FMQ April Challenge

I loved this transfer method. 

Since I don't have an artistic bone in my body, I love quilting on the lines, and I feel like this is what I can really do more so that the FMQ with no lines.

People had mentioned that there was backtracking on the pattern in the tutorial so I went back to what I had done and backtracked on the leaves.

I did okay.  I can tell that I am better than when I first tried a few months ago but I still have lots of room for improvement.  But I do feel like I am ready to try something on a real quilt. 

The tree and grass were the quilting on the transferred lines.  The stippling, tree trunk and sky were for practice . Better but still need more practice.  I will use this method of tracing again.  It will be very handy for hand quilting also.

FMQ Challenge - March

Hmm, loops and swirls, the back doesn't look so bad...

The front looks really bad. I can see where this is going to take a lot of practice and maybe the hardest thing for me is how to decide what to quilt where.

Hard to see the loops, stars (didn't work at all), flowers (they were okay for first time) and swirls.

So this is my question here - How do you decide what to quilt on this one. It's a very small table topper and I want the pieced leaves to be the focal point. Any ideas?

February feathers - FMQ quilt challenge

Here's my attempt at the feathers for February. The most right one is my first attempt. Stitch-wise it is better than the other attempts because I tried a new foot and the fabric moved much more easily and I had a hard time controlling it. Lots of practice needed. But -- I tried!

Uncle Paul's Birthday

We had such a good time going over to Uncle Paul's (Christensen) home in Talmage to celebrate his 92nd birthday. Here's Jeannie, Veloy, Ramona and Dolly. Here's Paul. He told some great stories. What a great family!

It was a great month that just flew by! The last two Wednesdays I have gone with Scott's aunt, Jeannie, and a few of her cousins, nieces, etc., and done handwork or whatever you want to do. They get together every Wedn. and sometimes have a quilt on or just work on crocheting, embroidering or whatever. I have completed more in two Wednesdays then I have in two or three or four months. I started this redwork last week. Never thought I would finish it today (except for some embellishments).

Block 2 for my bed quilt. May do 9 or 12, have some more cut and ready to sew.

These are the first three blocks from the beautiful Block of the Month that Scott got me for Christmas. They ship every 21st of the month. I love the fabric and the patterns are so well written. It is going to be so much fun.

And my attempts at the Free Motion Quilting. Not great but it is a start and often the first step is the hardest. I need to try something for real. The month of February is feathers. Hmmm. That is going to be a real test.

The weather has been incredible for the last couple of months. We have very little snow on the ground and what is there is actually melting which usually doesn't happen till March. I think one year of very dry won't hurt us much. Odds and ends are getting done around the house - we have a lot of free time. We have two more months with Brock here. The house will be so quiet ...

FMQ Challenge

I have signed up to take the FMQ Challenge that sewcalgal is sponsoring. I am excited because after 18 months of owning a Bernina (and the BSR) I will put the foot to the fabric and learn to quilt. I have been too scared to try before. I live in a small town far from the nearest dealer, couldn't attend the classes, and by the time I got home I would forget what they had told me about the machine.

This was my first attempt. The design is leaves, not strawberries, but now I know how to do strawberries! I give myself an "A" for effort and finally trying it. (Don't you love Januarys?) I did it without the electronics of the BSR (still not sure how it works!). I would like to learn without first and then have a go with it. My next attempt was better, still have a long way to go. I have hopes for my skills by December!

Thanks to all those who are sharing their skills and all those wonderful people who are so encouraging on Facebook.

I did these 3 mug rugs for each of the two gals at work. I had a lot of fun doing them. The peppermint and the egg were patterns. The tree was my own design. My quilting is still a "work in progress."

It was so fun having all the kids home for Christmas. It was the second time in the last seven Christmases that we were all together. It could be the last one for a few years also. It was very relaxing. We played "Word on the Street" (lots of fun!)

and lots of Canasta.

Had to take the out-of-towners to the new visitor's center and Quarry.

Alicia spent probably four hours decorating cookies. It was hard to eat them, but we managed. She really has an artistic touch.

What a wonderful Christmas! Bryce and Alicia came back for New Year's and Grandpa and Grandma Burt joined us on Sunday. Lots more Canasta. A great way to begin the New Year!