Showing posts with label Long Arm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Long Arm. Show all posts

Friday, February 27, 2015

Are All Battings Created Equal

I belong to a group on Facebook of quilters, I'm actually one of the browsers, by that I mean I don't often (if ever) say anything but I am there and do read the posts.  Recently I've seen a lot of posts about batting and they are actually starting to drive me a little batty!

So lets talk about batting.  Batting is the material that goes between your backing and your quilt top.  It is there to add warmth to your quilt.  There are many different types of batting from all polyester (offers no additional warmth) to all cotton (is a natural fiber and does add warmth) and wool (the absolute warmest, lightest and nicest batting available in my opinion).

I recently had an opportunity to take some pictures of quilt batting to show why I stay away from 'big box' stores batting.


One of the things that you want out of your batting is an even distribution of the material.


See the 'shadow' on the lower right part of the above picture?  That is the black backing showing through the batting.




If you look at the upper left portion of this picture, you can see that the batting is much thicker than it is on the right side of this shot.


The above picture really shows the uneven distribution of the batting.

When a quilt using this batting gets washed what is going to happen is the quilt is going to be inconsistent in how it looks because the batting material is so inconsistent and the warmth offered will also be inconsistent.

The batting brands that I have found to be consistent and nice to work with are as follows (from my least favorite to my favorite):

Warm & Natural
Warm & White
Quilter's Dream Select
Quilter's Dream Wool


Warm & Natural & Warm & White are available at JoAnn's, Quilter's Dream is available at Quilt shops or from your Local Long Armer.


Happy Quilting!

Friday, June 27, 2014

Erin Condren 2014 - 2015 Life Planner

Everyone seems to be talking lately about Erin Condren products so I wanted to find out what all the buz was about!  I was skeptical at first, figuring that one planner/calendar was like every other one on the market AND to add to that I had spent quite a bit of money in December on a new Franklin Covey planner.  Because I was so skeptical I decided to take it slow and easy and purchase something that no matter what would come in handy for me.


My very first Erin Condren purchase was this address book!  Love it!


Inside the cover is a place to write my contact information so if I ever misplace it hopefully someone will return it to me! 
 



The things I like most about this address book are:
1. The space to write names and addresses isn't to big or to small, it's just the perfect size!
2. There is a place to list both home and mobile phone numbers.
3.  Spacing for the email address is BIG!  this is important considering some email addresses can be pretty LONG! :)
4. I love the colorful pages, they are beautiful!
 





After the address section there are a few pages for notes.  These are unlined pages but I am certain they will come in handy at some point.


It also comes with 2 pocket folder and a plastic bag that will be perfect to sore other people's business cards until I get their information into the book.


 Last but not least is a page marker that is easily movable within the address book.  I did purchase a pen holder to put in my address book.

I love it!  It is working out exactly how I need it to work!!!


I liked the address book so much that I wanted to see what their calendars looked like so my next purchase was the Note Book.


I bought it in May and used it for the entire month and knew without a doubt I was sold on these products!  I had originally thought that I would use it to keep track of my Quilting/Long Arm Schedule but have since changed my mind.  The good news about my change of mind is now that the covers are removable I can just order a new cover for it. 


Here's a snap shot of the inside cover.


The calendar!  I believe it was for an additional $5.00 I could add a calendar to the notebook, it was totally worth it!


Great stickers behind the Calendar.  In fact I like some of them better than the ones that came with my Life Planner.  The stickers that have 'doc appt.' also have a space to write what time the appointment is at '@_______", same for hair appointments and dentist appointments!  I like this feature a lot and when I order more stickers I will for certain be adding these to my purchase.


The note book mostly has lined pieces of paper.  They again are the perfect size!  My hand writing isn't huge but it isn't tiny either.  These pages are just right, not to big, not to small!


There are a total of 17 pages that are set up like the above photo.  Perfect for drawing or doodling, which ever suits my mood for that day :). 


In the back you find the classic Erin Condren folder pockets and the zip lock pouch.  I believe I will order a new cover soon and it will simply state Miss Marker's Quilts, Notes on the cover.

All of the above leads directly to what I received in the mail yesterday!!!!  Yup!  I received my 18 month 2014 - 2015 Erin Condren Life Planner!!!!!


 This was my third (but not my last) purchase from Erin Condren.  There were a couple of minor issues with this purchase, one my mistake and one theirs.   I had wanted the cover to have Miss Marker's Quilts all capitalized, when I placed my order I was so excited to be getting it I didn't read carefully and so I didn't make a notation in the special instructions that I wanted all the words to be capitalized.  

The other thing that happened was I had ordered a set of elastic bands and did not receive them.  I'm certain they will send them.  I have contacted customer service and have heard nothing but good about them so there are no worries here.


I am seriously i love with how colorful this planner!



