Some of my quilting stories

Well here it goes. I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for quite some time and have decided that today is the day ! ! !
Currently I am putting the borders on my variation of "Sophie's Choice". The original pattern is in July 2009 issue of The Quilter Magazine. I was in JoAnn Fabrics, my favorite store, about three weeks aago nd went totally CRAZY with the brown and teal selection they had. I bought 10 different styles and numerous yards of each. So, needless to say, I needed to find a quilt pattern to put it to work. Not that I don't have many yards of fabric in my "stash" that has been waiting for years to get into a quilt. When I saw Sophie's Choice it totally fit the for the fabric I purchased. I added a center star to give it more definition, in my opinion. It was great fun to construct and it was my first time redesigning, for lack of a better word, a quilt pattern. I have always followed quilt patterns to the letter. Putting some of my own ideas into it was great fun but extremely time consuming. I am now in the process of designing a new border for another quilt top. I have many unfinished projects that will get done someday. Wishful thinking, maybe.

I have been quilting since 2000 and have probably completed over 30 bed quilts, 25 wall hangings and 10 purses. I have lost count over the years. Another reason I decided to start this blog is to document them for myself, friends and family and hopefully for the enjoyment of whoever reads my blog.

I absolutely love my Janome Memory Craft 6500 sewing machine. I recently was given a demonstraton on the 11000, I believe it was. The Janome embroidery and sewing machine combination. It is an absolutely wonderful machine and priced right with the economy the way it is, but I couldn't part with my 6500. It has been a work horse. I do all of my own machine quilting and love the extra throat space to aid in that. I have quilting 3 king size quilts with it and so many queen quilts that I have lost count.

I, along with my quilt group, just finished making the "One Block Wonder". That is great fun, but I feel that you must have to try many diferent fabrics to get it work to the best of its ability. My first try looks like it belongs on "Laugh In", for those of you who remember that show. It really does need a "Lava Lamp" next to it. Was still lots of fun to make though. It will probably end up in the tote of "what in the world to do with this?????" Maybe my 5 year old granddaughter will like it. She loves everything I make for her.

Well I am off to get this border finished on the "Sophie's Choice" quilt top.

Thanks for reading. Till the next entry. Happy Quilting and God Bless.

Marlene