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Anything Goes Round Robin ~ Puzzling Spumoni!

September 25, 2016 5 Comments

Over the years I’ve participated in many Round Robin exchanges in the guilds I’ve belonged to: “Add a Border”, “Row by Row”, and “Around the Square”, just to name a few. Probably the most unique one was held by the Milwaukee Art Quilters and it was called “Anything Goes”. I did a post about it way back in 2010, but I’ll be participating in a new Anything Goes challenge in a new Fiber Arts guild (more info to come 😉 ), and thought it was a good time to revisit this fun idea.

So, here are the rules: there are none! Each participant chooses a block, a hunk of fabric, a small failed project, a piece of fabric they’ve dyed or painted – anything goes. This item is placed in a paper bag with some symbol recognizable only to the owner (the owner is not revealed until the end of the rounds), and they are all thrown in a pile on the floor. Everyone picks a new bag, opens it, and pictures are taken for future reference. This works best if there are 4 or 5 in each group, so if you have more participants, divide into groups first.

Oh – I forgot to mention, there is one rule – you can’t be upset by what you get back 😀 !

I began with 3 large, hexagon log cabin blocks from a failed 1995 workshop where the teacher discovered half way through that the blocks wouldn’t fit together and the class ended.

The fabrics were dated, and I had no idea what else to do with the blocks, so in the bag they went. The first person chopped up two of the blocks and sewed them back together into long strips (the next few pictures were made using Photoshop, because back then we didn’t take step-by-step pictures – they may not be perfect, but you get the idea).

The second person thread painted a peacock feather on a new piece of fabric, and bordered it with the pieced unit strip.

The third didn’t like it at all, so she chopped everything up again and added a bunch of stuff from her scrap bag. She then cut this new “fabric” into jigsaw puzzle shaped pieces and pinned them onto a piece of black fabric.

The fourth artist said she was at a loss for the first 29 days of the month. The last day she stared at it, and was so frustrated, she went out for ice cream. When she returned, she was inspired. She removed a few of the pieces and put a cherry on top!

This is how it was returned to me, so I put it in a dish and added the spoon.

The handle of the spoon sticks off the quilt and is supported by a dowel in a sleeve. The shape of the dish is the shape of the lower half of the quilt. I was very pleased and named it “Puzzling Spumoni”! All but one of the other pieces in the challenge turned out great. We each tried new techniques and grew as artists while having fun.

I highly recommend trying an Anything Goes challenge with your friends.

If you’d like to get in on the Anything Goes challenge I’m participating in, our new Milwaukee area fiber art group is called Thread Benders and we will be meeting the third Wednesday in September in Brookfield. Email me for more information!

Valances and Arm Rest Covers

September 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

Occasionally I get an idea for some quilted item I need and, before I begin creating from scratch, I open my bins of UFO’s (remember, this stands for ultimately fabulous opportunities!) and see if anything fits the bill. A few years ago one of my UFO’s became the valance in our bedroom. I never got around to making it a blog topic, but now I’m working with another UFO that is becoming armrest covers. With two such items – it just had to become a blog topic. We’ll begin with the valence!

We re-carpeted our bedroom in blue and I found drapes to match, but the whole look needed a little zip. In my UFO bin I found a bag full of plaid, 3-D bow tie blocks. If you’ve never made them, click here for a great tutorial! I had enough for the valance and, since the blocks were already made, it went together quickly!

You may have noticed our unique tie backs. I saw this on Pinterest™, and after a short walk in the woods, Mike was well into making my wish come true 😀 !

The second repurposing of a UFO happened because my parents have birthdays in July. My brother and I were very blessed to have parents who raised us with a cottage on Lake Sinissippi. It is a wonderful place of fun and happy memories for all of us.

Well, Dad and Mom’s chairs in the living room at the cottage were showing some wear. So, I pulled out the UFO bins and found a bag of blocks I’d made in a Scott Murkin class in Paducah last year.

I laid them out in a pleasing pattern

and sewed them together, bordering them to the appropriate size.

Then the ends were sewn on and they were ready to gift!

This isn’ the first time I’ve posted about repurposing a UFO. In 2013 I made one into a cover for my Kitchenaid Mix Master. Click here to read that post. I did one other post in 2010 filled with ideas for completing UFO’s. You can read that one here.

Have you ever repurposed a UFO? Do you have a great idea for finishing them? Care to share a picture?

