Sunday, December 27, 2009

Judy Martin Quilt Support Group

When I was working at the quilt shop, a lady came in one day and brought a book and a block and asked my opinion on what was wrong with it. I had never seen the book or heard of the designer before, but I was really struck by the quilt design and I just couldn’t take my eyes off the pictures in the book! The customer and I decided what was wrong with her block – she just picked a different FQ and all was well – but I couldn’t forget about the book.

I think that I ordered it within a day or so when I found a good price online.

100_1875a

I also found Judy’s website and saw all of the sample pictures of her quilt designs that people have made. They are gorgeous!!

Once the book came in the mail, I realized that this would be a tough quilt to make. The pieces are cut generally at one and a half inches!! That is small in the quilting world! And very tiny for my tastes! But the quilts are just stunning!

After perusing the entire book, I decided that there are several that I would love to make, but that I needed to settle on making just one first to see how I like it. I decided on the Finger Lakes pattern.

This is from Judy's website.

I joked with the gals in the TQI yahoo group that this would end up being a 5 year project! Year 1 – buy the fabric. Year 2 – cut the fabric. Year 3 – assemble the blocks. Year 4 – assemble the quilt top. Year 5 – quilt and bind. Some of the gals wanted to make it a 7 year project. :)

While we were joking about the 5 Year Plan, some of the gals expressed an interest in making one of Judy’s quilts and some said that they already had the book and fabric. I suggested that we start a support group in the New Year for anyone interested in completing one of Judy’s quilts. This idea was very well received! And a few of us thought that a Group Blog would be the way to go.

I have created the Group Blog for anyone participating to keep up with what everyone else is doing and for everyone else to follow along. The blog was set up with the idea that once we are done with our Judy Martin quilts that we will continue using the blog for the Tran-Quilt-Ity Yahoo group for any challenges or swaps that we do as a group. At this time, you don’t have to be a member of TQI to participate in the JMQSG and blog, but this could change in the future. You will have to contact me so that I can add you to the list of contributors.

So check out Judy’s site and if you see a quilt that you want to make and you want to have the support through the blog, come and join us!!

9 comments:

zarina said...

This is the story behind the blog group right? Heard a lot about Judy Martin so checking out website. Pieces less than 2inches are small.

Brenda said...

You!?!?? You have never heard of JUDY MARTIN????!! Your kidding right?? She is my absoultly favorite designer and I love everything she does!! Her peices all work, she has taught me so much on fabric, how-to's, just - wow!! are you in for a treat!!!! her log cabin book is not my favorite one, but I do like a coupld of them - You are going to have way to much fun getting to know Judy!!!
I am woring right now on a quilt of hers - the beauty of it, it works, eveything fits the way it's supposed to. Oh my - now I am really going to enjoy watching you blog this year!!

Regina said...

I can't wait! I need to 1) get my book and 2) start getting my fabric - and yes, I want to do Finger Lakes, too!!!

quiltin cntrygrl said...

Hmm.. Well I will have to look and see what I can find.. I bet I already have alot of fabric I could use and if not there are always sales. We'll see

Kristie said...

I love Judy Martin! I have her book called "Scraps" around here somewhere! I think her quilts are beautiful.
KRistie

CatQuilter said...

Jill, Those quilts are absolutely stunning, but I don't know if my skill level is up to it at this point. Should I just hop on board and hope for the best?

Linda said...

I'm excited that this will be my first Log Cabin project. Jill, you are quite the enabler!! After 15 years of quilting it's about time I take on a classic! Since I'm making her traditional log cabin design I'm also thrilled that I'll be able to use up some of my stash.

To Cathy: I'm hopping on and hoping for the best. What's the worst that could happen to us?

Laura said...

LOVE this book, but haven't gotten around to purchasing it yet to add to my Judy Martin collection. I figured maybe I should make at least one quilt from her books that I already own before I buy yet another one!

CatQuilter said...

OK - I'm hopping on with both feet and my huge stash supply!