Last Saturday I went with all of my CQFA colleagues to view the Primal Green Show. I forgot my camera, so the photos are from others or from the day I went to check on how the hanging was going. That day was a gorgeous day in The City, which meant a lot of glare inside the fabulous Main Library!
CQFA Group
I really enjoy this group and the picture above shows what a great group we are. The photo also includes the librarian with whom we worked to get this show mounted. Maureen’s husband was kind enough to take the photo for us.
Left off the Elevator
The photo above shows the 5th floor Government Information Center. The left case has Virginia’s quilt. Behind the lighted kiosk are three quilts, Terri’s, Maureen’s and Soyoung’s. I found out at lunch last week that Soyoung does most of her work by hand and that small quilt took about 100 hours!
Gorgeous SignageGorgeous Signage 2
The curators at the library are wonderful. They came up with this great signage. The quilts are spread out all over the 5th floor, so the sign on the bottom very nicely shows where all the quilts are hanging.
Case Straight Off the Elevator
My quilt, Change of Seasons, is the tree in the middle of this case.
The Patent Case
The librarian was able to secure the use of this case as well, even though it wasn’t in the original plan. This extra case allowed the quilts above to be included in the show as well.
3D Objects
My Red Journal and Bron’s Bird Nest, both 3 dimensional, were placed in this table case along with two smaller quilts. This case is slightly to the right off the elevator.
Case to the right off the Elevator
This is the quilt with the arrangement of the signage.
3 Quilts Behind the KioskStanding CaseStanding Case 2Standing Case 2
The standing case shows a number of quilts and indicates the entrance to the Stegner Center. Again, the glare was a problem with the photography.
Stegner Center View
The Wallace Stegner Environmental Librarian is the sponsor of this show. The Stegner Center is a gorgeous space with a view overlooking City Hall. The two quilts in this case looked gorgeous with City Hall behind them. Unfortunately the glare did not make them easy to photograph.
Solar Roses
The roses (left) quilt is the first quilt and the sun quilt is all made from recycled tie fabric acquired from a tie factory. The use of color is excellent as well.
More Stegner Center View Quilts
The Library is a very public space so all of the quilts are in locked cases. This is a different kind of look for a show. The arrangement really gives the show the feeling of the art show that it is.
Stegner Center Shelves
The quilts are in the window alcove on the right and straight ahead and to the left.
ATCs on the WallATCs on the Wall 2
Over a hundred ATCs were made for the show. We thought they could be used to decorate the bottom of cases, but the curators chose to frame them in groups. I have never seen ATCs framed before and I like the effect very much.
Educational Materials 1
In the same hallway, the educational material was also on the wall.
Educational Materials 2
Since the Library is an educational institution, we asked a group of members to create some educational materials showing some part of the art quilt making process.
Educational Materials 3
The educational materials were designed to go in a table display. The curators decided to put them on the wall, presumably to include the 3D objects in the exhibit as well.
Educational Materials 4
The above educational frame shows the making of applique pieces using freezer paper.
After viewing of the quilts, many of the members went to lunch across the way. We were treated very well and were allowed to sit for a long time. We were given place cards and I was pleased to participate in a wonderful conversation with my colleagues.
ATC Prize Journal Cover
The Gang of Three (Nancy, Maureen, me) also decided to award a grand prize to one of the people who contributed to our collection of ATCs for the show. For that drawing, C&T Publishing, via CQFA member and C&T Education/Communications Manager Lisa Fulmer, donated the majority of the prize: Inktense pencils, a book and a few other things. I added in some embellishments and beads. I also made a journal cover to include. Caroline was the winner. I hope she enjoys her prize. We really appreciate everyone’s participation in making this show a success.
This past weekend, I spent all weekend doing fun quilt stuff,. None of it, really was sewing, but all of it was inspirational.
The Bay Area Modern Guild met on Saturday for a meeting and sew day. Don’t you love the new logo? I do!
The Manteca Quilt Show was all weekend, but I went with Mom on Sunday. Look for a post about the show soon. My camera acted up, so I need to get some of the photos from mom. I’ll also put a Flickr stream.
