are big right now.

I  LOVE  what I am doing  making new art quilts and being a fuser. People walk by the booth and say, “What is the Chicago School of Fusing?” is it a real school? Oh how I wish we were, Laura and I talk about it all the time. But alas not yet.

Here is a picture of the booth this year with my friend Jeanie from Kaleidoscope Kreator. 

Homespun magazine

I made an error on my blog on May 12th and I must apologize.

The wonderful  publication Homespun magazine's editor is Catherine Sanchez.

I wrote that Deborah Segaert was the editor of Homespun magazine which is FALSE she is the editor of Down Under Quilts, my bad.

Please forgive my  foggy brained jag lagged error.

More stitch in the ditch

So I have been asked what thread I use in the bobbin. I always use cotton in the bobbin. I like to use a #50 or #60 weight bobbin thread. I usually use one of three brands, YLI, Aurifil or Coats and Clark, all make really nice colors and good quality thread. But I buy all kinds of thread in all different colors because I match the bobbin color to the top. I have found with my Janome 6600 I rarely have to adjust my tension even with the very thin silk top thread.

I also find that my fusible pieces do not release. I think for a couple of reasons, I am using mostly my own hand dyed fabrics and they don't have any kind of starch or sizing on them so the fusible sticks well. I apply fusible to the whole fabric and then cut out my pieces.  But when I do use commercial fabrics I make sure that I have washed the fabric to remove all sizing so that the fusible sticks. I only use WonderUnder fusible web and find that it comes me NO problems and then I make sure that I steam set all my fused pieces after quilting.

Stitch in the Ditch

I like to outline stitch around the design elements in my quilts. No matter if they are fused or pieced I stitch in the ditch when ever possible around the designs. You can see here the red stitching around the veins in this fused version of my Dancing Trees. I stitch right next to not on top of the design, Stitching in the Ditch. I have used #30weight Madeira rayon thread. I like the beautiful colors and heavier weight thread because they show up so well.

Minneapolis spring Quilt Market

I am getting ready for the spring market in Minneapolis this weekend. I haven’t been to market in two years.

I hope if you are going to be there you will stop by the booth #1805

The Chicago School of Fusing PatternWorks

See you there.

New Patterns

I finally got around to posting my new patterns on the website. If you are interested please take a look.

May Birthdays

It’s funny to me that so many of my friends have May and June birthdays. Every year the May girls get together to celebrate and of course there is food and fun. This year we celebrated at Emily’s house. We haven’t been there in awhile and it was great to see what she has been up to. She has two new bathrooms and a living room with furniture in it. For awhile there was no furniture in the living room and the kids could just run around and have fun. Her kids are getting older now, so a more formal life style. Thanks Emily for a great lunch and good times.

Emily, me, Judy, Laura. Anne Lullie was unable to make it this year. Too bad we missed you.

Once Upon a Time

Deborah Segaert the editor of “Homespun” Australian quilt magazine was in my class at the AQS convention at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Victoria, Australia.

You can see what she made in class if you go to her blog. It always fascinates me to meet new people and I love opening their eyes to the new possibilities that are out there in the quilting world, quilting has embraced some many new and exciting opportunities, it makes working with fabric and thread an adventure.

Home

I had a wonderful trip to Australia and meet so many new and interesting people, but it always feels so good to be home.

Thanks to all the ladies from down under who came to class and did such a great job! I’m ready for a nap.

Kaleidoscope Kreator

Jeanie and her husband  own and designed the company that make Kaleidoscope Kreator.

It is a wonderful software that allows you to create your own kaleidoscope imagery. I first met them at Houston several years ago when their booth was across from us at the quilt show. Since then we have become fast friends and I always enjoy seeing what is new and exciting in their program. I think you will really enjoy visiting their website.