Patchwork By Paula- Specializing in T-shirt/Memory Quilts.

This past weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival  in Hampton, VA, our roving reporter, Jackie O'Brien was hard at work in the Studio 180 Design Booth. If you were there, most likely you couldn't miss her bubbly personality and infectious laugh!  While there, Jackie was able to catch up with a friend. In this blog, she shares her friendship with Paula Harr and some of her quilting accomplishments. 

 I met Paula Harr about 5 years ago through the Tidewater Quilt Guild in Virginia Beach, VA.  I liked her immediately. She has a wicked sense of humor and a sparkle in her eyes that can light up a room.  Paula was raised by her grandmother and as a child played under the quilt frame as quilts were made by hand.  Paula has been quilting since the 1980’s. She owned a quilt shop in Fairmont, West Virginia called “Uncle Bertie’s”!  I asked questioningly “Uncle Bertie’s”????  Paula replied that for some unknown reason her children called their Great Grandmother “Uncle Bertie” and there you have it!

Paula was a Psychiatric Nurse for 47 years; I think that explains the twinkle in her eyes!  She retired on a Friday the 13^thin 2014 just for luck!  Several years ago, Paula was approached by the Neptune Festival Committee in Virginia Beach, and asked if she would make them a T-shirt quilt to raffle as a fund raiser in exchange for a free booth at the fair. She said yes and a new business was born.  Below is the gorgeous quilt she made for the festival.

The Neptune quilt was fabulous, and Paula enjoyed making it.  I say that because for anyone who has made a T-Shirt quilt and you ask if they will make another, usually the answer is a resounding “NO”!  But, Paula began answering “yes” to those who wanted a T-Shirt quilt made for them.  Paula only uses Quilters Dream Batting when making her quilts. Her favorite is the Select Loft (Mid-loft) for all its versatility.

Paula says “every quilt tells a story”, and she so enjoys meeting the people, hearing their story, creating a T-Shirt Quilt that captures their story and their most cherished memories.  She has made so many that she now has one hour quilt guild presentation on making T-shirt and Memory quilts.

If you would like to have a T-Shirt or Memory quilt made for especially for you or if you would like Paula to visit your guild and share her informative presentation please contact her at:

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/PatchworkByPaula

Email:

patchworkbypaula@gmail.com

Phone:

757-572-1919

Featured #battgirls (July2014)- Got Kwilts?/Richla Ramsey

I made my first quilt when I was pregnant with my first daughter 8 years ago.  I had to stop working due to complications and decided to take a beginning quilting class.  Several quilts later, I was hooked.  I did my research and decided to start my own longarm business.  Pretty funny, since I am such a tomboy and never liked to sew!  Next to playing tennis, it is now my favorite thing to do.  I have a new studio, 2 Longarms and can't wait until I get "Thelma" and "Louise" working each day.  

This spacious colorful studio is sure to inspire the creative!

Richla's Inspiration:

I am truly inspired everyday by the women and quilts that walk through my door.  I can not believe how many talented and creative women are out there. I'm just waiting for that day when a man brings me a quilt- I know they are out there. I find it amazing that I rarely work on the same quilt twice!  I LOVE what I do! My favorite thing about quilting is how the batting, thread and quilting process totally changes a piece of fabric and brings it to life. I love how my clients always light up when they see their finished quilt and how it changed.  I truly believe that Dream battings make all the difference. 

Her technique:

 I started using multiple layers of batting because I was trying to make a quilt feel like my Grandmas' quilts.  Plus, my family never used the quilts I made because they were too thin. If I could get 3 layers of Dream Woolunder my hopper, my family would be very happy!  

2 layers of batting:
Dream Cotton (on top)
Dream Wool (on bottom)

 I have found that mixing the battings together on a single quilt can change the feel of the quilt and also help me manipulate shapes on a quilt and make it very dimensional. I have many clients who now ask for double layers of batting and are not afraid to mix it up!  

