Giving THANKS for you!

Happy Thanksgiving Quilters,

My wish of thanks for you is that you know how much you mean to me.  
When I learned “Heirloom Machine Quilting” in Feb of 2000 and then realized I could combine that skill with my passion for drawing, I felt like all of my quilting dreams were possible. I developed a technique to use my machine to draw any image on a quilt, make any pattern or texture.

What I could not have known at that time was how rewarding this adventure would become when I was asked to teach others to stitch as I had learned. So after 16 years and literally thousands of students all over the country, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to share this passion with you. How fortunate I have been to have had so many of you tell me that what I taught you mattered, giving my method validity and continually encouraging me with your support and enthusiasm. I have benefited greatly you have enriched my life with purpose. You have my sincere thanks!

Other Notes:

I am continuing to offer the WEIGHTLESS QUILTER for sale from my SHOP! at a tremendous price, $285.00 delivered to your door (despite the significant increase in shipping fees from the distributor). You may have seen me demonstrating this extremly helpful tool to many interested quilters at shows and picked up a flyer. Act now to put it on your Christmas list so your Secret Santa can get it under your tree by Dec. 25th!
Read more details and order here:https://heirloomquiltingdesigns.com/product/weightless-quilter/

Hexie Quilt Update:

The first the (landscape EYE SPY hexie quilt top is complete of now, I may add borders later.

I began the project by making a sketch using this hexie graph paper. Click here to save the PDF file to print on 8.5″ x 11″ hexie graph paper.

Next. I printed out sheets of this basting paper and began collecting fabrics with cute images in the colors needed to create the landscape sketch. Click here to save the PDF file to print on 8.5″ x 11″ hexie basting paper.

I made clear plastic window template to aid in fussy cutting little images using a clear plastic report cover with a 1/4″ paper glued to each edge. 

NOTE: This photo is viewed on it’s side despite many attempts to rotate it! I actually positioned the hexies with a flat side at the top, another layout could use the shape with a point at the top. You can also see how the clear plastic became blue after using it mark fabric with a water soluble marker.

After I basted a billion pieces of fabric to the hexie basting papers (while riding in the car for 5800 miles this summer), I was ready to assemble the top.

I began sewing the hexies to one another by hand, (using a running stitch with right sides facing) but later decided to use my machine. I installed invisible thread in the top and lightweight thread in the bobbin and set the machine for a very tiny zig zag stitch. I worked with the hexies facing up , side by side with the papers still basted to the fabric. That process was quicker and it worked very well.

Here is a detail of the sheep standing in a farmers field. I made tiny yoyos, ears and feet, and embroidered the facial features.

I am taking a break from hexies for some holiday sewing and will update you again when I add more details to personalize the project during in the quilting phase. However, if you would like to trade or share fabric scraps please email me to exchange addresses.

joanie@heirloomquiltingdesigns.com

If you would like to learn to use your sewing machine to complete your quilts keep your eye on this newsletter, email me to be put on a list to be notified if I offer hands-on workshops in October 2019 at the Town of Burke Hall 5365 Reiner Rd Madison, WI. 53718. If enough of you are interested, I will secure the dates at the hall.

Thanks for your interest, please pass this note along to any quilters, shops or guilds.

Give it your best,

Joanie

Hello, I am well and enjoying the best of what a gal my age can expect, the joy of grand parenthood! It is with heartfelt gratitude for a wonderful career that I announce a substantial cutback in products available on this website. Downloadable printed patterns and Quilting Design Collections are currently available. 

Bits of news

I love my new Christmas present, a great light box that is essentially a large flat digital screen. (I am not endorsing any specific product; those are not my hands in the photo. Do an internet search for tattoo light box to find the best size and price. Be sure it plugs in the wall, not your computer.)

Here is a glimpse of a new Swan Baby Quilt pattern that will be available to download online( hound me to get it uploaded) or at the Prairie Heritage Quilt Show March 11, 12 and 13, St. Albert’s the Great, Sun Prairie, WI. It will include all full size patterns, written instructions as well a quilting designs and instructions with my logic.

Give it your best!

Joanie

This is your gentle reminder that there are only 100 stitching days until Christmas!

I was reminded that is was time for planning this week when people started ordering my Fabulous Filler Christmas Stocking Pattern. (Shipped or downloadable for $10.00 for the full size drawing, written directions to make the lined stocking as well as illustrated instructions for stitching all of the background fill patterns). https://heirloomquiltingdesigns.com/product/downloadable-fabulous-filler-christmas-stocking-pattern-for-stocking-shaped-background-fill-sampler/

Or you may prefer a table runner in 3 sizes, this square or a rectangle:

Another reminder: I still have seats available at my 1, 2, or 3 day hands-on workshops in Madison, WI, on Oct 26 to 31.

