2015 – Page 2 – Jinny Beyer Studio

Posted on November 5, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 7 Comments

Gearing Up For Quest

To say things around here are a bit busy would be quite an understatement. At home, I have been busy working on my next line of batiks, adjusting the colors and patterns to try to get everything just right. Meanwhile in the Studio, we have the annual mad rush to get ready for the thousand quilters who will be visiting us during Quilters’ Quest which starts tomorrow.

Every “Quester” who comes into our shop and all of the participating shops receives a free pattern for that shop’s quilt and they have the opportunity to collect 10 inch squares used in each of the quilts. You have probably seen pictures of our design, Calliope. Not only have we been busy working on kits for Calliope but also making other quilt kits which fit this year’s theme, “Sunrise on the Potomac.”

We have several staffers who have been spending the past week doing nothing but making beautifully shaded fabric bundles. We also have some great new products that we picked up at Market. We can’t wait for you to see them.

Look at that beautiful border print skirt that Carole is wearing!

We hope you’ll visit us during the Quest. We still have room on each of our buses if you’d like to join us as we visit all 10 shops. The Quest starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday, November 15. For more information visit www.quilters quest.org.

The shop is ready and stocked for you to come and enjoy this year’s Quest! We hope to see you there!

Posted on October 28, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 3 Comments

Two Novices and a Legend Go to Market

This is the tale of two Quilt Market rookies and our trip to Houston with Jinny. We, staffers Dana and Nancy, have taken over Jinny’s blog to give you an inside view of the Fall Quilt Market in Houston which we had heard so much about yet never attended.

Quilt market floor — Just a few of the many booths we looked through.

It is at Market that fabric manufacturers, designers and all who create quilting products present their goods to shop owners. It was our job to help Jinny select goodies for the Studio and for our Weekly Web Specials. We did not, however, begin with shopping.

We spent our first day attending many of the almost 300 “Schoolhouse” classes offered covering a wide range of topics including new products and techniques, marketing and business education. Of course we made sure not to miss Jinny’s two classes.

Cozy quilt designs — Daniella Stout of Cozy Quilt Designs uses many of Jinny’s fabrics in her designs.

Heather Spence didn’t know she was pitching her pattern to Jinny Beyer until Jinny commented that it was her fabric in “Dan’s Climb.”

Day two was a day of shopping for items that the Jinny Beyer customer would like and appreciate but it was so much more than that. We enjoyed seeing the wonderful mix of modern and traditional ideas and people of all ages. We found it very inspiring to see how vendors presented themselves and their products with such contagious joy and excitement.

Anna Aldmo’s beautiful applique designs come to life with Jinny’s fabrics.

Espadrilles — Who wouldn’t want to make espadrilles with quilt designs on them after listening to this great presentation.

It was fun to hear the stories told by the vendors and people we met of how they discovered quilting and sewing and where life has taken them! And, of course, there was the people watching.

Nancy, Jinny, Julie Silber, & Dana. Julie Silber sells an amazing collection of antique quilts.

Celeb Photo2 — Left: Paula Nadelstern & Jinny; Right: Kaffe Fassett, Jinny, Dana, & Brandon Mably

Celeb Photo1 — Left: Janet Lutz, Jinny, & Jenny Doan; Right: Alex Anderson & Jinny

What probably made the biggest impression on us was what happened by just hanging out with Jinny. To us, she is just Jinny. We forget that out there in the quilting world she is Jinny Beyer, the legend. We can’t count the number of times where individuals, from famous quilters to small shop owners, came up to Jinny (and to us) to say that she has influenced them, inspired them and helped them to grow as quilters. Many were brought to tears. And we saw the joy on Jinny’s face when she spoke to the next generation of quilters seeing that the love and joy of quilting is being carried on.

Edyta Sitar, teacher, author, fabric designer, who learned Jinny’s techniques from her mother-in-law told Jinny of the difference she has made in her life.

A quilter (so sorry I lost your name) currently from Sitka, Alaska, who learned to hand piece by studying Jinny’s book, *Quiltmaking by Hand*.

Thanks so much, Jinny, for letting us tag along.

