Category: quilt

So, there’s this!

thank you 2Maddie Kertay, and Cheryl Sleboda encouraged me to submit classes for Fall Quilt Market. After some thought I submitted three classes, and two are accepted. First up on Saturday October 28 is Creating Consumer Confidence—Machine Sales; the second is Sunday October 29th Creating Confidence in the In-Store Talent. Having worked in quilt shops on and off for the last 9 years I’ve watched, experienced, and listened to the needs of the shops, owners, employees, and the customer. Each is important, playing a key role in the success of the shop. Thank you to Quilts, Inc for seeing the value in these classes, and to Maddie and Cheryl for encouraging me to submit these classes. Maddie, will be teaching as will Ebony Love, Pepper Cory, Tracy Mooney, Dave Gilleland, Teresa Coates and so many great people. (Some will be Schoolhouse presentations or Take & Teach classes.) I look forward to seeing you there. 

Debby has shared, and we’ve talked about 1000 Postcards for Peace. I have the first one made, and decided about fifteen minutes ago, to make two more in the next few days. I don’t yet know where they are going, however I’ll be making postcards. The why isn’t as important as there are things in life that call for a moment of something (hopefully) good. Please feel free to join us in this effort.

Last week I started this Opal Dahlia designed by Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero by Hoffman Fabrics. After several false quilting starts, including thinking I wanted to stitch an overall meander, I settled on this:

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It took a little bit to get here, sometimes ya know that something simple is good, but what that simple is isn’t quite clear. With a little focus this will be finished tomorrow before I focus on a few other things.

Happy Quilting!

Teri

 

Way back, a whole

stack it up 2seven weeks ago I participated in Cheryl Sleboda’s Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop. Rearranging, tidying up and making the space much easier to function in the room.
One of the goals was to give myself access to the window. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned that I’m short, and therefore have a limited reach. When the weather is lovely having the window open while I’m stitching. Having the option of the a/c is such a good thing. The problem was one of the tables was right in front of the window, and while in the process one of the Singer’s ended up in front of the window. Not quite the intention but clearly needed to think this through a bit more.
Problem solved it moved to another location allowing me to move the radio, and a table lamp to the top of the closed sewing machine.
My cutting table is now to my right, which somehow gives me great pleasure. Once I have other things in situ there will be pictures. Right now it’s in a bleeping, unsightly mess that is still giving me oggida.
Books, paper (class handouts etc), and a few other things are going to my office, two floors down. It’s a bit of a pain as I work however the end result will be good. I’m going to take a very hard look at what I have in a couple of places to keep or let go. Thankfully I have a couple of guilds to share fabric, patterns, and other stuff with.
Watch Instagram to see the quilt I’m working on today, a digital print from Hoffman by Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero. This is so dang pretty.

Happy Quilting,

Teri

Gah!

dance bang head 1975

I’m not sure what happened however, all of the sudden Microsoft Office isn’t working on my laptop. So early this afternoon I handed this thing off to the in-house tech support. It’s still not working. Gah! I’m going to have to give it back to him tomorrow. He says there’s an app I downloaded and I don’t think so. The only thing I opened is a document from someone I know, that I need. It needs some work. I have an alternate plan but the look isn’t quite as nice as Word. Oh have mercy.

Tomorrow the in-house tech sets up the air conditioning in the sewing room. This will be one happy quilter. I am jonesing to sew. I need to quilt. My quilting person is deeply unsettled and has some things she wants to stitch out. But first the a/c then a wee bit of a tidy up so that I can once again function. I mean I started this tidy up then I started sewing, then I went to Quilt Market. It’s a common experience among quilters. I could bake cake and go to Debby’s for the day. I don’t really need the cake. It’s more the mental space.

My sweetie (aka the in-house tech) made dinner today. In the few minutes before I turned on the tv to see this:

Well done Ford for the commercial featuring, promoting and supporting sewing, and well done Egypt “Ify” Ufele. A little more looking around and my sweetie found this Times Ledger article on how Chubiiline was created. Gotta give it to Gramma for teaching Ify to sew, navigate some tough social interactions, and her mom for creating a space for the sewing to happen. I love that she sews for at least two hours every day. I love that she loves her body just as it is.