To help you make a personalized gift for someone special in your life, this blog post presents information on how to easily and accurately center text to personalizing when the cuff of the stocking.  

Using the stocking drawing in the pattern, first trace the outline of the space parallel to the top of a piece of plain paper. Notice that the stocking sides are tapered slightly. Measure the line at the top edge and mark a line at the middle as a guide for centering the letters.

Add a double line and filled that with string a of beads about 3/8” from the top and bottom edges to fill the open space and add interest.

Then, using a computer, print out the name in all caps using a simple font with one space between the letters; this is Arial, size 90 in bold .

Next, crease a fold at the very center of the space that the letters occupy. Notice in this example the J and A take up just a bit less space than the N and E so the center crease is slightly closer to the N. Match the centering lines and tape the name to the paper cuff.

For a name with more letters, print the letters in a smaller size (72) with the space between them, cut them apart with a bit of space around each letter and then equally fill the width of the cuff.

Follow pattern instructions for completing your personalized stocking by centering the fabric over the drawing and tracing with a water soluble marker.

Check out this cute clock that keeps track of the remaining days for you. http://www.xmasclock.com/

Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you!

As always, Give it your Best!

Joanie

Forum: Weightless Quilter

2026 This is a wonderful tool that I recommend, however we are not selling at this time. 

I am delighted to introduce you to the Weightless Quilter, a wonderful quilting tool that will assist so many quilters in becoming a successful machine quilter on a domestic or sit-down long arm machine. I know many of you have a desire to complete your own quilts but have struggled with the weight of the quilt bundle. After 17 years of experience with my own machine quilting and from teaching hundreds of students in the classroom, (plus designing patterns and quilting design collections, writing how–to books and DVDs), I have to admit that there is nothing that I can teach that will eliminate that battle! So I have teamed with the professionals at Weightless Quilter, to bring you this tool that will assist you in completing wonderful quilts by yourself with equipment you already own!

Anyone who knows me or has attended the Machine Quilting workshops knows I am not a Gadget Girl. I teach students to first perform each step of my machine quilting process manually and then add any accessories they want to get the job done. In my own work, I keep my experience really “free” by using very few “add on” accessories. With years of day-in-and-day-out practice plus the experience of assisting my students at various skill levels, I have learned what the important factors of my success really are. I have honed in on perfecting the machine quilting process and suggest supplies to reduce weight, but until now there was no way to eliminate the struggle to maneuver a large bundle.

In early 2016, I was asked to test the Weightless Quilter, a new apparatus invented to lift the weight of the quilt off the work surface for machine quilters who use a domestic or sit down longarm. I surely was intrigued by the premise, but I was not convinced that it would be helpful enough to be worth the time to set it up or the expense (MSRP $399.00). I was skeptical, having been the pretty much a naked quilter, no frame, not stitch regulator, not even gloves. As I waited for the Weightless Quilter to arrive I compiled a list of reasons why I might not like it, probably the same apprehension you have right now. I was concerned about the inconvenience of having to move the quilt as I completed a section, that it would interrupt my stitching rhythm,etc. etc… (Read my report below)

What I learned in the first 15 minutes I had the Weightless Quilter in my house was it did what the manufacturer claimed it would do; it actually did set up in minutes without any trouble, lifted the weight of the bundle off the work table and took no time to get used to using it. After only the first hour my husband asked if I wanted any help setting it up and I said “No, I am already working and I feel like I have a girlfriend on each corner supporting the quilt and moving it where I command!”

After traveling across the country to demonstrate the Weightless Quilter at shows and classes, I have assembled the most frequently asked questions for this Forum. Here I will provide answers and information for you. I realize this is an investment and that you may not have seen a Weightless Quilter in action, so email me at joanie@heirloomquiltingdesigns.com to ask anything you would like to know and I will do my best to provide useful information.

What is it?

The Weightless Quilter is a floor rack system designed to eliminate your battle with the weight of a quilt bundle by lifting it off the work surface and off your body.

How does it work

Flexible poles with clamps attach to a basted quilt bundle. As you quilt the poles sway, mimicking the movement of your hands. When an area is complete, the bundle is adjusted to expose an unquilted area.

What parts come with the system?

• Four 36” long Floor Frame Bars slide into the side or end of corner brackets.
• Four Corner Brackets connect the Bars and support the poles. Rotate the bracket to adjust the orientation of the poles to fit the size of the quilt.
• Eight Flex poles provide 3 levels of lift capacity: low (thinner poles); medium (thicker poles); heavy (both poles fit into the brackets at once).
  o Four High tension Flex Poles – thicker to provide support for heavier quilts, three are 60“ long and one is 39.5″
  o Four Low tension Flex Poles – thinner to provide more flexibility for lighter quilts, three are 60“ long and one is 39.5″
• Black sticky-backed felt strips to wrap around both ends of the poles so that they stay securely into the hole of the corner brackets as well as the clamps.
• Four Clamps – slide on the top end of the Flex Poles to hold the quilt bundle; easy to open, grip securely
• Eight Set Screws – hold the floor frame bars in the corner brackets.
• The storage box is: 5.5” wide, 4” deep and 59” high

How do I set up the Weightless Quilter?

