More Aurifil Thread Journey Sightings!!!

Hello Friends, I hope you have been well!  I am so excited to share with you additional Thread Journey sightings today!  I love it when you send me pictures of your quilts.

#1.  Miriam’s…

You remember this cool picture of Miriam’s Thread Journey quilt top, right?

Well, Miriam has totally completed her quilt!!!  I feel so honored that she included my name on the quilt label!!!! THANKS, Miriam… I feel like I have arrived, haha!

#2.  Kathy’s…

Meanwhile, Kathy (for whom I am always grateful because she prays for me!) finished constructing her version of Thread Journey.  I love the rich colors Kathy has used.  I actually see her quilt being used during the holidays.

I am always blown away by the thought of how we as quilters are bound by threads as we embark on our individual, and yet interconnecting quilting journey(s) that are seasoned with so many sweet friends!  I know that to be true in my own quilting journey.  I just chatted with a quilting friend today who has quickly become one of my greatest cheerleaders, and that did my heart a lot of good…. to think I probably wouldn’t have met her if we weren’t bound by threads!

With that, I want to thank ALL of you for your friendships.  I actually owe many of you emails.  I feel quite bad about behind on my emails… I am hoping I will be able to crawl out of the pile soon to write you as I have promised.

Thank you for stopping by.  Blessings to all of you!  NOW — I want to hear about the sweet friends you have made in your quilting journey.

My Designs, YOUR QUILTS!!!

Hello Friends, I think there’s nothing more exciting for a designer to see her design being made into REAL quilts by quilters!  And I have a few to share with you today…

#1.  Here is another Movement in Squares quilt.  Pat made this as a graduation gift!!!!

#2.  Pam has used my Curious Cat design multiple times!!!  My original design used cat prints in the quilt, but Pam has used the design to cover different themes: Japanese Kawaii, Christmas, Cars and Underwater!  I love it whenever Pam emails me pictures of the quilts she makes with my designs!

#3.  The same Pam brought my First Thanksgiving wallhanging to sea!!!  Haha!!!

#4.  Miriam made a fabulous version of my Care For A Cuppa? wallhanging.  The pattern is found in my book Creative Quilts & Projects Using Precuts or Stash.  Incidentally, you can get the book at a sale price right now here.

#5.  And Deborah from Canada made a Christmas version of my Flight of Colors Pillow (also in my Creative Quilts & Projects using Precuts or Stash book).  Deborah does beautiful work, and you can follow her work on Instagram.

Thank you, dear quilting friends, for sharing your quilts with me!!!  Keep them coming.  Have a great day!!!!!

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Click here if you would like to see more readers’ projects.

A matter of perspective & My Design-Your Quilt

You see the head shot of me – taken by the photographer when I was filming for one of my online classes last year; and then, you see me – drawn by my portraitist-in-residence.  I think I might have to lay off the rouge a bit…

Meanwhile, I was most thrilled to receive a picture of another version of my Movement in Squares last week.  Susan H. made Movement in Squares in blues as a wedding.  SO BEAUTIFUL!  And I cannot be more thrilled Susan chose one of my designs. :)

You may still download the pattern instructions here.

Click here if you would like to see more readers’ projects.

Thank you for stopping by.  I shall catch up with you tomorrow!  Hugs to you.

Liz’s FMQ Quilting Story!

Hello Friends, I am working on a quilt I have titled Thread Journey – sneak peeks are forthcoming.   Indeed quilting is very much a journey. Oftentimes quilters relate to the events in their life by the quilts they make.  I made my first quilt when a nephew was born, and now that nephew is 10 years old.  I look back, and it’s definitely been a journey.

Starting something new in the journey is what came to mind when Liz wrote me about the class project she made from my online machine quilting class, Learn to Machine Quilt.  Click here to read more about the class. Liz graciously sent me pictures of her class project.  She did a great job, don’t you think?

Front:

Back:

Here is what Liz shared about attempting something new in her quilting journey:

“Well, the only quilting I have ever done is “stitch in the ditch” or just straight line quilting. It was so much quicker and easier to just go straight. Now, I haven’t made many quilts. Probably a half dozen or so wall quilts, two lap quilts and some mug rugs and pot holders. All of these were done with straight line quilting. You can probably guess that after a while you feel you need to grow and expand your stitching repertoire.

I’ve been reading Wendy’s blog for quite some time now and even purchased Wendy’s book, Recreating Antique Quilts. I saw Wendy’s Learn to Machine Quilt class offered on Annie’s, and signed up.  Wendy’s teaching style seemed patient* and yet orderly. I really learned from the repetitive motions of sketching out my stitches before actually stitching them. Also, in Wendy’s Learn to Machine Quilt Class, I learned how valuable it is it practice, practice, practice first with the sketching and then with actually stitching out the designs on practice panels first. I started out feeling as though I was fumbling and then by the end of stitching the sampler I felt as if I could definitely add a little style to my next quilt.
I know I have a long way to go at becoming proficient but the journey to get there is so much fun! I love to quilt and now I feel like an artist who is painting with thread!  I’m looking forward to starting Wendy’s next Machine Quilting Class and project.”

Liz said it so well about machine quilting on her domestic machine being so much fun, and that she now feels like an artist who is painting with thread!  I just love that!  Friends, it is a journey, truly!

NOW — email me at wendy2@wendysheppard.net if you would like to have $5 off for signing up the class!

*Wendy’s note:  Miss Baby probably probably has a different take on my patience, or rather impatience! :)

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Click here and here to see pictures of class projects sent to me by other quilters.

My McCall’s Designs, YOUR Quilts!

Happy Monday, Dear Friends.  I hope you had a good weekend, and your week has gotten off a good start!   I am certainly enjoying the sun and slightly warmer weather where we are.

I am always happy to see quilts made with my designs.

1.  Making Valentines in McCall’s Quilting (March/April 2015)

Diana from Georgia made my Making Valentines quilt for her cousin.  Diana calls her quilt Heart to Heart — I love that name!!!  I love seeing the pink and red accents in Diana’s Heart to Heart. Diana’s quilt is quilted by Carrie Rebeiz.

2.  Owl Be Your Friend  in McCall’s Quick Quilts (August/September 2014)

Marty from California made a space themed quilt for a little boy name Shepard.   I feel so honored because my last name is Sheppard!  Marty adapted the quilt to fit Shep’s double bed.

3.  Spiral Squared in McCall’s Quilting (January/February 2014)

Kathy from Wisconsin made Spiral Squared in all grays for her daughter-in-law Carrie to hang above Carrie’s fireplace.  You know how I love gray!!!

Thank you, ladies, for being willing to share the quilts you make using my designs.  And a BIG thank you to the editorial team at McCall’s Quilting for the opportunities to contribute – it’s been an absolutely joy for me to work with the wonderful people at McCall’s!

Have a great week, everyone!

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Click here, and here to see quilts made with my designs featured in McCall’s Quilting.

My design, your quilt: Color Burst

Hello Friends,  it’s been quite a week at Ivory Spring – besides running a bit behind on the planned stuff in our schedules, I received some unexpected assignments that demanded my immediate attention.  But it’s okay, some weeks are like that… I re-adjusted my schedule while waiting for Miss Baby get out of school, I think everything that should fall in place will still happen — except getting back to your comments will probably not happen this weekend. Please know I am NOT ignoring you!

Most of you probably know of my Iron Man quilt, more daintily known as Color Burst.   It is a DAR-inspired quilt.  Click here to read more about the quilt.

Elizabeth of Such A Sew and Sew sent me a picture of her version — absolutely GORGEOUS! Me thinks her color choices are much prettier than mine!!  She beautifully calls her quilt Jardim da Amizade (Friendship Garden).  Seeing Friendship Garden made my day!  Elizabeth has graciously given me the permission to show off her quilt on Ivory Spring. Thank you, Elizabeth! I love that Elizabeth uses the HST units from her stash to make the quilt. We ALL have those HST units stored in boxes and baggies, don’t we? I know I do. :)

I love how the sun rays kissed Elizabeth’s Friendship Garden quilt because true friendships brings warmth and light into our lives!  Click here to read more about Elizabeth’s Friendship Garden.

And to close out this week, please allow me to say thank you again for YOUR friendship!  Have a great weekend.  I shall catch up with you next week — I would probably be half dead from trying to check everything off my list, but I promise I will check in! :)  Hugs to you all.

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Click here to see other readers’ projects.

My design, your quilt: Movement in Squares

Hello Friends, I hope you are well!  It’s another busy week at Ivory Spring with lots of designing, class proposals etc…. but I am slowly getting there.  At least I think I am over with the yucky flu!

Christine sent her version of my Movement in Squares quilt.   Click on quilt name to download the pattern instructions.

Christine is entering her quilt in a show — thanks for sharing your quilt with us, Christine, and all the best to your quilt at the show!

Thanks for stopping by!  I will have a couple of magazine projects to share with you before the week is over.  Stay tuned, and stay warm for my northern Hemisphere friends!

My designs, your quilts!

