Maria Elkins

Month: December 2012

  • Review of 2012

    Review of 2012

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    Maria
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    Here’s my review of 2012 (DD#2’s idea), but I’m going to start a few months earlier because I especially like those events. 🙂 So, in addition to speaking and teaching at fifteen quilt guilds in less than two years, writing twelve articles for Quilting Arts during that same time, and making three trips to California…

  • Pinwheel variation #1

    Pinwheel variation #1

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    Maria
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    I’ve been sewing the jelly roll pinwheel blocks bit by bit the last few days. Since I wanted to use up all my leftover Moda marble strips, I ended up with 78 blocks. I decided to separate the dark pinwheels from the light pinwheels and make two smaller baby quilts. I’ll still put a border…

  • Product Review: rotating cutting mat

    Product Review: rotating cutting mat

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    Maria
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    Last year, I took advantage of a terrific sale and finally got an 12″ by 12″ Olfa Rotating Self-Healing Rotary Mat. I hesitated, wondering if I would like it, but I am pleased with how much I really do like it. I hesitated buying it because years ago I had an earlier version of a…

  • Even my tape is blue

    Even my tape is blue

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    Maria
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    I play a little game with myself. Whenever possible, I only buy blue things; specifically, cobalt blue things. That immediately limits the number of things I buy, especially over the last decade since cobalt blue hasn’t exactly been in vogue lately. My own bias aside, I think every quilter should keep blue tape in their…

  • Tutorial: Jelly roll pinwheel quilt – matching seams

    Tutorial: Jelly roll pinwheel quilt – matching seams

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    by

    Maria
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    I’m still on my quest of using up stuff in my studio. (Truthfully, I’ve barely made a dent!) As I poked around in some drawers, I came across a bunch of jelly roll strips that were all Moda marbles. With those strips in mind, I flipped through three library books on using jelly rolls, looking…

  • Merry Christmas 2012

    Merry Christmas 2012

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    Maria
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    Merry Christmas from our family to yours! I’m hoping that the coming year will be a little less “eventful” and filled with a lot more quilting!

  • Christmas came early

    Christmas came early

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    Maria
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    An unexpected Christmas gift came early this year! DD#2 and her hubby were helping a friend, and they got these library card catalog cabinets for me!!! And they got them FOR FREE!!! They brought home three units with fifteen drawers each. This picture shows the three units stacked on top of each other. Isn’t my…

  • Product review: Cushioned Quilter’s Square ‘n Block

    Product review: Cushioned Quilter’s Square ‘n Block

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    Maria
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    I’ve used the Christmas sales as an excuse to upgrade a few things in my studio. As I was wandering around Joann Fabrics trying to decide how to use my 50% off coupon, I spied the rectangular pressing board that I love to use. It is called the June Tailor Cushioned Quilter’s Square ‘n Blocker.…

  • Quick piecing tips

    Quick piecing tips

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    Maria
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    I don’t claim to be any expert when it comes to piecing quilts, but I thought I’d share this tip anyway because I felt like it really speeded things up when I was piecing this week. I have a small, wooden tool (shown on the top) that I think was sold as a Hera marker.…

  • Basic blunders and Braided Zigzag

    Basic blunders and Braided Zigzag

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    Maria
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    I’ve committed one of the most basic blunders — again. I jumped into making a quilt without really studying the instructions or the photo. But I guess that’s where the fun begins! Three or four years ago, I won this Moda jelly roll called “A Breath of Avignon” at my guild’s annual retreat. Since then,…