Author: Teri Lucas Terificreations

Creating Confident Quilters One Stitch at a Time.

Quilted Block of the Month August 2017

house block 1I may have let out a little bit squeal when the idea hit for how to quilt this last section of this August Block. I’ve been playing with curved cross hatching a lot lately and loving it.
In giving thought to the shape, that corners look like a house and wanting the Visual to draw the eye to the peak of the roof the curve would head in that direction – generally.

house block curved cross hatch 1

Repeating – not going for perfection rather I’m going for effect. I’m using the dark stitched line as my ditch to move along. Today’s thread is Superior Threads Twist, a 40 weight trilobal polyester twisting two shades of color together. It’s really incredible.

house block curves complete

I knew I would like the curved cross hatch. What I wasn’t expecting is to love it, when combined with the other motifs in the block. There is real dynamic and subtle movement.

block complete

The curved cross hatch feeds into the twist of the “log cabin” style quilting in the on point squares. Add the spiral in and the visual movement is so cool. I chose print by SewBatik for the quilt top. The quilting ends up having a subtle rather than overpowering effect on the quilt. There are a few things that factor into that: the color in the print, the color of the threads, the weight of the thread, and the density of quilting.

block complete back of quilt

The movement is even more apparent on the back of the quilt block. I can imagine a whole quilt of this block quilted just like this.

This is one reason to sit with a quilt and let it speak to you. All week, while I’ve worked on a couple of other things I’ve been looking wondering what to do.  And here we go.

August Quilted Block of the Month an Original
August Quilted Block of the Month Week 2

Because this month isn’t quite as involved I’m going to do a little something special for next week. Not quite sure yet but something is simmering in my head so stay tuned.

August 31st I’m participating in the Back to School Blog Hop.

BTS general

Monday evening I leave for training on the Floriani Total Control U Software. I’m excited, and looking forward to this new venture. I’ll be blogging here and posting my schedule.

Happy Quilting!

Teri

 

Thankful Thursday

So I’m pausing today to be thankful for all of the amazing people in my life:
autumn in the bronx 003My sweetie, for saying, “Yes” every single day.

Bruce and Diane, for making and creating beautiful fabric, and loads of encouragement.

Paula Reid who’s been a friend since my first teaching gig in Knoxville, TN. Her batt scooters are the best for quilters with hot hands!

The Generation Q Magazine Crew

I’m grateful for postcards

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Quilted Blocks

qbom full

Die Cutters

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Thread

all-thread

Muffins fresh out of the oven

cranberry almond muffins

The moon:

Moon Set

Mostly I’m thankful for the amazing quilting world.

Connections Quilt Festival

Remember a few weeks ago that I mentioned I had some news. I’m teaching at Connections Quilt Festival November 9, 10, and 11. And! Bonus! The Generation Q Magazine Quilt as Desired Exhibit will be there!

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Melinda Bula, Judy Damon, Lynn Wheatley, Tracy Zimmerman Szanto, Margaret Mew, Lynn Thibault and Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill are all headlining this event. Check out each teacher and sign up for classes as soon as humanly possible.

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When you have a chance, go take a look at the image in this article. It’s an optical illusion and is so freaking cool.

Visit the Birmingham UK Festival of Quilts through Luana Rubin‘s eyes. Magnificent!

I’m working on the next step in the Quilted Block of the Month. It’s going to be fun!

For my Lucy’s Nickles Quilters – thanks for  your patience. I’m working on several quilts on deadlines right now. Eke!

Happy Quilting,

Teri

 

 

Sunday

20170614_131401It’s time for a postcard or six. (1000 Postcards for Peace)

I don’t do political on social media. For so many reasons.

This isn’t political. I don’t “tolerate” any one. Tolerating implies putting up with.

I love and accept you for who you are. Period. I see the differences, and acknowledge them, they are what makes you, unique.

I see the hate. I see the suffering. I will do my best to treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve. My best is not always “good enough”, I get that.

i see YOU. i hear YOU. i love YOU.

