DoverPictura Blog Entry

Earlier this week I entered a contest with Dover, which has some great books to help quilters in designing quilts. To my surprise I received an email from Amanda who writes for Dover Pictura Blog. My comment had caught her eye and she asked if I would write a guest blog sharing how living in my area influenced my quilting.

I am one of those fortunate quilters living in “The Great Outdoors.” For the last 25 plus years, we have lived near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and spend a lot of time visiting our favorite place…. Cades Cove. This is a valley with an 11-mile loop you drive around sightseeing and making stops shown in the Tour Book of places where early settlers lived and worked in the cove.  In the springtime, we love seeing the yellow jonquils blooming where old homesteads once stood with Dogwoods and Mountain Laurel also in bloom. Deer can be seen in the open fields where crops once grew. The black bears and their young cubs are a real treat and are beginning to roam.  There is nothing prettier than a big Momma Bear running with her 3 cubs trailing behind. We take our RV to the campground during spring and autumn. It’s these times of the year that I get most of my ideas for my quilts or do hand sewing. Evenings we find ourselves sitting by the campfire and I find myself thinking about future projects and what fabrics I will be using but then it’s roasting marshmallow time.  The view from my sewing room is looking out at those mountains I love.  Every moment I spend in my sewing room I am in my happy place enjoying a quilter’s life. Most of the quilts I make are donated to various individuals that have touched my life. The quilt I am working on now includes memories of our time living in Fairbanks, Alaska with the USAF. I am also into sewing small wall hangings of the mountains using a rotary cutter, Ombre and landscape fabrics. I like to blend and fade the colors into each other. This leaves a lot to my imagination and with the mountains they are forever changing, one day more beautiful than the next. 

Love my HQ Avante18 w/ ProStitcher

"S" Peacock Challenge

Being a member of the Village Quilters, our February Guild Meeting was going to be exciting. The Guild had put out an AQS challenge to it's members. The theme was "Monograms".  How hard could that be? I hadn't entered anything so thought this sounded easy enough. Well, the thought was good and the one thing I learned was to start planning as soon as next years challenge is announced.  I knew the fabrics I wanted to use plus of course I had to use my AccuQuilt GO and whatever die I chose as I had a pretty good collection. How hard could it be to make an "S"?  Then where was I going to put the "J" and "P"?  After playing with it for several weeks I finally had my design ready and sewed it to the background fabric. Then I put it on my HQ Avante18. I thought I knew how I was going to quilt it until I started. If only I had one more day! Anyway, I entered my wall hanging and my quilting friends liked it especially the quilting.
 It was done. Now that I have it home again I will add more quilting and redo my binding as I was very unhappy how it went on. Then off to another project!

"Tribute to a Hometown Hero" Show & Tell at Local Guild

My quilt "Tribute to a Hometown Hero" has been seen by quite a few folks but before I gave it to Lowell I wanted to share it with my quilting friends at my guild meeting. I belong to Village Quilters Guild in Loudon, TN. and we meet the 2nd Friday of each month. Our guild is very active with 280+ members. Each month time is set aside for "Show & Tell" and I was pretty nervous about showing my quilt. Little did I know but my friend, Gail Pearson had told President Jackie Trombly about it.

Next thing I know Jackie starts talking about my quilt. She  begins by refreshing the story behind the quilt as alot of the women remember the events that cool Fall week concerning this young Marines death and how it  affected everyone whether you knew him or not. She also spoke of the State Trooper's accident and then I was asked to come forward with my quilt. By now I wasn't sure my feet knew how to walk and prayed I could speak. As I handed my quilt to the ladies who would hold it up I heard a gasp. I turned around to look at the quilt and for the first time I saw it from a distance. I told them how I had known Frankie's parents and the struggle in life they had. How Frankie had come into Lowell's life by giving him a ride home. Frankie was 12 when he decided he wanted to stay with and Lowell. I knew Lowell's grief was beyond belief and I wanted to do something special for him. I asked Lowell to gather some of Frankie's t-shirts and I would make a t-shirt quilt for him.
It took me several months to figure out what I was going to do but once I started it took on it's own life. The signatures were from his fellow Marines that Frankie had served with. I found a Marine Corp pillow panel, American Flag and Marine Corp fabric to use. As I am talking about Lowell's accident and how I hoped this quilt would help in his healing process I could feel tears begin to swell in my eyes. Oh no, not now!
"Tribute to a Hometown Hero" is a very special quilt and means alot to me as my hubby was in the USAF when we got married.  Now that he is retired and rides with the Patriot Guard I will always have a special place in my heart for those who have served in the past and serve now to protect our freedoms. When I finished talking I was in disbelief as everyone in attendance were on their feet applauding. Now the tears were streaming down my cheeks and all I could say was Thank You.
During our break they asked if I could lay the quilt out for everyone to see. I told them not to look close as I am new at quilting with my Long-arm machine.  After the meeting so many ladies came by with such kind words. I never dreamed it would effect people the way it had.  After it's visit I knew it had a healing strength sewn in it along with lots of love and prayers from anyone who saw it.

