Ingrid Whitcher

A friend sent me a picture when she was at the Knoxville show. Even though it did not win anything, it is nice to see it hanging.

I had to take my beloved Bernina sewing machine to the shop for repairs yesterday. It had been acting up and then it started squealing – that is never a good thing. The diagnosis was a burned up motor. I had used it all up. I was scared to hear what the damage was going to be – but it ended up being under $100 dollars to have it fixed!! Boy, was I ever thankful.

I also got the verse quilt completed. I am really happy how it turned out. I used the scripture verses form Numbers 6:24-26. The quilting was done in a variegated thread that blended nicely with the fabrics so the script does not show up very much.

I am working on a new quilt. Actually, it is a quilt top that I have had done for at least 2 years and I could not decide how to quilt it. This week I found out that a friend of ours from church has recurrent cancer. I decided that this quilt will be his. It ended up that I already had the backing and thread. I even had a piece of batting big enough. The center of the quilt is quilted with some verses and the border is going to have a new feather design. The curve of the feather is based on a dinner plate.

Sometimes the best way to work on a project is to step away from it. I have hit a spot in my latest large project that has made me stop and I will have to re-work things before proceeding. A lot of times I just jump in and do it, but then wish I had taken a little time away. So, in order to refresh myself and give the quilt time to rest, I will go to the beach. There is nowhere else that refreshes me as well. The surf was nice and flat today – great for walking, swimming and finding shells. You never know what ideas may come to you while you are sitting enjoying the sound of the waves.

I completed the border for my class sample this week. I am thinking of putting a few hummingbirds on it still – we will see. I have also been working on a new feather quilting design- so I may just go with that. So many choices!!! I really like the border of this quilt – you can hardly tell that the center started out as 4 blocks. Pulling the design into the border softened the design.

I also have been working on a new paper-pieced design. This is 4 blocks put together. The single block finishes at 4 inches. The only thing that I did not think about with the design is the number of points that meet when the blocks are joined together. Wow-what a lump. I certainly will be quilting around it instead of thought it!

My quilt, “In Her Arms” did not place this week at Knoxville. I was very disappointed but it will help me think about trying in shows that feature more artistic quilts instead of traditional. Part of the challenge is finding the right venue to show your quilts.