May Your Bobbin Always Be Full

Wedding Ring Quilt.......57 Footballs

2012-01-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

I am making some progress on this

Double Wedding Ring Quilt...

57 Footballs or Melon Shapes done...

I think I need 80 footballs for a full size quilt...

Now that I see it up on the design wall...

I think I will make it bigger.

Probably 40 more footballs, who knows.

I am enjoying the process.

CLICK HERE to view: My Art Quilts

CLICK HERE to view: Take-a-Long Quilts

CLICK HERE to view: Surface Design Techniques

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Snow Dyeing......Part 2

2012-01-22T18:25:00.000-08:00

After the snow...

came a storm....

then a flood...

No Power & No Water

The Snow Dyed Fabrics batched for a few days.

Here are the results of my Snow Dye Session:

CLICK HERE to view: Snow Dyeing Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Storm, No Power, No Water

CLICK HERE to view: Storm Chasing Slideshow

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Portrait Class......Student Work Slideshow

2012-01-22T09:36:00.000-08:00

I spent a lovely day with 16 students

in a Portraits in Fabric Class

at JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop

Philomath, Oregon

Check out the Slide Show below to view:

Adventures in Portrait Quilts

Student work is shown in alphabetical order

CLICK HERE to view: Portrait Class June 2011 Slideshow

CLICK HERE to view: Mixed Media Class Slideshow

CLICK HERE to view: Jello Printing Class - Student Work

CLICK HERE to view: My Art Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Storm Chasing.....Slideshow

2012-01-19T22:17:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature is Rocking My World:

CLICK HERE to view: My Challenge Quilts

CLICK HERE to view: The Cattle

CLICK HERE to view: The Chickens

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Storm.....No Power.....No Water

2012-01-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

Remember all of that beautiful snow we had on Monday:

It inspired me to do some Snow Dyeing on Tuesday...

A storm moved in Tuesday....late afternoon...

The front yard went from this snow....

To this..... in just a few hours.

Between the down pour of rain and the snow run-off:

The river swelled up over its banks and covered the gravel road I live on.

It wasn't long before we lost power....and water

Trees were washed away down river, along with part of the pasture fence.

Mud slides blocked the gravel roads and parts of the road caved off into the river.

So....not being able to rinse out my snow dyed fabric wasn't such a big deal.

It sat for 48 hours batching and waiting patiently for power and water.

The power is back on....and so is the water.

Once I get the house back in order I will get busy with the snow dyes.

More to come.....

CLICK HERE to view: Snow Dyes Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Thermofax Printing

CLICK HERE to view: Portrait Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Snow Dyeing.....Part 1

2012-01-17T17:05:00.000-08:00

I just couldn't let all of this SNOW go to waste...

I invited Kathi over for a Snow Dyeing Play Day...

We are using the kitchen for a Wet Studio:

Here we go...

Fabrics are soaking in soda ash in the buckets:

The dyes are pre-mixed:

2 Tbsp to 8 ounces water

3 yards of fabric under all of that snow:

We squirted the dye on top of the snow

I placed the dyes in strips of color in this container

I swirled the fabric in a circle then placed the snow on top:

I placed the dyes in a circle pattern on the snow

I have never done snow dyeing before...

so I am shooting from the hip today.

Kathi is loading snow into a rectangle container...

Kathi is making a little snow pie in this round container.

All of the containers have metal grates or screens on the bottom

so the fabric doesn't sit in the melted snow.

Turquoise and Deep Purple Dyes

Lemon Yellow, Scarlet Red & Orange Dyes

Orange, Chartreuse & Scarlet Red Dyes

Last one of the day....

I wanted to do more, but ran out of containers & grates.

22 pans full of fabric, snow and dyes:

22 yards of fabric and 2 t-shirts snow dyeing

That was FUN !

A few hours later...

The snow is melting...

The dyed fabric is peeking through...

It will batch for 24 hours before I rinse it out.

