QuiltCon Challenge Blocks

I made two quilt blocks for the QuiltCon Block Challenge.....

(12.5" x 15.5")

 

 

(8.5" x 12.5")

 

 

If I remember right, about 375 blocks were submitted!

Elizabeth Hartman is overseeing the challenge. And, bless her heart, she is photographing all of them for a series of blog posts on The Modern Quilt Guild.  Each of her posts highlights a particular piecing style. One of my blocks (the gray zigzag) is included in today's post, Diamonds and Other Angles.

**09-18-2012 Edited to add...My other block (the blue/green half-square-triangles) is part of today's post, Triangles.

It's been really fun seeing the blocks, all of them incredible, and who created them. The blog series continues through the third week of September, so even more yet to see!!

Marilyn

No Prints Allowed Challenge

At the KC Modern Quilt Guild meeting last week, I showed the quilt top I made for our No Prints Allowed Challenge...


The challenge started in December with Kona Solids charm packs...one hundred of them, one for each member, generously donated by Robert Kaufman. We got to choose from classic colors, brights, pastels, darks and, my choice, dusty.


We could use our approximately 44 - 5" squares to make any patchwork project, any size, but at least part of every charm in the pack needed to be in it somewhere. I used all of the fabric to initially make a series of 'flying geese'...


They stayed on the coffee table and I continued to move them around for about two weeks until I was safisfied with my design.


We were allowed to use additional fabric as long as it was a solid. I added a medium gray and a dark gray.


The sun from our living room window was making it difficult to photograph the quilt top. But while I was waiting for it shine elsewhere, I noticed this view from the back--kind of a stained glass look;)


You can see more KCMQG challenge quilts in the flickr group, and several from the LA Modern Quilt Guild also...enjoy!

Marilyn

Mail Art Received

A couple of weeks ago, in the midst of Christmas cards, bills and advertisements in our mail box, was this beautiful mail art envelope from Lenna...


And inside, there were three gorgeous postcards from the Creative Swaps Mail Art Swap...


from Rita in Wisconsin...

from Rebecca in Australia...

and from Becky in Arkansas...

Lenna worked at swapping mail art to send back that she thought we would love. I'd say she was right on with her choices for me--it felt like Christmas had arrived early and I definitely love them!!

Thanks so very much for a great swap, Lenna;) And for your incredible art, big thank you's to Lenna, Rita, Rebecca and Becky!!!

Marilyn

Another Doll Quilt Swap 9 Post-----

This time to show you what I sent to Anita. The front...


It was really fun "stalking" Anita for ideas as I was planning the doll quilt I wanted to make for her. We have a lot of the same likes, which includes the color red and that is where I started.

This is the back...


I loved that little girl fabric but had a hard time making a lot of it work on the front--how nice that quilt backs have moved away from plain muslin only!

I shared with Anita that I was initially a little nervous when I learned that I'd be making her DQS9 quilt. She is a very talented and accomplished quilter, you see. But I decided to trust the process and follow my intuition and that seemed to work. Anita was very pleased with it;)

Another mini quilt completed with 3.5 inch blocks. The Bitty Block Committee swap theme this time was "Red, Yellow and Blue".


Some darling little blocks, don't you think?
This one is mine...


These bitty block swaps have become so addictive, and FUN!

Marilyn

"Your Vintage Gluebook"

Craft day at Karla's is always fun and we usually get some good crafting in too. It must be the creative surroundings of her studio and the creative energy of everyone there! On Tuesday, it was Karla, Beth, Mary and me.

I worked on a lesson from Mary's Your Vintage Gluebook Online Class.


It was lesson 8 and one I've been struggling with for weeks. The challenge was to use a photo that was less than perfect in a collage and "make it work". Thanks to that creative energy flowing and bouncing around the studio, I completed the lesson and I think it does work!

I've enjoyed the class immensely! It's self-paced and I learned a lot in nine lessons.

Lesson 1: Color in composition...



Lesson 2: Size in composition/3 piece collage...




Lesson 3: Image and pattern/2 page spread...


Lesson 4: Position in composition...


Lesson 5: Pieces in composition...


Lesson 6: Visual weight in composition...


Lesson 7: Collage with original paper only...


Lesson 8: Making it work...


Lesson 9: Making patterned papers...


This lesson was especially fun--the possibilities are incredible! If you would like to use this background I made in your own collage work, please feel free to do so.

And if you would like to see the work from others in the class, check out Your Vintage Gluebook flickr group.

Marilyn

Don't Be a Square...or a Rectangle

I was never really sure of the official theme name for April's Swap Til You Drop mini quilt swap, but that just added to the fun!

