Auditioning Blocks & Chopping "Un-charming" Charms

What would happen if....

I'd purchased a charm pack from a local quilt shop on a whim a few months ago. Each time I've pulled it out since then, I've found it to be less and less "charming." Oops! I don't want to offend anyone else who bought this line of fabric and still loves it. Perhaps you even made something out of it already.

For me, Bluebird Park by Kate and Birdie Paper Co. for Moda Fabrics, lost some of its charm by being cut into 5" squares. Some of the motifs needed a larger space, a bigger cut. Having bought the charm squares, I had a dilemna: what can I do with them to make up for what is no longer appealing?

I realized that these charms needed partners, and that perhaps Bluebird Park would become the support actors rather than the leads I thought they'd be in a future project. I chopped them into half square triangles, all of them. I didn't let any of them convince me to "spare" them. I combined each half square triangle with other fabrics, as well as allowing some to "play" and partner with some within their own line. Guess what happened? I fell in love with the resulting combinations and I purchased more of a few of the motifs in order to make more! What a surprise!! Have you ever had this happen??

Let the auditions begin!

I began with conventional pinwheels, which can be attractive, but in this case it left me feeling "Blah!":

Next I used a reference book of blocks and referred to any of them that used half square triangles. Now look what happened:

"Peace & Plenty block"

"Pieced Star block"

"Colorado block"

"Hourglass block"

"Mosaic #9 block"

"Yankee Puzzle block"

"Balkan Puzzle block"

"Dutchman's Puzzle block"

"Annie's Choice block"

There's more, but you get the idea. Each is different, with some subtle changes of arrangement. None of the combos are committed yet since I decided to purchase more of some of the fabrics and make more.

What I learned after playing with my stash

I discovered the following through this process:

1. Take the plunge and cut them up!
2. Combine the lackluster yardage/charm packs/mini charms/layer cakes/fat quarters (ones that have fallen "out of favor") with other fabrics to see what happens.
3. I am lured by and purchase too many prints!! I don't have enough solids! BUY MORE SOLIDS!!
4. I love the Painters Canvas fabrics by Laura Gunn for Michael Miller Fabrics, especially the interplay of the Teal and Lipstick colors. BUY MORE SOLIDS!!
5. Play!!!

Dying to Dye Fabrics!

This Saturday I will be attending the fabulous Sisters Quilt Show in Oregon (for at least the 5th year in a row)! I'll travel with my husband, who enjoys looking at quilts for a little while (as compared to me, who doesn't tire of looking, photographing, dissecting quilts, etc.), and meet up with my sister (SewCraftyChick) and nieces (and one niece's husband). We'll stay at a resort in the area for 3 nights.

Prior to the Show, I decided to take a class on Friday taught by Lynn Koolish called "Direct Application Dyeing". I've been wanting to dye for a long time, so this will allow me to sample the process and consider whether I truly want to invest time, money, and effort into this aspect of creativity.

More later! :)

Linking up with creative others like YOU!

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Be Liberated! Go Wonky with a Star

A Wonky Star Block: note the uneven/unequal rays of the star points.

I began attending my local "chapter" of a Modern Quilt Guild in January this year. If you have an opportunity to be part of a guild, club, class, you'll be inspired like I am! I love seeing what people produce! Each month some members of the guild are participating in a "quilting bee exchange" in which we make blocks for one another according to the designated "queen bee's" instructions. For the Queen Bee of March, I made this star block yesterday which I'll be returning to her at tonight's meeting. Each of her blocks will be different color themes. She asked us to select fabrics from our stash according to the particular colorway of the fabric swatch she'd attached to each individual bag, in which she also included fabric bits for the wonky star's parts and 2 yummy pieces of chocolate. Great idea!

Notice how the seams are ironed on the back to interlock & reduce bulk.

Wonky stars, and other wonky patterns, are simple to make. They liberate the quilter, regardless of his/her level of experience, from the worry of matching points, being exact, and all the other "rules" that can intimidate us. My goal is to have fun and be creative by sewing something to enjoy as art; to inspire, soothe or create passion in a room; to grace a table as a runner or place-mat; to "garnish" my life and the lives of others in any number of ways: potholders, mug rugs, apron, jacket, handbag, and so much more! Let's not let the details get in our way. :-)


For tutorials on how to construct this block:

1. See Kat's instructions: http://flutterkat.com/2012/01/reverse-rainbow-starburst-block/
2. If you haven't discovered Jenny (specializing in fast, easy, and fun quilting) of the Missouri Star Quilt Company, you need to! See lots of incredible tutorials on their website, and her goal is usually. Here's her: Wonky Star Charm Pack Quilt

The block I constructed used 3.5" squares and finishes at 15.25". It wouldn't take long to produce and enjoy a quilt made with these delightful, liberating stars!

Linking up with friends at:

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Mystery Quilt Block 2: Alex's Star

I am enjoying the "reveal" of Eleanor Burn's mystery quilt block party--a new one each month for six months. I've never done a mystery quilt before, so I find it a little scary to commit to the fabrics, but committed I am now! I like some of the techniques that Eleanor teaches and she's been quilting for years.

Here's the new star I made for February, named after her special guest Alex Anderson:

 
I made 8 of these which were then joined to either side of January's stars named after special guest Marianne Fons. I'm excited to find out what the next star will be which will be revealed March 11.

