MyWebQuilter.com

Quilt Backing Calculator Update

2011-11-09T04:52:00.000-08:00

Now that our quilt show is over and the weather is turning colder, I am finding time to add new features to www.MyWebQuilter.com.

I have had several people asking to be able to set the "extra fabric for quilting" on the quilt backing and binding calculator. Previously the calculator included 3 extra inches on all sides for quilting. Now you can change this value in the Additional Settings.

Check out this new feature on the quilt backing calculator!

Happy Quilting

Amber

Quilts at the Bay Quilt Show

2011-09-27T04:36:00.000-07:00

I am the co-chairperson for my guild's quilt show that is coming up in 3 weeks! I am starting to get very, crazy busy with things to do for the show!

Quilts at the Bay will be Oct 14-15, 2011 at Bay College in Escanaba, MI.

The show will include:

Handcrafted Quilts on Display
Quilting Demonstrations
Raffle Baskets
Vendors
Viewers Choice Award
Raffle Quilt
Quilt Challenge
Live Music
Featured Quilter

In addition to the actual quilt show we are hanging quilts in the windows of businesses in downtown Escanaba and Gladstone.

Can't blog for long... have to email the paper information about our featured quilter, deliver posters, and start organizing my own quilts for the show!

Happy quilting,

Amber

Transform Challenge Quilting Disaster

2011-08-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my last post that my first attempt to make a quilt for Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Transformation Challenge was a disaster.

Leah makes beautiful quilts taking a single piece of fabric (or using a few large applique pieces), quilting this with a design and then painting on the quilted quilt. This seemed like a very interesting technique - so why not try it for her challenge?

Inspired by her goddess quilts and all her personal posts, I made "Keep Moving Forward". Light and dark parts of the Möbius strips representing the good and bad times in life. Life swirls around us...we have to keep moving forward...

After looking at this ugly quilt for a while - I still like the idea but the drawing is lacking a central focus to draw you in to the picture. I like my quilting stitches. Painting after quilting the quilt, is the real disaster.

I am not a painter. I also like to improvise when quilting. So, I launched into painting with limited painting supplies and no plan. The colors turned out very ugly. Then, I tried to paint over them and the paint got too thick on the quilt and the colors just got worse. The attempts at shading just did not work. I soaked and washed the quilt in hot water hoping to get some of the paint out with no luck.

I think for now I need to stick with piecing or applique if I plan to make a quilt for a show or challenge. If I plan to paint a quilt, I better practice painting on paper first!

Interesting though, after I messed up this quilt, one of the ladies in my art quilting group did a class on this technique of drawing, quilting, painting. Here is the little quilt I made in that workshop. It is called Rounding the Mark.

This came out much better! The painting was much simpler - just white for the sails and a few simple colors for the boats and buoy. It isn't a great work of art but I like it and it looks good in my nautical themed powder room.

Maybe there is hope for me using this technique after all.

Happy Quilting

Amber

Free Motion Quilting Challenge

2011-08-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a long time since I posted on my blog. The summer has been pretty busy with other activities...

I really enjoy Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting blog and decided months ago to try her "Transformation Challenge". I figured I could get a 9 x 12 inch quilt completed even with a busy summer.

The good news is that my little quilt just made the finals of the challenge! I have to mail it to her now. If it wins I never get it back - boo hoo. I am kind of attached to it so I hate to see it go.

I named it Circle of Ideas based on the quote from Pearl Bailey "Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but always be certain that a wider one is still possible." This quote reminded me of Leah's blog. She is always able to come up with more free motion quilting ideas.

The quilt is made using randomly pieced strips and circles and raw edge fusible applique. The appliqued circles have fusible web only one their edges. I also cut the background from behind the circles to keep the quilt thinner and easier to quilt.

This quilt is very heavily quilted. I sometimes have trouble with my thread breaking when quilting through fusible fusible applique. I used a needle designed for metallic thread (even though I wasn't using metallic thread) to reducing breakage.

