40 Is…

August 17, 2013August 15, 201326 Comments

I recently read a blog post written by the lovely and talented Jennifer of Ellison Lane.

She titled her post This is 38: A Look at Middle Life and she made a list of things that came to mind.

That really inspired me, and since I’m a couple of years older than she is, I thought I’d write my own version, so here goes:

40 is….

Happy to be married with kids that are old enough to feed and clean themselves.
Being ok with the oncoming grey and a little relieved that it hasn’t taken over yet.
Lamenting with my hubby that he’s losing hair in places he doesn’t want, and I’m getting it in places it shouldn’t be!
Embracing the new direction in my quilting career and enjoying the child-like excitement I feel with every little success.
Old enough to think I am wise, but young enough to realize I still don’t know it all.
Finally being able to afford the car I want, the sewing machine I want…(the debt I don’t want, LOL!!)
Not being ashamed of mixing my personal life with my professional life and blogging about all of it.
So much better than 30 and even 20!

I’m sure I could think of many more if I tried. Here’s to more love, life and happiness in the next decade. 🙂

My Happy Family

New Angela Walters Class on Craftsy – Dot to Dot Quilting

August 14, 2013August 13, 20134 Comments

I am so excited that Angela Walters just launched a new online Craftsy class. I can’t get enough of her quilting! Her class is called Dot to Dot Quilting and I’ve already signed up for it and have watched the intro. Once I finish it, I’ll give a more indepth review like I did with her Quilting Negative Space class.

For now, here are a few highlights:

Angela demos machine quilting on a domestic machine, even though she professionally quilts on a long arm. No matter what type of machine you have, this class will work for you – whoo hoo! 🙂
She looks really comfortable in front of the camera with this class. I think she’s really found her groove teaching these classes online. (3 under her belt so far…)
Dot to Dot Quilting is a way to quilt interesting designs on your quilt with little or no marking using points on the quilt as a guide. What an awesome concept!
In class she will cover starburst, diamond, and lattice designs, plus lots of free motion variations.
She includes a free pattern in the class materials so that you can quilt along with her.
Angela assumes you have some basic experience with free-motion quilting and know how your machine works. This class can enhance your quilting skills and help take them to the next level.
Her philosophy is that quilting should be FUN and her quilting motto is, “close enough is good enough.” I couldn’t agree more…

If this has piqued your interest, you can sign up for Dot to Dot Quilting on Craftsy. Now I’m off to watch the rest of the class videos. I can already tell it’s going to be fun!

My Other Machine is a Singer Featherweight

August 12, 2013August 9, 201330 Comments

Over 10 years ago, this Singer Featherweight was the first thing I bought from ebay. Ever. I knew I wanted one, so I signed up for an account and had to create a user ID. For lack of anything better, I chose ChristaQuilts as my user name. It has stuck with me ever since. And so has this beauty.

Sewing in the Mountains, 2013

Singer Featherweights were quite popular in my traditional guild about 10-15 years ago and since then, their popularity has ebbed and flowed. Sometimes at a retreat or class I will see more than half the class using them. I recently got mine tuned up and I’m excited to sew with it again. So imagine my delight when I’m starting to see Featherweights popping up on modern quilting blogs.

Sewing at the Beach, 2012

I took mine with me to the beach last year and to the mountains this year. It’s such a fun little machine to use and I can set it up anywhere I can find a table and a plug.

After lugging my Klingon Battle Cruiser of a machine to my owner’s class last week (my new Bernina as my mom calls it), the Featherweight makes a nice travel machine. 🙂

It’s so tiny!