The monthly calendars are again the perfect size, the planner lays flat no matter how many pages are on one side.  There are the cutest little pictures on the holidays.  For Easter there is a little decorated Easter Egg.


The weekly pages are set up perfectly!  The spaces to write in are the perfect size, I like the fact that the day is split into thirds and the fact that on Sunday night I can write my goals for the week and then they are right in my face so that I can accomplish them.


Next comes lined pages for notes.


A 2016 & 2017!  (2014 & 2015 calendar is in the front.)


Great stickers that are now re-positionable!


2 pockets to hold my extra stickers and anything else I may need.


A zippered plastic pouch at the back, a perfect place to put receipts or anything else that I need safely tucked away.


The beautifully colored back!

I am (obviously) thrilled with my purchase!  I am going to order a new cover for my 'Take Note' book and will be using that for a Notebook when I am at conferences and will continue to use the address book for my business.

If you've been thinking about ordering from Erin Condren, I honestly can't say enough good about their products.  I am thrilled with what I've purchased and believe that it is worth every penny I spent.

Erin Condren has supplied me with a link for my readers (and You Tube subscribers) to receive $10.00 off their first purchase!!!  So now's the time, if you've been thinking of purchasing something from Erin Condren click here to receive $10.00 off your purchase!!!

Thank you for reading!  You can find my tutorials on You Tube by searching for Margaret Leuwen Quilting.



Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Welcome March!

March always seems like the longest month ever for me!  This year it came in like a Lamb so I'm wondering if it really will go out like a Lion or not!  We'll have to wait and see!

Quilting has been busy!!  There is a lot happening in my sewing world right now.  For starters, the Snowman Alphabet, I've been busy working on it!  Here's the latest piece to be finished up:



This pattern is from Crabapple Hill Studios and I'm in LOVE with it!  I am finishing it up for a Shop Hop that is going to be happening in April this year, I'm busy stitching away!  Wish me luck!


I've been busy quilting for Quilts of Valor and there are a couple of Quilt shows coming up in our area and I've been busy getting quilts done for those shows.  Here's a couple of snapshots of what I've been up to!

Remember how I was having such a hard time getting pictures of the entire quilt?  Well my dear Husband fixed my problem for me AND it was VERY inexpensive!  Under $20.00!  I'm still amazed at how functional curtain rods can be!


Another Quilt of Valor.


Patty, who made and donated this quilt made a total of 4 quilts for this cause and all of them were of really bright and cheerful colors!


This is a 1600 Quilt and every one of them are so different!
Isn't it fantastic that you can finally see the entire quilt!


This is a shop sample for a local quilt shop and it was quilted in Limestone thread color (a bright Lime Green and Bright Yellow) and was quilted in all circles!  Talk about WILD!!


A close up so you can see the quilted circles!



Sorry this picture is a little dark!  A perfect Throw size quilt!  Something to snuggle up with on this cool winter nights.  The quilting pattern is Ivy Trellis.


1600 Here we go again!



Perfect for all those new Grand Babies out there!  Did I tell you we are having our own little baby BOOM in our family?  We've got babies due in May, June and August this year!  Not certain how we happened to miss July!  I've heard that one of them MAY have Margaret in their name!!!  YEAH!



I would LOVE this quilt on my dining room table!  Too bad it's not mine! :(  Yes, I still insist on putting quilts on practically everything in my house!


Please excuse my lack of cropping!  
This was the 2012 Quilt Club Quilt at O'Susannah's Quilts and Gifts in Watkins Glen NY.  


Close up of the center block.  Some people did needle turn, others did the button hole stitch and others top stitched this block.  All ways completed it is beautiful!


Close up first, it's it sweet?


I've always been a pastel kind of girl!  


Okay, now I'm being really BAD because I can't remember who's quilt this one is or when I quilted it!  I'm so very sorry!  If it's yours please email me so I can put your name with it!


Another HUGE quilt!



My husband (is an avid hunter and all around sportsman) thought this was the greatest quilt ever!  It really is a wonderful quilt!  It is all flannel and the quilting pattern matched the quilt to perfection!  The quilting is an all over design of Pine Trees, Log Cabins and Deer!


Here's the center panel and Beth designed the borders herself!  She did a great job!


It's that time of year again ~ Yup time to get all those quilts done that are for wedding presents!


I hope this bride & groom realizes how lucky they are!  



I think I was a little punch happy or quilting happy when I did this one!  This is a shop sample and I was told I could do anything I wanted to and I did!  For the quilting patterns I combined two blocks together an one block is Zig Zags and the other is all Squigglies!  (Squigglies is not a word! SORRY)  I thought it was cute!


Check back later this week to see what's on the Long Arm now!  I put it on last night and I can't wait to see it all done!

Happy Quilting!