I really like the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild people. I really didn’t know what to expect or what I was expecting, but everyone is great: cheerful, fun, easy to talk to and doing fun projects. Even though I missed sewing on my own projects at home, it was worth the effort to go. Although I feel like I have a lot of deadlines (self imposed, of course) and I am not going to meet them, I need some sewing companionship and I am not going to get it at home alone.
The meeting was really fun. We had a bit of a business meeting and then show and tell. Show and tell was great: my favorite part. I love seeing what everyone is doing. I feel like I am getting some fresh ideas. I have been sewing, but I really had nothing to show. I haven’t finished much and need to get to work.
Amanda's Placemats
Amanda got some fabric from Urban Burp and combine the vintage fabric with some modern fabric to create some placemats. Everyone was very enthusiastic.
Kathleen's Square in a Square
Kathleen brought this square in a square piece. She used a pattern. Someone said that there is also a Kaffe Fassett pattern in one of his early books that looks similar. If I have time, I’ll look for it and let you know. I like the color and the different sized blocks used in one quilt. I also enjoy Kathleen’s work, because she uses similar colors to the colors I use.
I brought the Black Jane Market Tote and everyone admired it, but I was busy doing something else while Kathleen was taking photos, so no photo. You have seen it anyway!
Adrianne's Hexagons
Adrianne’s hexagons are quite large. She used a special cutting technique by Kay Wood, which is described on her (Adrianne’s) blog. I tried this and had some problems. Adrianne and I worked together at the meeting to figure out the problem. What we surmise is that you must have a 60 degree triangle with the tip. I was using my new favorite ruler, the Fons and Porter Pyramid ruler. I love that ruler, but the top is blunted and, while, it works great for the Twirling Triangles, but creates oblongs instead of hexagons when using Adrianne’s/Kay’s technique.
Adrianne used Innocent Crush in her piece and machine pieced the hexagons in rows. I am not sure if the Innocent Crush is in a particular colorway. I saw a number of different colors of the various designs.
Julie‘s show and tell was her cool beginner sampler. It is so fresh and fun! I haven’t counted up my requirements for techniques to learn when doing a beginning class, but Julie’s piece hits most of the high points. Her really good news was that she is opening an LQS!!! I was so excited until I heard it will be in San Jose. 🙁 She will have an online store as well, though, so I can buy from there. She is planning to open after Spring Market.
I am really hoping that an LQS will open in my neighborhood. I am in an LQS wasteland! I’ll keep you posted on Julie’s store developments.
Kathleen's String Blocks
Kathleen has been busy. She is making string blocks as well as well as the Square in a Square and the Mod Mosaics. They remind me, a bit, of Pineapples. I believe this is also a swap on Flickr. Again, I love her colors. I am so glad someone else is working in brights and dots. Kathleen said that she is working on so many swaps that she hasn’t had a chance to work on her own projects!
It is interesting to see these swaps going on. I remember back in the quiltmaking dark ages when people did swaps and they went awry or people received blocks that were less than stellar in workmanship. I am glad there are people who aren’t as jaded as I am.
February Block Challenge
Everyone brought their blocks from the 2.5″ strip swap. I was amazed at the variety of blocks. I think they will go nicely together. Adrianne and Kathleen put names into a bag to draw for all of the blocks. Chris of Quilt Bits won! I can’t wait to see what she makes.
Block Swap
For this month’s challenge, Adrianne and Kathleen brought Joel Dewberry’s Modern Meadow fat quarters. The idea is that people took the FQs and will bring back blocks to the next meeting. The theme is to make blocks with squares: log cabin, 9patch, 4patch, etc. Like last month, we will either make a quilt and someone who worked on it will win or we will draw for the blocks. Almost everyone wanted to participate, which I thought was great! I guess this is me sticking my toe back into the swap waters.
My fabric: Acorn Chain in a Lake
The photo to the left shows the fabric I chose. The colorway is Pond. It is called Acorn Chain in a Lake, which I find very entertaining. I have been trying to think of what block to make and, especially, how far I can stretch the definition of ‘square.’ 😉 At the moment the top contender is Block # 9 from the Layer Cake Quilt Challenge. I am pretty in love with 4 patches right now, though and am trying to think of something interesting to do with a 4patch (e.g. 9patch with 4patch corners??) . Adrianne posted some fun options from Flickr. I am reserving judgment as I have not yet looked through any of my block dictionaries. I am sure I can make more than one block from the fabric I have. I just hope I find some time to sew!
I chose this fabric because it looks like dots. Also, that lighter blue looks like aqua and I think I might use some of the aqua dandelion fabric I got from FabricWorm/Birch Fabrics. It is called Dandelion by Michael Miller.
Dandelion by Michael Miller
It looks like they would go together. We are also supposed to use Kona white if we plan to use a white in the block. I have Kona Snow, but not Kona White, so I will have to get some or not use white. I keep thinking that a bit of orange would be nice, but I’ll have to see when I lay out the block.
What is your favorite square block?
I only brought projects to cut out: Jane Market Totes from Martha Negley fabric, Multi-tasker Tote from Michael Miller’s Ironwork fabric, another quilt like Michaela’s quilt, but using fabrics from one of the Birch Bundles I got last summer. I thought I would get a lot of cutting done. It turns out that I was Miss Social Butterfly, As I mentioned, I really enjoy the women there and took advantage of the opportunity to talk quilts, guild activities and life. Who knew I wouldn’t just stand in the corner by myself?
Jane Market Totes to be
The left photo shows all I got done; cut out 2 Jane Market totes. That’s it. C’est tout. I am happy I got these pieces cut as the table was nice and big, but I really wish I had gotten more done. I blame Adrianne and Kathleen for doing such a great job organizing the meeting and being such nice people. 😉
Kathleen prepared the demo. The demo was the Mod Mosaic technique by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson fame. She has a pattern for a floor pillow using the technique. She talks about the blocks here and shows different ideas for settings.
Kathleen is in a swap group and they are swapping these types of blocks so a tutorial/demo on how to make the blocks seemed a good idea. It was a huge success!
Mod Mosaic Tutorial
Kathleen’s blocks are gorgeous! I watched and listened as I did my own stuff. I looked at the pattern later and I get it. I think this would make good use of scraps. Just what I need: another project in process!
Peggy's Mod Mosaic
Peggy got on board right away. She came with fabrics for a bargello quilt and, instead, used them to make Mod Mosaic blocks!
Lisa's Mod Mosaic
Lisa’s blocks (right) looked like circus blocks. I loved their bright cheerfulness. Kathleen also showed some of her blocks in detail.
Kathleen's Mod Mosaic
Looking at the black and red blocks makes me think of my new scrap organization system and how that system would lend itself to be picking scraps out of the drawer and sewing them into these types of blocks.
On my way home from the meeting, I wondered about my interest in the Modern Quilt Movement and it occurred to me that I have been, at least mentally or intellectually, struggling with categorizing my own style of quiltmaking.
What style of quilts do I make?
They aren’t really traditional, though have classic elements and are often block based. I don’t really dye or paint or engage much in surface design, so they aren’t art quilts, really, either. Perhaps I am exploring modern quilts to determine whether these types of designs are that fine line between the art and classic quilts?
I really enjoyed the meeting and can’t wait to go again….even if I don’t get anything done. 😉
Want to come to a meeting or join? Take a look at the:
Thanks to Kathleen for allowing me to use her photos!
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3/10/2011 Update: Kathleen said that Square in a Square pattern to which I referred above is called Outside the Box by Rose Mason of Wilsonville, Oregon.
Primal Green is a show of environmental art quilts at the Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library.
The Wallace Stegner Environmental Center is one of the special collections at the Main Branch and, after a year of work with the Library, CQFA has over 20 quilts hanging. The quilts all have an environmental theme. The show will hang until July 31. Hope you can stop by and see it. Check the library’s website for hours.
I was also pleased to receive a block from Carol of a Scot in Tennessee. I bet she has the greatest accent!
Carol's Block
Carol is a contributor to the Creative Prompt Project. She also does color exercises on her blog. I am not sure how often, but every time I look at her blog, I see one. Carol’s block is raw edge applique’. I love the simplicity.