Patricia Reagan Swatzell
August 10, 2012

My First Embroidery Lesson

I learned how to embroider at an early age with my first project a tea towel. One afternoon I was laying on my bed holding my hoop and just stitching away. I was really excited because I had finally finished it except when I lifted it up I had sewen a few stitches to my bedspread. Being a kid I didn’t quite think of the consequences when I took my scissors and cut my bedspread! Needless to say that was a bad choice but my tea towel was done and looked pretty.

My "Tribute to a Hometown Hero" Quilt

Last Oct 2011 our small town in East TN, laid to rest a 21 year old Marine ,CPL Frankie Watson who lost his life while serving in Afghanistan. Little did I know how much this young man's death would become a part of my quilting world. I had heard his name but at the time did not realize I actually knew him as a small child. The fact was I knew his parents. I had his dad in school when I was a teachers aide. Both parents struggled in life and I knew raising a small boy wasn’t easy and I couldn't imagine them being able to raise a small active child.  Frankie was with his dad until about age 12 then TN State Trooper Lowell Watson came into his life. Lowell would bring him home from ball practices or wherever he might be. Then one day Lowell heard a school bus stop out in front of his house and off got Frankie. He had to change buses 3 times but was determined to find Lowell. After that Lowell became Frankie's guardian and I wanted to do something special for him. Frankie was a smart kid and soon was able to catch up in school, become a top-notch football player and made friends with everyone. After graduation he went to the Police Academy and soon joined the Madisonville Police Dept. But his real desire was to become a Marine. He joined the USMC and had 5 months to go before he was due to come home. I decided to make a Memory T-Shirt Quilt to help Lowell's heartache heal. I gathered his t-shirts, badges, signatures from the guys he had served with and a Marine Corp Pillow Panel. It took me awhile to decide how I was going to put it all together.  Then in March 2012 while on duty State Trooper Lowell Russell's car was hit by a truck. The driver had fallen  asleep. His car was thrown into a concrete median and caught fire. With the Grace of God there were 2 other police cars and and EMT  in the area and Trooper Russell was pulled from car as it caught fire.  For weeks it was touch and go but now Lowell is in rehab and doing well. I presented "Tribute to a Hometown Hero" to Lowell on August 12 and he was so pleased but not as much as I was to see him smile. I hope it will help with his healing process in both his heart and body.  Lowell had help this young man become the best he could be. This will be the most rewarding quilt I have ever worked on and so proud to do. Spending life as a military wife and my hubby retiring from the USAF I know the sacrifices we might face.
Frankie Watson May Be Gone But Will Never Be Forgotten and Will Always Be our Hometown Hero! His Sacrifice was the Greatest!

Importance of Starting Early

In today's hectic world it is much easier to go to local store and buy clothes, curtains, household items and stuffed toys. But have you ever taken the time to browse through a pattern book in the fabric department or local fabric shop (LFS)?  It is amazing what you can make.


Why it is important to start kids out playing with scraps of fabric, a needle and thread?

2011 in Review

I haven’t got into updating my Blog regularly so thought I would look back to some of my best memories relating to my addictions….Sewing, Quilting, Longarm Quilting, Pro-Stitcher and now the Art & Stitch Software that came with the PS.

