Learning: Bojagi with Youngmin Lee

Last month, I took a Bojagi class with Youngmin Lee at the Pacific International Quilt Festival.  While the description and photos of the workshop that were posted online were a bit lacking, I was sure I would regret missing this class - and I was so right!  Of course, I didn't quite think through how I would be able to drive through notorious Bay Area traffic (made infinitely worse by a BART strike) to arrive at the class location 65 miles from my house first thing in the morning on a school day, so I was very tardy and missed the first 45 minutes of class.  I caught up quickly, though! 

You can get an idea of the stiffness of the cloth from this photo.

All of the stitching is done by hand.

This is as far as I got in a 6 hour class.  Not a very fast process!

Bojagi is a form of Korean patchwork that uses flat-felled seams to create a fully reversible square of cloth, traditionally used for a variety of things such as gift wrapping, covering food, and clothing storage.  Just do a google image search to see how wonderful and different they can be!  I was also able to work with a textile that I have never handled before called ramie, which is one of the oldest known cloth materials and is plant based.  According to Youngmin, ramie can be much more expensive than silk!

Youngmin Lee's beautiful patchwork.

As well as teaching us her stitching techniques which are made up of the tiniest stitches you can imagine, she also shared some of her work with us.  My pictures don't do them justice - they should be seen in person to be truly appreciated, but you can see more of her work on her website!

This was my favorite piece, all done in black ramie.

Can you even see those tiny hand stitches?

She has a DVD out teaching her techniques and it looks like a great resource.  You can also see more of her amazing, tiny hand stitches!

Learning: Strips and Triangles and Geometry - Oh, My!

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to take a workshop with Rita Hutchens through one of our local guilds, EBHQ.  I've been a fan of Rita's geometrical work since I saw her on Simply Quilts and she made magic happen from strips of fabric sewn into tubes.  I used some of her techniques on a quilt I started work on last summer (but haven't shown any pictures of yet!) and wanted to learn more, so I was excited to sign up for the workshop.

Rita showing us how she creates Tube magic!

It was a full day of sewing, with some bits of math and geometry thrown in, and I was exhausted by the end of it! Good thing I had an extra-large latte keeping me company.

By sewing fabric strips together and cutting them into the correct angles, you end up with so many different (and fun!) shapes.

Here's what I made.  I love how the Licorice Fizz fabric pops against the solids.

I'm so glad she's worked out the equations for me, and I'll be referring back to my hand-outs often.  There is NO WAY I would have had the ability or the patience to figure this stuff out!

These are some fun shapes that Rita made using her technique.

One of Rita's quilts. All of these pieces started as strip sets!

If you can't take one of her workshops, you can still learn her techniques by purchasing her books or patterns from her Etsy shop, and watching her YouTube channel.

Learning: Back in the classroom!

I have been taking a bit of a break from teaching quilting over the past year.  I've been busy acquiring some new sewing machines and some new skills.

The longarm that took over my living room in April.

The turquoise beauty that I couldn't live without.

My latest acquisition, a vintage Yamato serger. She's scary fast!

I've even taken a few classes myself!

I went to MQX in Portland and took TONS of classes from some great longarm quilters, like Claudia Pfeil (above), Gina Perkes and Karen McTavish.

I took an improvisation workshop by Sherri Lynn Wood with other Modern Quilt Guild members from around the Bay area.

But, now I'm back in the classroom!  I will be teaching my Improvisational Basketweave quilt pattern this upcoming Sunday (Feb. 24 & March 3) at A Verb for Keeping Warm from 1-3 pm.  If you live in the area and have been wanting to try quilting without using rulers OR rules, sign up!  If you can't get here, don't fret.  I've published the pattern over on Craftsy.  It's not quite as fun as meeting a bunch of great people and chatting while you sew, but it's the best I can do until some genius invents teleportation!

Learning: Vintage Quilt Inspiration

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to attend a vintage quilt sale.  These were not just any vintage quilts, but some of the traditional American quilts collected by renowned quilt collector and curator, Eli Leon.  I have been a HUGE fan of Eli Leon's books on improvisational African American quilting (you can order copies of his out of print work directly from him through his website), and was excited to see what he had for sale.  I was not disappointed as the gallery where the sale was held was was piled high with quilts.

Here are a few of my favorites.

I didn't end up leaving with any of these beauties, but I did pick up one of Mr. Leon's books and a wealth of new scrap quilt ideas!

Learning: Bonding Time

I've got a lot to learn about longarm quilting.  I've had some practice quilting on a frame with a mid-arm sewing machine, but there are so many more wonderful options with a longarm, I feel like I'm back to square one...well, maybe square two.  To get some practice, my friend and fellow East Bay Modern Quilt Guild member, Deanna Davis generously allowed me to use her quilt and a few others made for the Children's Quilts project as guinea pigs.  Deanna coordinates this huge program that donates over 1000 quilts to children in need every year!

Deanna's quilt on the frame

Deanna's quilt was made using the Daisy Janie Organic Shades of Grey organic cotton as part of an East Bay Modern fabric challenge.  Doesn't it look great with the red roses?

I'm pretty pleased with how the quilting looks on the back.  I hope Deanna likes it!

If you would like to get involved with the Children's Quilt Project, check out the information on the East Bay Heritage Quilt Guild site for the many different ways you can contribute.

*I meant to post the next couple of entries awhile ago, but I was so busy getting ready for my trip to Virginia, that I completely ran out of time trying to finish up all the orders from my Etsy shop, teaching my Split Log Cabin class, and packing!  So, here they are now...but I'll get to all the fun in VA next week!