Christa’s Soap Box – Modern Quilters Make Quilting Cool

August 9, 2013August 9, 20138 Comments

Well, actually, I have always thought quilting is awesome, but I love that the modern quilting movement has made quilting seem hip, urban, and ultimately cool. 🙂

Untitled by Kayli Taylor and Sarah Oviatt, Modern Quilt Shown at HMQS Exhibit 2013

In my recent blog posts here and here, there have a been a bunch of discussions about modern quilting. In fact several of my blog followers have asked me how I would define modern quilting, so I thought I would try. Remember, these are my opinions and of course you are also entitled to your own, even if we disagree. 🙂

Jumbo Star by Kati Spencer of Salt Lake MQG, Shown at HMQS 2013

To me, modern quilting is part attitude, part aesthetic. If you think you are a modern quilter then you are, no matter what “style” of quilts you like to make. I think technology plays a huge role in the spread of quilting in general because we are no longer limited geographically. I have sewing friends all over the world, and what one blogger may discover in the Netherlands, her fellow blogging buddy in Japan may carry over to her sewing friends in her (or his) country. How cool!

A-maze-ing by Karen Atkinson, Desert Quilters of Nevada Quilt Show 2013

As far as aesthetics, the look of modern quilting runs the gambit from highly traditional to very artistic. You can make hand pieced, hand quilted modern quilts as well as machine pieced, quilted, and bound modern quilts.

In Defense of Handmade by Thomas Knauer and Lisa Sipes, QuiltCon 2013

And whenever someone comes up with a “rule” for what modern quilting is, someone else is sure to break it. I have seen modern quilts with borders, made from low-contrast fabrics and small scale calicoes, the use of feather quilting and batiks; all characteristics that just a year ago modern quilting “wasn’t”.

New Star Rising by Ben Darby – Modern Traditionalism from QuiltCon 2013

I think modern quilting is very inclusive rather than exclusive. Sure, you can have wonky piecing and improvisational styles, but that is not an excuse for poor workmanship. Modern quilts are meant to be functional rather than being seen as priceless heirlooms, but that doesn’t mean a beautiful quilt hanging on a wall has no purpose – its function is art.

For those of you that would really feel better with a concrete definition, here is how the Modern Quilt Guild defines modern quilts. Notice that it is not an absolute, but rather an evolving definition.

“Modern quilts are primarily functional and inspired by modern design. Modern quilters work in different styles and define modern quilting in different ways, but several characteristics often appear which may help identify a modern quilt. These include, but are not limited to: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work. “Modern traditionalism” or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting.”

Modern Quilt Blocks by Christa Watson, Pile O’Fabric Skillbuilder BOM

Not everyone is going to like all modern quilts, just as not everyone will like all quilt styles in general. The important things to remember is that there is room for everyone, and modern quilting is such a boon to the entire quilting industry which I, for one, am truly grateful for!

Favorite Tools – Painters Tape

August 6, 2013August 3, 201316 Comments

I have found one of my favorite nifty notions to use is a roll of blue painters’ tape! It’s low tack, so it will temporarily stick where I need it, but doesn’t leave any permanent residue.

It’s perfect to help tape down the edges of a quilt back when basting…

Use painters tape for basting.

And it recently came in handy when I was wanting to quilt rows of straight lines without marking. I cut a bunch of pieces off, laid them on the quilt and quilted right along the edge. Then, I was able to use the width of my quilting foot to quilt the remaining lines.

Tape for Quilting Straight Lines

I love it when I can use up cheap supplies that are just lying around the house!

Will Trade Fabric Scraps for Treats…

August 5, 2013August 3, 201318 Comments

I love it when my friends want to get into sewing! My buddy Lacey who I’ve been friends with for about 7 years now just took up sewing. We actually worked on a quilt together several years ago when her parents went on a mission. I told her back then I’d make a quilter out of her someday. 🙂

The Mission Quilt

She recently bought a new (used) Bernina a couple weeks after I got my dream machine and I think she’s been bitten by the sewing bug now. She didn’t have any fabrics or supplies so she offered to raid my fabric stash and scrap pile for a plate 0’treats, so how could I refuse?

Raiding the Stash

In fact I love to give her family most of my scraps anyway. Its her mom-in-law that I donate piles of fabric to for Project Linus when she comes in town for a visit.

Yummy Cake!

But back to Lacey. In just a few short weeks, she’s already put together a pillow case, a couple of bean bags and some crayon rolls her girls use to entertain themselves with at church. I told her she’s the epitome of a modern sewist – someone who just jumps in there and gives it a try without fear, looking up the occasional pinterest board or blog tutorial for inspiration.

