Dad Sews

I just had to share Christian Lee's video at "Dad Sews" on what he's learned about fabric stores as a dad who sews. He's sharing some universal truths and his own unique perspective.

He made me laugh, and I hope you will too. I wonder if I can get him to tackle free motion quilting?

Dressing up a Ruler Work Sample with More Free Motion Quilting

I actually quilted last week! Bless my hubby's heart, he's had some time off from work and has been helping me get a little more time to do my thing. I worked on this sample left over from my newest Craftsy class, Creative Quilting with Rulers, More Techniques and Motifs (That's a 25% off link!)

After filling around the design with a fun filler (that seemed to grow as I quilted it, losing that tight dense look), it still didn't have much pizzazz going on. Meh. So I decided I needed to fill in the center with a fern feather fill in the center petals. I even took a video for you.

I really like how it turned out. My camera had some serious issues in capturing this navy blue fabric with turquoise thread. Not to mention showing every bit of lint.

Of course I'll have to do something about those outer petals. I got a good start but you'll have to wait for my next post to see the rest!

I think I'll add some pebbles and some more ruler work, plus another fill before I'm done with this.

Don't forget, my 15% off of everything sale continues at Amy's Quilting Adventures until May 15th with the code SpringFling15 (don't omit the code!). I might not be making as much per order, but the additional sales are helping to pave the way for something pretty exciting in June and I really, really thank each one of you that's placed an order.

Also, if you've taken my newest Craftsy class and left a review, please send me an email or comment below to tell me you've done so. There have been so many students, but not a single review. We're starting to suspect there's a glitch keeping them from showing.

Until next time, keep quilting!

Quilting Density and the Time-Starved Quilter

I finished up this background fill around one of my Craftsy class samples and just had to laugh when I got back around to my starting point!

It's always a good thing to look at what you've already quilted to check up on your stitching density. Things have a way of growing when you're in a hurry!

Peeks at My Craftsy Projects

Less than a week after my class, Creative Quilting with Rulers, More Techniques and Motifs (25% off discount link there!), I got a big box from Craftsy. Inside were my projects from the class. I'm so excited to get these back.

Imagine being halfway through a quilt that you're very excited about and having to stop working on it. That's what it was like with these projects. It was very important to me to use actual quilts in this class to help my students see how to use piecing lines and corners for placement of rulers when creating designs.

The solid samples from my first class, Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine (50% off discount link there) just wouldn't do this time. That class is all about how to stitch alongside rulers, to hold them, and an introduction to all the different types of rulers that are available as well as introducing how to use rulers for different basic designs. It was easier to stitch various "step outs" as they are called, to show the different stages of each lesson segment when they were just plain samples. This new class is focused more on creating designs with rulers you have using the seams and points of the quilt as anchor points for the rulers.

Each quilt in this class had areas that were completely finished, as well as areas that were in various stages of completion to demonstrate each step. Camera crews, producers, and production editors aren't cheap, so I can't just have them wait around while I finish each step so we can shoot the next step.

My ruler work sampler was the only completed project. It was used as part of the background, as well as used to show a few of the variations and finished designs. But everything else is awaiting me to finish them.

We ran out of time for me to show one of the techniques I had ready on the above quilt, so I can share that here on the blog. We try to fit so much stuff and so much detail into these classes, but they've got a particular time line and class plan we've got to stick to, so some things have to be left out.

Craftsy also kept my favorite rulers so they could be used in the professional still shots of the class. I felt a little bit like a child after having her toys taken away. Now I've got them back and I am ready to use them.

I think this quilt with its turquoise and green stars is the project I am most happy to see. I can't wait to stitch it up and show it off. I've been calling it my "Starfall" quilt. It's being stitched in a gorgeous variegated thread too.

If that's not enough to keep me busy, it looks like my special somewhat secret project is also finally coming together. It's huge! I can't wait to finalize it and share it with you. If it works out like we're hoping, it will help me pull several areas of my life together so my days aren't quite as disjointed as they have been lately.

Don't forget that I'm still having a sale on ruler feet, rulers, and everything else that I sell online at Amy's Quilting Adventures. Enter the promo code SpringFling15 at checkout for 15% off everything there. It only lasts until May 15th and the proceeds are very important to the success of my special project I mentioned above. This is your chance to get rulers and other products at fabulous prices.