SewCalGal 2012 FMQ Challenge Bonus #3 Diane Loomis

I am so very pleased with how this turned out.  Thank you to SewCalGal for hosting the 2012 FMQ Challenge and to Diane Loomis, who so graciously provided every single step to ensure near perfection.  What a fantastic teacher!  Never before have I been able to create such a beautiful piece - if I never make anything nicer in my entire life, I'll be satisfied.  :-)

Steps to Success:

1.  Purchased Hari Walner's book "Exploring Machine Trapunto:  New Dimensions" upon Diane Loomis' recommendation:

2.  Used a Frixion pen for the first time - the ability for fine detail was very important here for the sometimes tiny feathers:

3.  Used a light box to trace onto the fabric with my new Frixion pen 

4.  Read Hari Walner's informative book and along with Diane's instructions, also followed Hari's:

5.  Utilized "Vanish Extra" wash-away thread in the top, but used Guettermann cotton thread in the bobbin:

6.  Set my tension to 2.2 for the fine wash-away thread:

7.  Used a small scissors very carefully to clear away the excess wool batting:

8.  Switched to Guettermann embroidery thread in top and cotton bobbin thread once I prepared the quilt sandwich:

9.  And here 'she' is!

This time, I quilted very slowly...much more so than I ever had before.  

Do you like it?

Keep working on your goal - it took me two full years of summers and weekends to get this far!  

Best Wishes,

October fmq - name and fillers

This month's quilting expert is Teri Lucas.  She provided a very interesting challenge, stitch your own name in the block then fill the block in using a variety of fillers and threads.  Teri suggested satin fabric.  However, I didn't have any satin readily available, so I did the practice sandwich on white cotton/linen fabric with cotton batting and a Schmetz 90/14 embroidery needle.

I quilted my daughter's name and did not mark the fabric.  Her name ended up being off centre and not straight.  So on my fmq sample quilt I marked my name with a Sewline ceramic pencil.

It was good fun trying different threads with each filler.

The blue pebbling is 100% polyester embroidery thread from Marathon threads in Winnipeg.

 I stuck in the top left corner of the red grid lines and ended up making what looks like a little roof.

The green heart-shaped leaves are 100% cotton quilting thread.

 My first attempt at sewing nautilus shells.

I love the neon orange thread, it makes those flowers look happy.

 

Fellow quilters, did you enjoy this challenge?  Would you quilt your name on your quilts?

Giveaway

I've got a giveaway going on over at my blog.  Click HERE to get the info.