~ Best of 2018, Part 2 ~

For part 2 of the Best of 2018 hosted by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs I decided to once again leave it to my fabulous followers.  Today's "best" is the top 5 post that generated the most conversation.  Boy do we quilters love to chat!  Once again I'll be going listing them in order from small to large.  I also didn't include giveaway posts in the list.

Stars and Stripes, 7-8-18, comments 18

What a patriotic group!  This quilt stirred up quite the conversation on all my social media.  I've had several quilters ask for the pattern.  Well I started writing it and when it came time to add the instructions for the border I stopped.  The reason? Finding a way to describe how to made the border on this quilt.  I would hate to have someone buy the pattern, cut the fabric, and then my instructions for the border be unsatisfactory.  The border is what makes this quilt so wonderful.  So if you've been waiting on this pattern I've a question for you.  Would you be ok with no templates for the border?  The instructions would be to measure and eyeball the curve because that's how I made it.  So if you are okay with that, then I would be more than happy to finish the pattern.

This and That, 1-22-18, comments 19

I can tell I've a lot of followers that love babies.  This post was to announce my newest grand child, Mason.   We all go ga-ga over babies!  I have to admit every time a see a baby picture I can't help but smile.  I'm not sure why we do this.  Is it because we reminisce about our own children or is it a instinct of being a woman to love all babies?   He has grown so much and soon will be a year old.  But you'll have to wait till then to see how big he has gotten.

Oh How Do I Quilt Thee, 12-17-18, comments 20

The comments on this post were so much fun to read.  It's always interesting to hear what other quilters like and why.   Sometimes something someone says can alter the way I design a quilt or quilt a quilt.  Inspiration can come in many forms.  This post was also hard to share due to I don't have a big fancy machine.  My hope was to inspire others to do the best they can with what they have and keep trying.  It breaks my heart when quilters get discouraged and think the only way to improve their skills is to buy the newest shiny object.  Many beautiful quilts have been made with the very basic of tools.  

Blue Quilt Marker=Brown Marks, 1-16-18, comments 22.

Who hasn't had issues with marking a quilt only to find the marks are permanent.  Over the years I've found there is not one fail safe method.  Just when I think I've found the perfect product to mark my quilts it will fail me.  So all I can do is find a way to fix the problem.  Recently I was thinking about making the switch to Crayola Washable Markers.  They were on my shopping list until a fellow quilter shared her devastating story of the marks staying on the quilt.  Oh that poor lady!  But I was also grateful for her honesty.  And we won't even talk about the horror stories I've read about Frixon pens.  For now I'll stick with this method of marking my quilts until they come out with a fail proof method.

Fudging It, 12-6-18, comments 29.

You just never know when you're going to stir up commotion in blog land.  This turned out to be a great post about getting real.  So many quilters felt relieved knowing the accurate piecing challenge is real.  We all struggle to make great quilts.   I want to thank everyone who came forward and commented on this post about their own quilting struggles.  It was a great discussion that encouraged many quilters to keep moving forward even with a few errors.  We tend to show our best in most situations whether it be about quilting or in our real lives.  It's nice to just let it all hang out and be truthful.  We've all heard the old saying....."Honesty is the best policy".   I think one of my biggest pet peeves in the quilting community is on Facebook and other social media sites when quilters ask other quilters to stop mentioning their mistakes and faults.  If you never acknowledge a mistake you can never improve.  You must first know there is a problem before you can fix it, right?  Right!    But just because we are honest and share our faults does not mean we dwell on them. 

Thanks again for following along on my quilting journey.  I'll see you tomorrow for the last of the

 "Best of 2018" series.  You can see Part 1 by clicking here.  Don't forget to hop over to Meadow Mist Designs to see more Bests of 2018 posts.

#bestof2018 #meadowmistdesigns #podunkpretties #baileyhomequilter

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~ Oh How Do I Quilt Thee ~

Over the years I've been asked several times if I send my  quilts out to be quilted.  No.  

The next question is always do you have a longarm?  No.  

So today I'm going to share my secret tool.  I quilt my quilts on a Bailey Home Quilter 15 Pro, on a Hinterburg Stretch frame.  

