Fusible Batting

Today was my first attempt using a fusible batting. I fused my version of Ann Champion's award winning rolling snowball block featured in the July/August 2009 edition of Quiltmaker Magazine. Although Ann used 56 11" finished blocks, I reduced my templates and used 64 9" finished blocks. I also used thirties reproduction fabrics like Ann did in her quilt, I'm going to hand quilt this one it make take forever.

Clint Malarchuk - Fluery

Merry Christmas quilters, readers, and hockey fans. Hope everyone is having a great holiday. We had very special visitors from Nevada. Clint Malarchuk and his family had dinner at our house. How is this possible???? It's easy when he marries into the family! Clint is pictured with his wife Joanie ( our niece ) and daughter Dallyn. Come back soon! Clint's OFFICIAL website can be found here http://www.malarchuk.com/. Follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/cmalarchuk because his exciting new book Fluery will be coming out soon.

Cheri Meineke-Johnson

The applique class I took with Cheri Meineke-Johnson (pictured above right) was my absolute favorite at the quilt show in Houston. If you ever have a chance to take a class with her it is well worth it. I knew absolutely nothing about applique and I thought I would never ever even want to try. Cheri's class was so much fun that as soon as I got home I adapted my Autumn Jewel tea china pattern into templates, got out my freezer paper, ironed and starched and before long I was doing a decent applique with a #10 straw needle. Who knew it would be such fun. I tried using the YLI silk thread that Cheri recommended but I couldn't get the hang of it. So far cotton thread is working just fine. When I get better at it, I'll try the silk thread again. Check out my progress and I'll keep you posted.

Machine quilting

After much inner debate I finally decided to bite the bullet and attempt to machine quilt on my beloved Janome Heart Sewing Machine. After using a walking foot to do the "plowing" or rows on my altered Dunkard Path blocks with a John Deere theme; I dropped the feed dogs and took off with the free motion. It truly does get easier after a little practice. I was able to keep my stitches pretty much the same length by using my turtle govenor and going slower than usual. No expensive stitch regulator for me! I will try this again.