This is what the kitchen looks like:

It is much more fun getting everything out to play...

than it is to put everything back away.

CLICK HERE: Snow Dyeing Part 2

CLICK HERE to view: Microwave Dyeing

CLICK HERE to view: Rust Dyeing

CLICK HERE to view: Sun Dyeing

CLICK HERE to view: Kathi's Snow Dyeing Results

There is so much already posted on line about Snow Dyeing, so I am not including a tutorial. Google....Snow Dyeing....lots of info out there.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Snow,

LuAnn Kessi

Let it Snow........

2012-01-16T05:27:00.001-08:00

This is what the front yard looked like when I went to bed last night:

A light dusting of snow...

This is what it looked like at 5:00 this morning:

The Garden Bed Frames have a bit more snow resting on them!

The Flowering Cherry Trees always look so cool in the snow!

We live in a tiny valley, just 200 feet above sea level,

so SNOW is a big deal to us!

I plan to mix up some fabric dyes and get busy snow dyeing!

Somebody is staying indoors where it is cozy...

Not sure who is more comfortable?

Gunnr is definitely more comfortable!

Have a great day!

CLICK HERE to view: Cattle Drive in the Snow Slide Show

CLICK HERE to view: Oregon Snow Slide Show

CLICK HERE to view: Our Chickens Slide Show - Very Funny!

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Snow,

LuAnn

Portrait Class.......Prep Work

2012-01-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

I spent the weekend preparing for my Portrait Class:

Lots of fabric ironing...

Lots of freezer paper cutting to size...

Lots of Photoshop work...

Lots of printing on fabric...

The 13 x 19 inch portraits have been altered and printed on

100% White Cotton Sateen Fabric

16 Students are attending class:

Saturday, January 21, 2012

9:30 - 4:00

JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop

Philomath, Oregon

Meanwhile, this is what is going on outdoors:

A peek out the front window...

Garden bed frames dusted with snow

The yearling cattle just across the fence...

A peek out the back window...

This is a color image, yet is looks black & white

Look closer and see the birdie on the fence...

Definitely inspiration for a new portrait quilt!

See YOU in class next week

CLICK HERE to view: My Wide Path Printer

CLICK HERE to view: Photoshop Elements Portrait Tutorial

CLICK HERE to view: Neocolor II Fabric Portraits

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Design Wall......Drunkard's Path

2012-01-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Look what's back up on the design wall...

Drunkards Path.......Batiks

This has been on and off the design wall for the last year.

At this point it will measure 56 x 56 when pieced.

I decided I want to make it bed size.....so I need to make a lot more blocks.

More to come....

CLICK HERE to view: Sun Dyeing

CLICK HERE to view: Rust Dyeing

CLICK HERE to view: Thermofax Screen Printing

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Portrait Quilts......Progress

2012-01-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying working on portrait quilts again.

Captain America

This one is ready to go under the needle...

I really like the back side of Captain America too!

I work with the photo image closely as I quilt into the portrait.

At this point the starry background and the hair are quilted...

I am rounding up a few more portraits to take along with me to class next week:

Turkey Boy.......Front Side

Turkey Boy.....Back Side

Old School......Front Side

Old School.....Back Side

Wild Horses.......Front Side

Wild Horses......Back Side

This looks wild doesn't it?

This is a recycled fabric. I flipped the misprint over and printed the horses on the other side of the misprint.....it worked. It made for a interesting back side.

Today I am working with student images in Photoshop to alter them and get them printed onto fabric. Class is next Saturday.....I better get with it!

CLICK HERE to view: Gunnr Portrait #1

CLICK HERE to view: Play Days

CLICK HERE to view: My Tutorials

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Portrait.......Captain America

2012-01-13T11:38:00.001-08:00

Just a quick peek to show you what I am working on

for the Portrait Class next week:

This image lends itself beautifully to a fabric portrait.