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QUILTERS SALE

Due to life situations, family and friends of a dear friend of mine are holding a sale of her quilting fabric and supplies. Here are the details:

When: October 1-2; Saturday from 9:30 to 3:45 and Sunday from noon to 3:45

Where: The Whitefish Bay Library; 5420 North Marlborough Drive, Whitefish Bay, WI

What will be available: A lot of hand dyed cottons (Lunn & Mrowka, Melody Johnson & Laura Wasilowski, etc), commercial cotton’s (Hoffman woodblock prints, batiks, Alexander Henry, Nancy Crow, etc.), hand dyed silks, novelty fabrics, beads, embellishments, etc.

Madison Quilt Expo 2016

September 11, 2016 8 Comments

I think I say this every year, but the Madison Quilt Expo this past weekend was the best yet! There was something for everyone and it was all very well done. Thanks to everyone at Nancy’s Notions and Wisconsin Public Television for making this great event a reality.

I had the blessed opportunity to share my Border Boutique lecture each afternoon to the largest crowds I’ve ever had at Expo. I didn’t teach a hands on workshop this year, which gave me much more time to enjoy the show. And enjoy it – I did!

If you want to see loads of great pictures of the quilts, vendors and events from the show, you can go to the Quilt Expo Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=quilt%20expo.

I always like to share things from the show that you may not see on other sites, such as me getting a hug from Bucky,

when the UW marching band made a surprise visit! You never know what you’ll see at Expo!

While looking at the quilts I ran into May. A while back she learned my drafting technique for the Mariner’s Compass and, while spending time with her grandchildren, decided to make a necklace using Shrinky Dinks™. I love it! It may have to be my next grandma/Sommer project.

There was a special exhibit of quilts that I found particularly interesting. It was a group of quilts from a challenge held by my friend Kim Lapacek. I did a blog post about her passion for quilting last year (click here to read that post). Here’s the challenge info:

This large and exciting exhibit filled a long hallway at Expo, and were arranged in spectral order. I noticed that one of the monthly inspiration blocks was the Monkey Wrench. You may remember a “New Quilt From an Old Favorite” Monkey Wrench quilt I made with my friend, Sharon Rotz, a few years back.

It measures 60″ square, and contains telescoping monkey wrench blocks, quilted with more block outlines and trapunto monkeys chasing each other around with wrenches (you’ll have to look closely to find them).

Well, a few of the challenge monkey wrench quilts had similarities to ours and they made me smile:

Delightful!

It was great to reconnect and spend time with many friends. Thanks especially to my dear friend, fellow teacher, and roommate, Laura Krasinski. She always makes everything extra fun.

And I’d like to close this post with a picture of the Viewer’s Choice award winner from this year’s show:”He Who Guides Me” by Mary Buvia of Carmel, Indiana.

It was inspired by a picture her husband painted. Awesome!

Friendship Quilts

September 4, 2016 1 Comment

As I said last week, I’m very excited about the new guild lecture I’m putting together. The idea began to form a few weeks ago when I was looking at the quilted tote my grandchildren use to transport library books.

French-Friendship-Tote — France autograph tote – front and back

It’s made from friendship blocks exchanged while on our Sew We Go riverboat cruise through France in 2008. It got me to thinking about all the wonderful friendship/autograph/signature quilts I’ve made or been given over the years. Like this one that was given to me by Common Threads quilt guild in thanks for my years as president (thanks Valeria!)

And then… what about that old top I made after collecting signature blocks at a family reunion in 1993? It was at the bottom of a UFO bin, along with a group picture from the party, already printed on muslin. It only needed a border to complete the top. I added one with Seminole piecing and it’s ready for quilting!

Everyone who attended the reunion (including the kids) signed their block and many also drew or wrote something important to them on it.

This led to pondering about “that” vintage autograph quilt top I purchased a few years back. I pulled it out and enjoyed looking over all the signatures and wondering about it’s history. Who was Grandma Chapman? What’s the name of this lovely pattern?

I looked more closely to find other interesting signatures. Than I did some research to discover the pattern is called “star bouquet”. What fun!

Well, from there it was a short hop to checking out Buckboard Quilt’s website for signature quilts. I wasn’t disappointed! Judy makes every effort to get the story when she acquires a quilt, and she had some great stories!

Like one that has a block signed: mother 82, and the pattern is called Little Britches, or this one in which Judy included a copy of the obituary of the man in who’s estate the quilt was found.

I’m having such a good time gathering the quilts and their stories. It’s requiring some detective work – which I’m enjoying immensely.

