News Flash

Hello!

I've decided to celebrate the arrival of spring with a Etsy Sale!  All Items are 20% off.   Click here to visit my Shop.

In other News, I have a new Lecture ~

Inspiration! - Interpretation to Celebration
PowerPoint Presentation illustrating how and where to find inspiration and develop it into your own work.  Concepts of transformation, color, scale, composition will be covered.  The importance of editing and auditioning.  I will discuss techniques for staying engaged through completion and the importance of celebrating our work.  
1 hour with trunk show of quilts

I also have two new workshops to instruct and inspire~

Lollipop Garden - New 2018

A fun workshop that teaches quilters how to make perfect circles! This is a sewing machine class where students will learn the technique of  finished edge machine applique'.   Students will also learn how to make the foundation string border.  This class is great for all skill levels.
Full Day Workshop.  Class limit 20.
Kit fee required which includes pattern and circles.

Magic Medallions - New 2018

Using leftovers, strips, UFO or swap blocks, learn how to compose different elements into a cohesive pleasing composition.  Students can work in a liberated way or traditional style.  Students will learn principles of drafting, resizing blocks and the importance of auditioning.  This is a hands on design class for all level of quilters.
Full Day Workshop - 20 student limit.

Some Nice things people have said about my programs and workshops:

"I've known Barb for over 20 years and have watched her grow from dedicated student to accomplished artist.  Her approach to quilting is both studied and fun.  She can speak with knowledge and humor on any style and tradition of quilt making.  Her workshops encourage quilters to expand their boundaries, make their own work and enjoy the process."

Gwen Marston 

Teacher, Author and Friend

"Barb Vedder is a terrific Speaker.  Her lectures are fun and engaging and her quilts are spectacular.
Our Guild also enjoyed her Workshop.  We'd love to have her back again!"
Doreen Johnson
President of Centreville Quilter's Unlimited, VA


"Barb Vedder is an award winning, talented quilter and an encouraging and generous teacher. In her lectures,  hear about her quilting journey and be awed by the variety and workmanship of her quilts.
In her workshops, you’ll learn lots of techniques and be inspired to create your own quilts.  When she visits your group you really will have Fun with Barb!"
Nancy Strife
Vice President/Program Chair of Brownstone Quilters, NJ

"Barb's presentation of her quilting journey was amazing! She captivated the guild with her stories and inspired many to “think” about doing a little appliqué and designing their own works of art!"
Silver City Quilt Guild of Taunton, MA

Yikes, that is enough shameless self promotion for one post - or forever!

I'll be back soon with a regular post.

Happy Spring!

xo

May-hem Muchness

This is Renata's quilt with my fan stencil machine quilting.  Love it! Goes so great on this quilt.  She did a great job!

At the Quilt show in NJ I ran into Jean and she had her finished churn dash quilt with her.  What fun!

Yay!

I finished my first block of the Chrome Yellow 4-block quilt project.  It matches my green/yellow arborvitae. 

 It also looks nice with my daffodils and grape hyacinth.  YES spring has arrived in CT finally!!

I love the crisp look of a freshly finished and pressed applique' block.  I steam press it from the back on a fluffy bath towel.  I use a spray bottle of plain water to create the steam as I NEVER add water to my iron anymore.

I received several comments about my rag balls.  First I will confess, they aren't balls from strips of fabric.  They are balls of batting strips that I cover with strips that I trim from my quilt backings.  

 Rag balls were made of strips of old clothing and rolled into ball to later be used to make rag rugs and weaving.  

 I have heard of modern day quilters using selvages to tie up garden plants.

 I like them as a remembrance of the quilts I've made.  The sweet pink one below is from my Mother's Garden quilt.

 There fun to look at and if I was better at juggling, they would be good for that :)

As reported on Instagram - my Jubilee quilt is home after traveling to Houston and Chicago.

 OMG - I am missing  line of quilting by my initial and just noticed it after 5 major shows, lol.  Will take care of that soon.

They sent me show books and nice patches for my quilt.  It was a great experience and I highly recommend you enter any one of there special exhibits.    click here to see what they are calling for this year.

 What a nice touch - they packed it beautifully with lots of acid free tissue and this note which included the packers name.

