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Saturday, March 30, 2013

Quilting Affection Longarm Quilting Services

I'm happy to announce that Quilting Affection Longarm Quilting Services website is now open for business as of this morning. 

Currently I only offer pantograph services and to celebrate the launch of my website, I am offering introductory prices starting at 0.010 -0.020 per square inch from now to until the end of June.  I will be adding lite custom free hand services in about a month or two.  I also offer, binding and custom embroidery label making services.

In addition I also offer T-Shirt quilt services.  I will turn your t-shirts into quilts, for your bed, wall hangings and picnics.  All t-shirt prices include the sashing, borders, binding, backing, machine quilting, and a custom embroidery labels. 

Check out the new longarm service website, and please spread the word to all your friends and family.  Hope to see your quilt soon!


Tina

Quilting Affection Longarm Quilting Services

I'm happy to announce that Quilting Affection Longarm Quilting Services website is now open for business as of this morning. 

Currently I only offer pantograph services and to celebrate the launch of my website, I am offering introductory prices starting at 0.010 -0.020 per square inch from now to until the end of June.  I will be adding lite custom free hand services in about a month or two.  I also offer, binding and custom embroidery label making services.

In addition I also offer T-Shirt quilt services.  I will turn your t-shirts into quilts, for your bed, wall hangings and picnics.  All t-shirt prices include the sashing, borders, binding, backing, machine quilting, and a custom embroidery labels. 

Check out the new longarm service website, and please spread the word to all your friends and family.  Hope to see your quilt soon!


Tina

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Designer Mystery BOM #9

I have fallen behind on my blocks of month once again!  I was two months behind on the 2012 Designer Mystery block, now I'm only a month behind.  I got to work on month 9 yesterday.  Block Nine is called "Lakeside Retreat".  Neat looking block!  


This block starts with making 20 half-square triangles, 8 of them are red/white, 4 green/white, and 8 more grey/white. Lots of chain piecing going on with this block.




After you get all the half square triangles made and pressed.  You will make 4 blocks like the images above. 2-red units and 2-green units. That measure 4 1/2" unfinished.



After you have made the 4- 4/1/2 squares you need to make 4 - flying geese that  measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". 

Now you sew a red/white and white/grey half squares together like shown above.  Make 4 of these, due to you will combining the flying geese with these units making sure the white triangles are pointing to the red of the geese, you will make 4 units.





Now that you have all the units it is time to combine them into one 12 1/2" unfinished block. Arranging them around a 4 1/2" blue fabric which will be the center of the block.  The flying geese will be on four sides of the blue fabric and the green and red units will be the corners.



Once you are done assembling the rows, the final block will look like this below. 



This is a nice looking block.  I love the design of this one a lot.

Tina

Designer Mystery BOM #9

I have fallen behind on my blocks of month once again!  I was two months behind on the 2012 Designer Mystery block, now I'm only a month behind.  I got to work on month 9 yesterday.  Block Nine is called "Lakeside Retreat".  Neat looking block!  


This block starts with making 20 half-square triangles, 8 of them are red/white, 4 green/white, and 8 more grey/white. Lots of chain piecing going on with this block.




After you get all the half square triangles made and pressed.  You will make 4 blocks like the images above. 2-red units and 2-green units. That measure 4 1/2" unfinished.



After you have made the 4- 4/1/2 squares you need to make 4 - flying geese that  measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". 

Now you sew a red/white and white/grey half squares together like shown above.  Make 4 of these, due to you will combining the flying geese with these units making sure the white triangles are pointing to the red of the geese, you will make 4 units.





Now that you have all the units it is time to combine them into one 12 1/2" unfinished block. Arranging them around a 4 1/2" blue fabric which will be the center of the block.  The flying geese will be on four sides of the blue fabric and the green and red units will be the corners.



Once you are done assembling the rows, the final block will look like this below. 



This is a nice looking block.  I love the design of this one a lot.

Tina

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Lesson's Learned!

