Sister's Choice Quilts

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An Answered Prayer

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Am I lucky or what?  Look what came in the mail from the Quilting Fairy!  My personal quilting mentor got tired of hearing me complain answered a prayer and sent me a portable design wall she no longer needed.

I am telling you, I have no idea, NO IDEA, how I ever managed to exist without one of these for all these years I have been quilting.  Crazy.

At the end of last week, I made my son drive me to Home Depot to buy a piece of foam board that I could cover with a piece of flannel to create a make shift design wall, which I desperately needed for the layout of all my Belle Meade blocks.  This is what we ended up with:

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Yes, the blocks stick to it just fine, and it serves the purpose.  Sort of.  If only it were three feet taller and wider so I could fit ALL the blocks on it at one time.  Nice, but not really working for me. 

Then, miracle of miracles, the mail man came and there was the exact thing that I needed!  Just look at me now!

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I could not wait to get that thing assembled so I could start arranging my blocks.  And rearraging my blocks.  And rearranging my blocks….  I finally made myself stop and started sewing the rows together.  If one of my blocks is upside down, don't tell me.  (No, tell me).

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I am so darn thrilled with this! 

But on January 31, I have to complete a quilt, or I will have nothing to show for the entire month.  I am whipping out a baby quilt top today, so look for that on tomorrow's post.  Thelma and I will do our final reveal of our Belle Meade quilts sometime towards the end of this week.

NOTE ADDED IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS:

The design wall is by Carol Ann, and this is a link to where you can buy one:  http://www.cherylannsdesignwall.com/where_to_buy.html

A couple of people commented that they didn't think the thing was stable enough, and that they had problems with it coming apart.  Mine seems pretty solid, although one bracing bar in the back wants to let loose if I try to reposition the wall.  I think I could fix that with a little glue or that soft wax you use to make a candle stay put in a candle holder. 

It was a little tricky to put up.  Not that the instructions weren't totally simple.  My problem was that my hands aren't strong enough to pinch the clamps over the flannel covered rods.  My husband did it for me easily though.  We had the thing assembled in less than 10 minutes.  Since I plan to leave my wall up in place, neither of these issues matter to me.  Still loving it.

64 responses to “An Answered Prayer”

  1. That sure IS an awesome Quilting Fairy! I think you’ve earned one!! 🙂 I’d love to have a design wall like that some day! Nice size too! Love the Belle Meade blocks with the red setting triangles! So pretty!!!! Red was the perfect choice!

  2. That sure IS an awesome Quilting Fairy! I think you’ve earned one!! 🙂 I’d love to have a design wall like that some day! Nice size too! Love the Belle Meade blocks with the red setting triangles! So pretty!!!! Red was the perfect choice!

  3. Very pretty Nicole and congratulations on your new, improved design wall – they really are handy. Thank goodness for fairies!!!

  4. Very pretty Nicole and congratulations on your new, improved design wall – they really are handy. Thank goodness for fairies!!!

  5. Stellar generosity from Quilting Fairy!! Lucky you!!
    Please tell me the name of this design wall as it might work for me. I cannot quite read the swirly writing on the label. Thanks!
    I see red won the day for setting triangles and it looks great!
    We’re SUPPOSED to make a quilt top per month????? Uh oh!
    Hugs!

  6. Stellar generosity from Quilting Fairy!! Lucky you!!
    Please tell me the name of this design wall as it might work for me. I cannot quite read the swirly writing on the label. Thanks!
    I see red won the day for setting triangles and it looks great!
    We’re SUPPOSED to make a quilt top per month????? Uh oh!
    Hugs!

  7. Oh, I wish I had a Quilting Fairy! That is a fantastic gift! Please give us the info on it as I think many are looking for something exactly like that!
    By the way, I love the quilt top with the red setting triangles. Perfect choice!

  8. Oh, I wish I had a Quilting Fairy! That is a fantastic gift! Please give us the info on it as I think many are looking for something exactly like that!
    By the way, I love the quilt top with the red setting triangles. Perfect choice!

  9. I bought that same portable design wall at a quilt show a few years ago but it does not work for me. The flannel piece seems to be just a bit too small, so that when up the whole thing bows so badly that it collapses on itself in no time. I complained to the manufacturer but no response. It seems like a good idea but maybe their quality control is not very good. Your’s seems to work and it is a good option when it does work.

  10. I bought that same portable design wall at a quilt show a few years ago but it does not work for me. The flannel piece seems to be just a bit too small, so that when up the whole thing bows so badly that it collapses on itself in no time. I complained to the manufacturer but no response. It seems like a good idea but maybe their quality control is not very good. Your’s seems to work and it is a good option when it does work.

  13. What a wonderfully generous gift! I know you will enjoy it, and the design wall will greatly enhance your quilting adventure 🙂

  14. What a wonderfully generous gift! I know you will enjoy it, and the design wall will greatly enhance your quilting adventure 🙂

  15. Oooh send the quilting fairy down my way Nicole!
    Seriously though – the quilt looks amazing! I can’t believe how many triangles you made!!!
    have a great week and enjoy your wall!!

  16. Oooh send the quilting fairy down my way Nicole!
    Seriously though – the quilt looks amazing! I can’t believe how many triangles you made!!!
    have a great week and enjoy your wall!!

  17. I couldn’t work without my design wall and the black & white setting on my digital camera. I use those the most when doing block layouts. Glad you finally got your wall, things will be so much easier now.

  18. I couldn’t work without my design wall and the black & white setting on my digital camera. I use those the most when doing block layouts. Glad you finally got your wall, things will be so much easier now.

  21. How wonderful! That is one nice quilt fairy! We will have to see if you get more accomplished (like that is possible) or less as you just might find yourself spending your quilting time “designing” instead of sewing…have fun!!

  22. How wonderful! That is one nice quilt fairy! We will have to see if you get more accomplished (like that is possible) or less as you just might find yourself spending your quilting time “designing” instead of sewing…have fun!!

  23. How wonderful!!! Love how Belle Meade is turning out. I think I’m partial to the red border. So lovely.
    I have been on the fence on those portable design walls. I made one with PVC pipes but I would like one that doesn’t fall apart if I’m overly enthusiatic with my play. Not sure if that one would fit the bill. Are you bias because you were living too long without one? LOL! Should I ask how much you are loving the new wall?

  24. How wonderful!!! Love how Belle Meade is turning out. I think I’m partial to the red border. So lovely.
    I have been on the fence on those portable design walls. I made one with PVC pipes but I would like one that doesn’t fall apart if I’m overly enthusiatic with my play. Not sure if that one would fit the bill. Are you bias because you were living too long without one? LOL! Should I ask how much you are loving the new wall?

  25. I love the quilt! And isn’t a design wall wonderful? I don’t use it all the time, but when I need it, it’s there.

  26. I love the quilt! And isn’t a design wall wonderful? I don’t use it all the time, but when I need it, it’s there.

  29. Attagirl Nicole. Nothing helps to make big quilts like a place to lay them out for view. The floor doesn’t work for me anymore, all that up and down on the knees. I like my design wall for those first few blocks for deciding on a pattern; then certainly to hang whole tops to preview for border color and design. Nothing like it. Especially when you lose that floor access. Enjoy!! Belle Meade is beautiful. Aw-w-w-l those triangles.

  30. Attagirl Nicole. Nothing helps to make big quilts like a place to lay them out for view. The floor doesn’t work for me anymore, all that up and down on the knees. I like my design wall for those first few blocks for deciding on a pattern; then certainly to hang whole tops to preview for border color and design. Nothing like it. Especially when you lose that floor access. Enjoy!! Belle Meade is beautiful. Aw-w-w-l those triangles.

  31. Awesome–a quilt fairy is just what a girl needs 🙂 The red is definitely working, and no, I don’t see any triangles upside down. The block “Switcheroo” game has no ending, kind of like starting a peek-a-boo game with an infant!

  32. Awesome–a quilt fairy is just what a girl needs 🙂 The red is definitely working, and no, I don’t see any triangles upside down. The block “Switcheroo” game has no ending, kind of like starting a peek-a-boo game with an infant!

