Saturday, March 27, 2010

Sacramento Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival

The annual craft and quilt show has been going on for three days. Today is the last day. I did not go last year and everyone told me how great it was. Elisa and I made a concerted effort to go this time.

We got together and did the Block of the Month with Sherrie Werum Friday morning at Woodland Sewing and Vac Center. Great class. She taught us a wonderful, easy paper piecing method. I found it to be much easier than past efforts at paper piecing. We are making a medalion to go in the center of our around the world design quilt.

After that class was over, we headed off for Cal Expo and the craft and quilt show. The parking was $10/car. Very expensive but easier to pay than walk as far as we would have had to. Then the entrance fee was $10, but we had a pass that cut that price in half. It was all worth it.

It was all vendors with different wares. Many for beading, which I do not do, so we could by pass them quickly. We only had 2 1/2 hours to see it all. Quickly we scanned each booth. Of course I ran into many people that I knew and had not seen for some time. That took up some time, but it was nice.

Since I have enough fabric to last me a long time, I did not buy much. I do love panels, though. I bought two. They make such quick quilts that I cannot turn away from one that I like so much. I bought a fall one with typical colors of fall and pumpkins and such. Not Halloween. Fall. Then as I was waiting to check out of a booth that had great 1/2 yard cuts for only $2.50, I saw a baby one that I had to have. It is blue with adorable little baby boys in different poses. I do not have a baby coming in the family, but it was too cute to pass up. Plus the time it takes me to make it, we might have someone to give it to.

Elisa bought a computerized program through Electric Quilt to help her make over 500 designs for her long arm. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with.

Even having only 2 1/2 hours to go through and having to quickly look through it all, we saw the whole building. I meant to look for Bobbie G designs booth, but somehow I missed that one. She has wonderful patterns, many of which I carried in the shop. I am sorry I missed her booth.

If you have not gone there before, you will have to play to go next year. It is fun.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Quilting charity quilts

I have been working on some charity quilts. I have a short [long] arm sewing machine. A short arm is the same as a long arm machine but with a much smaller space to quilt in. The nice thing about the machine is I can put a very large quilt on the table, which is 14' long. Then the machine is about the same same size as a regular table top sewing machine. It is fun to work with and so much easier than using a normal machine.

I need a lot of practice to get proficient at it. I have let both Project Linus and Quilts for Kids know that I will work with them on quilting their quilts, as long as they do not expect perfection. Hopefully that will help me learn this craft better.

A few hints on sending a quilt to a long arm quilter:
1. Take top, backing, thread, and batting.
2. Make sure the backing is at least 3 to 5 inches wider on each side than the top.
3. The batting should be equally bigger, too.
4. Do not rush your quilter. They usually have other jobs ahead of yours. Plus that is not the only thing they do.
5. Give feedback to your quilter, so they know what you have done that you like. Don't be overly critical--make it positive feedback.

Have a great deal quilting.