The Weightless Quilter sets up in minutes without any tools. Choose as few or as many pieces of the system you will need to adapt to the size and weight of the project and the size of the work space.

Place the floor bars on the floor, slide them into the corner brackets and secure with the set screw if desired.

The corner brackets can be rotated 90 degrees so that the pole orientation is adjusted to the size of each project.

How does the set-up differ for a machine with the head on the right or when the head of the machine is at the rear?

That is as simple as it is to set up the Weightless Quilter! You are ready to attach the quilt and get it finished!

How much space do the Floor Frame Bars need to fit under my table or cabinet?

The four heavy-duty coated metal Floor Frame Bars are 36″ long, are 1/2″ thick and 1″ wide, so they will slide easily under most sewing cabinets.

How big of a quilt will it hold?

The system offers the versatility of positioning the parts to fit your space, and/or to the size of the quilt and the weight of the quilt bundle. Attach the corner brackets to direct the poles to the back or side to adapt to your work space to hold any quilt from a twin to a king.

How heavy of a quilt will it hold?

Insert both poles at the same time to support the weight of a heavy quilt. The Weightless Quilter will hold the weight of king size quilt with heavy batting.

Speaking of heavy projects, is the Weightless Quilter useful for other large, heavy or bulky projects?

Use it to support the weight of any large project
o Seam large backing fabrics
o Add the binding to a quilt
o Make draperies
o Use it for Bridal gown with long train, heavy costumes, pageant gowns 

What do I do if I don’t have space to expand for a really big quilt?

It is not necessary to have a large space to work in with the Weightless Quilter. You don’t have to spread out the entire quilt and clamp the corners as if the quilt was attached to the rollers of a longarm. On the contrary, the Weightless Quilter can do a big job in a small space by clamping a section of the quilt and readjusting the clamps as you work. Or, consider moving your machine to a larger room for the anchoring process (learn more about anchoring in my book Joanie’s Quilting Elements and move back after the work zones have been established. Set it up anywhere you have space, work in the dining room, family room, on a covered patio or take it to retreat.

What do I do if my machine is up against the wall?

The Weightless Quilter works with as much or as little space that you have, even if your machine is against a wall. My friend, LuAnn Tippets of Sew Very Smooth uses a Weightless Quilter to quilt while she is on the road in a camping trailer (traveling to quilt shows selling her wonderful quilting tools). LuAnn clamps just the section of the quilt she needs access to by attaching the clamp to a folded quilt bundle. She said: “After the bundle is meticulously pin basted, I temporarily set up the Weightless Quilter in any large space and follow the Divide and Conquer method of anchoring that I learned in Joanie’s class (and book) to secure the layers into work zones. When the first anchoring stitches are complete, I can safely clamp a smaller area of the quilt and move from section to section anywhere on the quilt top without the worry of puckers on the back“. While not optimal, if your work space is against a wall, the poles take the length of the quilt up and gently sway from side to side as you work.

What types of machines does the Weightless Quilter work with?

The Weightless Quilter works with any equipment you already own; whatever techniques, skills or attachments you are currently using will only be enhanced when the quilt bundle moves freely.

• Use it for straight line quilting when a walking foot or even-feed feature is used. 
• Use it for free-motion techniques with the fee-dogs lowered.
• Use it with an extension table, a slide on tray, and with a stitch length regulator.

Do I need to temporarily baste the layer of the bundle?

Yes, just like any time you are quilting with either of these machines,
you must baste the quilt bundle. Use your favorite method to pin-baste
or spray baste.
I pin baste on a basting rack, placing small brass safety pins every 4″ .

Watch this video of me stitching with the Weightless Quilter.

What do I do with the Weightless Quilter when I am not in the quilting phase of my project?

• When the quilt is complete, put the Weightless Quilter away in the box.
• Set it up anywhere you have space, work in the dining room, family room or on a covered patio.
• Take it to retreats
• Let a friend borrow it,
• Take it to quilt guild, etc. etc…

Report on product testing the Weightless Quilter

My thoughts before testing the product:

• I was concerned that the system will pull on the bundle when reaching the place where the tension of the system pulls back.
• I worried that the WQ would restrict or resists my movement, resulting in distortion of my stitch consistency or breakage of a needle.

Response: This was not a problem. There was a different feeling of tension on the bundle, but it seemed to allow me to control the bundle just fine and at times, possibly even better than I had without the Weightless Quilter.

