Tag Archives: Quilts

It’s “Sew Nice” in Norwich, NY

Located in Norwich, NY, sits a fabulous quilt shop owned by Diane Marvin which she opened in June 2005. I stopped by Sew Nice to visit and ask Diane a few questions. Diane’s career was in education. Her mother was a career woman that made her own stylish suits to wear to work. Diane had no interest in sewing until she made her first quilt around 2000 – it was love at first stitch!

Diane holding up her almost finished quilt top “Northern Neighbors”.

Diane is a Studio 180 Design certified Instructor as is Donna Hanley who also teaches there. Sew Nice is a “Certified Bernina Classroom Shop”. They carry fabric lines from Moda, P&B, Marcus, Benartex, Timeless treasures, Kona, the list goes on. I love that they have a whole isles devoted to polka dot fabric.

The quilters that gather at Sew Nice refer to it as their “Quilting Playhouse” and as a “Cheers” for quilters. Quilters lovingly refer to Diane as “The Pusher”, (quilt pusher that is). You go to see Diane at Sew Nice to get your quilt fix! Diane gently pushes you to always keep learning and try new quilting techniques.

Sew Nice offers a 24 seat classroom. And if that is not enough, they also offer general sewing machine repair and maintenance.

Sew Nice only sells Quilters Dream Batting (QDB). When I asked why Diane said:

It’s made in the USA
NO other batting can compare with QDB quality.
There is no minimum order.
And last but not least “QDB Customer Service”! Diane could not praise the QDB Customer Service enough. She feels QDB is one of the best companies she has dealt with.
Diane’s favorite is Dream Wool!

If you live in the area and are looking for a quilt home you will be so welcomed at “Sew Nice” because they are so nice!

Sew Nice – 6142 State Hwy 12 – Norwich, NY 13815 – (607) 334-2477 – www.sewnicenorwich.com

Is Your Past Haunting You?

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Mine is! I have 7 quilt tops from 2014 that have not been quilted yet and “Northern Neighbors” pattern with only 1 block finished.

Moving out of state put a real crimp in my quilting. I am a compulsive finisher, so having a pile of unfinished quilts is driving me crazy. I have a Nolting fun Quilter, it is a mid-arm with a 17″ throat. I also have a larger studio now so I have room for a 12′ quilt frame. One has been ordered and should be here by the end of January. I’m hoping my new Nolting frame will help me be a better, more creative quilter.

Needless to say, my resolutions for 2015 are all about finishing my tops and getting back to healthy diet again.

#56 Kaleidocally Hexed or OBW

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Before you reach for your dictionary, I made that word (kaleidocally) up! These Kaleidoscope/hexagon quilts are fun and addictive as you can tell by the fact I have now made 56 of them! This year Grand Central Station in New York City and Union Station in Utica New York celebrated their 100th birthday. I had wanted to make a quilt to celebrate this fact but was overcome by events. The year 2014 has been challenging for me to say the least. Needless to say I found my self facing the last week in 2014 and my goal was to get this quilt top done, and I did – in 4 days. It is News Years Eve, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

I wanted to show you some interior pictures of Union Station in Utica NY. I love this train station. When I was 12 I left from Union Station and went all the way to Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a thrill for me and I have loved trains ever since.

Isn’t the marble gorgeous?

I absolutely love the oak seats. This is a very active train station.

Below is a fabric from Timeless treasures I chose for this kaleidocally hexed quilt. It is a city scape of landmarks in New York City. I will have to make another quilt that represents the rest of New York (which is stunningly beautiful)!

Below is the top I finished in 4 days aptly named “New York – Kaleidocally Hexed”. I recorded my self making this top and shared the video’s on this blog.

I so look forward to 2015 and pushing on with other quilt projects like Studio 180 Design’s “Northern Neighbors”! Happy New year everyone and God Bless!

No Pattern??? No Problem !

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Did you ever see a picture of quilt that you really wanted to make but couldn’t find the pattern? If you can identify the units that make up the block, you don’t really need the pattern. Last year I blogged about being a “Block Detective”. I saw this quilt in a book By Doreen Speckmann. I loved it and wanted to make it, but not with the paper templates that the author suggested.

So, being a Certified Deb Tucker “Block Detective” I decided to try it out by making a block with 2″ finished units. I loved the bright colors against black & white backgrounds.

Now the search was on for fabric to make a whole quilt this time. I found the outer border fabric first and then pulled the colors for the block from that. I decided to make six 20″ finished blocks containing twenty-five 4″ finished units.

I initially chose yellow, orange, red and green fabric but later added a blue fabric . I also needed 6 different black & white prints for the block background.

The tools required were Studio 180 Design V Block, Squared 2 & Corner Beam Rulers and the Technique Sheet for making Sidekicks and High/Low units and don’t forget your Magic Wand!

