::Value In, Value Out::

Funny how my design wall has enlarged, yet I still need more room.  My plan is to create four squares on-point for this quilt to take it to my Seeing Value Workshop on Tuesday as a new sample.

This quilt is a long overdue thank you gift.

I’m holding a lot of medium value fabrics in my stash which leads to a blended look.  While I like the low contrast I still need to move some stuff around to make the corners of the squares a little more defined.  Rectangular would be fun too, maybe just three long ones.

Value Tutorial is here and more examples if you can do without the drive.

Off to Open Quilting Studio for the day!  Happy Wednesday.

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::Scattered::

Thanks for all the quilt names!  We did some rearranging yesterday and I lost a major storage spot.  The spot held a large tote full to the brim with unfinished projects.  As I was trying to reorganize I finally came up with the quilt’s name, Scattered.

The name seems to fit where I am with projects too.

This loss of space created a fire under my ass to reorganize further and work through those projects.  I’ve had a few small projects on my sewing table that were becoming clutter, beautiful clutter, but still clutter.  So I made a list and am striking some off instantly.  Clutter keeps me at a stand-still and I’m re-energize for sure upon checking off a few.

These small projects are created from fabrics that I’ve picked up locally.

This fabulous Anna Maria Horner velveteen that I got at  The West Seattle Fabric Company is finally an infinity scarf.  I’ve been matching the voiles with flannel or velveteen to make as gifts and was happy to see some of this type of fabric available in town.

I could procrastinate no longer on my delivery of my quilt to Quiltcon.  This required making a drawstring bag for its containment.  My boots will need something to travel in to Austin too and this Alexander Henry zebra print I got from Island Quilter is just so sassy.  I want to replenish its supply even though I have no project planned.

Island Quilter had this Alexander Henry fabric in a variety of colors.  I wanted to go with the black, but as an ironing board cover I thought it would fade.  I totally white-trashed the construction by tracing around the shape plus an inch or so, zig-zagging an inch down to the wrong side and pulling some elastic through the hem.  The elastic is pulled taunt and held tight by a toggle.  If I could do it with duct tape I would.  You just don’t see it so perfection doesn’t matter.

It could use some ironing.  This will surely happen.

I’m itchin’ to piece this Star-Bright Star-Light Quilt as a sample before the HST LOVE class on Saturday at Island Quilter and those diamond blocks are killing me.  I pulled it down to work on step outs for Jacquie’s and my Quiltcon Demo though.  Stick to the list.

Ok, ignoring the list for a second and dreaming of Valentine’s Day I couldn’t help but pile.  I’m always collecting fabrics for gift making.

This one from Drygood’s is my favorite this year!  I’m back to add this one too.

Here’s to a productive Monday!  We’ll see how long I can stick to the list.

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This Wednesday we have Open Quilting Studio at Make*Do*Mend in Ballard from 11-3pm and at Island Quilter on Saturday from 4-9pm following the HST Love class below.  This is a great opportunity to take a class and then stick around to finish the quilt!

::Half-Square Triangle LOVE Class::

$85/Saturday February 16th from 10am to 4pm at Island Quilter on Vashon Island.

This versatile quilt block lends itself to endless designs. We’ll cover quilting basics such as picking fabrics, matching seams and create perfect points.  We’ll play with a layout that suites your style and you’ll walk away with ideas for a multitude of quilts. All level of sewists welcome.

::Improvisational Coin Quilt Workshop::

$85/Tuesdays, February 19th and 26th from 6-9pm at Make*Do*Mend in Ballard.

No two will be the same. Learn improvisational techniques like angle piecing and strip piecing while creating a modern coin quilt loosely based on a tradition Chinese Coin Quilt Design. A great quilt to feature your favorite prints. All levels of sewists welcome/machines and tools provided.

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::Duh::

Not sure how I missed this, but I never added this Thursday’s Blind Co-Pilot Workshop to my class line-up.  I know there were a few inquiries over the past few months in regards to this class.

I’ll be bringing in my scrap boxes so we can stitch and flip in scrap heaven!  I’ve got two spots left and a very lively group of students so far.

Happy Tuesday you guys!  I’m doing taxes. I would trade my weight in fabric for someone to take over this chore.

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::Open Quilting Studio::

Need help with a quilting project?  Open studio dates:

Wednesday, January 23rd from 11am-3pm at Make*Do*Mend.

Friday, January 25th from 5-10pm at Island Quilter on Vashon Island (sign-up required).

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::Magic Number Workshop::  FULL!  Please call Island Quilter for Wait list.

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::Whole Cloth Quilt Finishing Class:: 

$85/Tuesdays, January 22nd and 29th at Make*Do*Mend in Ballard.

Quilt top, batting, and a backing…baste, quilt, and bind!  Learn the essential basics of finishing a quilt without piecing a thing!  Create a simple crisp modern baby quilt while learning the process.  Quilting designs with a walking foot will be a covered.  Walking foot required if you are bringing your own machine.  Studio machines and walking foot available.

::Split Decision Block Workshop::

$85/ Saturday February 2nd from 10am-4pm at Make*Do*Mend in Ballard.

Play with the slice and insert technique creating a modern quilt that features snippets of your favorite fabrics.  This is a great class for all levels of sewists that want to explore a new technique and play with design.  All levels welcome!  Machines and tools provided.

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::Christmas Shopping::

So fun to hear everyone’s memorable stocking stuffers on the last post!  Thanks for sharing.

This year in our house if you leave Santa the traditional gifts of a Guinness, cookie and a nicely printed note you might get:

• Life savers Book
• Project to keep little hands busy
• Jar of Marshmallow Fluff and Nutella
• Pecans

Sunday I spent an awesome afternoon perusing and buying handcrafted gifts at the Urban Craft Uprising.  There are a few vendors I like to support yearly.  I also ran into a few Seattle Modern Quilt Guild people.

I then bee-lined it to Drygoods Sunday. For fabric of course, but the plan is to gift it as wonderfully crafted gifts.

A needle book is in the works with some Storybook.  BECAUSE, be still my Heart, Niece Ella is getting a sewing machine for Christmas!

I doubt she needs inspiration, but she certainly needs a place to store her tools.  Sew She Sews has a great tutorial if you need some guidance.

I’ve been wanting to do the Everyday Bag from Heather Ross’s Weekend Sewing with this flowered corduroy for some time now.

Maybe the Tula Pink for the interior, or faux bois in dark green.  Any tips from anyone who has made this?  It seems pretty straight forward, but I’m thinking something weighty like Essex linen might drape better or adding a muslin lining.

Some infinity scarves are in the works, this flannel paired with some voile.  Voile still to be researched and colormatched.

I fell in love with this Alexander Henry in my Modern Charm Quilt class.  My friend Anne combined it with some fabulous fabrics.  This one is just because I needed it for my stash.

I’ve got a few gifts done,

and a trivet nearly there, just some binding to sew down while I start my Arrested Development marathon tonight.  It’s been awhile.

Today gifting must be put aside to finish a sample for my Double Trouble Quilt Block Workshop.  As usual, my small baby quilt evolved and I am going to spend some time creating some more blocks.  It needs some width.

Hoping to have a photo tomorrow of a finished quilt top.

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::Flip Triangle Quilt:: 
$85/ Thursdays, December 6th and 13th from 6-9pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.

A modern quilt with sharp points and design.  Learn the proper techniques for cutting and piecing this equilateral triangle block.  Choosing fabrics will be covered.  All levels of sewists welcome.

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::Adding Stitch and Flip Triangles to Half Square Triangles::

I had to take these off the design wall to focus on what really needed to be done.

I started fiddling with the idea of using scraps for half-square triangles with stitch and flip triangles during my Swirling Medallion class.  This simple technique from the book lends itself to so many designs.

I went with a small sized square so I could use up even the smallest of favorite scrap fabrics.

They are ideal for chain piecing.  Think of it as an ongoing project in between all those others.  I simply have added a stack of white squares to my sewing table and as I produce scraps from other projects I add hsts to the mix.

I think on-point might be what I go with and I’ll mess with them more before I teach the Stitch and Flip Triangle class and the Psychedelic Baby Block Class that will cover this technique and more.

It would be fun to play with value a bit more, but the process itself is so gratifying as you watch it grow.  Rather addictive I would say and always fun to see those out of print fabrics that you have miniscule amounts of on display in a quilt.

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::Improvisational Strip Piecing Workshop::  $85 Saturday, September 8th, 10am-4pm at Island Quilter on Vashon Island.

An all day workshop to explore the creation of your own quilt designs utilizing improvisational strip piecing.  We’ll cover this improvisational patchwork technique while constructing blocks for your own quilt design. All level of sewists welcome.   Quilting Modern Book required.

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::Let’s Swirl::

I’ve got two one spots left in my Swirling Medallion class tomorrow. Anyone want to play?

::Swirling Medallion Quilt:: $85 Saturday, August 25th 10am-2pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.

A merging of two blocks!  Come see how this quilt comes together while learning proper technique for cutting, piecing to create sharp points and sewing rows. All level of sewists welcome.   Quilting Modern book required.

We’re going to play with merging half-square triangles and stitch and flip triangles.  Create the simple medallion from the book Quilting Modern or design your own.

Need some inspiration?  Jacquie has some great versions here and here.  Ashley’s Swirling Swans are here.

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::Improvisational Strip Piecing Workshop::  $85 Saturday, September 8th, 10am-4pm at Island Quilter on Vashon Island.

An all day workshop to explore the creation of your own quilt designs utilizing improvisational strip piecing.  We’ll cover this improvisational patchwork technique while constructing blocks for your own quilt design. All level of sewists welcome.   Quilting Modern Book required.

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::Thanks for the Quilty Love::

Wow everyone, thanks for the love on my Pantone Pop quilt.  I was able to battle the snow and get it to the shop as a sample for my Seeing Value Class coming up.

It seems that this quilt caught the eye of WordPress enough to make their Freshly Pressed page.

The quilt produced a flurry of questions so I thought I would address them here.

*Yes, it did snow and NO, I didn’t eat my quilt.

*Yes, I use equal parts of each color fabric.  I listed the colors in the original post.

*The key to perfect points for me is cutting down my half-square triangles, see here.

*Finished squares are 6″.

*I believe the Quilting Loft is kitting this fabric bundle up for sale.

*The arrangement is totally random.  After I finish the hts blocks I give them a shuffle and where they land is where they go.

*Information on how I make my dual layer quilt design wall is here.

*No, this quilt is not in the book.

*I’ll likely just quilt it in linear lines like I did for The HST LOVE quilt.  That will have to wait until I get it back from the shop.

*Need further information?  Come take the class!

We’ve dug out from the snow and are back on the usual program here in Seattle.  I’m just itching to show you all an adaptation of a quilt from the book, but will have to settle with just my family, that truthfully haven’t even taken notice of how cool it is.

I’m looking forward to a Sew-In on Friday night with the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild and quilting this puppy.

Here’s to Friday not coming soon enough!

 

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::A Value Quilt of My Own::

Wow, you all really came out of the woodwork on that last post!  It was delightful to explore some new blogs and I hope I didn’t miss anyone.

Don’t you wish everyone wanted to talk about quilts as much as us?

The quilt on the end of my bed received so much attention that I thought it was time I posted it.

It is the first quilt I’ve EVER made for myself back when I did the Value Quilt Quilt-Along using my Value Quilt Tutorial.

I’ve seen the same design recently on blogs as warm/cool.  From how I understand it, the same designs work with warm and cool half square triangles, because warm colors appear to move forward and cool colors tend to recede.  This contrast makes the design appear, but you still need value or the two triangles will appear blended.

You can learn a little more here.

My value quilt contains a load of larger prints and a high proportion of fabrics that would likely fall under the category of medium value if judged on their own.

Larger prints will generally have a mix of light, medium and dark values, and mediums next to darks or lights will create a less defined line.  These two elements created a quilt where the contrast is low, creating a less defined or blended design.

I also turned some squares to make some of the diamonds one color, ignoring value, which skewed the design in some areas.

I love that it showcases my fabric stash, especially since some of these prints are long gone.

But what I wanted to mention, due to all the comments on the last post was the quilting that was done by the fab and artistic Angela Walters (Quilting Is My Therapy).  I was able to meet up with Angela last Summer when I was visiting Jacquie.  The quilting is dense and amazing.  I only wish I would have made the quilt larger.

From the back the quilting really shines.

The flannel back really showcases it nicely.  I’m glad I only put a few spare hsts on the back.

I chose this print for the binding and never auditioned or doubted it.

My friend Chara did some headshots for the book and we thought it would be fun for some photos even though it didn’t make the final run.

(photo by Chara Michele Photography)

It’s perfect, in every way.  And best of all, It’s mine all mine!

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::Lounge or Snooze?::

Today Roan and I took a breather from the day to do some reading.  As I pulled a quilt up from the end of the bed onto us I realized that we don’t sleep under any quilts I make.

We use them on the couch and to cover up on a cold evening in the yard or for a quick snooze when the beds are made, but never for an all-night snooze fest.

I think for me it’s a weight thing.  I like a down comforter and lately with the weather it can stay on all year.

How about you all?

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::Summer Visits::

and gifting.

Family in town, no sewing, just fun.  But I’ve had some gifts building up.  Dad got a laptop cover as belated Father’s Day gift.

This is the second I’ve made.  I quite like Keyka Lou’s patterns and have a few more to try.

For my Mom and Sister-in-Law, roomy zip bags for traveling with their skivvies.

Clean:

With a lovely purple zip and this interior fabric that has been waiting for a home for a bit.  The lingerie print I adore and found on auction.  I’ll be making one for myself with it for my next travels.

Dirty:

Dark red just made sense.

Brother unfortunately has only gotten the tab for his Slurpee picked up.

I’ll find time through my students to sew this week.  I have a HST class on the books for Wednesday.

and Split Decision on Thursday.

Hope you are finding some time to sew this weekend.

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