I couldn’t imagine how I would work the edge of the quilt or stitch close to where the bundle attached to the clamp?

Response: This was not a problem. When the stitching occurred starting at the north edge of the quilt all the way to the south edge, I simply released or attached the north and south clamps along the edge as needed.

Setting up the Weightless Quilter for the test quilt, size 51” x 64”.

• Because used my lightweight, recommended batting, only the lightweight poles were necessary. They allowed the maximum flexibility and freedom to access larger areas of the bundle before reclamping was necessary.
• I used 3 poles in 3  corner brackets, a short pole to my left side, and a long one in each corner to my north. I did not use a pole on my right.
• Since the floor brackets had the option of sliding into the floor bar from the front or side, I turned the left floor bracket so that the pole pointed left rather than pointing behind me.

My Process: I anchored with the waking foot on straight lines, using only the back left corner attached to the lightweight pole. I could bend the pole enough to start at the north edge of the quilt. I stitched the straight lines anchoring on the right side of the quilt. Next I switched to the free-motion foot for anchoring.

I stitched from North to South, starting with the first seam line closest to the quilt center, then moved east toward the right side edge.  Next, I rotated the bundle, started back in the center and added the anchoring lines in the empty side. I was able to stitch the entire length of the quilt using or releasing the clamps as needed.

Rotating the quilt WAS NOT the problem that I anticipated. It was simple to squeeze the clamp open, rotate the quilt and reattach the clamp. I would also like to stress how it is good for the body to get up and move.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would to pass this information on to anyone you may think is interested.

Give it your BEST! Joanie

The 4th quilt that Pam Levenhagen and I worked on together, Garden Fantasia, was entered in the contest. We earned an Honorable Mention in a category for machine quilted wall quilts with 50 other entries. I wish Pam could have been there with me to talk about her original artwork that was so fun to make into this unique quilt. 

This quilt began as a white piece of fabric before Pam’s talented hands used many layers of colored pencils and micron marker to create her imaginary garden.

Full View of Garden Fantasia, 2015

Getting ready to quilt. Notice the color intensity at this stage was far less than the final product. While working on a piece, we often pass the quilt back to one another, some coloring, some stitching, more coloring, more stitching…Stitching Detail.

Stitching Detail.

I hope to encourage Pam to offer a class in her technique.

I was very busy teaching all week in Grand Rapids and I completely forgot to take a photo at my special exhibit, Elegance in Stitches. I know, isn’t that sad! If you were there and took a photo of me with the quilts, please send it!

My fall Machine Quilting seminars are just 2 months away and it is time to get serious about signing up. I spoke to many quilters in Michigan about what a gift it is to give yourself; three uninterrupted days to dedicated to learning to machine quilt. I am offering  a these classes in Madison, WI. To read the details, just scroll down to the next blog post and email me with questions and requests for registration forms.

3-day Skill Building Seminar, level one,
on Oct. 14-16, 2016

Getting Started with Machine Quilting Lecture
Sunday Oct.  16, 2016 at 3:30 pm.

a 1-day hands-on workshop,
The Great Outdoors on Monday Oct. 17 from 9:30 to 3:30

and open a shortened version of that class at night
The Great Outdoors at Night on Monday Oct. 17 from 5:30 to 8:30

And, a Reunion Weekend on Oct 22, 23 for those who took the level one class already,
I will send all past participants an email about the event.

So grab some friends and make a plan for a new machine quilting future!

I know I have been throwing out a few hints about the terrific new product that I am endorsing. The weightless Quilter is a rack that holds the weight of large quilts for you while you stitch. Flexible poles with clamps sway and mimic every movement of your hands. I demonstrated to raving crowds in Grand Rapids. Well, you won’t have to wait much longer, they are ready to be shipped Aug. 30th!

Watch a video and read the details at:
THE WEIGHTLESS QUILTER.COM 

I will have it loaded in the SHOP of this website this week, with a $pecial price!!!

You will be able to order from me, pay with PayPal
(You can pay PayPal with your credit card
even if you don’t have an account set up with them),
and it will be shipped to your door!

Thanks, Joanie Zeier Poole

Greetings to each of you and welcome to my newsletter to the many newcomers!

The topic for this post is independence for the machine quilter!

First, I have a FREE PATTERN for each of you to download named Star Spangled Border.

I created this FREE QUILTING DESIGN with written stitching instructions especially for this post to inspire you. I want to motivate you, to push yourselves to a new level in your machine quilting. This design uses the concept for stitching that I invented, Continuous Outline Designs, a method to easily break a complicated pattern into manageable rows of stitching. I will be releasing many more designs in the coming year using this concept, watch for updates.
Read on to discover the instructions for downloading it for FREE . 

