Quilting Spin Art

Because the quilting design I imagined for "Spin Art," wasn't happening - I couldn't figure out how to implement my idea - I resorted to simple walking foot quilting on my Bernina. 

This quilting design is individual circles (not spiral quilting) with stops and starts for the circle and skipping appliquéd pieces of color. So I figure I've tied and buried more than 300 thread tails!

I buried so many threads that my Sench needle broke. The eye just popped off. Sench brand is still my go-to thread-burying needle though, as it has a slide slot for slipping the threads into the eye. The other brand (Clover) has a pop-the-thread-in-the-top opening that I find shreds the threads. 

Those thread "smears" I hope make the blobs of "paint" look like they're flying around. "Rotation" is what I meant to emphasize with the quilting.

"Spin Art" has been rinsed and spun spinned? (Ha! I made a pun!), to remove blue wash-out marker. Now it's blocked and air-drying on the tile floor. It measures 67-1/2" X 67-1/2", and is 96" diagonally through the center.

Binding is up next, but I'm stumped as to what color to use. I'm afraid it needs to be white, and that's my least favorite binding color because once the quilt is used - if it's ever used - that's the edge that will get dirty fastest. 

"Spin Art" is the result of my participation in Paintbrush Studio Fabrics' March Madness earlier this year. The bundle of Painter's Palette Solids was curated by me, and was named "Tiffany Lights." Painter's Palette is awaiting pictures of this quilt finish, so they can social media about it!

Now for something completely different.... or not so different.

Do we look alike? Could this be my sister?

L-R: Me and Joanne

Since meeting Joanne last fall at Bible study, and subsequently responding to an invitation to visit her church (Amazing Grace Lutheran), people frequently ask us if we are sisters. One man, who was a stranger to me, went so far as to speak to me saying, "Good morning, Joanne." The fella's wife set him straight. Our daughter Jill thinks the likeness is "scary."

I'm grateful for a special friendship with Joanne. She's the gifted designer behind the kites and valances I made for the Early Learning Center. She's also one of our fall Bible study leaders. Next week we'll dig into "Faithful, Abundant, True" by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore, a study I did back in 2010 when we attended Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. When we purged in anticipation of moving from Iowa to Florida, I intentionally saved all my Beth Moore (Lifeway) workbooks, in case I ever had the opportunity to repeat a study. I'm glad I did!

Meanwhile, I'm preparing for several teaching moments in October.

On the 8th, for Central Florida MQG I'll be giving a program and demo about how to piece wedges based on Christina Cameli's book Wedge Quilt Workshop. My program is another reason to finish "Spin Art!"

On the 13th, also for Central Florida MQG, I'll be leading members as they make a name badge holder (in anticipation of wearing it to QuiltCon next February) during our monthly Sew-In.

On the 15th, for Racing Fingers Quilt Guild in Ormond Beach, I'll be giving my program "What is Modern Quilting?"along with a trunk show of my modern quilts.

With the start of choir practice, as well as continuing my usual activities (did I mention that I love Zumba?!), everything is piling up in October, and making me feel overwhelmed. One day at a time... right? Linda