Cindy's QOV makes it to the BIG National Show - voting has started...Vote NOW!

Hey Everyone - just had to let you know, Cindy's Quilt of Valor Won 1st Place at the local level and has now moved on to the National MODA Piece & Comfort Online 2015 Quilt Show Competition:

Cindy Moreton's 1st Place QOV submitted by Quilters Desert Patchto the National MODA Piece & Comfort Online Quilt Show Competition -Vote NOW!

http://blog.modafabrics.com/team/quilters-desert-patch/

Cindy's Quilt of Valor coming off the frame

Close-up of one of the MODA fussy-cut fabrics - gorgeous!

Every single fabric in this Quilt of Valor was meticulously fussy-cut to showcase the amazing MODA Because of the Brave fabrics, even the sashings and borders!

The attention to detail is breath taking and the piecing is impeccable!

A short story Cindy shared with me when she contacted Miss Betty & I to see IF we would be interested in quilting her QOV for her:  While vacationing over this past winter in Arizona, Cindy created this stunning Quilt of Valor with MODA Because of the Brave fabrics she purchased at the Quilters Desert Patch Quilt Shop.  Once the quilt shop folks saw her QOV quilt top when she brought it in for additional border options, they asked her, or actually stated in a question, "You're definitely going to enter it in the MODA Piece & Comfort Challenge, aren't you?"

Cindy hadn't really thought about entering it but said IF she could find a quilter to quilt it, she would enter it if possible.  BUT, there were only a few weeks left prior to getting it quilted and entered.  She mentioned her dilemma to one of her good friends, Jackie W. and that's when yours truly got a phone call asking IF Miss Betty & I would be interested in quilting it, and the icing on the cake - it would be submitted to our East Central Illinois QOV Group to be awarded to an area Veteran.  Of course we said YES!

When we received it, there were less than two weeks to quilt, bind, label, prepare QOV documents and ship back in time for the MODA Piece & Comfort Competition at her local shop in Arizona, Quilters Desert Patch.  And to top it ALL off, Miss Betty II was still not functioning properly.  After multiple attempts at trying to fix Miss Betty II, we finally had to bite the bullet and let Miss Betty I, aka HQ16, quilt this gorgeous Quilt of Valor.  And since we didn't want to worry anyone, we haven't revealed this info until now ;-).

And to her quilting credit, Miss Betty I stepped up to the quilting plate and quilted her heart out:

Quilt of Valor 'dog tag' label w/piano key quilted border...Thanks, Miss Betty I!

Miss Betty II and I had planned much more elaborate quilting for this quilt.  But all-in-all, we think the final outcome resulted in the best quilting choices to enhance Cindy's remarkable fussy cutting and piecing, which showcases Moda's wonderful Because of the Brave fabrics, and especially to honor the final Quilt of Valor Award Recipient with a comforting and healing Quilt of Valor.

Miss Betty and I are unashamedly promoting and voting for Cindy Moreton's Quilt of Valor in this MODA Piece and Comfort Quilt Competition, and we are asking you to do the same, Please and Thank YOU!  There are a whole bunch of gorgeous QOVs in this competition - each and every one a Winner!

Good Luck to EVERYONE and especially to Cindy Moreton of Quilters Desert Patch...Thank YOU!

Go Vote NOW before you forget! http://blog.modafabrics.com/team/quilters-desert-patch/ 

To vote for Cindy Moreton's Quilt of Valor, search for the Quilters Desert Patch Quilt shop, click on their voting button next to their name, scroll down and click on the VOTE button and you're done...Thank YOU!

And just remember - You may vote EVERY DAY up and until the Competition closes!  Miss Betty & I will be happy to have you stop back by for a visit and to provide your daily voting link...;-)

To read and see more of this amazing Quilt of Valor, Please visit our sister blog at the following blog post: http://eastcentralilqov.blogspot.com/2015/02/sharing-our-2015-goals-wish-list-and.html

Alrighty then - I'm off to cast my vote for Cindy Moreton's Quilt of Valor via Quilters Desert Patch Quilt Shop...

Later,
~Deb

The last Quirky Quilters QOV coming off the frame...

Look what just came off the frame!

Irene's wonderful Quilt of Valor coming off the frame...FINALLY!

We've had this QOV quilt top for far longer than we should have.  Been trying to get all caught up now that Miss Betty is actually fixed and back to quilting after 5+ months of struggling to get her back on the quilting track.

Getting started:

Miss Betty w/Pug getting ready to quilt

Feather and Star quilting

Feathering close-up w/Rainbows Patriotic quilting thread

We chose to try a Brand-NEW pantograph - Starstruck  We first saw this panto over at KatyQuilts blog and knew we just had to give this gorgeous Star Feather panto a try, AND we knew we had the perfect Quilt of Valor for it:

StarStruck panto really shines on this gorgeous Quilt of Valor!

Irene's unique Quilt of Valor w/StarStruck panto quilting

This really neat QOV of Irene's fulfills our commitment to Clairellen and those Quirky Quilters in Michigan and sadly, will be the last Quilt of Valor Miss Betty and I quilt for them, at least for now ;-).  We've so enjoyed quilting their stunning QOVs - each one has been even more beautiful than the previous one.  Thank You for the honor and privilege of quilting each one of your Quilts of Valor. It's been a true pleasure!

And now - it's time to prepare Irene's Quilt of Valor for shipping back to her...

Later,
~Deb

She's Baaack...!

