On The Town Handbag

Last week I showed you Annie's On The Town handbag made with Texture Magic. Very classy looking in red and black.

This is Annie's sample she let me borrow for Trunk Shows.

The pattern for On The Town and Texture Magic can be found on Superior Threads web site.

I have now finished my own version of On The Town.

Annie provides such great instructions, and it was quite easy to make.

I used Vera's Garden by Robert Kaufman for the circular print, and Kona cotton for the solid brown.

The handles were purchased at JoAnn's. I even found them on sale for $4.

First put the Texture Magic to the back of the brown solid. I used a decorative stitch on my machine to stitch both pieces together and sewed from the front.

For the thread I used Lava # 212 (Kukui Nut) by Superior Threads. Lava is a 35 weight polyester with 1" dye color change intervals.

Each row is stitched about 3/4" apart.

Once the stitching is complete, apply steam and watch the Texture Magic shrink the fabric up to 30%.

The fabric can then be used to cut out the pattern pieces for the handbag.

You can also used leftover pieces to make a covered button.

The pattern uses Velcro to connect the flap. I opted to use a magnetic snap.

I just love this handbag, clear down to the little inset strip.

Blanche Young Lecture/ Trunk Show

At our Dixie Quilt Guild meeting on Saturday we were honored to have Blanche Young as our guest Lecturer/ Trunk Show.

Blanche is one of our local quilt celebrities, who resides in Hurricane, Utah only 18 miles outside of St. George.
We are very impressed that Blanche still donates her time and energy to traveling and lecturing in behalf of the love of quilting. She will be 91 years old this year.

Thank you for honoring us so, Blanche.

Blanche came with her daughter Lynette Bingham, who provided assistance and helped in the lecture.

Lynette is the owner of Main Street Quilt Cottage, a wonderful quilt store on your way into Zion National Park.

Main Street Quilt Cottage

72 N. Main

Hurricane, Utah (435) 635-4748

Blanche has been teaching quilt making since 1970. She began with Adult Education classes in Southern California. She was told at the time not to expect much in attendance. When her classes filled, she knew quilting had a future.

A sampler quilt was one of the first quilts taught as part of Blanche's classes. At the time she used a 5" binding.

Blanche loves traditional quilts, and developes innovative methods that make complex patterns easier and quicker.

Example of Seminole quilting.

Blanche has been part of the Houston Quilt Festival since it's inception in 1979, when they met in the basement of a church. She has seen so much progress in quilt making in the last 30 years.

Lynette said she felt her mother was the first innovator of the strip piecing method.

Along with her daughters, Blanche is the author of 10 quilt books. Lynette recalled feeling very brave in taking 2,000 copies of their book to Houston in 1979. They ended up with orders for 3,000 more before they left.

Blanche was the Featured Artist at Houston 2001.

In the days before rotary cutters, Blanche used heavy duty scissors to cut her fabrics. This pair would cut through 9 layers of fabric.

Blanche was good friends with Doreen Speckmann, who passed away in 1999.

This was a tribute quilt to her dear friend who said the only rule in quilting should be to never sew in the nude.

Doreen was known as a great artist, but did you also know she was the creator of the "chicken pincushion"? How many of us have either made one, received one, or seen them at every quilt booth or trade show we have attended.

Lynette said she and her family began collecting antique quilts when they sold for much less than they do today.

This 1853 antique quilt was picked up for $350.

Blanche has always been very generous with her time and talents. She has donated 86 raffle quilts. She made Shimmering Star again for Lynette because it was one of her favorites.

Lynette and Blanch share the many changes they have seen in the quilting world over the years. They ended the lecture saying "It's been a fun ride", and

shared a short story.

In the beginning of her quilt career Blanche's husband (who ended up traveling with her and becoming her biggest supporter) said "Don't get too involved in this quilting thing. It's just a passing fancy."

One of Blanche Young's books: Traditions With A Twist

Dixie Quilt Guild February Meeting

Yesterday was the Dixie Quilt Guild's February Meeting.
I am always so impressed with the amazing talent from our guild. We are surrounded by so many award winners. Four from our group were selected to go to Road to California last month.
Show and Tell is one of my favorite parts of the meeting.

This art quilt will be part of a show at a local gallery.

One member took Annie Unrein's Quilted Photography class.
This picture was made without any sewing, except at the end where you can quilt the completed piece.

She used 1/2 inch squares mapped out from a specialized computer program

Many of our members are International travelers.

Suzanne Dandoy has spent quite a bit of time in Africa. While there, she collected beautiful fabrics.

Suzanne also made this wall hanging out of men's ties.

Margaret Miller made this fun quilt using the new Lila Tueller Santorini line.
Doesn't this make you think Spring is right around the corner?

Another member just got back from Japan where she purchased a lot of Indigo. She had a display at the back of the room of some of her fabrics, but I didn't get back there in time to take pictures.

by Emily Jones

also by Emily Jones

Patti VanOordt's quilt was selected for Road To California.

Patti's quilt also is also featured on the cover of the IMQA (International Machine Quilters Assn.) Calendar this year!

Congratulations Patti!

Beautiful work.

Texture Magic Totes Class In Wickenburg, Arizona

I've been having the most delightful time teaching the Texture Magic Totes class and doing Texture Magic Trunk shows.

