Sheila Finzer Archives - Gray Barn Designs

So many readers commented on the beautiful elephant quilt, “At the Water Hole” by Sheila Finzer. The entire quilt is pictured on Sheila’s website and here is the link to her site: Sheila Finzer Quilt Artist.

Below is Sheila’s response to all our comments:

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Hi ladies,
Thank you for the very kind comments on my elephant quilt “At the Waterhole”. It is 99” wide and 72 3/4” in height. ( I know who puts 3/4”…. but I’m picky about squaring). I also use top stitching needles for machine quilting. My favorite top stitch needles are Superior’s titanium. They last a long time.
My friend Tierney in my local Saqa group forwarded your blog to me. My website is http://www.SheilaFinzer.com
Thanks again to all of you and to Tierney!!
Sheila Finzer

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Sandy and I follow Tierney (mentioned above) at Tierney Creates. We enjoy Tierney’s blog and love to follow her thought processes as she uses textile arts to express herself. What a fun surprise to find that Sheila and Tierney are in the same Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) group!

Another quilter we’d like to introduce you to is Karen Overton at The Quilt Rambler. Karen has a few “tropical connections” as you will see from the photo on her website! On April 30, 2018, Karen will be featured in a podcast hosted by Pat Sloan.

Karen, we are looking forward to hearing about your adventures as an Island Batik Ambassador!

When noodle is used as a verb, the Merriam-Webster definition is: to think about something in a way that is not very serious.

BUT since attending the 2018 International Quilt Festival in Chicago, we’ve been thinking very seriously about the needles we’ve been using for piecing and quilting. We’ve both been using a universal needle (80/12) to machine quilt because…well…that’s the needle in our machine. Gasp! Say it ain’t so!

In the machine quilting class taught by Cindy Walter, Cindy said we can piece with a universal needle but we should use a stronger, sharper needle for machine quilting because we are sewing through several layers. Cindy suggested using a denim needle, a top stitch needle (90/14) or a machine quilting needle to machine quilt. Sandy and I now plan to use the 90/14 needle for machine quilting.

What needle do you use for machine quilting?

Speaking of machine quilting, I’d like to share a quilt with you from the Quilt Festival. It was beautiful AND inspirational. This photo is not the entire quilt, just a close up of one section. Sheila, thank you for sharing this amazing work of art with us!

At the Waterhole by Sheila Finzer

More exciting news! It’s week two of the 2018 New Quilters Blog Hop & Giveaway. Please visit Beth at Cooking Up Quilts to register for any one of the 14 giveaways.

I’d also like to introduce you to the featured bloggers for week two. Be sure to stop by each blog to see inspiration from fellow quilters, you won’t be disappointed!

Velda http://freckledfoxquiltery.wordpress.com

Carrie http://carriebeecreates.blogspot.com

Sharon http://mspdesignsusa.com

Ann C. http://laughinggasquilts.wordpress.com

Nicole http://handwroughtquilts.wordpress.com

Becca http://prettypiney.com

Sherry http://poweredbyquilting.com

Stephanie http://lowcountryquiltsandembroidery.com