- How are your mountain and skies doing?

Are you ready for those cutting steps?

Our workshop continues with a glance at several almost completed Seminole skies wall hangings at a week long quilt retreat.

Discover the coming home quilt contest winners on today's show.

[charming music] ♪ Could you imagine a more clever object ♪ ♪ Warms the body, ignites the mind ♪ ♪ A child sleeps under mother's creation ♪ ♪ Together forever ♪ ♪ The art of the heart and design of the mind ♪ ♪ Puts you to bed one day at a time ♪ ♪ The art of the heart and design of the mind ♪ [charming music] - [Announcer] "Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel" is made possible in part by grants from Leisure Arts, publisher and distributor of needlework and craft publications, including an assortment of quilt books and related products, by VIP Fabrics, a division of Cranston Print Works Company, America's oldest textile printer.

Additional funding by Omnigrid, the original patented black and yellow ruler and by Bernina, delivering sewing technology and education to sewers worldwide.

- Let's recall, you have four mountain colors, a rust, purple, green and brown are the ones I've chosen with the sky material sewn to the top of the mountain, but don't forget those accent strip in between.

Now, we've numbered these number three for the three accent strips, two, one and zero.

And that helps us when we get ready to cut these apart and you can see that I've already done one set, so you'll only see three that are separated here, because I was so anxious to put one together.

So you're going to make your separate cuts with a long ruler and your rotary cutter.

Number three is cut every three inches apart, aligning the edge of the ruler and your three inches with your long side.

Then the next one, number two is cut every inch and a half.

Number one is cut every inch and three quarters and your last one is cut every two inches.

Notice that I have built in a little bit of play here so you can get rid of this.

That was just a little insurance for you.

It's at this point that you will go ahead and pin your sets together.

Now, if you are, for instance, working with a group as we suggested, you all have the same sky material, you will keep four of your mountain ranges and then you'll give 12 away.

The best part is, is that you get some really pretty mountains.

This is a set that I worked with that I haven't put together in the small version all the way from Scotland.

And notice that each mountain range is a different color.

And so that's the beauty in getting a scrap quilt.

You can put just four of those mountains as the yoke of a work shirt and I think that's an attractive way to do some accents.

Now, what you'll be doing is then the sewing together and I need to give you a couple of tips on that.

You'll take number two and place it next to the number three.

Always going to the right side, so you're going up.

Notice that you're aligning your colors and then you're putting the two right sides together and you'll really like the way the seam allowances align.

So you'll put those two together.

Then number one goes to the zero and it will go on this side.

Let's bring this over so you can see how the arrangement happens, and then you will pin those together and the seam allowances will align in the same manner.

You'll understand just how those pin and when you open up, you wanna make sure that you've got that nice interaction and that flow going.

And then these two sections go together.

Notice how the mountain is going uphill.

When you make that pin on the backside, you really need to pin and peak, because this time it's a V mark connection instead of the seam allowances matching, but just go ahead and peek after you've pinned.

And then you're gonna be putting these mountain ranges together.

Notice how each time there is a span in between a sunset and the mountain peak.

Now I've got a measurement to give you here that will make it a little bit easier.

I like to do that on the backside and you're simply gonna find the seam allowance from that little sunset seam right there up to the mountain and make sure it's three and three quarters.

Do you see how that's lined up exactly?

And I go ahead and pin that.

And if you wanna check it on the front side before you sew, that measurement is four inches.

So from here to here is four inches.

And I pin all four of them together depending on the color arrangement that you want.

And then we're gonna go to the sewing machine.

I have a special tip to show you about cutting off the end of the mountain so it swings over to the other side.

The mountains are now sewn together and what I want to happen is part of this mountain to come over here and part of the sky to end up on this side.

Notice that in each case, the rays drop down from the mountain each time.

So I pick up the narrow strip and make certain that it comes below my purple mountain over here.

Then remembering that three and three quarters measurement, I line up one seam and bring this all the way up to here, knowing that I've got that three and three quarters.

Make certain and pin that together.

These are biasy edges so you don't wanna pull them too much.

And then I'm ready to do my machine stitching.

Go ahead with your quarter inch seam allowance all the way down.

[sewing machine whirring] And as that comes together, I always try and use a stiletto to make sure that my seams aren't being twisted underneath, because there is some give that happens with those bias edges.

And I remove the pin, I don't like to sew over pins.

And here's a place where normally the seam allowance would come back, but I just make it go the way it's supposed to, keeping my raw edges aligned.

And when that's all the way done, [sewing machine whirring], you'll be happy to see that what you have formed is a tube, just one big continuous tube.

Now remember which color you're gonna cut in half.