In the talk I’ll share old and new quilts, their stories, plus handouts with patterns for great autograph blocks to use in your next friendship quilt.

If you’d like to see more quilts and hear the stories, I’d love to visit your guild and share them all! Please direct the program people in your guild to this blog, and have them contact me! Thanks!!!

Tutus and Soleless Sandals

August 21, 2016 1 Comment

Last week Sheila made an inspiring comment on my blog. I thought many of you would find it interesting, so here it is:

“Thanks for your weekly hints. I’ve found them very helpful. Just finished laying out fabric for a number of mug rugs. Great idea for friends instead of Xmas cards. Will make a bunch now. Then first week in Dec. we will deliver them. Will take my grandfather’s string of brass bells his horses wore during the Christmas season and ring at the houses where we deliver mug rugs.”

Thanks Sheila, for the great idea! Now on to this week’s blog post. It isn’t really about quilts, but includes ribbons, tulle, and beads. I hope you enjoy it!

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This Summer, Sommer and I have had fun doing crafts. Both of the projects I’m sharing here were made with items quilters probably have on hand, or could easily find at a local craft store, and they were simple enough for a 4 year old (with help 😉 ).

The first was a tulle tutu.

You’ll need a piece of 1″ ribbon long enough to tie around a little girls waist with a big bow (set this piece aside); a roll of 6″ wide tulle in a pretty color, and a roll of 1″ wide ribbon to compliment the tulle in the skirt.

Measure the length you’d like the tutu and double that number. Cut 12 pieces each, of the tulle and the skirt ribbon, at that length.
Clamp the waist ribbon to a table at each end, or tie around chairs.
Fold a length of tulle in half and place around the child’s wrist.
Pull the tails under the ribbon and have the child grab them above the ribbon.
Now have the child simply pull the ends through the loop to make a “knot”.
Repeat for all the tulle and ribbon pieces, alternating as you go.
too-too proud!

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The next week Sommer’s little brother, Trey, pulled something out of one of my drawers. It was a trip down memory lane, as my grandmother made these “soleless sandals” for me when I was in High School.

The second pair he grabbed came from the Sew We Go adventure Wendy and I made to Alaska. As we were preparing for our cruise of the Inside Passage, Wendy’s sister Heidi offered to share a beading project. We were thrilled, and it ended up being another version of this fun foot jewelry.

My grandmother’s were crocheted, but Heidi’s were made with strung beads. She was kind enough to bring all the supplies and a bunch of us had a great time making them.

I put them on and Sommer wanted a pair of her own. So I found some elastic thread and beads in my studio and she was off. She preferred working on the floor and spread out all the supplies. Then she began to put the beads onto the threaded needle:

Just watching her technique makes by back hurt, but she was content and finished her first one:

Then, 4 beads into the second one, she pricked her finger. No blood, but the tears flowed freely and her “drama queen” side kicked into gear. She wanted me to finish it, but I remember my mom making sure I finished a project myself, to learn perseverance. So we put it aside, and the next day, with a little bit of encouraging, she jumped back on the horse – and here are the results:

There are many Youtube videos with lessons for “how to make foot jewelry, or toe thongs”. Here are just a few: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHurNgGTyiQ , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS98Z_8go0c

Please let me know if you make any for yourself, or share them with a child. I’d love to see pictures!

Art Deco Wins at AQS

August 14, 2016 3 Comments

I hope this isn’t too obnoxious, but AQS sent it to me – and I’m passing it along 😀 !

You may remember a quilt I posted about a few months back, made with Spandex, and named Forty Wonderful Years (click here and here for both of the posts about that quilt). It was made for a Milwaukee Art Quilter’s challenge called “Art Deco”. Eight fiber artists made quilts to fit that theme and we entered them in the American Quilters Society show in Grand Rapids. The show was this past weekend and we took second place!

I thought you might like to see the rest of the winning quilts:

ADD---Art-Deco-Door-Kathy-Downie-web — **ADD – Art Deco Door by Kathy Downie**

Le-Dame-Moderne-Kathleen-Sweeney-web — **Le Dame Moderne by Kathleen Irons Sweeney**

Miami-Moon-Linda-Fleschner-web — **Miami Moon by Linda Fleschner**

Milwaukee's-Night-Light-Kathleen-Hughes-web — **Milwaukee’s Night Light by Kathleen Hughes**

Studio-15W-Sonja-Pavlik-web — **Studio 15W by Sonja Pavlik**

Vogue-Diana-Dunaway-web — **Vogue by Diana Dunaway**

quilting with spandex — **Forty Wonderful Years by Chris Lynn Kirsch**

I’m honored to be a part of this winning group!

