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

***********************************************

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

How to make a quilted tissue pouch

So Jennifer here is a non stop machine! She just came back from market and made this tutorial on a fun project using Quilters Dream Fusion. The holidays are literally right around the corner and this would be sooooo cute for a stocking stuffer or last minute gift idea!

Supplies you will need:

• Two (2) pieces of 6” x 8” Coordinating Fabric
• One (1) piece of 6” x 8” Dream Fusion batting (available in Cotton or Poly)
• Scissors
• Thread
• Pins
• Sewing Machine
• Iron

Directions:

Place the 6” x 8” piece of Dream Fusion on your ironing board with the fusible side up (we mark the fusible side with a sticker, but you can also tell as the fusible side has a little more texture to it and a shine you can see under a light).

Place one piece of your 6” X 8” piece of fabric wrong side down – so that the backside of your fabric is touching the fusible side of the batting.

This fabric is cotton, so we used the cotton steam setting and then ironed, holding the iron down for a few seconds in all directions while ironing.  If you are using the Poly Select Dream Fusion, you can create this same steam effect by placing a piece of moist muslin on top and using the iron on a lower setting. 

**Helpful Tip**- Using the steam and having the fabric on top of the fusible side of the batting produces the best contact when bonding.  If you want to ensure your iron does not come in contact with the fusible batting, place an applique sheet or piece of parchment paper over the fabric before ironing.

Once the batting and fabric are fused, place your second 6” x 8” piece of fabric right side down on top of the piece of fabric you just fused to the batting.

Pin to your liking.  You will sew a quarter-inch (¼) seam on both short sides of the fabric (on the 6” sides). 

Press the sewn sides to seal the stitches and then turn the fabric inside out so that the right sides of the fabric are facing out. 

  Once you have turned the piece inside out, press the short sides again.

It will look like this when finished.

Now you have a choice. You can keep this the way it is or you can use this as a way to practice your free motion quilting or simply stitch straight lines until the whole piece is quilted.

Once quilted, determine which piece of fabric will be the outside of the tissue holder/handy pouch and have it facing right side up. 

Take both short sides (6” sides) and turn them upwards and meet in the middle of the fabric.  Pin the raw ends to your liking.  Sew the raw ends together using a quarter-inch (¼) seam.  Press to secure stitches.

Clip the corner tips and turn the pouch inside out.  Press seams and you’re done!!!

Use this to hold the little individual packages of tissues or post-it notes or whatever you like.  You can also turn this into a thread catcher to keep beside your sewing machine.

Colorado Quilts of Valor- BIG BLOWOUT BLOCK DRIVE

When Alycia Quilts approached us to be a sponsor for the Quilts of Valor (QOV) Big Blowout Block Drive, owner of Quilters Dream Batting, Kathy Thompson couldn't resist. Having a personal story of her own about the special meaning of receiving the gift of a quilt:

At just 32 years old, my beautiful son, Josh was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)...(a)cruel, fatal untreatable disease...Josh's life completely depends on life-support. To help raise awareness of ALS, we started the annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS... the generosity of quilters donating quilts for the benefit of ALS patients has been truly amazing.

...one day, about two years ago, UPS delivered a small package to Josh's home... Inside this package was a small brown and green lap quilt... The quilt is tied, it is not pieced. The quilt front is a single piece of fabric with imprinted verses of religious hymns. Attached to the quilt was this handwritten note: "Dear Josh, I am 88 years old and I wanted so much for you to have this quilt. This quilt comes (with) prayers of love, courage and hope... and I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I will think of you every day".
When Josh read the note--he cried.

Head over to Alycia Quilts to participate in the QOV block drive.

There is still time to participate in the Quilts of Valor Big Blowout Block Drive!
Remember for every 5 blocks sent in, you get 1 chance to win a variety of prizes. Quilters Dream is offering 2 different prizes. the first is 3 twin size batts, and the second in 2 twin size batts. You will love them all - I promise!!

