I have exciting news! This week our house has gone under contract to be sold at the end of May. If everything goes smoothly, we’ll be able to move as planned on May 27th. We are incredibly grateful that the offer came at such a good time. Really, we are SO thrilled, but trying to hold back some enthusiasm until after the “due diligence” period. There are so many moving parts in making this self-directed international move, so getting to stick with our original travel plans is a financial and mental relief. I’m sure you can imagine.

One of those moving parts is my quilting business. Last week I stopped accepting quilting orders in anticipation of an end-of-May move. Now that works out well! I am quilting customer quilts all this week and next week, likely finishing ahead of schedule. I’ve told myself I get to start packing after these quilts are finished. Believe it or not, that’s a carrot! I’ve been working toward this move for so long that packing is quite the reward.

That means today’s “in the Quilting Studio” may be my last featuring my dear American customers. Here are just some of the lovely quilts I had the pleasure of quilting recently.

Meadowland by Mary R.

Don’t you love the color play in this gently earthy quilt? It’s made in Then Came June’s popular Meadowland pattern, showcasing Essex linen cotton blends.

Dense quilting Meadowland. Stitched in Color.jpg

Mary requested dense quilting, a good call for counteracting linen’s tendency to fray. I used a gray-brown thread which shows on the white background fabric, but blends with her feature fabrics. I felt a white thread would have shown too much on the midnight blue and black portions of the quilt. Mary and I are pleased with the texture!

Meadowland by Julia Y.

Can you believe I quilted another Meadowland quilt, within a week of the first? Though I gave Julia several quilting suggestions, she zeroed in on the same pattern I had chosen for Mary’s Meadowland.

Open Meadowland quilted. Stitched in Color.jpg

This is Bread Basket quilting, from my Rounded Geometric design group. Scroll back and forth between this quilt and Mary’s version. Notice that Julia’s is quilted much less densely, as she wanted to prioritize a cuddly quilt. This might help you understand if you prefer open vs. dense quilting.

Meadowland quilt by Julia Y. Stitched in Color.jpg

For sure, both are beautiful quilts! Julia’s is the picture of spring.

Vintage Strips by Lisa Linton

I love quilting vintage rescue quilts. These quilts make the connection with history is so tactile. The fabrics feel different, look different and the sewing is often less rigid than the modern style. It’s such a humbling reminder of the abundance we enjoy these days. Also, a reminder to slow down.

Vintage strip quilt. Stitched in Color.jpg

This is a vintage quilt top that Lisa rescued made by Grandma Erickson. She patched some holes in the patchwork with charming, irregular-sized hearts. They fit the ethos of the quilt so well.

Vintage heart patches. Stitched in Color.jpg

The elongated Crystal Ball quilting on my Brave quilt caught her eye, so we quilted this one with the same. The dense quilting style will support these fragile fibers so that the quilt can finally be used, washed and loved.

Dense quilting services. Stitched in Color.jpg

Braque by Kate Pemberton

Braque quilt by Kate P. Stitched in Color.jpg

I was so tickled to receive this quilt, which Kate called her “Toasty Teal” Braque quilt. The Braque quilt pattern by Melinda Lin is inspired by the modern art of Georges Braque. I love, love the pattern, of course. But what made me smile was the reference to a 2017 mosaic contest of mine, Toasty Teal. I file all the mosaic contests on my blog under the menu Inspiration/Color. It’s super fun to see them used that way - as color inspiration for a project!

large Prismatic quilting. Stitched in Color.jpg

Kate had her heart set on angular quilting, so we used Prismatic large scale with turquoise thread. On this cubist-inspired patchwork, the design looks like shattered glass. I think she’s going to love it!

Once again, I want to thank you all for choosing to send your quilts my way. I’m very sorry not to be able to continue quilting for my American readers due to our relocation. You’ve been so understanding and supportive! I do appreciate it! If anything changes and we do remain here longer, I’ll be sure to let you know when I can take more orders.

xo,

Rachel