My new favorite binding technique!

Marny here...I recently made a baby quilt using a blue, aqua, and gray collection of Lagom Art Gallery fabrics. I tested scrappy binding, solid binding and a print binding. None of them supported the layout of color within the quilt. I really wanted one color for two opposite sides and another color for the remaining opposite sides. In steps serendipity!

I'd asked Penny at a recent Des Moines Modern Group meeting who some of the best teachers in our area were. She named Linda Hungerford (although Linda now resides in Florida), mentioning that many beginners she had taught were now accomplished quilters. She then specifically reminded me of Linda's binding technique using machine sewn mitered corners. It is well detailed on her blog here. Lightbulb moment...if I used Linda's tutorial I can change fabrics at the corners without guess work.  Using the new (to me) techniques allowed me to place a mostly blue print on two sides and a mostly gray with aqua print on the remaining two sides. 

I used 2 1/2" strips, pieced diagonally as I usually do,
to bring them up to the recommended length. 

I just matched my process to Linda's photos
and worked my way through the tutorial!

Checking how the mitered corners are going to look

I stitched right next to the seam from the right side of the quilt the way I usually do. 

Gotta say this looks pretty good from the back

Mitered corner from the back. All sewn up and no hand stitching required!

This method worked smoothly for me. Thank you, Linda, for the thorough tutorial. I am excited about this method because it will allow me to place fabrics/color in very specific spots anywhere along the edge of my quilts without guesswork.  

We hope those of you within shopping distance plan on attending Lucky Star Market December 2nd and 3rd. It is great fun choosing which quilts we'll be selling. More pictures of vendors etc on their Facebook posts. We can't wait to do some shopping ourselves!

Till Tuesday.... 

AQS Show in DesMoines 2016

jill here...  The DesMoines AQS show in October delivered some wonderful quilts to view.  Unfortunately, my camera battery ran out before I documented all the quilters.  Here are just a few of the more modern quilts.

The map view is alway intriguing.

The background is small log cabin blocks that
are stitched centrally to create the visually
interesting negative space.

The various sizes of blocks and differences in saturation make this quilt very interesting.

Beautiful line quilting.

Partners in quilting have created a stunning "Ad Libbing".
Linda Hungerford (Flourishing Palms)  and Lora Douglas.

Stunning use of color and movement.

From the Lion King Challenge...

Unique valued pieces to create the image.

Voluta #3: Release,  quilted by Sandra Palmer Ciolino.

Close up view of the abstract quilting.

Salsa blocks from Quilts du Jour, pieced  by Lisa Zbylicki
(from the DesMoines Quilt Guild.) What a pleasant surprise!

'till next Tuesday...

Stripe Studies

Marny here...
Do you every find yourself buying the same article of clothing over and over, or choosing the same paint color for every room, or being attracted to the same textiles for your home?
I totally do.
My fascination is with small scale plaids, checkerboards, and stripes they form or use!

Duvet cover, from Crate and Barrel years ago

Dining room chair upholstery, also from years ago, that I never tire of.

Current eyeglass case. I love the colors and values playing off one another!

I've collected lots of Kaffe Fasset's incredible stripes and a whole variety of shot cottons through the years. A quilt in a booth at the recent Des Moines AQS show really caught my eye. Its label indicated it was based on "Take Five" by Kent Williams. Seeing it made me want to come home and educate myself on stripes, solids and their endless interplay. 

A single stripe with a single shot cotton, analogous hues throughout.
Equal proportions of each. The result is pretty but lacks visual interest. 

A new stripe created from two stripes and one shot cotton. Here your eye is challenged a bit seeing and sorting the values and the range of hues.

Again, two stripes and one shot cotton.

Two stripes in one set of horizontals interrupted by a single stripe of somewhat analogous hues, rather than the previous shot cottons. It is fun to see the interplay of dull and bright, and to see how the various scales of the stripes butt up against one another.

Again, two stripes in one set of horizontals interrupted by a single stripe, but this one is in a large range of hues and values.

The four most successful studies playing nicely with one another!
I'm not sure where I am going with this but my eye loves the surprising outcomes once the stitching takes place. Working with these stripes and shot cottons provides a valuable lesson in seeing value, color, tints, and tones.
I highly recommend it!

Jill and I will have a booth at Lucky Star Holiday Market here in Ames, Friday evening December 2nd and Saturday December 3rd. We are very excited! For the first time ever, we will be selling our quilts in addition to our patterns. Lucky Star on Facebook here. More info to follow! 

Till Tuesday...

Follow up on the P's!

jill here...just a quick followup on the P's of machine quilting.  Actually the runner quilting went pretty well.  It's not a piece of art but it has fine texture, is flat and will function well in its new home. As I practiced, the word Pace came to mind....smooth and steady.  Courage and confidence!

Somehow traditional stars emerge in the design
although that was not my intention.  

The backing was one piece of fabric so
it resembles a "whole cloth" look.

These are a couple of little notebook covers that were
started with leftover blocks.  Straight line quilting is 
a more comfortable approach.

I will keep practicing!  'till next Tuesday...

Referenced Materials is up!!

Marny here...

Referenced Materials is up permanently at the Ames Public Library
Negative space
Simple shapes
Asymmetry
Use of value and color to provide depth and focus
Touches of the unexpected
Yep, it reflects our design aesthetic!!

It started with a before hours practice hanging on a Monday morning

Glimpse of the cozy and very modern furniture under the stairwell

This was fun for me! Bo was a joy to work with!

Jill providing important input from the stairwell. Here you can see the 
stone/brick outer wall of the original Carnegie library building.
Referenced Materials was designed for this specific space.
It references the old brick, stone, tile and the fresh new materials 
seen throughout the library. 

Getting the spacing between the panels just right.
Bo had the panels hung precisely in no time!

Perspective on the size of "Referenced Materials" as seen from the lobby floor

Referenced Materials seen from the second floor

and from a different spot upstairs

The artists and their art!

Party and the P's of Machine Quilting!

jill here.... We're thrilled that our party date is close at hand.  Friday evening, at the Ames Public Library, we will reveal our commission quilt.

Just a glimpse....
We practiced the installation with the help of Bo and the lift!

Hope you can join us!
We'll also have quilts for auction.

In the mean time, I'm practicing my machine quilting.  I would love to be proficient so that I can proceed with a positive attitude!  I've tested and experimented.

I've found these tools to be very helpful.
Aurifil thread, microtex needles, fusible batting
 and my new found friend, the "SewSlip".

 

I've adjusted my tension to a 5.4 (whatever that means),
with slip pad in place.
I'm forcing myself to Put the Gloves On!

This is my practice background  motif.
I decided to sew in diagonal direction
on a very forgiving textured background with grey thread.

Not perfect but getting better.

The triangles were straight lined stitched with a walking foot.

Nearly done, just have the larger parallelograms left.
I'm going to up the scale with a large leaf.

I'll be happy to report my patience and perseverance in the near future!  Hope to see you Friday evening at the Library...or next Tuesday!

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Paint Chip Challenge Follow Up

jill here... The Ames Quilt Guild's latest meeting included the presentation of the paint chip challenge. The original post link is to the right.  I was unable to be there but I won 6th place! Wahoo!  There were 30 some entries and reports have it, it was great fun.

No name as yet.  Any suggestions?

And transparency occurred by happenstance!

Simple line quilting for a complex design.

The perfect backing for the pair.
This one needs to be quilted.
I have in mind finishing it into another notebook cover.

Ahhh, the never ending quilt...'till next Tuesday!

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