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Question of the week February 7, 2010
Articles - Question of the Week
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Welcome to the start of another week. Super Bowl Sunday is finally here, and one week from today is Valentine's Day. I hope those of you buried under these record snowstorms have power to sew and are staying warm.
 
Last week we talked about organizing our work stuff and you all had some great ideas for storage. This week I would like to discuss bobbins; particularly partially filled bobbins.
 
What do you do with partially filled bobbins?
How do you store them?
 
Join us in the forum and share your solutions.  Stay warm and have a creative week.  Goooooooo Saints!
 
 
Viki Kirby, Quilter in the Spotlight
In the Spotlight - Quilters

vikiThis week we are featuring quilter Viki Kirby of Westpoint, IN.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy getting to know her; and I know you’ll enjoy viewing the photographs of the lovely quilts she has shared with us.

Please be sure to visit the forum and thank Viki for taking the time to participate in our “In the Spotlight” feature.

MQResource: Viki, please tell us a little about your family.

I have been married 34 years to an engineer and have two daughters, ages 25 and 26.  Margot is a portrait photographer, thus the artsy portrait of me.  Olivia graduated in May with her Master's degree in library science.  She is still searching for work.  I have a bird that loves to sing when she hears the shower or the longarm machine running.  Leviticus is my cat, and he is often called ooze kitty because when you pick him up he goes limp and just oozes in your arms.  Lydia is the lab, and I have to say I am sorry to have named her Lydia.  It sounds way to much like Olivia and sometimes I get the two names mixed up.

 viki

MQR: Where do you call home?

Home is Westpoint, Indiana, on five acres surrounded by woods and a newly-planted orchard.  I gave up gardening because the deer would clean it out every year.  They especially love strawberries.  I love flowers and used to work for a greenhouse, so I have 20 rose bushes and every kind of hosta grown as well as ferns, hydrangeas, peonies - well you get the idea.

MQR: How long have you been quilting?

I’ve been quilting seven years total.  I worked three years at a quilt shop where I learned how to use the machine.  On a trip to Paducah, my husband and I looked at machines, as he was always trying to get me to go out on my own.  I was too terrified I wouldn't have customers so refused to give it a go.  As I was trying out an APQS, he came up and asked which of the machines I preferred and I said "This one".  He laughed and said, "Good, that's the one I just bought you."  Thus began my own business, with me shaking in my shoes.

viki

MQR: Do you still do much piecing, or are you all about the quilting?

I love piecing but find little time to do it.  There is nothing like putting together colors to make a design.  I make quilts and put them in a trunk for wedding presents and baby gifts. When I get an invitation, I just go and pick out one that best suits the occasion.  I love the quilting as well, and I "need' to continually learn new methods and ideas.  If it isn't fresh, I get bored.

 MQR: Where do you find inspiration for your quilts and quilting designs?

Chats, webshots, blogs, classes and shows.

MQR: What is the most challenging part of quilting for you?

Saying no, I can't do that for you by when you want it.  Twice I ended up quilting all night to meet the customers’ wants.

viki

MQR: What are your favorite quilting tools?

Tools?  I don't need no stinking tools.  Actually, the only tool I use is Megan's Best straight edge when I have to do SID.

MQR: What is your current favorite quilting book or pattern?

My favorite piecing pattern is Snail's Trail, and I have yet to actually make one.  My current favorite book is “Pieceful Scenes” by Angela Madden.  I look at that book so often and plan my own quilt and drool over hers.  Someday I'll really do one.  My favorite longarm quilting pattern is feathers.  I'll put feathers on everything.

 viki

MQR: Can you tell us about one memorable quilting class or workshop that you have taken?

Jamie Wallen's Thread Fusions was total inspiration.  Deloa's Borders and Sashings gave me dozens of very useful patterns that I often use.  Carla's Quilt Whisperer was incredible, and I feel I was set free at the end of it.  It really sparked my imagination, and I look forward to every quilt (well, almost) and coming up with a unique design.

MQR: If you could offer one helpful tip or hint to new quilters, what would it be?

Don’t say "I can't"  My dad used to say, "Can't never did anything."

MQR: What hobbies do you have (beyond quilting)?

Hiking and camping, antiquing, auctions, flowers.

viki

MQR: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A dip of Zanzibar chocolate on top of a dip of Pralines and Cream. 

MQR: Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?

I like salty pecans on my sweet chocolate sundae.

viki

MQR: What is your favorite beverage?

Strawberry, pineapple, coconut smoothie or 100% cranberry juice.

MQR: What is your least favorite food?

Lima beans

MQR: What is your favorite time of year?

Spring, when everything comes to life and fall, when the cold kills it all back again.   I like fresh starts.

viki

MQR: What are your favorite books/authors?

Bible, Les Miserables, Harry Potter

MQR: What are your favorite movies?

PS, I Love You, Belezaire, Princess Bride, and the first Pirates

MQR: What is one of your goals for 2010?

To enter a quilt at MQS

MQR: What is your favorite quote?

May I live my life in such a way that when my feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, "Darn, she's awake!"

 

All photographs have been provided by Viki. 

Thanks so much, Viki!  Please don’t forget to visit the forum with any questions or comments that you may have for her.

 

 

 
Whistlestop Web Tour Vol.36
Articles - Whistlestop Web Tour
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Inspiration

It's February in the Northern Hemisphere and that means that we are in mostly gray days. At least, that's what it feels like in Virginia. When it's gray outside I have to look for inspiration inside. Here are some of my favorite color and design web sites. I hope you find some that you enjoy.

For color inspiration, you can't beat ColourLovers, it's a large web community with libraries full of color and texture palettes. They have a great blog with several posts daily.
Wear Palettes is a blog that posts celebrity fashion and color palettes from fashion photography.

If you want to create your own color palettes, Big Huge Labs is a good online tool. Upload your photos and BHL creates the palette for you. Another is Pictaculous, which, I think I like a little better.
I haven't tried any of these but here are a few more:

I also love photography sites for inspiration. Here are a few of those:

Finally, here are some design inspiration sites

I hope you enjoyed the tour and found a site or two that you will check on in the future. Are there other sites that you recommend for color or design inspiration?
Join us in the forum and add your favorite color and design inspiration sites.
 

 

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