Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals: September 2016

The time is almost here and I'm so excited!

A year ago the
Endless Mountains Quilt Guild
invited me to teach
Redbird and Berries Mini Quilt
in a 2 session Workshop.

We had so much fun!

A few weeks later they invited me to be the Featured Quilter for their 2016 Show.

I am completely honored.

Now, we're only a week away from the Show -- Yippee!!

If you're anywhere near Athens, PA the weekend of September 24th, 25th, consider stopping by.

The Endless Mountains Quilt Guild has so much talent !!

Wait until you see their beautifully crafted quilts.

You won't want to miss "Storytime Trunk Show" by Cathie Wiggs. Cathie shares snippits of quilts from the past.

I'll be hanging around my "Special Exhibit" during show hours 10am to 4pm each day.

and

I'm especially excited about sharing quilting demonstrations every 2 hours beginning at 11am.

You'll want to take a chance (or two) on the Guild Raffle quilt -- it's so beautiful!

They'll be plenty of local vendors at the show...

and
if you're looking for
The Quilted Pineapple Acrylic Templates
The QP Curve and The QP Edge sets
will be available at a special price.

Be careful though,
quilting with templates is addicting!

I do hope you can stop by, say hello, and share your quilty stories with me.

I look forward to meeting you there.

***

Below is the official Press Release from the EMQG:

The Endless Mountains Quilt Guild will be holding its biennial quilt show on September 24th and 25th at Lynch-Bustin Elementary School in Athens, PA. The show will be from 10:00-4:00 both days. Admission is $5 and includes 300 quilts on display, a special exhibit by Karen Miller of Redbird Quilt Co. and a trunk show by Cathie Wiggs.

Cathie Wiggs will present her Storytime Trunk Show “Scraps from the Past” at 10:00, 12:00, and 2:00, and Karen Miller will do sewing demonstrations at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00. These special events will be held both days at the times listed.

A quilt honoring the Athens High School Class of 1965 will also be on display at the show. Made by Kay Kring Rhinehart, the quilt includes photos from the class as well as information about world events at that time.

The show will also feature vendors from the region. Lunch and snacks will be available, and raffle tickets for baskets will be sold. Please visit www.emqg.org for more information about the Endless Mountains Quilt Guild and the quilt show.

Happy Quilting -- Karen

PS -- Don't forget about the QP Edge Giveaway and Class Discount

on this blog post...

** and **

Be sure to review the recent

"Aligning Your Free Motion Quilting Stars"

info on this Moda Bake Shop post.

Greeting fellow quilters
I'm thrilled you've stopped by!
*
Let's Celebrate National Sewing Month!
*
As part of the celebration, I'm excited to share a new recipe with you
on Moda Bake Shop

- also -
we've got a great Giveaway &
some special Free Motion Quilting deals
at the end of this post.
*

First... on Moda Bake Shop
you'll find my very own
Bake Shop Basics for
Free Motion Quilting
on a home machine.
*

The Recipe is full of tips, tricks, and

troubleshooting ideas to help

YOU

Align Your Free Motion Quilting Stars!

If you've attended any of my

Workshops or Trunk Shows

some of the ideas may sound familiar.

I hope you find them helpful.

Sharing is a great way to celebrate

National Sewing Month!!

Do hop on over and check it out...

I would love your feedback.

Later this month we'll meet again at Moda Bake Shop to quilt something together.

Won't that be fun?

In the meantime, here are a few tidbits of information about one of the cute projects shown on the MBS post.
Let's call it "Pretty in Pink - Grunge"

Pretty in Pink - Grunge

I use this petite whole cloth quilt as a sample for teaching
free motion Feathers and
free motion Rulers and Templates
on domestic machines.
*
It's really rewarding to play and create fun new samples!
*

The Details...

Moda Grunge Fabric

(my favorite - isn't it beautiful!)

Aurifl 40Wt cotton thread on top

Aurifil 50Wt in the bobbin

Brand New 80/12 top stitch needle

Quilters Dream Wool (2 layers)

The QP Curve Templates

The QP Edge Templates

(by Linda Hrcka of The Quilted Pineapple)

Did someone mention a Giveaway?

The Process - An Overview

Showing The QP Curve Template & Janome Ruler Foot

Pretty in Pink - Grunge was created using acrylic templates to guide a special free motion quilting foot on my domestic machine.

If you've not tried quilting with templates or rulers, you're missing out on a great creative avenue.

Consider learning the basics of ruler work by taking a class at your local shop, viewing online *free* YouTube clips and/or jumping on-board with a Crafsty class or two (see suggestions below).

In this piece I used Aurifil 40Wt thread to add a bit of jazz to the quilting stitches.

The curved crosshatching and diamond shape were quilted using

The QP Curve Templates

by Linda Hrcka of

The Quilted Pineapple.

Sew Fun!!

The outside swag was quilted using two sizes of QP Curve Templates

Oh! and I love the beadboard border.

It was stitched free motion using The QP Edge Templates -- there are 3 sizes of straight rulers.

I adore the look of beadboard

(on a wall or a quilt).

The inside of the quilt is finished off with Fast Feathers...

I so enjoy stitching these lightly spaced feathers and tendrils inspired by Bethanne Nemesh -- a variation of "Nemeshing".

See Bethanne's amazing creations by clicking here.

Fast feathers are quick background fill that look really classy...

and don't take all day to quilt out.

Do let me know if a quick tutorial on this would be helpful.

Now for some fun...

My com padre and friend Linda Hrcka

Karen & Linda at AQS Syracuse July 2016

graciously provided a full set of QP Edge Templates

The QP Edge Set -- Oh you will LOVE THEM!

to give away to one lucky reader.

(A $75 dollar value).

To enter the giveaway, leave me a comment telling me which project you like best on the Moda Bake Shop Basics post.

I shared several projects that were quilted on my home machine.

For an extra entry, share my blog post on any social media platform.

After, be sure to return and leave a 2nd comment for a 2nd chance to win

The QP Edge Templates.

I'll announce a winner on or around Sept 25th.

Also -- for National Sewing Month,

I've handpicked 4 Craftsy Classes

and acquired a 50% discount code

good through Sept 24th.

Quilting with Rulers - Great class for beginners.

You can read my review here.

Creative Quilting with Rulers...

More ruler work -- OK!!

I'm taking this one now -- woohoo!

Machine Quilting Negative Space

Oh I loved this class too!!

Angela makes beautiful background fill.

Wild Quilting

The creative energy that Christina shares will knock your socks off!!

Be sure to use my affiliate link to get the 50% discount now through Sept 25th.

Jump over, read the reviews, check out the trailers and get on-board with one of these great classes.

Of course, if you have the opportunity to take a class in your local shop or at a show -- I ALWAYS recommend doing that first or in-addition-to an online course.

Being face-to-face with a skilled educator is a great way to learn ;)

Time to run... But before I go

1. Checkout the Moda Bake Shop post

2. Enter for the QP Edge Giveaway by leaving a comment below

3. Review my hand picked online classes to improve your FMQ Skills