This is timely as I listened to This American Life podcast 589 Tell Me I’m Fat. I can’t stop thinking about the experience shared by one woman in her crusade to be thin, because from her description she’s not healthy physically, and more importantly emotionally.

2017-05-28 12.42.34After all the angst of trying to figure out who I am in the quilting world I think that craftsman (yeah, yeah language but what the heck it’s my blog) is the best fit. I get how this machine quilting works, though there is still much to learn, explore, dream, and think about. And even more to do, the ideas keep floating through my brain so quickly I wonder if I’ll ever have time to stitch them all out. Probably not, and not the point. And no, I’m not going to go around telling people I’m a craftsman this is simply personal clarity, a gift to me.

And as soon as that a/c is installed I’m quilting baby! First up a post card #1000postcardsforpeace!

PS – did you see this on Instagram today?

Working on a little wall hanging. All precuts! Simple! #sewbatik #itsallaboutbatik #precuts #precutbatiks

A post shared by sewbatik (@sewbatik) on

Sew stinkin’ cute!! Diane (or Bruce) will be at the Vermont Quilt Festival.

Happy Quilting!

Teri

PS

An educational perspective

Shortly after I joined facebook Jean Ray Laury sent me a friend request. It took a little while to learn WHO she is in relation to the quilting world, one of our Quilt Mothers. Holy Wow! She worked towards laying the groundwork for where we are now in the vast, diverse world of quilt making, and education.

Here she talks about education, and learning:

img_20170125_135424Oh this is simply brilliant, and I’ll listen again, and again. At about 5 minutes Jean tells of an experience at a quilt show in Vermont that caught my attention completely. Quilters quilt for many reasons from keeping their family and friends warm and cozy, to creating art. In recognizing our own goals for quilt making perhaps we can then reconcile our internal feelings regarding our own identity as quilt makers. This offering us the opportunity to appreciate ever more deeply the types and styles of quilt making that the other engages in. We all do different things. We approach quilt making from our own life experience, giving our quilt making endless possibilities.

I like to teach. Shocking I know. This is the path of quilting that brings great joy and keeps me on my quilterly toes.

I like to do highly intense quilting. Shocking! I know. This is the path of quilting that exercises creativity.

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I like to write. Shocking! I know. This helps clarify the quilt making process, helps me think, and is fun. I have a long history of journal keeping so…there ya go.

I like to help quilters succeed. Shocking! I know. This brings great joy to my heart. Quilters succeeding means different things for different people. It’s also frustrating, when I can’t help someone. When something goes kaflooey and doesn’t work. I know I can’t help everyone, however this is frustrating.

I like to experiment with everything quilt related because it’s fun and allows me to help my students in their quilterly success. I don’t know everything so there’s always something to learn. I like that a lot.

While you’re quilting take about an  hour and listen to Jean speak. Let her words confirm your own direction in quilt making is the one to take. If I can help in any way, please email me and ask.

Happy Quilting!

Teri

 

 

 

Arsenic & Old Lace, Chocolate cake and a long arm

Arsenic & Old Lace, Chocolate cake and a long arm

 

Debby Brown has a Handi Quilter Avante in her studio, and on occasion when needed she lets me use it to baste my larger quilts. Yesterday I basted two quilts Arsenic & Old Lace pieced by Keith Dommer and Supernova in Chartreuse designed by none other than Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero. A&O L has lived in my studio for a while as life has happened. As I basted yesterday thoughts of quilting came to mind – which is such a good thing oh the thinks you think when you think quilting. Keith uses elements including hexagons, circles, and old linen, well leaving me with great blank space to work in. When he sent the quilt I looked up the color of arsenic gray, yellow, and black all come up and then there are shades of blue and acid green leaving me a lot of room for interpretation here.