Lacey’s New Trinkets and Treasures

I did get a little chuckle though when she recently told me she was in love with a “modem” fabric (she actually meant “Moda”). And she doesn’t mind if she needs to learn as she goes. She recently asked me what interfacing was for (I hardly use it myself), and she was grateful to learn what “sew right sides together” meant. 🙂

Lacey and Her New Machine

So yes, I will continue to accept her decadent treats in exchange for my fabric scraps. If I can get her really addicted to fabric, I know I’ll have another lifelong sewing buddy!

Christa’s Soap Box – An Anniversary Of Sorts…

August 3, 201324 Comments

I know everyone loves to celebrate their blogging anniversary or quilting anniversary or what have you. Today I’m celebrating my 1 year anniversary of officially considering myself a modern quilter. (Granted, I’ve been actually quilting more or less for the pass 18 years, but the 17 years prior to discovering modern quilting was just “practice!”)

It was just a year ago that I discovered the modern quilt movement, decided to attend QuiltCon and started blogging on a regular basis. I recently joined the Modern Quilt Guild and it’s so exciting to be part of such of a vibrant community.

I’ve been in love with quilting from the moment I picked up a needle and thread. But there’s just something about the clean lines, bold colors, and sleek aesthetic of modern quilting that really appeals to me.

Sure, I still love traditional quilts, art quilts, practical quilts, show quilts… heck ANY quilts! I love the stories behind the makers and the art of the cloth. Over the years I always had this inner voice telling me to “find my niche” with my quilting. Was it paper piecing? Decadent multi-pointed star quilts? How about retro and repro quilts? Easy quilts? Novelty quilts?

I liked them all, but none of the styles ever beckoned to me in such a way as modern quilting has done. Sure, my tastes may still lean a bit toward the “modern traditionalism” side of things, but even that is evolving.

I literally get a pounding in my heart when I think of all the possibilities of modern quilting. Part of the reason for me putting on the designer’s hat is because I just have to get all these ideas onto paper and made into cloth!

In fact, I’ve probably been more serious about my quilting in the last year than I have in the previous nearly 2 decades of sewing. Part of me wishes I had discovered modern quilting earlier. In the last year I’ve been able to tick off many of the quilting goals I set for myself and I can’t wait to accomplish more of them over the next year. 🙂

If I had known about modern quilting longer, just think what I could have accomplished the last few years! My solace is that modern quilting as a recognized movement is relatively new so I feel like I’m still on the cutting edge of something fantastic.

Where will it lead next? I’m not quite sure but I will definitely enjoy the ride!

Kansas Troubles Quilt Contest – Enter to Win

August 2, 2013August 1, 2013Leave a comment

You know I love a good contest! I just heard about a nifty quilting contest sponsored by Moda and The Old Country Store, featuring Kansas Troubles fabrics (one of the most popular Moda designers ever).

Since the Kansas Troubles Favorites collection is on clearance right now in my store, I thought this would be a good time for you to stock up if you want to participate!

Here are the details:

The deadline for entering is October 15, 2013. Click here to enter.
The entry must be made exclusively of KT fabrics.
Any KT collection or mix of KT goods is fine!)
Entries may NOT exceed 60” x 60” (think small wall quilts, not bed-size quilts!)
Entries must be submitted online at www.KansasTroubles.com (contest rules can also be found there).
There are two terrific prizes! ($500 cash, 50-yard Moda shopping spree, autographed KT books)
Prizes are awarded to the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice winners. (Smaller prizes for the ten finalists.)
The two winning quilts (People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice) will hang in the 2014 Quilt Museum exhibit!

A Few Changes in Store and Some Help Needed

July 27, 2013May 15, 201423 Comments

I’m not one to keep all my desires, goals and plans secret until they are all perfectly in place. The good thing about this is that I feel like I have a great support network to encourage me in anything I do. The downside is that sometimes things seem to take forever to accomplish!