Editors’ Note: Jinny will ask us to take out the last paragraph because she is very modest. However, she did ask us to write this blog today AND she doesn’t know how to post them. We do that for her. Sorry Jinny!

Posted on October 22, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 5 Comments

Staff Profile – Carole Nicholas

If you follow my blog, you know that every now and then I like to do a profile on one of my staff members. Today, I want to focus on a woman who I have known for 25 years. Please meet my good friend, Carole Nicholas.

Carole has been quilting since 1972. It all started when she was living overseas in Africa. There, the wife of the British High Commissioner invited her over one day and taught her how to English Paper Piece. A few years later, she was reading Good Housekeeping magazine and noticed the grand prize winning quilt in their “Great American Quilt Contest” which sparked her interest. Carole ripped out the article, saved it and decided to learn to quilt. Little did she know that she and I, the maker of that quilt, would cross paths and become the best of friends.

Carole-Life's Journey — *Life’s Journey*

Carole quilts — Up Into the Forest Canopy & Tourmaline II

Anyone who has seen Carole’s work knows that she is a wonderful quilter. I loved her work, her energy and her enthusiasm so I asked her to join my Hilton Head Seminar staff in 1990. She later became the Seminar coordinator, holding that position for 15 years.

Carole-Guts and Glory — *Guts and Glory*

Carole-Underwater Charm — Underwater Charm

Carole is very active with Habitat for Humanity and, since 2000, has traveled around the world working on builds. Her quilts are inspired by her travels, the places she visits and the people and cultures she discovers along the way.

A member of Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends, Carole has the opportunity to explore new ideas and techniques with her fellow members and together they have shared their work with others across the country. She is also involved in organizing Sacred Threads, a biennial exhibition of quilts which touches viewers “on both spiritual and personal levels.”

Carole is never afraid to try something new and is always looking for her next adventure!

Posted on October 15, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 2 Comments

Finished at last….and finally ready for Quest!

You’ve been following with me as I’ve created my quilt for this year’s Quilter’s Quest and here it finally is, my finished quilt top, Calliope. The journey has been a fun one from its design just this summer to the final appliqué stitches.

I have been enjoying doing some applique designs and have been influenced by the ox cart wheels that I saw in Costa Rica earlier this year and also by the beautiful applique of the tentmakers of Cairo.

Planning for the Quest started long before I began this quilt. All of us at the 10 participating shops look forward to our shop hop and work hard to make it fun for you because it’s so much fun for us. We love seeing old friends, making new ones and revel in the festive atmosphere.

Each shop has designed and made a quilt just as I have, using our color-coordinated 10-inch squares. When you visit a shop, you will receive a free pattern for that shop’s quilt. The colors this year are the bright and cheery tones of a sunrise and blend well together. If you make it to all ten shops you can collect all of the fabrics used in the quilts and will be eligible for some fantastic prizes. As always, we have exclusive fabrics designed just for the Quest featuring images special to our region.

We have been working very hard gearing up for your visit, making special projects, assembling kits, and preparing demonstrations. We still have a few places on our two buses and would love to have you join us along with quilters from across the country.

Mark the Quest dates on your calendar, November 6 – 15, and make plans to visit us all during the Quest.

Posted on October 14, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer

QQ 2015 Final Quilt Design

We have been working very hard gearing up for your visit, making special projects, assembling kits, and preparing demonstrations. We still have a few places on our two buses and would love to have you join us along with quilters from across the country.

Mark the Quest dates on your calendar, November 6 – 15, and make plans to visit us all during the Quest.

Posted on October 8, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer

Celebrate Creativity!

The Great Falls Studio Tour is an annual event which showcases not only the work of our local artists but allows you to meet them where they do their work. Travel back roads and main streets to individual and group studios. This is a unique opportunity to meet more than 40 GFS member artists – quilters, painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, photographers and more. At each stop you can expect demonstrations, exhibits and hands-on activities. You’ll also be able to chat with some of the regions’ top talents.

Studio Tour3 — Jewelry design by Donna Barnako & pottery by Laura Nichols

This year’s tour takes place Friday, October 16, 12 – 5, Saturday, October 17, 10 – 5, and on Sunday, October 18, 12 – 5.

