{"id":42853,"date":"2018-08-28T07:31:36","date_gmt":"2018-08-28T14:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artquiltmaker.com\/blog\/?p=42853"},"modified":"2018-08-28T19:18:55","modified_gmt":"2018-08-29T02:18:55","slug":"various-sundry-2018-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artquiltmaker.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/various-sundry-2018-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Various & Sundry 2018 #8"},"content":{"rendered":"

Creativity & Inspiration<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have to read a lot at work to gather information for a market intelligence report I am supposed to write at the end of the year. The other week I came across a Fast Company article<\/a> that addresses quiltmaking: creativity blocks. I wrote about this in 2013<\/a>, using a term “Creative Desert” which I still think is apt. Patience is the big one in the article, which I agree with. The author pointed out that allowing anxiety to infiltrate your process interferes with your subconscious working on the problem. One of my big tools is leaders and enders<\/a>. I, either, sew squares together until I am so sick of it I can’t help but go back to working on a real project or I use scraps to make new fabric, like for my journal covers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I saw an article about corrupt files<\/a>, which morphed into an article about creative process and the stuff creatives collect. The article made me think about whether I am throwing enough work away to be truly making great works.<\/p>\n

Patterns and Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

I forgot about the Kansas City Star quilt blog. I went there after looking for quilt museums in Kansas for a friend who was bored visiting family. The post I read<\/a> talks about a block of the month based on a diary. I love women’s diaries, so I took a look. The blocks are really nice. Calicos, but they could be put into modern fabrics – or batiks or anything more contemporary – and look really great as well.<\/p>\n

Ricky Tims’ Legacy Quilt Club blocks<\/a> will only be available through September. If you want to download them, go get them now. Don’t pay attention to the colors. Design your own palette<\/a>. I would love to see a modern version!<\/p>\n

You know I love to make books and never have enough time or the right tools on the machine to do it. I have to reset the machine and devote a chunk of time to book making. No leaders and enders always puts me off (what I really need is a bigger workroom with more machines set up for different projects!!). I found a video on making books<\/a>\u00a0and thought you might like to join me in book or journal making.<\/p>\n

I made a charger case<\/a>\/cable container sometime ago and I use it all the time. It is really big, though. and I have been thinking I might like something smaller. Kathie of Katie’s Quilting Corner<\/a> posted a link to a pattern<\/a> that is really useful looking. Thanks, Katie!<\/p>\n

Doing Good<\/strong><\/p>\n

Support Laura Kemshall<\/a> in helping the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in raising \u00a0\u00a31.25m\u00a0 before June 2019. She is making an EPP star quilt. There is a button for a\u00a0\u00a310 donation on the site. There is a PayPal option to make it easy for US contributors. She was trying to raise \u00a32500 and has already raised over\u00a0\u00a37600, which is fantastic and will help so many people. I know there are many people in need. One small act of kindness to this appeal or another will help make the world better.<\/p>\n

The Covered in Love block drive is back on. Check the blog<\/a> for needs and wants. It is a great way to use up scraps or try a new block.<\/p>\n

How-to<\/strong><\/p>\n

Laura Kemshall teaches how to English Paper Piece in her free video<\/a> on DMTV.<\/p>\n

The Girls at Culcita have a series of videos on learning to quilt. The one I saw was about resizing a quilt pattern<\/a>! I haven’t done a tutorial on that and now I don’t need to.<\/p>\n

I found a great article<\/a> on organizing your workspace. I was reading it for work, but think there are some ideas I can use in my workroom as well. My favorite tip so far is the binder clip tip. I know there are beautiful binder clips<\/a> available and this might be just the solution we need at home for our charging cords.<\/p>\n

Fabric, Tools & Supplies<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Annie has a post<\/a> that includes a checklist of things to think about when you buy a new machine. She gives the reader her preferences for things she can’t live without.<\/p>\n