How to achieve this look:

If I decide to mix Cotton with Wool or Puff, I always put the cotton on the bottom.  This allows the Wool or Puff to fill in on the top. I also try to do more dense quilting around the shape I want to accent, so the Wool or Puff will fill in the open area.  The first time I did this, I was concerned because the quilt looked so puffy, but now I love working with double layers. 

2 layers of batting:
Dream Cotton (on top)
Dream Wool (on bottom)

Double layer of Dream Cotton

Keep up with Got Kwilts? Richla Ramsey:

Click HERE for her longarm class schedule.

Visit Richla's Blog for more helpful tips and inspiration.

Follow Richla on Facebook.
Email: gotkwilts@comcast.net

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How about that studio?! I don't know about you but now I have the sudden urge to clean my craft space....maybe. Don't forget to follow and find Richla for more interesting techniques and upcoming classes from the links above! Remember, you can always give us a call if you need samples or have any questions. We are always looking for the next Featured #battgirls , so submit your projects and you could be our next feature blog post! 

Happy Quilting!
The Original

The City Quilter & Grand Central Station Centennial Quilts

Quilters Dream Batting is found exclusively at independent quilt shops and specialty quilting businesses! Please join the #BattGirls in celebrating and supporting our local quilt shops. They are the heart and soul of the quilting industry.

Nestled In the heart of Downtown Manhattan, you will find a rare jewel!

An oasis for New York City quilters and tourists alike, with over 150 classes a year, 4,000+ bolts of fabric, and a gallery displaying beautiful art quilts for sale. City Quilter's dedicated shop owners, husband and wife team, Dale Reihl and Cathy Izzo epitomize the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of NYC small business owners. 

In addition to the overwhelming duties of their shop, Cathy and Dale have taken it even a step further! With Cathy's design concepts, they have developed a fabric line inspired by 'all things New York'. Be it the spired architecture, the famous skyline, the city lights, clock towers, the lines and signs of the subway system, or the bright yellow cabs; New York City icons are artistically captured in City Quilter's beautiful unique fabric lines.

So when Dale, discovered that 2014 is the celebration of the 100th year anniversary of Grand Central Station, he knew the City Quilter had to be a part of this historic event. With creativity and inspiration flowing, Cathy went to work on designing a line of fabric that captures the grandeur, history and beauty of Grand Central Station, even down to the detail of matching the Pantone color of Grand Central's famed aqua dome celestial ceiling!

Coincidentally, Dale noticed that American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine (APQ) was celebrating their 20th anniversary. Realizing this was a perfect fit, Dale presented his idea to APQ of honoring Grand Central's Centennial with a national quilt challenge. APQ embraced the idea as did the NY Transit Museum and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. With everyone 'on-board' the Grand Central Station Centennial National Quilt Contest began.

Using City Quilter's newly designed stunning Grand Central fabrics, eighty quilters from 20 states, submitted an array of beautiful impressionistic quilts that pay tribute and idealize Grand Central's Centennial in ways that only quilters can!

Of the eighty unique quilts entered, the top thirty finalists' quilts are on display from now until July 6 in the Grand Central Station museum.

 

The quilts made such an impact that NYC news, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal wrote articles featuring the event (don't you love when quilting makes the national news)!

So, if you are in New York City or planning a NYC trip, be sure to take time to add Grand Central Station's quilt exhibit to your itinerary.

From there, a shopping trip to the City Quilter quilt shop is a must. City Quilter is the only shop in the world that sells their exclusive fabric lines.

While shopping at the City Quilter... don't forget to purchase your favorite quilt batting ... because you guessed it - Quilters Dream Batting is available at The City Quilter.

Meet Dale, Cathy and their amazing staff at the City Quilter located at 133 West 26th St in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, NewYork. In addition to classes, fabrics, quilt gallery, gifts, patterns,notions and Quilters Dream Batting... City Quilter is also an authorized Bernina and Handi Quilter dealer.