It's gonna be that one.

And I will press all these seams going in one direction.

Now I do have one that's already been put together and I'm gonna do that one, the cutting process on this one.

And the colors didn't work out too well here.

I didn't like the value of the sky going with the mountain color.

But what happens is that I slip my small board inside and when that's all aligned and set straight, kind of get it all straight, then you take your large ruler and in this case, I find my 60 degree angle and line it up on one of the seams.

So I not only have it lined up on a seam, but I find that mountain peak and I wanna put that ruler right down the middle of that.

As long as that's even and this is even, I'm ready to take my rotary cutter and cut that all the way down.

Now, if those blades need to be resharpened, remember our sharpening devices we learned about.

They come in three sizes now, so it makes it very nice to sharpen your blades.

And then you have your long row all done.

And the only thing that's left to do is that you need to trim off the excess and the excess is trimmed by watching three things on your ruler.

First of all, you have your 30 degree line that you are going to line up exactly with your seam.

You have the edge of your ruler that comes up to this point and up to this point, and normally it's about two and a half inches all the way, you will come from this edge to your mountain peak that you will be trimming off.

And once you've trimmed that all off, let me turn that back, you can see that you're having a nice straight of the grain.

Of course, you do the same thing on the opposite side.

And sometimes these triangles are used as accents on the border.

Now, this wall hanging was a week's project at Freedom Escape, a quilt retreat where we stitched and shared ideas.

Now some of the students share how they wound up their Seminole skies.

Well, Betty, it's almost done.

Maybe a little bit of quilting here, but it just radiates.

I'm very proud of your work.

- Well, it was a struggle the first day, but it got easier and I'm real proud of it now that it's done.

- What have your intentions to quilt it?

- Well, I'll machine quilt it and I think I'll machine quilt the clouds in a curvy way and then accent the hills and the mountains and the sunsets and so forth.

- [Georgia] And just carry it out on out to the border, I thought that was a good idea too.

- [Betty] Yeah, right, I'll take it out to the border so I won't have to do any extra quilting there.

- Marylou, we don't wanna interrupt your hand quilting there, but I can see you finished the mini sky country and what are your goals for the rest of it?

- I plan to have borders, two borders.

One is quarter inch in this shade, perhaps that fabric and then a wider one, but I haven't chosen that outside fabric yet for the wider border.

- Well, part of your mountains are in mine too, so I enjoyed doing it as a joint project.

Well, Mary, excuse me, but not everyone did the full one and I think it deserves a spread eagle here, so.

- Okay, I'd be happy.

- Yes, so proud.

Oh and you put the little ledge in here.

- Yes, I did.

I put the material loose here like a piping instead of having it stitched in.

I think it looks a little bit more dimensional, - Just adds an accent.

Well, it is really a wonderful, more than a wall hanging, could be a full quilt.

- Right, it will go on my wall up in my mountain home, so it'll be beautiful.

Remind me of the mountains in North Carolina.

- That's great, Barb, it is just wonderful and I heard a lot of people saying things like, "I can't believe I put this much energy into one project."

Are you pleased with the results?

- Yes, I am, I'm very surprised that it has gone this well.

It was challenging, shall we say, to begin with, but now I'm very happy with it.

- And it's almost over, you realize that?

I'm gonna let let you sit down.

- Thank you.

- And go right to your machine quilting.

I noticed you're using the metallics and do you have any special way that you like to machine quilt?

- No, well I'm trying to follow the design that the fabric had in it and just going where it goes.

- Okay, well keep going.

- Thank you.

- [Georgia] Congratulations.

[sewing machine whirring] Well Paulette, your colors are unique for the mini sky country.

It's unusual to use green and orange.

Are those your colors?

- No, I'm really a blue person, but I got tired of doing blue things and I thought some green would be great.

- [Georgia] Well, where else but in the mountains to do green?

- [Paulette] Besides, that's mountain colors.

- And where will this go?

- This is going above my desk.

I have a spot that's just exactly the right shape.

- [Georgia] Well, I'm glad you're almost done too.

- [Paulette] So am I.

- Okay.

It's only appropriate that we would feature both of your wall hangings together since you made them sitting next to each other.

This is Vivian and Betty and really the final touch are the borders.

I know I talked you in to putting that print on the border.

Are you happy with it?

- Yes, I am now.

Although I do think it's maybe a little too wide.

I think it overpowers my mountains, so if you'll let me, I'll cut it down.

- [Georgia] Well, a rotary cutter will take care of that right away.

Okay, Vivian, tell us about your borders.

- Well, I used a light one between two dark ones to accentuate the sunlight coming in over the mountains.

