I have been working on a new digitized collection of my quilting designs for the embroidery sewing machines, and it is coming along nicely. I based the designs on some of my recent quilts, but the drawings are all new. Watch for a September release from OESD if all goes according to schedule. I don't have a title yet, but I'll let you know more details as this project unfolds.
And, speaking of schedules, mine includes shipping off these designs, then quickly switching gears and packing for my trip to Paducah next week. Spring has arrived about 2-3 weeks early here in Wisconsin, so it won't be the dramatic change from winter to spring when I drive down to KY, but it will be wonderful to be back at the show this year and see so many quilts, friends, vendors, BBQ, dogwoods in bloom, friends and quilts at the museum.
I see there are many familiar names with quilts in the show, and many who have taken classes with me. It will be terrific to see your work hanging in this prestigious show......congratulations to all!
Please say hello if you see me, remind me how I know you, as it is a sea of people and it's hard to place people out of context.
While I was working in my sewing room, Oliver discovered the bird lamp. This is a lamp I've had for probably 40 years, has a wrought iron base with a vine and birds and lemons and leaves all over it. Every now and then I put it in the pile of stuff to give away, and then I look at its fun whimsical design and decide to keep it just a bit longer.
No other cat has ever paid the slightest attention to it.
Oliver sat under its warm light and tilted his head and stared at the little birds looking back at him. He ended up with one paw on the head of a bird, just touching it gently, trying to figure out why the outside birds were sitting in Mom's quilting room. He chirped and squeaked, tilted his head to the left and to the right, and finally settled down and slept under the gaze of the happy little birds. I kept drawing. Nothing like a deadline. No chirping for me.
After I return from the AQS Show in Paducah I shall return to some quilting blog posts, ideas, tips, designs. It's time to venture outdoors and enjoy the springtime. Take a bit of time to look around and be inspired, translate that into your quilting ideas.
See you in Paducah!
Keep quilting-- your work gets better every day.
Diane
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18 comments:
I love the picture of Oliver trying to figure out the bird lamp. Youth, even in pets, has such a curious eye. Thanks for sharing the picture. Have a wonderful trip.
Have fun...just wanted you to know that I spent alot of time on your blog the other day and totally enjoyed your tutorials, thanks so much for doing them.
There is no way that you will be able to throw that lamp out now. Have a good time at Paducah.
Buon viaggio a Paducah, Diane! I met you briefly at Asilomar in March after your evening presentation. Your work inspires me and I enjoy your blog.
Maggi is right - you can never throw that lamp out now...Oliver has claimed it. I love how you are so patient with him even though he is a whirlwind through your studio sometimes. My cat, Zoe, loves to lick the thread as it coming off the spool...takes me a bit to figure out why my machine is acting all wonky - then I realize that I've been so focused on my sewing that I didn't see her there having thread fun with thread!
Nothing like a pet to make you smile. One of cats always find a quilt I am working on to lay down on. Thanks for sharing, it put a smile on my face.
Elaine
Nope, can never throw out that lamp, he loves it. Anyway, it once belonged to my mother-in-law, :-)!
Glad you are enjoying the photos. I couldn't resist.
Oliver so far has not played with the thread on the machine when I quilt, but he watches the machine so intently that I worry about a sneak attack, with possible injury, so I am being very careful.
I once brought my machine in for servicing at my LQS and it came back with a note that read "this is a sewing machine not a cat bed." Guess it was easy for him to figure out my Brownie liked to lay on top of the machine and watch the fabric go by...
ps...this will be my first year at Paducah!
Have a great time at Paducah!
Once my service guy told me the tension discs were clogged with ...... cat hair.... oh no!
Oliver looked like he had a great day! Will the quilting designs be in the ART format so I can use them on my Bernina? I hope you have a great time in Paducah. I always love that show because there is also the nice shops to visit in the town. Lynne
I think the designs will come in multi-formats for all embroidery machines. I'll check to be sure though.
Dear Diane,
I thought of you yesterday as we put our little fuzzy friend down. I will miss her terribly when I'm at the sewing machine, Velvet was my best critic and best sewing pal. Thank you for giving us Oliver's antics as a new friend in your sewing room. I look forward to also getting a new kitty when the pain of my loss is not so great. Meanwhile hope to see you in Paducah and thank you for your words of encouragement and quilting ideas, I'm sure those lessons helped get my quilt in.
Marty, I am so sorry to hear about Velvet. I know how very, very hard it is to say goodbye to a loved pet.
I hope I will see you in Paducah, good luck with your quilt, and when the time is right you will know, and have a new kitty who will share your quilting adventures with you, and bring smiles again.
Diane,how are you?
What do you think of modern embroidery sewing machines? I can not afford one, but they are so clever. They can even do "Diane"! I sometimes wonder if it's necessary that we practice day and night, then get defeated by an expensive smart machine...With computer technology advances, one day I believe they can "make" man-made mistakes too. How will quilts be judged then?
Do I think too much?
What a wonderful cat Oliver is, he must be such wonderful company for you. Will the designs only be availabe for embroidery machine? It would be very special to have printed designs, or DVD of your work...if you ever find the time :) I had a look at the Bernina 830 last week, but I dont do embroidery, and personally am not keen on that...and much to my surprose found some of your designs on it...but I dont really need the embroidery part...was very tempting though when I saw you 'in' there :) I hope to get the 820 in the not too distant future.
Yes, anyone can now "do Diane"....
The designs are for the various formats for the embroidery machines. I am going to quilt up a small quilt with some of them, two for the Bernina mega hoop. I of course will do them free motion, the old-fashioned way. :-)
If I do another book I will include some designs in it, if possible. Thanks for the idea!
Oliver is great company for me, only curious, not destructive, so things are working out very well indeed. We think he is taking "sweetness lessons" at night while we sleep because each day he gets sweeter...
Ming, I don't worry too much about the computereized machines. They are for some people and they love them and for many it is the only way they will get fancy quilting designs done beautifully at home on their own machines. They have come a long way and now can do larger designs that look quite lovely. The designs I have done for them and my new ones definitely have mistakes built in, as they are hand drawn by me, then digitized exactly how I drew them. They are not computer generated, so the results look wonderfully natural. At least to me!
It takes some skill to use these in quilts, and creativity to combine and place designs appropriately.
So far in quilt shows the quilts (mostly longarm) that use digitized designs or computer controlled quilting machines are in separate categories or are labelled as such. Who knows what will develop in the future?? This is a good subject for a future blog post!
I have long admired your quilting work (just spectacular), but I am know coveting your kitty.
Taryn, Oliver is a treasure! I just returned from my visit to Paducah and he was ecstatic to see me, did all sorts of cute things. His discovery of the little birds on the lamp still makes me smile.
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