Cashmere Leaves

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Cashmere Leaves

Check out how the variegated thread adds so much color and interest to the charcoal background. The quilting pattern is full of fall leaves and acorns and is a splendid choice to complement the pieced design of the quilt. What a cozy autumn quilt.

Beg, Borrow and Steal Lap Quilt

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Beg, Borrow and Steal Lap Quilt

There is just something about a scrap quilt that clinches the idea of making a quilt. And to have one that is scrappy on both the front and the back takes it to a new level of scrappy! I quilted a whimsical curl that breaks up both the horizontal lines of the back and the diagonal lines from the front. Delightful!

White Scallops and Feathers

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White Scallops and Feathers

While I knew that most of the quilting would be muted on the front, I decided to make sure it showed on the backing by using a contrasting thread. The result adds a terrific design element to an otherwise plain backing for a quilt project that is magnificent.

Climbing Roses

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Climbing Roses

Sweet roses grace this antique quilt. This was a set of blocks found in an attic that was transformed into a charming quilt top. Add a solid back to show off the quilting and you have a finished project that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Ideal Stitches is a winner at the New Mexico State Fair

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Ideal Stitches is a winner at the New Mexico State Fair

Out of six customer quilts that were entered into the State Fair this year, five won ribbons including Best of Show! I am thrilled and so proud of our collaborative efforts.

Corn by the Mountains

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Corn by the Mountains

This is an original design by my client. Imagine my delight when she said, “Quilt as Desired”. I used variegated threads throughout, from the blues of the water and sky, browns on the mountains and beiges of the cornfields. Interpretive quilting complements the scenic view. Spectacular.

Zia Sun and Sandias

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Zia Sun and Sandias

I am thrilled to have this off my unfinished pile and quilted. I made this little Albuquerque wall hanging years ago and just never got around to quilting it. It looks wonderful hanging in my studio!

Snoopy and Stars

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Snoopy and Stars

I was delighted to find an edge-to-edge pattern with Snoopy and Woodstock for this novelty quilt. I used a bright yellow thread in the bobbin so the pattern would show on the red backing and the result is fantastic.

Celtic Batik

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Celtic Batik

I have so much fun picking threads, especially variegated threads for my quilting projects. It’s even more exciting when they stand out on both the front and the back of the quilt. Stunning Success with this quilt.

Gray Rose Stars

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Gray Rose Stars

There is just enough color in the thread to show on the white background of the quilt top and the gray backing. Blues and magentas from the quilt top are brought out in the variegated colors in the thread. Picking thread colors is one of my favorite parts of my job!

Green Dragon’s Breath

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Green Dragon’s Breath

Could those triangles be dragon teeth? The dragon’s breath swirly quilt pattern looks fabulous on the front and back of this graduation gift for a dear nephew. Yes, I do think they are teeth!

Red and White Flowers

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Red and White Flowers

Someday I want to make a red and white quilt for myself. But for now, I thoroughly enjoyed working on this one. Red thread in the bobbin gives great texture to the backing, while the red thread on top shows up beautifully in the white border.

Baby Animal Paw Prints 1 and 2

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Baby Animal Paw Prints 1 and 2

If I don’t know the back story on the quilt, sometimes I make up a story to go with it. Two almost identical baby quilts make me think of twins. I don’t know if that is true in this case but it’s fun to imagine these quilts with little quilted paw prints for twins. If not, I am sure two precious babies in separate households will have animal quilts to cherish.

Fishes and Bubbles

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Fishes and Bubbles

This quilt reminds me of looking at an aquarium, so I was inspired to quilt vertical wavy lines and bubbles. I added swimming angel fish to the border and outlined the fish and seaweed for a quilt that captures the beauty of the deep blue sea.

By the Sea in Purples and Blues

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By the Sea in Purples and Blues

I just love it when the quilts are reversible. One side is a huge, pieced octagon while the other is a framed square in a square. Then to add more variety, I used two different variegated threads. Incredible!

Fireman Retirement Quilt

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Fireman Retirement Quilt

I never tire of making Fireman T Shirt quilts. I was excited to quilt a new fire fighter quilt pattern. While I like the t shirts to be the focus on the front, I make sure the quilting takes the stage on the back of the quilt by using a contrasting color of thread. Magnificent!

