Sewing Wishes

Dear Lola,

Do you think it’s too late to share my list of sewing wishes for 2013?  It’s still pretty early in the year and you know I love my lists! A few years ago, I gave up making “traditional” New Year’s Resolutions like losing weight, exercising more, and keeping the garage clean in favor of creating a list of life experiences I hope to have in the upcoming year.  This new system works much better for me and of course, it’s definitely more fun!  The list isn’t law, but it sure will be great if I can accomplish it!

Here’s this year’s list of sewing wishes:

Charity Quilt

I want to make at least one charity quilt.  For starters, I totally believe in karma and I adore the idea of making someone feel happy. 

Master Electric Quilt 7

This year I want to learn how to design a quilt in Electric Quilt 7.  I am just enchanted by the thought of using this software to create my own quilt design and then ultimately bringing that design to life!  I promise to post about my experiences!

Attend Quilt Market

This has been my dream for a couple of years now.  Education, inspiration and creativity all rolled into one amazing experience!  Enough said!  I might even get to meet Alex Veronelli from Aurifil or Leah Day from the Free Motion Quilting Project.  They are two of my quilting world "idols"!

Make a T-Shirt Quilt

I’m ready to give this fun project a try.  Everyone loves a T-Shirt Quilt!  I know this isn’t a super ambitious project from a technical standpoint – but heck – everyone deserves some whimsy.  Another motive for doing this - getting rid of old T-shirts to make room for more fabric!  lol!

Hand Stitching

Just saying this makes me nervous!  I have a bonus project in my Michael Miller Clubhouse this year that requires hand stitching.  It’s time for me to tackle my irrational fears.  If I don’t – I’ll definitely never improve!

Machine Embroidery

I have a great machine that is capable of doing in the hoop embroidery, but I honestly don’t use it enough.  I am going to embroidery at least one project a month.  I promise to post my projects here for you to see! 

Through my job at Wish Upon A Quilt,  I am reminded my little sewing world is full of possibilities.  I love every learning opportunity I am given.  I also honestly believe there is not a more giving community than the sewing community.  Sewists and quilters love to share not only tips and techniques but also heart-warming stories of their sewing adventures.  When I took up sewing, I had absolutely no clue that I would come to adore my sewing peeps as much or more than the actual sewing!

It is thanks to my sewing peeps that I am always being introduced to new patterns and techniques that I want to experience at least once.  I also believe that some sewing experiences can be more successful when given more than one trial.  Like heirloom sewing – I gave it a try a few years ago and I honestly don’t think I was ready.  I just didn’t have confidence in my ability to maneuver the fabric accurately.  Now that I practice sewing almost daily – I think I could give it a try again in the future with better success.  I am praying there is a grandchild in my future that will be Christened in a gown I have sewn.  When my kids are ready – making that gown will definitely make the list!

The hardest part of making a list of sewing wishes is being realistic.  Like an enthusiastic Labrador puppy – I want to chase the ball until I fall over!  Luckily, I’m Sew Sleepless!

Tools, Tools, Tools

Dear Lola,
I just love how easy quilting has become over the last 10 years.  Even though I have only been quilting for about 5 ½ years - I know it’s become easier from just listening to all the long-time quilters who visit us at Wish Upon A Quilt; reading quilting books found on my public library shelf, and tuning into to QNNtv to watch old episodes of Fons and Porter.

Quilting tasks that used to be somewhat daunting are now easy, easy.  Modern ingenuity has helped quilters create their own personal quilting style.  By the way, I am not saying that the tried and true – hand piecing, hand quilting, hand applique, tracing templates and binding by hand don’t have a place in the bigger quilting universe.

That being said, in my own little solar system – it’s all about the tools.  Since I didn’t take up quilting until I was nearly 50 years old – I’m all about finishing projects, learning and the sisterhood of it all.  If I had to do it all by hand, I honestly think I would have given up before I started.  With virtually no sewing skills to draw from – I needed tools to give me confidence.  You could liken it to Peter Pan sprinkling me with Pixie Dust.   So I am immensely grateful that the modern world of quilting convenience exists.

As with any hobbyist, I have a list of the top ten tools I absolutely cannot imagine my quilting life without!  I’m happy to sing their praises here with the caveat that I fully expect to keep adding to my list as new and improved tools are introduced to the marketplace. 