Let’s talk about independence for the machine quilter. Many of my students are wonderful machine quilters, others are following this blog in hope that I will offer some bit of wisdom that will trigger action and they will magically be the machine quilter they really want to be. My message for all of you is become independent of any mind-set that holds you back and thrive!

There is great sense of satisfaction in completing your own quilts! You have the freedom to add as much of your personality to your quilting designs as only you could express. Push yourself to explore new images and include them in your next quilt, you may just impress yourself. If you need some help in finding designs, resizing and marking, watch Facebook because I post $pecial offer for my iquilt.com class often. Or to attend right now,  click to register iquilt.com/poole002

In my classes, I have had some wonderfully talented students that aren’t recognizing their own abilities. I see them doing wonderful work, but they never seem happy with what they do. I wonder if maybe they are still waiting for approval from their mothers or some teacher they had in first grade, paralyzed with fear of not meeting somebody’s standards. I see this holding them back from achieving satisfaction in their accomplishments. If this sounds like you, choose today to be the day to let it go of any baggage from the past that weights you down. Let your quilting be a source of fulfillment; please only yourself. Cherish the memory of the little girl who tried so hard, dedicate your best efforts to her. Make a treasure for someone special in your life now and do your heart some good. 

News about Upcoming Classes

Town of Burke Hall, 5365 Reiner Rd Madison, WI. 53718

I am offering another 3 Day Skill Building Seminar this coming October 14, 15 and 16, 2016 Read the complete Syllabus and comments from past seminar students: read the details here. Email me to let me know that you would like to attend and, I will email the registration forms to those currently on the list as well as to anyone I add to the list this.

Spend 3 uninterrupted days learning exceptional machine quilting techniques and good habits to use every day! The seminar will feature demonstrations on essential machine quilting techniques. We will cover the ENTIRE machine quilting process from prepping the fabric through the final binding stitches, using both walking foot and free-motion techniques. This is a hands-on experience using your own machine and is geared for you to use the skills for all of your future quilts regardless of their size. This seminar is designed inspire both traditional quilters and contemporary quilt artists of any experience level.

Reunion Weekend!

I will be welcoming back everyone who has attended a previous 3-day seminar in fall of 2015 or Spring 2016. Review of basics and new, deeper level instruction.  I have the hall reserved for Oct. 21, 22 and 23.  Please email me to let me know you want to come. I will send out details and registration.

Reunion Class Description:  In this 3 day workshop we will focus advanced free-motion quilting design and techniques. I feel the best way to trigger your memories is to stitch a project, which I will plan and prepare a kit for each of you using my Ivy Curl Pattern. It will reinforce each of the basics that you learned last session; but we will take it up a notch with a more intricate designs needing deeper thought into how to travel from one area to another. Next, I will introduce you to more design tools and the many quilting fill patterns that can be created when using the tools. And finally, time will be allotted for a planning session for the actual projects you have waiting to complete or for those you want to create. You will learn to fill patchwork with quilting designs, learn the quilting sequence for patchwork, and what to stitch first, last and why, anchoring along long seams and borders, outline patchwork and then divide the patchwork blocks, setting triangles and borders. You may bring a quilt top, we will discuss and plan the quilting possibilities, determine what marking process is best, discuss batting and thread.

More Upcoming Classes

August 10 – 13, 2016 Teaching at AQS GRAND RAPIDS!
Please come to my classroom and say Hello.

AQS GRAND RAPIDS

My ELEGANCE IN STITCHES
exhibit will be on display!
This is your chance to see
many of my quilts!

September 8 to 10, 2016 WI Quilt Expo, Madison, WI 

I will offer a Stage Presentations each day.

For the free Star Spangled Border Quilting Design
go to the SHOP! on my website, www.heirloomquiltingdesigns.com
open the purchase products tab,
click on Downloadable Individual Quilting Designs,
and then choose Star Spangled Border Quilting Design.
Enjoy!

Give it your best,

Joanie

Hello and WELCOME to the many new subscribers.  

I have been away from this BLOG for a while, please know that I have been doing important work that I will be telling you about over the next few months.  

I created some new patterns. Maggie’s ABC’s and Logan Square debuted at the Prairie Heritage Quilt Show in early March. I am working on completing another alphabet. Did you know there are 26 letters in every alphabet, that is a lot of letters to draw!

This spring I spent a lot of time preparing class projects and kits for students. I designed a really pretty new project to teach numerous aspects of machine quilting for the 3-day seminars that was a BIG hit!. I have been testing a lot of various lightweight threads, so that I can supply a cost effective selection for my students. What are your favorites? Most challenging has been to collect solid colored fabric that is “translucent” enough for students to see a printed pattern line through it.  But the most fun is finding more printed fabric that can teach students learn free-motion quilting by following outlines of the printed motifs.

