Monday, June 11, 2012

Instagram is easier than blogging.

Instagram is easier than blogging.
Yes, I said it.

Instagram is easy.
Instagram is manageable.
Instagram is mobile.
Instagram is pretty great.
It isn't perfect, but it is very handy.

Don't get me wrong, I love my blog.
I'm not leaving my blog, but if you want to know what I'm working on then following me on Instagram is the way to go. I know not everyone has a smart phone or wants to add more apps if they have one. Because of this I also post most of my Instagram photos to Twitter and to Facebook.


Instagram is also fun because of all the cool effects you can do. I also use Camera Awesome and a few other apps too.


What is the best feature of Instagram for me?
It's mobile.
I have yet to find a good app that I can use on my iPad or iPhone for blogging. I'm often not at my computer when I want to be blogging, which makes this all very complicated. I didn't mean to go a week without blogging, it just was a busy week and it happened. Sorry! Instagram allowed me to easily post 20+ photos this week.  Here are a few to give you a quick recap.


Backing selected & pieced for Gamer quilt. Coin strip made from leftovers of the quilt top.

Cutting up some Pick a Bunch fabrics

Making a miniature Four Patch Shift, the quilt from the cover of my book!

Making progress with the tiny blocks. Each one finishes at 2" x 2"!!

Miniature quilt done! Here is is with the original and the book cover.

My 3 minis. I made the Radio Way & Come What May ones back in February.

I asked on Instagram which quilt I should make miniature next. Chopsticks got a few votes so I went for it. The pieces were so tiny that I had to convert my pattern into a paper pieced one. {The original is just traditional piecing.}


I took this photo with the machine & rotary cutter to help show the scale.
More progress.

3 rows done...

Finished! It measures 12" wide and 14 1/2" tall. Fabrics are all Kona solids from Robert Kaufman. The  silent film set & school bus orange.


I finally decided on a binding for my miniature Radio Way. I went with a single fold 1/8" finished after trimming an 1/8" off the quilted piece first. Result is a miniature binding that fits better to the scale of the miniature quilt. (regular tan binding shown behind on green sample to give scale.)


Here it is finished!


My updated collection of minis.
About the miniature quilts
1. What quilts are they? Radio Way, Come What May, Four Patch Shift, & Chopsticks. 
2. What fabrics are they? 
Come What May = Tula Pink & Lizzy House
Four Patch Shift = Pick a Bunch by Nancy Mims for Robert Kaufman
Chopsticks = Kona solids - Silent film set & school bus orange
3. What size are they? They are all approximately 1/4 scale to the originals. Largest one is 16" x 20" and the smallest is 12" x 14 1/2"
4. Will I be making patterns for them? Not at this time. I've been making these for my studio walls since many of my quilts are usually gone on trunk shows. I really appreciate how much everyone likes them but hadn't anticipated the desire for patterns. Right now this isn't a part of my plan for Jaybird Quilts, but I have a few other exciting things in the works that I'll share soon!!

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Sewing with Knits for the first time! 

Dress progress...

Raglan sleeve inspired maxi dress from laguna jersey heather knits by Robert Kaufman. It's the third dress I have ever made and the first from knits. I have already had a lot of questions about it. 
1. What pattern is it?  I didn't use a pattern. 
2. Will I make a pattern for it. Maybe? I hadn't planned on it, but that doesn't mean no. I'll let you know if I decide to do it.

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Next post is more Market recap!



© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

17 comments:

Angela Nash said...

I wish I could follow instagram on my reader! I can't get used to it on my phone. I would LOVE LOVE for instagram to make friends with blogger and let me post directly to my blog. Or I would even be happy with instagram>flickr>blog. I could do all that on my phone as well.

Those mini quilts are super awesome. You can have a mini, 3D preview of your patterns and books to take to talks and signings. Alot less stuff to haul around :)

mascanlon said...

I love instagram too! I should get better about posting photo there every couple of days. This was a fun recap of the week Julie.
If you were a sewer in the 70's...yea I know you weren't born yet but if you had been, you probably took some classes in sewing with knits, it was THE big deal. I made teeshirts,pants, swim suits and even lingerie. Then the industry moved on....

Audrie said...

Instagram is awesome. Bestest thing on my phone ever :) But I do have to make a conscious effort to blog because I feel like I've already told everyone whatever it is I'm doing on Instagram hahaha

Unknown said...

I don't have an iphone, so no instagram for me, but I feel the same way about Twitter. It's so easy to breeze in, post a pic, say a few words and pop back out again. I actually wrote a blog post a few months back titled "I Blame Twitter."

Jenniffier said...

I too am gaining a love for instagram as it now on android. I already follow you there :) as for the iPad app for blogging try blogsy it is pretty good app.

Kristy said...

I hope you at least give those of us in the dark ages an update here on your blog. I don't have a smart phone or an account on facebook so I hope I can still follow what you are doing. I love your minis. They are so cute! So excited about your new book. You are a very creative person. Keep it up! K-

Emily said...

Those tiny minis are amazing! Nice work!

I don't have a smart phone so no instagram for me. I'm pretty sure I'd be addicted to it otherwise!

Quiet Quilter said...

Nice dress and very nice quilts..Love that orange!

dream quilt create said...

Android does instagram too! I just recently got the instagram app and love it too:) I follow you and love your pics. You should follow me too, clkh55. I really enjoy following your blog and all the lovely things you create.

Hettie Pringle /Stitchingmatters said...

Please tell more. I have a smart phone, after reading your post download Instagram (you made it sound so cool) but no what? Why does one want this, what can you do with it and what's all the other advantages? Yip, you guessed it - person older than 50!

Denise in PA said...

I've been enjoying your Instagram photos on Facebook! I was wondering what you were making all of the minis for - great idea!!

BendingPins.com said...

Have you tried Blogsy? Available for the iPad. I love it because I can take photos with my iPad and can edit and include in a blog post any time, anywhere!

artsycraftsyivy said...

I LOVE the mini chopsticks one ... if you change your mind and decide to sell patterns :)

Lisa said...

Love the mini's and your new dress!

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

I need roller skates to keep up with you girl. Love the dress...you look great in it.

Those mini quilts are great....excellent idea!

Smiles,
Kelly

gale said...

I don't use my smartphone that much so now I'm following your instagram feed through webstagram so I can follow on my computer. Thanks for the heads up!

Debbie said...

I'm with Hettie Pringle - do tell more...point us to some basics at least?? Love your minis - very fun indeed.