TACO

 The Taco principal is something I learned in college. Basically it means to surround yourself with things you love and inevitably they will all work together, like a taco.  Each person fills their taco with whatever ingredients they love...lettuce, sour cream, salsa, cheese...and gets to enjoy the meal.  I use the Taco principal to pick out fabric.  I went to the fabric store last week and instead of picking coordinating fabrics for a specific purpose, I purchased what spoke to me.  I think that picking fabrics this way makes for a more interesting end product.  There are subtle variations in the completed quilt that you just don't get if you get a pre-coordinated group of fabrics.  I think some pre-coordinated fabrics look a little too pristine.  I like the ability to slip in some odd or almost 'off' fabrics in each quilt, I think it adds depth and personality.  As you can see, I got  several fabrics that are totally different from each other, but I know that they will eventually be used to make beautiful quilts. 

New Additions to the Taco Feb. 2011



Learning is Hard Work

Learning is Hard Work.  I finally got a chance to start machine quilting yesterday and I love it!  I took a little while to learn how to move the quilt and how and when to roll, but free-motion quilting is free-motion quilting.  After the learning curve, I really enjoyed myself.  I feel like I have gone from clueless beginner to almost intermediate in the space of one quilt.  I can't wait to get onto the next one and try some other designs.  I learned alot....patience, spacing, concentration, persistance...all of the things that every body I know has to learn over and over again.  I love it! 

Left:  Beginning       Right:  Finished

Flynn Quilting

Ma

Who has the best mom in the world?  If you said my MOM, you would be right!  Mom just purchased the Flynn Quilting system for me. http://www.flynnquilt.com/   See, what did I tell you, great mom, eh?  I am hoping that I will be able to take what I've learned recently about free motion quilting and apply it to machine quilting actual, life-sized quilts.  It is just in time too, I counted and I now have 7 completed quilt tops.  There is great irony here, because all the quilts my family uses are store-bought or tied.  Here goes nothing!

Traditional Red Floral and Baskets

It has been a great day!  Quilt Top #2 completed. This black/floral panel print I got at a thrift store, I think it is flannel.  The red flannel I put with it matched better in the store than it does here, but I think it livens up the panel print.  This is by far the most traditional quilt I have ever pieced.  Part of the panel was all ready cut apart when I bought it so it was quite challenging to make the pieces work together.   It took a little more "fudging" than I usually do, but I like the result.  I may have to go back to the store and pick up some solid black flannel for one final border all the way around...Size right now is 64 x 44.

Peaciful Contemporary Green

I started this quilt over a month ago and ran out of material for the border.  I finally bought more, and thankfully the fabric store still had some, and finished it up today.  The pic doesn't show it very well, but the large green square is a gorgeous fabric.  The finished size is 54 x 64.

Quilt of Valor



90% Finished Quilt Top



I first heard of the Quilt of Valor organization from Fon's and Porter's TV show about a month ago. Quilts are made by regular people and are then donated to  veterans coming home from war injured.  These quilts are a small token of our appreciation for a soldiers sacrifice. I am an intermediate-ish quilter and am grateful I have some small skill to hopefully brighten the day of a Hero.  Check out Quilt of Valor. 

It takes a village to make a donation...

The fabric was purchased by my mother about 6 months ago.  I saved it neatly in my stash for just the right reason.  My husbands works long, hard hours so I can stay home with my 4 year-old.  My daughter Kristin graciously entertained herself for several hours over the course of 2 days so I could piece the quilt.  And that is not where this quilts journey ends....I still need to purchase more fabric for the border and sew it on.  Then the quilt will be sent away to someone else to be long-arm quilted.  The batting is also donated.  Then the quilt will make its final journey to the soldier.  Worth every step.  Thank you to all my loved ones who make this quilt and my life possible!





Dandelion Design