- [Georgia] Well, I hope that they will hang above your fireplace just like they are here at Freedom Escape sometime soon.

[charming guitar music] The "Good Housekeeping" and "Coming Home", All American Quilt Contest was judged in two days.

All five judges scrutinized the quilts very closely, especially as we narrow down the finalist.

Karen O'Dowd and Dick Anderson share a few reflections on the judging.

I commented to Dick that it was all pretty overwhelming.

Dick and Karen, it's nice for you to share a few reflections on the quilt judging that we've experienced the last two days.

It was pretty overwhelming, wouldn't you say, Dick?

- I would, for me particular.

- Well, it's rather sentimental for you, I would imagine coming home here to Lanzen.

- Right.

- Tell us about your origin in this company and how this fits into textiles.

- Well, the founder of Lanzen was a gentleman named Mr. Gary Comer and some years ago he asked me to join his board when he got into the apparel business and it kind of followed that we had a potential growth in the area of domestic products, products for the bathroom, products for the bedroom, spreads, pillowcases, towels, whatever.

So we got into a new catalog that we developed, I don't know, it must be six, seven years ago right now, called "Coming Home" and dedicated to the fabrics and the products that you would use in the home.

As part of that, we felt that we should celebrate, almost from an editorial point of view, the making of fine materials out of fabrics.

Now, in a kind of a broad sense, this could include throws and quilts and rugs and everything else, but early in the game, we got into the selling of quilts and we have tried to support individual craftsmanship as best we can and this led and cut through here, this led to the development of, in conjunction with "Good Housekeeping" of an All American Quilt contest, but I think it's a celebration of workmanship, of craftsmanship and a celebration of fiber, fabric and construction.

- Karen, I know it's been exciting working with you this week and we've been long time friends and now as international editor at "Quilters Newsletter and Magazine" and the Lehman publication.

What is your overall feeling of the quilt show?

Are you happy with the results?

- Oh, it was really exciting and as Dick said, a real celebration of the talent of quilt makers in our nation.

- [Georgia] Yes, do you have any words of advice for people that hesitate to enter a quilt show?

- Well, I would encourage people to enter their works in quilt shows, because I consider quilts like the magic carpet that take you to places you never dream you're going to go.

And when you enter a quilt, it's more than just getting a ribbon.

It's a learning experience.

It's a social experience, growing and you meet people from all over the world and you never know where your quilts are gonna take you next.

- [Georgia] Back and forth we went, decisions, decisions.

- I see our role as to judge in products even though they're very different.

- You have, one of the fundamental four factors is appeal.

And it does say here, the opportunity for the judges to express likes and dislikes, so it seems to me that gives you cover.

I'm not for that quilt, but I do think that gives you cover if you feel strongly about it.

- The thing is, all of these quilts are wonderful.

I would not be ashamed to be known as a judge who selected any of these quilts for these awards.

So they're all truly wonderful.

It's just a matter of sorting out, negotiating, because there, I mean, we have wonderful traditional, we have wonderful pictorial.

- Well see, I will tell you, Dick, I was torn between this one and this one.

- It's like judging apples and oranges.

- It's spectacular, but I don't think, I mean, it really rates high.

I understand why you like that.

- [Female Judge] And it deserves its first place in that-- - In that category, but I'm not sure it would win out, I don't think it wins out over these other selections.

- Technically, it doesn't show the same virtuosity.

- That because of its similarity to our first choice.

- You're looking at balance again.

- I am, I've got to consider balance.

I really have to.

- I'm going on-- - I'm not gonna pick two quilts that are just alike.

- I'm going on visual impact and I don't think it has the visual impact.

- If this were to be chosen, I could be very flexible on it, because I see it as a very spectacular in its own right.

- It truly is.

- So I'm not, I don't have a problem with this.

[charming music] - The first place winner is from Montana.

[charming music continues] The maker is Candy Gauff.

Second place was won by Karen K. Buckley of Pennsylvania.

[charming music] The third place winner is Carol Kay-Ott of Delaware.

[charming music continues] From A to Z, Amish to Zingers, we are continually inspired by fabric.

Why, even as far away as France.

[charming music] Quilters have to buy cloth when they come to Quilt Expo and where do they go?

Le Rouve, and this is, meet Diana.

[Diana speaking in foreign language] - [Georgia] Who is the owner and proprietor of this wonderful fabric shop.

Tell us what's unique about your store.

- Oh, there's so many things that are unique.

I think one of the things that we love is where it is amongst other things.

It's right in the heart of Paris, right next to Notre Dame Cathedral and we never want to move from there, because we think we are protected by our lady of Notre Dame.

- [Georgia] Yes, and the fabric is so delicious.

