A Quilter's Life

Tonya Dunning started her business to get the word out about fidget quilts. Since then she has expanded her line with other fidget items. She learned how to write quilt patterns and realized that she loves editing and writing. So she not only writes her own patterns but is able to edit patterns for other quilt designers. Examples of Tonya's fidget quilts.  The last picture is the marble fidget. Connect with Tonya Website:  Memory Barn Studio Facebook: Memory Barn Studio Instagram: memorybarnstudio YouTube: Memory Barn Studio I want to give a shout out to Danelle Howard for encouraging Tonya to share her story on A Quilter’s Life. If you missed Danelle's interview on A Quilter's Life - Danelle Howard Here’s Danelle's links: Website:  Cottage Path Quilting Instagram: cottagepathquilting YouTube: Danelle Howard – My Gathering Basket

I’m excited to share the favorite quilting tools of my guests on A Quilter’s Life podcast from 2024.  I love how this list changes from year to year.  You’d think that they were sharing the new and improved tools that we all love to get our hands on.  But it seems we are all so thankful that we have some basic quilting tools that allow us to make our beautiful quilts. Computer Software - Design quilts Seam Guide - Seams So Easy by Lori Holt   You don’t have to draw the lines for half square triangles or flying geese.  It makes it easy. Needle - Brand new sharp applique needle.  Hand needles get dull also and it stitches like butter when it’s brand new. Oliso Iron  Thimble - Handmade leather thimble Seam Ripper - Seam Ripper to correct our mistakes Quilting Hoop - A Norwood frame that sits on a pedestal with a ball joint swivel Design Wall - Fons and Porter has grommets to hang it Scissors Karen Kay Buckley little red handed scissors  Karen K Buckley scissors for collage  small scissors to get in small places Sewing Machine Juki to sew fast Quilting Machine Digital dual foot on sewing machine.  Has special censors and keeps everything neat Stiletto Stiletto it makes tricky piecing go so much better Stiletto helps grip fabric,  Been indispensable on art quilting. African porcupine quill stiletto  Not going to harm your machine like a metal or wood one might. Light box. Helps make pet portraits to get the colors and shapes right.   Also for paperpiecing.   When drawing patterns when making mosaics. Light desk to create nice applique patterns. Rulers Stripology Ruler -  Easy to make squares.  For instance you can lay it on the fabric and cut the size you want your square.  Then turn the fabric a quarter of a turn and lay the ruler on again and cut the same length again and you have perfect squares. Efficiency

Sharing a tip has always been a question for each of my guests on A Quilter’s Life podcast.  But this is the third year I have put them into an episode sharing just the tips from the year..  This year I’m going to add who gave the tip so if you want to look them up you can. We received so many great tips this year.  I wanted to have a top 10 list, but I ended up with 12.  These first eight are tips that just one person gave this year. 12-Andi Stanfield Wash batiks before cutting.  Those fabrics tend to bleed more because of the process used to create them. 11-Erin Grogan When making covered corners, also known as snowballed corners, instead of following the normal directions of sew, trim, press.  Change the order to sew, press, and trim.  The bias edge won’t stretch as it does with the first way. 10-Jan Lockhart Take a picture which helps, but also go the next step and change the picture to black and white and it helps with color placement.  I have been amazed when I’ve used Jan’s tip.  Certain blocks show that they’re out of place when using this process. 9-Holly Sprout  Make sure you read through the instructions completely before you start the project and measure things thoroughly before you cut them out.  We’ve all been there when we’re in a hurry and we’re so sure we understand and measured correctly.  But taking that extra step to double check is always worth it. 8-Lisa Shepard Stewart  Try a new fabric that you’ve never used before in quilting and mix it in with the fabric you have.  Repurpose a pillow or something simple where you can experiment.  I still haven’t reached a comfort level to try this.  Have you?  Maybe I just need to take that leap. 7-Robyn Capps Don’t over think.  Instead when you think about it just do it. Don’t be afraid.  Robyn’s tip could probably apply for me to try Lisa’s tip. 6-Mary Shepard Suggested the book Walk by Jacquie Gering because Jacquie’s explanation of how to get a good sandwich and how you get a good stitch is like nothing else Mary has ever seen.  5-Dora Cary Gave two tips.  First - Slow down.  Dora’s second tip is to make a template out of batting.  She also has a no baste quilting method. Don’t need to pin it because cotton sticks to cotton.   4 -Robyn Capps & Juanita Roby Robyn Capps Make sure you have a good ¼ foot on your sewing machine.  Makes a difference on your pattern and your seams.  It’s a personal preference if you want to press the seams open or to the side.  Juanita Roby Make sure you have your quarter inch seams good! 3-Teri Tope and Eva Saunders both had tips for working with thread Teri Tope When you pull your thread off of the spool.  Use the end that you started...

I don’t know how Ashli Montgomery keeps up with all the things she has going on!  I’m guessing that the support from her family helps with so many of the projects she’s doing. This is my second interview with Ashli.  I wanted to touch base with her as she has some new books available under her pen name, Virginia’dele Smith, that you might want for a Christmas gift.  She also is leading a book club and quilt alongs among other responsibilities she has going on.   Ashli’s nonprofit organization, Quilt 2 END ALZ, continues to be an excellent resource for those that want to contribute to the Alzheimer’s organization with their quilting. Find out more about Ashli Montgomery and Quilt 2 END ALZ through these links: Website: Quilt 2 END ALZ Facebook: Quilt 2 END ALZ Twitter: Quilt 2 END ALZ Pinterest: Quilt 2 END ALZ Instagram: quilt2endalz And here's Ashli's links for her books Website: Virginia'Dele Smith Facebook: Author Virginia'dele Smith Pinterest: Author Virginia"dele Smith