Riley Blake FABRIC FEST

Welcome all Fabric Fest blog hoppers!  I cannot express how excited I am to be teaching at the very first Riley Blake Designs 'Fabric Fest' right here in the place I call home, Las Vegas.

I feel so privileged to have been asked to teach at this amazing conference filled with spectacular teachers that I have to pinch myself at times to make sure I am not dreaming.  I will be teaching not just one, but two classes at Fabric Fest (still pinching!) - Big Stitch Quilting and Curved Piecing for the Modern Quilter.

First a little about me...I currently work and teach at Quiltique in Henderson, Nevada - an amazing quilt shop.  I have been sewing since I was a child but more seriously in the last 12 years or so, mostly focused on quilting.  I have never been afraid to try anything and started my journey as a self-taught quilter.  I have picked up so many hints and tips along the way from quilting friends and many, many, great teachers.  Currently, I am obsessed with the modern movement in quilting and founded the Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild a couple of years ago.  

 BIG STITCH QUILTING

The first class I will be teaching is Big Stitch Quilting (it is full but sign up for the waiting list!).  If you haven't noticed hand-stitching is very popular in the quilting industry today.  Learn how to use big stitch quilting to speed up the hand-quilting process while getting a unique look.  In class we will make a pillow that showcases a large print. Using Perle Cotton thread we will enhance the pattern by quilting around the design. 

The print will make all of the difference for this project.  You want to focus on a print that has larger design motifs with a simple background.   Small, busy prints as shown above are a bad choice for the beginner "big-stitcher"; even though it is completely adorable.

This print, Ashbury Heights by Riley Blake, is what will be included in the class kit.  This print is perfect! You can easily stitch around the motif and even add some accent stitching to the background if desired. If you are taking the class and need help deciding on a print shoot me an email (andisew@gmail.com) and I will assist you in finding the perfect print!

CURVED PIECING FOR THE MODERN QUILTER

Curved piecing is all the rage right now and I don't know about you but before I tried it I was terrified of it.  I had this bad mental vision of 50 pins around each curve and hours and hours of cutting templates.  Not in this class!  This class will show you some tips to make curved piecing simple and effective.  My "Indie Chic" quilt will be the class kit if you would like to purchase.  For this quilt grab a Riley Blake Rolie Polie, some background fabric, and the Creative Grids Split Seconds Ruler and off you go!

I will also show some other quilt layouts using the Split Seconds Ruler as well.  This one features Little Red Riding Hood by Riley Blake Designs.  This class will show you that you can conquer curved piecing!  There are a few spaces left in the class so grab one before they are gone.

In the next few months before Fabric Fest I will show you some more examples of both of the classes I will be teaching so make sure to check back with me!  

So...who wants to win??  Since I am a Vegas local I want to know what Las Vegas show you would most like to squeeze in while attending Fabric Fest?  Personally, I cannot wait for the Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show.  I will randomly choose a winner within 48 hours and the lucky winner will receive a mystery package from Riley Blake.  The mystery package will include some 1/2 yard cuts of Riley Blake fabric - what could be better? So, who will win? You will have to check back to find out.  Don't miss the rest of the Fabric Fest Blog Hop for more chances to win fabulous prizes, as there is not much time left.

See you all at Fabric Fest 2013!

   

During the blog hop, these great sites will be blogging all about Fabric Fest and the wonderful classes they are teaching. They will also be giving away some great prizes, so you'll want to keep this list close by!

Trust us.

You CAN'T miss a single day! 

Wednesday, June 5

Jina Barney of Riley Blake Designs

Thursday, June 6
Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet

 Friday, June 7

Elizabeth and Liz Evans of Simply Simon & Co

Saturday, June 8

Nancy Zieman/Deanna Springer of Nancy Zieman.com

Monday, June 10

Melissa Mortenson of The Polka Dot Chair 

Tuesday, June 11

Carolina Moore of Always Expect Moore

Wednesday, June 12

Paige Hill of Riley Blake Designs, Jennifer of Tatertots and Jello,

Becky & Kari of U-Create

Thursday, June 13

Amanda Herring of The Quilted Fish

Friday, June 14

Kim Christopherson & Kris Thurgood of My Girlfriends Quilt Shoppe

Saturday, June 15

Bonnie Bailey on Riley Blake Designs

 Monday, June 17

Lila Tueller of Lila Tueller Designs

Tuesday, June 18

Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter

Wednesday, June 19

Lindsay Wilkes of The Cottage Mama

Thursday, June 20

Sue Daley of Sue Daley Designs

Friday, June 21

Eleanor Burns/ Sue Bouchard of Quilt in a Day

Saturday, June 22

Jenny, Natalie, & Sarah of Missouri Star Quilt Company

 Monday, June 24

Andrea Goddard of And I Sew

Tuesday, June 25

Becky, Brooke, Jamie, Kirsten, & Nikkala of The Crafting Chicks

Wednesday, June 26

Deonn Stott of Quiltscapes 

 Thursday, June 27

Sandy Workman of Pine Mountain Designs

Friday, June 28

Sydney Haglund of Memory Quilt Maker

I Wish I had Photo Skills...

 

I spoiled myself this weekend by purchasing a new lens for my camera.  After a small amount of research I decided on the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 with the auto focus.  This was the first photo I snapped instantly after attaching the lens. This little guy is Whiskey, his tongue is always out.

I really want to USE my camera more.  I purchased a used Nikon D60 for quite a bargain last year and haven't even began to fully understand and explore all it can do.  For now, I just take photos and act like I know what I am doing, but truly I have no clue.  I hope to learn much more about photography and how to use my camera.

In the meantime I just keep snapping photos....

My cat.  One of them, I have another.  This one was found in the street three years ago as a little kitten, she really has no name but answers only to Kiki so I guess that is her name even thought I don't like it.

More baby Audrey.  My baby photo skills are so lacking.

Lastly, my time-sucker, complete and total time-sucker.  A block from my store sample, the HoopSisters Feathered Star. I will post more on this quilt later.  

This weekend I was able to sew The Staple Dress by April Rhodes while my embroidery machine was running.  Such a quick and easy dress!  I wore it today and I love it.  I highly recommend it if you want a quick garment that is easy to sew and very versatile.  I am already planning another.

Mouseheads

My sewing this weekend turned out to have a very specific theme...mouse heads.  As in Mickey and Minnie mouse heads.

The first:  The Mickey Mouse Head Quilt

My cousins and I all grew up on the same street.  Which really made it like growing up with more siblings.

Here is a photo of most of us - I am very unsure of posting this photo, but it was the 80s.  Yes I am the crazy, center-of-attention one covering my sister's face.  Pay no attention to the clothes - it was the 80's...late 80's, by the way!  The little girl in the pink dress now has a little boy of her own who will be one at the end of this month.  He was actually born on my sister's birthday, who is only 12 days older than my cousin.

He loves MIckey Mouse and is having a Mickey Mouse party. Evidently, Mickey Mouse is still very, very popular.  I had no idea. 

I decided why not make a gigantic Mickey Mouse head quilt - seems easy enough.  I added his name because I cannot seem to make baby items without a name on them.  I will be out of town for work during the party so I want to make sure I have it done before.  I figure it will make a great mat to open the presents on.  

It finishes at about 54 inches wide by 43 inches tall.  It was really simple and I LOVE how it looks so far.  It still needs to be quilted.  My 830 was running embroidered blocks for a store sample all weekend and I refuse to quilt on the smaller machines now that I have been spoiled with a 12 inch throat machine.  I am using the Quilter's Dream Dream Puff batting for extra poofiness.  I made this in just a couple of hours and I really love how it looks - I may make a Minnie one for my niece. Or maybe Hello Kitty - so hard to decide.

The second: Minnie Mouse Head Onesie

My niece, who is almost four months old now will be attending the party.  My sister wanted her to wear a Minnie Mouse outfit. I appliquéd a quick Minnie Mouse head onto the onesie to match the skirt my sister found.  

I have made her a onesie each month for her one month birthday.  The first few were not so easy to appliqué on.  Now the they are getting bigger it is becoming a little easier.  Of course, I had to try it on her.  I think she likes it...she needs a bow...I know.

I was also able to sew with my friends on Sunday at a local quilt shop.  I worked on my scrappy trip.  That seems to be the project I take with me to do some mindless sewing. I got a lot done this weekend thanks to this horrible heat wave.  I have no desire to leave the indoors this time of year.  

I will post photos later of the above mentioned embroidery sample that is sucking up all of my time right now.  I am so close to done, yet I am pretty much over it.  I hate being in that spot, but it happens on big project.  These small projects are good to squeeze in when you are at that point - instant mouse head gratification.