When I decide to make a quilt I always start with a little inspiration. Sometimes that involves checking out my favorite blogs, or websites to see what everyone else is making. Often though, it means walking around my favorite local quilt shops looking for that signature fabric that just speaks to me. You know what I […]
There are many beautiful colors. In fact all colors are beautiful in my opinion. Who am I kidding, black and white quilts are beautiful as are gray quilts. But one of my favorite colors is purple. There is something so bold and soft at the same time as that luscious combination of red and blue. There is a good […]
There are many things that I feel make quilting one of the best hobbies to have. What we make is very useful. It can even save a life from hypothermia! Can a cross stitch do that? I don’t think so. There is room for all levels. A beginner can make a lot of mistakes and […]
Quilts are warm. We all know that. It is literally the whole point of a quilt. But quilts can be warm to look at as well. Some colors just give off a sense of heat and simply look warmer than others. These colors tend to be reds, golds, and browns though blues and greens can be added […]
One of the things that I love best of quilting is the amount of variety. Quilting as a medium can incorporate any color, any shape, and any theme that the human mind can consider. Because quilts can be so versatile, we see quilts that are traditional or modern, sophisticated or whimsical, and subtle or flashy. We can […]
Sampler quilts have always been a favorite of mine. I love the playful way the different patterns draw your eye across the field. I believe I have mentioned this before, but some of the first sampler quilts were more functional than we knew. Before there was the internet or even quilting magazines and books, quilters […]
Precut fabrics can be a lot of fun and a fast and easy way to add to your stash or make a gift. Jelly rolls in particular are great for beginner quilters or more experienced quilters looking for a quick project. There are lots of fun ways to play with those 2.5″ x 44″ fabric strips. […]
Every quilt has a theme. Whether it is done with the color, or the quilting pattern or a print in the fabric, every quilt has a vibe that appeals to one person or another. For whatever reason, it is very common and very easy to make a feminine or girly quilt. Pinks, flowers, hearts, etc. […]
Have you ever owned something that needed a cover or container and then you found one you had for something else and it fits perfectly? Isn’t that the most satisfying feeling? Tessellations always make me feel the same way. A pattern, especially a complicated one, that fits so snuggly with itself that no gaps and […]
There are a lot of quilts that made up with a lot of tiny blocks. They can be beautiful and intricate. But sometimes, you can cover a lot of real estate by making just a few really big blocks. What a great way to showcase fabric that you really love. The larger blocks can really […]
When someone you love passes on, it can be difficult to know what to do with what they leave behind. Somethings have value outside of sentiment and can be kept and be useful as is, or be sold. Somethings which may have been useful while they lived, now find themselves obsolete or just redundant to […]
Split rails are a type of quilt that involves a set of strips cut into a square to form a block. The arrangement and orientation of those blocks then forms the design of the quilt. As simple as this may sound and as easy as they are to create, the designs and the options you […]
Images in nature are beautiful and common themes to include in artwork. Flowers, vines, and trees often make it to a quilt top. But there is more than just flora out there. Let’s not forget the fauna. Carol made this Strip Butterflies Quilt with batik fabrics. The butterflies are so colorful. The colorful border ties […]
Rainbows and lots of contrasting colors can be fun, but sometimes you just want a pink quilt. These are some creations that are pretty in pink. Lynn made this quilt for her niece. If you look closely, the fabrics have cats on them. I like the use of the Circle design board we have here […]
The thing that makes quilting so much fun is the variety and possibilities that are out there of what you can do. From time honored classics, to more modern works of art, quilts come in all shapes and sizes. The following are a couple of quilts that used shapes as their inspiration. Kim created this […]
Besides stitching, there is real beauty in a quilt when you look at color and what fabrics were chosen to complete an effect. We have the pleasure of seeing all sorts of designs and color schemes from the artists that rent our machines. For Janet’s rental certification class, she brought in this beautiful pink quilt. […]
I am continually amazed at the variety of tops that our renters bring in to quilt on our APQS longarm machines. Here are a few more from earlier this summer… Nancy made this variation on the “1600-inch” or jelly roll quilt with white 2 1/2″ squares between the ends of the strips. It is so […]
Wow, are there a lot of renter quilts to talk about! Let’s start with a wild West theme… Carol made this top from a cowboy-themed panel, coordinating fabrics and borders. She wanted the focus to be on the Western-themed prints and chose the meander design board and a light neutral thread. Super cute! For her […]
The holidays are always a busy season at Quilted Joy. So many quilters are busily working on presents for their family and friends or finishing up UFOs to meet annual goals. We think it’s safe to post pictures now, so let’s see what they were working on! Colleen has become the master of efficiency. She brought in five table […]
We love our renters – they make studio time so much fun! Helen came in for her rental certification. She brought in a small version of a jelly roll race quilt, made with 2 1/2″ strips. As part of the rental certification, we teach you how to use a pantograph or design board as you […]
Lyvonn loves fun, vibrant colors, but you wouldn’t guess that from this quilt. Over the last few months, Lyvonn was making quilts for her sons’s homes. I’ve already shown you the Irish Chain she quilted herself during a rental on our APQS longarm machines. While in town for her rental, she also dropped off this […]
DeAnna and Angela are both new quilters, new members of the Nimble Thimbles guild (that I’m also a member of), they’re both working on charity quilts, and they’re both taking their rental certification class. The kicker? They didn’t sign up to take the class together! It really is a small world, isn’t it? The quilts […]
Now that it’s December, it’s definitely time to get into the Christmas spirit! Or at least just a little bit :). When Coleen pulled out this quilt top, Kelsey was ecstatic! Watching A Christmas Story multiple times during its 24 hour marathon on TV is one of Kelsey’s family traditions, so that leg lamp focus panel had her spouting […]