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Now when I get to Supernova I don’t have a particular plan in mind however as I write decision made, whew. I need more fabric. She says, shocking no one reading this missive.

Kindness and gratitude matter. Both are a balm to wounded souls. They are a cup of cold water to someone who is in need of refreshment. A cup of coffee with and a good chat with good friend. Lemonade on a hot summer day. These things are all refreshing.

Sometimes we have challenges in life, challenges in our communities. Friends have troubles. Things are going all icky in the greater world and the events trigger awful memories. Things at work go all haywire in so many ways and we need a word of encouragement and support.  We might see all this happening and want to do something about it. We may not be able to fix it, but we can be there through our words.

While I was at Debby’s we had a facebook live with Joliene Williams. Joliene supplied me with Girl Scout Cookies. First I’ve had in a looooooooooooooong time.

Debby Brown and I are starting a project called 1000 postcards for peace.

In the next week or so I’m starting a facebook page that will be a place to offer ideas, share experiences and support those in our life who might need a little support or a little something because we can. I’ll post again here once the page is up, and directions are available.

Happy Quilting!

Teri

A posting of posts

IMG_20160807_213205_resizedWell that was a completely strange day. I started a project, started the redesign on a quilt for Lucy’s Nickles, went back to the project, had a phone meeting, went back to the project, finished the project, finished the redesign on the quilt, and made dinner.

Now understanding that I’m not a fan of cooking meals is of prime importance here. We generally have dinner later in the evening because of the current work schedule. Being the primary cook at the moment there are a few, life-long habits that making cooking challenging such as waiting a little longer than necessary to check the freezer for the tastiest morsel. I’ve taken to brining the protein to assist the thawing process. As I sit here writing I keep thinking hmmm, what’s in the freezer now? It’s almost noon, perhaps I should do something about dinner. Oh darn it, it’s 1:30, sheesh where did that 90 minutes disappear? Found something. Thawing. Gah! Will I make it in time? I would rather be baking. Seriously. Quilting, always.

???????????????????????????????For Lucy’s Nickles the next quilt has been posted. We’re not starting it for a little bit to give the quilters time to finish the current project. The new project will involve a wee bit of trapunto, layers of batting, lots of thread, miles, miles and miles.

Here are a few links:

Craft Napa workshops

Cheryl Sleboda talks about quilting success.

Jenny Lyon speaks on FriXion Pens.

Debby Brown has so many Cuties.

October is turning out to be fairly special this year…I’m still so honored to be part of the Dutchess Heritage Quilt Show.

Instagram @terilucas
Twitter @terificreations
#terilucasquilts

Have a great quilterly day.

Teri

And then she said

lily-pond-nybgThe first Lucy’s Nickles Quilting Group is coming to a close. I have one more motif for this particular quilt. The quilters who have participated have done a great job and have been game. We’re going to start the next quilt fairly soon. I know what we’re going to work on. Feel free to join us in the group: Lucy’s Nickles.

By the time you read this I’ll be chatting with a friend who has a retreat center about the logistics and possibilities. You might remember from I’ve gone and done it now that I’ve added a retreat to the possibility of available classes. The thought of working with a small group of people, for an extended period of time is really appealing. My own personal memories of retreats with a great retreat director flood my mind and heart with the good personal work we did. Quilting is much the same way, good personal work of the mind and heart. And Veronica if you’re reading this we still have work to do.

———

We all have that one friend. You know the one who knows what’s inside your head even if you have the Big Idea and the words are all wibbledy wobbledy. She puts them in the right order. Well, now I won’t exactly tell you what she said as that doesn’t matter so much as what it allowed me to finish something. I’m being vague. The cool part is that I’m excited that I finished this project in short order.

There was something about Quilt Market that seemed to renew and refresh. I suspect there is more there. The cool thing about this project is that if I get it great! I’m thrilled. If not I’m happy because I put it out there in an unexpected way, with unexpected timing.

This is the life.

Happy Quilting!

Teri