Des Moines Modern Quilt Group Challenge 2016

Marny here...the Des Moines Modern Quilt Group is having a challenge. It is due in a few weeks, but I won't be able to attend that meeting so sharing my process and (hopefully) the end product here in a series of blogposts will help me conquer the test!

We each received a fat eighth of each of these six solids. 

They are an interesting, and challenging, group! 

An idea worth trying kept reappearing in my head. It requires using the colors as inconsistent lines on a background interrupted by layers of prints. 

Hopefully I can make this idea clearer once the design is realized. 

The only rule is to make a quilted project using every fabric 

in some position, even if it is on the back.

A display of Cotton + Steel Fabrics caught my eye on a
trip to the local quilt shop (the Quilting Connection).

Melody Miller's Fruit Dots has the
intense coral and fushia pinks in the challenge.

Rashida Coleman-Hale's "Macrame" in the toned (dare I say) mauve 
is punctuated with the teal, pink and gold of the challenge.

Another of Rashida's fabrics includes accents 
of each of the challenge fabrics and more.

Testing how lines work against the prints and 
how the areas of prints might react to one another.

Here is the background. I love the lines and tiny dots, but it is directional. I'm still deciding if I'll cut it width or length of fabric. This is part of the P & B Textiles Bear Essentials 3 collection, but I couldn't find the creamy white colorway I'm using on their website.

And I just happen to have the perfect bit of wall waiting for a quilt!

Till Tuesday...

Spring Engagements

jill here...'Spring engagements' sounds romantic; we're on the road mid-April with two guild presentations/workshops and a retreat to feed your soul.  We'll provide you with the info and the contacts just in case you can join us!

• Monday, April 18th in Cedar Falls, Iowa @ Keepsake Quilters Guild. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4000 Hudson Road in Cedar Falls.  We've met these inspirational quilters over a year ago and they are a fun and enthusiastic group!
• Workshop "Value and Color Transparency for Every Quilter" based on patterns from Quilts du Jour 1-4 p.m.
• Lecture/Trunk Show featuring quilts from our book, Quilts du Jour and presentation "New Techniques for the Modern Quilter", 6:30 p.m.
• Contact: Laurel Northey Program Chair @ 319-269-9989. The meeting and workshop are open to non-members for a small fee.

• Thursday, April 21 in Galesburg, Illinois @ Piecemakers Quilting Guild, Galesburg Christian School, Jr./Sr. High. 7 pm. Open to non- members for $5 donation.
• Lecture/Trunk Show featuring quilts from our book Quilts du Jour and presentation "Modern Constraints: Design  Challenges for Today's Quilters". 
• Friday, April 22, workshop on "Value and Color Transparency for Every Quilter", 9-3:30p.m.
• Contact Kae Hankes @ janpage.1@comcast.net.

• Friday, April 22 in Danville Illinois @ Threads of Time Creative Sewing and Retreat Center. Take a look at this wonderful retreat/event site on line.  Not only do they offer an inspirational venue, there is a great quilt shop for fabric selections.
• Lecture/Trunk Show featuring quilts from our book Quilts du Jour and presentation "Modern Constraints: Design Challenges for Today's Quilters", 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 23, workshop on "Value and Color Transparency for Every Quilter", based on patterns from our book Quilts du Jour,  9-4 p.m.
• Contact: http://www.threadsoftimefab.com/contact.

We'd love to see you!....'till next Tuesday (or Wednesday)...

Lazy Girl Designs and Atkinson Designs Make a Winning Pick!

Marny here...I know I've made at least one winning pick this season! It started innocently enough with an email from a relatively local quilt shop, Quilters Cupboard.  The Purse Party 2016 videos intrigued me, specifically part 4. Road trip time! 

Here is what came home with me!
Lazy Girl Designs patterns...Becca Bags and Sweetpea Pods
Atkinson Designs zippers and a zipper pull collection

Spring Fling by Greta Lynn for Kanvas in association with Benartex

Another fabric from the Spring Fling collection

Lazy Girl has a whole new, super simple way to put in a zipper! And you can change up the zipper pull with Atkinson Designs!

These Sweetpea Pod bags will be the perfect "basket" this spring!
They are such fun to make!
I loved learning Lazy Girl's new zipper technique!

Hope the rest of the picks I make filling out my brackets are as successful!

Till Tuesday...

Looking for Joy

jill here.... Not much sewing of late.  We're in the midst of a partial home update.  It started with popcorn ceilings, leaky roof repair,  two available married adults working together and twenty years of accumulation, kids grown and because we still can.  We look at it as doing our children a favor.  From here on out, they will have to decide what to keep and what to throw.

Piles of books, backpacks, artwork...
trust me, it's a mess !

We've purged and pitched, sorted and saved, edited and eradicated ...someone told me to ask yourself,  if the decision is difficult (on should it stay or should it go) "Does it bring you joy?" I'm looking for the joy!  Maybe less is more.

Here's the bathroom project.
Just like a quilt, the wallpaper is one strip at a time.

I'll keep you posted!  'till next Tuesday.....

Charity Quilt fun

Marny here...and it is true. This is indeed charity quilt fun.  Our Des Moines Modern Quilt Group is working on a charity quilt. 

First we had to choose a quilt design. We decided to base our quilt on blocks taught in the Wonky Cross Block Sew-Along that Elizabeth Hartman presented on SewMamaSew suggested by Erin. 

http://www.sewmamasew.com/2010/04/wonky-cross-block-sew-along/

Then we voted on a color scheme.

Budquette Nightfall from the Emmy Grace collection by Bari J. for Art Gallery Fabrics. Our color scheme is lifted from this beautiful fabric suggested by Leila! 

And away went!!!

I chose a few fabrics from my stash in the yellow/gold, pink, teal range.
Many of them are original FunQuilts fabrics.
I cut them into 9" squares and strips of our chosen sizes.

Paired up

Sliced and seam pressed open.

Adding the other half of the square.

Try to have the intersection align, it might take
 a bit of checking and folding back.

Six blocks. Hope some of them work!

Till Tuesday...