And finally, we golfed for the first time last weekend with our golf buddies.  Anyone else out there golf?  I love to spend the time outside with Mr. Fun and friends.

of course I mostly love to go out to eat before or after and have a cocktail :)
Can you believe the carts had GPS so we knew exactly how far the cup was?

  Oooops, too much talking and looking in the weeds for my pink golf balls.  

Happy May!  It's Derby Day on Saturday - woo hoo!! 
xo

Quilty as Charged Pt 2

Hello from almost spring Connecticut!  

 

I have daffodils in my yard but I'm finishing talking about my Christmas Quilt.

My favorite way to machine quilt a liberated quilt is what I have termed: 
Relaxed Crosshatch

 Here are the steps I use:

1. Spray baste the layers together when working on a small quilt.  
2. Using a Hera Marker I mark a good 45 degree line across the quilt.
3. Mark another line at 6"
4. Mark another line in between - at 3"
5. Eyeball the line between the 3" lines.  This way I have a little variance but it's not totally wonky - which I have also done.
6. I really like the look.  What do you think?

Rounded Corners (nice oxymoron)

I picked up this little corner tool and I have to admit I hardly ever use it. lol

 It offers 3 different sizes, but of course none of them suited me, ha ha.

 I used this giant button wall decor instead.  You can use anything round that suits your size needs.

 I used straight binding and just carefully pinned it around the corner right on the line I wanted.

 Easy Peasy.

 In case anyone is wondering, I still make a rag ball of every most quilts I finish with the batting and backing trimmed from the edges.

 Spring bird sightings.  This poor house sparrow is visiting my bird bath which is frozen because I unplugged it - waaaa

A bluebird!  These birds are so shy it is hard to get a photo.

I like this little guys style - he just moved into the window feeder and filled up.  :)

I'm off to The Quilt and Sewing Fest of New Jersey tomorrow.  If you see me, say hello!

xo

Christmas in April?

Christmas Memories of Jill 

In my last post I showed you the start of this project.  

I hope you can see my machine quilting in this shot.  I will show you my method of "relaxed crosshatch" next week.

The backing fabric has two popular Christmas Gifts:  Books and Money.

Jill loved the Christmas season and the center Santa came from her sewing room and was made by Lori of Humble Quilts as part of an online swap.  Crazy, right?

The white circles are Jill's, the red circled center was made by Lori  and the black circles are random blocks and bits I had around.

I am so happy to have another collaborative quilt with Jill.  It's been almost 4 years since she passed away.  You can see my Memorial Post here.

We've started some gardening inside this year in a sunny window.

 Obviously coco has been here.....these are not brownies!

Bird Watching Season has begun!  The Bluebirds are coming around, but I haven't caught them on camera.

 Do you know this bird?  I think it is a Juvenile Gray Jay.

Have a Happy Week
xo

Quilty as Charged!

Creative Craziness is happening in the development of a couple of new workshops.  Here is one "mood board" approach.  Stay tuned.

I pulled blocks and scraps from every corner of my sewing room.  I'll be adding 2 new workshops and a 3rd lecture in May.

This week I made a easy, healthy, low fat, veggie filled casserole that I thought you may like.

Chicken Casserole
Ingredients:
2 cups Cooked Chicken (I like to use a rotisserie chicken)
2 cups egg noodles (before cooking - I used veggie pasta)
20 oz. mixed vegetables (or peas and carrots if you prefer)
1 can cream of mushroom (I used fat free)
1 can cream of chicken (I used fat free)
1 cup milk (I used Fat Free Lactaid and added a few TBs of Ranch.
2 TBs. melted butter
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup for topping
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Italian seasonings
salt and pepper to taste

** don't judge my pan, I've been using it for 30 years lol.

Cook pasta according to package directions.  

Mix remaining ingredients in a large bowl. 

Spread into a greased 9 x 13" pan.

Bake 30-40 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Top with 1/2 cup (or more) shredded cheese and broil for 3-5 mins - watch closely so it doesn't get too brown.

This is what I think of as "Real Food - for Real Lives".  My family is devouring the leftovers.

If you are going to Quilt Fest Chicago say hello to my Jubilee Quilt on display in the American Tradition Applique' exhibit.  It comes home after this show - yay!

Have a happy week.
xo

ps
today's blog title credit goes to Phil at Goodwin College :)