This is actually the second quilt that I made for the challenge. The first one was a TOTAL disaster. Usually when I have a quilting disaster, unlike Leah, I just chuck it in the trash can and move on without telling anyone about it. In the spirit of her blog...I promise to write another post about my disaster quilt.

Happy quilting

Amber

New Quilt Block: Lady of the Lake

2011-05-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

I just added the traditional quilt block Lady of the Lake was just added to MyWebQuilter.com.

Click here for the free quilt block pattern.

Click here for a free quilt pattern using Lady of the Lake.

Happy Quilting

Amber

Mini Fabric Art Collages

2011-02-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

Last fall my art quilting group had a program using Lenore Crawford's fabric art collage technique. One of our members had attended a class by Lenore and showed us the technique.

In that meeting, I created the summer and fall mini collages in the picture below. This past weekend I finished the seasons adding winter and spring.

It is a fun, fast and easy technique. I found nice shadow boxes on sale at Michael's. The shadow boxes fit very nicely on the shelves in my living room!

This past weekend was great! I had fun attending Wicked in Appleton, WI and then came home to watch the Packers win! I live about 2 hours north east of Green Bay so we are all Packer fans here!

Happy Quilting!

Amber

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilt design software and free quilting calculators visit MyWebQuilter.com.

Pin Cushion Doll Continued

2011-02-04T04:55:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy with fun activities lately that I have missed my blogging!

Ski season has arrived! I joined a ladies downhill ski club and am going weekly to Marquette Mountain. I have downhill skiied only a few times before and broke my arm six years ago skiing in Montana. I was VERY nervous about trying downhill skiing again!

Here is our beginner ski class as the top of the chair lift. We made it up AND down safely! I am the one on the right with the new red helmet!

Back to quilting and sewing....a few weeks ago, I blogged about attending a pin cushion doll class. It was very fun! Paulette is an excellent teacher. Here is my "girl".

Sally attended the class with me. Here is a gang of girls...from the left they are Paulette's class sample, Sally's doll, and then mine. We think Sally's looks like Barbara Streisand.

Well today, I am off to visit Jerri's Quilt Patch in Norway, Mi. They are having a fantastic Superbowl sale that can't be resisted!

Happy quilting,

Amber

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilt design software and free quilting calculators visit MyWebQuilter.com.

My Pet Deer

2011-01-23T05:03:00.000-08:00

Quilting Arts Magazine has an annual calendar block challenge. This year's theme was "Feeling Pet-ty" where you make a quilt block of a pet or animal.

I live in a small town on the shores of Lake Michigan. My yard backs up to a large marsh, adjacent to the open waters of Lake Michigan. The marsh supports much animal life including "my" herd of "pet" deer.

Every evening they travel along the lake shore dining on the local bird feeders. We keep the feeders full and put out corn for them in the winter. My quilt shows one of the girls looking in our sliding door. I think she is saying "I would like some more please."

My quilt did not make the list of finalist. Oh well.....I love my "deer" little quilt.

Happy Quilting

Amber

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilt design software and free quilting calculators, visit MyWebQuilter.com.

Doll Pin Cushion Class

2011-01-19T04:25:00.000-08:00

I am attending a class today with my friend Sally to make this fun doll pin cushion.

The class will be held at Alley Kat's Quilt Shop in Marquette, MI and taught by Paulette Carr.

Should be fun! I found an orange/purple batik for the cushion and a fancy orange/purple/gold for her dress. Sally and I enjoyed Paulette's face drawing class last year.

Happy quilting

Amber

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilt design software and quilting calculators, visit MyWebQuilter.com

Quilts at the Bay Quilt Show Cancelled

2011-01-18T13:18:00.000-08:00

My quilt guild has put on a number of lovely quilt shows over the years. These shows have been a fun way to show our work and raise money for local charities.

Our last one was in October 2009. This last show ended up being quite large for us, with more than 150 quilts, hundreds of visitors, etc. We were able to make nice contributions to local charities but it is an amazing amount of work for our small group.

We decided to change the show to every other year due to the amount of work required. However, our group has gotten even smaller, we are all getting older and we have now decided to cancel the show that we had planned for this year.

It is a little sad but also a huge relief. We will raise some money for charity from a raffle quilt that we have already started. Now we will be able to spend time at our guild meetings learning new quilting techniques instead of all the business of putting on a large quilt show. Perhaps we can plan a few trips to out of town quilt shows.

Here are a few pictures of our 2009 show.

Happy quilting...

Amber

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilt design software and quilting calculators visit MyWebQuilter.com

Snow and Quodlibit

2011-01-17T17:14:00.000-08:00

Every blog I have read for the last few days it talking about snow. Well in the UP of Michigan, we typically get a lot of snow - my home town averages 90 in/season. This is not very much snow compared to areas north of us. We usually have snow on the ground from November to April.

We have had very little snow this year. I could actually see bare ground until we got 4 inches today. Anyway - I LOVE snow and want more of it. Here I am taking a turn around the Rapid River Ski Trail on Sunday.

About a week ago, I posted about my huge Quodlibit quilt using Asian fabrics. I finally have the center assembled. Here it is hanging from the loft in my house.

You know, you really do need to square up quilt blocks. I have worked on this quilt on/off for a year and just forgot to square up some of the 6 in squares that determine the size of the quilt.

Needless to say, I assembled most of them prior to realizing my mistake and had to unsew several rows. Duh! I hate to unsew and this quilt it so large that it takes a while to unsew a row. So the project laid in my sewing room for several days, nagging me every time I looked at it, until today!

I still have some borders to put on this large quilt. I plan to use it for a bedspread in my bedroom. I have decided to have my friend Betty quilt it using her longarm quilting machine.

Happy quilting!

Amber

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilt design software and quilting calculators visit MyWebQuilter.com

Coloring Quilt Blocks in MyWebQuilter.com

2011-01-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

A fun, free feature of the free quilt design software at MyWebQuilter.com is quilt block coloring.

To use this feature select Color Quilt Blocks under Quilt Blocks on the menu. You will see following page. If you have not selected a specific quilt block to color, you will see a Churn Dash block.

If you prefer to color a different quilt block, start by selecting one or more quilt blocks on the Select Quilt Block page also under Quilt Blocks on the menu. You will see your selected quilt blocks in the list on the right side of the page. Click on the block that you want to color from the Blocks for my Quilt list.

The list on the left shows any standard colors that I created for the block. To make your own, new color select the link Create New Color.

The coloring page consists of two steps. Step 1 lets you choose a color to change.

The basic version of the quilt block on the left with your recolored version on the right. When you first come to this page, they will be the same.

There is a little box above the blocks for each of the colors in the basic block. To change a color, click on the little box. The selected color box is larger than the others. So white is selected in the picture below.

Next, click on one of the colors in the Basics, Solids or Prints lists under Step 2: Choose New Color. If you are looking for a specific color, click on the small color boxes at the top or type the name of a color and click search.

On the screen above I clicked on Blue to only see shades of blue in the solids and print lists. I also change White to Green Stone.

On the above screen picture, I changed Red to Buttercup.

Type in a name and click save when you are done. Now you will see your new color for the block.

If you leave MyWebQuilter.com without logging your block colors are not saved permanently. If you want to be able to come back and use this color later, you need to log in.

After you log in you will see the following page asking if you want to save the colors.

Have fun using quilt block coloring at MyWebQuilter.com!

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilt design software and free quilting calculators visit MyWebQuilter.com

Amber

Simplex Star: New Free Quilt Block Pattern

2011-01-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

Today I added the Simplex Star Quilt Block to the free quilt block patterns at MyWebQuilter.com.

Simplex Star is an easy, beginner, 9 patch block similar to the Friendship Star. The pictures below show simplex star in red and orange color waves.

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns, free quilting calculators and free quilt design software visit MyWebQuilter.com.

Happy Quilting!

