I do have a long-arm in storage, but it cannot go in my sewing studio until the studio is complete!  My hubby has SO many projects to handle, first and foremost is making sure our kids are where they need to be and when…and fulfilling his roll in the local Cub Scout Pack – on top of his weekend lay minister work that keeps him on the road at least eight hours each weekend.  Driving kids to an fro is added to his daily schedule – and there’s just not enough time to get anything outside of a day at home so he can get in the quilt studio to work.

I am not a quilter.  Have never professed to be one.  I tried my freehand and that was a nightmare of epic proportions.  So, I use my quilting foot and try not to make circles because my circles become some strange and interesting patterns that never resemble a circle!

I traded with a gal I know in Utah (www.spiritgoat.com).  She wanted some square quilted table toppers in exchange for her sending a gift of her products to a friend.  She sent the gift but that was in 2010 and I had just been diagnosed with MS and our lives will never be the same!  Her quilted projects got pushed to the side for more important matters such as researching to understand my new diagnosis.  I feel REALLY BAD about making her wait for more than two years for her table toppers but I decided to try my hand at some simple quilting for her table toppers.  Part of this will be revealed today and tomorrow will give you the finished project.

This is a very simple Rail Fence table topper….edited to be the size she preferred:

Becky’s Rail Fence Table Topper just pressed.

Next it was time to draw the lines on the quilt, for me to follow while I quilted:

These are the pens that I really like – the lines you draw on your quilt disappear when you press the fabric.  If you look close enough, you can see the lines I drew:

Becky’s Table Topper with Lines to follow while quilting.

Once I drew the lines, it was time to make my quilt sandwich!

After drawing my lines, I pinned the heck out of the project – I would have basted it if it was bigger, so I just used pins to hold the three layers of fabric together.

Want a LIVE ACTION SHOT?  I begin quilting the table topper while using my quilting presser foot.

Becky’s Quilted Table Topper – time to press it to remove the lines!

After I quilted the project as I wanted, it was time to look at the lines I’d drawn, to make sure I hit all of them with precision.  WHAT?  I am not looking for precision!  I want to be an exceptionally good quilt quilter, no matter where the other websites and/or quit projects are “out there”.  I want to be an exception to all of the ‘quilt-related’ folks – an exception to the rule.  Perfection is not necessary to me, as there is only One who was perfect – hence I’ll settle for an exception!

Come back tomorrow to see the almost-finished project!