More Patsy Thompson Designs-Guest Post by my friend, Diane

Hopefully you have visited Gene's Blog and Marjorie's Blog to see what amazing creations they have made with Patsy Thompson Designs.  Make sure to leave the appropriate comments so you can be eligible to win a downloadable design from Patsy's website.  If you are a no-reply blogger, you can't be contacted if you win so make sure to include your e-mail address.

Today I have a guest blogger who has used Patsy's design Tulip Quartet Block to make a Tulip Tote Bag.   To be clear, this post is not part of the Patsy Thompson Design Blog Hop....I just wanted to give Diane an opportunity to share her thoughts and project.

Hi, I'm Diane and I'm a Patsy Thompson fan!  Not long ago our embroidery guild scheduled a class with Patsy to learn her technique for multiple hooping.  We made a beautiful wreath design on our embroidery machines.  Patsy uses a 'crosshair' design for multiple hooping, and I can tell you that really works for perfect placement in multiple hoopings. And get this - the crosshair design is FREE on Patsy's website under 'Education' and then 'Machine Embroidery'.  I have used the crosshair design in other projects as well.  Patsy's tutorials on the website are so detailed and user friendly, and fun to watch!  Patsy is a natural and her love of all things sewing/quilting/embroidery is evident in all she does.

 "Tulip Tote Bag" by  Patsy Thompson Designs 

Front View

 "Tulip Tote Bag" by  Patsy Thompson Designs

Back View

 I've had the pleasure of making her tulip totebag as well.  Literally every time I take it out in public women admire it and ask me where I got it or how they can make one.  I love it for the beautiful embroidery work and the bright, happy colors.

 Close up photos of Tulip Quartet Block

Patsy has an eye for color that is enviable.  'Happy' just radiates from all she creates.  Besides being extremely talented and creative, she is wonderful as well.  If you have the opportunity, take a class from her!  If you want to create something you will really love, try her designs and projects.  Watching these designs stitch out is mesmerizing and the finished product is something you will love. I've also had the opportunity take a class with Patsy for her free motion quilting technique and I learned so much and had such a great time.  Patsy is a true pioneer in all she masters and her love of sharing her knowledge is present in all her videos and classes.
Diane

Thank you Diane for sharing your experience and insights with those of us who enjoy machine embroidery and quilting!

 

Be sure to stop by Jean Creates Blog tomorrow to see what she has made for the Patsy Thompson Designs Blog Hop.

I Have A Notion Blog November 10th

Gene Black  November 11th (you are here) 

Marjorie's Quilting Bee November 12

Jean Creates November 13

SewCalGal  November 14

Smiles,

Kelly

Free-Motion Quilting, with Patsy Thompson

SewCalGal is delighted to be back as  a guest blogger at IHAN today.   

Kelly introduced me to Patsy Thompson, Free-Motion Quilting Expert, Quilt Designer, Teacher, Author, Doctor and all around amazing woman.  A few years back, Kelly knew I was interested in learning/improving my free-motion quilting skills.  She recommended Patsy's videos for free-motion quilting to me and needless to say, I was I've been delighted with all of Patsy's DVDs ever since.

I enjoy watching Patsy's DVD again and again, and even take them with me when I travel.  My attitude is "If I can't take my sewing machine with me, when I travel, I want to feel like I'm working on my quilting skills by watching Patsy's DVDs".  

Patsy's free-motion quilting  (FMQ) videos are high quality, easy to follow, well organized and will take you thru the steps to help you create spectacular free-motion quilting.  She has a well rounded collection that are grouped into excellent categories with corresponding titles:

FAST AND FREE
SewCalGal recommends the Fast and Free DVDs for those new to FMQ. Patsy goes thru the basics and will help a beginner gain confidence, learn great habits, and trouble shooting skills.  You'll soon be doing FMQ on your own projects, after watching these DVDs and be amazed how beautiful "your" FMQ looks!

