Design Builder Long Arm Demo Video

Today I uploaded a new demo video quilting Design Builder on a long arm machine.  One of the reasons I produced Design Builder fabric was to provide a practice quilt top which could be used for learning different long arm quilting techniques and tools. There were plenty of printed panels out there but not with different blocks plus sashings, borders and corner posts. I quilted three of the samples in pictured in Design Builder book on my home sewing machine and then I quilted the fourth while I was learning to use a long arm. As I quilted more samples on the long arm I continued to try new tools and actually improved my long arm skills - - - exactly what Design Builder was supposed to do! On this video clip I demonstrate some different templates and rulers, free hand quilting, and using the upper laser to quilt a flower design I printed from Design Builder CD.

Skillbuilder 1 Demo Video

I added another video to the tutorial section today which demonstrates free motion quilting on Skillbuilder 1 practice panel.  You can see how easy it is to practice since there is no marking or design selection!

Design Builder Home Machine Demo Video

I  uploaded a short demo video for Design Builder today. It has been on my "to do" list for quite some time! I quilted a Design Builder panel on my home machine using design ideas from Design Builder book. Each time I quilt a sample I try different designs. Since we were recording this time I used some of my favorite designs and some which are fast and easy. Quilting on Design Builder is good practice because each block is different and since no time is spent piecing . . . .  there is no stress! The patterns for an apron and bags are available in the Free Pattern tab and on our website www.rgadesignquilts.com in the free download section.

Congratulations to Julie, our lucky

Henry Glass blog hop grand prize winner!

Julie is from my home state, Utah, and lives

 just about 40 minutes from here.

Here are pictures of the Henry Glass Grand Prize for the lucky winner!

I will post the winner as soon as I know who it is.

Last day for the Jolly Holiday Party Giveaway!

Last day to enter the Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party Giveaway!
Be sure to enter all the secret words you collected from this year's Jolly Holiday Party on the Henry Glass blog.

This year's grand prize is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

RGA Design Giveaway Winners

Thanks to all who joined us for our Jolly Holiday Party.  It was fun to read the comments, visit the blogs with the RGA Design button added and see the likes on Facebook. 

The winners are:

Beginning Skillbuilder Package - Joy Denise 

Skillbuilder Mastery Package - Nancy L

Design Builder Package - Ann (straythreads)

Please email me your mailing information so I can ship out your package.

renae@rgadesignquilts.com

HMQS Class Schedule Posted

The class schedule is now posted for the Home Machine Quilting Show (HMQS) in Salt Lake City, UT May 10-12th, 2012. There is a wide variety of quilting classes available with outstanding teachers. I am excited to two different classes at the show.   Be sure to check the online schedule and sign up early!

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party

I hope you enjoyed our Jolly Holiday Party Blog-Hop this year!

Be sure to enter all the secret words you collected on the Henry Glass blog between Nov 20-26th to be entered into their drawing. This year's grand prize is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party ~ Day 7

The designers for our last day are Linda Lum DeBono and  Chelsea Anderson.

Be sure to check out their site for projects and the final secret words. If you have collected all the words don't forget to post them on the Henry Glass blog between November 19-24 so you will be entered to win the grand prize -- a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

Thanks for joining us for our Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party!

Jolly Holiday ~ Free Patterns: Table Runner and Gift Bag

A little about me . . . . I am the owner of RGA Design and I am passionate about teaching.  Our business is all about helping others learn to machine quilt.  I designed the Patriot Dream fabric line for Henry Glass with machine quilters in mind.  My husband, Andy, has even learned to speak the quilting language. Our five children are grown, married to amazing people, and are parents to our wonderful grandchildren (13 with 4 more on the way). Read on for my thoughts on the holidays . . . .   

1. What is your favorite holiday food?

I love holiday treats and we always try to have a lovely Christmas dinner with all the trimmings using our nicest dishes and linens. Cranberry sauce (secret word) is a great way to add a Christmas color to our meal.  

2. Does your family have a favorite holiday tradition?

Our family loves to celebrate Christmas together. One of our traditions is to break family traditions. One year, we surprised our children on Christmas Eve by letting them open all their presents and instead of our usual Christmas Day celebrations, we went snow skiing. It has been a wonderful memory and something my children often talk about even years later.

3. Did you like or hate sitting on Santa's lap?

My oldest (and only) daughter did NOT like sitting on Santa's lap. Visiting Santa became low on the priority list for our family during December mostly because we do not live near one of the malls where Santa hangs out! 

4. Was there a gift that you really desperately wanted? Did you get it?

When I was 6 years old I had my heart set on a Saucy Walker Doll. The advertisements showed this almost life-size doll walking. To my great surprise I did get one for Christmas though I remember being sorely disappointed that she couldn't actually walk. I have been a little sceptical about advertisements since then!