Miss Betty II is back!  Possibly better than she's ever been - just look at her recent quilting:

SID, swirls, and McTavishing - ALL quilted out beautifully

Check these out:

Freehand Swirls w/Star Dancing panto

Quilting back - not one bit of snarled/pukey thread any where!

And the back says it all - perfectly balanced tension and stitches, using two different types of threads and colors!  What a true joy it was to quilt this quilt with a machine that works properly...;-)

Doris's third QOV coming off the frame

WTG, Miss Betty II, Thanks once again, to Miss Betty I!

Miss Betty II having some of her finest quilting moments

Time to bind so we can get back to quilting!
~Deb

Now nearer to You and me...

What a beautiful tribute - Enjoy!

Hope you ALL had a Blessed and Happy Easter!
~Deb

She gave her all...

Miss Betty I aka HQ16, has just come to my rescue one more time - she gave her ALL, her main hook assembly, so Miss Betty II might finally be fixed:

See the drive shaft w/NO hook assembly or bobbin case?

It occurred to yours truly while trying to figure out one more thing to just 'try' to see IF we couldn't get Miss Betty II back to quilting ALL those Quilts of Valor patiently waiting, to see if a much needed hook assembly part from Betty I might solve our thread shredding/looping problems...

Blue LAVA top thread being yanked to the back in BIG looong loops on this Quilt of Valor

Notice just how sporadic the stitching is - looks good for awhile and then BLAM - blue pukey thread all over the place...

Not a pretty sight on the left!  Notice the 'swirls' in the middle that were quilted AFTER the hook assemblies were swapped - what a huge difference...

And here's the culprit of ALL these nasty stitches:

Multiple scratches and dings can bee seen near the top -
no wonder she was looping and puking thread!

Now that Miss Betty I has graciously 'donated' her precious hook assembly:

Miss Betty I gives her ALL

And look at the quilting stitches of the Avante now:

Checking the 'new' stitching w/old hook assembly swapped for Miss Betty II - looking good!

You can really see the difference here:

Now that's what good stitches should look like, right?

Miss Betty II will now stitch 'right to left' w/NO skipped/shredded stitches!

This was NOT an easy fix and one I'm glad to FINALLY be done with.  You'll remember, it ALL started way back in November: http://donebybettyboop.blogspot.com/2014/11/quilting-bernices-wonderful-quilt-of.html  Course now, we still need a hook assembly for Miss Betty I - I'm sure we'll be able to figure out something...

And of course, this 'intended' Quilt of Valor will need to be replaced with another, since the stitching on this one is completely unacceptable and will most certainly NOT meet QOVF Standards of Excellence.  However, it will serve as a gentle reminder ALL Miss Betty I & II and I have been through together these past few months...Whew!

In the meantime - we're quilting and Quilting and QUILTING away ;-)

Time to get back to it - we've got a QOV Competition quilt to finish up by Monday!

Later,
~Deb

Irene's QOV is FINALLY on the frame!

I think Irene and those Quirky Quilters of Michigan were about ready to give up on 'Miss Betty' & I, and honestly, we couldn't really blame them!  We've had this quilt top longer than I care to admit - even spent National Quilts of Valor Sew Day adding multiple borders to it.  But now, it is actually on the frame w/Betty 1!

Irene's QOV getting quilted - for real!

What a neat quilt this one is and a real pleasure to quilt:

SID in the borders, a favorite Star panto in the interior - I'm going for 100 w/this panto,
McTavishing in the outer border and...a 'surprise' in the dark red/gold star border ;-)

UPDATE 3/19/2015: a Jamie Wallen continuous swirl it is for the dark red/gold star border!  I dearly LOVE this quilting design - I must since I've lost count just how many QOVs I've use it in...what's not to LOVE - it's Fast, it's FUN to quilt in, and looks wonderful quilted out...win/Win/WIN...Thanks Jamie for sharing such a wonderful continuous quilting design!

Swirls and star quilting

We're quilting with King Tut Olde Gold solid in the needle, and it's quilting out great!

McTavishing the outer print border

Quilting back

And ALL finished up:

Irene's Quilt of Valor coming off the frame!

Prior to loading and quilting, had just enough time to finish up the borders on another of Doris's QOV quilt tops:

3 exterior white/blue/red borders added to Doris's QOV

Only five (5) more QOV quilt tops left to add borders to, and I'll actually be ALL caught up!

Time to get back to it...
~Deb

Back to quilting on a QOV...

Finally bid the cold and snow w/scooping Good Bye and got back to quilting.  This time on Miss Betty I, since Betty II had to go to the longarm hospital for a spell - hopefully, she'll be back real soon!  In the meantime, Miss Betty 1 and I are getting re-acquainted quilting another of Doris's QOVs:

Miss Betty I back to quilting a QOV

And she didn't do too badly, once we got in the 'quilting groove' together ;-)

McTavishing in the flag borders

...and some of those Jamie Wallen swirls in the red star borders

I always enjoy looking at backs and this one turned out almost perfect:

Tension/stitch quality doesn't get much better than this -
LOVE it when this happens, don't you?!  WTG Miss Betty 1!

Turned out pretty neat, we think:

Another winning Quilt of Valor by Doris...Congrats!

And while Miss Betty 1 and I are enjoying our quilting time together, I'm still quietly pining away for Betty 2:

Betty 2 on the left, aka HQ Avante and
Miss Betty 1, HQ16 on the right - the first and still adored ;-)

just don't tell Miss Betty 1 or we might have 'issues'!  And we certainly don't have time for that!!  Hopefully, Betty 2 will get to come home sometime next week...

In the meantime, time for more quilting!

Later,
~Deb