 



VINES AND LEAVES
SewCalGal recommends the Vines and Leaves DVD to those interested in FMQ, from all skill levels, interested in creating a variety of styles using vine and leaf motifs.   Patsy covers basic vines and leafs, as well as many signature motifs that are easy to create and really look great on your projects too!  



FEATHERS
SewCalGal recommends the Fun with Feathers and Feather Adventure DVDs for confident beginners and those with advanced levels of FMQ experience that are interested in learning a variety of styles for creating spectacular feathers using FMQ.   Patsy does an excellent job covering basic feathers, but she also has many signature styles of feathers that you can easily apply to your projects, as well as make into your own style.  Her techniques for creating feathers have been one of the easiest for me to learn and I'm sure you can master them too, with her DVDs.








HYPERQUILTING
SewCalGal recommends the Hyperquilting manual to those that are confident with FMQ and want to learn Patsy's two step technique that creates amazing visual impact on your projects.  There are various FMQ Experts that teach a two step (two different threads) style of FMQ, but Patsy's "Hyperquilting" is one of the best I've ever seen.  You can apply this technique to your projects for every day quilts, art quilts, as well as heirloom quilts, but I'd highly recommend you gain expertise on this technique' if you want to "dazzle" quilt judges and have fun stitching award winning quilts!



I hope you can tell why I trust Kelly when she recommends product to me, as well as why, like Kelly, SewCalGal can happily recommend Patsy's wonderful FMQ DVDs and Hyperquilting manual.    Don't forget you can find all of these wonderful products at IHAN.  You may want to start with buying one, but you'll soon find you'll want another for a Birthday Gift, Anniversary Gift, Christmas Gift, or some other gift.  So be prepared......you'll want them all.  Of course, I've recommended to Kelly that she come up with a special bundle collection of Patsy's DVDs (after all Patsy's DVDs are better than the James Bond DVD collection)!  

And, while Kelly is currently with her mom in the hospital, IHAN is continuing to ship customer orders on a weekly basis.  The IHAN team is helping to fulfill orders.  So, don't hesitate placing your order with IHAN.  



If you would like to learn more about Patsy and her designs, you can find her at: 

•  Patsy Thompson Designs: http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/
• Blog:  http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/blog/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patsy-Thompson-Designs-LTD/139685489440973?fref=ts
•  

 Post  written by SewCalGal


THANK YOU SewCalGal....excellent review of Patsy Thompson's work!!!

For those of you who are local to the Toledo, OH area, Patsy also hosts classes at her studio.  CLICK HERE for more information about her classes and studio.   I hope you don't miss Patsy's free tutorials on her website....they are excellent.

Smiles,
Kelly 

Free Motion Magic with Patsy Thompson

This past Saturday, my friend Jean and I took a Free Motion Quilting class with Patsy Thompson. 

We seem to always have fun together and when Patsy Thompson is in the room, you are guaranteed to have a great time and learn to expand your free motion quilting skills.

Patsy started by showing us how to practice some designs on paper before we attempted to stitch them.  Some us don't draw well on a straight line much less going drawing South, North, East and West without picking up our pens.  So I was thinking, "I sure got some learnin' to do."

 

You can see Patsy is quite proficient at drawing in all directions.  It is absolutely fascinating to watch Patsy quilt.

 She holds both sides of her fabric sandwich lightly as she glides it under the needle.  Patsy uses Silicone Spray on the acrylic sewing surface of her sewing machine.  I was surprised to see how well it worked.  Patsy knows what she's talking about....the Silicone Spray works very well.

LUNCH BREAK

 

This is Karen Karr and she was in our class as well.  Karen has taken other classes with Patsy and clearly has made some impressive progress.

She brought this quilt to share with Patsy and the class.  Karen's quilt took First Place at the Wood County Fair.  You can't really see all the quilting that well in this photo...trust me is was beautiful!

LUNCH BREAK IS OVER

Using the Trueflex Ruler, Patsy taught us how she starts with a curved line and then adds leaves and feathers to the lines.  What a nice way to get consistent curves. 

