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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Happy News!

On Wednesday I learned that two quilts I entered into QuiltCon, the big national quilt show for The Modern Quilt Guild that's next February 19-22 in Austin, Texas, were juried into the show! I'm tickled pink! Even more so since learning that of the 1,357 quilts entered, only 26 percent - or 352 quilts - were accepted! Wowsa!

So, to receive a couple emails like this has been pretty exciting!

"Shapes," that you'll see further down, is my entry in the Panasonic Bias Tape Appliqué Challenge, and I incorrectly assumed that all challenge entries were accepted. In fact, they were not, so I'm even more proud about these acceptances!

Our "Ad Libbing" was completed in August - a joint effort between me and Lora (Dragonfly Quiltworks) who lives 90 minutes away. We each made blocks, inspired by the "Missing U" quilt in the book Sunday Morning Quilts, as part of the June program and workshop Lora and I presented to Quilting Guild of The Villages.
Ad Libbing - 71" X 71"
Then when we went together to Sebring for a modern quilt retreat, Lora made our blocks into a quilt top. I took it home and quilted it, then returned it to her for binding, a sleeve and label. 

The name "Ad Libbing" refers to how this quilt came about - quite unintentionally, passing it back and forth, figuring it out as we went along. We were tickled when this quilt took first place in the large quilt category of 52 quilt entries, at QuiltFest Jacksonville in September.

Now we're excited to see how "Ad Libbing" will do at QuiltCon. Both of us will be there to find out!

The second quilt accepted was "Shapes."

My efforts began with this pile of bias tape made with a small Clover bias tape maker. The MQG made a very nice, helpful video about how to cut fabric on the diagonal, and use the bias tape maker to press and fold bias tape.

After I'd made a pile of tape in different solids, I folded and circled and pinned it to white Kaufman Kona, agonizing over how to layout the design. Thankfully, my friend Debbie even came over to offer helpful advice! For the background, I used two widths of Kona, hiding the joining seam behind the long, wide zig-zag of bias text print fabric.

Sandwiching involved two layers of batting: the bottom batt was Quilter's Dream polyester; the upper batt was Quilter's Dream wool. It was timely that I was Quilter's Dream featured "batt girl" in June, and was the recipient of a complimentary box of Quilter's Dream battings! You can see that the puffiness of double batting warrants dense pin-basting.


I can't say this quilt finished smoothly, as many of you know about the grease marks that appeared on the white background fabric as I was quilting with my Pfaff walking foot.

I discovered that the foot, which had been recently serviced with my machine, had an excessive amount of grease inside the open base. Suffice it to say I suffered through much heartbreak figuring out a resolution to the marks, which did not come out of the fabric after attempts at cleaning with various spot remover products.

Now, strategically placed bias tape appliquéd hexagons hide the worst of the marks. Happily, I think they enhance the overall design, and add to the significance of the quilt name - "Shapes."

Shapes is quilted with 50-weight Aurifil threads - white, ivory, yellow, hot pink. I changed colors where I wanted to emphasize quilting designs that flowed into bias tape colors. And yes, I also strategically sewed pieces of solid hot pink fabric in the binding.
Shapes - 67" x 67"
Some of the quilting designs here are similar to those in "Ad Libbing," but I did my best to change them up a little. 


Shapes has been hanging on my design wall for several weeks now, waiting to find out if it was accepted into the show before sewing a sleeve to the back. Both quilts must be ready to ship to Austin for arrival between January 5-23. There's nothing more to do but wait... excitedly... with fingers crossed. Linda

37 comments:

  1. Excellent, Linda, so happy for you! Just being accepted into Quiltcon is a feat in itself. Good luck! They are absolutely beautiful!

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  2. Wow. I'm so pleased both of these quilts were accepted. They are stunning! Can't wait to see them for myself!! Congrats, Linda - very much deserved.

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  3. Congratulations! Both quilts are beautiful! Best wishes on the next step of the show.

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  4. I am so happy for you. Both of the quilts are stunning. Wishing you much success.

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  5. Huge congrats Linda! They are both so fabulous. You always nail it with your designs! I think you are a great example of "modern quilting" both in piecing and in quilting. How fun for your collaboration - I don't think I had seen that one yet.

