Rachelcb80

Thank you everyone for your congrats! I picked my quilts up today and even with the ribbons in my hand it just doesn't feel real.

Jean, I have a Janome Horizon and really, really love it. It's an all in one machine for my needs and those are hard to find. I started quilting in January of 2010 and at that time had recently purchased a little Walmart Brother that I first learned to FMQ on (so when folks say you can FMQ on any machine, that's the truth!). That's basically when I started any kind of sewing. My step mom had tried to teach me some sewing when I was little but I was scared of the machine and more interested in playing outside. I've taught myself as I've gone along using the internet and books for help and direction. More than anything I've learned through my mistakes and experience.

I've always been a very artsy person though. I drew a lot as a child and have always had fine motor skill things come fairly easily to me. I guess that's my strong area because physical coordination and athletics were never anything I could master. Me dancing is a VERY sad sight.

I really don't think there's any secret or specific tips to FMQ'ing. You just have to jump in and practice, practice, practice. It's not what I like to hear, trust me, but I really don't know how else to get better at it. Do things outside your comfort zone because I've found my greatest skills when doing just that. I have immense amounts of improvement to do, and I admire the quilting of so many that have years and years of experience and I hope that with time and practice I will achieve their level someday.

My time

They are both beautiful....congratulations.

Nonna Judi

Wow no wonder they won! Beautiful Quilts. I love, love, love the colors of the flower basket . Thank you for sharing.

stitcherlady

Wow! Congratulations! You deserved to win, they are both beautiful quilts and wonderful quilting.

katesnanna

Why shouldn't you have a grin from ear to ear? Congratulations on your winnings but also on your beautiful quilts.

JoanneS

Congratulations! Both quilts deserve the ribbons they received - but I wonder what the first place winner that beat your magnificent red and white quilt looks like. It must be spectacular to have won first prize over yours. Please keep showing us pictures of your quilts. You are very talented.

T.

Congratulations! you should be proud! you must be proud! and you deserve to be proud

JBeamer

Just beautiful. How thrilling for you!

jeanharville

Rachel,
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions fully. It's amazing what you have accomplished in such a short time. Keep up the good work and share it with us.

Quilter7x

Rachel, are you doing everything on the Horizon now or still using the Bernina for some things? I know you didn't like the 8 series Bernina as much as you liked the 440, so it's not surprising you have another machine now. I have an old Janome Memory Craft that I absolutely love. It doesn't do good FMQ (gets "whiskers" on the back), so I got a Bernina 180 for FMQ, which does an excellent job. Since Janome was my first brand of machine and I still use the MC I bought new in 1995, I'm very happy to hear that you like Janome as well.