::Modern Crazy Piecing Play::

I’ve had two quilts in process for Jacquie’s and my crazy piecing class on May 22nd at Island Quilter.

I almost scratched this one, thinking it didn’t have enough dark values, but you know what?  No dark values=softer mellow feel and for a baby quilt that’s just perfect.  Everyone loves a mellow baby.

I had to confine myself with some masking tape on my wall to keep my size down.  My tendency is to get larger and larger.

With the floor freshly mopped I basted it this morning and didn’t even have to move the table out because of its wee size.

I have a HUGE tote full of neutral scraps and I crazy pieced a load of those into the background as well.  It just needed something in those zones.

I’m thinking sky blue vertical lines for quilting.  I want it to retain it’s soft drape and I only have cotton batting, so I’ll have to refrain from getting them too close together.

Then I couldn’t resist putting this up on the blank design wall.  All of it except the four rows that won’t fit.  Triangles are Saturdays class.  Large it will be.  My original plan was a lap quilt, but dreamt of it on our bed…then I thought, what the hell, what man wouldn’t want to sleep under mermaids with sea stars as pasties?

It needs some rearranging and those extra four rows, but I like it, all scrappy and such.

Roan’s been on the couch for three days with a virus, so my sewing time and catching up with him on Dr. Who has been steady.  If you’re an Instagrammer then I have also been destashing.  I’m here.

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The Flip Triangle is a day-long workshop where we’ll get you off to a great start in creating a modern quilt with sharp points and design.  Choosing fabrics for high impact, proper technique for cutting and successful piecing of triangle blocks will be covered.  Great class for beginners, but all levels of sewists welcome.

Experience: all levels welcome; great for beginners

Date: Saturday, May 4th 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Drygoods Designs in Ballard

 

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::Opposing Triangles Remake::

This is the second Opposing Triangles that I’ve pieced and my long arm quilter friend Krista Withers has quilted.  The first has been traveling with the modern quilts in the International Quilt Market and Festival Exhibit for about a year.  When Krista’s exhibit at Island Quilter came up she asked me if I would make another top for her to quilt and have as her own.

Because I just plain L-O-V-E this quilt I’ve been itching to get some photos before the quilt went back to Krista.  We’ve never managed to find the time until yesterday’s gorgeous Seattle day.

There’s quite a mix of fabrics for the triangles.  Echino, Kona, Alexander Henry Heath and Mirror Ball all surrounded by white Kona and placed into an Osnaburgh background.  I aligned them so that they travel one into another for a zig zagged effect.

Krista’s quilting on it is stellar of course and sinks into the Osnaburgh and wool batting nicely.  My favorite of the quilting are the subtle moons quilted in here and there.  There’s a balanced of straight line quilting with the outlined triangles and more whimsical quilting in the background.

Fremont was hopping and we made use of the park area under the Aurora Bridge by the lake.

It makes me itch to get mine back, though I must admit I think I like it better the second time around!

It’s not looking like the weekend weather will be as nice.  I’m off for a run before the rain comes and then a day of sewing.  Tomorrow I’m a spoiled brat and will be hanging out and teaching a Psychedelic Baby Block workshop with some of my favorite students.

Have a great weekend!

 

 

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::Gifting Boys::

Upon the arrival of the bus, Roan and I use to have this routine.  It started with a hug and a kiss, a high five and then a bump. and ended with waving until the bus turned the corner and we could no longer see one another.  All upon the request of a sweet little boy.

With the blink of an eye he changed his tune and I had to adapt to his next growing-up stage.  Now I get a kiss blown to me before anyone sees and a hug before we leave the backyard.  I miss those moments when he would just reach up to hold my hand.  Life’s bitter sweet like that and I’ll take what I can get.

If you catch them at the right age it’s not all about Legos and Star Wars or hiding affection bestowed upon your mother.  You can still make them (or their mom really) something sweet and homemade to be loved for a bit.

Brother’s with birthdays very close together and just revolving around the sun for their sixth and fourth year are still of that age.

I made these two a little bit larger than normal to have a soft cosy feel.

Fourth’s closure is from my invisible zipper tutorial (Class Scheduled).  I wanted the back to have as much surface design as the front.

I finished off Six with an envelope closure since I decided to apply the age detail to the front.

 

There are some other details added in if you look close.

I’ve had this corduroy for ages and finally pulled it into a project.  In fact I’ve had all those fabrics for ages.  It’s fun to dig around in the stash.

As usual I lined these with muslin and serged all the edges, perfect for the wash.

 

 

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::Quiltcon 2013::

Well it’s back to reality around here!  Quiltcon was more than I could have ever expected and comes with the added bonus of something to look forward to in 2015.

I’ve only got a minute to post before diving into classwork and inputting receipts, so I thought I’d post a few photos.  Stick through to the end and there will be a little giveaway for feedback.

Highlight #1 For sure was doing a demo and a book signing for Quilting Modern with Jacquie.  It was the first time we’ve been in the same room since working on the book.

Hightlight #2 We were extremely proud to have two quilts from the book exhibited and I had one of my own on display that I sold.  How nice to come home with my margaritas covered.

Blue Ice from the Going Crazy Chapter on Modern Crazy Piecing.

And Add It Up from the Free Yourself Free Piecing chapter.

My Psychedelic Baby Quilt was accepted into the exhibit as well.

A special thanks to the Quiltcon board and all the volunteers!  What a wonderful job.  There was nothing but rave reviews that I heard.  XOXO.

Hightlight #3 (or maybe it should be #1) Meeting all of you!  Thanks for taking a minute and introducing yourselves. It was also highly entertaining to be walking by someone and all of a sudden realize I ‘knew’ them.  You are all the warm wonderful people I thought you would be.

Help me out if you can and leave a comment with your name and blog or when we collided to jog my awful memory.  I also realized I don’t have any photos, I would also be delighted to have a copy if we took one together (sewkatiedid@gmail.com).

Before I’m off to start laundry, Jacquie and I will be teaching three days of workshops on May 20th, 21st and 22nd on Vashon Island with details to be announced soon.  For a chance to win a copy of Quilting Modern, leave a comment on what class or technique you would most like us to teach.

I’ll close this on March 2nd.

XOXO

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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.

————————————————–OPEN QUILTING STUDIOS THIS WEEK—————————————

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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::No Name::

If you are on my Instagram you are fully aware of the layouts this quilt went through and in a previous post I was about to throw in the towel.  I can honestly say that in all the time my seam ripper and I have spent together, this quilt collected some togetherness miles for us.

But if the book and Jacquie have taught me anything, it was to be persistent and an idea would come.  Something different that would make you step back and say to yourself, “That’s it.”  I can’t emphasize enough what a design wall can do for you in developing your quilt AND your design process.

Matches my boots too doesn’t it?  I couldn’t help but move them into the photo when I caught the color in the background.

Jefe in the foreground here watching soccer in his pjs.  Have you worked with the Essex Linen yet?  This is the yarn dyed denim.  Unlike regular linen (Essex has some cotton in it) it stays the shape you cut it.

The original block design is from Joelle Hoverson’s book Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts.  I would categorize it under the technique of Slice and Insert (which Jacquie and I will be demonstrating at Quiltcon btw).  I was a little late to have it complete for my class, but will certainly have it quilt and bound before my next Slice and Insert Workshop.

Navy, it’s suppose to be the new black you know?  New territory color-wise for me, but most of these bits have been in the stash for a while.  I’m crazy for the Anna Maria Horner flower with the burgandy/red and the other deep purple is likely one of the first Amy Butler additions ever to make it into my stash.

It feels so good to stick with something and figure it out with a new twist.

Now it needs a backing, quilting and binding.

It also needs a name and I’m a bit stumped, any ideas?

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::Practice::

makes…not necessarily perfect, but what is?

 

Me likie.  Get some sewing in today?

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::Stepping Stone Block Workshop::

$85/Tuesdays, February 5th and 12th from 6-9pm at Make*Do*Mend in Ballard.

Two nights to explore the creation of your own quilt designs utilizing improvisational strip piecing in a log cabin quilt block. We’ll cover this improvisational patchwork technique while you construct blocks for your own quilt design! Please note this is a two-part class with attendance required for both sessions. A copy of Quilting Modern is required.

::Shattered Quilt Starter Workshop::

$85/ Thursdays, February 7th and 14th from 6-9pm at The Quilting Loft in Ballard.

Learn the tips and tricks of the Slice and Insert technique to create this two colored masculine quilt. Quilting Modern book required.  All level of sewists welcome.

 

 

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::Sometimes You Got To::

Know when to hold them, and know when to fold them.

The process of designing a quilt can be one of my favorite parts of quilt making or the one that dogs me the most.

Sometimes there is just nothing wrong with the original design and though I try to mess and mess with it to make it original…it just goes back to being what it was, perfect to begin with.

Sometimes the fabrics and combinations of color and print are all that is needed to steal the show.

Truthfully, I’ve got more quilts in my head then time, so I’ve thrown in the towel with this puppy.  It’s time to get it sewn up for tomorrow’s class sample.

Maybe my students will come up with something new, they often do.

Then I can move on to this.

 

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::Split Decision Block Workshop::

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

Play with the slice and insert technique while 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.

::Stepping Stone Block Workshop::

$85/Tuesdays, February 5th and 12th from 6-9pm at Make*Do*Mend in Ballard.

Two nights to explore the creation of your own quilt designs utilizing improvisational strip piecing in a log cabin quilt block. We’ll cover this improvisational patchwork technique while you construct blocks for your own quilt design! Please note this is a two-part class with attendance required for both sessions. A copy of Quilting Modern is required.  Machines and tools provided.

::Shattered Quilt Starter Workshop::

$85/ Thursdays, February 7th and 14th from 6-9pm at The Quilting Loft in Ballard.

Learn the tips and tricks of the Slice and Insert technique to create this two colored masculine quilt. Quilting Modern book required.  All level of sewists welcome.

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::A Side-Trip::

Some students and I spent Saturday afternoon together learning about color value and its importance in quilt design at the West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio.

A few shots of some of the designs.

This is still one of my favorite classes to teach.

My time in West Seattle wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the West Seattle Fabric Company after class.

I’ve got my triangles class coming up at the studio.  I love this sample quilt.  It fits into the cuteness of the shop so well.

I did some coordinating of prints.  Aqua and red, lovely combo.  Monica’s got the new Moda Simply Color line (all colors!) by Vanessa and Company, some Joel Dewberry (that plaid is awesome) and these drops by Valerie Wells are a unique small scale print.

I decided that I’d add this set of FQs to the giveaway pile at the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild’s February Meeting.  Come one, come all.

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::Different Perspectives::

Wanted: Seattle Quickbooks for Mac expert willing to trade for fabric or instruction!

I feel like I’m spinning my wheels here.  I finally stepped up to getting Quickbooks.  This led to upgrading my operating system which caused Word and other programs to be incompatible.  It sadly doesn’t stop there…I seem to have something not quite right with my systems preferences, so my folders and documents won’t open and to boot, everything I created on Friday doesn’t exist.  Insert deep breath here and acknowledge that Rome wasn’t build in a day.  I wish I wasn’t such a neophyte when it comes to computers, but I’ve come a long way.

The drag is, I haven’t had an ounce of time to sew.  The good news is classes are going well.  I’m in catch-up mode to show you all what we’ve been doing since I myself have nothing.

Last weekend at Make*Do*Mend Studio we covered what you can do with the Double Trouble Block.  It was fun to have the class filled with students from other classes plus a newbie.

A full class in itself is the best teaching tool because you have multiple fabric combinations that you didn’t pick out that create different looks.

Lights, darks, prints and solids all look different when laid out.  The design layout that the students are drawn to give you more examples of what the block can do.

Petrina had completely revamped her design once she got home.

Allison changed up her fabrics last minute so she could include them all.

Noelle went all solids and for some reason I’m lacking a photo.

It was convenient to have Drygoods Designs right next door when the design needed something added.

And what’s a trip to a fabric shop without a purchase?  Check out these beauties.  I’m in love with this Cloud 9 and that Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet, well I want it in every color.  On the bottom there, flannel!  Already have a quilt that this will back.

Wish me luck with Quickbooks!

——————————————————-Next Class———————————-

::Seeing Value Workshop:: $85 Saturday, January 19th from 10am-4pm at the West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio.

Learn how color value can transform your quilt making design process.  Create multiple designs with your newfound knowledge of value and simple half square triangles.  All levels of sewists welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

::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.

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