Amber

New Free Quilt Block Pattern at MyWebQuilter.com

2011-01-10T08:28:00.001-08:00

I just added the Spool and Bobbin quilt block pattern to MyWebQuilter.com.

This is an easy 4 patch block that forms an interesting star pattern. Here are pictures of the block in the green and purple color waves.

For more than 200 free quilt block patterns checkout MyWebQuilter.com.

Happy Quilting!

Amber

Art Quilting with Lutradur

2011-01-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

The Art Quilt group that I belong to met last Thursday. We meet about every 6-8 weeks and one of our members organizes a program. Often it is a new technique or idea that we try out.

This meeting was working with Lutradur. Lutradur is a 100% polyester, translucent material that has been used on mattress backings. Glenna organized a program to try the various techniques in this book.

To keep us focused she had us pick a vegetable or fruit and write a Haiku about it. Then using the Lutradur with other materials we worked on creating an art quilt about our vegetable.

I picked tomato. I was inspired to pick tomato because I received my Burpee catalog. Of course I live too far north and have too much shade in my yard to actually grow tomatoes. But fresh tomatoes in the summer is one of my very favorite foods. ..my Haiku is

Summer's bounty
Juicy, red, warm, delicious
My mouth watering

This picture shows how far I got in our meeting....

We started by painting the Lutradur, our poems printed on paper in various font, fabric and other things we thought might be good for collage using the colors for our vegetable or fruit.

Then we started creating a collage using these painted items and other materials we brought.

On the left is the beginning of a collage of tomatoes on a vine. The blue background with the green stripe in it was fabric created using painted Wonder Under made in a previous meeting of this group. It is sticky because of the Wonder Under so it is east to create a collage on it. (Always cover with parchment paper to iron on it - unless you happen to like cleaning your iron!)

I used red painted Lutradur to put shading on tomatoes cut from fabric. The top most tomato on the left is just Lutradur - note how translucent it is. The tomato stems and leaves were made by melting the Lutradur with an iron and soldering iron. Lutradur melts/burns at a pretty low heat so you have to be very careful. Also, the fumes of melting Lutradur are toxic so only work on this in a well ventilated area! The melted Lutradur is very dimensional and stiff so it makes great stems.

We didn't get to try all the techniques in the book at the meeting so there is much more try out at home.

I also include some of the painted Lutradur and fabric in the above picture.

Our next meeting is in early March so I can get pictures of all the Lutradur creations.

Happy Quilting

Amber

Designing a Quilt with MyWebQuilter.com

2011-01-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

I thought I would blog a little today about how to use the Design Quilt page at MyWebQuilter.com.

If you just click on the Design Quilt page, you are presented with a very simple quilt using a Churn Dash block. From looking at the website statistics, it seems that some people just click to other pages from here and don't go further to actually design a quilt. I guess they are just checking out the site. To understand what this quilt design software can do, you have to take a few more steps!

There are 2 basic things you may want to do when you see this Churn Dash quilt..

Change to different quilt blocks

Change other things about the quilt

For today's blog entry, I am going to talk about Changing the Quilt Blocks.

To do that, you need to go to the page to select quilt blocks. Any web page is limited on space so I made selecting quilt blocks for your quilt one page and using the blocks you selected to design a quilt a separate page.

Of course if you know this, you can start on the selecting blocks page. To select quilt blocks look at the screen print below.....look for the links with the red circles.

The page to select quilt blocks looks like this:

There are about 170 blocks to choose from at the current time. Each block is available in 7 standard color waves. You can color your own blocks - but that is another lesson.

The screen has many ways to search the blocks. To get started click on a color and/or a type of block. If you are looking for a particular block - type in the search area and click search.

Clicking the left most color block (multi-color) and the All button for type will make all the blocks appear.

When you find a block you want to try on your quilt, click the "Select" link next to it. Clicking Select will add the block to the column on the right "Blocks for My Quilt"

On this picture of the screen I have chosen the green color wave and selected several blocks.

After selecting blocks, return to the Design Quilt page.

