Inspired at the Machine Quilters Showcase

After spending 2 weeks off the quilting frame while proctoring Advanced Placement exams for a high school in the district I retired from, I made a mad dash this week for 2 intense days of inspiration at the IMQA Machine Quilters Showcase in Cedar Rapids,IA with a quilting buddy.

We left very early on Wed and made it in time for our class with Reeze Hanson from Ottawa, KS on using EQ7 to audition quilting designs and thread color. I had heard this was possible, but sure wasn't figuring it out on my own. Reeze does a great job explaining a ton of info in a hands-on class in a way that makes sense. I think using this will really make the quilting design so much easier when working with customers--or even on my own.

We spent the rest of that afternoon and the next morning checking out vendors and just some amazingly creative quilts. I'm pleased that I basically stuck to my shopping list of specific So-Fine colors of thread and Red Snappers!

And the quilts! WOW!! I never stop being totally amazed at the creativity--the skill level of quilting, the innovative piecing designs, the unique quilting designs--could not stop thinking "how did they even THINK of doing that?" Check them out on the IMQA website.

Our 2nd class was with Krista Withers, a teacher from Seattle WA. Krista's class, Compositional Quilting, taught us how to create divisions, or "pathways" in the large areas of negative space we are all seeing on modern quilts. Then we used her design element ideas to create quilting that really did turn the negative space into a big part of the design. And guess what? With her encouragement, I turned off the stitch regulator and went manual speed on the filler designs! Knew all the major teachers suggested doing that, but had been chicken until now. Will definitely work in manual more though! Have a few more things to do on my class piece before it's picture ready, but here is a lovely top "hot" off the frame--embroidery by my sis, Lee Cox, pieced by Jenny Latendresse, and quilted by me. The panel for the redwork is available at the Lil Red Hen Quilt Shop and this should be hanging there soon.