Got off work early today, so I decided to clean the long-arm room and the office desk.  I really needed to clean it out due to there was a growing collection of dust and cobwebs, I didn't even know was there.  It looks great in there now. 


When I was done with my cleaning, I decide to go into the sewing room to trim all the sides on the Wine Bottle wall hanging I have been working on.  I had finished the quilting on it late last night.  During this project I have learned a few things along the way.


First off I learned I needed to use either double batting or a high loft batting when I want items or designs to stand out.  I used a low loft poly batting on this wall hanging and you can barely see the the quilting I did on it.


Another thing i found is that I need to learn more control of the machine on some of the free handing designs.  My control is much better than when I first started, just will take some more practice and time.  I do feel a lot more comfortable working with rulers.  I also feel my meandering of  "L's and "e's" got much better and I am more confident in making them go in different directions. 



This project was a good test of my abilities in the front of the machine.  I have learned a lot and will keep practicing. 

Tina

Lesson's Learned!

Got off work early today, so I decided to clean the long-arm room and the office desk.  I really needed to clean it out due to there was a growing collection of dust and cobwebs, I didn't even know was there.  It looks great in there now. 


When I was done with my cleaning, I decide to go into the sewing room to trim all the sides on the Wine Bottle wall hanging I have been working on.  I had finished the quilting on it late last night.  During this project I have learned a few things along the way.


First off I learned I needed to use either double batting or a high loft batting when I want items or designs to stand out.  I used a low loft poly batting on this wall hanging and you can barely see the the quilting I did on it.


Another thing i found is that I need to learn more control of the machine on some of the free handing designs.  My control is much better than when I first started, just will take some more practice and time.  I do feel a lot more comfortable working with rulers.  I also feel my meandering of  "L's and "e's" got much better and I am more confident in making them go in different directions. 



This project was a good test of my abilities in the front of the machine.  I have learned a lot and will keep practicing. 

Tina

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Busy Weekend!

This weekend just like last couple weekends have been busy. Yesterday, my family drove up to Bowie, Maryland for the Southern Comforters Quilting Show.  It is a small show, but was very nice and we all enjoyed it a lot.  After the quilt show we went had a nice lunch at On the Border.  Then we went to see the new "Oz" movie.  That was a great movie, and great way to end a perfect day.

Today, was a busy and fast day.  We worked on finishing up getting the rough draft of Quilting Affection's website done, now just have proof that wording and it can be published, hopefully next weekend. I also have business card now, which came in the mail on Friday.  This is getting exciting!  I'm in the final 2 weeks of my current job and I'm hoping these final weeks go quickly.  I'm starting to make a to do list for the first couple of weeks to be done around here, in sewing projects and household cleaning.  One of my biggest goals is to publish a blog entry everyday, like when I first started it.

This afternoon, I took time to get some quilting done on the Wine-bottle Wall hanging.  I got a couple more block panels finished, so I just have a two more panels and last bit of borders and I will be done, probably this week.

Busy Weekend!

This weekend just like last couple weekends have been busy. Yesterday, my family drove up to Bowie, Maryland for the Southern Comforters Quilting Show.  It is a small show, but was very nice and we all enjoyed it a lot.  After the quilt show we went had a nice lunch at On the Border.  Then we went to see the new "Oz" movie.  That was a great movie, and great way to end a perfect day.

Today, was a busy and fast day.  We worked on finishing up getting the rough draft of Quilting Affection's website done, now just have proof that wording and it can be published, hopefully next weekend. I also have business card now, which came in the mail on Friday.  This is getting exciting!  I'm in the final 2 weeks of my current job and I'm hoping these final weeks go quickly.  I'm starting to make a to do list for the first couple of weeks to be done around here, in sewing projects and household cleaning.  One of my biggest goals is to publish a blog entry everyday, like when I first started it.

This afternoon, I took time to get some quilting done on the Wine-bottle Wall hanging.  I got a couple more block panels finished, so I just have a two more panels and last bit of borders and I will be done, probably this week.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday Progress

It has been a busy couple weeks! Finally, getting the time to work on quilting today. So I worked on the Wine wall hanging, and made good progress. On this quilt, I'm doing a lot of freehand quilting work.  I have been practicing with rulers, outlining images, and template work.  I think, I'm starting to get the hang of it.


In the sashing areas, I have been doing "L's" and "e's" which is getting easier to do every time I do them.   In some of the blocks,  I have been adding different things, that match what is in the block, like adding swirls, and wood texture.


I hope you can see what is happening when I do the outlining around barrels and bottles.  I know I can see it when I am at the machine.  Probably should of used a higher loft batting or even two layers of batting's for the quilt, but this was just for practice.


I'm half way done now, hope to be done this weekend or the next, so can I work on something else..


I think I will now continue working on my binding of Easy Street. Tomorrow we are heading to a local Quilt show and catch a movie, just to relax a little bit.  Hope you all have a good weekend.

Tina

Friday Progress

It has been a busy couple weeks! Finally, getting the time to work on quilting today. So I worked on the Wine wall hanging, and made good progress. On this quilt, I'm doing a lot of freehand quilting work.  I have been practicing with rulers, outlining images, and template work.  I think, I'm starting to get the hang of it.


In the sashing areas, I have been doing "L's" and "e's" which is getting easier to do every time I do them.   In some of the blocks,  I have been adding different things, that match what is in the block, like adding swirls, and wood texture.


I hope you can see what is happening when I do the outlining around barrels and bottles.  I know I can see it when I am at the machine.  Probably should of used a higher loft batting or even two layers of batting's for the quilt, but this was just for practice.


I'm half way done now, hope to be done this weekend or the next, so can I work on something else..


I think I will now continue working on my binding of Easy Street. Tomorrow we are heading to a local Quilt show and catch a movie, just to relax a little bit.  Hope you all have a good weekend.

Tina

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

First Quild Meeting

Tonight, I attended my first ever quilt guild meeting with the Material Girls, Quilters Guild of Southern Maryland. It was so much fun. I walked into the church annex area, and I recognized an old friend that I haven't seen in a couple of years.  It was nice to visit with her tonight.  She helped me get signed in and join as a member of the guild.

Disappearing 4- patch
This month the meeting focused on mini demonstrations.  They setup four different tables showing two different blocks each that were fast and easy to create.  The first table was showing off the Positive and Negative 9-Patch and the disappearing 4-patch.  After 15 minutes, we switched to another table and learned the hourglass block, and the 10-minute bow the block.    The next table was the arrowhead block and we learned a different cutting method for the block.  The last table, was the Fast Flying Geese and the easy pinwheel.  It was nice to see other people do their blocks and learn new ones that I have not done before.

10-minute bow block
After the demonstrations, they did their guild business, and I learn what is happening in the group.  It was nice to socialize with other people that enjoy quilting.  Now,  I need to make my name block before next month's meeting, which I look forward to attending.


Tina

First Quild Meeting

Tonight, I attended my first ever quilt guild meeting with the Material Girls, Quilters Guild of Southern Maryland. It was so much fun. I walked into the church annex area, and I recognized an old friend that I haven't seen in a couple of years.  It was nice to visit with her tonight.  She helped me get signed in and join as a member of the guild.

Disappearing 4- patch
This month the meeting focused on mini demonstrations.  They setup four different tables showing two different blocks each that were fast and easy to create.  The first table was showing off the Positive and Negative 9-Patch and the disappearing 4-patch.  After 15 minutes, we switched to another table and learned the hourglass block, and the 10-minute bow the block.    The next table was the arrowhead block and we learned a different cutting method for the block.  The last table, was the Fast Flying Geese and the easy pinwheel.  It was nice to see other people do their blocks and learn new ones that I have not done before.

10-minute bow block
After the demonstrations, they did their guild business, and I learn what is happening in the group.  It was nice to socialize with other people that enjoy quilting.  Now,  I need to make my name block before next month's meeting, which I look forward to attending.


Tina

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Busy Sunday!

Wow, where did the day go today!  I can't believe it is time to start getting ready for work tomorrow.  Today, I got absolutely no quilting done, but did get a lot of business prep work done.  I finally got my business cards ordered.  Then I spent the rest of the day working on getting the website together, just about done.  I have a few thing left and to make the order forms.   Getting much closer on getting my site up for everyone to see.

The rest of the evening, I hope to sit back and do some binding on Easy Street or some drawing to practice my quilting.

Hope you all have a good week!

Tina

Busy Sunday!

Wow, where did the day go today!  I can't believe it is time to start getting ready for work tomorrow.  Today, I got absolutely no quilting done, but did get a lot of business prep work done.  I finally got my business cards ordered.  Then I spent the rest of the day working on getting the website together, just about done.  I have a few thing left and to make the order forms.   Getting much closer on getting my site up for everyone to see.

The rest of the evening, I hope to sit back and do some binding on Easy Street or some drawing to practice my quilting.

Hope you all have a good week!

Tina

Saturday, March 16, 2013

National Quilt Day!

Today, was National Quilt Day, how did you spend the day?  Well today I spent my day in Lancaster, PA. at the AQS Quilt Show taking a class and enjoying great quilts.

In the morning, I attended another great longarming class, called "Border Bonanza",  by Linda Thielfoldt, from The Quilted Goose.  Linda taught us how to take on quilt borders and be more confident with them.  Linda demonstrated a lots of designs and how to apply them to the borders, such as various ways to mark and get more accurate designs. After we practice drawing them on paper, we moved to the machines and practice them for real.  Looking forward to practice more.  Thank you Linda for all you taught us this week!


After the class, my husband and I walk around the show, looking at the great quilts that were selected for the show.  Unfortunately, I can't share a lot of them do to the rules of the show.  While walking around I found several neat gadgets at this show that I have not seen before. Such as the Spiral Eye Needles, and nice new way of threading your needles for tying off.  

Just what a great way to spend National Quilt Day, with all the quilters in one building.  How you enjoyed the day also.

Tina

National Quilt Day!

Today, was National Quilt Day, how did you spend the day?  Well today I spent my day in Lancaster, PA. at the AQS Quilt Show taking a class and enjoying great quilts.

In the morning, I attended another great longarming class, called "Border Bonanza",  by Linda Thielfoldt, from The Quilted Goose.  Linda taught us how to take on quilt borders and be more confident with them.  Linda demonstrated a lots of designs and how to apply them to the borders, such as various ways to mark and get more accurate designs. After we practice drawing them on paper, we moved to the machines and practice them for real.  Looking forward to practice more.  Thank you Linda for all you taught us this week!


After the class, my husband and I walk around the show, looking at the great quilts that were selected for the show.  Unfortunately, I can't share a lot of them do to the rules of the show.  While walking around I found several neat gadgets at this show that I have not seen before. Such as the Spiral Eye Needles, and nice new way of threading your needles for tying off.  

Just what a great way to spend National Quilt Day, with all the quilters in one building.  How you enjoyed the day also.

Tina

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Lancaster Class Day 1

Lancaster, PA is the happening place right now for Quilt Show goer this week. The AQS Quilt Show is this week and I just could not believe how big this show is. It is not just the main floor of the convention center, it is the total of 3 levels.  I spent all day at the convention Center on Wednesday in a Backgrounds:Basics & Beyond Long arm Class with Linda Thielfoldt from The Quilted Goose.   Linda teaches a nice and energetic class. 

In this class she showed us lots of background quilting, from different types meandering - to different ways to use feathers.  We spend part of class drawing on paper and the other working on the machine practicing what we just learned.  The only thing I don't like about the class, is the machine we were working with,  Handi-Quilter was the sponsor for the class, so we were using there machines.  I really don't like how they move around, I was fighting with the jerking motion on the machine.  I guess I just like my machine too much. 

We had a nice long lunch, so I went decide to get ahead start on my walk through of the show.  I walked on the main floor and who did I see,  Alex Anderson, sitting there talking in her booth to people, that was very cool.  As I walked around, I spotted another famous face,  Eleanor Burns, in her Quilt in a Day booth.  It was just too cool, I love watching both Eleanor Burns and Alex Anderson on TV.  

After lunch, we were back at it drawing and quilting, until 4pm.  Then it was the long trip home, so I could be back at work today.  Tomorrow, my husband and I are on our way back up Lancaster fun. I have another class Saturday morning then the afternoon free to enjoy the show.


Tina



Lancaster Class Day 1

Lancaster, PA is the happening place right now for Quilt Show goer this week. The AQS Quilt Show is this week and I just could not believe how big this show is. It is not just the main floor of the convention center, it is the total of 3 levels.  I spent all day at the convention Center on Wednesday in a Backgrounds:Basics & Beyond Long arm Class with Linda Thielfoldt from The Quilted Goose.   Linda teaches a nice and energetic class. 

In this class she showed us lots of background quilting, from different types meandering - to different ways to use feathers.  We spend part of class drawing on paper and the other working on the machine practicing what we just learned.  The only thing I don't like about the class, is the machine we were working with,  Handi-Quilter was the sponsor for the class, so we were using there machines.  I really don't like how they move around, I was fighting with the jerking motion on the machine.  I guess I just like my machine too much. 

We had a nice long lunch, so I went decide to get ahead start on my walk through of the show.  I walked on the main floor and who did I see,  Alex Anderson, sitting there talking in her booth to people, that was very cool.  As I walked around, I spotted another famous face,  Eleanor Burns, in her Quilt in a Day booth.  It was just too cool, I love watching both Eleanor Burns and Alex Anderson on TV.  

After lunch, we were back at it drawing and quilting, until 4pm.  Then it was the long trip home, so I could be back at work today.  Tomorrow, my husband and I are on our way back up Lancaster fun. I have another class Saturday morning then the afternoon free to enjoy the show.


Tina



Monday, March 11, 2013

Quilting Training!

Tonight, I'm working on getting the information together for my webpage, such as pricing and preparation list, and main page.  This is not the easiest thing to put together.  You want to use the correct wording to draw the customers in.  I know when this page first comes up, I'm not offering much but I will be adding more and more services to it over the months.  My biggest fear not getting the customers, I know I can do great work on the quilts.  In April, I will be practicing my free motioning quilting full time, so I can offer a good quality service to all my future customers. 

Tomorrow afternoon, I heading to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the AQS Quilt Show.  Wednesday starts the show, I will be taking an all day beginning long arm class.  I'm looking forward to this class, for the tips and help in getting a great quality quilt.  I will return home that evening, to work the next couple days, then on Friday evening, my husband I are heading back to the show, I have another long arm class on Saturday morning,  That class will be on borders, learning techniques and designs.

Have fun quilting,

Tina

Quilting Training!

Tonight, I'm working on getting the information together for my webpage, such as pricing and preparation list, and main page.  This is not the easiest thing to put together.  You want to use the correct wording to draw the customers in.  I know when this page first comes up, I'm not offering much but I will be adding more and more services to it over the months.  My biggest fear not getting the customers, I know I can do great work on the quilts.  In April, I will be practicing my free motioning quilting full time, so I can offer a good quality service to all my future customers. 

Tomorrow afternoon, I heading to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the AQS Quilt Show.  Wednesday starts the show, I will be taking an all day beginning long arm class.  I'm looking forward to this class, for the tips and help in getting a great quality quilt.  I will return home that evening, to work the next couple days, then on Friday evening, my husband I are heading back to the show, I have another long arm class on Saturday morning,  That class will be on borders, learning techniques and designs.

Have fun quilting,

Tina