I am humbled and in awe. I just found out that my quilt, String of Pearls won an Honorable Mention at MQX Pacific Northwest in Portland, Oregon. This show focuses on machine quilting using all different types of machines, domestic or professional.
String of Pearls by Christa Watson
Of course I’m kicking myself for not actually attending the show. Next year!
String of Pearls was entered into the category “Machine Quilting the Modern Way.” I owe a huge thanks to Angela Walters and The Gadget Girls for sponsoring this category. I can’t wait to get my quilt back to see what prize I’ve won!
Although I won’t be able to see pictures of the other quilts until after the show, I was able to view a list of the award winners here.
Detail of Swirls and Pearls Quilting
I am thrilled to be in such good company. Seriously, I feel as elated as if I’d won Best of Show! The three lovely ladies who took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the same category are all professional long-arm quilters that do amazing work.
Do you know what this means? It means that the results of free-motion quilting on a Bernina (or other domestic machine) can be just as good as quilting on a professional long arm machine.
Free Motion Quilting on my Bernina
I have long thought that quilting on a “home” machine doesn’t have to be computer-perfect, yet it can still add amazing texture to your quilts. Now I’m doing my part to spread the word to others. I hope this idea will take hold and grow as more people discover the joy of quilting, no matter which type of machine they choose to use.
String of Pearls by Christa Watson 64″ x 64″
Completed August, 2013
Because I like to make my backs as interesting as the fronts, here’s my “Shades of Grey” backing for this quilt:
And a closeup to see more yummy quilting:
Updated 10/11 – Thanks so much to Joni from Oregon for taking a picture of my quilt hanging at the show!! It even has a ribbon on it – (squeals of delight)!
String of Pearls, Honorable Mention, MQX Portland 2013
I”m so inspired by your finish! I have many fat quarters and am now motivated to use them to create a stunning quilt as this!!!
It’s just as beautiful now as when you originally posted it — but I LOVE the picture of the Quilt hanging at the show WITH the Ribbon!! So very deserved Christa — thanks for all you do to inspire ! Karen
That’s fantastic, Christa! Congratulations! It’s a beautiful quilt! I’m so glad you linked it up with TGIFF!. To be eligible for the prizes though, you need to include a link back to the party in your post. I’ve unlinked you for now, but if you add the link, please do link up again!
I love how you quilted this! It really is lovely, and the straight spirals in the pearl squares are played off beautifully by the swirls and pebbles in the gray. And congratulations! 😀
It is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations on all aspects of this gorgeous quilt!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I am new to quilting (first ever) and I fell in love with String of Pearls. How do I find all the tutorials? Wish me luck.
They are on my blog under my quilt along tab. I’d love for you to make one!
Congrats!!! WOW!!! Love it!! 🙂
That’s wonderful! Congrats!!
Congratulations! Nothing *I* ever quilt without a longarm will win a ribbon. LOL A lot of longarmers aren’t computer perfect, either, because they don’t use the computerized programs, but no matter how you achieved your results on this quilt, it’s beautiful!
Thx! I’m just glad more people are trying Fmq no matter what type of machine they use 🙂
Congratulations. Just love it.
Congratulations! It is such a beautiful quilt!
Great quilt, congratulations!
Здравствуйте Кристина! Прекрасное одеяло, стежка. Поздравляю с успехом!
Congratulations Christa! Very excited for you! The quilting is amazing!
Congratulations, Christa. I’m happy treadlemusic shared about your DSM quilting. I do all my own quilts on my DSM and I feel like each one gets better and better. Free motion quilting takes practice but I agree that it can be done as well as a computerized machine, and perfection isn’t necessary. Well done, and yes, do carry the word to others.
Thanks so much! You’ve got that right – each one does get better with practice 🙂
teadlemusic shared your blog with me and I just had to post and say how fantastic your FMQ is just using a DMS. Congratulations on your ribbon and on such a fantastic quilt.
Congratulations!!! Totally thrilling!!! I really admire anyone who can quilt on a DSM and you did awesome!!!!!
You have inspired me to have a go at machine quilting on my Janome – something I haven’t been game to try yet. Beautiful quilt.
Congratulations Christa, that’s amazing!!! What a thrill!!!
What a work of art. Great talent. Blessings, Mtetar
Beautiful quilt, with exquisite quilting. I love that design of Angela’s; I have done it with my Bernina as well as on my Avanté! I cannot draw to save my life but do not too badly with a sewing machine and excellent instruction from teachers like Leah Day and Angela Walters. 😉 Practice is the key.
Congrats! That is so exciting!!!
Woo Hoo! Congrats!!!
What an inspiration for us all.💜
Huge congrats to you….you so deserve it! Your quilting is proof-positive that the only limits are those we place on ourselves!! Blessings!!!
Congratulations Christa! Your quilting has tremendously improved and just awesome since I have know you from Leah Day’s 2012 quilt along! Keep doing the awesome work!
Christa….that is awesome!!!! I am a Bernina owner, teach middle school Family and Consumer Science and my school lab is filled with Bernina’s! I also have a home studio where I teach small groups with 6 Bernina machines! I am fortunate to have a wonderful dealer here in Central PA!!!! I wouldn’t sew or quilt with anything else! Your quilt is beautiful! Congrats!
So happy for you, your quilting is wonderful!! Gives me hope to achieve great things on my domestic.
Congratulations. Your quilt is super, and you quilted it beautifully. I’ve been to the MQX East last year and it was an awesome show.
Congratulations! Your quilting absolutely deserves the recognition! So inspirational!
I’m so happy for you. I love the quilting you did on this quilt. I hope to one day be able to do similar quality work.
That is so awesome!
Yes, we can do fabulous work on our domestic machines, just like the long arm gals, but we still gotta have the skills! And you’ve got ’em!