Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Quilting Up a Storm

I have been quilting up a storm. Pillows for my bed from orphan blocks...tried some narrow furrow quilting on these. I really love the look.















Quilted the Storm Windows quilt. I may have over quilted this one. I did random widths of horizontal and vertical lines. Some of the lines are about 5/8 of an inch apart. I do love the backing fabric and now that I've lived with it for a few days I'm warming up to it. Needs a label. Note to self...do it today or it won't get done.




































I think I mentioned awhile ago that my mom and I are working on a collaborative quilt that will be raffled off to raise money for the church. I'm so happy to be working together with my mom on this project, though I know she gets a bit frustrated with my "create as you go" method. She would prefer to see the drawing, the plan, the step by step process. She is doing these beautiful redwork flowers for the quilt. I have chosen a set of fabrics with that old turkey red color and a antiquey feel. I've made 24 of these fans so far. I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this, but I feel a vision coming on. I know the feeling I want to create...that's something, right? It will be interesting to see where this one ends up.



































In the process of all this quilting I seem to have messed up my shoulder. I think I might have been sitting too low relative to the machine. Suffice it to say I can't move my neck very well and I've got a knot in my shoulder that is making sewing and just about anything else painful. Does this happen to you?

63 comments:

QuiltedSimple said...

Love the quilting on the pillows and the quilt - taht will look great and puckery when washed. And I can't wait to see the finished red and white quilt:)
Kris

Lunden said...

Your quilting is gorgeous, especially on the quilt, absolutely gorgeous.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I don't think you over quilted it. Only by trying several different ways of quilting do you find what you really like. I think it looks great.

You can make an instant heating pad for your neck by filling an old white cotton sock with rice, sew several channels in it as you fill and heat it in the microwave. You can put that around your neck easily, and it is light weight.

Kat said...

So amazing! You're quilt is beautiful, and I love, love, LOVE the pillows. The colors are fantastic, but its the quilting that makes them really eye-catching!

Your mom sounds a lot like me in some respects. I'm currently doing a scrappy quilt that I'm just making up as I go along, and I'm absolutely driving myself crazy with it. Its so tempting to go get a pattern or draw everything out, but I'm determined to try a new creative process. By the time I'm finished I may even be a convert!

Unknown said...

I'm not surprised you have a knot in your neck! That quilt must have taken a whole lot of time. It looks fantastic, definitely not over-quilted in my opinion (for what it's worth)

MichelleB said...

LOVE love those pillows and quilting on them. Your pillows have so inspired me, that I'm going to try to get some Christmas pillows going. I think the quilt looks great - not overquilted.

Yes, if I'm not careful I get kinks galore. Try the rice bag, that always help. And try to relax when you quilt. LOL Yeah, right.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Great pillows and I LOVE the quilting on Window Panes. Can not wait to see what your and your mom are cooking up. As for neck/shoulder pain. Get or make one of the rice or buckwheat bags you put in the microwave for 1 minutes. Put it on you neck/shoulders. It feels wonderful. I have neck problems not related to sewing but sewing makes it worse. I have an adjustable chair at my machine but it's not a good one. I want a really good one from my sewing shop. Also cutting a lot at the cutting table is a killer. My husband is adjusting the height of my cutting table this weekend. Last resort...my husband gave me a gift certificate for a massage to help with the knots in my shoulders (I've never had a massage).

audreypawdrey said...

those pillows are beautiful! I am loving the quilting on the quilt. It is gorgeous. it will be great and puckery when it is washed. you do such beautiful work!

Anonymous said...

Love love love! Those pillows are beautiful, and so is that new quilt. I love the black and white (I haven't used black in a quilt yet, but now I'm going to have to try it!) and the name is just perfect. Love the quilting as well, on both the pillows and the quilt!

Anonymous said...

Love love love! Those pillows are beautiful, and so is that new quilt. I love the black and white (I haven't used black in a quilt yet, but now I'm going to have to try it!) and the name is just perfect. Love the quilting as well, on both the pillows and the quilt!

