The Spring Quilt Market trade show was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota this year.  Attendees are reporting it was fabulous and “just like old times.”  Now for those of us who have never been to Quilt Market “just like old times” doesn’t mean much, but Quilt Market veterans are reporting great times all over the internet. 

Quilts, Inc. is the producer of the semi-annual trade show markets.  One in the Spring, the other in the Fall.  This is where all the new and wonderful fabrics, patterns, tools, and notions are displayed and demonstrated.  Just my kind of place!

My new home business, Quilting Colors and Fun!, will qualify me to attend the next Quilt Market Trade Show.  Fall’s show is being held in Houston, TX at the end of October.  Never been there!  It’ll be so exciting I’m sure!

Do you quilt ”on” a long-arm or “with” a long-arm?   

Wouldn’t that hurt?  And what if you have short arms? 

No, not arms!  Long-Arm Quilting machines, of course!

I use my home sewing machine for quilting.  Quilting on a home sewing machine is great for wall hangings, baby quilts, I-spy quilts, and twin-size quilts.  Full-size quilts get a bit cumbersome to work with in such a small space but it can be done.  And although I know a few quilters who quilt queen- and king-size quilts on their home machines, I find them too large to achieve first-rate quality quilting.  So for large quilts I send them out to be quilted by a long-arm quilter.

But……

Last night I had my first lesson using a long-arm quilter at the local quilt shop!  When I got home, I showed my husband Tim my practice quilt.  He was nearly speechless!  (Only nearly - Tim is rarely speechless!)  “Honey, you’re good, but Wow, in one lesson?!”  I laughed and said, “Yeah, well, it’s amazing what those computers can do!”

Say what?! 

Much to my surprise, the local quilt shop’s long-arm quilter is computerized!  The stitches and pattern come out so clean and even!  It’s astounding!  It’s beautiful! 

However, quilting on a machine like that is more like doing CAD-CAM work than quilting.  The “art” when quilting with/on (yeah still haven’t decided which is the correct term) is not in the quilting itself since the computer does it but in the quilter having the talent or artistic eye to look at a quilt top and decide what sort of quilting pattern would be the best for that particular top.  No small feat when there’s an infinite number of patterns!

Not all long-arm quilting machines are computerized though.  The computerization add-on is quite expensive so while a quilt shop or maybe a professional business may afford the computerization most home-based quilting is still done by the quilter not the computer. 

Would I do it again?  You Bet!!

Will I do it again?  Yup, this Sunday!

Quilting – an activity that began hundreds of years ago with scraps of fabric, a needle and thread that may now be done by computer!

 Graduation is one of the most momentous events in the lives of students and their families.  Graduation is a time to celebrate the graduate’s accomplishments and to wish them well in their future endeavors.

Congratulate them with a gift they will love and treasure… 

A Graduation Quilt!

 Graduation Open House parties are multi-generational events with moms, dads, grandparents and friends all together.  With an Open House, it’s difficult, and probably unnecessary, to plan too many activities.  An activity everyone will enjoy is helping you create a memory graduation quilt for the graduate.

When you order a custom graduation quilt from Quilting – Colors and Fun!, you will create a fun activity that gives each guest an opportunity to share a special memory or to pass on some words of wisdom to the new grad.  Grandparents especially like this activity – they are full of wisdom!

After you place your order, you will be sent a packet of fabric squares and a set of fabric permanent marking pens.  Place the fabric squares on the tables throughout the party.  As each new guest arrives, invite them to use the markers and fabric squares to write a message to the graduate.  The message may be congratulatory, best wishes, a memory of times past, advice for the future.  Anything the guest would like the graduate to know from them. 

They may sign the square or not, it’s up to them.  Of course if they don’t sign, the grad will not know who said what but that’s OK too.  

After the party, send the fabric squares back to Colors and Fun! to have your customized, hand-crafted quilt created in top quality 100% cotton fabric.  You may request the quilt in the graduate’s school colors, or not, depending on your grad’s preference. 

A beautiful (and useful!) gift your graduate will treasure for years to come!