Newborn Memory Quilt

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Newborn Memory Quilt

I will admit that I was a little daunted when I received a bag of newborn onesies and was asked to make a quilt out of them. After removing seams, zippers and snaps, I cut all the remaining fabric into four and a half inch blocks. The blue border adds just the right touch.

Sunset Stripes

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Sunset Stripes

Put your shades on because the colors in this quilt are really that bright and vibrant. And if that were not enough, I used a colorful variegated thread for the quilting. Did you catch the sun shaped circle in the center of the quilt before it sets?

Patriotic Flags and Stars

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Patriotic Flags and Stars

I have been wanting to use this flag quilting pattern for some time and I am excited to find the perfect backdrop for the flags and stars. I think I need to make a patriotic quilt of my own soon.

Fly Fishing for Trout

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Fly Fishing for Trout

This quilt makes me think of catch and release trout on the San Juan River. The top is machine appliqued and embroidered and I added the custom quilting. Fabulous gift for this client’s hubby who is an avid fisherman.

Pumpkins on the Vine

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Pumpkins on the Vine

What a pumpkin delight! Instead of quilting pumpkins, I chose to quilt pumpkin leaves in a dark orange thread. The backing is light gray, and I chose an autumn color variegated thread, and it is stunning. Welcome to the pumpkin patch!

Purple Ocean

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Purple Ocean

There are so many things that make this quilt unique. One is the extra wide binding and look at how it is the same size as the fabrics that make up the framed piecing. Another is the use of very dark contrasting thread so that the quilting design is more than just texture. And finally, how the quilt has a pieced back making it reversible. Stupendous!

Daisy May

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Daisy May

When you have every color imaginable in the quilt top, what color do you choose to quilt with? Yellow was my choice and it turned out incredible. Subtle but distinctive, the yellow daisies mimic the daisy print for a beautiful floral quilt.

Pretty Paisley on Gray

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Pretty Paisley on Gray

When I saw the backing, I just knew I had to quilt paisleys on this quilt. I used a burgundy thread so it would show and then I matched the color of the binding adding a touch of elegance making this a unique patchwork quilt.

Red Star-Spangled Banner Quilt

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Red Star-Spangled Banner Quilt

Patriotic quilts just look better when they are quilted with stars! I used white thread, so the design really pops on the red backing. What fun it must have been to collect all the red, white and blue fabrics.

Halloween Bats

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Halloween Bats

What fun! My girlfriend and I did this pattern together. Hers has glow in the dark ghostly backing and a delightful collection of Halloween fabrics which differ from the ones that I put on my quilt. She chose a bat quilting design and although the photo doesn’t show it, I used a flame-colored orange in the bobbin so that the back is equally fantastic in the light!

Rainbow Curves and Echoes

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Rainbow Curves and Echoes

The first question that I get asked when someone sees a quilt that I have custom quilted is, “is that computerized”. I rarely use robotics when I am custom quilting. I find it faster and more enjoyable to free motion quilt it. The answer for this quilt is, “there were no robotics used in the execution of the quilting process”. It is much more labor intensive to get the fills to fit in the unique curves spaces than it is to just drive the machine myself. I did however use straight and curved rulers to set the lines/curves and then free motion to fill the spaces.

Blood Sunflower

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Blood Sunflower

It’s always fantastic when I get to load one of my own quilts. I was able to use a variety of techniques on this vibrant wall hanging, including ruler work, free motion quilting, thread sketching and robotics. I like this one so much, it is hanging in my studio.

Blue Dragons

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Blue Dragons

What’s exciting about this quilt is not the dragons, but the fact that it was pieced by one of my client’s daughters. It is always exciting to welcome a new quilter into the fold. I was able to quilt swirling dragons to complete this fantasy quilt and now it resides in her college dorm room.

Fox in the Flowers

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Fox in the Flowers

Everytime I have seen this style of collage applique, I have seen it quilted in a half inch grid. So, when I was asked to custom quilt this wall hanging I wasn’t sure how it would look. I couldn’t be more delighted with the result. Thread sketching with both salmon and white thread gives realism to the flowered fox, while the background is all about floral quitling. Truly spectacular.