KateKwiltz said...

I'm with Wanda, I don't think you overquilted it at all! I love the randomness of it (though I'm partial to your any-which-way straight lines). I also think the furrows on the pillows are perfect for them. As for the shoulder, I ended up finding a rolfer last year to get the quilting kink out of my neck! Good luck!

Christy said...

I love your work. I just was browsing through your Flickr set of finished projects and swear I favorited like half of them!

I should be working, but now I want to look through your blog!

Nanette Merrill said...

Jacquie do you have a long arm quilter? Maybe you've said before yes or no to this, but my memory sucks. And if you quilt on your little machine does it have a bigger opening like Stephanie's new machine or is it standard? I need to start quilting my bigger quilts. I've really not done much more than lap size but in my standard machine it is a little difficult and YES it hurts my shoulder to quilt too much. So much pulling and tugging we aren't aware of I guess. I really must start doing my own quilts or stock piling my tops. Something. I really like the lines. The pillows look like curdory. I love it. You do such a good job.

Calico Road said...

I don't think you overquilted it either. Love the pillows.
I always seem to sitting too low to the machine as well since my legs are so short!! Hope you feel better soon, can't wait to see what happens with those fans!

Victoria said...

Beautiful work, really love the pillows!

I get the neck and shoulder problems a lot, and I treat it with stretches, neck rubs, chiropractic work, heating pads, ice packs, medicated rub... you name it and I try it! It seems to be a problem that I am dealing more and more with.

I'll have to try the rice bag trick! Good luck to you and your kinks!

Two Dogs and a Quilt said...

Love the quilting on the pillows and quilt. I think I'll have to try the random widths one day.

Anonymous said...

You definitely didn't over-quilt it. I think it looks fantastic.

I get knots in my back from sewing all the time, so I feel your pain! They're so bad in one spot that sometimes I wake up in the morning and can't move my neck. I've found that lying flat on my back on the floor helps, as does a deep-tissue massage. Muscle relaxers give temporary help. They don't really solve the problem, but they relieve the tightness for days when it's really, really bad.

Take it easy!!! It's too easy to overdo it, isn't it!

Andi said...

OMG. You are an amazing quilter. I aspire to your talent.
Andi :-)

Unknown said...

My, you have been busy, I just love your storm in the wonsow quilt, very relaxing to look at. Yes I too get a stiff neck sore shoulders etc. A good massage from dh usually solves that for me until the next time.

Cami said...

Love the quilting on your pillow, and the blocks are simply adorable! Another great project!

em's scrapbag said...

I simply love the pillows. I can't wait to your creative feeling to come to fruition. Sorry about the neck and shoulder pain. I have the same problem. Let me know what works for you.

Joanna said...

OK you are way too productive. Stop it - you're making the rest of us look bad :) !!

Seriously, those projects are gorgeous as usual. LOVE the channel quilting and also the criss cross quilting on the white one. Not too much at all - it's a simple top, not too fussy, so it can handle the abundance of quilting.

Wendy said...

Not overquilted one bit. In fact, I think it's gorgeous. May just try that on a future quilt myself. And the vertical quilting on the pillows is fantastic.

Jodie said...

I love how that quilt looks! I don't think it is over-quilted at all, it just all geometric and delicious1

MelissaS said...

Wild quilting woman! You've been very busy. The shoulder thing happens to me all the time when I've been machine quilting too long at one sitting. Also, my wrists and forearms get sore.

Jessica said...

You really are quilting up a storm! Everything looks great. My mama and I have worked collaboratively on a quilt..it was loads of fun.

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

My word you have been busy!! Love the bedroom pillows - the quilting looks really effective. How fun to be working on a project with your Mum!

driftwood said...

hope your neck eases up soon, try alternating heat packs and ice packs? and make sure your chair is at a good height....

beth said...

the quilts and pillows look amazing. I don't think they are overquilted at all!
I just had a great massage from a local KC woman. She often gets hired to go to quilters retreats to work the kinks out of quilters necks and backs. she is amazing!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you've certainly been busy :-)

I absoluely love the quilt, and I don't think it is overquilted at all. You're so creative with these straight lines, and the result is really cool!