    We are going to have a fabulous time catching up at the show!

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  6. Congratulations on this wonderful news! You must be very proud- it is indeed an achievement to just be selected!

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  7. Congrats Linda! Well deserved too. I've been ready FB posts from girls who didn't make the cut and are so disappointed.
    Both quilts are beautiful and your quilting as always is amazing. Can't wait for quiltcon!

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  8. Well deserved they are wonderful. I am looking forward to some time now I've retired to get into more modern quilts too. I have my fingers crossed for you.

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  9. Both of these quilts are gorgeous and the quilting outstanding. I'm sure they will do very well!

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  10. Your quilts are beautiful, Linda, and I'm so happy for you having both of them accepted. Like you, I had assumed the challenge quilts would all be accepted, at least for the judging of that separate category. Good luck!

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  11. Your quilts are beautiful, Linda, and I'm so happy for you having both of them accepted. Like you, I had assumed the challenge quilts would all be accepted, at least for the judging of that separate category. Good luck!

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  12. Congratulations!!!! I am so happy for you!

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  13. This is thrilling news! I am so very happy for you.

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  14. Wow! I can see what caught the jurors' attention. The quilting is jaw-dropping. I think the hexagons are a nice addition, a fortunate accident, although heartbreaking initially.

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  15. Wow, excellent news. And especially since only about 1/4 were accepted to the show. I wish I could come and see all the quilts in person, but no doubt there will be lots of pictures on the web, hopefully. Keeping all my fingers crossed with you.

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  16. I'm so happy to hear your good news, Linda! All of your hard work paid off!! Congratulions!

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  17. How wonderful Linda. I'm sure glad you resolved the grease spot ; )

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  18. I am over the moon happy for you. Whether they place or not, you've won. They were accepted and tons of people will see them. Your quilting is fabulous!!

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  20. Yay, and congratulations! These are both just beautiful.

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  21. Congrats on both quilts! No matter the final outcome, they are both winners in my book!

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  22. Congratulations - these are both fantastic quilts, and your work is exceptional. :D

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  23. Congratulations, Linda! That is great news. The quilts are beautiful and the team effort was certainly outstanding. I'm very happy for you.

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  24. WOW!! Linda. Congratulations - very well done! Your quilts and especially the quilting is outstanding. I just wish I lived closer to you, to have some machine quilting lessons!! Haha a bit far away in NZ!
    You were so clever covering up those grease marks!

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  25. I'm so excited for you! This is a well deserved honor - your quilting just gets better every day! blessings, marlene

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  26. Pretty darn awesome Linda. Congratulations!

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  27. Wow. Congrats on both. They are just fabulous.

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  28. Congratulations Linda. They are both unbelievably well done and your acceptance is well deserved. Your quilting is over the top. I am so proud of how you dealt with the grease spots. If you don't win some more honors, the judges need to get their eyes checked. They are indeed winners.

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  29. I'm so excited for you, and so excited that I'll get to see these in person! I'm glad to finally see the full-size quilt after getting lots of sneak peaks. They are wonderful! (And again, you inspire me with your quilting.) Congratulations!!

    Elizabeth

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  30. Oh, wow!! Linda, I am so pleased for you. They are exquisite, the quilting is divine. I hope with lots of practice, I will be able to FMQ half as good! Happily, my daughter I have tickets to attend QuiltCon on Friday!! Will I see you there, perhaps?

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  32. These are both stunning works of art. Looking forward to seeing them in person.

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  33. Congratulations, Linda! I love both of the quilts and hope they win at Quiltcon! You've done a wonderful job on the quilting.

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  34. CONGRATS!!! I'm just so excited for you Linda. Can't wait to see your work in person . . . your quilting is so amazing.

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  35. Congratulations, your quilts are wonderful and I look forward to seeing them at Quiltcon. Many thanks also for your lovely blog - I've quietly been reading it for some time now and especially love that you include dressmaking as well as quilting!

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  36. Both these quilts are stunning. I ♡♡♡ the quilting! Congratulations on being accepted! I only wished I could see them in person.

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