For each actual day I spend in the classroom, it takes about 2 or 3 days to prepare, if the PowerPoint and project are complete. I was so delighted to part of the faculty at AQS Paducah where all of my classes and events were sold out! And I had the 4th session of my 3-Day Machine Quilting Seminars.

I have some new irons in the fire as they say. I am building an associated with a new product that is going to revolutionize the domestic and sit down long arm experience! More to come on that as the target release date is July.

So for now, I wanted to let you know that if you are considering joining in the fun of learning at the 3 Day Skill Building Seminar this coming October 14, 15 and 16, read the details here and email me to let me know that you would like to attend. On June 8, I will determine the demand, and add another session if needed.  And, I will email the registration forms to those currently on the list as well as to anyone I add to the list this week.

And, I will be welcoming back everyone who has attended a previous 3-day seminar. Review of basics and new, deeper level instruction.  I have the hall reserved for Oct. 22 and 23 for the reunion weekend for anyone who has already attended the 3-day in fall of 2015 or Spring 2016. I have a list saved for you if you already wrote to say you would like to come. It looks like one session is almost full, so I may add another. (Still working out the details and may change to Fri.and Sat. AND Sun. and Mon. if need be). Please email me if you have not done that yet to let me know you want to come. I will send out details and registration on June 8.

joanie@heirloomquiltingdesigns.com

Give it your BEST!

Joanie

Jan 1, 2016 Launch of my iquilt.com online course!

Click here to watch the trailer and two tips on my YouTube channel.

Click here to sign up for the class from my home page

 
August 10 – 13, 2016 Teaching at AQS GRAND RAPIDS!
Please come to my classroom and say Hello.

AQS GRAND RAPIDS

My ELEGANCE IN STITCHES
exhibit will be on display!
This is your chance to see
many of my quilts!

September 8 to 10, 2016 WI Quilt Expo Madison, WI

I will offer a Stage Presentations each day.

 
Oct 14 – 16, 2016 – Joanie’s 3-day Machine Quilting Skill Building Seminar

I am so delighted to offer this special opportunity for you to plunge into machine quilting. Everything I learned from three sessions of my 3-day seminars has been applied to the spring sessions. Here is the new project to learn straight line  and free-motion quilting techniques.

Click here to read the syllabus.

Oct 22 – 23, 2016 – 2-day Reunion for everyone that has attended a previous session.

Hello and WELCOME to the many new subscribers.  

It is spring and time to come out of winter hibernation, I wish. With lots of updating of  social media and brand new ideas for classes and products, there has been little rest for me this winter. My website Home Page has a new look and I added a Professional Page on Facebook which links to my SHOP! to download quilting designs anywhere in the world, 24/7!

Please be patient with me as all of these tasks have left little time for blogging, so I am putting my blog on hiatus for a little while. But, best of all, I have been distracted with my baby granddaughter living only 2.5 hours away for just this year. I hope you will understand that that opportunity will end when they return to TX, so I am taking all I can get of her now.

Here are updates for Spring 2016:

Jan 1, 2016 Launch of my iquilt.com online course!

Click here to watch the trailer and two tips on my YouTube channel.

Click here to sign up for the class from my home page

March 6, 7, and 8, 2016 Prairie Heritage Quilt Show

Entered Garden Fantasia, a new quilt with Pam Levenhagen.
Please visit my booth in the lower level,
see how many new quilting design packets
I get printed by Sunday!
(New Contemporary Fill packet for sure).

March 18 -19, 2016 Fox Valley Tech Quilt Expo Fox Valley Tech,  Oshkosh, WI

My Friday Workshop if full, but you may still get a seat in one of the five Saturday lectures.
You are welcome to come visit during lunch or after class.

April 8-10, 2016 – Joanie’s 3-day Machine Quilting Skill Building Seminar

I am so delighted to offer this special opportunity for you to plunge into machine quilting. Everything I learned from three sessions of my 3-day seminars has been applied to the spring sessions. Here is the new project to learn straight line  and free-motion quilting techniques.

Click here to read the syllabus.  

April 20 – 23, 2016  Teaching at AQS PADUCAH!
Please come to my classroom and say Hello.

August 10 – 13, 2016 Teaching at AQS GRAND RAPIDS!
Please come to my classroom and say Hello.

AQS GRAND RAPIDS

My ELEGANCE IN STITCHES
exhibit will be on display!
This is your chance to see
many of my quilts!

September 8 to 10, 2016 WI Quilt Expo Madison, WI

I will offer a Stage Presentations each day.

Oct 14 – 16, 2016 – Joanie’s 3-day Machine Quilting Skill Building Seminar

Click here to read the syllabus.

Oct 22 – 23, 2016 – 3-day Reunion for everyone that has attended a previous session.

