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The "Wall Quilts - Pictorial" section was filled with beautiful quilts. The competition was very strong. There were many prior award winners that did not get a ribbon this year. The quality of the work and the many techniques in this quilt must have been what brought Mariko Miwa the 1st Place prize. Here are some close-ups to give you a feel for this wonderful quilt.

Techniques included: Hand Appliqué, Machine Appliqué, Confetti, Couching, Dimensional Work, Free-Motion Quilting on a Stationery Machine, Fabric Painting, Machine Piecing, Piped Edging and Trapunto.

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I am doing a bit of catch up and thought I would share with you! With your support, my next new project is The Umbrella from Laundry Basket Quilts. I ran into one of the problems where when you buy a kit and then don't get to the project until a couple of years later...there isn't enough background fabric. But you know what...I don't stress. Life is too short to waste any emotion when you have a stash that will fill in the gap. When this happens to you, just pick out a similar fabric and cut several pieces so you can mix it in without anyone knowing you have added another fabric. Once I cut my fabric I lay it all out to test the distribution.


Once I am happy with the distribution, I take a photo with my phone so I can reference it as I piece it together. I sew an entire row before moving on to the next row and then I sew those two rows together before I sew the next row...and so on.

I also check the instructions on the pattern...the blocks are supposed to rotate, but I noticed on the pattern that there were two areas where they didn't rotate the blocks, which would mean you would have to match up seams. Can you see it???...well...no one is the boss of me.

  


I reorganized that area and didn't feel the least bit guilty. Next will come the fun part...so stay tuned in a future post!


While taking a walk break around town, I discovered a little fabric store. It seems lately that you hear more about quilt shops closing than opening. So, I was tickled to see this little shop tucked in one corner of Sisters. I recognized Lee from a previous shop she owned called Little Buckaroo that she had to close because of a family illness. But, now she is ready to give it a go again! Sprinkle Can Quilts is not your typical quilt shop. I am guessing it has only a couple hundred bolts of fabrics and most of those are novelties. The real gift of this shop is the consignment program. You can sell your quilts or fabric craft items...like The American Girl Doll clothes! Enjoy the slide show of this niche in Sisters.




 
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

Click here for Anna's blog.

Click here for Anna's YouTube Channel.

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Sherry Rogers-Harrison talks with Bonnie Browning about her quilt, My Checkered Past, which won 2nd Place in the Large Quilts: Movable Machine Quilted category at AQS QuiltWeek – Spring Paducah 2018. Learn how Sherry started with white fabric and then added quilting, paint, embroidery with metallic thread, and beads to make this prizewinning quilt.

Star Members can watch Sherry in Show 1904: The Appearance of Appliqué.

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Have a friend in your life who is a "Wonder Woman?" Why not make them this "wonderful" mug mat from craftystaci.com?

Click here for pattern.

 
 

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Katie has come up with some other uses for her "Color Me Curious Coloring Sheets" that she didn't have time to share on the show. Take a look.
 

Want to learn how to use the Coloring Sheets? Star Members can watch Katie in Show 2209: Coloring on Fabric Mandala Designs.

Want to purchase the Color Me Curious Coloring Sheets?

 

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Here's a handy little secret hidden in Gutermann spools of thread! Some other brands have this too.
 

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Katie's book, An Artist's Journey through Wonderland, shows you how to overcome creativity crushers like procrastination, perfectionism, and resistance. Learn about acceptance, creative chaos, and courage as you make your artist's journey.
 

In Wonderland, find useful quotes to inspire and motivate you to be your most creative self. Grow and bloom with lighthearted lessons from Alice's adventures. It is a whimsical journey through the creative process.

 

Star Members can also learn more in Show 2209: Coloring on Fabric Mandala Designs.

 

Click here to purchase Katie's book.

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Paula Nadelstern's quilt, KALEIDOSCOPIC XLI: The Prague Spanish Synagogue Ceiling, won 2nd place, Wall Quilts: Movable Machine Quilted at AQS QuiltWeek Spring Paducah 2018. Known for her kaleidoscopic style and intricate piecing, it is often difficult to see how she puts together her quilts. This time she let's us see how she does it by showing us the "inside" of her quilt.
 

Star Members can watch Paula at work in Show 307: Puzzle Quilts and Show 2010: Easy Piecing with Complex Fabrics Makes Complex Quilts.

(Photos Paula Nadelstern's Facebook page & John Anderson)

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It only takes a few minutes to put together this super simple eye pillow from WeAllSew.com.
 
They can be placed in the fridge for an energizing pick-me-up (great for puffy eyes, too!) or microwaved for a spa-like experience (great for tension headaches, too!)
 
 
 

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Maria talks about the process she used for finishing Tribe. It's an interesting look into the mind of an artist.

Click here to read her blog.

Star Members can watch Maria Shell in Show 2208: Improv Patchwork.

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis