Libby Christensen, designer/owner of SewGoCreate.com wins a top regional award at Montgomery Museum of Fine Art….with a QUILT picture of quilts. “The Quilts at Poppy Lane Farm” depicts a clothes line of quilts with house, barn and tree, perfect for the “HOME” themed exhibit.
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
My “The Quilts at Poppy Lane Farm” wall hanging won a huge award–one of top three–at a regional art competition, and it is currently on display into September 2025. It’s one of about 60 pieces juried in (from 430) for the themed “Home” show of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Montgomery, Alabama. It won the “In Memory of Rick Mills” award. What an honor!
I’m especially thrilled that a fabric piece won as art!
The techniques I used include applique (buildings), fused applique (tree and cat), 3-D applique (barn doors, quilts and hanging clothes) , free-motion quilting (grass and pebbles), free-motion embroidery (the poppies), and photography on fabric (the purple quilt is my design, a photo on fabric of MY quilt), and the biggest quilt is pieced and quilted from vintage fabric. I also made the little clothes from scratch. For more details, scroll to June 5, 2023, blogpost. Also, there’s a video on home page–on the far right.
It was definitely a labor of love, and I was so pleased when it made a Best in Show at the Prattauga Art Guild Summer Show two years ago. It was also featured in Nancy’s Notions. However, this is a HUGE regional show and a $1000 prize, so it’s especially wonderful.
In the same show, I have another wall hanging juried in: “Live Oak Bay.” (below) It doesn’t have the 3-D touches, but it’s interesting because it was a Keepsake Quilts Challenge project. I was only allowed to add two fabrics to the ones provided, so I chose the brown for the tree and white for the background and “frame” border. The blue sea, yellow sand and pink cottage were scrimped from one piece of batik, and the flowers “fussy-cut” from the green used for the tree. I pieced a log cabin background, cutting up a blue/white floral for the sky. The lavender bushes and magenta yoyos are from two other required fabrics. For more details, scroll to June 28, 2024, blogpost.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get it to the challenge on time, but it’s received some recognition locally, which is always fun!
Forgive my crowing, but awards are really exciting! It’s so nice to be able to show and share my work. If you live near Montgomery, AL, you can visit the museum, and on Sept. 13, 2025, I’ll be there all day with the MMFA Fall Festival–I even was filmed for a promotional commercial! Y’all come!!
Helpful tips for rotary cutting quilts and other projects–tools, process, great ideas from Libby Christensen of sewgocreate.com
So much to cut, so little time! I wanted to share a few tips on cutting out quilts today (or TOMORROW or THE NEXT DAY)!
1–PRECUT.
a)PRE-WASH. Get fabric ready. Much of the newest quilt fabric doesn’t have to be pre-washed because it shrinks and fades minimally. However, if it has intense color, is going to be paired with white or light fabric, or it’s slightly “hard” finish, I always pre-wash, using ShoutColor Catcher sheets. Sometimes, when dealing with something like batiks or over-dyed fabrics, I wash it several times. I also pre-wash any piece that has been stored with lots of folds. (If you have kids or grand-kids, the used sheets are great to cut up for collages–I give mine to the kids’ room at at art gallery.)
Pre-wash bright fabrics with Shout Color Catcher sheets.
b) PRESS. Good idea. I don’t always do this, but at least you should fold the fabric properly, lining up the edges, and smooth it out.
2--PREPARE TOOLS.
a)6″x 24″ ruler . I realize there are still a few quilters who use scissors, but we’ll leave them in the 20th century and assume you use a rotary cutter and ruler. A serious quilter needs a 6″x 24″ ruler because it reaches all the way across the 22″ folded fabric. We generally cut strips ACROSS that width. Smaller rulers are convenient, less bulky, for the smaller pieces made from the strips but not strictly necessary.
b) ROTARY CUTTING MAT. Although you can make do with a smaller mat, you really need a 24″ mat. I’m sorry they’re so expensive, but they sometimes go on sale. Watch for coupons. (https://love-sew.com/collections/catalog has one on sale right NOW [Oct 26, 2024]. Sometimes JoAnn Fabrics has a coupon.)
c) STICKY NOTE PAD (optional). If you have multiple strips the same width, try “marking” the measurement with a couple OF STICKY NOTES on the measuring line, making it easier to see. (Also great for notes to yourself–use a pin or clip because they won’t stick to fabric.)
Use sticky notes to mark the measuring line.
d) GOOD ROTARY BLADE! By “good,” I mean titanium. The steel ones don’t last as long–trust me! I’ve wasted money on them. The best I’ve found are from thefabrichut.com. I indulge in lots of them when they’re on sale. Also, if you cut a lot, you might invest in a sharpener. I have a handheld one that’s cranked, but there’s also an electric model available–a bit pricy, but maybe Santa could bring you one!
e) CHANGE BLADE??? NO, I do not change with EVERY project because some projects are small. However, you’ll know when the blade isn’t cutting as easily. I then mark it with a “magic marker” as “OLD” and set it aside to sharpen.
