Making Friends with the Walking Foot...

Because Free Motion is my favorite way of quilting I used to say that I don’t like the Walking Foot because it’s boring. Correction: it’s not boring. Except for my name on the bottom right side, this whole quilt above was quilted using only my Walking Foot and I love how it looks. I admit I had a lot of fun quilting it. 

If you are not ready for Free Motion Quilting yet, come take this class I designed, where I'll teach you how the Walking Foot can be used for so much more than just 'stitch in the ditch'.  I will share with you all my tips and tricks for getting great results with Walking Foot Quilting.  

MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE WALKING FOOT   
Saturday, September 5th, 2015. 
10:30am-1:30pm  
at  Suzzie's Quilt Shop

 
QUILT YOUR OWN QUILTS  
(The first part of this Workshop is Walking Foot Quilting, the second part Free Motion Quilting) 
Saturday, September 26th and 27th, 2015.
10:00-1:00pm 
at Workhouse Arts Center
      

Click here for the complete list of classes and know about how to register.

A Miracle With Roses

No other flower represents Mexico better than the roses that Our Lady Guadalupe gave Juan Diego. 

The Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the center of Mexican Catholicism. In 1531 Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, directing him to request a Church be built for her at the top of the arid and rocky Tepeyac hill.  The Bishop wanted proof of the encounter. 
"Here is the proof you should bring to the Bishop", she said.  The hill held thousands of roses which Juan Diego collected in his tunic. 
My quilt shows the moment he opened his tunic in front of the Bishop without noticing the miraculous image of The Virgin imprinted on it. 
  
Click Here to learn the complete story.

  I'm so excited because this quilt was accepted for the juried contest "Las Flores de Mexico" (The flowers of Mexico) at the 6th Expo Patchwork & Quilt Mexico 2014 in Mexico City.  Awards night is Friday the 21st  -I'll let you know how it goes. 



TECHNIQUE
Lots of Free Motion all over the quilt, without marking it at any moment. It's important to mention that even the words in blue are Free Motion, not an embroidery machine. I used ink to paint the details in the Virgin, the hands and the flowers.  Check out the pictures of how I made the flowers: Without a stencil I painted them in a Kona Solid fabric, then created the shapes and texture with Free Motion and outlined each one with black monofilament thread. 

                                   

 

It says  "Here is the sign you must bring to the Bishop"

Mixed Media Metallics Exhibition & Auction!

Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, VA.  is opening this Saturday 18^th at 3:00 pm its latest art challenge exhibit called “Metallics”. The challenge requested submissions of 8" x 10" mixed media creations celebrating the shine of metallics.  

More than 90 entries were received including my “Metallic Owl”.

Many artists contributed their work to the silent auction with proceeds benefiting Food for Others. There are art quilts, collages, jewelry and more in a stunning range of styles, colors and techniques.  I already saw some of the pieces and they are amazing!  Exhibit closes February 8^th Don’t’ miss it!  To learn more go to www.ArtisticArtifacts.com/metallics.

T-Shirts Quilt for Luz

If you have a bunch of t-shirts and want your own keepsake too, give me a call 

or send me an email, I'll be happy to design one for you.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and many blessings to all of you in 2014!     Guess what? I did it! I finished this quilt before the end of the year!  With lots of love to my dear friend Luz who I admire for being a great mom and a very disciplined athlete.  This quilt is a keepsake made of t-shirts from all her triathlon and marathon races.     The first photo shows the entire quilt and the next two show my... 

"SURVIVOR"

This quilt is the example for the class "FREE MOTION QUILTING, BASICS AND MORE” that I teach.

If you want to start quilting tops with something other than just straight lines, then you are ready to take this class. I will share with you my tips, tricks and secrets.  After just a couple of hours of practice you will feel confident enough to go ahead and do your own free motion quilting and watch your projects really take off.  You will see that you can do it all on your own home machine and you will enjoy it as much as I do!

Not one part of this "Survivor" was marked before quilting, everything was done "free". The quilt is machine pieced, and machine applique; using Bottom Line thread on the front and King Tut thread on the back.

Here is the picture of the first group of quilters that took my class. They are free motion quilters now.

If want to be a free motion quilter too, I will be happy to teach you. Send me an email quiltsbymarisela@gmail.com or give me a call 703-587-4370. 
A minimum of 3 students is required for a group class, but individual classes can also be arranged.

Smile and quilt,

Marisela

 

"SURVIVOR"  FRONT

"SURVIVOR"  BACK

These girls are Free Motion Quilters now. We had a great class!  

Congratulations Harolyn, Mariana, Anne, Janet and Debbie.

You did a great job!

Meet the newest Free Motion Quilters.