My Favorite Colors - Chapter 1

What is your favorite color? Answering that is like deciding which one of your kids is your favorite - IMPOSSIBLE.

Before quilting, I used to have favorites - in my clothing, my home decorating, my car. I loved green and mauve in the 80s, blue and burgundy in the 90s. I wore olive drab everyday from 1979 to 1995. Not my favorite, but it brought out my green eyes.


Now that I am quilting, they are all my favorites - each one like a special, well-loved child. I have this feeling that since its not paint, an expensive couch, an expensive car (all cars are expensive these days) or clothing I wear, I can use any color I want. In fact I am trying to experiment with different colors and color combinations. I even have an entire board on Pinterest dedicated to color schemes. 

I love rainbow, or I call them color-wheel quilts. I've got a couple of quilts going that include 24 colors of the color wheel. The first one I started about 3 years ago - Technicolor Galaxy. The other one I did with a small group from our guild and is called Eclipse.


Technicolor Galaxy by Alyssa Lichner at Pile O' Fabric is a absolute explosion of color and shape. I really enjoyed collecting FQ of lots of different colors. It was tough to find exactly the right shades to make that color wheel effect.  Yellow-green, red-violet, orange-yellow, turquoise-green. I even like saying the colors and imagining their deliciousness.  


I am almost done with this one - I just need to do 3 more outside corners, and then I am ready to quilt the sections. I quilted the center section a few weeks ago and I really like how it turned out.




Eclipse is a foundation pieced quilt by Kimberly of Main Street Designs. A small group of us in Kaw Valley Quilters Guild did this together and we are all showing ours at the upcoming quilt show. It is really cool to see how different they are in different colors. I used color wheel colors with a black background. It just came back from quilter Sandra Cockrum, and as usual she did an outstanding job. You can't see all the fabulous quilting in the pic, so come see it in person at the Kaw Valley Quilt Show on 7-8 April.

So, enough for now, but not nearly enough about color. I'll post later about the other colorful quilts in my studio. 



Keepin' it Curious!

Cheetos - No; M&Ms - Maybe; Good Quilty Snacks

I try not to take myself too seriously. I love thinking and writing about the techniques, designs, patterns, fabrics, and friendship of quilting. But sometimes, ya just need to be a little silly.

So this evening, I am sillyfying things up a bit and pondering the best snack(s) for quilters.

It was actually this photo I saw on FB that led me down this snacky road. I actually snorted when I saw it!

Quilting is a very hands-on activity. So the type of snack is very important. Cheetos, which I actually like, would be a no-go. All that orange gunk getting all over my fabric.

M&Ms would be a bit better - although they claim they don't melt in your hands, I know better. Also, I really need to reduce sugar intake, so even though they fit nicely in the tool tray of some machines, they would also be a no-go.

At our retreats, my friend Shari always brings Bugles and Veggie Dip. I don't usually eat this yummy combination at home, but I sure do look forward to it on our retreats, or when I go to her house for sit and sew.





I have to say I have not done a thorough, scientific study (might be fun) to identify the best snack to munch while quilting. However, I have returned several times to Target to get some yummy trail mixes. I crave this sweet dried fruit mix, but like M&Ms it has loads of sugar, so I try to keep my hands off.



My go-to mix then is this protein rich, carb-lite, TexMex Mix. Almonds, peanuts, spicy corn sticks, pepitas and sesame sticks - a good combo for me. A little salty, so a glass of something cool afterwards is called for. It even comes in this potentially reusable, handy size plastic jar that could be really useful for something, but I haven't figured out what yet. My current jar is down to the broken pepitas at the bottom, so another trip to Target is in my near future.

What is your go-to quilty snack? Maybe I should do a poll?
Just curious,

Reverse Applique Version 2 - Rob Appell

I've already written about Reverse Applique a while back - I took a great class from The Singing Quilter Cathy Miller based on the Panamanian Mola. Cathy calls it Mock Mola. 

Come to find out, Cathy is not the only quilter teaching Reverse Applique. Rob Appell, of Man Sewing, visited the Kaw Valley Quilters Guild and did a fantastic workshop on a Reverse Applique workshop. Imagine! Two great Reverse Applique teachers!