My fabulously good-time-swap-partner, Dolores (deeroo designs), dubbed it "hip to be (not) square, or rectangle". I also saw "Don't Be Square" and "Don't Be a Square" but whatever the official-ity, no doubt you've guessed that our mini's were to take any shape but.....square!

And "square" it isn't---this gorgeous rainbow-shaped, ticker tape style mini that Dolores sent my way:


I'm in love with it...everything about it! Is that binding not perfectly placed?! Amazing!!

And how about these fun gifties she sent too?!


Those four beautiful fat quarters are laying on my ironing board waiting for me to decide what they'll become. I'm leaning towards a tote bag, for summer--wouldn't the fabrics be perfect?

: - : - : - : - : - :

The mini I sewed up for Dolores is, as you can see, octagonal. The 1" squares were cut from a second charm pack of Tula Pink's "Plume" that I ordered after falling in love with it in Project Plume.


And a couple of little extras...


Dolores, you made it the most fun--thanks very much!!!

Marilyn

Sweet Boy.......

I spent my days this week with this handsome young man...

...our 3 month old grandson, Liam ;)

And I get to do the same thing again next week and for seven more weeks after that...because I am the lucky grandmother providing day care for the little guy.
I love my job!

We had a great week and I'm learning quickly about the new equipment and toys available since my children were babies! Who knows how up to date I'll be by the time summer arrives:)

The change to my schedule is moving around the time I have for crafting, at least initially. But when it comes to prioritizing, there are two things I always find time for, family and creating!

Marilyn

Doll Quilt Swap 8 (sent)

Last week, I finished my little quilt for Doll Quilt Swap 8 and mailed it to my partner............

Jo, (sparkly green knickers) in Melbourne, Australia!

Jo emailed me yesterday to say she received it and she loves it. That is always so nice to hear!

**quilt front (21 x 21 inches)**


**close up of the embroidered tree**


**quilt back**

I usually try to make something for my partner that I think they will like. Jo said she likes nature, green and natural tones.....and I noticed in the inspiration mosaic, that she created for the swap, several quilts that included linen and/or trees. I like to use this information for a jumping off point and then work intuitively, creating as if I'm making it for myself. It's much more fun and I think my work turns out much better this way.

I had several fabric strips leftover when I finished the quilt so I used them to make a matching zip pouch (with this tutorial).


And, of course, I felt compelled to fill it with green goodies!


So, now I'm anxiously checking my mailbox everyday, hoping to see a DQS8 package for me in there ;)

Marilyn

Yay! for Modern Quilts

This is where it all started, thanks to Alissa, in October, 2009...and now branches are beginning to pop up all over the country, Canada and Australia!

But the really good news is there's a Kansas City chapter!!! The organizational meeting was Saturday...34 of us squeezed into the studio space at Urban Arts & Crafts and it was incredible!



I got to meet some blogging acquaintances in 'real life'...always a fun thing! I was inspired over and over by members' quilts.

But the most amazing part was the instant connection of 34 people, excitedly chatting and laughing and planning, brought together by a passion for creating and a desire to share it!

Marilyn

P.S. *happy birthday to me* (teehee)

Ten...

(a) Ten snowmen dancing? (b) Ten gingerbread men in need of baking? Or (c) Ten medical play dolls waiting? Ding-ding-ding-ding.....yes, C is the correct answer!

A group of us at church have been making Medical Play Dolls for a local children's hospital. These dolls are used to help hospitalized children express their feelings. The poly-filled fabric dolls have a blank face and body to allow the children to draw on them.

Apparently, the hospital uses about 50 of these dolls per day and was completely out when the group leader contacted them. We worked on the dolls some at church (which was especially fun) then took some home and we'll finish up any that are left this coming Sunday.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Another set of ten...

"I Heart Zines"



From the time I mailed off my swap package of ten zines, I started looking forward to the day when the box of zines from ten other swappers made its way to my doorstep. It arrived on Christmas Eve and what an incredible gift it is!


"Oddball Charm No. 6" by Alma Stoller, whom I consider to be queen of the zine!


"Greetings" by Emily S. Pruitt


"Time Management for Creative People" by Rose Momsen


"Angels on Fire...a Zine of Art Sundries for the Eccentric Artist" by Stephanee


"Gang of Happiness...a know-how manual to create and construct creatures making you happy" by Beate Knappe, complete with a quilted cover!


"Stationary and Envelopes Zine" by Lisa Schramek and Shalene McCollum


"Shape" by Deborah Boschert


"Gypsy Dreams, Paper Trails" by labluegypsy


"Gesso, Issue 3" by Sally Duncan


"Workbooks - the Zine" by Secret Terrabite

Am I going to be in reading/art heaven for a wonderful while?!!

Marilyn