I'm in a book!

Oooh!  It's so exciting to get presents in the mail, especially when it's a book and it's even more special when I have a hint as to what's inside! On Friday, I received a copy of Joen Wolfrom's new Color Play book.

This a great re-issue of her very popular Color Play book from 2000.  She contacted me awhile ago to see if she could include my Silk Indian Orange Peel quilt in the book - and here it is - practically on the first page!

I must confess that although I love working with color, I haven't delved too much into color theory.  I've made my share of color wheels in various art classes in the past,  but overall, I've preferred to pick colors intuitively.  Looking through Joen's book though, makes me want to get a little more technical!  Here's an example of one of the "color lessons" in the book:

Doesn't that look like fun? 

P.S. Joen also has a color class on Craftsy, if you're interested!

Stitch Modern 2014 Is Here!

This is the 3rd year that my guild, the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild, will be holding their annual show at the Piedmont Center for the Arts.  It's a lot of fun and we have a great time showing off our latest works.  I just got back from hanging the show, and as it does every year, it looks amazing!  If you live in the Bay Area, make sure you come and check it out. All our events are open to the public and many are free of charge, unless otherwise noted. You can find out more below, or on our website.

Stitch Modern 2014
January 31 – Feb 23rd at
Piedmont Center of the Arts
801 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA.
Gallery Hours: 12pm-3pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Jan 31st: 6pm-9pm, Piedmont Center of the Arts
Opening Reception

Feb 8: 12:30pm – 1pm, Piedmont Center of the Arts
Needle Ceremony- An informal memorial service for our spent sewing needles and pins based on the Japanese Hari kuyou ceremony which happens on February 8th. Bring your spent machine, hand sewing, and pins and join us in celebrating our tools and their service.

Feb 8: 1pm – 2:30pm, Piedmont Center of the Arts
Panel Discussion, Beyond the Bed: Exploring Quilts in the Public Eye – Please join us for a moderated discussion highlighting how quilts have gone from being household objects to objet d’art.

Feb 9: 12:00pm-2:30pm, Piedmont Center of the Arts
Family and Community Activity Day – includes quilting demos

Feb 13: 7pm-8:30pm, Piedmont Center of the Arts $5
Lecture: Ben Venom & Roderick Kiracofe

Feb 16: 12pm-3pm, Piedmont Center of the Arts
Sew Day with the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild

Feb 23: 9:30am-4pm, Piedmont Center of the Arts $75
Workshop: Round Robin Improv with Sherri Lynn Wood. SOLD OUT!

Want a sneak peak at the my quilt? Here it is right after we finished hanging the show with my happy little helper.  (Mine is the double wedding ring.)

New Pattern! Pennant Bunting Advent Calendar

Yay! Just in time for Christmas, I have a new pattern available! I originally made a few sets of these advent calendars to sell on my Etsy shop a few years ago, and got so many requests for directions that I decided to publish the pattern. Each of the pennants is a fully lined, button enclosed pouch and can be stuffed with little presents or treats to help count down the days until Christmas.  Make your own beautiful, heirloom advent calendar!

The best part of the pattern is that you don't have to wait for it in the mail - it's a digital download!

If you're not a DIY kind of person, I do have a couple of sets available this year, and you can find them in my Etsy shop.

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!

Making: An Improv Double Wedding Ring Quilt

This is one of the things I've been working on lately.

Laying out the blocks.

 I decided that I needed to try making a double wedding ring...improvisationally.  One of my main inspirations was this quilt by Emma Hall from Eli Leon's collection.  I love the story behind this quilt, which you can read here.  It kinda sums up exactly how I feel about quilting.

Emma Hall, Double Wedding Ring c. 1948

Although I used a plastic template for the basis of my pattern, I had to do a bit of drafting as well.  It was fun!

Drafting the double wedding ring.

For the fabric arcs, I used a variety of old denim, tribal batiks, Japanese wovens, and hand-dyed indigo.  The middle sections are made of vintage linen and a couple of gorgeous, organic, hand-woven striped fabrics from India, called Khadi which I have been drooling over at my local shop, A Verb for Keeping Warm.

This is how far I've gotten.  I have this vision of striped, mitered border, but haven't dreamt up a way to do that yet.  Any ideas?

P.S. If you live in the SF Bay Area, I'll be teaching an improvisational quilting class this Sunday!  I promise, it will be fun!  You could make a whole day of it, by taking the indigo resist dyeing workshop first, and then the quilting class after!