There are a few differences in the techniques offered by the two teachers. Cathy had us draw the design on Golden Threads quilting paper. Then we sewed through the paper onto the back side of fabric. Rob had us draw the design on the front of the fabric with a chalk or washable marking pen.

Cathy asked us to pay close attention to the grain of the fabric and make sure to use a zigzag stitch on the seams that were in danger of raveling. Rob just had us sew the entire design with a free motion technique (straight stitch).

As I described in my previous post, I took inspiration from the Panamanian traditional Mola for Cathy's Mock Mola class.  For this design I followed Mola inspiration and added in multiple colors.






For Rob's class I wanted to do a peacock and use Kaffe Fassett fabric. I'm not much of a sketch artist, so I relied on free clip art drawings from the internet. Stencil designs work well. I nipped over to Kinkos and had my 8.5x11 inch peacock blown up to 24x36 inches - a great size for a wall hanging. I used tracing paper to transfer the design to the fabric - my main fabric is black, so I couldn't use a lightbox.

I used a turqoise blue millifiori by Kaffe Fassett sandwiched with batting in between two layers of black batik. I like the look so far. 



I'll do an update when I've finished. 

Curious about Reverse Applique?
Check out Rob and Cathy.

Can a Quilter and Fabric Collector Be a Minimalist?

Outside of the quilting studio I am working on major decluttering - I'm not quite to minimalism, but that is my eventual goal. Bringing nothing new into the house except for those things really needed.  Decluttering room by room and donating and selling as much as I can.  I envision a space that is open, clear, comfortable. Neat and tidy and easy to care for. I see me spending time with family and friends, sewing and having fun; not spending time organizing and cleaning stuff.  You can't really organize your stuff, you just have to get rid of it. 

The Living Room is there. Family Room and Kitchen are at about 75%. Bedroom about 95%.  Office needs some work - about 40%.

Then I go down to my quilting studio. 


Most days it is in a state of minor chaos even though I have the intention of tidying up after every project change. I am lucky that I have lots of space to spread out and can still work with a little chaos.



I have fabric that I bought because it was pretty, but don't know what to do with it. I have over 100 started and asking to be started projects. I have patterns and books. I have thread. I have notions. I have buttons and ribbons. Yarn. Loom. Spinning Wheel. Stuff. And I love my studio stuff. But I don't come close to using it all.


How do I balance my desire to have a well-stocked studio and a neat and stuff-less home?  I can easily clear out my books and closet, but I'm just not there yet with my fabric, patterns, and crafting stuff.


I don't want to waste time organizing stuff I don't need or really want. I may not always have the luxury of such a large and comfortable studio space. I need to get it under control. Just because I have the room for it now, doesn't mean I should keep it all, right?

I've got lots of routines, storage bins, and lists. I also have too much stuff. So I guess I have to bite the bullet and get rid of stuff I don't use, patterns I'll never make, fabric that I don't like anymore. 






OK, so I pledge to use the "Organize" spot on my rotation to actually identify things to get rid of.  Ideally I would like to reduce my stash by about one third. It's not going to be easy, since I downsized when I moved here 4 years ago - of course I have upsized some fabric and patterns since then.


Here's my plan of battle:
1. Books
2. Patterns
3. Fabric
4. Knitting Stuff
5. Cross Stitch Stuff
6. Miscellaneous Stuff

Maybe a crafter's garage sale is in my future.
I can do this! Who wants to do it with me?

3D Blocks Wallhanging

Update - Five and a half years later - I finished this wall hanging back in 2015 and thought you might like to see the finished product (I actually do finish things).
D


Original post from 2012:  
     I love taking classes. I always learn so much from the teacher as well as the other students. I get to see projects in colors that I wouldn't normally use and it inspires me to maybe try something different next time.

    Today I took a class at Stitching Traditions in Topeka. The teacher, Kathy Pflaum, was wonderful with all her tips and tricks for success. She will be teaching a year-long color and design class starting in October. I'm checking my calendar to see if I can swing it.