Now the blocks that you selected will be on the left side of the screen. Each block has a check box next to it to indicate it if should actually be on the quilt or not.

Try changing the check boxes - then click Update Quilt.

Have fun changing the check boxes and seeing what you get.

Today, my art quilt group is meeting! We always have fun trying new art quilt techniques. Glenna received a large roll of Lutrador as a gift. So, we are making making vegetable themed collage using Lutrador including a Haiku poem that we wrote. Hmm...should be interesting!

Happy Quilting

Amber.

What is Amber Working On?

2011-01-04T17:49:00.000-08:00

After 3 hours playing indoor tennis and 1 hour of power yoga today, I am about to collapse! I guess I am doing OK on the new year's resolution to get in shape.

As for quilting, a few days ago I dug out one of my UFO projects. I really want a new quilt to use on our bed. I purchased the quilt we are using now at Fern's Fabrics in Stuart's Draft VA at least 10 years ago. It is a hand quilted Trip Around the World quilt that is starting to get worn due to use.

I was impressed when my friend Sally made a "Quodlibit" quilt with batiks. Our bedroom has an Asian theme with collectibles from living in Japan for several years during my teenage years (the 1970's). So, I decided our bedroom needed a Quodlibit quilt - enlarged to king size - and using Asian fabrics.

Here are some of my Asian collectibles. Most of the wood carvings and paintings were made by my father.

This quilt seemed like a good idea about a year ago when I started it. I have quite a stash of Asian fabrics to use.

However, making the blocks was a huge task so it ended up in the UFO pile. I have actually finished all the blocks for the center section and am in the process of assembling the center of the quilt.

This is the current state of the quilt center - on the family room floor. The rows at the bottom of the picture are actually assembled. I auditioned the partially assembled section on the bed and think it will look great if I can ever get this finished. It is a little wild and colorful but all the black sashing pulls it together.

As I am putting this together, I keep debating rather to send this out to be quilted with just an overall pattern ... or .... try to quilt it myself. Of course, I only have a regular sewing machine...not a long arm. I have quilted large quilts before but it takes me a very long time and I tend to go overboard with complicated free motion designs.

I really want to quilt it myself...but may never finish it...what to do?!?

I guess I don't have to decide until the top is done....

On MyWebQuilter.com, I have been cleaning up and organizing the website. I want to add more capabilities but haven't yet decided which to add this year. I am open to ideas....any ideas out there on how to improve MyWebQuilter.com?

Happy Quilting...

Amber

New Menu at MyWebQuilter.com

2011-01-03T04:59:00.001-08:00

I updated the menu at MyWebQuilter.com after realizing, there are so many new pages that some pages might be hard to find.

It was quite a technical, computer programming challenge to get the menu to work with all web browsers - Internet Explorer, Chrome, Mozilla, and Safari. At least, I think it is working for all of these!

This picture shows the new menu for Quilt Blocks. It is now very easy to access the:

New Quilt Block Library page for larger block pictures and links to the free quilt block patterns
Select Quilt Blocks for a quilt design
Quilt Block Coloring page.

There are also drop down menus for Quilt Patterns (my patterns vs. automated computer generated patterns) and the quilting calculators (Backing & Binding and OnPoint Setting Triangles).

If you have any trouble with the new menu, please comment on the blog or send an email to customerservice@mywebquilter.com. Let me know what web browser you are using, the page you were on and a description of the problem.

Happy Quilting!

Amber

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T14:17:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

My new year started with a beautiful sunrise over Lake Michigan. As you may notice, we are somewhat lacking in snow. It actually rained here melting most of the snow - unheard of for the UP of Michigan. I am really disappointed to not be able to x-country ski!

I have been trying to finish my quilting UFOs - a resolution for this year. I have also been working on improvements for MyWebQuilter.com. Will fill you in soon!

Happy New Year!

Amber

New Free Quilt Block Pattern Search

2010-12-08T05:09:00.000-08:00

I just updated MyWebQuilter.com with an easier, more graphical search for free quilt block patterns.