Getting Ready for Stitch Modern

I hang out with this great group of people who call themselves the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild.  Last year, we decided to have a little show where we could hang up our quilts and show our friends and family just how cool we are. We called the show, Stitch Modern.

Stitch Modern 2012

Everyone had lots of fun, so, we've decided to do it again!  Of course, even though we have had the past year to prepare, we all function much better under pressure, so we're still putting the finishing touches on the schedule...and on our quilts!  I just pulled mine off the longarm, so it still needs binding, and a proper photo shoot, but I'll give you a sneak peek.

The Stitch Modern opening will be on Saturday, February 2nd from 6 until 9.  If you live anywhere within driving distance, get there!  It's going to be a great time and the quilts are going to be amazing! (Don't believe me?  You can see pictures of some of the early entries on our Flickr page, as well as see all the fun we had last year.)

*Just a little post-script, because I don't want to make anyone jealous or anything, but congratulations to Margaret who won the Craft-A-Day book!  You'll be getting it soon, Margaret!!

Making: Free Bee - September

Free Bee time again!  This month, Nicolette of Dutch Comfort requested a block inspired by summer time in Provence.  Click to see what she gave us for inspiration.

Personally, I was inspired to hop on an airplane! But, instead, I channeled that energy into pulling out some solids and getting to work.  I found it hard to find the right mix of sun-bleached neutrals and pops of Mediterranean color.

What do you think?

Catch me on Craftypod!

I was featured on the Craftypod blog yesterday!  If you've never listened to CraftyPod, you should!  Sister Diane is like the Terry Gross of Craft!  If you click on picture below, you can check out my interview and then click over and give her podcast a listen.  It's definitely one of the best craft-related podcasts out there.

I've also been sewing up a storm and have been adding some new items to my Etsy shop.  Among other things, I just added this new patchwork quilt that I quilted up on my longarm.  I'm so happy with my new machine and so happy I haven't broken it (yet!).

On the subject of Craftypod and podcasts, what do you like to listen to while you're working?  I'd love to add some variety to my iTunes!

Making: Free Bee - August

My Free Bee block for the month of August is finished...and almost mailed!  It's in an envelope, at least.  This block is for Leanne from she can quilt. 

Leanne's block for the Free Bee online swap

She requested a large block (15") with a small focus area of color in an otherwise neutral block.  Preferably, the focus area would reflect the each quilter's personal style.  For my focus, I chose to do a tiny split log cabin block.  For the neutrals, I did lots of strips of off whites and a light khaki.  In reading back over her directions, I now see where she requested a "minimal" approach.  Whoops.  I missed that part.

Making: A Memory Quilt for Noa

It's been awhile since I posted anything new here.  It's not that I have nothing to post, actually, it's the opposite.  I've been having so much fun making new work that I haven't been able to slow down enough to photograph it and put it up on the blog!  Not really a bad problem to have.

So, while I've been away from blog-land, I made a few things which I'll post over the next few weeks.  Let me start with this quilt that I made for a friend from her now two year old's baby clothes.

These clothes sat in a box next to my sewing machine for nearly a year before I had a chance to start the project.  (Thank goodness my friend didn't mind that I held her sweet baby clothes hostage for that long!)

She gave me an idea of what she wanted - mainly something BIG!  I got started.

The clothes still smelled like baby!  Some of my friends know this; I'm a sucker for that smell.  So cute.  And here it is, the finished quilt!  Yay!!!  She only had to wait a year!

Noa's Technicolor Clothes Quilt

 

Making: Free Bee - June

Another month gone, and another block done!  The Free Bee is in full swing and I actually finished before the end of the month this time.  Then a huge storm came along and knocked out the power!  Yet again, I'm turning in my block late.  It was an Act of God - nothing I can do about that!

This month's block choice was dictated by Lynne of Lily's Quilts. Her inspiration was a scene from Schindler's List - all black, white and grey, with a touch of red.  I got a little carried away and made two.

My Free Bee blocks for Lynne

Want to see what everyone else made?  Check them out on the Flickr pool.

Making: Miniature Mania

I adore miniatures. Maybe it's because I never got a Barbie dreamhouse...I don't know. I just love the look of a tiny little things.  Nothing makes me happier than a diorama!

I've been thinking about making some miniature quilts for awhile, but have been too distracted by making my big quilts. However, I came across the book, Little Lonestar Quilts by Lorraine Olsen, and was inspired! 