  35. oh i need to get me one of these, next time they are on sale that is. your quilt is looking amazing.

  36. oh i need to get me one of these, next time they are on sale that is. your quilt is looking amazing.

  37. I have one of those. Have had it since I painted my sewing room. I had a devil of a time putting it together (I think because I was dealing with to small a working space). But I like it.

  38. I have one of those. Have had it since I painted my sewing room. I had a devil of a time putting it together (I think because I was dealing with to small a working space). But I like it.

  39. Great job on the random placement of blocks! If I remember from previous posts, this was a step outside your comfort zone! Kuddos to you! Can’t wait to see the big reveal.

  40. Great job on the random placement of blocks! If I remember from previous posts, this was a step outside your comfort zone! Kuddos to you! Can’t wait to see the big reveal.

  41. Oops, I had you confused with Thelma; SHE’S the one who struggles with random placement. Anyways, I’m loving the quilt. Wish I had a design wall.

  42. Oops, I had you confused with Thelma; SHE’S the one who struggles with random placement. Anyways, I’m loving the quilt. Wish I had a design wall.

  43. How wonderful of your quilt fairy to rain down such a perfect gift for you! It’s great that you don’t have to move it now and it can just stay ready and awaiting your creativity bursts!

  44. How wonderful of your quilt fairy to rain down such a perfect gift for you! It’s great that you don’t have to move it now and it can just stay ready and awaiting your creativity bursts!

  47. lol, I’ve gotten by without a design wall by annoying everyone with blocks on the floor in the kitchen or living room and yelling, “Don’t step on my blocks!”
    Of course, the dog thinks that I’m NOT talking to her so she walks over them, lies down on them, sniffs them….you get the picture. ;0
    I’m loving that quilt!

  48. lol, I’ve gotten by without a design wall by annoying everyone with blocks on the floor in the kitchen or living room and yelling, “Don’t step on my blocks!”
    Of course, the dog thinks that I’m NOT talking to her so she walks over them, lies down on them, sniffs them….you get the picture. ;0
    I’m loving that quilt!

  49. How awesome for you!!!! I’m so loving that quilt!!! Now that I know that there are quilting fairies out there, I’m going to make a wish, “Please, please, come and clean and organize my sewing room! Amen!”

  50. How awesome for you!!!! I’m so loving that quilt!!! Now that I know that there are quilting fairies out there, I’m going to make a wish, “Please, please, come and clean and organize my sewing room! Amen!”

  51. You have a good taste in fabric choice for your quilts..this one is my favorite..can not wait until it is quilted and takes on it’s own life. Very nice.

  52. You have a good taste in fabric choice for your quilts..this one is my favorite..can not wait until it is quilted and takes on it’s own life. Very nice.

  55. I have one of these in the large size but I have mine permanently attached to one of the walls in my sewing room. It is great.

  56. I have one of these in the large size but I have mine permanently attached to one of the walls in my sewing room. It is great.

  61. I am SO glad for you that you finally got this. I have been using it for a couple of years now, and really love it. I agree that there is a certain amount of instability to it. Especially if you have a cat in the house :).
    On the instructions that came with mine, it said something about using tape to hold it together in some places. I have done that, and it really did help.
    Looking forward to seeing more beautiful things up on your new design wall!

  62. I am SO glad for you that you finally got this. I have been using it for a couple of years now, and really love it. I agree that there is a certain amount of instability to it. Especially if you have a cat in the house :).
    On the instructions that came with mine, it said something about using tape to hold it together in some places. I have done that, and it really did help.
    Looking forward to seeing more beautiful things up on your new design wall!

  63. Love the quilt and the design wall 🙂 So many triangles!! I don’t have a design wall….I just work on the floor which I’m told isn’t a very good plan. I’ll have to look into getting a wall. Thanks for sharing your experience with it 🙂

  64. Love the quilt and the design wall 🙂 So many triangles!! I don’t have a design wall….I just work on the floor which I’m told isn’t a very good plan. I’ll have to look into getting a wall. Thanks for sharing your experience with it 🙂