Teri

Quilted Block of the Month August week 2

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The congratulatory messages on my new position with Floriani are simply awe inspiring.

Now onto our regularly scheduled program:center square

 

Oh I do remember giving  you this update sometime during the week in Instagram. Debby was stitching this motif on a postcard, and I was inspired by it. I’m not entirely certain that Debby posted this anywhere publicly so just know that I have permission to copy her homework at any time. Cool, eh? With this project you have permission to copy my homework. If you’re playing along please feel free to send me pictures and I’ll share them here on the blog.
Remember I tend to show all the stuff that I’m not happy with because I’m still learning how to machine quilt. 2017-08-11 19.29.52

Bernina 24 foot on ruler

 

 

The free-hand embroidery foot is aboutt 1/4” from needle center to the outer edge of the foot. I chose a spot roughly in the center of the square to start stitching a circle. Once the circle closed I very slowly started curving out until the edge of the foot was on the center circle. I kept stitching around, and around, and around, and around, and around and around. Once I reached the edge the ditch helped me keep the curves consistent. Using 80 weight thread in the bobbin means that there is little thready build up, and the fabric doesn’t distort.

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I’m going to show this one in a very quick vid.

This should give you an idea of how this motif is stitched out. This one looks like a wonky log cabin block, however it’s stitched from the outside in. On the quilt itself I simply winged it. In the video I used a ruler to make the lines. Going from the outside in is what helps create the visual twist.

in block stitching square 2
It’s interesting how thread looks on different color. 80 weight thread is the best!
in block stitching square 3
I like the different texture with the straight lines in the square and the ribbon candy in the border.
in block stitching square
This is the first square I stitched in. While I’ve done this before I wasn’t quite remembering the rhythm of the stitching. It came back after the first full round.

square ribbon candy

Stay tuned next week for the next installment of the Quilted Block of the Month.
Quilted Block of the Month August week one

Happy Quilting,

Teri

 

 

 

 

 

Fabulous Friday

Well. This is a bit of a surprise.

And it is totally fab-u-lous. Over the last ten months I’ve been searching for a day job. I’ve had a few interviews that led to continued looking. Looking is good. Interviewing is a bit challenging. It’s weird, I can talk quilts all day long and not get remotely freaked, but talking about me. Weird right?!

So in just ten short days I will be heading to Knoxville, TN for a couple of days of training.

I am going to be working as an Educator for Floriani.  I’ll start out shadowing several teachers, work my way to team teaching, and eventually on my own for the events. I’ll get to do the traveling and teaching that I love AND BONUS, I get to learn more! I’ll share this stuff in all the usual places, including scheduled events as I get on the schedule.

I am staying with Generation Q Magazine. So no worries there. 😀

Happy Quilting!

Teri

 

Coming right up!

I’m teaching at Quilt Market.Fac_fqm17Enrollment is now open! I’m teaching two classes Creating Consumer Confidence Machine Sales and Creating Confidence in the In-Store Talent. Tracy Mooney, Maddie Kertay, Ebony Love, Heather Kubiak (this is one I want to attend on the legalities of our business!), Morna Golletz, and other great talent will all be there offing our experience. Cheryl Sleboda has four business related classes at Quilt Festival. You can also check with her to see if she has mentoring appointments open.

Quilt Basket: Pawling, NY Saturday September 16th If the Foot Fits Use it 11, and 1. I’ll offer quilting suggestions so bring your quilts! Twilight is there, stop in to see it!

"Twilight in the Bronx"

Dutchess Heritage Quilt Show – Featured Quilter/Speaker This opportunity to share my work at this show makes me so happy. Twilight in the Bronx won a ribbon at this show. I’ll be spending some time in the BERNINA booth more on that soon. @play is visiting that store stop in and see it!

Check the schedule out here.

Saturday is the next motif of the August Quilted Block of the Month. This month is an original block design. Check out the first post here.

September will be something involving half-square triangles. Intrigued yet?