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!

Stitch Modern!

I've been having so much fun organizing all of the events for Stitch Modern that I forgot to drop in here and tell you about them! 

We had our Opening Reception last Saturday at the beautiful Piedmont Center for the Arts and I had a great time!  There were people who drove up all the way from Santa Cruz and ladies who left a quilt retreat in Napa, just to drive down and attend the show - not to mention all of the families, friends, and members of the community who came by!

Stitch Modern opening reception

That's me on the left and a quilt by the amazing Dan Rouse in the background

The food was amazing, visiting with friends was really fun, and I won't even tell you how many bottles of wine were emptied!

Here's my quilt, Happiness

 Okay, the opening was exciting, but the best parts of the show are still to come!  We have a bunch of different events planned that will take place while the show is up.  If you live in the SF Bay Area - COME!

Feb 5 (TONIGHT!): Lecture: Modern Improv Quilting and Process by Sherri Lynn Wood 7-8:30, Piedmont Center for the Arts, $5 entry fee. There will be door prizes!

 Feb 9: Textile Design Panel Discussion and Q&A, featuring Ellen Heck, Pati Fried, Sandy Klop, Jennifer Moore, Carol Van Zandt and moderated by Kim Andersson 12:30-1:30, Piedmont Center for the Arts

 Feb 10: Family Activity Day including quilting and design demos 12:00-2:30, Piedmont Center for the Arts

 Feb 13: Lecture: Threads of Transition, Patterns of Change: Rabari Appliquéd Textiles of India a lecture by Kristine Vejar 7-8:30, **To be held at A Verb for Keeping Warm**

 Feb 16: Sew SaturDay with East Bay Modern Quilt Guild 12-3, Piedmont Center for the Arts

If you can't make it out to see the show in person, you can see some pictures on the Stitch Modern Flickr group.

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!!

Creativity Every Day in 2013? Yes!

Oooh!  I'm so excited to have the PERFECT give-away for the beginning of a new year! Craft-A-Day by Sarah Goldschadt makes it easy to work a little creative endeavor into every day.

The book is broken up into weekly themes, with a different activity for each day.

There's hexagon week, (for you hexie lovers!), gnome week, and triangle week, to name just three of my favorites.

To win a copy of the book, just leave a note below telling me your creative resolution for 2013.  Mine is to devote at least one day a week to making work just to please myself.  I'm pretty sure I made that same promise to myself last year, but this year I mean it!

Here's wishing you a creative and productive 2013!

**Unfortunately, do the the weight of the book, this give-away is only open to US residents.  Please make sure that an e-mail address is associated with your comment so that I can contact you if you win the book!  The winner will be chosen at random on Friday, January 4th.

Teaching: Confetti Quilt Class with the South Bay Modern Quilt Guild

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of teaching an Improvisational Confetti Quilt class for the South Bay Modern Quilt Guild. The San Francisco Bay area is so saturated with amazing modern quilters, that we have FOUR guilds covering the North Bay, South Bay, East Bay, and one general Bay Area group.  We can't get enough around here!

Confetti Quilt Class with the South Bay Modern Quilt Guild

It was a lovely day, both inside Sue Dee's Quilt shop and out!  You can read more about the class on the South Bay Modern blog.

My Whirlwind Tour of PIQF

Click to see all of my PIQF 2012 favorites on Flickr.

Last weekend, I ran through the Pacific International Quilt Festival. I only had a few short hours to take it all in, as I had to pick up my son from school. But, since I didn't have the time to stand in front of the quilts for a long time, I made sure to snap some pictures! Here are some* of my favorites.

*Of course, the East Bay Modern member quilts are among my top favorites, but not included in this list because I took pictures of them on my phone and somehow managed to delete them. Whoops! I wasn't using my brain very well that day.  To see those amazing quilts, check out Adriane at Little Bluebell's post on the show.