The new search shows a larger picture of the quilt blocks. You may enter key words, choose a skill level, color and/or quilt block pattern types. Clicking on a quilt block picture will take you to the free quilt block pattern for that quilt block.

The old screen is still available via the small link at the top "Select Blocks for Quilt Design".

Check out the free quilt block patterns and free quilt design software at MyWebQuilter.com

Amber

Free Calculator for On Point Quilt Setting Triangles

2010-11-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

There are many web pages that will tell you how do the math for setting triangles for an on point quilt. However, there aren't very many that actually do the math for you.

I just add this capability to the free calculators at MyWebQuilter.com.

On the calculator screen, enter your finished block size and the number of columns/rows in your quilt. Click calculate to have MyWebQuilter.com calculate the size setting triangles to cut as well as the total fabric requirements for the setting triangles.

Easy and free.... Check it out..

Quilts at the Bay Quilt Challenge

2010-11-20T14:24:00.000-08:00

My quilt guild has a quilt show every two years. Our show is called Quilts at the Bay as it is held at Bay Community College in beautiful Escanaba, MI (located on Little Bay de Noc, Lake Michigan).

Our next quilt show is October 13-14, 2011. Does this sound like a long way off? Well as one of the organizers...the time will pass too quickly!

We are having a quilt challenge as part of the show. The challenge is open to anyone, there are prizes and the challenge quilts will be displayed at the show.

The challenge is to use a "recognizable amount" of each of the 4 fabrics in the challenge pack. The challenge pack is pictured below. There is a maximum size and a few other rules. For full details check out our quilt show website.

Challenge packs are available for $10 at Quilts 'n Stuff. The packs are available at the shop or by ordering on-line.

Consider joining the challenge! My quilt is already in process......

Happy Quilting,

Amber

Autumn Comforts Quilt Show

2010-10-14T06:15:00.000-07:00

I am getting three of my quilts ready for the Autumn Comforts Quilt Show in Marquette, MI this weekend. This always a great show!

Modern 3D Squares was designed using MyWebQuilter.com. A user of MyWebQuilter.com created this pattern. I loved it and made a lap size quilt using the Floragraphix fabrics by Jason Yenter. The Attic Windows quilt blocks are pieced using a half square triangle to avoid the dreaded "Y" seam. You can get the free pattern for this quilt here.

I am also entering my "Amber in Amber" quilt. Read more about this quilt in this previous blog posting.

The third quilt I am entering is Color Wheel. This quilt is a result of a batik challenge and has been in several other shows.

If you are in our beautiful UP of Michigan, I hope you will stop by the Autumn Comfort Quilt Show!

Happy quilting!

Amber

Pretty Quilted Rising Star Pillow for Aunt Joann

2010-09-18T08:00:00.001-07:00

My aunt and uncle recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. My aunt is quite ill with cancer so I made a cheerful, flowery, star quilted pillow as an anniversary gift.

I used the Rising Star quilt block pattern at MyWebQuilter.com to create the block.

To quilt the center square, I used the Flower Ball free motion quilt design from Day's Style Design. I was very happy with that pattern although is doesn't show up very well in this picture.

Making the pillow back was quick and easy using the envelope method.

Happy quilting!

Amber

Madison Quilt Expo

2010-09-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Several friends and I had a great time at the Madison WI Quilt Expo last weekend. We caught a bus tour run by Westlund Bus Lines out of Marinette, WI. It was a long day but very fun and inspirational trip.

Our small home town of Escanaba, MI was well represented at the show. This is a picture of my friend, Sally with her quilt at the show. The quilt is call There's a Bunny in My Garden. The quilt is beautifully appliqued.

Also note Sally's quilted jacket. I think more than 100 quilters at the show asked if she made her jacket - she did! In fact she has entire wardrobe of them in every shade of the rainbow. She did a trunk show at our local art center showing all of her jackets.

Maureen is another friend and expert quilter from our town of Escanaba, MI. This is her quilt Kamakura Sisters.

Happy Quilting!

Amber