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And I’d like to close with a wonderful tip/tutorial from the AQS blog – On-Point! In it they describe a great way to keep organized during a project, using sticky notes.

It’s a worthwhile read and you can see the whole post at: http://www.quiltviews.com/quilters-best-friend-sticky-advice! Then sign up for their blog to receive all of their great tips.

Enjoy!

Fitting Quilt Borders – Mathlessly

August 7, 2016 3 Comments

The generally accepted rule for getting borders to fit on your quilt is to square up the top, and then measure the length of two opposite sides and across the center of the quilt top. In a perfect world these 3 numbers should be the same, but only God is perfect, and most of us know that these numbers seldom match. If they’re way off I do some re-stitching. If they’re within a 1/2″, I split the difference and cut the border strips at this size – easing them to fit.

On smaller pieces I’ve discovered an easier way. It may sound like cheating, but it works for me – if the sides are close to the same length (1/2″ or less difference – I might try up to a 3/4″ difference, but more than that would be pushing it). Here are the step-by-steps:

Fold the quilt top in half and lay it on a table, with the edges you’re adding the borders to closest to you. I’ve left a 1/2″ underlap in the picture so you can see that both sides are aligned together. I then smooth these edges out so they are evenly on top of each other (trust me, even though the entire length isn’t in the picture, it is even on the right side too). If they aren’t exactly the same size I: place the corners on top of each other, hold them between a forefinger and a thumb on each side, and tug gently, placing it back on the table.
Make 2 border strips at least 1″ longer than the side of the quilt, and square off the ends on the left. Place these border strips on top of each other, and aligned with the left edge of the quilt top.
On the opposite end of the strips, rotary cut the borders even with the right edge of the quilt top. You now have two strips that are the same length as the quilt top.
Now it’s time to sew on one of the border strips. This is one time I do pin the pieces together! Place a border strip, right-sides-together with the edge of one side of the quilt top, and pin it even with the left end (red pin head). Pin the right end even also (pink pin head).
Grasp both ends, holding the quilt top and strip between finger and thumb, and gently tug until the strip lays flat (as directed in step 1). Place a pin in the center (middle pink pin),
This is the trick to make sure the strips fit: Use the grasp, tug and pin method from step 5 to place a new pin between a center and end pin. Repeat this process of pinning in the center of every pair of pins until the strip is securely pinned to the quilt top.
Sew in place, and repeat for the opposite side. Attach the remaining sides in the same manner. (I just realized that I took these pictures while attaching the second set of green border strips, but you get the idea).

Give it a try, and let me know what you think!

And if you like the Seminole piecing in this border – stay tuned – I’m planning to do a blog topic on it soon!

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And now – a photo finish! Connie took my Spin Star class a few years ago and used my piecing technique to make purple blocks for her granddaughter (click here for more information on my Spin Star technique). Then she did something spectacular!

She brought this quilt to class last week and I knew you’d want to see it! What I love is the way she alternated the spin stars with bears paw blocks, but to make them fit and work together, she added the outer, “claw border” from the bears paw block around each spin star. Wow! What a clever idea! Great job Connie!

The Wool Chicken… and the Rest of the Story!

July 31, 2016 3 Comments

Last weekend Mike and I decided to run away. We stayed at the Inn on Hillwind, a lovely Bed & Breakfast near Plymouth, WI.

It was charming, relaxing, and the breakfasts – superb! I enjoyed walking through the gardens each morning, as did this friendly kitty.

Plymouth has a wonderful Main Street for wandering. One of the shops we stopped into was called Fibbermcgee’s.

As we entered we were greeted by another kitty. This one was made of wool!

At each turn another fascinating, original wool creation greeted us. From critters to flowers, they were each unique and wonderful:

In the last room the previously pictured chicken clucked my name. I looked at the tag and discovered all of these wonderful hooked wool pieces were made by someone I knew!!! Joanne Zahorik traveled with Wendy and I to Ireland in 2010! She told us upfront she was not a quilter, but she traveled with a friend who was. She was a delightful addition to our trip, and even gave me a wool pumpkin pin (it was an Autumn tour of Ireland). What a small world! I contacted Joanne and she was happy to have me share her work, and spoke very highly of Sue, the owner of Fibbermcgee’s.

My new chicken friend (complete with hog scraper “feet”) is enjoying keeping company with the rest of my collection:

Thanks Joanne!

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