It is well-lit, close-up, in focus....and melts my heart.

Here is the image after it was opened in Photoshop Elements 4,

altered and printed on fabric.

Last night I added some color and painted it:

At this point it is ready to be quilted....that's what I am doing today.

The child in this photo named her new puppy Captain America.

He does look like he is her protector.

I couldn't resist adding the stars to the background.

More.....after it is quilted!

CLICK HERE to view: Neocolor II

CLICK HERE to view: Adventures in Portrait Quilts Class Slide show

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Portraits,

LuAnn Kessi

Sewing Tour....2012

2012-01-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

This is an inspiration...

It worked for me.......it is 5:30 am......I am on my way out to the Thread Shed!

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Portrait Quilt.......Turkey Boy

2012-01-04T16:21:00.000-08:00

I decided to create a new class sample for my

Portrait Quilt Class later this month...

I took this photo 18 years ago of my son, Heath.

The Harlan Turkey Boy

This is the image after altering it in Photoshop Elements 4

and printing it on Cotton Sateen Fabric.

I removed the clothesline, dog and another boy in the background

of the photo to simplify things.

The face and arms are colored in with Neocolor II Crayons.

I have my own blend of colors to create flesh tones...

The hair is colored in...

The pants are colored in....

I took artistic license and changed the color of the pants.

I also changed the color of the shirt from white to red...

At this point the turkey and the grass are also colored in.

I have added a new color tool to my tool box:

Inktense Blocks

Just like Inktense Pencils.....but BIGGER!

Inktense Blocks cover a larger area much quicker than the pencils.

They made short work of the big sky area in this portrait.

At this point the entire portrait has been colored in with

Neocolor II Crayons and Inktense Blocks:

I am 2 hours and 45 minutes into this portrait so far...

Let's move on to painting the portrait:

Heath and the turkey's head are painted...

Check out how intense the red becomes when painted.

Now you see why I changed the color of the shirt...

The shirt is completely painted at this point...

Let's paint the turkey:

The turkey is dark and rich looking now...

The grass is painted.

At this point the portrait is completely painted:

It took 1 hour and 15 minutes to paint the portrait.

4 hours total to add color to this fabric portrait.

I need a snack before I begin the quilting!

CLICK HERE: Portrait Class Information

CLICK HERE: Photoshop Elements 4 Tutorial

CLICK HERE: Inktense Block Tutorial

P.S. If you are signed up for my Portrait Class on January 21, 2012, please send me your photo image so I can alter it and get it prepped for class.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Permission 2 Play.....Metal Ornaments Class

2012-01-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

The P2P Group played with Metal...

Click on the Slideshow below

to watch the FUN:

Many Thanks to JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop in Philomath, Oregon for your support. This class would not be possible without you!

A BIG Thank You to OSU Folk Thrift Store, and those who provide funding to purchase the needed supplies for these FREE classes offered to cancer diagnosed patients.

Warm Hugs to our Instructors who lend their time and talents to lead classes in textile art techniques.

CLICK HERE to view Snippet Bowl Class

CLICK HERE to view Sun Printing Class

CLICK HERE to view Healing Stitches Exhibits

CLICK HERE: A Reason to Play

CLICK HERE: Mark Lipinski Interview

Please Join Us: January 26, 2012 @ 1:00 - 4:00

JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop in Philomath, OR

FREE Class Offering for cancer diagnosed patients

All supplies are provided FREE for everyone

No Experience Required

Remember to give yourself Permission 2 Play!

Permission 2 Play is a FREE class offering for cancer diagnosed patients.

No Experience is necessary to participate.

All supplies are provided for the students.

Classes are held at JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop in Philomath, Oregon

If you are interested in joining this class contact:

LuAnn Kessi kessi@pioneer.net

Our Best To You,

Nancy Bryant

Virginia Gregory

Kathi Borrego

LuAnn Kessi

Portrait Class.....January 21, 2012

2012-01-01T12:52:00.001-08:00

Start off the New Year Creatively....