My frame right now is covered in fabric, well really the entire studio is a disaster zone.  So here's a pretty frame picture borrowed from the internet. However that is not a Bailey Machine.  This frame has been discontinued but is still available.  I don't recommend it, with all the great frames available right now.  If I were buying one now I would purchase a Grace Continuum Frame.

Here's my monster, she's not pretty but she gets the job done.  I've made several "adjustments" to her over the years.  Would I recommend this machine?   Sure if its all you can afford.  This machine and frame can often be found used for around $2000.   I love this machine because she allows me to do what I love a little quicker and easier.  Would I love to have a big fancy machine, you betcha! But I can't justify the purchase.  $20,000 to quilt my own quilts just doesn't make good money sense.  The Bailey is a good machine, a workhorse and I can service her myself.  She's been a member of my studio for 8 years, give or take a year or so.  Not one trip to be repaired.  Most of my machines I maintain myself.  As you can see in the picture below I've "adjusted" a few things to make her work well for me. 

Here's what a Bailey looks like brand new.  Now you know why I call mine a monster.

Most who see my quilts think they have been done by a bigger and better machine. 

 I can't stress enough you don't need a $20,000 machine to make pretty quilting.  You don't even need a frame quilter.  Quilts win shows everyday that have been quilted on a domestic machine.  What it does take is patience and a lot of practice.    

I get a good chuckle when a longarmer asks me what brand of longarm I own.  The look on their face is usually priceless.

The reason I purchased this monster is because I love the look of quilts that are quilted to death. 

But in the last couple of years I've been quilting them a little less.  I've no clue how to quilt a panto design.  I've never even tried.  The waves on the quilt below was done by drawing the first wavy line and then I moved down 2 inches and my best to mimick the stitched line above.  Sometime this year I would like to tie one of my quilts.  I tied one for a friend a couple of years ago and I tell you what...I LOVED IT!  It was so soft and cuddly.  So I'm curious, what's your favorite quilting style?  Hand quilted?  Quilted to death? Or Tied?

#baileyhomequilter #framequilter # midarmquilter #podunkpretties #quiltittodeath

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Bailey Home quilter Education

Just like many of you I belong to several different online quilting forums and groups.  Before I purchased my Bailey Home Quilter I joined a yahoo group to do my homework before buying.  Well it became my life line.  I'll admit I had buyers remorse for about a year.  The gals were really helpful.  So to pay them back and to help new quilters I've decided to make a few videos on FMQ and Ruler Work with the Baileys.  Its not a bells and whistles kinda quilter but it can do the job.  The current quilt will be my teaching quilt.  If you own a Bailey and want to see how I do things you can find me on youtube just search Bailey Home Quilter and I'll come up.  The newest video will be posted by the end of this week.  I'd like to say tomorrow, but I've an appointment tomorrow that could take longer than expected.  Anyway here's whats on the frame.

 In the first video I'll show you how I FMQ the corner motif and vines.

And just because it made me laugh!

That's how I look when I wake up in the mornings.

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Gaining control of my BHQ

Just thought I'd share how to get more control when quilting on a frame.  When doing small detail work your machine seems to want to fly all over the place.  Especially if you have a light weight like mine.  After doing hours of research I found that you can make rice bags...like I want to sew a bag.  NOPE!  The directions called for (2) 2 lb bags.   So I decided I would cheat and just roll up some yardage and it worked!  The other thing that you need to do in order to get more control is to lower your quilt till it lays directly on the bed of your machine.  You don't want to much drag or distortion of your backing.  Then lay your weight of choice up against you take up bar.  This works like a charm!  Micro handles also help a great deal.    You can get several different machine micro handles here. Mine have be modified by me. I know it doesn't look pretty but it functional.  I've also taken the front cover off of my machine for better visibility.

Now since my machine is so lightweight I've also weighted it down.  This stays on my machine all the time no matter what type of quilting I' doing.  Because of the extra weight added I NEVER leave my machine in the middle of my frame overnight, its pulled to one end or the other and parked.

And there you have it!  Nothing to it!  So until next time..."Quilt out of your comfort zone!"

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