I finally finished quilting the beast that was panel three of my charity ArtPrize quilt project. I had some thread tension issues in the wee hours of the morning that cost me some valuable time and sleep, but I’m back on track and a little more in tune with my machine. If I’ve learned anything [...]

It’s 4:18 a.m. Mistakes were made. What can I say? I will resume work after I get some sleep. The quilting is about halfway done on the third of five quilt panels. I can do this. (If you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about, check out my other posts below.)

My Artprize deadline is less than two weeks away, so I’m in continuous work mode and really looking forward to taking a serious break in a couple weeks. I worked until 2:30 a.m. this morning free-motion quilting the first quilt panel. I thought I was done when I went to bed only to wake up [...]

I know it looks like it I’m wearing a discount Snuggie in the photo, but relax. I just decided to wrap myself in Fusi-Boo for dramatic effect. And it’s actually way more expensive than buying one of those discount sleeping bags with sleeves. If you quilt, you may know that Fusi-Boo is fusible quilt batting. [...]

OK, so I just have two more big steps before my public swan dive. In 14 days, I have to turn in my finished ArtPrize entry to be installed on the wall at the David D. Hunting YMCA in Grand Rapids. There is still plenty left to do, but I’m going to make my deadline. [...]

This is the ArtPrize quilt I’ve been working on. I’ve been hand stitching every day for the last several days, working late into the night to turn the 127 hexagon flowers made of fabric from donated neckties into something beautiful and agonizing over whether or not this is even possible. I had some help getting [...]

This is what my ArtPrize quilt looked like yesterday morning. It was a box of 127 hand-stitched, paper-pieced hexagon blooms organized by color. (Note that navy blue dominates this box of blooms created using ties donated by prominent men in West Michigan.) I stitched the last 14 blooms at 35,000 feet flying to Seattle and [...]

I’m headed to the Detroit Maker Faire at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. today and I can’t wait to see all the vendors and innovators who embrace the D.I.Y. lifestyle in grand fashion. Check back here for a full report. Or, better yet, go check out the event yourself. It’s open from 9:30 [...]

I used these vintage thread spools in a photo shoot on my front porch today. The spools weren’t the subject of the shoot just crafty filler, but I did spend a few minutes arranging them just so for a few photos. I have several deadlines to meet this week, so the pressure is full on. [...]

Finally updated with video Oh my word, I’m so tired! I’ve been stitching like mad lately and wanted to give you folks an update on the ArtPrize charity quilt project I’ve been working on. Check back here in a bit for today’s “Take Five” TV segment for an update on how things are progressing. And all [...]

On this episode of CraftSanity you’ll meet West Michigan fiber artist Beth Ann Williams, an accomplished quilter, teacher and author who never ceases to inspire the people around her. Tune in to hear the story of how Beth Ann turned to quilting after serious health problems forced her to edit her life plan. Beth Ann, [...]

It’s official. I entered ArtPrize 2010, the international art competition based here in Grand Rapids. I’m working on a hexagon quilt called “Power Ties in Bloom” made out of neckties that will be displayed at the David D. Huntington YMCA in Grand Rapids Sept. 22 – Oct. 10.  The ties were collected by Safe Haven [...]

Hello! I have a little catching up to do this week. I’m going to start off by participating in Kathreen Ricketson’s blog tour for her new book: “Whip Up Mini Quilts: Patterns and How-to for More Than 20 Contemporary Small Quilts.” Read on for a sneak peek of the piped binding tutorial from p. 44 [...]

I can’t believe it’s Saturday already. This week has been a complete blur. Here’s a recap: * I sold more looms this week than I expected to, so I’ve been busy making more. (A special thank you to my lovely customers. You folks rock!) This uptick in sales comes at a good time because layoff [...]

MHC If you like happy endings be sure to check out my art & craft column in today’s Grand Rapids Press. I wrote an update about the smashing success of the Margaret’s Hope Chest “Hope Squared” Quilt drive. Carol Peters (left) and her daughter, Carin Vogelzang, mobilized quilters around the globe (with help from the Crazy Mom [...]