Each Block contains 4 V Blocks with black & white side triangles,

and 4 V Blocks with black & white center triangles.

Each Block contains 4 Corner Beam Units with yellow center beams,

and 4 orange and red Corner Beam units.

The center of each block contains 1 Squared 2 unit.

There are 2 High/Low Left & 2 High/Low Right Units in each block.

I cut all my pieces first then laid them out one block at a time. I constructed the corner flowers as shown below.

I press the seams as instructed for each of the units, but when I joined the units into the block I pressed my seams open.

Join the units into rows.

Then join the rows to form the block.

These are some wild colors. This quilt was fun to make. So next time you want to play “Block Detective” get out your graph paper and Studio 180 Design tools and discover what you can do! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me.

Someone Dropped a House On My Sister

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The tune “Back in the Saddle Again” is playing in my head as I stare into the Shultz & Dooley mirror hanging over my sewing machine.

I’m getting ready to work on the Wicked Witch Panel below. I’m a Wizard of Oz fan! This is my first project in the new house. The panel measures 34″x42″. I decided to add Lemoyne Star cornerstones and stripped borders. I pulled the colors from the panel, Kona Black, Midnight Blue and Grass green to match the Witch’s Skin.

I know I have blogged about the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler before but thought I would reiterate some tips.

Below I have cut 2 background strips and two star strips. I know these are dark colors but I like the way they work with the panel. I have marked my background strips A and B and 2 additional marks down from the top of the strips on the adjacent, inside edges the same distance as the strip is wide. What that means is; I chose to make an 8″ finished Lemoyne star so I cut my background strip 3 3/4″ wide by width of fabric (WOF). So I marked the inside edges down 3 3/4″. With right sides together I place the star strips on the marks as shown.

Stitch the strips as shown.

Quilting is a Pressing Matter!!! What I love about Studio 180 Design Tools is the care Deb Tucker takes in telling you how to press your seams. I did not know this until I was Studio 180 Design Teacher Certification Training, “Whatever You Are Pressing Toward – Goes On Top”! Genius!

When pressing strip A, the seam gets pressed toward the background strip. I then place the strip on the ironing board with background side on top and press. Strip B seam is pressed toward the star strip, so then the I place the strip with star strip on top. We now have mirror images.

Place Strip B right up on the table, then place strip A on top, right sides together. I start by just matching up the edges. Then using my fingers feel along the seams to determine if the seams are nesting properly. I always gently peel back each end to see if the seams are nesting. If we pressed the seams correctly it will nest nicely.

Now we are going to establish a 45 degree angle by placing the edge of the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star ruler on the stitched seam line and then bump up another cutting ruler against the angled edge.

Make the first cut.

Place the cutting ruler on that beautiful 45 degree angle and cut strips the width of your star strip. For an 8″ Lemoyne Star I cut 2 1/5″ strips. So I make a 2 1/2″ cut.

You can go ahead and make all your 2 1/2″ cuts, but I prefer to make the first cut and then make the second cut by going vertically south to north and position the ruler edge at the tip of the star point and trim straight up.

These triangles will be the side pieces for your unit.

Once all your units are cut, open your units with A on the right and B on the left as shown below.

This is a great tip from fellow teacher Jane Godshall: Take two paper plates, label one A and one B. Open your units as shown above place all the A units on one plate and B units on the other. This will save you from confusing them.

Take plate “A” to the sewing machine, center and stitch one side triangle to each unit.

Chain stitch all the “A” Units.

Take the chain to the ironing board. “A” pieces will be pressed toward the star point fabric so lay the chain with the star point fabric on top.

By chain stitching the “A” units together and pressing, it keeps your brains from falling out trying to keep straight what unit you are working on.

Now chain stitch the side triangles to the “B” units with the side triangles on top.

Press.

Our “A” and “B” units are ready to trim.

Sorry for the glare, I’m having lighting issues. I don’t care for most ruler gripping products but I love InvisiGrip. This product helps keep your ruler from sliding with bunching up your fabric when you are positioning the ruler. You will definitely want to use some on your Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler. As you put pressure on the ruler toward the point it will keep it from moving.

Sorry my fabric is so dark. Place your unit with the star point facing towards 2 o’clock, this helps with trimming both sides without repositioning the unit. I am making 8″ Lemoyne stars so I align the desired block size lines with the sewn seam lines. You really want a sharp blade in your rotary cutter for this trim!

Trim all your units before sewing the “A” and “B” together.

Once the “A” and “B” units are sewn together, trim the dog ears from the star points. Sew 4 units to make a block.

Square up using your Tucker Trimmer 3.

I think it came out pretty good. it measures 52″x60″.

Autumn Colors in the Adirondacks

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I’m still unpacking and do not have my quilt studio set up yet. But last Friday was going to be the last day for good Fall colors. There was a storm coming so my sister and I played hooky from unpacking and drove about 50 miles to Old Forge and took the ski lift up McCaully mountian for some spectacular views. I thought I would share some beautiful views with you.

The Wild Flowers of Alder Creek

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Number 55 top is done. I will be teaching a 3 part class on making these hexagonal quilts beginning November 8th at Tiger Lily Quilt Company. I went there yesterday to pick out an inner border. The colors in this quilt are so wild, Donna Papaleo (the shop owner) suggested I use black Kona and she was right! It was the only color that would calm down this quilt top.

Tiger Lily Quilt Co. is located at 809 Court Street, in the Historic Brewery district, at the Boilermaker finish line in the City of Utica, located in upstate Central New York across the street from FX Matt Brewery.

http://tigerlilyquiltco.com

The Shoppes at the Finish Line building was part of the historic Utica Globe Woolen Mills established in 1847. Today this building has so much original character, I love this building.

http://www.shoppesatthefinishline.com

The Shoppes at the Finish Line not only houses the Tiger Lily Quilt Company but also Finish Line Furniture, Utica Brews café, a gift shop, and a Psychic. The Rome Investigators of the Paranormal visit there often.

http://romeinvestigatorsoftheparanormal.com

How can you beat a quilt shop across the street from a brewery?

Do You “Row By Row”?

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I know I’m supposed to be working on class samples but the weather here in Upstate NY has been beautiful. I have been visiting quilt shops in the area collecting Row by Row kits. Row by Row is a nationwide quilt shop hop. Each participating quilt shop designs a license plate and a 9″x36″ quilt row pattern/kit. It can be 4 blocks or one row. The first person that gets 6 rows completed into a quilt goes to a shop and claims their prize (one per shop). You can pick up the pattern for free or chose to buy the kit, The fabric license plate is sold separately.

Cottons Etc. in Wampsville, NY is a great shop with wonderful classes and good selection of Alexander Henry Fabrics.

www.cottonsetcquiltshop.com

Crazy Moose Quilt Shop in Inlet, NY has a great selection Adirondack fabrics. You can not believe how beautiful it is there.

Email: crazymoosequiltshop@mail.com

Heartworks Quilt Shop in Fly Creek, NY is definitely worth the trip, I love this place. They have a wide variety of fabrics. There is a wonderful Cider Mill there. They are located close to Cooperstown, NY the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

www.heartworksquilts.com

Sew Nice in Norwich, NY is a great quilt shop. They have a wide selection of fabric and great class room space. Not to mention that the owner Diane Marvin is a fellow Certified Instructor for Studio 180 Design.

www.sewnicenorwich.com

Sew Wilde in New Hartford, NY. I love this shop.

www.sewwildequilt.com

Tiger Lily Quilt Company is located in an old cotton mill in Utica, NY across the street from Utica Brewing Company. This is one of my favorite places to be and definitely want to be teaching there soon.

www.tigerlilyco.com

Hopefully I will get these rows finished soon and share them with you. You can follow “Row by Row” on Facebook.

Who Says You Can’t Go Home Again?

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Well, almost. I am from Central New York. New York Mills, NY to be exact. I have left Virginia, and for now I’m staying with my cousin Brenda in Alder Creek, about 22 miles north of Utica. I am not a country girl. There is not a quilt Shop for 22 miles (Lord have mercy)!

Brenda’s house is charming as you can see.

This small shack on her property was a Speak Easy back in the day.

Today my sister Mary and I went exploring. Above is the Boonville pool. We spent many summer days here when we were kids.

Boonville also has a lovey covered bridge.

The Hulbert House from 1812 was featured on The Scifi channel Ghost Hunters. It is haunted!

This beautiful scene is the Black River in Forestport, NY

My little corner in Brenda’s dinning room.

I’m working on a new hexagon quilt trying to get my Mojo back!

My last Quilt Class in Virginia

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Today I taught my last quilt class in Virginia. In about 6 weeks I will be moving to Upstate NY, Utica to be exact, my hometown. Today we finished up our Doubly Charmed class where we first made the Corner Beam quilt.

We saved our side triangles to use in our V Block quilt.

I want to thank Nancy, Denise, Carol and Karen for a great last class!

Jennifer Griffin will be taking over the Studio 180 Design Tool Demo classes in Virginia Beach. She is happily holding up the Diamonds Rects tool. In her first demo class she will teach you to make a simple Storm at Sea using the Studio 180 Design Diamond Rects and Squared2 rulers. I know she will do a great job! Look out NY, get ready for One Block Wonders and Deb Tucker’s spectacular rulers and quilt patterns.