trifle dish sew-along

Looky, looky....another new sew-along and this one brought to you by the Moda Bake Shop! It is somewhat of a surprise too, because there isn't a picture of the final design until the beginning of July! Are you curious? Well, you should be! This one is rather a down and dirty sew off. The entire top quilt is set up to be sewn in JUNE! There is just a two day break between instructions, too. Are you ready for the challenge? If you are, follow the link below. I am curious to see what you can make and your fabric choices. Happy Sewing!

http://www.modabakeshop.com

summer sewing with Jump Start!

Now that I have slowed down my pace (or turned into a slow blogger), I am starting to enjoy sewing once again.

At the beginning of the year, I loaded myself down with countless Sew & Quilt Alongs and got a little overwhelmed. After realizing I had a little bit more free time (without commitment) I joined up in a new and short summer series for EQ7 called Jump Start! It is a great program for helping you feel more confident using the computer program that you probably bought when it first came out and forgot you even had it. ;-) Although I have designed a few quilts with EQ, I thought it would be fun to join in the fun. I enjoy seeing what everyone else is creating!

The SAL is organized and presented by Jenny who is very competent. She has a video for each lesson telling you straight up what to do. Jenny is also a great cheerleader! ;-)

Our last lesson was to change a few lines around of the Twin Star block to create a new variation. Then we were to print out foundation pieces for a nine inch block. I thought this was a very great lesson for those of us who want to know more about paper piecing templates. If you what to be an accurate piecer....paper piecing can help you. Since this block could be a little tricky with the bias triangles, I think this method is the better choice for piecing. However, I don't like to waste my precious fabric, especially this yummy line from Marcus Brothers called Next Wave by Studio 37. So, I would advise you to cut four inch squares to make HST as templates for sewing. Only the fabric in the center square will be about five inches; four inch squares will accommodate the rest.

I am really looking forward to the next tutorial to see if Jenny will mix it up again. (Good thing I didn't sew ahead!!) I also hope she has a lesson on an interesting border, maybe even sashing??

If you would like to know more about EQ7 and how the program works, you can check it out or just join in the fun. I am sure it is not too late!

impressions from Nadelwelt 2014

We recently had one of our biggest patchwork and hand crafting conventions in Germany in Karlsruhe. It was the first time that I had the pleasure of attending and didn't really know what to expect. I had visited a crafting convention in Ulm, but that was almost eight years ago. A lot of things have changed since then! Or haven't they? I have at least. I know my taste and style.

My family was nice enough to join me for this big outing. We made it an all day event and packed some goodies for our road trip. Since we travelled on Sunday, there was virtually no traffic; semi-trucks are not allowed to drive on the highways on Sundays until the evening hours again. And contrary to what most people think, there are speed limits on the German Autobahnen (interstate highways). There are some sections that do not have a speed limit, but most do. And most importantly, there are countless speed traps along the way.

Nadelwelt was in a new convention hall that was magnificent - very impressive. You could walk through a very organized quilt exhibit showing a wide range of vintage Irish quilts to modern fabric embellished art. Paula Nadelstern was there too to show off her quilts with also with a book signing. (I should have taken my book along with me!! Forgetful me.) After we toured the quilt exhibition, we strolled through the aisles of patchwork and hand crafting hog heaven. There were patchwork companies from Germany and Holland. I kept wanting to stop, but kept on trucking until I saw everything. I went back at the end to the most promising stands that caught my attention. My husband went back to the long arm quilt machine booth. I think he wants one for Christmas! ;.)

My most favorite booths were from Quilt Textilkunst and Tante Emma!

Patch-Yard and Herzensstoff were very impressive with bright colored, trendy fabrics.
Paula Nadelsterns's exhibit and a new addition to the family?

 Other great impressions for the quilt exhibits! Amazings...simply amazing!

 And this was the inside of a patchwork tee pee that was crocheted! Incredible!

I hope you enjoyed my little tour of Impressions from Nadelwelt 2014.

The next convention will take place 15. - 17.May 2015. Don't miss it!