More Mom Stars
Mom the Energizer Quilt Bunny brought two more stars over yesterday. She is amazing! these are definitely for the kid quilt. All those food fabrics scream ‘kid.’ Do you like those potato chips?
We now have over 50 blocks!
Want to help? The background for this project is that one family we know from school and my husband’s cousin were affected by the September 2010 San Bruno fire. We are making 3 quilts: one for our cousin and his wife, one for my son’s friend and one for the parents of my son’s friend.
I am thrilled at how many people are making a block or two. Do you want to contribute some blocks?
All star blocks are welcome!
Block background: dark blue
Block design: Yellow star (any pattern, technique, eg. embroidery, painting, silkscreen, etc)
Block size: 8? finished (8.5? unfinished) or smaller (we will work with any size)
Remember to sign your block!
Deadline: Still TBA, but the end is nearing. I am still thinking it will be around the end of March, though I am not sure I will be ready to piece quilts by then. We will see.
Still…
We can’t do it without you! Please contribute some blocks.
Contact us through our blogs for mailing instructions. Thanks very much for your generosity!
Yesterday, after spending the morning with the Young Man at an appointment , I met my mom and we visited to the biannual San Francisco Quilters’ Guild Show. The show is held South of Market in a funky, old building. There is parking and the space is large so the show never feels crowded. The light has been a problem in the past, but this year the quilts were well lit. The last of their shows I visited was in 2007. I think I was too lazy to go in 2009. Sewing calls, you know.
It was great to spend the day with my mom. We always get into discussions about color at quilt shows and I think we see color very differently. My mom is a teacher of the Munsell color system. I have never studied that system of color theory and have decided I will have to read up on it. I always find myself at a disadvantage when talking with her about this topic. I should at least understand, on an intellectual level, what she is talking about. I told her to write some Munsell color theory posts on her blog.
Sunshine over Aquamarine by Laureen Neily
We did agree that Sunshine over Aquamarine was our favorite quilt. I even filled out the Viewer’s Choice slip for this quilt! First, the pattern is simple. The fabrics are scrappy, but work really well together. The maker paid careful attention to the colors and her work paid off. The ratio of yellow to aquamarine is perfect. Also, the quilting fits the quilt very well. The photo above does not do the quilt justice.
Sunshine over Aquamarine by Laureen Neily-color
The above photo is very close to the color of the quilt. The center looked more yellow than beige. I liked that none of the wide variety of fabrics really stuck out. When viewed from far away, they all worked in harmony. I also liked the squares and rectangles combination.
Sunshine over Aquamarine by Laureen Neily -quilting detail
The photo above is a bit dark (no flash), but I wanted to get a clear photo of the quilting. I think this type of quilting would work very well in the Zig Zaggy quilt. There were a number of quilts where I thought the quilting overshadowed the piecing. I am a piecing girl, though, and I am sure that the makers of those quilts had good reasons for the quilting added to their pieces. The quilting in the quilt, above, is perfect for the piecing. The quilt has a strong, if subtle, horizontal line and the quilting accents that without overpowering it.
Linda's Potpourri by Linda Gavin
I really enjoyed this quilt as well. It appeared to be a group project, though members seemed to offer more support than blocks to each other (they all made their own quilts). Each person made an 18″ block (comprised of smaller pieces) every month for a year until enough blocks were accumulated to make a quilt.
Again, I liked the ratio of green and yellow to black. Also, the greens and yellows, mostly, seemed clear rather than greyed out.
Linda's Potpourri by Linda Gavin - detail
There isn’t too much black in this piece, which means that the other colors aren’t overwhelmed.
Linda's Potpourri by Linda Gavin - detail 2
This star is similar to the stars I used in the Frosted Stars quilt.
The guild was having a special on memberships – one year membership for$10 during the show only. I bought one. The lady at the membership table was very enthusiastic and very friendly. I said I had belonged before and, when pressed, mentioned that I felt the guild was too clique-ish last time I was a member. They acknowledged that as a problem and said they wanted to have a meeting for new members to get to know each other. They also want to form some new small groups. I am interested in a small group, but will wait and see how it goes. If I go to two meetings, like I did last year, then it will be worth it. I have to get back on the list for their meetings as I have not received an email about their topics or speakers in a few months.
