Two Tip Tuesday -Twirls!

Posted on February 5, 2019 by debbiewendt

Did you know I travel to give lectures and teach? I DO!! Yesterday, I gave a lecture/trunk show on the Egyptian Tentmaker’s Applique for QUILT North guild in Clifton Park, NY. Today, I taught “Twirl-A-Tool” Workshop using “Brilliant Bindings” as a cutting template.” I do believe FUN was had by all! Photos below! Most of the students got 2-3 blocks finished in class and a faux piped binding put on a small quilted sample.

“Twirl-A-Tool” Workshop with QUILT North in NY

 

 

 

 

 

 

The quilted sample just had to have a camel and pyramid on it!

Faux Piped Binding Sample
YES, a camel!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a great group and I, too, had FUN!  If you are looking for a speaker or teacher for your guild, please keep me in mind.  I have bags and will travel!

Some tips we discussed in class…what do you do when your teacher didn’t triple check your work and had you cut wrong??…She takes off your entire binding so you can start again.  I do know how to use a seam ripper and I’m happy to help.  A nice fine point seam ripper is my preference.

#1 – The seam ripper has many parts…

A fine point for lifting the stitch, the ball helps protect the fabric and the U-shape blade between the point and ball is where you cut the stitch.  Don’t just pull at the stitch, slide the thread down the blade so the stitch is cut with the U-shape blade.  Otherwise, you are plucking at the stitches, not cutting them.

#2- If you get frustrated, hand your piece to someone else.  I’m guessing they will happily help you rip out some stitches.  And my “rule”…I’m not ripping more that three times, it can stay in.  You are likely to starting ripping apart your fabric.

On another note, look at all the wonderful blocks that were made in class.  I’m very proud of the work that was accomplished today!!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Brilliant Bindings, Patterns, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – a break but inspiration

Posted on January 29, 2019 by debbiewendt

What do you do with your quilting friends on a cold day when it is visit your local quilt shop day? …..WELL… First, we went to Pickity Place in Mason, NH. This little red house/cottage was built in 1786 and was the inspiration for Elizabeth Orton Jones’ illustrations for the Little Golden Books 1948 “Little Red Riding Hood”!! How cool is that?!  They have daily luncheon seatings and have a set menu that changes every month.  Talk about GOOD!!  The food is amazing and the atmosphere so sweet!  Below is the flyer about Pickity Place.  Reservations recommended.

Pickity Place flyer

Anyone local or visiting, I HIGHLY recommend it!  Take a trip back in time!  And quilting was on our minds.  Look at the wall art or wall paper (I don’t remember if it was painted or paper.)

Pickity Place wall….inspiration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 – Look for quilt inspiration, EVERYWHERE!

They also have a great gift shop.  We stopped at a little quilt shop that was near, appropriate as it was National Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day.  Appleberry Fabrics in Westminster, MA is a tiny shop but loaded with a wide variety of fabric.  I found some marking tools I had not seen before.

I’ve said it before and I love to repeat it…

#2 – Visit and support your LOCAL quilt shop!

Registration is open for several of the AQS Quilt Week Shows.  this Spring I’ll be teaching in Lancaster and Paducah!  My “Become a Brilliant Binder – Binding Made Easy” class in Lancaster is already full, but “Bindings a World of Options” lecture still has openings.  Keep your eyes peeled for another show.  In Paducah, my “Hexies and Honeycombs – Getting Started with English Paper Piecing” is a night class Wednesday of the show from 5-8pm.  I’ll be vending at both of these shows and I start my vending season at Daytona Beach next month.  I hope to see you soon!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – colder and still cold

Posted on January 22, 2019 by debbiewendt

Many of us are in a deep freeze. Those of you in warmer weather, ENJOY! I’m looking forward to the AQS Daytona Beach Quilt Show the end of next month. It will be good to be in the sunshine with short sleeves. Here in New England, we have sun today but brrrr! It was 10 degrees when I left the house this morning.  Snow and sleet had me slowblowing my driveway a couple days ago.  If I had to be out in it, how about making quilting designs!  I shared this on Facebook so some of you saw it already.  But, worth repeating!  I thought about doing the whole driveway, but the cold (1 degree that day) sent me inside as soon as I finished.