 

 I just loved watching Patsy draw these designs...she makes it look so easy.

This is Patsy's quilting...clearly not mine :)

I headed back to my sewing station and got to work.  Lets just say, I'm making progress....and leave it at that.

I finally got into the swing of things and noticed I was creating my very own designs.

 

While doing some random practicing I noticed I had made this design below.

It is an original...exclusively mine...and I'm calling it "Echoing Butts"....because that is what it looks like...LOL.

I went back to look at some other designs I had made and I then saw the theme...more butts!  Doesn't that echoing stitch look like a rear end?  Hmmm...what does this all mean? 

As the class was wrapping up Patsy offered the samples she had made during class to the students.  (internal thoughts...Feet Don't Fail Me Now!!!)

 I asked her to autograph it and I'm going to put it in my sewing area so I can feel the inspirational vibes when I practice.

Patsy is an excellent teacher and was very patient with everyone.  I can't even begin to tell you about the quilts she brought to show...you'll have to check out her blog to see all those amazing quilts.  She told us we were such a quiet class.  Well yeah we were quiet....her quilts were breath taking and I dont' talk when I'm admiring such beautiful art.  If you want to take a class with Patsy Thompson, she has several excellent DVD's and you can have your own private class with Patsy.

When you visit Patsy's blog, make sure to check out her new passion, Machine Embroidery.  She has added some beautiful ME to some of her designs.

Smiles,

Kelly

PS...almost forgot to tell ya, I'm going to be on Sew We Quilt blog tomorrow.  AND you know what?  The giveaways are now open to everyone, no sponsors needed!!!  So get over there get to leavin' comments :)

Last Day- Patsy Thompson Designs Blog Hop

The feature blogger today on the Patsy Thompson Blog Hop is SewCalGal.  Have you been over to see her work and read the great ideas and information she has shared?  If not...just click HERE.

Be sure to stop by each of the 5 blogs that are participating and leave a comment so you will be eligible to win a downloadable design from Patsy Thompson Designs.

Patsy has posted several great tutorials and shared some of her beautiful work on her blog as well so be sure to hope over there....or just click HERE.

I want to take this opportunity to say

Thank You

 to 6 truly interesting, kind, talented and creative people who have made this past week possible:
Patsy Thompson wonderfully gifted teacher,  freemotion quilter and hyperquilter, machine embroidery designer, and award wining quilt artist.  Unless you have taken a class with Patsy or watched one of her DVD's....you can not really appreciate the gift Patsy has for teaching and sharing her joy and enthusiasm for quilting and machine embroidery.

Ernie Bode (Mr. Patsy Thompson...giggles) If you have not seen the beautiful sewing notions Ernie makes you can see them HERE and HERE.  The quality is top notch and I guarantee you'll be thrilled with his craftsmanship.) 

Gene Black Quilter, Artist and Weaver in Alabama.  If you don't follow Gene's blog or watch his YouTube Videos....you are really missing out on a fun loving creative mans adventure in quilting, art and weaving....not to mention cooking, baking, soap making and sooooo much more.


Marjorie from Blue Feather Quilt Studio who by the way is also a great machine embroidery digitizer and quilter.  Here works is lovely and you can find it HERE.

The very creative, talented, brave....this girl takes risks and reaches far outside her comfort zone to learn quilting and sewing techniques.  I admire her greatly....the wonderful Jean from Jean Creates

And last but certainly not least....the ever so dedicated, information providing, quilting industry supporting super hero....SewCalGal.

I'll post the links to the blog posts one last time here just to make your reading journey a bit easier.

I Have A Notion Blog November 10th

Gene Black  November 11th (you are here) 

Marjorie's Quilting Bee November 12

Jean Creates November 13

SewCalGal  November 14

Have a wonderful weekend and best of luck to all of you in the drawings on each blog!

Smiles,
Kelly

Kicking Off the Patsy Thompson Designs Blog Hop

Happy Monday to ya and welcome to day 1 of the Patsy Thompson Designs Blog Hop. 