    These blocks are built up in layers  - there is no piecing and in fact, very little sewing. Each layer is folded into either a rectangle, square, triangle or other shape and attached by stitching around the outside of a base block.  A good hot iron and some sizing or pressing agent is useful to get nice crisp folds. I finished these 2 in class and hope to finish another one tonight.  This could get addicting!
    The book 3D Folded Blocks is by Geeseje Baron and Esther Vermeer - check out their website.   

Still Curious in Kansas!
D

Quilts of Valor - The Gift of Comfort and Healing

Quilts of Valor - just the name of this group give me goosebumps. QOV is an organization that makes and donates quilts to service members and veterans touched by war. I'm tearing up just thinking about service members and the sacrifices they made and continue to make. 

These women and men are like my extended family as I too served in the military (US Army 1979-1995). I never had to go to a shooting war - the cold war was my war - but I trained, prepared, deployed on training exercises, and prepared my family as best I could to function while I was away. This was basically the reason I retired early - I have 2 sons, one of whom has autism, and I did not feel comfortable leaving them for long periods of time. This picture was taken at Signal Corps Basic Course, where I was a TAC Officer (mentor) for new Lieutenants. Geez was I young and thin! Anyway, I digress.

Kaw Valley Quilters Guild (KVQG), my local guild, has a group of 7 women who make and donate quilts regularly to QOV. The donation ceremony is very meaningful for them. They see their quilts received and cherished by local service members. So far they have donated 25 quilts in 2 years.

I made a quilt that will be donated to QOV - it is a Courthouse Steps pattern done in red, cream, and blue with appliqued stars. QOV quilts do not have to be red, white and blue, but many are.






Dan, my ex-husband and father of my sons, flew Cobra helicopters in Vietnam and commanded a helicopter battalion in Desert Storm. He is a proud aviator, soldier and veteran, so I nominated him to receive a quilt on the QOV website. He received his quilt last November on Veterans Day. Here he is with his wife Linda (left) and Barbara (right), the San Antonio TX QOV Coordinator.

There are lots of ways to get involved - ask your local guild or check out the QOV Website. If you don't feel up to making a whole quilt, you can donate money or fabric, or you can make a single block - see the QOV 2018 Block Drive

Curious about QOV? Learn more on the QOV Website. 

Curious About Judy Niemeyer and Quiltworx Patterns? Start Here

Judy Niemeyer, her daughter Judel Buls, along with a great staff, run Quiltworx.  I love Judy's designs. I've started 2 quilts and have several more in line. I'm even planning on taking a couple of workshops from Judy and Judel (her daughter) this year. I'm seriously thinking about becoming a Certified Instructor. 

Judy's designs are foundation pieced, very complex and absolutely gorgeous. They are also a little intimidating. Like many things I do, I jumped in with both feet and up to my eyeballs - starting with the Vintage Rose 2017 Technique Quilt, which I'm currently assembling, having finished the foundation piecing already. It looks kind of like a bird of paradise in this picture - this is 1/8th of the design.

So, what is so special about Judy's designs (besides the obvious beauty of them)? Well, mainly it's the process of assembly line piecing (chain piecing plus assembly line pressing and trimming), her techniques for success (using registration points, glue basting and others), and Quiltster - an online tool to design and color your quilt.

If you are interested in doing one of Judy's designs but you're not ready to jump into the deep end like I did, I have a recommendation - Start with these simple, but striking projects:

Stained Glass Window (Quilt or Wall hanging)

               or 

Impatiens Placemats.





And lucky for you, I'm teaching how to make these projects at Mea Bernina and Babylock at the end of the month.

In class, you'll learn how to use Judy's templates to cut the fabric, how to assembly line foundation piece, get an introduction to Quiltster, how to sew curves (Impatiens), and how to do an inside point binding (Impatiens). These classes will give you the skills and confidence needed to tackle some of the more complex patterns, or at the very least you'll catch a little of my enthusiasm for Judy's designs.

I love Judy's designs and I love teaching classes. Come join me! We'll have a blast.