Clam shells in the snow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the quilting front…

I’m working on a challenge for one of my guilds.  I started cutting full Hexies with Hex-a-ma-jig and ended up short on fabric.  (We swapped 1 yard, so I had limited fabric.)  I wanted just a few more Hexies so, with the extra fabric, I pieced the leftovers and cut a few more!

Full Hexies cut with Hex-a-ma-jig

Can you see the seams?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now can you?

Hexie using pieced leftovers

Hexie with pieced leftovers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I felt very fortunate the leftovers matched up so well.  Is it perfect?  NO!  Will it work?  YES!  I took the first photo from about 3 foot away and it is very hard to see my seams from that distance.  No stressing here, it got me the number of Hexies I needed!  (And shhhh, don’t tell any BVHQ member, the reveal is later in the year.)

#1 – Piece together leftovers to make a larger scrap to cut more!

#2 – Match if you can.  If it doesn’t match, oh well.  Use it anyway!

Look at the antique quilts, I bet there will be many pieced together spots.  We like it on the antiques, so why not on yours?!?

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Hexagons, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – a different list

Posted on January 15, 2019 by debbiewendt

If you read last week, I didn’t manage to get those quilts on the frame. BUT, I did get a quilt cut out and another almost finished. So, my list got some additions that I was able to cross off and other things already on there, still remain!  I must look at it as progress…progress is still progress!!

I’m trying to decide on the borders for a Baby Blocks quilt made with Hex-a-ma-jig.  The fabric I have as the border was my inspiration for the coloring of the blocks.

Baby Blocks with Hex-a-ma-jig D.W.

Baby Blocks with small focus border D.W.

Now to decide which is better….Opinions welcome!  I’ve about decided the border fabric does not go but was perfect for the inspiration colors.

#1-Use a fabric for pulling colors as inspiration for your quilt.

#2- You can change your mind!  If it just isn’t working, don’t force it!!

Did you make any lists?  Are things crossed off or do you keep adding to it?!?

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Two Tip Tuesday – Hmmm, What to Work On?

Posted on January 8, 2019 by debbiewendt

As the title suggests, what do I tackle first? I have so many ideas and projects, I need my word from last year, FOCUS! I think I might try to finish up some unfinished quilts from last year. I even have a new pattern that is almost written but it needs the cover quilts quilted. Yep, that should be first!

Do you ever get in a quandary of what to work on?  I believe that is what I do best.  As a dear friend once said to me, not all you started has to be finished.  Shew!  Good thing around here.  She also said, You learn something with just starting a project.  Sometimes just picking fabrics is all you needed to do with that project.  (She, is a VERY SMART friend!!  Hi Barbara!)  No matter what I’m doing in quilting I enjoy the process.  I’d enjoy it even better if it was done….wink, wink!  So, with that, I need to get started on my lists.

#1 – Make lists of what you need/want to finish.  Cross off when complete.  That is such a GOOD feeling!

I’m planning on bringing out the quilt I talked about above for Spring Market.  This one is back to using Brilliant Bindings as the template for cutting the trapezoid shapes.  I’ll be posting in the next few weeks peeks at the quilt.  Stay tuned for the pattern release (you’ll be the first to know!).

I had a great surprise by text a couple days ago.  My Aunt Jody made a quilt from one of my Brilliant patterns.  She did Brilliant Swirl with a change of coloring.  Instead of using all one color family she used two.  The contrast really gives this quilt a different look.  I LOVE it!  Her version is below left, then mine.  The pattern is available on my website.  Brilliant Swirl

Brilliant Swirl by Jody S.
My aunt does excellent work!

Brilliant Swirl D.W.
A portion of the quilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 – Change a blocks coloring.  You might be surprised what outcome you get!  Case in point above!

Have you made any quilts lately with my patterns?  Please send me photos!  I’d love to feature your quilt here on my blog.  Now off to cross something off my list….