This will be 2 or 3 days welcoming back everyone who has attended a previous 3-day seminar.
Review of basics and new, deeper level instruction. 
Details available June 1, 2016

GIve it your best!

Joanie

I was inspired to write today because of a note I received from a student that will be taking one of my machine quilting classes at AQS Quilt Week in Paducah in April. She wrote to mention that her friend is on the waiting list and hopeful to get in. They both have a stack of quilt tops that they really want to learn to machine quilt.

Meet Joanie Zeier Poole – Machine Quilting Educator at     AQS QuiltWeek Paducah 2016!

I teach all 3 hour classes at these shows, just enough time for me to give a thorough introduction to machine quilting and for students to stitch what I feel are the most important basics needed to quilt the assigned technique. I pack as much information as I possibly can and the classes are very helpful but they are just a tiny tasty morsel of the big banquet of machine quilting in real life!

When I teach in a 3 hour format, the manufacturer of the machines (that are supplied for the classroom) and I have been working together to make the experience as positive as possible for everyone involved. We work to eliminate any kinks that students could encounter when working on machines other than their own. In order for students of varying skill levels to be successful in such a short time, we focus only on stitching a project that I designed specifically to teach one segment of the machine quilting process. Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of these beneficial classes and reach a lot of happy students. But my point is that they haven’t been taught how set up the machines, chose the supplies, and adjust the settings of the machine to work with the thread in order to be successful in 3 hours. I am just concerned that there is so much more that she needs to know to turn that stack of tops into quilts than how to stitch the cute little spirals or grids.

She really needs to learn the thought process that can be applied to any tops, specific to a domestic machine, which differ from preparing to quilt a top by hand or longarm. She needs to start with the purpose of each project and apply that objective when making the supply choices, prepping the fabric, constructing the top and planning the quilting designs. After she meticulously bastes the layers, she needs to know how to handle the big bundle, what to stitch first, last and why and effective finishing techniques. Real life will be so satisfying when she understands all the steps she needs to attain her goal of machine quilting.

I’ve been quilting for 40 years, have been keenly interested in machine quilting for 25 years and have been a successful machine quilter for 15 years. During the 25 to 15 year period, I took the several 3 and 6 hour machine quilting classes but then went home to make dinner and do the laundry, life got in the way and I didn’t make real progress. In Feb of 2000, my life changed when I signed up for three days of machine quilting classes with Diane Gaudynski. The classes were all 3 hours, each teaching a feather or a wreath, each one isolated focus. What was helpful was to repeat the basics over and over, but we never got to applying what we learned to the whole picture. During those three days magic happened for me, I gained the confidence to stitch, but the process of creating the quilts of my dreams evolved over the years.

Because I have been intently thinking about machine quilting for so long, (writing 4 books, designing patterns for classes and distributing my quilting design collections) I now know that my mistakes as a beginner were a result of making assumptions about the machine quilting process based only on my knowledge of using a machine for garments and patchwork. Over the years I encountered many problems until I learned that my old thinking needed to change and I opened my mind to finding the solutions.

The Good News!

The first hurdle for many admirers of machine quilting is that they think they are not ready for this, that it is an advanced skill. But if you consider the point of this blog post, the knowledge you need for machine quilting is unique, it is not dependent on being skilled at patchwork or years of experience in appliqué. This is a stand-alone skill. The GOOD NEWS is, if you want to machine quilt and that is the area of quilting that really intrigues you, the only thing holding you from success might be that you are telling yourself you can’t do it. I believe that the strongest factor in learning something new is DESIRE and I have witnessed that success in so many grateful students.

It has been my wish for several years to bring the 3-day experience to my students and after careful planning, in the Fall of 2015 I offered three sessions of my 3-Day Machine Quilting Skill Building seminar.

In three days I have time to work with each student at whatever skill level they are at, and focus on learning the adjustments needed for the machine they will quilt on at home. With my plan we start at the beginning and build continually for 3 days always going back to how to apply the concept to all of the future quilts you will make. One great benefit is that you bring your own machine, the one you will use at home to complete this task. Learn machine set-up when thinking that you are performing a different task, let your mind be open to using the equipment in different ways. Learn how to adjust the tension of your machine for differing weight threads, the advantages of using different feet for different tasks and many tips and details to make the job manageable. Read the entire synopsis for all three days here.

Why am I so committed to the 3 day experience? Machine Quilting is not any more difficult than learning any other quilting task, you just need the right information, and there is so much more than I can teach you in 3 hours. I have planned our time well, to start at the very beginning and build each step on that foundation. I am offering the seminar in Madison, WI. where I can control costs, so I hope more people can come. (Better still, bring a carload of friends and share a hotel room, prices here are reasonable. Or, if you know a group of dedicated students, I may consider traveling to your area to teach a seminar).

