Pfaff Quilt Expression 2048 and Fabric Mover with Stitch Regulator

When I started seriously quilting 20 years ago I was encouraged to purchase a Pfaff 955.  I loved that machine, it had a built in IDT walking foot which helped when I was piecing and quilting.  I started quilting again 4 years ago and got my 955 out and it still worked great. 

After a couple more years of quilting I decided it might be time get a new machine. So I went to the Pfaff website  http://www.pfaffusa.com/2456.html to see what was new with quilting machines.  I also talked to quilters at the local quilt shop to see what features they recommended.  Unanimously quilters said to get a machine with 'needle down'.  So I went to the local Pfaff dealership to actually see the machines for myself and try them out.  I knew what I wanted to do with the machine, and I also knew I did not want a fancy computerized machine.  I started out looking at a basic quilting machine, but finally decided on the Quilt Expression 2048.

I still have a lot to learn to use this machine completely.  It pieces great and it has a neet quilt stitch that I gets me a lot of complements.

I recently received a Fabric Mover with Stitch Regulator to use for free motion quilting.  When I learn to use this I think it will be great.  But as Harriet Hargrove says in her blog http://heirloommachinequilting.blogspot.com/ quilting is a skill very different from piecing.  So I need to keep practicing, and I will update you as I continue to learn.

Why would a Buckeye Quilter travel to Kalamazoo Michigan?

Carmen and Coach Jenny

To attend the Region 5 Level 8 Gymnastics Meet.  My friend Claire's 12 year old daughter Carmen was competing.  She placed 7th All Around in her session of 50 girls.  Way to go Carmen!!!

I took the oppourtunity on the way to Michigan to stop at The Door Mouse in Bettsville, Ohio. http://www.thedoormouse.com/index.html

All I can say about The Door Mouse is that you have a large selection of fabric to choose from!!
I found 4 more Grays to add to my stash.

Andover Fabrics Asian Harmony 3077

Wilmington Prints Essentials Scrolls

Robert Kaufman Terra Bella 8319 Tonal Black

The forth one I couldn't find a picture of, its a light gray with white swirls made by Timeless Treasures First Frost KM-CM1672.

Then I continued on to Quilts Plus, Inc in Kalamazoo, Michigan 269-383-1790.

I found 2 scarlets and a dark gray and a light gray.

Robert Kaufman Fusions Foliage Silver 5573

Blank quilting splash 3504 Cardinal

Moda by Kathy Schmitz Barn Red 5746

Moda Marble by Holly Taylor

My two boys love to help me Quilt!!

My husband Jim and I have never been blessed with human children.  We have had a number of cats over the years.

The summer of 2006 we adopted Garfield.

People laugh when we say the Garfield follows Jim around in the yard like a dog.

He also thinks he helps me quilt.

Garfield likes bright colored quilts!!

This past summer we adopted Nermal.

Nermal's my little boy and he helps me write my blog and quilt!!

Nermal likes my batik Day and Night Quilts by Eleanor Burns http://www.quiltinaday.com/default.asp

With the help of my boys I make some beautiful quilts!!  But it also means I invest in lint rollers to remove cat hair along with my threads.

Totes, Purses and Overnight bags

In addition to quilts I have also been making some purses and totes.  And yes it's true they are not all Scarlet and Gray!!

Duffle Bag

This tote can carry many quilts and a Nermal

This Picnic Tote is from Tammy Tadd's pattern book A Tadd More http://www.tammytadddesigns.com/

I used a Moda Sent with Love charm pack by Deb Strain for this Trail Mix tote from http://www.thisandthatpatterns.com/

But I didn't like having to cut down the charms.

Then I found this pattern from http://www.marlousdesigns.com/

It's called The Cross Town Carry Maggie's Bag

I used a Scarlett and Gray charm pack and used some other fabrics from my stash for the braided handles and lining.  Once I started using up 6 inch squares and charm packs I couldn't stop!!

Snowman

This Leap Frog purse matched Terri's quilt, so I gave it to her for her 50th Birthday

Spring

I have gotten a number of compliments on these purses!!

They make up very quickly and would make a great gift!! 

Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates

I recently took a class from Marti Michell http://www.frommarti.com/ at Lake Farm Parks http://www.lakemetroparks.com/programs/quilts2010.shtml, it was awesome!!  I had been using some of Marti's templates and wanted to meet her and learn some tips. 

I first used her Kaleido-Ruler, Small on this Scarlet and Gray Kaleidoscope Wall Hanging.