My latest teaching experience was at M's Quilting Inspriations in Wickenburg, Arizona.
M's is owned by Marilyn Williams, and she has a wonderful quilt store that is buzzing with energy and people. I did a post about her store HERE.

The class was well attended and the students went right to work.

This is the first any of the ladies had worked with Texture Magic.

Experiencing the fun part!
Once the Texture Magic has been stitched to the back of a piece of fabric, you apply steam and watch it shrink up to 30% in every direction.

When the Texture Magic lies flat, you know the shrinking is complete, and it will not shrink any more.

One student used a meandering stitch to apply the Texture Magic to her fabric.

Others used decorative threads from Superior Threads for the stitching. Razzle Dazzle by Ricky Tims was used most often by this class.
The gold stands out so nicely against a dark background.

Some added pockets to their tote.

We were able to finish our totes in a 3 hour class.

Don't we love taking home a FINISHED project?

One student had stitched decorative threads to her fabric before she came to class.

Look how beautiful!

It's so fun to see how every one's fabric choices makes each bag unique and personal.

Kathy Janes

Razzle Dazzle is a heavier decorative thread that can be used in bobbin work. It works so well with Texture Magic because the stitching is often worked from the back.

Kathy sent me a picture of her completed bag. Notice the specialty beads she used on the ends of her ribbon ties.

I love hearing about the excitement people feel when they work with Texture Magic.

Carol, from Phoenix sent me this e-mail:
Hi Nedra, just wanted to send you a picture of my finished tote bag that I started at 35th Ave. Sew and Vac in Phoenix on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. I made the handles longer so my granddaughter could possibly wear it over her shoulder if she wanted to. Thanks for the class. I enjoyed it. It was fun. I have four more bags to make now. Probably more down the line!! Carol Frese

Candy Land

Do remember the board game Candy Land?

I brought this as a present for my grandson Isaak. It's a perfect game for a 4 year old as they are learning colors and counting. The game is quick moving and simple enough to keep a pre-schooler's attention.

Such a trip down Memory Lane, as I used to play this with my children. Could this game be considered a "vintage" item now?

Isaak loved playing with his mom and Aunt Aubrey.

The goal is to be the first one to reach Kandy King.

What child doesn't love candy?

Isaak won just about every game, and we played our best!

The only thing more fun than Candy Land is playing with mommy, brother Noah, and baby sister Kayla.

And being tickled by dad!

Texture Magic Totes Class in Phoenix

Yesterday I presented a Texture Magic Trunk Show, and taught a Texture Magic Totes class at 35th Ave Sew and Vac in Phoenix, Arizona.

Texture Magic Totes is one of the first TM friendly patterns designed by Annie Unrein.
I like teaching this tote as a class because it can be easily sewn in 3 hours, allowing students to go home with a finished project.

One of the fun parts for me is seeing the variety of fabrics used by the students and how each bag turns out so well.

I showed them some of the wonderful threads that can be used by Superior Threads. This student used Razzle Dazzle with Texture Magic.

I love to stand back and let them steam and shrink their own fabrics, and then hear the excitement in their voices as they see the "magic" begin.

A class member brought a bag she had made previously. She had added a pocket on the outside of the bag, embellished with embroidery.

Susan Albrecht is the Texture Magic Rep for Arizona. She worked on a bag along with the other class members.

Even though this was the first time most of the class members had worked with Texture Magic, they still felt comfortable putting their own personalities in their projects. (yea ladies!)

Some added pockets, or batting to the textured parts.

Some enlarged the pattern to make a bigger tote.

When batting is sandwiched in between the Texture Magic and the fabric, it gives it a waffle look.

One student brought a Textured Totes and Accessories she had made. She created her own style with a self designed flap.

The stitching of the Texture Magic was done with a decorative stitch on her machine.

More Razzle Dazzle for the bottom. This would be a good tote to carry our threads.

I thought this was a great fabric combination: cherries on the top and a basket fabric for the Texture Magic on the bottom.

All the students did a wonderful job and were so creative! I am so proud of them for their enthusiasm and willingness to try a new product.

You Know You Are A Quilter When...

My friend Annie Unrein belongs to a wonderful friendship group with 6 very talented women. They challenged each other to design a block with the Theme "You Know You Are A Quilter When...."

Each participant was asked to paper piece a self portrait along with the theme.

Annie took her sets of blocks and placed them in this award winning quilt.
She won Best of Theme with The Utah Quilt Guild 2009.
Congratulations Annie!

Annie's group gets together every Monday to sew at Ginny's house. They leave their machines up full time.

These adage's are so true!

Annie left this as a comment, but I also want to add the information:
The patterns for each of the quilters came from Ruth B. McDowell's book, When Quilters Gather, so if anyone wants to make their own quilt, they should look for that book. I think it is out of print, but you might find it in a guild library or used online site.
I had fun coming up with the sayings and the layout. I designed the layout using Custom Set in EQ6. That program is perfect for figuring out how to put a quilt together with odd-sized blocks.
I photographed the blocks and imported them into EQ6 so that I could position them where I wanted them. I then figured out what size to make the quote blocks and the backgrounds.
If you're interested in learning more about EQ6 or Ruth McDowell's paper piecing technique, I love to teach both of those classes! Email me for more info at annieu@infowest.com.

One block was 3-D.

I like this quilter; she is working with a Kaffe!

and finally, your idea of heaven is making a quilt with your friends.

Be sure and go over and visit Annie's web site to see all of her wonderful patterns and ideas.