Circle Quilts
We also visited with Colleen of Sew Little Time Quilting, who was vending at the show. She has just come out with a new book, Circle Quilts. She was giving a demo just after we saw her, so we headed over there to watch. All of the patterns are for paper piecing. From my glance through the pages, the directions are very clear and there are full sized patterns in the book. I like the Liberty Star. Mom bought the book.
Many of the quilts in Colleen’s book are round. Round quilts are a pain to hang. Colleen has solved that problem with Quilt Shaper.
Quilt Shaper
This is a piece of stainless steel that you insert into the quilt to help it keep its shape. There are full directions inside. One of the reasons I have never made a round quilt is because hanging is less than stellar. Why make something that will look terrible hung on the wall? This product makes me actually consider making a round quilt!
[NB: I did not get discounts or anything free to write about the above book and product.]
We also saw a demo of the Accuquilt Go. I think this machine would be great for my mom, but they are pricey. The woman demoing works at a quilt shop 12 miles from where my mom lives and invited her to come to their bee. I was pretty happy about that, because mom has been missing her friends since she moved.
We had a good food experience with the deli as well. We were contemplating the choices for a gluten free meal. When the chef heard us talking, he came up and offered to make something special for us. We both had salads with meat, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, etc. I would have been a cranky and irritable mess if I hadn’t eaten and really appreciate the chef reaching out to us.
All in all, it was a good day. Fun to hang with mom, nice to see some quilts. I’ll put the quilts up in a Flickr set, but it will take me a few days.
I bought a lot of food fabric fat quarters (say that 3x really fast) for my mom last spring while she was taking care of Super G and trying not to lose her mind. This is one of the blocks she made with those food fabrics. She made a lot of blocks like the Corner Store pattern I talked about in the review of Pretty Little Mini Quilts, then she didn’t like them for the food quilt, so she redid them and this is block one of the result. Check her blog for progress.
Sonja gave me these pieces of fabric for my birthday. She brought a big bag of them over to my house and let me choose. I think I took all of her best ones. I tried to take a few, but she insisted that I take 6 pieces. She makes them with a soy wax resist (don’t ask me anymore questions about the process, because that is all I know!) and they turn out to be gorgeous. I feel so lucky to have such wonderful and talented friends.
Crafts
Since it is never too early to start making gift bags, especially since you can use them for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Groundhog Day, etc. Here is a video gift bag tutorial for another way of making gift bags.
Time
TedTalks is back with a great audio essay on work life balance. That term “work-life balance” always makes me laugh. People take time for their lives in the midst of work here in the US. IMO, of course.
Media
I went to the C&T Publishing Digital Lounge, which is hosted by Lisa of LisaLizaLou, on a recent Wednesday. There were two video demos and a chat portion. Lisa did one demo of TAP and Liquitex products, while SuziBlu did a demo of working iwth the canvas book. She isn’t an artist with whom I was familiar, but it was interesting. Links to the products used:
Transfer Artists Paper: Lisa basically showed how to use this. I still don’t know, because the chat was so distracting, but it looks very cool and I know my sister would love it for her cardmaking and scrapbooking. I may have go back and watch the archive demo again.
Ready-to-Go!® Blank Canvas Book 8 1/2” x 11”: SuziBlu, the featured artist, used this book to show fabric printing, fabric painting and various other techniques. I haven’t never heard of her, but the audience was very enthusiastic. Her faces looked similar to Kelly Rae Roberts and I wonder if they work together?
Silicone Release Paper: – Lisa said that this does not get hot. The sheets are only 8/5×11″, but I think they would be useful. I’ll put a package on my list.
You can watched the archived replay as well. Lisa received an award at CHA and you can pretend you were there by watching the video.
I ran across Judy Nolan’s blog post on sewing notions. There were some listed that I thought would be very helpful to quiltmakers, including the Cotton Mills Treasure Markers. In the course of the post, she also gives a brief history of Nancy Zieman, of Nancy’s Notions fame, and her career.