It took me awhile to get out of the winter funk I was in at the beginning of 2011. I was still recovering from knee replacement on my good knee. (My left side suffers partial paralysis from a childhood disease at age 10) I was in physical therapy several times a week plus a Swim Exercise Program and by the time I was finished I was too tired to do anything. I did enjoy my computer and Ipad I received to help recuperate.  It was fun reading blogs and entering contests. Like most folks to win anything makes the day. 

One of the interesting contests was by Aurifil Thread. We were to make a video . This was not the easiest but when I was done I was happy. I titled it “Charge It”.    

My HQ Pro-Stitcher

A very special day!! I spent 2 afternoons with Elaine and was able to quilt 2 charity quilts I had brought with me. I belong to the Village Quilters Guild and enjoy being able to work on the charity quilts they make. I will add more about that in another time.

My Souvenir from FL.

Each Fall Break, hubby and I take our daughter, Jackie and 8 yr old grandson Dakota to Daytona, FL. on vacation.  Our arrival was the last of 3 days of wind and rain folks had been experiencing. I have been in some strong winds before but to have the ocean waves come across open sections of the highway and street signs bending I would have swore it was a Tropical Storm.  TS Rocky Top sounded good to us. By morning the sun was shining and a beautiful day was in front of us.  I had made plans to visit my friend, Elaine at The Quilting Machine Shop in Bunnell, FL. Outside of picking up some AccQuilt GO Dies at 35% off, I was going to learn about the Handi Quilter Pro-Stitcher and take on a few more lessons on how to make feathers free hand on my HQ Avante 18. To my surprise, my wonderful husband John had been in cahoots with Elaine for months and had bought me the Pro-Stitcher! I was in shock. I couldn't believe it! But the card with it said it all!! It covered every holiday on the calendar. I think I came home with the best souvenir!!

Quilting Again, Finally

I had a Right Knee Replacement Aug. 23, 2010 and life pretty much came to a stand still for awhile. This is not an easy recovery but it has been well worth it. I came out of surgery in good shape already being able to bend my knee but I think later that night my pain medication was too strong. It sent me tripping! Because I didn't get my full therapy, I was taken to a rehab center where I stayed for 5 days and only received one day of therapy. I was told they didn't have me on the schedule because when I got a migraine they gave me a pill and here I was back in LaLa Land!! I don't see how people can do drugs. I ended up in ER and found dehydrated so after a bag of fluid I was sent back to rehab.  I wanted to go home so bad and I told everyone I was leaving on Monday, Aug. 30 because it was my husband's John 65th birthday.  It took a battle but I came home that day!  My sister, Diana came to help John. She was a blessing for sure.  I started rehab 3X a week as an outpatient.  It was hard and the only pain medication I was taking was Extra Strength Tyenol but I survived the 1st 6 weeks.  Then I went through 12 weeks of water therapy which was much easier. My biggest problem was swelling and I wasn't able to keep my leg down long enough to sew. Finally, my swelling is down and I am ready to start sewing and quilting again. Life is Good!

My HQ STORY

I am sending this story below to http://www.handiquilts.com/ to be entered into their 2010 Contest. Whether I win or not doesn't matter but I just want to share.

We’re Not in Kansas Anymore
The Story of Toto (HQ Avante18)

My HQ story was written by my husband who knows me better than I thought after reading this. Thank you, John

Once upon a time a young Air Force guy met a cute little girl from Missouri. She stole his heart and soon after that they were Mr. and Mrs. Early on he learned she loved sewing. Back then (late 60’s, early 70’s) military pay was (and still is) pretty limited. But, just as I couldn’t pass a motorcycle shop without looking, she couldn’t pass up a sewing shop without looking. I knew I was in trouble when she found a Viking sewing machine she fell in love with. I couldn’t believe she wanted to spend $500 for a sewing machine. To put that in perspective, gas at that time was 30 cents per gallon and milk was 50 cents a gallon and a new Harley was only $1200. So $500 was probably like $5000 in today’s dollars. Anyhow, we somehow figured out a way to get it and she was a happy little seamstress for many years. Fast forward to present times.