I also really like the way you quilted the pilows!

Sherri said...

You've been SO busy!!! The red fans with the redwork are just gorgeous! It is going to be an amazing quilt!

Anonymous said...

Just gorgeous... you never fail to amaze me jacquie... so inspiring!! Lx

Anonymous said...

Everything is just beautiful! I love the strong modern lines...

There have been times that I've woken up with scrunched shoulders from a long night of crafting...I hope you feel better soon!

Stephanie D said...

Catchy blog title there!

Love all your work, as usual! I'm not a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl; too much of a control freak. But I'm working on it!

I get knots and aches in my neck and shoulders, too, and I think it's a combination of the right height, and the tension, because I get so focused on what I'm doing, I stay tensed up in one position too long. Plus, when I get on a roll, I don't want to stop.

Ibuprofen, heat, massages if I can get them, and frequent breaks to go outside or lie down or do something that doesn't make me repeat the same position (ie, the computer) all help me.

Michaela said...

Quilting is awesome. I love how creative you are with your quilting. Both pillows and quilt are beautiful.
I get exactly the same thing with my neck and back. The knot in my shoulder especially. I get from sewing for too long (yes,I guess there is such a thing) and also from washing dishes (no, I don't have a dishwasher). The remedy for the first one is usually nice slow massage and for the second one? I have a deal with my other half, he washes all the dishes and I cook and clean elsewhere.

Qubie said...

I love the b/w quilt. It looks so simple and mod. Love it love it love it.

Kathleen said...

Just really reiterating what people have said about heat packs....could not live without them and also electric heat pads. I cannot quilt much due to my neck problem but admire your quilting and those who can quilt. I adore the cushions and the quilting on them and the colourway of the quilt is divine.

Amanda Jean said...

I love the furrow quilting on the pillows. the grid quilting on the storm windows quilt is fabulous!

Kathi Thompson said...

I love the furrow quilting on the pillows. And the designs and colors really catch my eye. I love the look.

Melanie O said...

The pillows are beautiful! And, I love your mom's red work flowers. And, yes, I tense up when I'm really concentrating and end up with a stiff neck all the time. For me, it's about remembering to relax the neck and shoulders!

MightyMom said...

I LOVE coming here and ooooooing and aaaaahhhhing over your stuff! How do you get so much done??!! (oh, wait, 3 kids under 5 MIGHT be a factor huh??)

love the small quilting...can you ever over quilt anything??

loving the windows...great for curling up on the couch and watching the rain (one of my favorite activities....that I haven't done in ....oh...5 years) ;-)

The red and white is gonna be adorable! I love the half fans better than the dresden plates...always have! but I love things (like shelves and such) that fit in corners. triangle shaped with arc outer edge. Calls to me...don't ask why.

As to the neck oh yes!!

make sure you're close but not too close high but not too high..you know. But then when I sew I realized I hold my right shoulder higher and have to stop every 15 min and intentionally lower my shoulders as far as I can..stretching my neck. Also stop and lean head first to one shoulder, then the other, then to chest. Really give that neck a good stretch at least every half hour. Sewing by default sits us at a strained angle and my pitiful sewing chair doesn't help. I have a pillow behind my back to get me closer or I end up leaning forward and get a low back ache after sewing.......

well, stop and stretch babe, it'll make a world of difference...for now, ibuprofen and a heating pad will set you right!

Alissa said...

I love both the pillows and the quilt! Beautiful. And I often design the same way as you... it depends on the quilt but I love the ones when you just make decisions as you go along! Can't wait to see the end result!

Tine said...

Ouch! That happens to me sometimes too. It is awful :(
But look what you made!! The pillows look so pretty, and the quilting looks beautiful :) How nice to work on a quilt with your mom....I would love to do something like that some day...

Diane said...