Adrianne keeps pointing me (and her other blog fans) to the Fat Quarterly Magazine/Newsletter. I love the idea and think the articles and information would be right up my alley. I don’t love the online aspect and I can’t see myself printing 70+ pages on my little inkjet. I don’t enjoy reading in bed with my laptop. Perhaps with the iPad, but still, I really like the old print versions to read at night. Not sure what I will do, except not buy it at the moment. New business model: printing and binding online mags for people for a reasonable price on a subscription basis.
In some part of Fat Quarterly that I, as a non-subscriber, could access, I was introduced to Modern Day Quilts, a Tumblr blog that showcases one quilt a day. When I went to look I saw one that looked like the mosaic piecing from a recent issue of the AQS magazine and the art glass type quilts by Julie Hirota. It was made by the writer of PinkPlease! blog. Apparently, though, the artist is calling it a ticker tape quilt from a tutorial.
Be*mused has a set on Flickr of quilts from the Tokyo Quilt Festival this past January.
I haven’t always loved video, but I am liking it more. I didn’t used to watch much TV and the video was jerky and weird. Now, there are so many videos on subjects in which I am interested (such as quiltmaking! Embellishing! Piecing! etc) that it is great to watch little bits of videos and learn something. I just found that Laura Wasilowski has a video on making French knots. It is a little over a minute long and well done (except for the wooshing sound in the background). Viewers also get to see one of her fabulous whimsical pieces.
Shows
I’m part of Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Artists (CQFA) and we’ll be exhibiting “Primal Green: Environmental Art Quilts” @ the Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library (5th fl) from March 1 – July 30. Artist reception will be held on April 17th @ 1pm. Hope some of you can come! Check out our link for more info: www.cqfa.org/shows.html
Projects
The Young Man keeps asking for his annual quilt. Huh? He recently told me he wants a food quilt. Mom has a lot of food fabric that I bought for her. Robin, at the recent retreat, was making a disappearing 9 patch, which is stuck in my head. I was thinking of working on one of those using food fabric for him. Recently, I talked to my mom and she said that she was thinking about making a disappearing 4patch. I looked up the directions to which she pointed me and it looks interesting, too.
Machinery
I know BryeLynn of Sew*Stitch*Create has had a lot of problems with her Janome 11K, but I would still like to upgrade to one. It isn’t going to happen until we get the Young Man off to college, but that doesn’t mean I am not tempted by ads that Janome currently has running.
I received these 9 blocks from my SIL on Thursday. I was so excited. We are now at 41 blocks! I didn’t think we would make 30, but people have been so generous. It warms my heart. Now my goal is 60 blocks: 20 for each of the 3 quilts.
As reminder, one family we know from school and my husband’s cousin were affected by the September 2010 San Bruno fire. We are making 3 quilts: one for our cousin and his wife, one for my son’s friend and one for the parents of my son’s friend.
Want to help? I am thrilled at how many people are making a block or two. Do you want to contribute some blocks?
All star blocks are welcome!
Block background: dark blue
Block design: Yellow star (any pattern, technique, eg. embroidery, painting, silkscreen, etc)
Block size: 8″ finished or smaller (we will work with any size)
Remember to sign your block!
Deadline: TBA, probably around the end of March. We can’t do it without you!
Contact us through our blogs for mailing instructions. Thanks very much for your generosity!
The CQFA Quilt Retreat was this past weekend. Dolores did a great job organizing it. We went to a new place and it was wonderful. There was a bakery nearby which baked gluten free pastries in addition to regular pastries. That was a really nice treat!
My Creative Mess
Above is my workspace, which I shared with Julie. You can see FOTY 2010 in progress. Sonja and Debbie were in the back. The share table is in the middle.
Terri, Dolores & Sue's Workspaces
Sue set up in a corner and made a whole Moon over the Mountain quilt while Terri worked on a Ricky Tims style quilt.
East Side of Room
It never ceases to amaze me how much of a mess I can make when given the opportunity. My workspace is right at the bottom of the photo. I worked hard over the weekend, so it must be ok. Dolores was in the far corner with Maureen and Robin at the table between Dolores and mine.