Learning: Tricking out the Longarm

I added a couple of new accessories to my longarm!  I tricked it out with some new wheels that are oh-so-smooth.  I got some new gadgets to make loading and unloading the quilts much easier than pinning them on (I hope -  I haven't had the chance to try them out yet!).

Isn't that pin-pod the best thing ever?

But, my favorite new additions are a beautiful turquoise, oversized pin-pod and small felted orange bowl from Papaver Vert.  The pinpod fits snugly between the handle and the machine head and holds all my pins and other random pokey things - even my tape measure if I take the time to roll it up!  The bowl is attached with 3M sticky velcro and holds all the little bits of thread that I'm constantly clipping, so now, they won't get all over the floor.

Next time, I'll show you what I've been practicing on!

*I meant to post the next couple of entries awhile ago, but I was so busy getting ready for my trip to Virginia, that I completely ran out of time trying to finish up all the orders from my Etsy shop, teaching my Split Log Cabin class, and packing!  So, here they are now...but I'll get to all the fun in VA next week!

Learning: Hawaiian Quilts

I love Hawaiian quilts.  I've been flirting with the idea of making one for ages.  I've collected tons of books on the subject.  I even took a class from the amazing Jean Brown.  But, alas, the block I started in her class lies buried in one of my cabinets - a sad study in poor applique.  I'll keep trying, but I'm just not sure that it's my thing.  Oh, how I wish it was!

Recently, my family celebrated spring break in Maui.  It was a great vacation.  So many wonderful surprises.

Humpback whales...

...sea turtles (That large round "rock" to the right of me!)...

...teensy, weensy frogs...

...and quilts!

We stayed the last couple of nights in Makena, and instead of having boring resort art on the walls, they chose to decorate with Hawaiian quilts!  There was no information about the makers or the patterns, which was a shame, but the quilts themselves made me very happy.   I ran through the hotel snapping photos (sorry for the glare, they were mostly behind glass).  I spied one gorgeous, huge pineapple quilt inside a conference room that had the door cracked, but was too shy to interrupt the ongoing meeting and ask if I could take a picture.  It made me wonder what was behind all the other closed doors!

Learning: Field trip!

A couple of weeks ago, my son, mom and I went on an outing to Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma. The gardens are set up like an art gallery, showcasing different landscape architects and designers.  Here are a couple of my favorite pieces.

Trees with crystal leaves.

These crystal and metal mesh trees were so
lovely in person.  The photo doesn't do it justice!

Garden Play

Ah, winter in California.  If it makes you feel any better, it will be horribly rainy and wet here for the next week!

Learning: Textility

Today, I'm enjoying this Flickr slideshow of the Textility show from the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. 





My favorite is the work by Derick Melander.  Which do you like best?

Learning: Fat Thread Quilting with Mary Mashuta

I've been wanting to take Mary Mashuta's Foolproof Machine Quilting class for awhile, and finally, the stars aligned, my Saturday was free, and the class had a couple of empty spaces.  I've been adoring Mary's quilts for a long time.  I had her Cotton Candy Quilts book continually checked out of the Berkeley Public Library for months at a time until I finally found my own copy, so I was really excited to take a class from her.

She uses a process of quilting that doesn't involve marking your quilt top.  Instead, you use contact paper cut-outs to create designs that you then stick onto your quilt and quilt around.  She also uses very thick threads, and I love that look!

Here are a couple of my class samples. 

I can't wait to use this technique on a bigger project!

Learning: Indigo Dyeing

I don't knit.  Or crochet.  So, I don't let myself go into yarn stores too often...or I might start a new bad habit.  Recently, however, a new yarn store called A Verb for Keeping Warm opened and they figured out a way to drag me in.  Back behind all the gorgeous yarn and wonderful spinning wheels, is a section filled with a beautifully curated collection of quilting cottons.  And, wouldn't you know, I go in for the fabric...and come out contemplating taking a weaving class. 

A couple of weeks ago, to celebrate their one year store anniversary, Kristine Vejar, the owner, opened up access to her indigo dyeing pots for anyone with a skein of yarn or a bit of fabric to come and use.  So generous!  And, of course I showed up with a little linen.

Pots of Indigo.  Yes, they smell a bit and live outside.

Kristine dyeing my linen.  When it first comes out of the vat, it's bright green!

I have to say, there's really nothing more beautiful than a drying rack full of recently dyed indigo yarns.

Once the dye gets more oxygen, it turns from green to blue.

You can see a video of Kristine explaining all about indigo and indigo dyeing on the Ysolda blog.  I don't think it mentions the little tidbit that she told us the night of the dye demonstration about how, long ago, in order to get the ph levels just right, the indigo pots were fed with a strange mixture of mashed bananas and pee.  Yes, urine, specifically from a young boy???  (Maybe that's because they'll pee just about anywhere...go ahead, ask me how I know.)

And, here's my linen!  It turned a beautiful soft French Blue.

Now I just have to figure out how I want to use it!  Any ideas?

Disaster, or why you should always finish projects in a timely manner.

This is the quilt top:

Silk Carnival Quilt based on a pattern by Norah McMeeking

...and this is what happens to it when you leave it folded on the sofa in your studio under the shelf where you often leave your tea...for months...because you haven't gotten around to finishing it yet...and then you open it up one day, thinking, perhaps this week, it will get finished...and find matching Rorschach stains of disaster.

...and this is what it looks like after you try to remove the stain.

Bleeding, rumpled, mess of ruined silk

Not a good day.

P.S. Just in case you think I'm completely mad for trying to remove the stain myself, after reading countless online tips for removing stains from silk, I did consult a dry cleaner, who was not at all willing to take the risk to remove it there as the entire thing is backed with fusible interfacing.  But, here's the lesson learned from that - if there's red silk involved, perhaps have them just give it a try before dunking it in a tub of oxi-clean???