5. What's your favorite holiday movie?

It's a Wonderful Life

6. Favorite holiday song?

I love all the carols and Handel's Messiah! They are the songs I hum all through the Christmas season. We got lucky this year and won the lottery for tickets for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert in Salt Lake City. What a treat that will be!

7. Do you make many holiday presents? 

I prefer giving homemade gifts but it isn't always practical with our large family.  Over the years my homemade gifts have ranged from Cabbage Patch dolls to blue jeans, but now they almost always have something to do with quilting.

8. Would you prefer a large fully decorated tree or one like Charlie Brown's tree?

Our family moved to Okinawa Japan right before Christmas one year and we did our best to piece together a holiday for our children. Since we were staying in temporary quarters, our military sponsor loaned us this silver tinsel tree which he had used in Viet Nam.   (Note: The TV is not part of our Christmas. We just moved it under the table to make room for our 'Charlie Brown' tree and few gifts.)

9. If you could go back in time, when would you say was your most favorite holiday memory?

When I was almost three years old I got chicken pox at Christmas time. My mother had just given birth to my younger sister so it was my grandfather who rocked me and held me most of that Christmas holiday. I am grateful for this special memory where I felt so loved and secure!

10. Do you like a big family gathering at the holidays or do you prefer a small dinner followed by hot chocolate by the fire?

I  love spending time with family during the holidays. However, since we have exponential growth and are scattered over several states, we are thankful for whatever time we get together. Two years ago we were able to have a family gathering during Christmastime where every family member was present . . . and we have the picture to prove it!

Now for our project and free pattern . . . .

Ten Minute Table Runner & Twelve Minute Gift Bag 

 Project PDF

Video Tutorial

When time is in short supply, this table runner or gift bag

makes a delightful fast and fun gift or decoration. 



This runner is made with 1/3 yard of a theme print and 2/3 yards of coordinating fabric. 
The red stripe is from my Patriot Dream line.

 

This runner is is 1/3 yard and 2/3 yards but it is longer. I used the  57" wide Patriot Dream fabric
for the theme fabric and cut the contrasting fabric 57" lengthwise.

 



Runner and Gift Bag - With a few folds, the runner becomes a gift bag.  It is the perfect size for a quilt book.
The focus theme fabric is 10" and the coordinating fabric is 18"

Tomorrow is the final day of our Blog Hop

Be sure to check out the blogs by  Linda Lum DeBono and  Chelsea Anderson to find the last secret words!

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party ~ Day 6

At last it is my day.  Thanks for visiting RGA Design!  My secret word and Ten Minute Table Runner/Twelve Minute Gift Wrap Bag free pattern are posted in my blog today.

The other two designers are Jane Nesbitt and Pam Soliday at Buggy Barn, and Dana Brooks!  Be sure to check out each site to see some great holiday ideas. Also find each designer's secret word- if you collect all the words and post them on the Henry Glass blog between November 19-24 you will be entered to win a grand prize!

This year's Henry Glass grand prize is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

RGA Design Giveaway- don't forget to enter!

Don't forget to enter our giveaway! Last day to enter is Sunday, November 20th.

You may enter to win our machine quilting Skillbuilder Beginning Package, Skillbuilder Mastery Package, or Design Builder Package.  The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.

To Enter:

1. Add my blog button to your blog. Post a comment below with a link to your blog

or

2. "Like" RGA Design for Machine Quilting on Facebook.

or

3. Add my blog button AND "Like" us on Facebook and you'll be entered twice in the drawing!

  

 Deadline is Sunday, November 20th and the winner's name will be posted on Monday, November 21st. 

 

Skillbuilder Beginning Packet

 

Skillbuilder Mastery Packet

 

Design Builder Packet

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party ~ Day 5

Today's designers are Leanne Anderson at The Whole Country Caboodle and  Brenda Pinnick at Brenda Pinnick Designs

Be sure to check out their site to see some great holiday ideas. Also find each designer's secret word- if you collect all the words and post them on the Henry Glass blog between November 19-24 you will be entered to win a grand prize!

This year's grand prize is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

Ask Renae

Question from Marjorie of Boise, Idaho:

I can't make feathers look good with paper and pencil. Will the Feathers FUNdamentals fix that?

Renae:


Yes! Feather FUNdamentals helps solve that problem in three ways:
1.It takes the mystery out of feathers by explaining how to draw and quilt formal, traditional and freeform feathers.
2. It gives the "secret password" to download and print different feather designs. With feathers on paper you can trace the designs over and over with a pencil and then quilt them to build muscle memory and feather skills.
3. Feather FUNdamentals gives you tools, tips and projects to practice drawing and quilting feathers. Once you have the fundamentals just keep doodling until you are comfortable! The Border Sampler is great project to experiment designing and quilting your own borders with corners.