My next project used her Log Cabin ABC's book, Log Cabin Ruler and some of the Perfect Patchwork Templates.  I had seen a sample of this at The Glass Thimble in Columbus, Ohio http://www.glassthimble.com/



The next quilt was made using Marti's Rolling Star Strippity-Do-Dah Pattern  and templates.  I had purchased a Scarlet and Gray jelly roll from Calico Cupboard in Pataskala, Ohio http://www.calico-cupboard.com/ and these templates work perfectly.  You need a mechanical pencil for marking the pieces.

Buckeye Stars Keep Rolling

Now I'm working on a 12 inch sampler similar to Marti's below.

I have my center done.

Carpenter's Wheel

And some of the surrounding blocks.

Hidden Star                                              

Ohio Star                         

Martha Washington's Star

Bethlehem Star

Wild Goose

Sweet Sixteen

Pieced Star

Rosette                                  

Happy Easter

It's a beautiful Easter in Northeastern Ohio.  The sun is shining and the birds are chirping.

As Vice President of the Assumption Parish Council, I was volunteered to organize the 2010 Photo Directory.  So this weekend we started encouraging, ok, brow beating, church members into signing up to have their picture taken.  It's a great way to put names with faces and see the kids grow up.  Of course the rest of us don't age or change!!

This afternoon we will be having dinner at Mom's house.  It will be me, my husband Jim, Grandma Helen, mother Cindy, brother Don and nephew Chris.  Niece Samantha is visiting dad Denny and sister Dawn in central Florida!! 

Next weekend we will be visiting Jim's family.

Have a Happy and Holy Day.
Darlene

New fabrics for the Stash!!!

As I sit hear the wind is howling in Northeastern Ohio!!  It's really warm, but there is rain moving in from the west!!  I should have raked the wet leaves, they would have relocated to the neighbors yard!!!

I went to the EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA at Quilts and Sew Forth  http://www.quiltsandsewforth.com/  this morning and added some Scarlet and Gray to my stash!!  As you look at my new fabric you will notice that my Scarlets range from Bright Red to Ruby, and my Grays fade to Black.

Blank Quilting Spirals M5221 Black

Exclusively Quilters Anything Goes Graph Black on Black

Michael Miller Red K1149 KRYSTAL

RJR Fabrics Charlotte Rainbow vine 8114-08 Black and Gray

RJR Fabrics Sakura 8619-02

Robert Kaufman Black 9852 from Fusions Collection 3

Robert Kaufman Charcoal 9852 from Fusions Collection 3

Robert Kaufman Ruby Fusions 5573-118

What got me started down this path of Scarlet and Gray

I'm an alumni of The Ohio State University, and a big football fan!!!  I have been told by friends that the Columbus campus must have implanted me with a Go Bucks chip!!

I started quilting at the Country Hutch in Geneva, Ohio about 20 years ago.  I took a very long break and got bit my the bug again the summer of 2006.  Once I started I could not stop.  My first Buckeye quilt was an Ohio State Varsity Quilt Kit I bought in Columbus, Ohio at the Red Roosters Shop. http://www.redroosterquilts.com/

I machine pieced it at the Great Lake Quilt Escape at Geneva State Lodge on November 10, 2007. The Ohio State Buckeyes were on their way to a second National Championship game in 2 years, but the fans didn’t think that would happen after getting beat by the University of Illinois 28 to 21 that afternoon. I continued to work on the quilt top even after the loss and completed it that evening. While in Columbus the following July I saw a similar quilt and decided that I needed mine quilted by Jennifer McCann of Galena. If you look closely you can see many words that represent The Ohio State University. OSU, Scarlet and Gray, Brutus, Go Bucks, Round on the Ends and High in the Middle, OHIO, Carmen Ohio. I displayed this quilt at the Lake Farm Parks Quilts 2009 Show.  And at the Madison Library Quilt show in 2009.

The summer of 2008 I did a small Columbus Quilt Shop Hop and found the Center of My Universe pattern at Quilt Beginnings in Dublin.  http://www.quiltbeginnings.com/  This wallhanging still needs quilted.

That same fall I found an 'Oh Buckeyes' quilt kit online at Creations Sew Clever in Chillicotthe, Ohio http://creationssewclever.com/ I'm almost finished with binding.  This was also quilted by Jennifer McCann of Galena.

The fall of 2008 I attended my first Buckeyes Quilters Retreat put on by Barbara Sills of Your Sew Special http://www.youresewspecial.biz/ and was working on my Oh Buckeyes quilt when a couple quilters mentioned their Scarlet and Gray stash.  That was all it took for me to start mine.  Too say it is out of control would be putting it mildly.

I will keep you up to date on my Scarlet and Gray projects and post fabric as I add it to my stash.  I will also add some other projects that are not Scarlet and Gray to show you that I don't only Quilt Scarlet and Gray.

Have a great Easter weekend!!!