Can't get to New York City? Don't worry, the fabrics are available for sale on the City Quilter website at www.CityQuilter.com and a link to City Quilter's and APQ fabulous Grand Central Quilt Exhibit is below!

www.Cityquilter.com

More Photos of GrandCentral Station Quilt Exhibit

Wall Street JournalArticle: Piecing Together a Grand History

#cityquilter #grandcentralquilts #battgirls #quiltersdreambatting #bernina #handiquilter #AmericanPatchwork

 

Unique Features of Each Loft of Quilters Dream

We frequently get calls from customers when placing orders that will say, “I would like to order the Dream Cotton in the pink label” or “what’s the one I always get that has the blue label?”  

These customers are simply referring to the loft/weight they prefer in a particular line of Quilters Dream Batting carried. In an previous blog-  A Good Foundation ,we explained the importance of choosing the right batting or foundation for your quilt. Now we will go into a little more detail as to why you may want to also consider which loft will be perfect for your special project!

Request™: Thinnest Loft- Blue Label

Lightweight and consistent, Request™ was developed especially for hand quilters who love this weight and rave that it is a ‘dream’ to quilt through. It is ideal for micro-stitching, and has an exceptional drape. Also very good for short arm machine quilting. The Request loft was not developed for use on longarm machines; however, many longarm quilters love the soft drapey effect and successfully use the Request™ by ‘floating the top'. Are you not sure what that means? Click here!

Perfect for: Warm climates, antique restorations, lightweight summer quilts, table runners and wearable’s.

Available in:  Dream Cotton (Natural/White), Dream Poly (White/Black), Dream Angel and Dream Fusion (Natural Cotton)

Hand Quilting: Recommend

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommended (With floating the top)

Select ™: Mid Loft- Pink label 
(with a few exceptions)

Our most popular loft, Select™ is versatile as it is great for hand quilting as well as long and short arm machine quilting. Wonderful mid-weight imparts a very nice definition to your quilting while keeping a soft, lovely drape.

Perfect for:  All quilted projects, especially medium weight quilts, wearables and wall hangings.

Available in: Dream Cotton (Natural/ White), Dream Poly (White/Black), Dream Angel, Dream Fusion (Natural Cotton/ Poly White), Dream Blend, Dream Green, Dream Orient

Hand Quilting: Recommend

(Except for Blend, Poly Fusion & Cotton Fusion)

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

 Deluxe™: High Loft- Purple Label

A wonderful heavy yet drapeable batt. Provides extra warmth and volume offering extra emphasis to your quilting.

Perfect for: Show quilts, wall hangings, cold climate quilts, bags, and craft projects.

Available in: Dream Cotton (Natural/White), Dream Poly (White)

Hand Quilting: NOT Recommended

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

Supreme™: Highest Loft- Yellow Label

This hefty dense batt has a full ½ pound of cotton per square yard! Used by machine quilters for show quilts and special projects requiring thickness, weight & volume.

Perfect for: Kitchen crafts, ironing boards cover, craft projects, or extra warm heavy quilts.

Available in: Dream Cotton

Hand Quilting: NOT Recommended

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

Dream Wool™: Blue label with the little sheep

A light airy batting of approximately ¼ + inch of loft that flattens down nicely while hand or machine quilting. Although light weight, Dream Wool imparts excellent definition to your stitches.  The curly wool fibers will give extra texture to beautifully accentuate your quilting designs while remaining soft and cozy. Resistant to creases and folds.

Perfect for: Heirloom quilts, show quilts, stitch definition - very functional for all seasons.

 Hand Quilting: Recommend

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

Dream Puff™: Blue label with the little ducks

Dream Puff is light as a feather yet 1.5 times warmer than down and 2 times warmer than most high loft polyesters. 1/3+ inch loft imparts volume and definition, yet is very soft and drapeable. For those special 'puffy' quilts, Puff will layer easily for sumptuous loft. We have heard from many quilters who love to layer the Dream Puff™ with Dream Poly Select™ for extra warmth, volume, and definition.

Perfect for: Trapunto, wearables, t-shirt quilts, & light lofty quilts.

Hand Quilting: Recommend

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

That was a lot to take in...we know. Keep in mind our staff is ready to answer any of your questions or provide you with samples.

Happy Quilting!
~The Dream Team
Unique Features of Batting - PDF