Take my Portrait Quilt Class

January 21, 2012

Adventures in Portrait Quilts

JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop

Philomath, OR

Only 20 days until Class...

CLICK HERE to find out more about this class offering

If you are already signed up......send me your portrait photo NOW!

Email To: kessi@pioneer.net

Looking forward to a day filled with portraits in fabric...

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Portraits

LuAnn

2011...A Year......in Review

2011-12-31T17:07:00.000-08:00

It is New Year's Eve....

I am looking forward to the year ahead in 2012...

I am also reflecting on 2011

Here are a few highlights

a trip down memory lane:

January 2011

Midnight in the Garden

Exhibited at Stitches in Bloom Show

Oregon Gardens

CLICK HERE:

Winning Photo Entries in

Western Cowman Magazine

Oregon Wheat Field

The Embrace

February 2011

CLICK HERE:

Gunnr Portrait Quilt

Chosen for 2012 Quilting Arts Calendar

March 2011

CLICK HERE:

Celebrating: 24 Years Quilting

April 2011

CLICK HERE:

Featured Quilter Article

May 2011

CLICK HERE:

Completed Portrait: Day Dreaming

June 2011

CLICK HERE:

Adventures in Portraits Quilt Class

July 2011

CLICK HERE:

Trunk Show

25 Years with Needle & Thread

August 2011

CLICK HERE:

We made it to Colorado...

September 2011

CLICK HERE:

Learning to Dye in the Microwave!

October 2011

CLICK HERE:

Sweet Sixteen Long Arm Arrives!

November 2011

CLICK HERE:

Christmas Giftmaking: Dyeing Sox in Microwave

December 2011

CLICK HERE:

Challenge Quilt Revealed: Nature Walk

Here's to even more FUN in 2012 !

Wishing you ALL continued success in all you do.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Screen Printing.....with help from my friends

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

I recently spent a FUN day Thermofax Printing

with some of my favorite friends...

I made another one of my work shirts.

These are great smocks to wear while doing messy

surface design techniques!

I have been known to run into town and go shopping

in these shirts...

The bird screen belongs to Kathi.

This is a photograph that she took and had made into a screen.

The bubbles and lines are screens I borrowed from Virginia.

The census screen belongs to Kathi also.

Her great grandfather's census.

The red script writing top right

is a screen created by Margaret Applin Designs

The ABC and skinny lines screens were created

by Lynn Krawczyk/Fibra Artysta

Lynn also made the Birds on a Wire screen.

Thanks to all of you for enhancing my art work!

This is how I spent the day today:

I spent the morning turning white wash cloths

into ORANGE

TURQUOISE

The GREEN ones are rolled up and stuffed into a

wooden crate for gift giving soon!

CLICK HERE: Microwave Dyeing

CLICK HERE: Margaret Applin Designs

CLICK HERE: Fibra Artysta

CLICK HERE: Thermofax Printing on Shirts

CLICK HERE: Thermofax Printing Class

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Science and Art.......Together

2011-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Science and Art.....come Together

For everyone who sews for the AAQI, I know you do so because you care deeply about finding a cure for Alzheimer's. Let me assure you that what you do matters. Every single stitch counts. Your art touches people in a most special way. Just look at the faces of the people below holding the quilts you made!

University of Michigan

Research Team

with Ami Simms

It is unusual for researchers and those who fund them to ever meet. AAQI volunteers have had this opportunity three times. It is an extremely rewarding experience.

CLICK HERE: Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

CLICK HERE: From Heartbreak to Hope Video

CLICK HERE: Sparrow - Inktense Portrait on Fabric

CLICK HERE: Purple Name Quilt on The Quilt Show

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Scallloped Corded Edge Video

2011-12-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

I am always looking for new edge treatments for my art quilts.

