Quilters Meet and Greet 2019

Online Quilters Meet and GreetI was invited to participate in the 2019 Online Quilter’s Meet and Greet which starts today and runs though September 30th with a grand prize being given away on October 1st.

Each blog you visit gives you an entry to the Grand Prize Giveaway! Visit the meet and greet hosted by Benita Skinner HERE.

Welcome to the Free Motion Quilting Project! My name is Leah Day and I began this blog in 2009 with the goal to share new free motion quilting designs every day for a year. 10 years later, I’m still going strong with new video tutorials shared every week!

I had the idea to start this blog while I was making my favorite quilt: Release Your Light.

Release Your Light Goddess Art Quilt by Leah Day

The inspiration for this quilt was to show and share my creativity with the world. I realized creativity wasn’t just a spark or a little light in my heart. If I tapped into it and was ready to let it out, my creativity could be like the sun!

How I Made Release Your Light

To make this quilt, I first hand appliqued the goddess’s body and hair onto a big white bed sheet. Then I quilted the sun points and flames. I was convinced that appliqueing all those points and triangles would be too tricky so I decided I’d paint the quilt after I’d quilted it.

Painted Goddess Quilt Wholecloth

During the quilting process I had the idea for starting my blog, the Free Motion Quilting Project. I wanted a challenge to create new free motion quilting designs and share them online with photos and videos each week. I considered skipping the painting so I could jump straight into blogging.

Then I washed the quilt to remove all the pen marks and the red backing fabric started to bleed… pretty soon the white fabric on the surface was baby pink. I had no choice – I had to paint it!

I painted the quilt with Shiva Paintstiks and cheap colored pencils and sealed it with Delta Creamcoat textile medium. It took another month to complete and was very scary because I’d already put in so much time into hand appliqueing and free motion quilting.

But in the end, when Release Your Light was finally finished, I had no regrets! This quilt remains my favorite goddess quilt because it helped me embrace my creativity, trust in my passion, and be open to the idea of starting this blog.

Hear the Story of This Quilt

If you’d like to learn more about Release Your Light, check out this episode of the Hello My Quilting Friends Podcast:

I always share an update about what’s going on around the house so if you want to jump straight to the part about Release Your Light, jump to time: 11:51.

Release Your Light is one of twelve goddess quilts I’ve created since 2007. I’m currently working on book about this series to share beautiful pictures and stories about how these quilts changed my life. You can sign up for updates about this new book here.

Leah Day's Goddess Quilts Book

A few other links you might like to check out:

I’ve shared 501 free motion quilting design tutorials so far. Click Here to check out the gallery of designs.

In 2012, I compiled the first 365 free motion quilting designs into a picture book so you can easily flip through and check out the designs next to your sewing machine. Click Here to find 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs.

I jumped into walking foot quilting a few years ago and wrote a book, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day. This is a great book for beginners just getting into machine quilting on a home machine!

When my son was in kindergarten, I had the idea to write a quilt fantasy novel about a little girl that had an adventure in a magical quilt world. It took me a few years to learn the basics of fiction writing and then last year I published Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt. Yes, more books will be coming out to continue Mally’s adventures in the magical world of Quilst!

Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt Book

Learn along with me

I’ve also been sharing quilt-as-you-go quilt alongs since 2014 and you can still follow along with them all. These sampler quilts range from super simple and traditional to wildly scrappy and everything in between. Click Here to find all the quilt alongs I’ve shared so far.

Finally, if you’d like to get to know me better, check in every week for a new episode of the Hello My Quilting Friends Podcast. Each week I share an update about what’s going on around the house and the many projects I’m working on. I love being able to share the behind-the-scenes of working from home with my husband.

Thank you for coming to visit during the 2019 Quilting Meet and Greet! To enter to win a prize, make sure to click the image below!

Let’s go quilt,

Leah Day

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

73 Responses

  1. Pam Marshall says:

    Your videos are what I watch to start machine quilting.
    Keep up the good work.

  2. Vicki in MN says:

    It was fun getting to know you a bit more Leah!

  3. Debbie says:

    Visiting from the Quilters Meet & Greet – nice to learn more about you and your work!

  4. Karen says:

    wonderful quilts

  5. Selina says:

    Great behind the scenes look at LEAH. I have been following your blog for several years and have been using your tips in my quilts. Currently I am working on a quilt as you go using your tutorial on how to join the blocks together. Thank you

  6. Daryl says:

    I have been following you Leah probably from the very beginning of your Free Motion Quilting videos. It’s because of you that my free motion quilting has improved! Although I still cannot tackle really large quilts, even using a walking foot is a challenge on the large ones! But wall quilts I can do. Thanks for all you do.

  7. Wow Leah, you have accomplished so much in your quilting adventures. I wanted to do the freemotion quilting with you when you first started your blog. Watching you do your quilting gave me the courage later to try it. You make it so fun. I have learned sooo much from you.

  8. Danice says:

    What a great story of your inspiration. I really love your Release Your Light quilt.

  9. You have done such marvelous work and contributed so much to the FMQing community. I love seeing what you are up to and what you are doing that is new. I have taken at least one of your classes and look to you often for inspiration.

  10. Lisa says:

    Leah you are such a creative and talented woman. I think listening to some of your podcasts might be in my future.

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you Lisa! I love podcasts because I can listen and quilt at the same time. Though I do video with mine so sometimes there are visuals, I try to describe everything so you can just listen too. I hope you’ll join in and become a great quilting friend!

  11. Christi says:

    Your lessons are always informative. Thanks for the help.

  12. Kay says:

    Oh my, I have never seen quilt design like this before. It is fabulous that there is so much creativity in quilting.