Bron & Virginia
Bron and Virginia couldn’t stay and work with us for the weekend, but they did come for the group dinner on Saturday. I love this picture. It shows what lovely people they both are.
Julie's Tumbler
At the same time I cut the FOTY patches all year, I have also been cutting Tumbler patches for Julie. I think she mentioned liking that shape and I took it upon myself to cut patches for her. I don’t remember exactly how it all came about, but it sounds like something I would do.
It was fun to see the same fabrics that I was working with on my project. Julie worked on sewing rows of her Tumbler quilt together. She is making it for her bed. At one point she laid it on the floor and we laid down on top of it to test and see if the size was large enough. No cameras were available to catch that moment. I was hoping she would sew all the rows on, but she got tired of it after awhile and worked on some different projects.
Another View of Julie's Tumbler
We declined to have Julie crawl on top of table or chair to show the whole piece. It is quite large and above is a different view.
Nancy's Needle felting
Nancy was making a needle felted scarf. I don’t know if she finished, because I don’t know that much about needle felting. I really liked the design she was working on.
Birthday Gifts
Julie also gave me some birthday gifts! We spent a happy hour looking through the two books and talking about the craziness of some of the piecing. She gave me a really nice card, too. 😉
I stumbled across this on Great Recycled Gifts website. I don’t think I want to use a metal bag, but I can definitely see the advantages. I also love the shape of this bag. I may have to see about making a bag that shape.
I saw this project on Fons & Porter the other day and had to go and watch it again, so I could get more details. It is show #1607 of the 1600 Series.
They don’t provide measurements on their show, because they want you to buy the magazine. Like the Corner Store project, I thought this would be a good scrap project. Frances, of The Off Kilter Quilt podcast, talked about having too many scraps and composting them in a recent podcast.I think Frances should do mosaic quilting, but I’ll bring that up another day. I already inundate her with all of my advice.
Twirling Triangles Half Block
I don’t want to compost my scraps, but I do want to use them. I though this block would work very well. I have the Pyramind ruler and I thought I could use the Kona Snow as the background and then just cut appropriate sized scraps to the right size and make blocks until I have enough….for something.
This project doesn’t look like it would work well for chunking, but it does look like an interesting project. We’ll see.
Twirling Triangles by Kehoeta
This is one I found on the web by Kehoeta. I like the use of the black triangles. I was thinking of that idea as well. I only saw this one example. It looks like she used a lot of scraps, so I am heartened that my idea isn’t stupid.
The photos are bad, because I paused the TV and snapped photos of what was on the screen.
Some of us are having issues getting our prompt responses out. SherriD is not one of them. Check out her recent responses. She is doing a number of responses in FABRIC on one piece and it is wonderful.
…and some thoughts on donation quilts are posted at Mary’s Art Musings. Mary makes some really good observations about the repair of a quilt and has some great tips on making donation quilts. We will definitely be taking these into consideration as we make the Stars for San Bruno quilts.
Links
I saw something on my blog dashboard that I had never seen before: a way to see who was linking to my blog. Here are some of the latest:
I started another piece of scrap fabric in anticipation of making another journal like the Red Journal. It will take while to make a big enough piece from scraps, but a person has to start somewhere.
I went to CQFA and the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild Meetings today (total quilt extravaganza!) and had a great time. As an added bonus, I increased by Stars for San Bruno collection of blocks by 2! The top two are from Bron. She has upped her contribution to 4. Yay and thanks, Bron!
Adrianne is the owner/author of Little Bluebell. She also contributed 2 (the bottom ones) blocks to the SFSB cause. She came to the end of the meeting just to give me the blocks. I met Adrianne at the first meeting that I attended back in December. She told me about attending Market on a press pass. She also made a Flea Market Bag, which inspired me to make mine. Thanks, Adrianne!
We now have a total of 14 blocks, which is a great start. Do you want to contribute some blocks?
All star blocks are welcome!
Block background: dark blue
Block design: Yellow star (any pattern, technique)
Block size: 8″ finished or smaller (we will work with any size)
Remember to sign your block!
Deadline: TBA
Contact us through our blogs for mailing instructions. Thanks so much for your generosity!