I recently found this

Scalloped Corded Edge

video by Bernina

Most any sewing machine will do this technique

CLICK HERE to watch the Video

For the last year I have been using a cord bound edge treatment

for most of my portrait quilts.

CLICK HERE to view MY TUTORIAL

I definitely plan on incorporating this scalloped corded edge

into my future art quilts!

I hope this adds a new technique to your Quilter's Tool Box.

CLICK HERE to view my Portrait Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Art Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Woven Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Challenge Quilt.....Slideshow

2011-12-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

Today is the BIG Reveal

for our 2012 Challenge Quilts...

You can follow along as I create

Nature Walk

by clicking on the slideshow below:

Many Thanks to Patsy Thompson for all her Quilting Inspiration over the years!

This quilt would not be complete without the Hand Dyed border fabric created by Vicki Welsh!

CLICK HERE to view: 2010 Challenge Quilt

CLICK HERE to view: Woven Sunshine Quilt

CLICK HERE to view: Sunflowers Quilt

CLICK HERE: Featured Quilter Article

CLICK HERE: Harlan Valley Quilters Blog

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Portrait Class......Sign Up Now!

2011-12-06T19:48:00.001-08:00

I stopped in at

JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop last week...

My Portrait Class

sample quilts are now on display!

Only 6 weeks until Portrait Class...

Saturday, January 21, 2012

This is a BEGINNER level class offering...

Yes, YOU can create a portrait in fabric

and I will show you how.

You will create a 19 x 13 inch portrait of a loved one or favorite pet

from your personal photos.

I also have images of animals and flowers and birds you

can choose from.

Send me your photo so that I can alter the image in photoshop

and prepare it on fabric for you.

CLICK HERE to watch me create the Zinnia quilt.

CLICK HERE to watch me create Gunnr 1 quilt.

CLICK HERE for more class details

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Portraits,

LuAnn Kessi

More Microwave Dyeing...

2011-12-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

I finished up the last of the microwave dyeing...

If you are on my Christmas list

don't look at the photos below:

Unders for the dudes in the family...

Most of the guys like the long leg style...

My boys saw the undies I dyed for the girls last week,

and wanted in on some of the dyeing action!

Now all of the guys in the family will have dyed unders

in their stockings at Christmas.

Sox for the guys too!

Here are the undies I dyed for the girls last week...

Sox for the girls...

Christmas will be colorful...

I saved the best for last:

Bamboo Sox

These take the dye beautifully...

The bamboo is oh, so soft....and yummy!

A few of these will find their way into my dresser!

CLICK HERE to view: Microwave Dyeing Slideshow

CLICK HERE to view: Microwave Dyeing Play Day

CLICK HERE to view: Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes

CLICK HERE to view: Bamboo Socks

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Dye,

LuAnn

Today....

2011-12-01T01:01:00.000-08:00

Today......it's a gift

How do you plan to spend your day...

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Dyeing.....in the Microwave

2011-11-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

In September I learned to Microwave Dye.

Virginia, the hippest chick I know,

invited me over and taught me what a microwave

is truly intended for.

Today, I was back at it with the

microwave and the dye.

Click on the Slideshow below

to see how my day went:

Personalize a digital slideshow

Thank you so much Virginia for teaching me this new sport!

It is wonderful to be so inspired, enthusiastic and excited about a new technique.

My family and friends will be getting hand dyed sox and undies for the holidays!

Just imagine the family photos at the Christmas party...

CLICK HERE to view: Microwave Dyeing at Virginia's House

CLICK HERE to view: My Portrait Class

CLICK HERE to view: My Mixed Media Textiles

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Permission 2 Play....Shaving Cream Stenciling

2011-11-18T23:28:00.000-08:00

The Permission 2 Play group played with

Shaving Cream Stenciling on Fabric

To check out all the FUN

watch the video below:

Many Thanks to JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop in Philomath, Oregon for your support. This class would not be possible without you!