I’ll be at the Studio to explain the process of batik making and demonstrate techniques I have used in my recent work. There are also many of my quilt designs on display in the Studio.

So how does the Studio Tour work?

The Great Falls Library at 930 Georgetown Pike is a good place to start. There will be artists there to help you map your route and samplings of work from participating artists. Take the tour at your own pace, picking and choosing what you most want to see.

Studio Tour4 — Mixed media work by Ronni Jolles and a painting by Betty Ganley

And best of all – the event is FREE! More details and a driving map are available at www.GreatFallsStudios.com.

Posted on September 30, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 34 Comments

Working with Silk Thread

Our annual shop hop “Quilters’ Quest” is coming soon and I have been diligently working on our quilt. Everyone who comes to our shop during the Quest will get a free pattern for this quilt.

If you have been taking part in my Block of the Month classes on Craftsy, you know that I have been enjoying doing a lot of applique lately. I am now working on the applique portion of the Quest quilt and wanted to share with you a few tips.

First and foremost, I love the Apliquick tools for getting the edges turned under neatly and efficiently.

Second, my favorite thread for applique is silk. When silk thread is used the stitches are virtually invisible. There are few things to keep in mind, however.

silk thread blog — You can see the difference between the 50-wt. thread and the silk which seems to just sink into your fabric and disappear.

Since silk thread is so fine, it comes un-threaded very easily. There are a couple of solutions. One is to be sure to hold the tail of the thread as you pull the needle up through the fabric. The second is to actually tie the thread to the eye of the needle. The photos here show the knot that can be used. (We’ve used a very large needle and thick thread to make it easier for you to see.) Don’t worry about the knot having trouble going through the fabric. Silk is so fine that you won’t even notice it.

Thread your needle and with the short end of the thread wrap it once around your finger holding tight to the thread end. — Thread your needle and with the short end of the thread. Wrap it once around your finger holding tight to the thread end.

Thread2 — Now take your needle and feed it between your finger nail and the thread going from your finger toward the tip of your nail (this way you are not likely to poke your finger).

Thread3 — Still holding the end of that thread, draw the needle through

Thread5 — Draw it up tight to the eye of the needle. Tie a knot in the other end of your thread and you are ready to stitch without worrying about your thread coming out of the eye.

Another problem that you can have with silk thread is that it seems to fray more easily and eventually breaks. I discovered that the thimble makes all the difference. One of my favorite thimbles is an antique Dorcas that is silver with a steel core. It is quite strong and durable, but this ended up being a problem, because the fraying of the thread occurred right where my thimble touched the eye of the needle causing the thread to actually be “cut”. When I switched to my Tommie Jane Lane all sterling thimble there was much less fraying. Some people also use a leather thimble which also is more gentle on the silk thread.

The other thing that I do is bring the tail of the thread almost all the way down to the fabric. Then each time I pull the needle through, I let the tail slip through the eye just a little. When the tail is short, then I bring it back down to my work and continue the process. In this way, one portion of the thread is not always between my thimble and the eye of the needle.

The color of thread does not have to exactly match the fabric. I like to select a thread that is slightly darker or that blends with one of the darker colors in the print. These are the six colors I am using for the seven fabrics in the applique motif. I’m using black on the dark purple, since the purple fabric has black lines in it. I selected a bronze for the orange fabric, a burgundy to use for both the fuchsia and the darker red, a gold for the gold fabric, red for the bright red and dark tealish green for the green print.

If you have never used silk thread for applique, give it a try. I’m sure you will love it as much as I do.

Posted on September 23, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 1 Comment

Binding with Border Prints

Jinny is just back from vacation so while she’s unpacking and getting back into the swing of things the staff has decided to take over her blog just this once. (Well, we’ll probably do it again because this is kind of fun!)

We’re the ones you see every day when you stop by the Studio or talk to on the phone. While Jinny is busy designing beautiful quilts and fabrics and teaching fabulous classes, we get to answer your everyday questions and help you through problems you may be having with your projects.