Everything you do is beautiful!! Are you opening the church raffle quilt up to the blogworld to buy raffle tickets? I'll buy!!

Rest that shoulder and I think because you did different quilting - you were probably uptight while quilting. Relax. Easy to say, right?

Rachel Ellington said...

The pillows and quilt quilting are wonderful! Strikingly beautiful. I hope your neck and shoulders get better fast!

Unknown said...

Jacquie, 1st that quilt looks great and could be a contender on the B and W Quilt Challenge, except there is no additional color. Oh well. As for your neck and shoulder, that so happened to me last year. I ended up having to have physical therapy. Finally it is better. I never let it get me down, I just went about my sewing/quilting because I just couldn't give it up. While I was doing therapy, I was also doing home exercises. Also, the doctor prescribed the heavy duty ibuprofen. Definitely helped. I sure hope you feel better soon. Best thing now is to rest it.

Unknown said...

Love the look of your channel quilting too! And your black and white quilt looks amazing - I don't think it's over quilted. Did you get it labeled yet? he he

I can totally relate to your mom - I have a plan of attack pretty much everytime - but it takes all kinds to make it fun! The fans with her redwork will be fab!

I've had sore muscles, but not quite like that - you might just need a day off :)

Artfulife said...

Beautiful! I always love coming by for a visit. You do such lovely work.

Rachel said...

Wonderful quilting as always! I hope your neck feels better : )

Cheryl Arkison said...

Storm Windows looks great. I've done a quilt that way too and while it makes it heavy, it is a great effect.

Meredith said...

I LOVE those pillows! Beautiful!

Kim said...

The quilting on Storm Windows makes it look like there is more piecing done that there is. A great look. Love the pillows and Red Work...goodness but you have been busy being productive. I need to follow your example! Tomorrow morning, I get right to it, lol.

Rebekah said...

I love the parallel line quilting that you did on the pillows! I have a quilt in the works for a Christmas gift and I would love to try this on it, but I'm afraid that my lines won't be straight enough.

And, if you did overquilt the quilt, I still love it. It adds so much texture to the quilt and it looks wonderful.

Anonymous said...

The neck and shoulder pain - happens to me all the time. Basically it's giving you a darn good excuse to go get a massage!
Considering how much you get done, I'm surprised your whole body isn't in knots!

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh, the Storm Windows quilt is utterly PERFECT. The fabric, the name, the quilting, PERFECT. The pillows are awesome too, and I'm looking forward to seeing the red and white quilt done!
Allie in MI

Lily Boot said...

i love the narrow furrow quilting too - I love the incredibly flat (there's that word again) effect you end up with. Beautiful pillows.

sewtakeahike said...

Hey Jacquie! Wow you have been a busy bee, no wonder the ben-gay is in order! Love the orphan pillows and your mom's neighborhood table runner is so cute! I hope you're feeling better!

Randi said...

Oh do I ever have the shoulder troubles! I love the pillows and I think the quilting on the window panes quilt is perfect!

The Calico Quilter said...

Your straight line quilting is so perfect. (Do you use a walking foot?) I can't seem to keep the lines from wavering. Wish you could show me your technique.

Love pillows - color, design, quilting, all great.

I think I see eye to eye with your Mom. Never was a "just wing it" person!

Patty said...

I just love your quilted pillows; they are so pretty!!! I also love how your quilt looks; the vertical and horizontal quilting looks wonderful. I am so anxious to finish up all my “other projects” so I can get back to quilting.

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Wow...and wow...love the cushions, love the quilt.

Sabra said...

Beautiful work!! I am so envious. That storm windows quilt is amazing. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful talent.

judy said...

All so beautiful as always!! I've always been so fascinated with redwork (and have begun gathering various red/white fabrics for some sort of red/white quilt!) and just red and white together in general.

I don't think your quilt looks over-quilted to me at all...but I tend to like a lot of quilting...

And your pillows are STUNNING!!! I love the straight and narrow quilting on those orphan blocks (that look completely like they were MEANT to be used just for that project!). Thank you for such beauty :)