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Brilliant Bindings, Patterns, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2019 by debbiewendt

Happy New Year to YOU! My husband and I get to celebrate out 26th wedding anniversary today as well!! A New Year always brings talk of new beginnings, new resolutions, new words for the year, and new projects. I personally like to take the last few days of the year and first few of the new year to reflect.  Reflect on the blessings of the year, projects I completed, accomplishments of my business and joyful of the time I got to spend with family and friends.  2018 was a VERY good year!  I look forward to what 2019 has in store!  I don’t do resolutions per se, but I will be working on a word that keeps showing up, ENJOY.  Enjoy time with family and friends.  Enjoy the process of all areas of quilting.  Enjoy time I will be prepping for classes and lectures.  Enjoy the time teaching!  Enjoy my customers and attendees at quilt shows.  And most importantly enjoy being me!  (the last one can be difficult for many of us…thus why it will be my focus…Focus was my word last year…grin!)

My new tool, “Hex-a-ma-jig Jr.” has been ENJOYable.  I love Hex-a-ma-jig and wanted the fun of that tool to translate to 2 1/2″ strips.  Whether you have a “jelly” roll on hand to use or a bunch of strips or pieces or partial FQ you want to use up, “Junior” is the tool for you!

A little side note on why “Junior”.

– We don’t have any Juniors in my family but we have 4 generations of John Reece.  I want to celebrate them!

– My husbands son looks a lot like him.  He isn’t a junior but sure could be in looks.

– One of my favorite movie lines is when Sean Connery calls Harrison Ford “Junior” in “Indiana Jones the Last Crusade”.

I have a HAPPY New Year giveaway.  What do you have to do?  Go to my website and print the FREE pattern for “Junior” Jelly Roll Quilt. The pattern is fast and fun!  It is the “Two Halves Make A Whole” quilt from the “Hex-a-ma-jig Jr.” instruction booklet. Using ONE “jelly” roll (40 – 2 1/2″ strips) you will can make a quilt!  This uses “Hex-a-ma-jig Jr.”!  Add quilting and a 1/2 yard for binding and Ta DONE!  Finishes to 44″ x 56″  Enjoy!

“Junior” Jelly Roll Quilt D.W. 44″ x 56″

in quilting,

Debbie

 

Posted in Hexagons, Jelly Rolls, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – More Workshop Quilts

Posted on December 18, 2018 by debbiewendt

Today, I have more Workshop Quilts to share! Our guild’s Christmas dinner was last week and several more quilts were shared from the Workshop. I have to say again how thrilled I am to see the work and progress from my students!

I love the variety of fabrics and added extras to the Hexie theme.

The Flower Garden Quilt was done by Marilyn B. and finished to 42″ x 48″.  Very SWEET!  This makes a great lap quilt.

Marilyn B.’s Flower Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carol V.’s Baby Blocks are bold and beautiful.  Carol kept to a smaller project so she could learn the basics of a pieced half hexie.  Love those colors!

Carol V.’s Baby Blocks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND…WOW!  Cheryl G. did a lot of work ahead of class making the embroidery centers of her hexies.  Those embroidery snowflake designs were cut into full hexagons for this quilt.  Gorgeous!

Cheryl G.’s snowflake Hexies

How did Cheryl piece the quilt?  She cut some template plastic into the full hexie shape.  Centering the snowflake design she traced the full hexie and cut each individually.  For the piecing, she did have a set-in “Y” seam to piece the full snowflake hexie in between the other half hexies.  All the rest are straight rows across the quilt.  Not at all difficult just time to mark the 1/4″ stopping points of the set-in seams.

#1 – Including embroidery designs into your pieced projects adds a pop of “wow”!

#2 – The full hexie shape was a great spot to add the embroidery.  Template plastic was cut to shape to be sure the design was centered in the full hexie.

Jobs well done!  I know there are still more quilts out there being sewn together.  Looking forward to our next show and tell!  On another note, Hex-a-ma-jig Jr. is now available on my website.  Wendt Quilting.com (Orders placed between Dec. 21 – Dec. 27 will be shipped after Dec. 28th.)

in quilting,

Debbie

P.S.  Happy Holidays to all.  May your days be filled with family, friends and laughter.  Wishing you peace and joy for Christmas!