Mending hearts as a fabric artist

 

Today in our local newspaper I came across an article about my friend and Quilters Dream customer Jerry Callender . It is a very nice write up which recognizes his talents, creativity and more importantly, compassion. Jerry's skills of repurposing memorabilia has brought numerous smiles to those who are sick or have lost a loved one. I thought I would share it with you but first, how about I let you in on how I know Jerry personally.

I met Jerry Callender about 15 years ago long before I knew what the quilting world was all about. At the time, I worked at a florist shop and he worked at a kitchen store- we were neighbors in the same shopping center. Being the avid gardener I am, Jerry and I soon became quick friends as I found out he was one as well. We would usually gush about our gardens and trade tips and techniques. I remember being in awe of his many creative ideas. He was always coming up with a new project of some sort and I would always say, “Now why didn’t I think of that!!” Eventually we lost touch and not because his ideas were maybe a little bit better than mine. Hahah.  

 I had been working with Quilters Dream Batting for quite some time when one day Jerry walked in! I was very surprised to see him and curious what he was into these days. Well…some things never change because Jerry is the jack of all trades! I hope you enjoy reading the article.

 

 

Click here to read more about Jerry  

or visit his website: Jerrys Fabric Arts

 

 

 



 

Quilt Guilds and Quilting Bees

One of the best things about quilting is the quilting guild.  I remember my mother joining together with a group of about a dozen ladies from her church, laughing, praying, and quilting in what, at that time, was called her Quilting Bee.  Sometimes they would meet at the church but often it was held at someone’s house – food was pot luck and the hostess would provide wine, “pop” (I was raised in the North), or other brews, and I would sometimes be present to witness this wonderful group of ladies who quilted love, fun, and laughter into every quilt they made.

The bees in this vintage ad look
like they are having a good ole time! The quilt
reminds me of CandyLand!

At church this past weekend, we had a “ministry fair” where people tried to recruit workers for their particular project.  I work with the senior high youth group so I made up flyers and posters about the youth and the fun events coming up.  As I walked around the ministry fair, I found a signup sheet that said, “Come quilt with us this Saturday to finish a quilt and pray for Rebecca who will be graduating this year.”  I froze, shocked, and tears came to my eyes – Rebecca is my daughter!  While I will be camping out this weekend with Rebecca and other youth from my church, a group of wonderful women will be quilting love and prayers into a quilt made special for her. 

Here at Quilters Dream Batting, we know how important quilt guilds are to the life of quilting.  It is a place of bonding and fellowship, where much more than the love of quilting is shared.  We want to support all quilt guilds, from the hundred member well organized groups to the small gathering of ladies who get together once in a while for fun.

  
In return, we receive many thank you notes from quilters who are so grateful and appreciative! We love the modern quilt guilds with their eclectic “out of the block” styles and we adore the traditional guilds as well as the informal bees!  We love that ladies (and more gentlemen it would seem) are getting together and keeping this artwork thriving for the next generations to enjoy.

 

Do you have a special guild or bee that you belong to?  Please let us know about your guild, and we will be thrilled to send free “door prizes” and samples for your next meeting!  Share with us what your guild has been working on and what makes your group special – we would love to hear your stories, and we may even feature your group on our blog!

 

Email QuiltersDreamBatting@juno.comwith your name/guild, phone number, shipping address, date needed by and active member count for your box of goodies (let us know when your next couple meetings so we send them in time!)

 

Happy Quilting,

Jane

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

"My Quilt Dreams are..." **Batting Contest**

***This contest is now closed**

 

 

We want to hear from you!! The responses have been great so far. Don't miss out on your chance to win FREE batting! Click on our FACEBOOK page and leave a comment with your quilting dream to be entered in the drawing.

 

Happy Dreaming and Quilting

Post by Quilter's Dream Batting.

Post by Quilter's Dream Batting.

Quilters Dream Batting Quilt Shops Featured in Quilt Sampler Ultimate Shop Hop Spring/Summer Edition

Each year Quilt Sampler Magazine puts out their Spring/Summer Ultimate Shop Hop Edition to many readers delight. Thousands of people grab hold of this edition each year and make it a point to stop in these shops and see just how fabulous they are.

Quilters Dream Angel- Flame Retardant Batting

QUILTERS DREAM ANGEL BATTING

The first quilt batting made 100% from Flame Retardant Fibers.

