My First Quilt

As a new parent and home economics teacher, I love watching PBS on Saturday mornings.  This featured the Sewing with Nancy and a new program, Quilt in a Day. After watching a few episodes of Quilt in a Day, I believed that I could actually do this!

Talking with Eleanor Burns, photo by Katie Johansen

I went out and bought my first rotary cutter, ruler and mat, and some fabrics.  

My Mother’s Sewing Machine

I then borrowed my Mother’s sewing machine.  Then I created this wall hanging.  

My first quilt

In case you were wondering, I didn’t bind it.  However I did machine quilt it using a standard presser foot—thus the quilted puckering.

It didn’t matter, I then in love with the process.  I quickly made one for my sister in blues and mauve.  And then I made one in black, mint and coral for my soon to be sisters-in-law.  Each time I created one I fell more in love with the process.  Can anyone relate?

Who would have thought one PBS show and one simple wall hanging would lead me to the life I am living today.

My Favorite Quilting Tool

I missed yesterday’s post, since I was traveling back to Nebraska.  My Mother blacked out on Sunday and has been in out of the hospital since then.  She is doing much better, so I will catch up with yesterday’s prompt of my favorite tool.

While I have many, I would have chose the rotary cutter and acrylic rulers. If you have ever used templates and scissors to cut out a quilt, you will have appreciate the way the rotary cutter and rulers have improved the quilting process.  The accuracy and the time reducer that the rotary cutter and rulers have given quilters opened the door to many quilters who didn’t have lots of extra time for creative pursuits.

I so love these tools, I cut my garments and other projects out with them also.

Take Some Personal Time

I hope everyone can find some time to spend at their sewing machine creating and inspiring themselves and others!

A Small, but Mighty, Sewing Studio

Today's prompt for the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com is sewing space.

I have never used the words, small, but mighty to describe anything in my life except my current sewing space.  In 2012 my husband and I downsized our home.  It was a smart move since all of the boys had left home.  This also meant that I left behind a very large and much loved sewing studio.

So I have had to make some choices about what I want to focus on, and what I really love to work with to keep my creativity within its boundaries.  I remember Alex Anderson discussing her decision not to build a larger sewing studio.  She reasoned that a larger addition/studio would raise her taxes, so there was the financial aspect.  She also knew that her current space was working, but it probably just needed to be decluttered.  That helped me to focus on what I really love to work with in my studio and to let go of the other stuff.

In addition Cheryl Sleboda also hosts a Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop.  This has encouraged me to dig deeper into my space and find forgotten things to work with and remove unnecessary items.

I have discovered that I am in love with sewing machines of all kinds.  I just wish they didn't need so much space.  I am also a “tool gal”, having the right tool for the right job makes a world of difference.  But I have discovered that no matter what size you have to work in, you can still be creative and make wonderful things!

Now I need to clean up some creative clutter in my studio!

The 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

This month I am participating in the 31 Day Blog Post Challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com.   

She has created a list of fun posts to share with all of you and I am excited to be a part of the fun! 

So let me introduce myself, I started quilting shortly after the birth of my first son, and I haven't stopped since.  

I have always had an interested in all creative things thanks to my creative influences, my Mother and Grandmother.  They were great at taking a few resources and creating something wonderful.

I live in central Missouri, U.S.A. where I teach sewing and quilting classes.  I am also an online instructor with Craftsy/Bluprint and on my own platform, which can be found on my website: www.LindaBrattenCreations.com.

I have a free monthly newsletter and companion Facebook group, Linda B Creative where I share projects and Quilt-alongs to inspire my fellow creative people. Please subscribe to join in the fun, by Clicking Here!

The is the Pumpkin Spice Quilt-Along project from the Linda B Creative Facebook Group

While my roots are traditional quilts, I really love to create Studio/Art Quilts.  My passion is to use mixed media products to enhance my sewing and quilting projects.  Do any of you use mixed media products on your projects?  I would love to hear what you use and how you use it.

This is one of my favorite wall hangings, Peacock Passion.

I hand painted the peacock on Dupioni silk.

 Be sure to check out all the other bloggers participating in the 31 Day Blog Challege, they can be found here!

Off to write my  Linda B Creative Newsletter for December!

Testing a Quilt Pattern

Recently a call went out to find pattern testers for a new pattern designed by Gosia Pawlowska of Quilts My Way.  I had just finished the final class of the Paper Snowflakes BOM, and I was looking for a quick project to inspire and motivate me to plan for my 2020 classes.

This pattern really caught my eye and looked like a fun project. I submitted my application and was excited to be approved. Gosia had included a coloring page to help us choose where to put the fabrics. This allowed us to preview what the quilt will look like, and decide if the colors chosen will work together.

Next, I assessed my stash and pulled what I thought would be fun fabrics to work with.  I created a list of needed fabric pieces. Then I was off to shop for the missing pieces!  

The pattern came as a PDF file and some of the larger pieces needed to be joined together.

A light box really helped with this process.

After all the pieces were done, I have to admit I was a bit intimidated.  I may have even wondered what I had gotten myself into!

I used a second copy of the coloring page and a highlighter to mark the sections off as I created them.  It was just like putting together a puzzle, but keeping things organized was the key. The quilt started coming together, and I was able to enjoy the process.

I was so excited to see the pieces come together, but as a tester, I needed to be objective in offering feedback that could help the designer create a great pattern.

On the next post I will share some more of this process!

Off to finish my project,

Finishing the Paper Snowflakes BOM at Rooster Creek Quilting

This is the quilt I demonstrated techniques with.

This month I hosted my final Paper Snowflakes BOM class.  The class focused on developing and learning a wide variety of foundation paper piecing techniques.  I had a great bunch of quilters to work with and I want to share with you what they accomplished!

Enjoy the Paper Snowflake Parade!

Rose made this quilt for her grandson's girlfriend.  She used two kits to create a larger quilt.

These are Laura's blocks, the colors in her blocks give them a strong retro feel.

Susan did a wonderful job getting all her blocks done even as she was recovering from an injury!

Marti couldn't make the last session, but she sent a photo of her finished top.  I can't wait to see it in person!

Terri is auditioning different fabrics for her setting blocks.

Virginia has everything ready to sew together.  She even managed to find a different fabric for her border.

Alma is all set to sew her block together, but there was some discussion about changing some fabric choices.  I am excited to see the results.

Beth is also exploring the option of a different setting fabric.  Her blocks have a fun 30's flair to them.

Debbie is creating her quilt for a nephew, lucky guy! The Fall colors in her quilt are gorgeous.

Donna brought a puzzle for me to solve.  I hope we figured everything out.  I am excited to see the results.

Julie brought a lot of options to the wall.  We all agreed on the bold pink setting blocks.  The inner border is open to what is available.

Judy did a wonderful job making the quilt larger by adding a decorative border piece.  I think she is a bigger Hugh Jackman fan than I am!

Next up is the Dynamic Duo!

I would like to think that Irma and Peggy had so much fun in class that they couldn't wait to create a second quilt at home.  Both did a fabulous job and here are the results.

This was Erma's class project, a black and white version.

Here is what Erma did on the side.  This was my friend from this post: https://lindabcreative.blogspot.com/2019/10/asking-for-friend.html

This is Peggy's class quilt, check out those fancy corner blocks in the border!

This was Peggy's second quilt.  I love the mitered borders!

 I apologize to Diana. I know you were in the class, but somehow I didn't get a picture of you and your quilt. 

Since this last session was optional, not all participated.  I hope that you will bring your finished tops and quilts to a Rooster Creek Guild Meeting so I can see them.

Now on to making plans for next year!