3–LINE IT UP. Generally, cut along a grain line unless you’re cutting bias. I always start by cutting off the far right edge to make sure it’s square (note that my edge is serged before pre-washing). Some people also like to cut off the selvedge–I don’t bother, but suit yourself. Remember to always measure with the RULER lines, not the mat.
Cut off edge to square up fabric.
4–DO NOT SLIP. I suggest holding little finger on the fabric and the others on the ruler to keep it from slipping. You can also buy little stick-on grips for the back of the ruler. STOP! KEEP HAND IN PLACE AFTER CUTTING, and pull off the strip here, or remaining fabric usually, with your other hand. If a few threads didn’t get cut, and it needs to be re-cut, you’ll already be in place. (If this happens too frequently, go to #2e above.)
Keep hand in place in case you need to recut.
5–MAKE THE CUT…straight down with pressure. Many quilters suggest standing, which is a good idea when cutting a lot. However, you can cut from a seated position IF you remember to hold the cutter so that the blade is straight up and down. ..AND apply pressure. A knife or blade doesn’t cut by itself! You must push it. Put your shoulder into it. (If it’s too hard to do, go to #2e! Also, there are some different styles of cutters you can experiment with that might be more comfortable.)
6–STAY ORGANIZED.
a) I heartily recommend Wonder Clips for holding different sizes or colors of strips and blocks. You can clip on a sticky note to mark the size. Wonder Clips are widely available, but check around because the prices vary hugely. I’ve gotten a good deal from thefabrichut.com, but I’ve also bought them as specials from other places. I use them all the time now. The larger size holds a bigger stack of fabric. (One cool point is that because they’re metal, they can stick on my magnetic pin cushion, magnetic cups or be picked up off the floor with my magnetic telescoping wand.)
Use Wonder Clips to hold different size pieces.
b) Gather up the cut pieces in whatever way pleases you. You can consider bags, boxes, bins. This really depends on the size of the project, what you have on hand, and the room you have. I’ve used everything from large ziplock bags to shoeboxes to specially dedicated plastic bins. MadamSew.com even made some little zip bags, called binder pockets, with grommets to fit in a notebook for small items, but they are sold out at the moment. https://madamsew.com/collections/organization-storage You could probably find something similar in the notebook section of Walmart or office store, but I like that these are clear.
What’s next? You know the answer. Thread up the machine and sew!
Sixty Christensen Creations SewGpCreate quilts, large and small, are hanging in the Anita Folma Gallery in Montgomery, AL, the month of January 2024. Made and designed by Libby Christensen, many are samples for her website. Other more complex wall hangings were created for art shows, two winning “Best of Show.” Jan 19, 1-6, open house, art talk 6-7:30 on “Quilts: Art or Craft?”
Nearly 60 of Libby Christensen’s quilts are currently on exhibit in downtown Montgomery, AL, at the Anita P. Folmar Gallery in the Learning Arts Center throughout January. (It’s on 1018 Madison by the Cramton Bowl.)
My opening reception was this past Friday, but there’ll be an Open House Reception with demonstrations 1-6 on Friday, Jan. 19. That’s followed by an art talk I’ll give on “Quilts: Art or Craft?” If you’re in the area, please join me!
This is a huge honor to have the whole gallery to myself. I’m absolutely delighted, and the powers-that-be seem very pleased. I’ve already been asked to teach and to do another show in the future, perhaps on “Embellishments: Clothing, Accessories, and Decor”–we’ll see what ensues! Here’s a sneak peek.
Although many of the quilts are samples from my https://sewgocreate.com website, there are others from art shows and old ones rarely seen. Here are some unusual ones that are rather fun: “Audacious Cretaceous” (below left) commemorates the meteor that created the valley of my town, Wetumpka, with dinosaurs and plants from that time period. The triceratops are pushing the T Rex over the cliff, and the water is made of sheer blue gauze with stuffed sea creatures underneath. The “Kite Charmer” is a paper-pieced charm quilt (every fabric different) and the froggy is “‘Gotcha! Quoth the Silver-Tongued Frog Prince Gobbling the Y2k Bug.” (If you’re too young to understand, ask your grandparents about that!}
On the right is “Kelly’s Mantel,” made for the Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts in Wetumpka. Director Jennifer Eifert wanted a mantel for Christmas, so I made one!! The ”painting” is in Kelly’s style and colors. Above are two of my many Platter Pad designs–tiny quilts that double as huge hot pads.
This next one below is one of two wall hangings that have made “Best in Show” at an art show; this one won at a SAC’s Water Show (Society of Arts and Crafts in Central Alabama). It depicts the town of “Tallassee Now and Then” with my photographs printed on fabric. The town is known for its crumbling red bricks and unusual awnings downtown, with a river/dam in the background.
These give just a sneak peek. Eventually, I’ll try to make some videos to post, but in the meantime, please stop by to see them in person if you can. You’re allowed to touch and take pictures!
AND….for those of you near Montgomery, I’m now part of Artists Alley at Amy’s Flea Market and Antiques on the bypass. Come in and head left. I only have a few screens and one shelf as part of a group, but I’ve displayed some photos and a few crafts. (Hey, I’ve got to use up those scraps!!!) At the moment, I have marked-down Xmas ornaments, towels and hot pads, but soon I’ll put out some valentines!