And as the first sessions went out the door they were asking for more. After the learned the training wheel s that they will use every day, they will come back for a reunion to learn at a deeper level to answer their new questions of How do I plan quilting designs to fill the quilts spaces, express my personal style and How to stitch continuously?

So if this resonates with you and you want to take control of your machine quilting life in 2016, I hope I have encouraged you to find the information you need. Sign up for my class if it is possible (or order how-to book or DVD) or find the right opportunity in your area. Attain the satisfaction of achieving this goal by committing yourself to VICTORY!

Please pass this on to anyone that may need my encouragement and come to class!

Give it your BEST!

Joanie

and we ring in the new year, I will take just a moment to I reflect on the experiences of the recent past and give you a glimpse of what I have planned looking forward. It is time to announce new ideas for the future. I want to express my sincere gratitude for each of you that read my blog. I work really hard to make the content valuable, so your interest is my reward. 

Last week I clicked on a website that assigns a word for you for the new year based on your name. While this is neither scientific nor binding, I found it encouraging.  My word for 2016 is LOVE. It feels like it belongs to me and I am going to do my best to own it!

At this stage of my life I have lived enough years to know I better do the things I love to do because it is no one’s job but mine to make myself happy.  I will continue to do the things I love; keeping busy doing what others may call “work” makes me fulfilled and appreciated. I love to teach. To know that sharing my lessons for the machine quilting process has had an impact on students lives is awesome! Seeing the accomplishment of completing their projects on their faces and seeing my quilting design collections stitched on their quilts is so gratifying.  I know how fortunate I am to have touched your lives in such a personal way.

Highlights of 2015

Elegance in Stitches was the title of an exhibit of all of my “best quilts” displayed for the first time ever at Quilt Expo in Madison. You can imagine my personal satisfaction in having a huge display! I had a chance to talk to so many people, introduce machine quilting on a domestic and drink in the compliments!

In October I established Joanie’s 3-day Machine Quilting Seminars! We filled the seats for three sessions of in-depth education, fellowship and great food! Read the reaction from the Fall 2015 students.

I completed a new quilt, Garden Fantasia, with my friend Pam Levenhagen. Pam transferred her amazing artwork to white fabric and I quilted many new and inventive background fillers. Look for it at shows across the country this year.

Bring on 2016

As the clock struck midnight, my new class Creative Quilting Design was launched on iquilt.com. In the hour long course, I offer my insight into planning the quilting designs that will be stitched, by hand, domestic or longarm, to hold the layers of a quilt together. I demonstrate new sources of designs, re-sizing, and altering the designs to make perfectly fitting patterns to fill all of the spaces of any quilt. Sign up form the home page of this website.  Check out the trailer by clicking on the logo.

Watch me demonstrate how to make a quilting design from a rubbing at YouTube Tip 1

Watch some tips for using freezer paper for transferring quilting designs to fabric at YouTube Tip 2 Link:

I am very excited to continue to offer in-depth instruction at my 3-day Machine Quilting Seminars along with some one day  and evening workshops in Madison, Wi. (or contact me to arrange this in your location). Registration opens Jan. 5 for the April 8 -10, 2016 session and then I will rent the bright and peaceful hall as sessions fill. Email me today to get notification as classes are added. In October I will add an advanced session for students who have taken the first 3-day session that will cover a review and deeper level techniques.  For the following  year, I am developing an advanced design studio where students plan the quilting of a whole cloth or entire quilt layout.

If you are not sure you are ready or want to get an introduction to my teaching style, you can attend a lecture. And keep your eye here and on my Facebook page  where I will share previews of  my newest quilt with a message to celebrate Peace and Love in our world, that is the key to the future.

Expect to see me at Prairie Heritage Quilt Show (in my corner in the lower level), come visit my classroom at Fox Valley Quilting Expo in  Oshkosh, and at two AQS Quiltweek events, Paducah and Grand Rapids!

My Elegance in Stitches Exhibit will be displayed at the AQS Grand Rapids show August 10 to 13, 2016! 

If you are planning to attend any of these events, I invite you to stop in my classroom (before and after class) to say hello. One of the greatest things about traveling for classes is that I meet new friends from all over. How fortunate I am to get to know so many wonderful people and I treasure the friendships I have made through teaching.

So, as the holiday season ends, it is time to get back to work! Here are a few Blog topics that I will be coming this year.
•    The discoveries made when a 5’2″ gal yearned to complete large quilts on a regular size machine, some of these may be quite different from what others teach.
•    How could I get that big quilt under the arm of a regular machine?
•    Why you should not wait for 5 years of practice before you come to class.
•    How could anyone stitch so perfectly with free-motion quilting?
•    What I stitch first, last and why.

My wish for you is to be well and productive in 2016! Thanks for following my blog, PLEASE spread the word about it and

Give it your BEST and have a GREAT 2016!

Joanie