We have had quite a few calls and emails lately inquiring about the unique feature of our Quilters Dream Angel batting. It may sound as if this wonderful product is made from feathers and clouds but that might make a mess of a quilt!
Although the process of creating Dream Angel is our trade secret, we are excited to give you a little more inside knowledge!

What is it made of?

Dream Angel fibers are neither cotton nor polyester - they are specially engineered fibers created to be flame retardant. These man-made fibers contain no PBDE's, bromides or chemical additives. You cannot rub or wash off the flame retardant quality due to the fibers being inherently flame retardant. We have spent years of research in developing this proprietary product. We did not take any 'shortcuts' on this batting and use ONLY Flame Retardant Fibers.

Gidget (office mascot) showing off the Dream Angel

What makes it flame retardant?

Dream Angel is self-extinguishing. This means it draws oxygen away helping to extinguish a flame. When in contact with flame the batting will not melt or assist to 'kindle' or support the flame. The Dream Angel fibers have met international flame retardant standards.

Test results were….?

Dream Angel's test results were exceptional!
During the testing by an independent testing laboratory, the batting was placed between 2 layers of cotton fabric and elevated on to a mesh rack (to promote airflow). The top layer of fabric was caught on fire and the batting formed a barrier preventing the bottom layer of cotton from being damaged at all! Dream Angel passed this difficult test standard: the California Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation Draft - Technical Bulletin 604 for Filling Materials Component Test Open-Flame Resistance.

Why would I use this?

The Dream Angel is very soft and breathable and quite easy to handle and use. This lightweight cream colored batting washes and handles similar to the Dream Cotton but has the added feature of being made from Flame Retardant fibers. Safety can never be guaranteed, but we feel that Dream Angel is an excellent choice for children/baby quilts, teen and college quilts, nursing homes, Christmas tree skirts.

Want to see for yourself? Give us a call for a free sample. 888.268.8664



Happy Quilting!

~The Dream Team

Fabric Postcards for ALS research

Fabric postcards for the Hopes and Dreams for a Cure art and quilt exhibit are starting to come in! In our last blog we shared exciting news that a Virginia Beach, Virginia art gallery will feature the Hopes and Dreams quilts and fabric postcards sent in from all over the United States to benefit those living with ALS and raise funds for research. We are hoping to have a wonderful selection of fabric postcards to sell at the exhibit. 100% of sales from quilts and fabric postcards, and a portion of art and jewelry sales will go toward ALS research.

Month-long Celebration of Moms!

We have some exciting news to share with you, and while it is quick notice, we think you might want to participate.  The Hopes & Dreams for a Cure for ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ Lou Gehrig’s Disease), has been given the opportunity to have a month-long Celebration of Moms and the special women in our lives beginning the first weekend in May – just in time for Mother’s Day .

The Richard Stravitz 30^th Street Gallery on Pacific Avenue in Virginia Beach, VA, will be hosting an event that features quilts sent in from all over the United States to benefit those living with ALS, as well as raise much needed funds for ALS Research. The Hopes & Dreams for a Cure for ALS art and quilt exhibit opens Saturday, May 4, will be open Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12 and runs through Saturday, June 1st.

 In addition to the quilts, there will be artwork capturing the loving essence of women in the form of oil paintings, watercolors and inks, jewelry, mixed media, hand blown glass and bronzed sculptures.

 

Sew Much Fun in Gloucester

What do you get when you combine a small town, locally owned quilt shop with amazing people, lots of fabric, a Twilight movie marathon and food?  Seven (7) new and wonderful quilts that will brighten the hearts and laps of persons living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) daily.

Quilting for ALS at Fields Quilt Shop in Gloucester,Va.

QuiltCon & Mid-Atlantic Festivals.

February is a busy month for us here at Quilters Dream Batting.  We are hitting the road and bringing our batting to Austin, Texas and Hampton, Virginia for two big quilts shows.