Patsy has been so generous providing all of us who are participating in the hop designs to stitch out.  AND....there will be one winner chosen from each blog this week to select a downloadable machine embroidery design from Patsy Thompson Designs as well!!!!   How exciting is that?

Being an admirer of Patsy's work for years now, I have always wanted to be able to achieve a feathered wreath (one that actually looks like a feathered wreath and not a lopsided loopy mess).  My choice was a no brainer.... I choose the Majestic Feathered Wreath 1 & 2.  

Perfect beautiful wreaths....yep.....I can now achieve the same results using my embroidery machine.

Earlier this year I visited Jinny Beyer's Studio and purchased some beautiful border fabric and a coordinating green fabric.  Our kitchen is green and I thought the border print below would make a lovely table runner.

 Patsy's Majestic Feathered Wreathes on the black fabric and Jinny's border fabric on the outside.....how could I go wrong?

How many blocks did I make?  Twelve....yes...twelve!  Why?  I could not stop and I loved playing with different thread combinations.  And....well....there were those two blocks that I cut into while trimming the batting for a trapunto block (we wont' talk about that).  Patsy's designs are so much fun to play with and they are digitized very well.

I used Patsy's method of centering blocks.  She has posted a wonderful tutorial on her blog and you can read it HERE.  (If you are a video junkie like me, Patsy has lots of amazing videos that you can find HERE.)  You might notice I have double stitched each design (I just used the minus spool button and started each sequence again because I wanted the stitching to be a bit bolder).

Trapunto takes Patsy's wreathes into another realm all together.  They just pop right off of the piece squares.  The stabilizer and thread I used was by Floriani.  

After stitching the blocks on 9 1/2 inch black fabric I decided that the blocks were too large proportionally given the border I wanted to use.  Given I own so many rulers I knew I was bound to have the perfect one for the job....and I was right.

This Creative Grids 8 1/2" Fussy Cut Ruler was just the ticket!  I just laid the ruler over the top of my blocks and centered it over my design and rotary cut away the excess.  I'm one who hates fiddling with rulers so this made my job uber easy.

See...nice and uniform 8 1/2" blocks.  Then I needed a ruler to cut the triangles I set in around the squares.  Yep...had one of those too :)

I have no clue as to how I acquired this ruler...but I sure was glad I had it because it made cutting those triangles and corners a breeze.  You can find one HERE.

Back to those amazing Wreaths!!!

The border fabric on the side was approximately 3 inches wide.  Somehow the border seemed too thin.  If I used the wider border print it might take the focus off the Feathered Wreaths.

What about using the wider border just on the ends?  That looks pretty good....or so I think.

Next I need backing, batting and a binding.

I got as far as cutting the batting and had the thought.....What about making this table runner reversible?  Since the Feathered Wreaths are so much fun to make I thought I could make one identical to this one using different fabrics and colors and have two table runners in one.  I have not decided just yet.  The quilting will be fun because I'm going to outline the Wreaths and they will pop even more.

Speaking of popping...check out these close ups:

You can really see that I used 2 layers of wool batting.

What a great time I've had using Patsy's designs and I am so GRATEFUL she has been so generous...THANK YOU PATSY!!! 

There will be many more of Patsy's designs in my future :)  Would you like to see them in your future too?  Just leave a comment on this blog post telling me which of Patsy's designs you like best...you can find them by clicking HERE.  Did you know Patsy has recently added Pre-Cut Applique Shapes too?  You can see all of them HERE.

Would you like 5 extra chances to win?  Sign up for Patsy Thompson Designs Newsletter by clicking HERE.

Best of luck to everyone and be sure to stop at each of the blogs to increase your chances of winning.

Gene Black An Alabama Artist and Quilter Blog   11/11/14

Marjorie’s Quilting Bee Blog   11/12/14

Jean Creates Blog   11/13/14

Sew Cal Gal Blog   11/14/15

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Big Ole Giant Majestic Smiles,
Kelly