1. Creative Grids Rulers – This Company and it’s products are the absolute bomb at giving quilters the rulers we need and don’t need  – but will want eventually!  Their non-skid technology keeps me straight and lets me focus on the fun of quilting.  I no longer stress about straight cuts or how to get the cuts I want.  All I can say is “Hallelujah” for Creative Grids.
2. Martelli Rotary Cutters – Bye, bye cutting fatigue!  With this amazing rotary cutter I am able to go the distance.  I think I have cut my way around the globe at least a hundred times by now and thankfully my Martelli cutter gets the job done without all the aches and pains I used to experience.  Yes, it’s a little pricey – but certainly worth every penny.
3. Aurifil Thread – Less lint, bigger spools, yummy colors, and awesome results.  That should be enough for any quilter – but Aurifil also comes with Alex Veronelli – Aurifil Guru and wickedly funny Aurifil Front Man.  Follow him on Pinterest and the artistic inspiration will take your quilting to lots of new places!
4. Best Press Spray Starch – I keep this miracle spray starch around by the gallon.  It smells yummy (I adore Linen Fresh ), eliminates wrinkles, never flakes and makes it almost fun to press!  Remember I said – ALMOST fun!!
5. Frixion Pens and Highlighters – Oh yeah!  Love these for marking HST (half square triangles), marking quilting lines, and any other sewing related marking.  The marks disappear with a little heat from the iron.  I use these pens as a hooping aid for machine embroidery too.  I love them for my Day Planner too!  I can write on the page and use friction to erase any changes in my appointments!  I carry Frixion pens with me at all times!  Just don’t write a check with them!
6. Clover Wonder Clips – No more pin pricks from pinning my binding.  These clips hold my binding folded over in the just the right place.  They slide down as I am working and my bindings have never looked better.  The little marks keep me lined up correctly!  Stepping on one in the dark will not result in a trip to the emergency room either!
7. Sewline Glue Stick – I use this glue stick for lots of things, but my favorite use is when I join my binding strips.  I have never been able to mentally retain the process of joining the strips.  I lay one strip over the other, dab a little glue in the right hand corner (it will be trimmed off), draw a line with my Frixion pen and stitch on the line.  I then trim ¼” from the stitching line and voila – I have a perfectly joined strip – every time. 
8.  Supreme Slider – Apply this baby to the bed of your machine and Free Motion Quilting is easy.  It’s like a magic carpet for quilters.  My project moves effortlessly and I avoid that tension I used to get in my neck and shoulders whenever I attempted to free motion quilt.  Be sure to line up the opening for your needle carefully – don’t ask me how I know this is important.
9. Grabaroo Quilting Gloves – another item that has made Free Motion Quilting something to enjoy.  These purple gloves are just what the quilting doctor ordered.  They help me keep a grip on the quilt without being clumsy.  They have little grippers on the end of each finger that allows me to shift my quilt in the right direction every time.  The purple color makes them hard to misplace and each glove fits either hand – another plus. 
10. Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Scissors – they are indeed just about perfect.  There are 2 sizes, I love the 4½ inch and keep them nearby to snip off threads during piecing and applique.  They have a comfort handle and a micro-serrated edge.  I’ve attached a little lanyard to mine so they don’t travel to destinations unknown.

You will undoubtedly notice that I did not put a seam ripper on this list.  That’s because I absolutely hate my seam ripper!  Using it means I have probably made a mistake!  I am only happy to use it when I am doing a “Swirling Seam” on a pinwheel block or a four-patch block.  Since this is my least favorite tool, I can’t for the life of me explain why I own so many of them!

Hugs and stitches,

Our Virtual Sewing Reality

Dear Lola,

According to Wikipedia, Virtual reality (VR) is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds.

My sewing VR takes me to many blogs and social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, Craftsy and Pinterest.  Using these resources has become an essential part of my sewing journey.  When my “inspiration cup” is feeling empty, I know what to do to fill it up!

The start to a perfect sewing day starts with my coffee mug, a computer and a mouse.  My first stop is generally my personal email.   I check for updates from my favorite bloggers.  Since I started my blog, following other blogs has become even more important to my creative process.  Google+ has helped me really keep up!

My next stop is Facebook.  I originally signed up for Facebook to keep in touch with my real family.  Now it has become much more about my Sewing and Quilting Family for sure.  I have learned how to selectively post to my Sewing Friends and this pleases my real family to no end!  They are no longer inundated with project photos and quips on trips to the fabric store.

