This week I have been immersed in Electric Quilt.  I've been writing the class handouts for my Electric Quilt Applique class at the show in St. Cloud.  The handouts are jam packed with material.  Now I am hoping I can get it all covered during the three hour class.

​I am planning to cover all the blocks in my Applique Garden quilt plus Fall Migration.  (And yes, those flying geese in the center of the Fall Migration quilt are in the applique tools.)

Not only will we cover the basic drawing tools we will use and modify the basic shapes, use wreathmaker and learn the secrets of successful tracing.

​I hope you can join me!

When I was reading through Renee's post, I realized she had put a basic structure in place to assist her son.

1. Patch Draw.
2. Imported a photo.
3. Then freehand tool to try to trace shape.
4. Then adjust tool and he added nodes to match the shape.

How simple!   I am betting that each of you (with Electric Quilt) could probably do the same.

​So for this weeks video, I will demonstrate the technique outlined by Renee and executed by her son.  

It has been a while since we have done a block exchange.  Are you interested in participating in a Silhouette exchange.   This one will be open to all users of Electric Quilt.

Those who submit a design will have access to a members only page on my website.  From this page they can download files from all the exchange participants.   If you do not submit a design, you will not be able to receive the files.
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Once you have completed the design, label it with your name. Send me the file at onpointquilter@comcast.net.  

For those using EQ Stitch, please save it in the pj7 format so all EQ users may enjoy the files.

Due date is  Friday, May 13th, 2016.

The Minnesota Quilt Show and Conference is fast approaching.  Have you signed up for classes yet.  I have a full schedule of Electric Quilt classes from June 8-11 and look forward to seeing many of you at the show.

Get more information and sign-up here.  Class offerings include:

1. Introduction to Electric Quilt
2. Introduction to Electric Quilt (refresher)
3. Easy Draw
4. Patch Draw
5. Applique Blocks (NEW class)
6. Beginning Settings and Borders
7. Pictoral Foundations (NEW class)
8. Trunk Show and Specialty Rulers (lecture)

Are you familiar with the Victorian Table Runner?  This pattern was created by Annette Ornelas of Southwind Designs.

Annette created the dimensional curves technique to simplify the process of piecing curved quilt block shapes.  If you are not familiar with this technique you will definitely be interested in one of her books and/or patterns.

Years ago saw one of these quilts at Quilted Treasures in Rogers and immediately needed to buy the pattern and make the quilt.  I don't remember who the recipient of the gifted table runner was. But the table runner remains a favorite of mine.

Click on the pattern to be directed to Southwind Designs to purchase a copy of the pattern.

Fast forward to a week ago... a customer brought me her Victorian Table Runner.  She wanted something "custom".

This table runner can present a bit of a challenge for longarm quilters as problems can develop if you are not careful around the fold-back curves. Also - because of the nature of the fold back technique there can be some slight variation from unit to unit.

Using Art and Stitch I created two major designs that complements the Victorian Table Runner.

My Art and Stitch video tutorai will share with you my process for creating one of the designs - which I am calling Victorian Scroll.

Here are some pictures of the finished quilt.  This quilt was pieced by Carolyn Oakes and will be on display at the Forest Lake Quilt show today (April 19th).  Thanks Carolyn for letting me share photos of your quilt!

Here is Annette's cover quilt from the pattern with the quilting designs super imposed on her quilt.

This week I had an opportunity to work on nice "easy" quilt.  Customer wanted a pantograph.  We picked out an fun design and I loaded the pattern into Intelliquilter.  

As I went to load the quilt on my longarm I saw the dreaded flange.

For those that quilt on any type of a longarm, you quickly learn that flanges are a big problem.  They have this pesky tendency to flip up which means lots of seam ripping or potential injuries to fingers trying to hold the flange in place in place while quilting.

Since the finger technique didn't work well for me last time, I decided for a different approach.

​My secret weapon was ...

I was pleased with the results (and no resews were necessary) -- other than on the top flange where I tried my finger technique.

​Let me share my process.

Add invisible tape just before quilting a row.  My goal is for this to be on the quilt for a very short period of time.

Stitch out pantograph -- just as you would normally quilt it.

Notice how nicely the stitches flow over the flange!

A couple of times the hopping foot picked up the tape -- but the flange stayed obediently in place even when that happened.

Typically the tape will be "cut" slightly from the needle and you can just lift it away.  A seam ripper will also work to cut the tape (just don't cut the thread).

I kept the bottom part of the tape on the flange until I finished the next row.  Then removed the rest.

​Super simple.

I've created a series of designs in Art and Stitch that can be stitched out either on a longarm or an embroidery machine.  Would you like to learn how to draw these yourself?  A class is in the works.  

This will include videos plus detailed written instructions with lots of illustrations.  Great for the beginning digitizer.

More to come on the class -- but thought you would like to see a couple of the designs.

These were done on a basic embroidery machine. with a 4" hoop!

After a couple of cold weeks, the sun broke out and it is now feeling like spring.  I am so excited.  To celebrate the suns arrival, I thought I would feature my Sun Rays quilt pattern.

The Sun Rays quilt is based on a favorite antique block.  The quilt may be completed with seven fabrics or may be scrapped.   Piecing may be enhanced through the use of the V Block and Diamond Rects rulers by Studio 180 Design.

Four different sizes are included in the pattern (Wall, Lap, Full and Queen).

Project is Fat Eighth Friendly.

On sale for $8 -- this week only.

My week started off with four days in Washington DC.  For the last three years I've attended a Creative Arts Business Summit. Attendees include pattern designers, teachers, shop owners, longarm quilters and fabric artists.  It is a great opportunity to work on your business rather than work in your business.  It was incredibly energizing and great to meet up with some old friends and make new ones.

Check out the video highlights from the conference.

Are you interested in learning more.  Click here.

The weather was gorgeous while in DC -- unlike MN at the moment.  I made it out for a walk every evening.  This was also the first year that the cherry blossoms were blooming during the conference.
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Susan Emory from Swirly Girls Designs took a number of us to see the cherry blossoms.  Here are a couple of my photos.

Do you participate in the ​monthly challenge on Electric Quilt's website?  It is a great way to get lots of quilts and blocks already drafted by other Electric Quilt users.  The only caveat is that you must enter a quilt design of your own.

​Barb Vlack's challenge for this month is creating a quilt using one of the Stars Layout in the Layout Library. 

​This video was done a while ago -- but it is a great illustration of using one of the layouts in that library.  I hope it will inspire you to submit a project in the challenge this month. 

Can you believe this lone star quilt took under 10 minutes to draft?  This program is truly amazing.

During the conference I had a number of opportunities to share my love of Electric Quilt.  One comment I heard a couple of times was "I didn't find the program intuitive."  Do you feel that way?

If so, you may be interested in my private coaching program.

​I will stand right behind you (electronically) and guide you every step of the way to create your dream quilt using Electric Quilt.  I will give you both the knowledge and the confidence to tackle future projects on your own.

You can enroll directly in my store.

I look forward to working with you!

It was time!  I am not sure why, but I had been avoiding getting back into working on my longarm.  It might have been the "pain" when I tried do some some minor stuff too early on after surgery.  Or just the challenge of getting back in the grove.

However, I had a number of customer quilts that really needed to get done.  So I decided to make last weekend a "quilting" weekend. It was fun seeing the finishing touches on some lovely quilts. 

Here are a few photos of the quilts I worked on.  At this point I am focusing primarily on pantographs.  It is really fun to select a design that will complement the finished quilt.

One of the quilts was a Storm at Sea variation.  I really wanted to do some simple custom.  No heavy quilting for me yet.  It was also time for me to get back to Art and Stitch.

Here is the full quilt layout with my designs.  I liked the clean look and felt it complemented the quilt.  (All of this was done in Art and Stitch.)

Here are a few photos of the finished quilt.  Scroll down for the closeups of the quilting.

For this weeks video tutorial, I will share with you the drafting of the block and sashing designs in Art and Stitch.  I also showed how I used an image from Electric Quilt as a backdrop.