It Warm's a Mother's Heart...

 

Not too long ago while working at the shop, I looked up and realized that all of my girls have become quilters ~ not just piecers, but I've got them all playing on the Handi Quilter machines too :) 

My oldest  daughter, Heather started making quilts back when she was in college.  But recently she has been working with me at the shop the last few months, and has really been quilting up a storm.

 This day she was quilting some placemats that she's made for shop samples.

My "newest" daughter Ashley (soon to marry my son later this month), has started putting in some hours in her free time working at the shop with us too!  Ashley's Grandmother Sharon taught her to sew, and she's made a couple of quilts in her younger days...

This cute little crib quilt is her first shop sample for us, and she even quilted it up with a nice and  even all over meander :)

My younger daughter, Lisa worked at the shop last Summer, and is putting in some weekends working with us when she can.  She's sewn for a few years now too.  This was her playing on the HQ machines a few months ago. 

...And one of the "wholecloth" quilts that she's made for her daughters when she was practicing. 

 

This one was for Abby :) 

...And slow but sure, I'm even getting Bob on the machines too (He's a good sport and let me take his picture when we were at Handi Quilter training in Salt Lake City).  Bob had been in Tech training for several days, but attended the Pro Stitcher training afterwards with me...and he's quite good at it :)

I'll have to see if I can get my son on the machines next...and then it's on to the Grand Children! 

 ...we're starting to work on Emily already :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

More Explorations at Handi Quilter

Here are a few more "sights & sounds" from my walking around the HQ Headquarters during my free time at lunch today...enjoy :)

 

Here are a couple of the wonderful Handi Quilter educators that spent the week sharing their knowledge with us. I grabbed Carrie, Vicki, and Marie on our way out the door and they were nice enough to let me snap a photo.  Missing here is Cheryl and Cathy.  They were an amazing (and patient) team, and I can't wait to go home and play on our Infinity and Pro Stitcher and use some of my new skills :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

A Little Peek at the Handi Quilter Headquarters in Utah

Bob & I have been here in Salt Lake City Utah this week for training at the Handi Quilter headquarters.  I wanted to share just a few of the photos I've been taking of the Amazing quilts on display throughout the entire building. As soon as you walk in the front door you're greeted with these beauties :)

 

Quilts are on the stair well...

 

 ,,,and where we eat lunch every day.

 

 The quilting of course is Awesome!

 

 There are quilts throughout the building in all the offices...

...and conference rooms, and cubbies.  They are so nice and put up with us all going around and checking them all out :)

 

Check this out ~ this one by Cathy Wiggins is even quilted on Leather!

 

 

I'll try to post more tomorrow evening when we're collapsed in the hotel :)

 

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

 

An Inspiring Weekend with an Amazing Quilter

This weekend we enjoyed being inspired by and learning from Quilt Teacher Extraordinaire,  Debby Brown!  Debby taught four classes over the course of two days and we were both entertained at her presentations and amazed at her quilting talents.

She showed some of her wonderful quilts, demoed quilting techniques, and students played and practiced their skills on the machines that we had set up in two different rooms of the shop.

Here are some of the creative quilted doodles that students were trying at the "Exploding Out of the Block" class where they learned to take motifs from a fabric in a block and carry it out into the sashing and borders.

 

I learned so much this weekend sharing time with Debby ~ Thanks Debby for what you do, and being so willing to share your talents with others :) 

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Handi Quilter News from Quilt Market

One of the main reasons Bob and I attended Quilt Market is because we are Handi Quilter Reps, and wanted to see all of the new items being introduced this Fall in person at the Handi Quilter Booth ~ Bob stayed me with like a trooper through all of the fabric and notions at Market, but it really was the machinery that he was there to see...and of course to go to the Handi Quilter party on Saturday night :)

One of the great new Fall introductions that I didn't get any photos of is the new feature on the Pro Stitcher where you no longer have to walk around and drop levers on the carriage to engage the gears when you want to use the Pro Stitcher, this is now a button built into the Pro Stitcher!  Very cool for all the Stand Up Frame quilters. 
I don't need any photos of this because I ordered a new Avante with Pro Stitcher and will have it in my Studio shortly for you to see!