Join Kathy and Neva at booth # 410 in Austin, Texas as we help celebrate the excitement of the Modern Quilt Guild at their first Quilt Con Quilt Festival at the Austin Convention Center the weekend of February 21 – 24, 2013 http://www.quiltcon.com/ .We are excited to showcase our extremely soft and drapeable batting at this show and are equally excited to see YOU and some of the best Modern Quilters in the country, like Angela Walters, Material Girls, Swirly Girls and many others – all of whom either use or sell our batting.

 

That same weekend, February 21 – 24, we will have a very special exhibit at the 24^th Annual Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia http://www.quiltfest.com/activities.asp?id=8 .We are thrilled to be able to showcase quilts donated to the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to share with the 10,000+ people anticipated to attend this quilt show just how your love of fabric turned into quilts has truly provided warmth to the laps and hearts of people diagnosed with ALS, and how your quilts are helping to raise much needed funds for ALS Research.  Join Jane and Jennifer at Booth #1015 where you can look at and purchase additional Hopes & Dreams quilts, with 100% of the proceeds going to ALS Research.  http://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/HD/ALS.htm

We’re on the road in February and look forward to seeing you in Austin and Hampton during this month of love. Stayed tuned for pictures and video of all our adventures!!

Happy Quilting!

~The Dream Team

 

Batting made from recycled bottles??!!

 Have you heard of Quilters Dream Green batting?  If not, you won’t believe that is being made from plastic bottles!  Dream Green batting is soft, cozy, and cuddly and is 100% made from recycled bottles – which is why it has such an unusual green color (there must be a lot of Mt. Dew drinkers out there).  You wouldn’t think anything this soft could come from those stiff plastic bottles, but it is true!

 

The plastic bottles are washed and cut into chips, then melted and extruded into fine denier poly microfibers.  Other than the color, these fibers are indistinguishable from virgin polyester fibers.  It is wonderful any time we have the opportunity to recycle and reuse plastic, and this use is just amazing.  Each pound of Dream Green rescues 10 bottles that could be added to the landfills.

 

But why would someone want to use polyester batting?  Dream Green and Dream Poly battings are not the same polyester as you may remember from years ago – the new microfibers mimic the cotton fibers in being breathable, soft and drapeable.  The fibers are so fine that they bend when coming in contact with the fabrics so, like cotton fibers, they also resist bearding.  There is no scrim, glues, or binders that cause resistance to the needle, and the fibers are long enough to provide enough structure for easy machine quilting.

 




Gidget lounging in the Dream Green fibers before it is processed!

Dream Green and Dream Poly battings are becoming more popular with modern quilters for a number of reasons:

·         The poly fibers do not hold moisture so it washes and dries very quickly in the machine or on the line

·         There is no shrinkage, so the quilt will have the same look after washing a hundred times as it did when it was first quilted

·         Dream Poly and Dream Green do not hold a crease – fold and store the quilt (or ship it to a show) and shake it out flat with no worries of fold lines or wrinkles.

·         The fibers are needle-punched so you get the right amount of loft – not too puffy and just lofty enough to show off the stitches

 

Give the friendly “Dream Team” at Quilters Dream Batting a call (888-268-8664) or email quiltersdreambatting@juno.comfor a free sample square of the Dream Green, and a mini sample of all the lovely battings made by Quilters Dream!  (We’ve stocked up on samples so there are plenty to go around!)

 

Happy Quilting!

 ~The Dream Team

 

 

Keep Calm and Let It Snow.



The heart of the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, Va

 

We speak to so many customers’ everyday and hear about the weather from all over the country. After hearing what some people tell us, some of us in the office want to move to Florida to bask in the warm sun while others prefer to visit the mountains to breathe in the fresh cold air.

This past weekend Virginia Beach got some snow. It wasn’t much maybe a GOOD inch or so. We never get much snow here so the whole town usually freaks out and the grocery stores are packed with people fighting over cases and cases of water and canned goods! It’s kind of funny to be honest. My preparation was a pot roast and a few bottles of wine. It was so nice to be cozy with a full belly lounging in my pajamas on the couch by 5pm but by 5:30 I started to go a little stir crazy. I had cabin fever within an hour?!  What do you do to entertain yourself when you are cooped up in the house?

 

Happy Quilting!

 ~The Dream Team