A BIG Thank You to OSU Folk Thrift Store, and those who provide funding to purchase the needed supplies for these FREE classes offered to cancer diagnosed patients.

Warm Hugs to our Instructors who lend their time and talents to lead classes in textile art techniques.

CLICK HERE to view Thermofax Screenprinting Class

CLICK HERE to view Portraits on Fabric Class

CLICK HERE to view Healing Stitches Exhibits

CLICK HERE: A Reason to Play

CLICK HERE: Mark Lipinski Interview

Please Join Us: December 8, 2011 @ 1:00 - 4:00

JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop in Philomath, OR

FREE Class Offering for cancer diagnosed patients

All supplies are provided FREE for everyone

No Experience Required

Remember to give yourself Permission 2 Play!

Permission 2 Play is a FREE class offering for cancer diagnosed patients.

No Experience is necessary to participate.

All supplies are provided for the students.

Classes are held at JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop in Philomath, Oregon

If you are interested in joining this class contact:

LuAnn Kessi kessi@pioneer.net

Our Best To You,

Nancy Bryant

Virginia Gregory

Kathi Borrego

LuAnn Kessi

Surface Design....Discharge Play Day

2011-11-16T19:50:00.000-08:00

I spent the day experimenting with various

discharging products

To see how the day went,

check out the slideshow below:

Customize a digital slideshow

CLICK HERE to view Fabric Dyeing Play Day

CLICK HERE to view Soy Wax Play Day

CLICK HERE to view Thermofax Play Day

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Challenge Quilt......Detail View

2011-11-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

Here are a few detail images of my

2011 HVQ Challenge Quilt

The Challenge Theme for 2011 is...

Seasons

The season I chose is...

Summer

I enjoy creating sun printed fabrics in the summer

All of the botanicals used in this quilt were collected

while walking up in the timber with my favorite guy.

Leaves collected from an Alder Tree

Maple Leaves

Ferns

I have decided to name this quilt...

Nature Walk

This is all I can show you for now...

The 2011 Challenge Quilt BIG REVEAL

is December 12, 2011.

I will post full quilt images after the quilts are revealed.

Thanks for following along.....this was a FUN quilt!

CLICK HERE to view ALL Challenge Quilt posts

CLICK HERE to view Sun Printing

CLICK HERE to view Rust Dyeing

P.S.

I am learning more every day about my new Sweet Sixteen. Long arms are nothing like a conventional sewing machine. They require almost NO bobbin tension compared to my Bernina. That has been the biggest adjustment for me. I have recently learned that a TOWA Bobbin Gauge is a necessity to achieve accurate tension, so I have just ordered one.
With the Sweet Sixteen I have so much room to move the quilt around, that I can concentrate on my quilting instead of manipulating the quilt under the harp of the machine. Yes, I like my new sit-down machine very much, especially the little touch screen on the front.

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 2

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 3

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 4

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 5

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 6

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of FUN,

LuAnn

Challenge Quilt......Binding

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

I can't resist a stripe...

I will cut this fabric on a 45 degree angle for the binding

2 inch binding strips cut and ready to piece together

The binding strips are pressed and ready to go...

I feel like I am coming down the Home Stretch

with the challenge quilt...

At this point...

I am ready to find a cozy chair and hand stitch the binding

to the back side.

Why do I keep my binding in a coffee can?

CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 2

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 3

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 4

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 5

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Challenge Quilt.......Hyper-Quilting the Border

2011-11-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

I chose this Robinson Anton 24 Kt Gold Rayon thread

to hyper-quilt the vine in the border

I just want a little accent of color.

Don't want the hyper-quilting to overwhelm the border area.

The hand dyed border fabric changes color

from yellow to green to orange all the way around the quilt:

The 24Kt Gold thread is just what it needed...

The Quilting is completed...

The Challenge Quilt is all trimmed up and ready

for a binding.

Wish I could show you more, but this is a secret

challenge. It will be revealed December 12, 2011.