- [Diana] Yes, and we have about 2000 bolts of fabric, which changes rapidly, because our clients like variety and they come back because there's going to always be something new and so we try to have fabrics from all over the world really now.

- [Georgia] So it's not just pinpointed for the quilters?

- It's pinpointed for the quilters, because we feel that what will please the quilters will please others.

- Ah.

- So we choose for the quilters and finally, it seems to appeal to a lot of people who buy it for decorating fabric, clothing, whatever.

- [Georgia] Have you seen a change occur over the years?

- Oh, definitely, I've seen a great change.

In fact, when we started 20 years ago at the same place, we started with antique quilts and I rapidly got the message that ladies wanted to know how to make the quilts, so we started having classes and having fabrics.

And we wanted in the beginning to have French fabrics, obviously as we were in France and I had a hard time finding them, not actually finding them, but I had a hard time buying them, because the French fabric manufacturers were not geared to selling small quantities.

They wanted to sell 300 yards, 300 meters at a time.

But little by little they've understood and now we're having more and more French fabrics and we've got Dutch, African, Japanese.

- [Georgia] Oh, I can hardly wait to come shop.

- I wish you would come.

- I will, and Diana, thank you so much and continued success with your shop.

- We'll try, we'll try.

We always say, "Don't worry if you don't speak French.

We speak patchwork fluently."

- Oh, that's good, very good, thank you.

We speak patchwork on our set too and we love fabric, how it can inspire.

From coffee pot fabric inspiring a percolator patchwork quilt to music fabric completing a wall hanging for the Brevard Music Center.

Yes, fundraising quilts give people a way to contribute to their community in a unique way and it gives me a chance to share the tip of the day.

[charming guitar music] Can you hum this wall hanging?

This is one of those joint projects with my guild, Now you see it, now ou don't, because it's a raffle quilt for the Brevard Music Center, inspired naturally by the wonderful musical fabric and then rows of notes that come together for a raffle quilt.

I've highlighted it with mountains on two sides and more of the music.

And now for a tip of the day.

You will want to make a self tube that's gonna be stitched to the top of your wall hanging.

Once you stitch it on the top, then slip that lattice strip through there so that you can pin it.

If you would just stitch it right now, then once that lattice strip has been put through, you're going to have a puffiness that's gonna come out.

So make certain that you will put the lattice strip inside your tube, then pin, which allows the amount of slack you will need for your wall hanging at the top.

One last quilt for our series just for fun.

The creativity of our quilt world is no better displayed than in this goodbye quilt.

Now, I'm truly amazed as I know you are at how quilts can carry a message.

They can consume our time, they can be so beautiful and then they can even keep us warm in bed.

Here, a quilter, it was Leanne Inman, moves on, but she will not be a stranger in Memphis as this quilt will open many new doors in a new quilt guild.

This was a group project where we made self portraits and then it was put together primarily by Linda Cantrell.

Check out her block.

She joins our obsessive quilt group.

As I close this series, there are many thank yous to our taping staff, to my steadfast producer Bill Hanna, and to Cathy Sullivan in the control room.

Thank you to the many quilters we have interviewed on the road.

I trust you have learned and really grown in your quilt ideas.

And now there's one last mailbag letter.

It's not a question.

It comes from Clara in La Palma, California.

Dear, Georgia Bonesteel.

Thank you for all the pleasure you've brought to me, giving me the incentive to produce and innovate and knowing I can do it.

Such a feeling of satisfaction.

I tat, knit, crochet and now at 70, I finally am doing my thing whenever my heart so tells me to.

Housework can wait a bit.

I go under the theory, the dirt will be here long after I'm gone, but no one can have my fun.

Thank you for your huge devotion to my fun.

Sincerely, Clara.

Well, I'm gonna have some fun and finish this quilt and I wanna thank you sincerely for watching our series and we'll see you next time.

Goodbye.

- [Producer] Take three.

[charming guitar music] ♪ Could you imagine a more clever object ♪ ♪ Warms the body, ignites the mind ♪ ♪ A child sleeps under mother's creation ♪ ♪ Together forever ♪ ♪ The art of the heart and design of the mind ♪ ♪ Puts you to bed one day at a time ♪ ♪ The art of the heart and design of the mind ♪ [charming music] - [Announcer] "Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel" is made possible in part by grants from Leisure Arts, publisher and distributor of needlework and craft publications, including an assortment of quilt books and related products, by VIP Fabrics, a division of Cranston Print Works Company, America's oldest textile printer.

Additional funding by Omnigrid, the original patented black and yellow ruler and by Bernina, delivering sewing technology and education to sewers worldwide.