FMQ.....huh?

I admit it. 

I am addicted to Free Motion Quilting.

This is one of my FAVOURITE finishes for 2014. This fabric made me So happy. A heavy wool blanket for batting and FMQ all over. This is my current snuggle up on the couch quilt. Blog Post Here.

Or...  "FMQ", for short.

In my humble opinion, I just like the look and texture you get from the finished quilt with a loopy-swirly FMQ pattern.

This was my most ambitious project so far. Applique, stars, math, and lots and lots of FMQ to keep the 'snowflake' pattern going. I'm pretty proud of this one, it was a donation to a fund raiser. I learned a lot, and the second one I did was much easier to come together. Blog post Here.

Since I'm intermediate with my FMQ so far, I haven't tried any of the fancier patterns. Yet.

Yet.

But I can tell, it's coming soon. I have my Rainbow Star Quilt to work on this week, and since it's for Us, then I won't stress too much if it's not 100% perfect. Which is why I like FMQ, it's very forgiving.

This is what I mean: 

See the swirly stitching in the green fabric? That's Free Motion Quilting. 

The 'normal' type of quilting (VS. FMQ) is generally straight lines, or following the pattern of the fabrics, etc etc. I have done this on a Trip Around the World Quilt, stitching 'in the ditch' following the lines. It looked really nice on that particular pattern.

 (I'm not a hater on reg. quilting. I just find I'm better at FMQ)

I found the most AMAZING Blogger recently; she is a FMQ freakin' GODDESS!!!! 

Her Blog is inspirational, educational and just beautiful to read through. 

Lizzie Lenard - Vintage Sewing

I am linking up to her Free Motion Mavericks and am just tickled to be able to be a part of it!!

And no.... I haven't forgotten about my January Goals....Getting Organized. Updates to come!

Fabric and Fabric and Fabric

I was at my favourite LQS on Monday.
And as I perused the aisles, touching this, oohing at that... I got to wonderings.....


What is it about us quilters...?

we see GORGEOUS prints.... 

we coo and sigh, and pet them, and (or, is that just me??)

 keep them neatly, tidily folded sitting quietly on our shelf.

Until...

We catch that creative bug...the gleam in our eye....standing tall in the doorway of our creative space...rotary cutter in hand....

And we get the primal urge to rip and tear and shred....(sorry, just me??)

We pull out the fabrics, slap 'em down, and then slice them up sideways and frontways until we re-attach them with other pieces of fabric...

...To make one big beautiful piece of fabric made of the many.

...beautiful pieces of fabric, with such juicy designs....then you draw and SLICE them up and reattach them. Kinda like making a really pretty, non scary Frankenstein. Kinda. Then you mess with colours and patterns and then reattach it all and make a beautiful piece of art that will keep you warm.

That's what I love about sewing. Gives me such a thrill to say "I made that."

Taking a giant piece, cutting it up, and then creating something entirely new.

 What is it about sewing that makes you tick?!