My First Showing

When my Pastor's Wife learned I was published in AQ Magazine, she asked me if I would like to share some of my quilts on the Artist's Wall at our church.  I smiled and agreed to the request.  I spent several days sewing bindings on quilts I had procrastinated on and several days sewing hanging sleeves to each quilt.  I was ready to meet with Robb and Mary Ellen this past Saturday and here they are!!

This is my Star Watch quilt just down from the others.  It's BIG!

From left to right and top to bottom:  Hexie, recently published in AQ Magazine, Autumn Stars, a Thimbleberries pattern; Aussie Charms, my own design with Australian charms a friend brought back from her trip to Sydney, Australia; Patriots in Petticoats, shown in Paducah; Fractured Bargello and Contemporary Bargello.  

On Sunday morning I stood against the opposite wall to hear the comments as people walked by.  You can't see it from this angle, but there is a framed copy of my Bio information with a small picture.  My husband and daughter were with me, but we spread out.  I wanted to know what people thought.  One woman looked at them, raised her shoulders and said, "oh...that is just sooo much work!", and quickly walked away.  Several others smiled, walked up close and studied the fabric and quilting.  Some looked around and exchanged some kind words.  Then a family walked up, stared intently at the quilts, read my bio and turned to look right at me, pointed their finger and almost shouted,  "You are the Creator!  You did all of these!  These are stunning!"  Then the  conversations started and it was heartwarming!  

The other unplanned, interesting detail is they are all quilted by my Quilter, Mike Barber from Cozy Cabin Quilts in St. Mary's Ohio.  These quilts span 20 years and I am thankful Mike has brought out the best in several older quilts.  My goal was they would appeal to a broad audience.

They will hang for the month of January and I hope many in my church will walk by and enjoy them.  Seeing them hang makes me smile every time.  Their perception is overwhelming when I see them together on the wall.  I'm still so amazed that God would trust me with this gift and grateful I can make them by His grace.  

Have a good January!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

My Hexagon Technique is Published

 

My Secret is out...Hexie is published in AQ Magazine!

The rest of 2013 was spent working on a magazine article for the January 2014 edition  American Quilter Magazine.    

I'm focusing on teaching machine pieced hexie's.  This technique demonstrates a faster machine pieced hexagon quilt than you can hand piece!  I've taught this technique for the past 20 years and Michele Duffy was so kind to ask me to write this article.  One of the amazing aspects about this method is it can be applied to other 60 degree patterns like Tumbling Blocks, 6-Pointed Stars, original Bow Tie and other piece making where you have to set in the pieces.

 

It was a combined effort with my husband and daughter.  He set up the table in our driveway so my daughter could take the procedural pictures. Michele's photographer's did the full size picture of the quilt.  They really know how to show off Mike's beautiful quilting!!  The whole process covered 7 months, but in the end, I'm astonished to see my name in the magazine.

 

Another special thanks goes out to my Quilter, Mike Barber in St Marys, Ohio for quilting this quilt in a short amount of time in late June.  The staff at AQ Magazine were wonderful, both the Graphic Designer and Assistant Editor.  Michele was very encouraging through the whole process.

 

I'm looking forward to showing my quilt at our Guild meeting on Thursday evening. 

 

Happy Quilting,

Elaine

 

Chipper Piecemaker