Pinterest is next on my visit list.  This amazing site contains so much inspiration that I can time travel to the future – what I mean is – I can sit in front of the computer and before I know it – I have travelled 2 hours into the future!  How do they do it?  This site is awesome for bookmarking my favorite blogs and projects.  I love knowing how to find my “web trail”!  No more saying to myself, “now where was that site with the cute apron project or where is that fabulous neckline tutorial?”  I can find what I am looking for in a jiffy!  I have installed the “Pin It” command on my tool bar and use it throughout the day!  I love all the great people I follow on Pinterest too!

No day would be complete without a visit to Craftsy.  Since I signed up, this site has continued to improve, amaze and inspire.  Now they have added the ability to post your projects and follow others.  Woohoo!  All I can say is that they continue to nail it!  I love the deals they offer, the classes are absolutely sublime, and the educators are top-notch, world-class and fantastically inspirational.  Seeing all the great projects and workshops is like growing creative wings!  I feel like I can fly just about anywhere!

Then there are my favorite virtual friends.  These zany, colorful, creative people shape my day and many of them I have never met!  I look to their blogs, Facebook pages and websites for my daily dose of over the top happiness.  Their vision of the world is artistic and humorous.  They use their wit, charm and sense of whimsy to make the world a more creative and fun place. 

My favorites are: 

1.  Alex Veronelli of Aurifil.  I follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.  His sense of humor is wicked.  I have never met him- but I consider myself an “Alex Groupie”!  He is my go to guy for a daily humor injection!  By the way – Aurifil thread is the best!  If you haven’t tried it – you are missing out!  The thread is just like Alex – sexy and colorful!  I have a crush on both!  Can I say that?

2. Pepper Cory, Quiltmaker and Author.  Pepper is free-spirited and dynamic.  I first became acquainted with Pepper on Craftsy and then was lucky enough to meet her in person at a Quilt Alliance event.  I love her posts about her cats (even though I am a dog person) and her love of quilting. Her posts are as scrappy as her quilts and that’s a good thing!  She is especially passionate about Vintage and Antique Quilts and has opened a whole new world to me. 

3.  Tula Pink, Fabric Designer, Author and Bernina Ambassador – Since I first began sewing I have adored Tula’s fabrics.  One of my first garment sewing projects was made with Tula’s fabric.  To this day, it is my favorite skirt!  Tula has a unique sewing voice.  Her creative vision is full of whimsy.  Before I met her at a Sewing Expo, I knew she was dynamic.  In person, she is even more WOW!  Her point of view is fresh and fun and flirty.  Following her blog, Twitter and Facebook keeps me in the “Tula Universe” which is a pretty cool place to be!

4.  Lola Jenkins, Prize-winning Art Quilter and Craftsy Educator – I stumbled across Lola (doesn’t she have a great name?) through Craftsy.  I signed up for her Thread Art Class.  Just 5 minutes into the class, I knew I loved this lady.  Her story of how she came into Art Quilting is “sew” inspirational.  What she has accomplished is incredible and her work is downright stunning!  We have since become Facebook friends and I hope to meet her in person some day.

5.  Meg Cox, Author, Board Member Quilt Alliance – Meg’s book, The Quilter’sCatalog, was the first book I purchased when I began my sewing journey 5 years ago!  Can I say I love this book?  It’s an amazing reference for someone just beginning to navigate their way through the quilting/sewing universe.  Meg is thoughtful and witty writer.  I follow her posts on her blog and Facebook. She does great things for the Quilt Alliance.  I adore her other book, FamilyTraditions and I hope to meet her some day soon too.

6. Anthony Jones, Quiltmaker – Anthony is a beloved Facebook and Pinterest friend.  Ironically, Anthony lives in Clearwater, Florida – my old hometown.  I never knew him when I was living there – oh how I wish I had!  I love his posts on just about everything.  He has a highly-evolved sense of humor and just seems like an all around cool guy!  Some days, Anthony’s posts can just make me laugh out loud and make my day!

7. Pat Sloan, Creative Blogger and Virtual Radio Host – Pat is a Virtual Pioneer with her Creative Talk Network.  I visit her Blog and her site regularly for all the happenings in the quilting and sewing world.  She has great forums and events listed on her site.  Her Facebook posts are fun and full of creative spirit.

The Internet is such an amazing tool.  It allows me to make friends with an entire circle of creative people that I might never have known otherwise.  They are physically present in my life in a way that impacts my sewing journey more than the people who actually live in my home.  These creative souls inspire.  Modern times have allowed us to create the spirit of the French Art Salon - a free exhibition and exchange of artistic ideas.

Lola, Virtual Reality is a creative, artistic, safe, inspiring, supportive, loving and funny place to be!

Hugs and stitches, 

Lori