With that said, I’ll let you in on some upcoming changes around here. For some time now, I’ve felt myself being drawn more and more into the modern quilting movement and my store is starting to reflect that. I’ve decided to completely revamp my online quilt shop which is a scary and slow process, but it feels like the right thing to do.

I want to focus more on fabrics that I actually use and become more of a niche shop rather than trying to appeal to everyone. This will allow me to streamline my business and free up much of my administrative time to do more of what I like best – making quilts!

It boils down to this: I want to clear out nearly half of my store’s current inventory so I can make way for more Kona, Kaufman, Kaffe, and Kits.

So here’s where you come in to help. Without trying to sound overly commercial here, please help me clear out my huge clearance section. I’ve spent the last week combing through my inventory and marking down nearly 700 different fabrics anywhere from 20% to 50% off!

I tried to be very generous on marking it down because I’d like to move it quickly. The sooner I clear it out, the quicker I can get in more of an eclectic mix of fresh, modern and fun fabrics!

For those of you wondering where all the precuts went, they are now on Amazon. I can now carry about 10x the amount of precuts that I used to because Amazon stores and ships them for me! You can visit ChristaQuilts on Amazon here.

As for more upcoming plans, I’ve mentioned a few times that you’ll start seeing some of my quilts in a few of your favorite quilting magazines this fall. If all goes well, I even may start writing a book.

I will have kits available for the magazine quilts once they’ve been published. Plus, I’m putting together kits for another popular blogger friend of mine whose quilt will be published in another big magazine in September/October, so please be on the lookout for that.

I’ve realized I love putting kits together almost as much as I love making the quilts because picking fabrics is half the fun. So I will expand my selection of kits, especially unique ones that you won’t find anywhere else.

One thing I will definitely continue doing is my series of Quilt Alongs. This has satisfied my need to create (on a schedule) so I already have more fun projects in the works!

It’s been very gratifying to sit down with Jason and really determine the direction we want to take with our business. Being your own boss is always a risk, but for the last few years that we’ve been doing this, it has its own rewards. 🙂

Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild Show and Tell – July 2013

July 26, 2013July 26, 20138 Comments

Last night I attended the monthly meeting of the Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild, and it was so fun to meet face to face with like-minded gals and discuss quilts!

Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild Banner Finished

I only joined a few months ago and it has been so great getting to know these terrific gals. We had some fun show and tell which is always inspiring…

Marjorie’s Apron

Such Cute Fabric!

Tracy E.’s Blue Quilt, Quilted by Linda N.

Valerie K.’s Hawaiian Quilt for Honokaa Hospital
Hand Appliqued & Hand Quited – Gorgeous!

Valerie’s Grape Vine Embroidery/Colored Runner

One of our founding members, Carolina, focused more on the “telling” part. She gave us a wrap up of an industry craft trade show she recently attended and handed out a few freebies that she picked up along the way.

Carolina the Crafter – speaking in front of some gorgeous modern quilt shop samples!

Carolina is quite a crafty blogger and you can see some of her clever crafty ideas on her blog 30 Minute Crafts. She’ll also be teaching at the Riley Blake Fabric Fest here in Vegas this fall. Too cool (well actually, still pretty darn hot)!

X Plus Blocks for Charity Quilt

Here are a few X Plus blocks I stitched up that will go into a charity quilt for the Candle Lighters in a couple of weeks. (Thanks to Patti for cutting and pre-sewing many of the pieces ahead of time and for coordinating the whole affair).

Reading with Rover Quilts

And finally, a few of the gals were able to finish off some more “Reading with Rover” quilts from leftover Madrona Road fabric. These will be given to a local program coordinated by one of our members that pairs up kids needing extra reading practice with dogs to sit and read to (and cuddle with I’m sure).

We also discussed a little bit about whether or not to become members of The Modern Quilt Guild now that they have “officially” opened up for national membership. Hopefully we’ll make a final decision about that by next month because my vote is definitely yes!!

You can read about the last LVMQG meeting I attended here. It was a fun night and I can’t wait for the next one!