There is one little thing we see every now and then, one of those things that when we explain an easier way to do it, the reaction we get is, “Duh…why didn’t I think of that!” You’ve finished quilting your quilt, ready to put on the binding. You’re in the home stretch and your beautiful quilt is almost done. You line up the cut edges of your binding to the front of your quilt and sew away. Then you turn the binding to the back and stitch it down. This is normally what you would do on any quilt but what about if you bordered your quilt with one of Jinny’s gorgeous border print fabrics?

People report of problems getting the binding to line up with the lines on the border print. They’ve ripped out stitches, resewn, become very frustrated. What’s the easy way to do this? Sew the binding on to the back then turn it to the front. Yes, this is the “duh” moment.

With the binding on the back, you sew from the front using one of the lines from the border print as a guide. In the image above, notice that the line of stitching is just outside of the outer black line in the border print.

When you turn the binding to the front, cover your stitches and just touch the line in the border print. Most of us here in the Studio like to do this step by hand with a small blind stitch. It comes out great every time!

Check out “Adding Binding to Quilted Projects” under our Tips & Lessons tab for easy-to-follow instructions and videos.

Posted on September 16, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 4 Comments

Show & Tell

On the second Saturday of each month the Jinny Beyer club meets at the shop. We have show and tell, help with quilts people are working on, talk of new events and happenings at the shop and usually have an ongoing project throughout the year. The last few meetings I have been showing the progress and asking their opinion on our shop hop quilt. It is a learning experience for all.

I shared part of the design process in an earlier blog, “Design Dilemmas.” The shading of the fabrics, what to use as a background, none of it ended up being what I had originally planned but I’m very happy with the changes I made.

The star is now complete. There is black in the center in the large hexagon and the quilt will be squared off with black as well. I plan to put applique in the center and the corners, using fabrics that will compliment the colors in the quilt.

I will be going on vacation with my husband for a week and plan to finish the applique during that time. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be able to share the completed top.

Don’t forget that the Quilters’ Quest shop hop is just around the corner. You’ll find details at www.quiltersquest.org.

Posted on September 9, 2015July 29, 2022 by Jinny Beyer — 28 Comments

Copyright Laws & Quilting

Quilting and the copyright right laws which apply to the subject come up every now and then in magazines and online. Each attempts to summarize and explain the law often with different interpretations. If you are anything like me, it just takes a little bit of “legalize” for my eyes to glaze over. Protecting the rights of others is important but sometimes it is a little difficult to figure out what it all means. A recent post found on the internet brought this all to mind.

Ginger Davis Allman came up with this wonderful chart of copyright guidelines. http://thebluebottletree.com/copyright-guidelines-polymer-clay-artists/

Just as a lawyer would, I will start this with a brief disclaimer. I am not a lawyer, never dreamed of being one and know very little about the law. Nothing I am about to say should be construed as legal advice. I simply want to talk about what is fair and considerate to others.

A copyright is a form of legal protection granted by the legal system to protect the original work of individuals. According to the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), “Works eligible for protection under copyright include patterns, diagrams and instructions for making quilts, written materials that talk about quilts and the making of quilts, and quilt designs, regardless of whether those designs appear in a pattern or diagram for the quilt, in a software program that lets the user make the quilt, or in the quilt itself.”

Many of us design our own quilts whether we do it professionally or just for our own enjoyment. Let’s use my Lotus quilt as an example.

The center of the quilt consists of a large Lone Star. This is a traditional design and I certainly can’t lay claim to that. I carefully chose each fabric making sure they shaded nicely to get the effect I wanted. Around the Lone Star is appliqué which I also designed. This is my own creation.

If you make my Lotus quilt, I would hope that you let people know it is my design. If your friends want to make one, you can let them know where they can obtain a pattern or a kit. It is not alright to take the pattern, make copies and distribute them whether for free or certainly not for money.

If you want to take parts of this design and incorporate it into a work of your own, give credit. If your work includes anything for profit, you should ask permission of the designer.

I would hope you would stop and think for a moment of all which goes into the creative work of others—endless hours of design, pattern writing, pattern testing and copying costs. There is an old saying about giving credit where credit is due. Let’s always try to remember this.