Posted in Hexagons, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Hex-a-ma-jig Workshop

Posted on December 11, 2018 by debbiewendt

On Saturday I taught a Hex-a-ma-jig Workshop for my Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters Guild. It was great to share several of the quilts included in the instruction booklet of the Hex-a-ma-jig tool.  All the students got underway in making the quilt of their choice.  I missed getting photos of many but I did get several.  I’ll show them below.

“Smooshed” Mixed Flower Garden by Diane S.

Another “Smooshed”, by Diane Z.

And a third “Smooshed” by Sue L.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the comments from the class….

“these are actually fun to cut!”

“I love the variety of this one tool”

“Great for so many different fabrics”

I’m thrilled with all the results!! I will have many more photos of the quilts from this class to show in future posts.  And another under progress in class and just yesterday, finished!!

Hex twirl under way by Faye P.

Faye’s Hex twirl finished!

Some tips in working with Hex-a-ma-jig to pass along…

#1- Pre-cut 3 1/2″ strips before you begin.  Then your time cutting is focused and productive!

#2 – Use “True Grips” (or similar) on the tool to keep it from slipping and in place when cutting.

in quilting and hexies!

Debbie

Posted in Hexagons, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Go Bag

Posted on December 4, 2018 by debbiewendt

What is in your Go Bag? I’m prepping for a class on Saturday and I’ve been gathering things I want to be sure I have to demo. So, I thought, I’ll share! I’ve talked about my hand sewing box but what about some of the things that go with me to class.

Flat Mat Bag

First, I always take my “Flat Mat Bag” (pattern is available on my website).  It holds my 18″ x 24″ mat and 24″ ruler and a lot more, including my Go Bag of notions.  I usually have more things than I need, but better to have them, just in case.  A look inside of what I usually carry…

My Go Bag

Go Bag contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My small rotary cutter is easy to protect in an oils cardboard tube.  I was excited to find that it fit in the tube.  A good way to protect the blade and everything around it.

#1 – Use a cardboard tube to protect your rotary cutter/blade.

Cardboard tube for cutter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 – Keep notions together so they are easy to find and grab to put in your Go Bag.

Saturday will be a Hex-a-ma-jig class with one of my local guilds, BVHQ.  Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters.  I’m excited to teach this class on my tool!  We’ll be cutting Hexies and creating a Hexie quilt of their choice from one of the quilts in the instruction booklet included with the tool.

Last weekend I participated in Tree for Hope in Upton, MA.  Proceeds to Charity!  Below is the tree I made.  “Ties” to Christmas Past!  A special thanks to Shari for passing the ties on to me.

“Ties” to Christmas Past

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Tips, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Fun at Festival

Posted on November 27, 2018 by debbiewendt

After a week of relaxation and spending time with family it is time to get back to work. Those of you who ordered a pattern at Festival, those will be sent in the next week. The delay of Thanksgiving week was not figured into my estimated delivery time.  I love the week of Thanksgiving and the lights that decorate the palm trees.  Fun and different in South Florida!

Palm Trees ready for Christmas in South Florida!

In looking back through photos from Market and Festival, I found some good ones to share.  First, we visited a “local” quilt shop and retreat center in LaPorte, TX, “And So It Began”.  All I can say is WOW!  What a great small treasure!  Look at the front porch…

And Sew It Began

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And bathrooms don’t get any better than this…

Treadle Base!!!

…And another!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 – Use an old treadle table as a base for a sink, great for a sewing room!

We enjoyed our visit and highly recommend the short 30 minute drive to see it and spend some money!  That was our fun between the shows.  Now for fun at Festival…

What can be better than a little one enjoying my Snuggle Tails?!?

A “SNUGGLE” with a Mermaid!

Christmas is coming and the “tails” make great gifts!  Visit WendtQuilting.com to get a pattern and start your Christmas sewing!

Snuggle Tails at Festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 – Shop local and small business!  We sure appreciate your business.

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Quilt shops, Quilt shows, Snuggle Tails, Uncategorized | 1 Comment