Do you have a question for Renae? Click the "Ask Renae" button on the top of the screen or post a comment below.

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party ~ Day 4

Today's designers are Barbara Jones at QuiltSoup and  Anni Downs at Hatched and Patched.

Be sure to check out their site to see some great holiday ideas. Also find each designer's secret word- if you collect all the words and post them on the Henry Glass blog between November 19-24 you will be entered to win a grand prize!

This year the grand prize from Henry Glass is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

RGA Design- It's a Giveaway!

The Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party is going on- be sure to check out each designer's page for a secret word to enter a drawing sponsored by Henry Glass.

We are also having our own giveaway here at RGA Design! You may enter to win our machine quilting Skillbuilder Beginning Package, Skillbuilder Mastery Package, or Design Builder Package.  The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.

To Enter:

1. Add my blog button to your blog. Post a comment below with a link to your blog

or

2. "Like" RGA Design for Machine Quilting on Facebook.

or

3. Add my blog button AND "Like" us on Facebook and you'll be entered twice in the drawing!

  

 Deadline is Sunday, November 20th and the winner's name will be posted on Monday, November 21st. 

 

Skillbuilder Beginning Packet

 

Skillbuilder Mastery Packet

 

Design Builder Packet

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party ~ Day 3

Today's designers are Mary Ellen Von Holt, Alice Berg, Sylvia Johnson at Little Quilts, and Lucy Morey, and Vickie Oehlkes
Be sure to check out their site to see some great holiday ideas. Look for each designer's secret word. If you collect all the words and post them on the Henry Glass blog between November 19-24 you will be entered to win a grand prize!

This year's grand prize from Henry Glass & Co. is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party ~ Day 2

Today's designers are Jacquelynne Steves at The Noble Wife  and  LizzieB Cre8ive

Be sure to check out their site to see some great holiday ideas and find each designer's secret word- if you collect all the words and post them on the Henry Glass blog between November 19-24 you will be entered to win a grand prize!

This year's grand prize is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party~ Day 1

Today's Henry Glass designers are Jill Finley of Jillililly Studios and Kari Ramsay at Fresh Cut Quilts.

Be sure to check out their site to see some great holiday ideas. Also find each designer's secret word- if you collect all the words and post them on the Henry Glass blog between November 19-24 you will be entered to win a grand prize!

This year's grand prize is a wonderful assortment of fabrics plus a small gift from each designer.

Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party and Skillbuilder Giveaway!

Our Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party begins tomorrow! Each day I will post designers and their blog links where you will find a free project pattern and a secret word. Collect all the secret words and post them on the Henry Glass blog to enter the drawing for a grand prize which includes a gift from each designer. Be sure to check out my blog on November 18th for my holiday project and secret word. 

RGA Design Giveaway

In addition to those prizes I am going do a giveaway on my blog. You may enter to win our machine quilting Skillbuilder Beginning Package, Skillbuilder Mastery Package, or Design Builder Package.  The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.

To Enter:

1. Add my blog button to your blog. Post a comment below with a link to your blog

or

2. "Like" RGA Design for Machine Quilting on Facebook.

or

3. Add my blog button AND "Like" us on Facebook and you'll be entered twice in the drawing!

  

 Deadline is Sunday, November 20th and the winner's name will be posted on Monday, November 21st. 



Skillbuilder Beginning Packet



Skillbuilder Mastery Packet



Design Builder Packet



Quilts of Valor

As quilters we know that part of the joy of making quilts is giving one away.  Quilts of Valor (QOV) foundation provides a way to be patriotic and donate a quilt to a veteran. The QOV website states that:

"The mission of Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover 

ALL combat servicemembers and veterans 

touched by war with comforting and 

healing Quilts of Valor.  

This foundation is not about politics.  

It's about people."  



Kristy & Josh

My nephew, Josh, is one of those people. He recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. His wife, Kristy, sent him off just a few months after they were married. He is the youngest veteran in our family and joins my husband, my father, and my father in law. I was excited to design fabric and a quilt that could be donated to QOV or given as a gift.  

If you are interested in making a quilt for a veteran or to donate to the Quilts of Valor program, take a look at Patriot Dream Fabric and Project Book. This kit provides all the tools and instructions you need to piece and quilt, creating a beautiful patriotic throw. 

Have you given a quilt to a veteran or donated a quilt to Quilts of Valor? Email your story to renae at rgadesignquilts.com.