  13. Janice Snell says:

    Wowza! I am thrilled to have met you!

  14. Carlie Holdredge says:

    Nice to meet you! I love all your quilting designs!

  15. Nann says:

    I’ve tuned into your blog over the years — nice to see you in the 2019 M&G.

  16. sandra morris says:

    Your goddess designs are just beautiful. I’m a fairly recently started panto quilting on the long arm. Your guideline presentation was so helpful in my successful completion of two quilts. Thank you.

  17. Carol Jackson says:

    Always enjoy reading your blogs

  18. Mary D says:

    Leah you are so talented and such an inspiration. I believe I started following you when I first saw your Goddess quilt. It has been a while. Your videos are great.

  19. Sheila Roberton says:

    I used the book, No Sewing Until You Quilt It, for my learning curve in applique and am now eager to try your book on walking foot quilting for my current quilt. I am glad the Quilters Meet and Greet has brought me back to your site!

  20. Thunder says:

    Your goddesses are beautiful. I just started reading Mally ! when I am finished I am going to send it to my grand daughter in South Korea. I got it so we could read it together, she just started making quilt blocks with me… then my son got transferred …

  21. Frédérique says:

    Great to know you better! I love your videos

  22. Thanks for participating in the Meet and Greet! Off to read more about your fiction book…

  23. aune mattila says:

    Thank you showing so nice quilts!

  24. Yvonne says:

    Visiting from the Quilters Meet & Greet, your Goddess quilt is gorgeous! The work that went into that, AMAZING

  25. Beth-now living the RURAL life in KY!!! says:

    Leah I followed you early on… 2009 ish. You have given many quilters the courage to give it a try!!! You have a busy life ….

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you Beth! Yes, just trying is the first, most important step! And yes, I’m busy, but I like to think I’m now busy with the most important, most meaningful things!

  26. Lori Morton says:

    Love all you do & share!! I know I’m not alone, in saying, you are sooooo Appreciated by us all!! We will look for your Mally the Maker adventures too…my Grangirlie is learning to sew this summer..I know she’d love reading about her adventures too 🙂

    • LeahDay says:

      Wonderful! Maybe you can sew the Ms. Bunny Doll together. She’s a character from the book and quite a skill building project. I’m planning to have a Mally doll out soon too!

  27. Jeri Niksich says:

    I’ve followed you off and on for several years just anticipating the day when I could buy a long arm, I finally have a mix arm but….I’m having a problem with getting it to see from left to right. I’m in contact with the manufacturer as well as my dealer. I’ve tried everything that has been suggested to no avail. To add to the problem my dealer no longer sells mid arms so they can’t test the machine because they don’t have the frame. But someday I hope I can use all of your tips and tricks!

    • LeahDay says:

      I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling Jeri. My best advice is to not give up, but to continue testing and experimenting until you figure out what works. Skipping stitches or a machine deciding it just doesn’t want to sew in a particular direction usually makes me think about needle height and foot height. The height of the quilt over the machine can also play a role. I would put in another 30 hours of testing and experimenting. Yes, that’s a solid month of work at 1 hour per day! I’m sure you will find the solution, or set of solutions within that time.

  28. You are a very talented lady; I’ve been following your work for many years and loved taking your Craftsy class to quilt my sampler quilt. I feel honoured to be on this meet and greet amongst such a clever group of crafters!

  29. MoeWest says:

    I’ve been enjoying your blog for years so I feel like I already know you. Thanks for all the inspiration!

  30. Sarah Yuhr says:

    It’s so nice to meet you at the Online Meet & Greet! Love your Goddess Quilt!

  31. Hi Leah, as with many other quilters, I started my FMQ journey with you through your 365 designs. You were almost finished your project at the time. I’ve used many of them and have followed your quilting journey. Thanks for sharing this post with us. Andree

  32. Barbara says:

    I’m so happy that I decided to join the Meet & Greer and that your blog is the first one I saw because now I’m really motivated to continue to meet even more quilters. I immediately fell in love with your release your light quilt. It’s incredible! I love to paint but I’ve never done it on a quilt. You’ve inspired me! Thank you so much! ???

    • LeahDay says:

      You should definitely try it Barbara! Painting a quilt is time consuming, but it’s a wonderful way to create colors you couldn’t make any other way. Thank you for visiting!

  33. Monica Richmond says:

    Thank you Leah for your hard work and dedication to helping people like myself. I know it is odd, but I do not know one person that quilts or sews. I have no one to go to for help. I found your blog and Youtube videos a few years ago and have been hooked ever since.
    I live with chronic back and body pain that can pull my spirits down, but by doing some quilting it helps take my focus off my pain and try to focus on what I love. I can’t sew a lot in one setting, so I read about quilting, and watch hours upon hours of your lessons, you have made me a much better quilter, I realize now I had no idea what I was doing before..lol. All those YouTube marathon videos I watched, I feel Like I know you personally. Once again, your hard work and love of quilting clearly shines from your eyes and kind words.❤

    • LeahDay says:

      I’m happy to hear I’m a helpful quilting friend for you Monica! I’m so happy you find something positive to focus on even with the challenges life has thrown your way. Thank you for your kindness and for sharing this with me. You really made my day!

  34. Marilyn says:

    I just love watching your videos. They are great. Thank you.

  35. Terri H says:

    Leah,
    You are an inspiration to anyone beginning to free-motion quilt or even thinking about it. I’ve watched and rewatched your videos. I love your down-to-earth attitude. Enjoying your Podcasts!

  36. Jessica Hansen says:

    I’ve never heard of you before this meet and greet but now that I’ve “met” you I want to know more! You are amazing! I can already feel the light you are sharing.

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