A few years ago the Bernina 200E came out and she was in love. She was a Precious Moments collector and Bernina had released an Embroidery CD of Precious Moments designs. Her plans were to embroider blocks and then quilt them. I couldn’t believe she could actually want a $7000 sewing machine! Wow! I could get a really nice motorcycle for that kind of money. So I weighed my choices. Motorcycle (me happy) vs. sewing machine (her happy). Hmmmmm! The old saying is “If momma’s not happy, nobody’s happy.” So that Christmas I sneaked into Gina’s Bernina in Knoxville, TN and with their help totally surprised her with the new Bernina 200E. It was such a surprise all she could do was cry!! I was able to get her what I thought would be the last sewing machine she could ever want. Wrong! Just a few short years later, along comes the Bernina 830. Of course she drooled over it for a year or so. Then an inheritance check from a dear aunt shows up from her dear aunt and she was able to get her machine sooner than expected. She named her new baby Dorothy as she felt like she was in the Land of OZ in her sewing room!!

Now, surely, we are through looking and spending on sewing machines I thought. Wrong again! I began to hear hints about a long arm quilting machine to quilt the tops she had piled up in the closet. To begin with she was drooling over the really high dollar machines that were huge! I thought I was safe from this latest want for a couple of reasons. First, there was no way we could spend 20 thousand for a quilting machine and second, we just didn’t have a place in our small home for such a large machine. Her sewing room had already taken over our sun room and was stuffed to the ceiling with machines, desks, sewing tables, and material.



But then along comes the Handi Quilter Avante18. I’m in trouble again! This machine is only half the cost of other machines and its features make it top of the line and so easy to use for a home quilter. Ah, but it’s still too big for our home I thought. Wrong again. I underestimated my wife’s ingenuity. Armed with a tape measure she set about figuring ways to fit it in her sewing room. Of course, the Avante18 can be setup with varying lengths but she actually figured out a way to fit it in her sewing room in the full 12 ft. length. She also had met Elaine Gilmore from the Quilting Machine Shop in Bunnell, Fl. We live in Tennessee! So how in the world did she meet up with Elaine from Florida? Danged internet! If you ever met Elaine, she is just a bundle of enthusiasm and energy and it’s contagious. Patty would order Accuquilt “GO” Dies and when we would go to FL on vacation we would stop by her shop, pick up her order, visit and go to lunch. Elaine is also a HQ dealer and when we were in her shop Patty would practice on the Avante18 that was set up in the showroom. So yes, we now have an Avante18 sitting in our sunroom now completely a true sewing room. She has named it Toto. Now her Oz family is complete. She often disappears into her Land of Oz and happily spends her time sewing and quilting the days away.

As a footnote, the HQ Avante18 has really been a blessing because as our ages have crept up, her mobility has crept down but hopefully that will soon change. Patty is scheduled for a knee replacement August 23 and after her rehab we hopefully will be able to go RVing every so often and visit quilt shops as we travel. She takes a sewing machine with her and if we had a big toy hauler she would want Toto to come along but I am afraid he will have to stay home. But for the last year her sewing and quilting has become a real godsend for her. She has already quilted several quilts plus practice pads and has not had any trouble at all. She loves her Avante18 and recommends it to all her quilting friends.

So now, I think I’m finally through with the new machines and equipment. We can look forward to many years of me riding (yes, I got my Harley) and her sewing and quilting. We have all we need.
By the way, I keep hearing rumblings about something called a Pro-Stitcher. What in the world is that? Am I in trouble again?

My Blog

Well, I set up my blog sometime ago with the idea to list all the extra sewing/quilting items I had for sale. Then I went to sleep......and poof my blog shows up again after I signed into Google to follow some wonderful bloggers. So now I need to get busy but TOTO my new HQ Avante18 is needing my attention. I am working on my second quilt doing some freehand work. Just got my "Quilt Pounce" Marking Tool so ready to try a stencil.
Sew long,
Patty

Back Porch Extras

This Blog is my place to list all of the extra sewing and quilting supplies I have accumulated over the years. I also have quite a few craft items I need to sell as well as both quilting and crafting books. As time goes on I plan to list some of my Precious Moments collection.... dolls, stuffed animals and porcelain figurines. Who knows what else I'll find so keep checking back.

Thank you for visiting,
Patty