On my morning run in Lincoln, Nebraska I found all sorts of inspiration, and some from quite ordinary places: sidewalks.
Oh no, inset seams!
Manhole covers become part of the design. This is right out side of the Cornhusker Marriott where Quilt Nebraska takes place.
This design is pressed into the concrete.
As are these, presumablyin front of what used to be a jewelry store.
~Jodie
What fun to see my Sunbonnet Sue Rubber Duckies come to life!
I taught an invisible applique class at the inaugural Georgia Quilt Show last week.
In just four hours most of my students had all but completed their blocks. Wow!
Nothing is better than the sound of a classroom full of humming sewing machines.
Now I’m super-excited about pitching a book to a publisher at Quilt Market. The patterns were a great success. Duckie Fever!
Kimberly also took my Soup to Nuts Paper Piecing Class. A hat and eyes and this duckie is done.
~Jodie
My Quilting Rubber Duckie approves of this message.
P.S. You can get on the list to keep up on the duckie patterns by going to my web site and signing up for my newsletter. When I get time, I design new ones and make them available for free for a limited time.
As I write those words, having just made it through several weeks of little to mostly no gas here in north Georgia, I feel like having this bumper sticker made for my truck:
Happiness is Having Gas
I have a Miss Sally Sunshine temperment and still the gas drought threw me for a loop. It’s bad enough paying a lot for gas, but having none available makes $4+ per gallon prices not look so bad. Imagine driving 40 minutes past over a dozen gas stations–all out of gas! As of the past few days they all have regular. Whew! Last night I saw a tanker at a station and nearly burst into tears of happiness. I never ever made note of a gas delivery before.
Back to quilting…
The local Viking dealer loaned me a Sapphire to use so I’ll be familiar with it when teaching at the Georgia Quilt Show next week. This mean I have two machines in my studio. I can hardly stand it. It never occurred to me that It’d be such a big deal to me. But then again, I have two computers I use simultaneously, so why not?
This is the sewing part of my studio. I have another room of about the same size with storage and my desk.
~Jodie
I’ve been itching to work on some new curved paper piecing designs. Knowing I’d have waiting time for a recent appointment, I grabbed Barbara Brackman’s encyclopedia of quilt block designs on my way out the door. I drafted this from a drawing in her book:
Oh sorry, wrong picture. Rimsky was in the basket in the kitchen as I was on my way out the door to the airport today and I had my camera in my purse and couldn’t resist. His personality matches his physical cuteness, so he’s truly irresistable.
Here’s the block:
This is a Moda line, Chez Moi. I’ll be making more blocks as I demonstrate curved paper piecing at the Fons & Porter Quilt Shop in Winterset, Iowa Thusday and Friday of this week. My aim is to write a new curved paper piecing book.
~Jodie
One of the classes I’m teaching at the Georgia Quilt Show is invisible applique by machine using my rubber duckie patterns. Since I haven’t taught this class before, I’m preparing samples for the class this week, learning the sewing machine I’ll be using for teaching–the Viking Sapphire– and preparing a handout. Monofilament thread can be problematic on some machines.
I’ve had ZERO problems with the Sapphire. I loosened my top tension a bit so the bobbin thread doesn’t show. Smooooth sailing!
Fingers crossed that the gas situation works itself out in these next two weeks before the show. It’s been a good excuse though to stay home and sew 
~Jodie
The Southeast is finally getting a major quilt show. I am honored to have been chosen to teach at the Georgia Quilt Show.
But first, you won’t want to miss the keynote speaker:
Join us for Opening Night – Wednesday October 15th 7:30pm
It’s opening night at Georgia Quilt Show, and we’d like you to join us as we kick it off in style! Quilt Contest Winners of cash prizes in 7 categories will be announced, along with a celebrity evening with keynote speaker Marianne Fons of Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting. In this entertaining and informative slide lecture, Why We Quilt, Marianne examines the motivations of American quilters from 1776 to the present day. Limited tickets are available and may be purchased in advance or at the door for $20.
Click here to purchase tickets or call 800-699-6309.
Marianne has poured herself and the benefits of her career in quilting into her slide lecture and I hear it is not to be missed.
Invisible Appliqué Rubber Duckie Style with Jodie Davis in the Husqvarna Viking Studio
Combine the much-loved Sunbonnet Sue block with the smile-spreading Rubber Duckie and let your machine do the work. Use freezer paper to prepare for stitching these swimmingly easy blocks, and master invisible machine appliqué as you complete them. Choose to make a cook, a gardener or any of the duckies in Jodie’s Rubber Duckie series.
Soup to Nuts Paper Piecing – And Curves, Too!
with Jodie Davis in the Husqvarna Viking Studio
A handy skill to have in your quiltmaking arsenal, the wonder of paper piecing lies in its extreme accuracy, ease and minimal prep time. Learn the tricks that make paper piecing a true no-brainer. Practice an ingenious curved technique and leave with several finished blocks suitable for a birthday quilt.
Quilting on the World Wide Web
Jodie Davis
The Internet is the greatest tool ever for finding information, resources and being in on what’s new. Get connected to what’s happening with the latest social media sites. From tried and true forums to blogs and user-generated video on You Tube, it’s a world that will accelerate your access to new ideas and tools for your creative passions.
The Southeast is long overdue for a major quilt show, so I am very excited! I hope to see you there!
~Jodie