Hand Dyed Border Fabric by Vicki Welsh

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 2

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 3

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 4

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Challenge Quilt.......Quilting the Border

2011-11-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

It is time to begin quilting on the borders...

I often use a dry erase board to audition various

quilting motifs...

I am quilting a leafy vine in the border...

I might hyper-quilt the vine.

I will decided after the vine is completely quilted.

I put down a chalk line to help me follow the curve

of the vine:

I also installed the open toe hopping foot on the

Sweet Sixteen......much more visibility than the round foot.

Yeah, I like the vine...

I'll keep at it

We interrupt this quilting program for:

A Scooby Snack break...

Somebody we all know and love is in need

of a little afternoon treat...

How can you resist that face?

Quilting Inspiration:

Patsy Thompson Designs

If you have never been to Patsy's website, you are truly missing out on a lot of Free Motion Quilting FUN !

Check out her Free Motion Tutorials on You Tube.

Tune in tomorrow for more

Challenge Quilt.....Border Quilting.

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 2

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 3

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Adjusting....

2011-11-06T14:39:00.001-08:00

I have my Challenge Quilt under the needle of my new

Sweet Sixteen Sit-Down Long Arm

I am adjusting to working on a new machine

Click Images to Enlarge:

This is a warm up quilt sandwich that matches the fabrics in

my challenge quilt...

I am adjusting to a totally different bobbin, a Class M Bobbin.

It requires almost NO tension compared to my Bernina.

I am also adjusting to a different kind of free motion/darning foot.

This foot is bigger than what I am used to.

I think I am going to switch to the open-toe foot.

After a few minutes of warm up quilting...

I have adjusted the tension and can get started on

the Challenge Quilt.

The first block quilted up nicely...

I am getting more comfortable with each block I Quilt...

I am enjoying the comfort of sixteen inches of harp space.

I can concentrate on my quilting, and not so much on bunching the quilt up underneath the machine.

Here is a BEFORE image of this block...

The leaves have been outline quilted...

Quilting on this block is done.

I am slowly adjusting to working on a new machine.

I know some day we will be good friends.

Gunner is also making adjustments...

He is learning to sleep in the bed under the sewing machine

without his Suzy girl...

It has been a time of adjustment for all of us.

CLICK HERE: Featured Quilter Article

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 2

CLICK HERE to view Texture Magic

CLICK HERE to view our Cattle

CLICK HERE to view The Thread Shed

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Winding Ways Wheel of Mystery....Borders

2011-11-06T12:57:00.001-08:00

The last time you saw this quilt it was in pieces

spread across the Thread Shed

Click Images to Enlarge:

Winding Ways aka Wheel of Mystery

Last week I completed piecing all of the rows into a top.

I planned on a black border......so dramatic.

However.....I just couldn't resist these juicy border fabrics:

Orange inner border

Bright Green outer border

A perfect compliment to this yummy FUN quilt !

Now to get the borders cut and sewn to the quilt top...

I will keep you posted!

CLICK HERE to view ALL Winding Ways Posts

CLICK HERE to view Rust Dyeing Fabric

CLICK HERE to view Adventures in Art Quilting Classes

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Autumn Inspiration....

2011-11-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

I spent the afternoon capturing the light...

Click Images to Enlarge:

Back Yard....... Grape Arbor

Grape leaves in late afternoon sunshine

Red Sunset Tree

All summer long the leaves take in all of that beautiful sunshine...

In the Autumn.....they give back all of that sunshine

by turning these gorgeous and glowing colors !

Autumn Blaze Tree

This is my last photo of the day.

The sun is setting and I am losing that beautiful autumn light.

I captured the last of it in this image.

You are welcome to use these images in your personal art work.

I am always happy to share my photography.

This is what I will be doing tonight...

All of our phone books are filled with pressed leaves.

What do I do with all of these pressed leaves?

