NEW QUILT BLOGGERS BLOG HOP – 2017

Great to be a New Quilt Blogger

design by @tillalili

A few months ago three great established quilters posted an offer for several newbie’s at blogging an opportunity to join them in a community of quilters who wanted to actively use blogging for communicating with others who have a passion of quilting.  I requested to be selected and was accepted.

The co-hosts are :

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl https://quiltingjetgirl.com/2017/04/09/blooming-quilters-blog-hop-week-1-giveaway/

Leanne from she can quilt http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2017/04/week-1-2017-new-quilt-bloggers-blog-hop.html

Beth from Cooking Up Quilts http://www.cookingupquilts.com/week-1-2017-new-quilt-bloggers-giveaway/ (edited)

      

Be sure to check out their sites and giveaways.

The individuals selected were divided into smaller groups to communicate with each other as we wrote on our new blogs. It has been a learning experience trying out a new social media reader I was not previously using. My previous blogs were occasional photos posted to Instagram and Facebook. Our smaller group followed each other and each of us provided critiques of our sites. These discussions were supported by our co-hosts and questions answered helped resolve issues. It helped all of us improve what we were posting. Check out the sites for the other three in my group…

@ssqraylee  http://www.sunflowerstitcheries.com/

@abbie https://sparkilyblog.wordpress.com/

@caterinka https://chaostheoryquilting.wordpress.com/

@quiltingwithvivian https://quiltingwithvivian.wordpress.com/   

There are a wide variety of social media sites for the community of quilt blogging. Here are just a few of the sites popular with bloggers; Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Craftsy, Twitter, Etsy, YouTube Channel, Bloglovin’, WordPress, Feedly and Slack for group interaction. No wonder new bloggers like me are intimidated. I selected WordPress for this training.

New groups were set up for us to create a scheduled same day post. My group of eighteen has a group of five that are the first to officially blog on the same day.  We are the “Let’s bee Quilt’n” team. The wonderful logo was created by Gwen @Tillalili. Please check out these sites for ideas, patterns and lots of wonderful photos. A giveaway has been scheduled for each big release day, so check out the co-hosts sights for details.

Emily @emilyleachman  http://thedarlingdogwood.blogspot.com/

Samantha @aqua_paisley  https://imgwonders.com/user/aqua_paisley/460660149/

Rita @rita_wahn   http://www.posterityquiltco.com/blog/

Andrea @alwaysgoofy   https://goofinoffaroundtheblock.blogspot.com/

Three more blog hops are scheduled for April and May releases. Check back for free giveaways and really great quilting sites to visit.

 

About me and some fun projects from my portfolio -you can find details about my quilting life in the menu link About on the Home page.

I retired in 2009 and decided my closets full of unfinished objects (UFOs) had somehow grown over the years. Now that my time was mine, I felt compelled to pursue what I’d always wanted to do. I made a few quilts over time, but all had been either block corner tied or hand quilted. To tackle the task I wanted it would take some fast work. I started checking online and discovered not only had quilting changed, but the whole world was now involved. New fabrics, new tools, techniques and everything that makes a quilter/crafter excited is here. Wow, I was behind the times on everything. I did not need to cut my squares with a pair of scissors? After many classes, tutorials, blogging tips from quilters and an array of books, I am enjoying my hobby.

I started small with lap quilt backpacks and purses.

As I discovered the wonderful world of free-motion and walking-foot quilting my plans changed and I bought three new sewing machines; Janome , Necchi and Elna serger. Two are for home and one for classes and travel.  My projects became more interesting to me and the challenges grew.

I love the old patterns, the appliqué, art quilts and the improv and modern quilts. I have no favorites, as long as it involves quilting. I belong to our  Cross of Hope Lutheran Church quilting group, American Quilters Society, and The Modern Quilt Guild.

Two flannel baby blankets were the best place to start free-motion quilting.

         

Since that worked with my new machine,  a quillo (a small lap quilt folds into a pillow) from my UFO stash needed stitching ripped (my seam ripper is my best friend) and trimming for my next project.

         

Now I’ve become a real addicted quilter.  My stash has quadrupled, my UFOs set up is at least 40 projects and I’m constantly thinking of more projects.

 

The blue and white sampler UFO was from a JoAnn Fabrics kit. The red, black and white sampler is a Women of the Bible Blocks quilt by http://stitchintree.blogspot.com/   .  I was given permission to teach this as a free class at my daughter’s church.

My first designed quilt, “Spring Garden”, using fabrics only from my stash. This is a wall quilt, 36″ x 36″.

My first competition entry for one of my designs, “Pansy Quilt”, for a https://www.missouriquiltco.com/  contest. I did not win, but my Mother is the most excited person because she received the quilt.

Because I love color, “Movement of Spring”, was my next design.  This was exhibited in a non-jury show, http://www.abqfiberartscouncil.org/ , Albuquerque, NM, 2016.

 

My improv modern quilt, “Risen”, was selected by the American Quilters Society and placed in the semi-finals show in Phoenix, AZ 2016.

This modern quilt is “Crossing the Line”, and is to be in a juried exhibit by the http://www.abqfiberartscouncil.org/ , Albuquerque, NM,  May 2017.  I have two other original quilts that were accepted, as well as a knitted shawl.

I am currently working on three quilt patterns to be announced soon. Follow me as I journey into a fabulous world of quilting and crafting.