Sister Blue Quilt

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Sister Blue Quilt

There is plenty of solid space in this quilt to let the quilting shine. I took advantage and used a light blue thread and a delightful flower and feather motif that really pops on the solids. I was told this is a surprise gift for my client’s sister and I know she will be thrilled.

Subtle French Cottage

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Subtle French Cottage

An amazing color combination, together with a terrific layout for sampler blocks and an elegant quilting motif makes this quilt fantastic. It would look fabulous in a guess bedroom

Scrappy Amish

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Scrappy Amish

I was requested to take the center pieced top and add borders. The dark red brings out the colors while the black border reflects the black in the quilt. I brought the red and black color scheme to the back by using dark red thread on the black backing and I love how the quilting stands out!

Omar

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Omar

This started as a photograph of a man with the road to Jericho in the background. It was then sketched out before the fusible applique work was done. It came to Ideal Stitches only fused. I was challenged to secure all the fabrics as well as thread paint. I used black thread to stitch in the sand dunes, and invisible thread to appli-quilt. Notice all the line work and directionality in the denim jacket. Finally, I finished with a silvery gray embroidery thread to paint in his facial hair. I am so proud of the work here.

Turquoise Rachel’s Courtyard

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Turquoise Rachel’s Courtyard

Third in a series of three, this quilt features turquoise fabric and a children’s toy quilting design. I looked for days for the perfect turquoise fabric to coordinate with the blocks. I felt like Goldilocks; this one too blue and that one too green but my perserverance paid off. What a privilege to be part of this project.

Navy Rachel’s Courtyard

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Navy Rachel’s Courtyard

Second in the series of Rachel’s Courtyard, this stellar quilt has a star quilting design and navy fabrics. When driving on I-25 in Albuquerque, one can see the courtyard off the sixth floor on the West side of the hospital.

Red Rachel’s Courtyard

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Red Rachel’s Courtyard

This is the first of three T-shirt quilts that I was commissioned to make. Rachel’s Courtyard is a play area for pediatric patients at an Albuquerque Hospital. This quilt features red sashing and a quilting design full of hearts.

Kaffe Chinook

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Kaffe Chinook

This has been a popular piecing pattern this year, however, this is the first time I have seen it in the bright orange-reds and greens. The fabric is so busy the quilting hardly shows but if you look closely, you can see the hooks and the swirls.

Little Handkerchiefs and Butterflies

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Little Handkerchiefs and Butterflies

This quilt started as just three little antique handkerchiefs that I was asked to turn into a quilt. Look at how the border fabric picks up all the colors in the handkerchiefs. I saved the bright variegated thread for the back of the quilt and it sure packs a wow factor. I could not be happier with the finished product.

Modern Charm

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Modern Charm

One of my favorite quilt designs is paisley and I am always thrilled when I can use a paisley pattern on a quilt. Matching purple thread in the bobbin looks magnificent on the blue backing. Fabulous and fun, definitely a winner!

Burgandy Pineapple

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Burgandy Pineapple

If you know me, you know I love the color burgundy, so I fell in love with this quilt the moment it came into Ideal Stitches. I quilted an edgy spiral in a light gray thread. Maybe someday I will make one for myself.

9 Patch Whisper

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9 Patch Whisper

It’s always fun to play with thread choices! For this quilt, I chose a golden thread for the front and a brightly colored variegated thread for the back. Now it’s hard to decide which side of the quilt I like better.

Queen of Ween

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Queen of Ween

Here is the final quilt in the series. It’s fun that each side has its own theme from Ghastly line fabrics to Mr. Chillingsworth on a previous quilt. I can wait to get started on my own Halloween quilt project now.

Bone Jangles

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Bone Jangles

Here is the second in the series of reversible Halloween window quilts. I have so many fun Halloween quilting designs, however, I chose to use the same cobweb design on all three quilts, so they looked like a coordinating set.

Deadwood Saloon

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Deadwood Saloon

First in a series of three quilts that are designed to be reversible and intended for a front window space so they can be hung and enjoyed from both sides. What a clever idea.