CLICK HERE to view Jello Printing

CLICK HERE to view Sun Printing

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Portrait Quilt Class......January 21, 2012

2011-11-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

Adventures in Art Quilts Series

continues at

JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop

1243 Main Street

Philomath, OR 97370

541-929-3795

Adventures in Portrait Quilts

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Instructor: LuAnn Kessi

This is a brand new technique developed by me, LuAnn Kessi

to create Fabric Portrait Quilts.

The best part is, this is a beginner level class.

Yes, you can create a quilted portrait, and you will have great fun learning how!

This process is as simple as coloring in a child's color book.

Come into JLC and view the portrait quilts on display and sign up for class.

Gunnr is a calendar boy:

My portrait Quilt of Gunnr

appears in the 2012 Quilting Arts Calendar

2012 Quilting Arts Calendar

Gunnr is Mr. February

Full Curl

Your portrait can be a person, your pet, a flower, etc.

You will be working from your own personal photo.

You can also work from one of my photos:

Animals, Flowers, Birds

The choice is yours.

You will send me your photo by email or regular mail so that I can digitally alter it and prepare it for class.

Your original image will remain untouched.

The day of class I will provide you with a 13 x 19 inch image on fabric.

You will learn to use Neocolor II Crayons and Inktense Pencils.

Sign up for Class at JLC and Send me Your Image!

Questions?

Contact me at: kessi@pioneer.net

Adventures in Portrait Quilts

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Instructor: LuAnn Kessi

Full Day Class 9:30 - 4:00

Class Description:

This is a brand new technique developed by LuAnn Kessi to create Fabric Portrait Quilts. The best part is, this is a beginner level class. Yes, you can create a quilted portrait, and you will have great fun learning how. This process is as simple as coloring in a child’s coloring book. Come into JLC and view the portrait quilts on display and sign up!

$20 Lab Fee Payable to the instructor the day of class

(Fee covers the printed 13 x 19 inch portrait on fabric supplied by your instructor , Neocolor II Crayons, Paint Brushes, Fabric Medium, etc.)

Class Supply List:

You may use your personal photo of a person or choose one of my flower, bird or animal images.

If using your own image, send it to me in an email NOW so that I can alter the image and get it printed on fabric for you.

A very close up, well lit, clear image in a high resolution of one person or your pet works best.

Email To: kessi@pioneer.net

If your portrait is completed before the end of the day and you wish to begin the quilting process, you will need:

Sewing Machine (cleaned oiled and in good working order w/manual)

Topstitch Needles Size 70 & 80

Free Motion Darning Foot (Be sure you can drop the feed dogs on your machine)

Cotton or Polyester Threads for machine quilting various colors (fine threads size 50 or higher, nothing thick or heavy)

(you may wish to purchase thread at JLC after your portrait has been colored to match your thread color)

My favorite portrait thread is Bottom Line by Superior Threads.

1/2 Yard thin cotton batting

Assortment of fat quarters for borders and backing fabric.

(you may wish to purchase fat quarters at JLC after your portrait has been colored)

Glue Stick

Apron or Smock

I will bring a trunk show of art quilts with me to exhibit at lunch time. You may wish to bring a sack lunch so you can view the trunk show.

Visit LuAnn’s Blog to view Portrait Quilts:

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/search/label/Neocolors%20II

CLICK HERE to view a Portrait Class Slideshow

CLICK HERE to watch me create Gunnr's Portrait Quilt

CLICK HERE to watch me work on the Full Curl Portrait Quilt

Looking forward to seeing YOU in class!

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Portraits,

LuAnn

Shaving Cream Stenciling......Play Day

2011-10-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

I set aside time on the calendar to

Play with my Friends...

Shaving Cream was one of the ingredients

we played with!

Enjoy the Slideshow:

CLICK HERE to view Shaving Cream Printing Class

CLICK HERE to view Microwave Dyeing Play Day

CLICK HERE to view Adventures in Art Quilting Classes

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn