::Scrappalicious Double-Trouble Quilt::

Thanks to Sandie the Double-Trouble quilt is quilted and hopefully bound with Kei Dots (also Sandie’s suggestion) by the time I hit the Gig Harbor Guild tomorrow for a lecture on Quilting Modern.

You know I’ve got a thing for triangles right?

The double-trouble block originated from a quilt we designed for Quilting Modern called Swirling Medallion.

This quilt went through some morphs before ending here with the triple diamonds.  Here’s just examples of what you can do with this block.

Chevrons or zig-zags.

Multiple diamonds.

Blocks on point.

Alternating side blocks,

and my favorite, the big radiating diamond medallion.

I have a bunch of leftovers that I’m hoping will make it into something soon.

Looking at these photos makes me so happy to have a large grey design wall now.

Happy Tuesday!

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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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::Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Holiday Sew-In::

I’m kind of a mess, so yesterday it was a blessing to be surrounded by friends, and many whom I consider family at The Seattle Modern Quilt Guild’s Holiday Sew-In at Island Quilter on Vashon Island.

Island Quilter’s bright and large space accommodated our large group.

It was Merry Christmas to us, because Anja and Paul opened up what they call “The Vault.”  Which meant there were loads of out of print fabrics for us to purchase!  I went home with some Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet.

Working on gifts was of course high on the agenda and I heard between the mimosa’s and cookies that some made it a highly productive day.

I managed some infinity scarves and an apron.  I love the pharmacy on the island too for gifts and picked up some awesome stocking stuffers.

A little show and tell of our newest baby quilt.

Thanks to all who made it a great time!  You are all sunshine on a cloudy day and I really needed it.

xo

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::Blind Co-Pilot Quilt/ Blogger’s Quilt Festival 2012::

I can’t be at market until spring, but my quilt Opposing Triangles is currently on exhibit at the festival for me.  Hoping someone out there snaps a photo for me Thanks Jacquie, you’re the best!

Quilting Modern (Interweave,2012) by Katie Pedersen and Jacquie Gering. Photo by Joe Hancock.

So the toss-up was between Supernova and Blind Co-Pilot.  Both are made using the stitch and flip triangle technique in our book Quilting Modern.  Supernova was donated to an auction, but Blind Co-pilot has become a staple at home and a class sample for the technique.  It is a simple, but whimsical quilt.

How about a little history on Blind Co-Pilot?  The name of the quilt came before the actual quilt.  Jacquie and I had just met in person for the first time.  She came to Seattle and we of course went fabric shopping.  Place of choice?  Pink Chalk Fabrics to meet the wonderful Kathy Mack.

As we were making our way we stopped for some goodies, upon leaving the parking lot I asked my co-pilot which way we should go next.   Jacquie couldn’t find her glasses to read the directions and I exclaimed something along the lines of, “Great, Blind Co-Pilot!”

It either had to be the name of a band or a quilt.  Dang I miss her looking at this photo.

The background fabric we used is Carolina Chambray.  If you ever discover some in your fabric buying adventures, I recommend picking up the whole bolt.  Chambray adds great texture and dimension.

The triangles are created with the smallest of scraps in color groupings.  I love any quilt that eats scraps.  It provides an opportunity to glance one last time at those beloved fabrics.  There are 222 triangles in Blind Co-Pilot to be exact.

The quilting is a simple crosshatch.  Easy enough on the home machine.

I’m teaching a Stitch and Flip Triangle Workshop this coming weekend and am pretty excited to see what new designs people come up with.  I’ll be filling my trunk with scraps.

If you want to see a collection of stitch and flip triangle designs, you can check out my Quilting Modern Pinterest Board for inspiration.

If you need some quilting inspiration, then go ahead and click the button above and our hostess Amy will have the collection there.

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::Modern Charm Quilt:: $85/Thursday November 1st and 8th from 6-9pm at the West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio. Proper technique is the foundation of any quilt.  Come learn how to pick and properly cut fabric, match seams and rows and come up with a square quilt in the end.  A great class for all levels of sewists looking to improve technique.

::Improvisational Stitch and Flip Triangle Workshop:: $85 Saturday, November 3rd  from 10am-4pm at Island Quilter on Vashon Island.  All levels of sewists welcome.

An all day workshop to explore creating your own quilt designs utilizing stitch and flip triangles.  We’ll cover this improvisational patchwork technique and construct blocks for your own quilt design. All level of sewists welcome.   Quilting Modern Book required.

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::Island Quilter Exhibit Reception::

Please join me tomorrow, Friday, May 4th from 6-9pm for a reception to celebrate the opening of my exhibit at Island Quilter on Vashon Island.

AND do some fabric shopping while you are there!

This shop is amazing and full of color.

Yesterday I loaded up the car and jumped the ferry.

I tried to talk people into playing hooky with me, but no go.

Anja and I started by laying the quilts out.

Then we grouped them so they had some flow for hanging.

 Made me wish I had sleeves for them all.

Anja joked about painting all the clips to match the quilts.

I had to leave before they were all up, but I’ll have pictures for sure tomorrow!

Hope you come!

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::Binding? Check!::

Two years (or possibly more) in the making and ‘Anything Goes’ is finally done.

I’m pretty pleased.  I played with this design originally for the book’s log cabin chapter, but it also could have been included in the strip piecing chapter.

Its final construction is pieced together utilizing what we refer to as ‘paneling’ in the book.

I think going with the stick straight lines worked.

The simple quilting allowed the design to shine.

The binding is a perfect finishing touch.  It needed the bold frame of the purple, but I wanted to finish the squares that floated off the edge of the quilt with some pieced binding.

For the back?

Leftovers and flannel…

equals L-O-V-E.

I think I might like the back better than the front.

Just need to finish up Psychedelic Baby and I’m ready for my exhibit next month.

Speaking of which….my quilts (book and beyond) will be on display at Island Quilter on Vashon Island the month of May.  The reception and book signing is on the first Friday Art Walk, May 4th from 6-9pm.  I would love it if you would attend!

Great opportunity to drop some dime at an incredible fabric store too.

Hope to see you there.

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::Tilted Quilt Found a Home::

Welcome Baby Thea!

The Tilted Quilt has been waiting patiently for a home.  It’s a sweet little quilt I made last March with some leftover squares.

Some of my favorite prints by Heather Ross are there with a few more neutral to balance it all out.

Smitten Kitten just makes me happy.

Hope your new home is happy too Thea!

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::Quilting Inspiration::

I’ve had a full week of inspiration.

Thursday ended my coin quilt class.  My students impressed me as usual with their outside the box thinking.

Friday was our Friday night sew-in.  I thought I’d share a few quilts present.

Noelle’s blocks from her Denyse Schmidt workshop.  It was fun to watch her work on these.

I didn’t get a full shot of Cathy’s quilt.  Her free-motion quilting is always amazing.  She’s so focused.  I tend to power through with the pedal to the metal and she’s smooth and meditative.

Sue put together another Value Quilt.  Her piecing is precise, every point is sharp.  I thought I was a bit done with value quilts, but think I have another in my future.

I love the added touch to the binding on Grace’s quilt, the colors with the grey and the single print added to the stars.

I brought my Scrappy Sunshine Quilt and another that I’ll show you later this week.

For the life of me I can’t remember the lady’s name that came with this jewel.  It was so lovely and she was hand quilting the whole thing.

One block a night she said.  I loved the colors and some of the fabrics are favorites.

That’s all I got pictures of before I got to work on a simple charm square quilt with all the leftovers from Scrappy Sunshine.  Not super original, but easy for travel.

I spent all day Saturday teaching an Improvisational Techniques Workshop full of fun people.  Everyone gravitated towards their favorite technique in the last two hours of free-time we had.

Today is football, hot and sour soup and a quilt back for Scrappy Sunshine.  I love Sundays off.

Any quilting today for you?

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::Half Square Triangle Class::  $65 Thursday October 13th 6-9pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.

This versatile quilt block lends itself to endless design layouts.  Come learn how to match 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

::Centered Zip Pouch:: $45 Thursday October 27th from 6-9pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.

 

Come learn the ins and outs of constructing a professional looking lined centered zip pouch.  Once you know the ropes you’ll be a production machine. Pouches make great gifts and are perfect for all levels of sewists.

 

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::Welcome Guild Baby Number…::

The Seattle Modern Quilting Guild welcomes Ingrid, our newest baby addition.

I’ve been waiting for Ara Jane to have a spare moment to post the postage stamp quilt the guild made her little girl before I shared it here.

I’ve been picking the blocks and colors, which is the most fun and no one seems to mind.

The rest is a guild effort.  Those that can make a block do.

We’ve all taken turns putting the quilts together.

Melissa pieced this one and added the snowdrop jar block.

Snowdrop was the nickname Ara Jane would use around us for the baby when she was pregnant.

Sandie is our go to baby quilt quilter and always so sweet to finish up the binding as well.

Ara Jane’s pictures are much better, not to mention sweeter with baby action shots, so make sure to go take a look.

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Spaces available in my invisible zipper pillow class Wednesday.

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::Modern Quilting Everywhere::

First I found the modern block of the month that Handmade by Alissa is doing over at Sew Mama Sew.

July’s block finally gave me a mission for my Flea Market Fancy.

I always wanted to make a simple charm quilt out of it (which I cut for too), but this block seemed fitting.

So guess what I finally did?

That’s right, chopped it all up.  Eekkk…it was a little scary, but the reality is there will always be more fabric I want and this has been sitting for…oh about 7 years.

The quilt will likely loose its modern edge with the more country feel of the line, but I thought that might make it stand out from what others make.

I just need a background color now.  Suggestions?  I was thinking Kona Pond or Ice Frappe for a fresh, but more traditional look.

I’ve been trying to design a quilt based on this above and wasn’t getting results so the timing couldn’t be better.

Deciding on a layout adds to the fun.

On the same day Alissa Haight Carlton and Kirsten Lejiniek’s book Block Party landed on my doorstep.

And then my life became an info commercial, “but wait there’s more!”

I received this mail virtually from the Modern Quilt Guild.

Hop over and check out the guidelines for submissions.

Truthfully, the timing of all this couldn’t be better.  I’ve been feeling rather uninspired lately, struggling with anything coming together on my own.

Well, sometimes you just need a little juice from others to get you moving.

Last night in my improv triangle class the juice kicked in and I came up with an idea.  This morning I did some mock up blocks and think I figured out how to make the vision a reality.  So I think, yeah, I have a potential submission.

Are you joining in?

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