Yes, your very own!!!  For me, one of the exciting aspects about designing quilts is that I get to contribute a tiny part in YOUR quilts through my designs.  I love it when my designs are used as springboard for quilters to make their OWN quilts by choosing their own fabrics, and adding their own flair to the design.

First off, Pam turned my Curious Cats quilt into a Christmas Quilt…

Curious Cat (featured in Fons & Porter’s Easy Quilts, Summer 2013)

Pam’s Little Drummer Boy Christmas quilt:

And Pam hand quilts her quilts.  Anyone who hand quilts is a hero in my book:

Next, it’s Denise’s very sweet version of Owl Be Your Friend quilt…

Owl Be Your Friend (featured in McCall’s Quick Quilts, August/September 2014)

Denise’s sweet version:

Thank you to Pam and Denise for being willing to share their work with us!!

So — what are the deciding factors in a quilt design that compel you to actually make the quilt?

Thanks again for stopping by, Friends!  I shall catch up with you later!  Hugs to you all.

p.s. Click here to view other readers’ projects!

Joyce the winner!!!

Hello Friends, I hope you are well.  You have seen Dear Friend Joyce’s version of my Song of Praise pillow here.

And look at the latest on Joyce’s pillow!!  Joyce’s pillow won first place at her county fair.  Congratulations, Joyce – the honor is well deserved!!

And a big “Thank You” to Joyce for sharing her work with us!

Curious mind wants to know if you enter your work (quilts, pies, anything) in your county fair…

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a lovely rest of the day.  Hugs to you all.

Joyce’s Song of Praise Pillow

… or rather Song of Patriotism pillow!  The following pictures show what I mean.  Dear Friend Joyce made my Song of Praise pillow in patriotic colors, and she plans to display her pillow through the summer!  Isn’t Joyce’s pillow a beauty?

I always like to quilt my pillow top before constructing the pillowcase because I think the quilting adds a dimensional look to the pillow top.  I never remember to take pictures of my pillow tops before they are quilted… but Joyce didn’t forget. Her pictures illustrate the dimensionless/before quilting and dimensional/after quilting looks perfectly!

Before:

After (and I see Joyce has quilted my Jester’s Hat motif – she knows how to make my day!):

Joyce is a woman of details – she even made her pillow back beautiful!  I love her blue/red pillow back.

Thank you, Joyce, for sharing your patriotic Song of Praise pillow with us! Click here to read about my original Song of Praise pillow.

Thank you for stopping by!  Now, do you have a favorite patriotic song? Curious mind would love to know.

I think mine would have to be My Country, Tis of Thee.

1

My country, ’tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride,

From ev’ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

2

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

3

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom’s song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

4

Our fathers’ God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom’s holy light,

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King

Thanks for stopping by, Dear Friends!  Happy Monday and Happy Week to you.

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You can view more of Joyce’s work here, and here.

Spiral Squared from India

With permissions from McCall’s Quilting and the quiltmaker, I am very excited to share with you a blue version of my Spiral Squared quilt, made by Dolly in India.  It is a gorgeous quilt, don’t you agree?  Needless to say, I am beyond thrilled to have Dolly use one of my designs for her recently completed quilt.  For that matter, I am always over the moon when a quilter uses one of my designs.

The following is my original yellow/gray version.  Click here for information on pattern instructions.

If you have made this quilt in other colors, please please send me a picture of your quilt.  I should dearly like to see it!

Thanks for stopping by.   I shall catch up with you later.

p.s.  You may click here to see other readers’ projects.

Machell’s STAINED GLASS quilt

Hello Friends, I am so glad you are visiting!  I am happy to share with you Machell’s very cheerful version of my Stained Glass quilt.  Machell shared the story behind this quilt: “I wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your pattern Stained Glass from the Simple Quilts & sewing magazine. When I first saw it I knew it was the perfect pattern for my daughter’s youth group leader who was moving to another city. I wanted to make her something that will bring her comfort when she was missing her friends and students. I also wanted to give her something special in appreciation for all she has done for my daughter. I’ve attached a picture of the quilt, my daughter, and her youth leader… I added a few more rows to make it bigger.”

Doesn’t it just make your heart sing when you hear about stories like Machell’s?  I think Machell’s story is all about blessings!  Machell’s family is blessed by her daughter’s youth group leader’s investing in Machell’s daughter’s life.  In turn, Machell blesses the youth group leader with a quilt made with love.  The youth group leader’s heart is blessed by the quilt, as I am sure Machell’s heart is blessed as well while she was making the quilt!  I love to hear a story where a quilt is appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by, and many thanks to Machell for sharing the quilt she made.  I do hope you have a lovely and blessed day.

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Here is my original Stained Glass quilt.  Click here for more information on the quilt.