Little Lonestar Quilts by Lorraine Olsen

It combines three of my favorite things, miniatures, Lonestar quilts, and paper piecing. So, I pulled out my stash of vintage 1930's and 40's scraps and got busy. Here's what I've come up with so far.

I have learned that I definitely want to use dissolving foundation paper on the next little star I make, as I spent far too much time ripping out tiny wee bits of paper on this one.  Also, that if you try to line up a seam and have to rip it out more than 3 times, just live with a little imperfection.

I still need to choose what color fabric I would like for the background on this one.  I'm having a hard time deciding between a sort of linen look neutral, or a solid-ish purple.  What do you think?  I'd love suggestions!

P.S.  If you're miniature obsessed like me, check out my most recent favorite mini's: the miniature interiors of Sabinne Timm and the edible waffle furniture.

Making: Free Bee - May

I know, it's June already.  But, as usual, I'm running a bit behind on my Free Bee blocks!  The Free Bee is all about improvisational piecing and each month, the recipient of our blocks chooses a theme.  May's theme was picked by John from Quilt Dad and was based on the quilt totems of Erin Wilson.  Here's my block:

Free Bee Block for Quilt Dad

It's definitely not very pretty from the back.  I don't think my grandmother would approve!

Making: Free Bee - Procrastination

I've been bad at doing my homework lately.  My blocks for the Free Bee are both being turned in late.  There's still hope that I'll be able to get my act together for May!

March's block is actually an improv strip set based on Sherri Lynn Wood's Mod Mood Quilt for Krista of Spotted Stone Studio.

April's block is a triangle based on the prints of Leah Duncan for Ethne of Flaming Stitches.

May's block is going to be based on the totem quilts of Erin Wilson.  I'd better go get started!

Making: Free Bee - February

Another month gone, another Free Bee block turned in late.  I think I have a hard time following the rules when it comes to quilting.  The instruction for the block (given by Mari Haak, herself a VERY inspiration quilter herself!) was to base your inspiration on an urban photograph and use neutral, darker tones.  Her suggestion was to study the work of Elizabeth Barton, to see how she interprets landscape in fabric.  I think that's where I went astray...instead of focusing on a photograph, I decided to take my inspiration from another textile artist, Karen Goetzinger and a piece of Marimeko fabric.

Free Bee Block for Mari

Here is what I came up with.  You can see how others interpreted the challenge over on Flickr.  I'm not crazy about mine and wish I had more time to play with it, but even though February gave me an extra day, I've run out of time and must send it off!

Making: A Collaboration

A friend and I have been collaborating on a baby quilt.  The baby celebrated her first birthday months ago.  It's really time we finished this thing up!

Collaboration Quilt

All that is left is to do is the quilting and then to pop it in the mail.  But, wouldn't you know...my sewing machine has suddenly decided to be a diva.  So, I get to spend tomorrow searching for replacement parts as opposed to quilting.  BOOOOO!

Making: The Embers Quilt

The Embers Quilt is finished!  It's the latest sample for my Confetti Quilts class, so I rushed it down to the shop and hung it on the wall.  I barely even had time to take a picture of it!  I think it photographs nicely next to the blazing red wall of the New Pieces class room.

If you are interested in learning how to make your own Confetti Quilt and live in the SF Bay area, I'm teaching the next class on March 7 & 14, 2012, 10 AM - 12 PM at New Pieces in Berkeley, CA.  It's fun - I promise!

Making: Free Bee - January

Let the piecing begin!  I've completed my first block for my first online-based quilting bee. 

Free Bee January Block

Luckily for me, the group I'm in is called the "Free Bee," and blocks are meant to be improvisational in nature.  I know I can handle that!  At least, I thought I could...this is the January block, and it's now February.  This should have been on it's way to it's new owner at least a week ago!

Making: The Code Quilt

This was supposed to be the backing of the Embers quilt.  I made it using a bunch of the scraps left behind while making that top, but, I've decided I like it too much for it to go on the back.  It will be its own quilt.  I think I'll call it "Code."

It is very big.  Much bigger than this photo shows, really.  I'll try to get a better picture of it once it's been quilted!

Making: The Embers Quilt

I started working on this quilt in my last Confetti Quilts class.  I fell in love with the Kona Charcoal fabric I used.  It's not black, but a veeerrrry deep grey.  I'm calling it "The Embers Quilt" because the little bits of bright scraps add kind of a bright, burning look.  At least, that's what I think!