During my presentation, I will talk about the techniques of creating and assembling the hundreds of pieces in each diamond, materials I use to create the wash of color and light across a gem’s surface and the quilting techniques that enhance a gem’s facets. I will also share the importance of choosing joy and saying “no” to fear as I made the leap from the Corporate Life to the Creative Life.

Learn how to improve the precision of making basic units for any pattern by using the Studio 180 Design tools by Deb Tucker. The concept is to make the basic unit slightly oversized so that you can trim it to the exact measurements you need without losing any points. You will want to use these techniques on any pattern you purchase. As you progress into the advanced tools, you will quickly find yourself designing your own blocks and improving your piecing.

Nancy McNally has been quilting for more than 20 years, after being introduced to quilting by accident at a picnic. She loves to design her own quilts and create longarm quilting designs. Nancy takes traditional blocks and jazzes them up! She likes to keep the eye moving across the quilt, but at the same time allow the eye to find a favorite spot to rest and appreciate the colors. Nancy is a national teacher of both piecing and longarm machine quilting, and has been published over 30 times in various quilting magazines and books. See her website at nancymcnallyquilts.com.