Wednesday's Wanderings #13 - Couching in Lancaster

After spending 4 days sitting at my sewing machine, demonstrating couching at The AQS Lancaster quilt show, I came up with a few ideas about how I could use this technique to fit quilting. (You can read more about that here.) Many people use couching to add decorative thread to fabric that can then be used to create clothing.  That's really not my style.  

I spent a lot of the time using one of my hand dyed fabrics with Wonderfil's Dazzle as the decorative thread. I couched it down with a green rayon thread.  I backed the fabric with batting so that it was quilted at the same time as I was couching.  (Alternatively, back the fabric with interfacing.)

 These green wavy lines stitched on this turquoise hand dyed fabric made me think  of  both the ocean with seaweed and a field filled with flowers.  I decided to go with the flower idea.

I created fusible appliques from silk dupioni and using a Wonderfil 12 weight cotton thread called Spagetti (Where do they get these names?) stitched it down using a blanket stitch by machine

and a primitive stitch by hand.

My First Book Signing

I had my first book signing today and it was so much fun.  It was at Bitty Kinna's and it coincided with the AQS Lancaster quilt show.  Meeting quilters from NJ, PA, MA, NY, VA, CT and Canada was so enjoyable.  No matter where we are from, we all love fabric.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  Perfect for shopping.

 I was sitting near the front window and had a perfect view of the Amish horse and  buggies trotting along.  Although I cannot go back tomorrow, I signed the remaining copies and left a few quilts from the book behind.  So if you are hitting the quilt shops on Sat or Sunday, go check it out.  Tell Gina, I sent you.