Have you ever participated in a mystery quilt? Was it hard for you to wait and to select fabrics, too?

Happy WIP Wednesday!

"Works In Progress" Wednesday feature: Chicken-themed Table Runner

I almost forgot about WIP! My sister, Miss SewCraftyChick, reminded me this morning.

You already know I like hens. My sister shares my interest in all things chickens. She gifted me with new fabric kit for Christmas to make a table runner with CHICKENS! The reds also match our dining-room and will look lovely on the table. 

Close up of block

4 Log Cabin blocks

Diana invited me to drive north for the weekend to visit and attend, for our first time, the Portland Modern Quilt Guild's "Sew-In". We invited her 20 year old daughter and my niece Aubrey, who also loves to make lovely quilts, and spent time with other creative people ALL DAY!! What fun! Attendance was impressive, and sewing machines, irons, and conversation pleasantly filled the large room. I completed the Log Cabin Kit and now I will quilt the top.

 

Sister Diana and niece Aubrey at "Sew In"

I'm planning to attend my first local meeting of the Eugene Modern Quilt Guild tonight. I look forward to getting know know more creative people in my community as well.

Are you part of a guild or group that inspires you? Share your experiences!

CONTINUED....

I've finished free-motion quilting my table runner. I decided that since a log cabin is "boxy" and linear, it needed a wavy, flowing line of quilting:

Now I can use it :)

Newly listed on Etsy: Handmade Black & White Quilted "Picket Fence" Table Runner

I like this design because the stars really shine in the 3 sections, especially when using fabrics with high contrast. It's difficult to photograph so that it doesn't look washed out (or like blah black & white photos). In person, it's bright!

I chose a charm pack from a quilt shop featuring black and white fabrics with bits of yellow/gold here and there (see posting on Nov. 15, though those fabrics are the leftovers). I had to augmented the group with a few others. Then I needed fabric for the back and binding (an excuse to go to the quilt shop, yeah!). I machine quilted with a 1/4" outline in white cotton thread.

back view

I look forward to making more of this pattern in the future, and like I said, I hope to publish the pattern, too! Let me know if you're interested. I'll notify you when its done :)

It's "Works in Progress" Wednesday!

I've been working on my Red & White Picket Fence Table Runner for a couple of months, along with other projects I've posted previously (and many that haven't been finished or shared yet!). 

I love the spark, the zap, the zing of this design:

Here's the top...

...and here's the back.

There's only the hand-sewing of the binding left, and maybe a little more machine quilting around the borders. I bought a charm pack of reds and whites assembled and sold at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show this past summer. I think it was a wise investment, don't you? I added a few more fabrics on my own for the back and the binding.

Have you ever made a "picket fence" block? Want to learn how? 
Leave a comment so that when I finish editing my pattern, and perhaps actually publish/pdf it, I can notify you.
Happy Quilting, or Sewing, or Cutting, or Planning!
Most of all, dream, dream, dream!

My life in Japan...

...continues to leave its mark on me and my extended family. I lived and worked in Yokohama for 2 years in the 1980s, and Tokyo for 6 months in 2001. Before our marriage, my husband worked in Tokyo for 2.5 years in the 1970s. He became our cultural ambassador, and the rest is history!

When my friend (now husband) returned to the States in the 1970s, he prepared an authentic Japanese meal for me. How sweet! He made 2 mistakes: he served white rice and raw egg. I didn't like white rice, and I've always disliked eggs. Thus began my education into good cuisine (how to cook rice correctly and the importance of using the right variety!) and the expansion of my cultural horizons. Now I eat quality white rice on a regular basis, love most Japanese foods and often prefer them over Western meals, enjoy cooking their foods, and even found ways in which eating an egg is acceptable (fried and chopped to little bits, sukiyaki, etc.). (Baking with eggs has never been a problem--let's hear it for cookies!) Japan continues to influence our personal lives in a number of ways: our behavior and cultural sensitivity, foods, customs, literature, drama, and the decor of our home! Our children attended bilingual Japanese/English public schools in our city. My husband and I each led cultural excursions to Japan for 25 fifth-grade students and chaperons from these schools. Our daughter lived in Japan for 9 months during her second year of high school as the guest of four different Japanese families while attending a private Japanese high school.

Now Japan influences my art and stitching. I couldn't pass this book up at a fabric store and have fantasies of making some of these luscious blocks--has anyone else used this book or a similar one? (Warning: Most of these blocks are not simple!)

Japanese motifs adorn my home. I love Asian fabrics, and the simplicity of sashiko. I haven't dabbled in sashiko yet, but I probably will someday. Hand-stitching is calming and I usually enjoy this part of the process. My mother taught me hand embroidery long ago. Several years ago I did a quilt block swap with others around the country who enjoy hand embroidery. I haven't committed these blocks to anything yet, shame on me! Their personal designs are lovely!  

Have you been influenced by another culture in your creative stitching endeavors? What have you done or are you pursuing as a result? Do you do sashiko? I'd love to see!

I would love to hear from others who enjoy Japan, Asia, and other cultures. I know that we now have access to translators on our computers. If you can't write in English, write a little about yourself and interests in your native language, tell me what language it is (if it's not Japanese or Spanish), and I'll try the translator, too. I know these programs have their limitations and get the nuances wrong sometimes, but we can try :)

May your day be full of creative expression!