But for the Sit Down quilters, here I'm checking out the new table option for the Sweet Sixteen Sit Down machine!  It offers a wonderful new choice for the  Sweet Sixteen (Can you tell I'm really a "kick the tires" kind of gal?)

There's lots of surface space without having to add any extensions and there's storage underneath.  The table has an automatic built in hydraulic lift that will lower and raise the machine, so it can be stored inside when the machine is not in use...

...and the feature that's totally worth the cost of the table (which is very reasonable considering all it does and how heavy duty it is) ~ with the push of a button, it will also raise the machine up three inches above the table to access the bobbin area ~ no more bending to look underneath!
Yea ~ I'll be ordering this in too :)

This picture better shows the space inside where the machine can drop down into, and the sides close in to completely contain and store the machine away when it's not in use.  A great feature for people who have limited space or are quilting in a spare bedroom.  Notice it also comes on casters so even though it's heavy, it's easy to move around.  When closed up the table is a great size for another cutting or work surface in the sewing studio.

Another exciting introduction this Fall that works with all HQ machines is the conversion kit to be able to easily change the feet on your Handi Quilter machines from closed toe to open toe hopping foot.  This makes it easier to change feet when you want a closed hopping foot for ruler work, but want to quickly change to and open foot for microquilting, much like changing feet on a regular domestic sewing machine.  And there is also a set of three Couching Feet available for some exciting embellishing ideas.

I watched Helen Godden demonstrate how easy it is to couch a pretty yarn or fiber onto your quilt while you're quilting it!  I sat down and played with it myself, and it really is easy!

There are some more items coming out like new video sets including some featuring Debby Brown, some ruler gripper strips, and this Bobbin Box for your larger M size bobbins :) 

All the new items are starting to ship this month (the new Pro Stitcher is shipping now along with many of the smaller items), and the new Sweet Sixteen table starting to ship by December 1st.  I'll be carrying everything, and will have them up on our Website soon, so contact me if you have any questions, or would like to place your orders!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Some Sights and Sounds from our Lovely Quilty Weekend

We had the great pleasure of spending the weekend getting up close and personal with these beautiful quilted treasures made by Machine Quilting Teacher Debby Brown!

Spring Water Designs hosted about 45 quilters for four classes that Debby taught on Friday and Saturday on different machine quilting topics including Ruler work, Freehand Continuous Line, and what to quilt on our Borders, Blocks, and Backgrounds.

Renting the Historic Carroll Baldwin Community Hall in Savage, Maryland gave us a sweet setting to enjoy the quilts.  I loved seeing my Rootin Tootin Cowboy Quilt, and American Beauty Quilt hanging in this old building!

Debby showed us how to do it, and then we got to practice and try ourselves.

(Btw ~ that beautiful quilt in the back was made by Debby from the pattern called Hidden Star Sampler designed by Applewood Farm Publications) 

 There were goodies to purchase :)

And lots of quilt sights to see.  These are all photos of Debby Brown's quilts and her amazing quilting!  Thanks Debby for sharing your beautiful work with us, and letting us take photos!

Debby has written two books, Beyond the Lines, and Borders and Beyond, on how you can quilt like this too!

I'm itching to get some charity quilts on my frame and put some of Debby's tips into practice.  That will have to wait until next week though as now my machines are still packed up from this event, and heading off to our next event,  where we'll be vending at the Milltown Quilters Quilt Show this week from Thursday, April 11 - Saturday April 13.  (I'm sure we'll do a lot of playing with our new found knowledge on the machines at the show, and there's always next week for some quality quilty time!)

In the meantime, enjoy some quilty time for yourself today :)
Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn