On Saturday I was lucky enough to be invited as a guest to a Longarm Quilt Guild Meeting in Maumee, OH. I know almost nothing about longarm quilting and I wanted to know more about the process so I jumped at the opportunity.
Show and tell was too much fun. Look at these amazing quilts.
This is a Celtic Wedding Ring. It is pieced in squares and the "elbows" are needle turn applique.
This is Cindy.....the woman with the "patience of a saint" to put the Celtic Wedding Ring together. Didn't she choose beautiful colors for her quilt?
When I saw this next beauty, I instantly thought of Moda Bake Shop Sampler. However, in the Sampler there are only 480 squares. This quilt has 2000....yes....two thousand squares. It was made by Sheryl Guess.
I really like how Sheryl laid out the squares. Can you imagine the work involved?
I really like green so you know this one jumped out at me. It was made by Lisa Spalding and the pattern is Magic Tiles.
Here is a close up so you can see the fabrics.
After show and tell we were indulged in an amazing pot luck lunch. I was thinking it would be worth joining the guild just to take part in their quarterly potluck. These folks know how to cook.....unlike someone else I know.
Don't I look happy and at total ease with Lisa's longarm quilting machine?
Oh yea baby.....I'm a natural.
This is a picture of my very first free motion quilting. I just zipped right along .... sort of like a Zen Master Meditating. I was at total peace and my breaths were even and deep.....in and out....completely at one with the machine, fabric and thread.
Ok, I lie like a rug (but you knew that). This is actually my first work and I was sweating like a hog. I was scared for some strange reason (I think it is because the black handles reminded me of my first time learning to ride a motorcycle.....I turned it over and darn near cried). I'm so glad that machine was on a big table and the room was full of nice people....because if it had turned over on me.....I would have been traumatized beyond recovery....LOL.
Being a Psychologist by profession, I just so happen to know a little bit about IQ. But that knowledge was completely useless on Saturday.
This IQ refers to IntelliQuilter!!! I had never even heard of such an invention. It is a computer controlled quilting system. Who knew? I'm so glad I was not in the Cash Cab being asked what this referred to....LOL.
Check this out. Lisa punched in some numbers on a computer screen and this is what happened:
I won't be doing anything this cool anytime soon but at least I know some of the lingo!!
The last piece here was made by Rich Spalding. I loved this Dragon Quilt. Rich used a pattern by MedowLyon Designs.
After quilting the design he used Paintsticks to highlight the areas he found interesting. I think this is soooo cool. Did I mention.....Rich has his own longarm machine? I thought that was really neat....both Lisa and Rich do longarm quilting. I was fortunate enough to meet some other couples who also use the longarm quilting machines.
The meeting was very enjoyable and again I got the opportunity to meet some very interesting and kind people. By the way, many of them liked my Spanky Fleece Socks!!!
Smiles,
Kelly
Why wasn't I invited....looked like alot of fun and way above my league...
ReplyDeleteWhoa, what a cool guild! Wish I lived closer. I will have to tell my BFF who lives near Akron (I know that's a long way, buy hey, you never know).
ReplyDeletelooked like fun... I was amazed at your pic with the longarm. It suits you. You need one...
ReplyDeleteI need to go try one some day. In the meantime I'll free motion on my sewing machines.
Great post. I'm excited to hear that there is a longarm guild. Had not hear about such a guild previously. And I love your socks too!
ReplyDeleteSewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Aww, c'mon Kelly - your free motion quilting is pure non-traditional - almost psychedelic! Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDelete