My quilt family

I love seeing my Quilt Family at our annual gathering in Houston for the International Quilt Market and Quilt Festival.  This blog post features a few favorite quilts made with Thangles, created by MB Hayes, who I met at Quilt Market maybe 1,000 years ago.  I plan to start one of these soon ....

I love this Orion Star quilt.  If you are familiar with Thangles, you may recognize this best selling pattern which is always on display in their booth at Quilt Shows and Markets -- but in a cooler color way (purples, blues and greens).  I plan to make it one day, possibly in reproduction prints ....  The project pack is available online (directions and Thangles included!) by clicking here.

This one is called "Gemini Stars" and is one of newer Thangles patterns.  You learn how to make the "tulip" block when stitching this one together.  It simply sparkles, don't you agree?

I love this StashBuster pattern!  It is very similar to the current 2014 StashBuster pattern that is the free bonus sent out with all online orders placed that year.  I hope they bring back the Stash Buster patterns one day....

This is a variation of a pattern called "Stash Balls" -- such a fun what to use up your colorful fabric stash! Thangles are so easy to use when stitching up patterns with half-square triangles. 

The blue and white quilt below is one of the older designs and possibly one of the first Thangles patterns that I ever made.  This one is similar to a pattern in the Dress Your Table collection. There are now two Dress Your Table patterns, both feature quick-to-sew small quilts (great for making and gifting to friends and family).  They are "Dress Your Table" and "Dress Your Table 2" (scroll down the page to see the second pattern).

To watch a demo on how to use Thangles, click here. 
To learn more about Thangles, explore their website https://thangles.com/
You can also connect to Thangles via a variety of social media links, including: Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook.... All links on the Thangles home page.

Tree of Life

The 2015 International Quilt Festival closed a week ago today and I am late in sharing photos and stories from this annual gathering.  I am starting this year's review with a post about the one class that I took this year, the Tree of Life taught by my good friend Sara Hochhauser.  This is a new pattern of a traditional pattern using Thangles. 

This is a new pattern of a traditional block that Sara is developing using Thangles.  Below are the pieces that will be growing into a full tree.

I enjoyed seeing the variety of colors and fabrics that others brought to make this quilt block. Here are a few (the last ones to pack up and leave the classroom -- I didn't think of getting photos until after others had left) of the trees that were started during our three-hour class.

This first one, a Yellow tree, is in the early stages of piecing the sections of leaves and branches for the block.

 

This Blue tree is ready to have the sides stitched together (they are only pinned at the moment this photograph was taken).

This is my Red tree.  It will be going into my growing stack of red-n-white blocks.  I am planning a red-n-white sampler quilt, inspired by last year's huge Red-n-White quilt exhibit to honor the International Quilt Festival's Fortieth Anniversary.

Most students in the class were able to piece the main components of this lovely block, and many actually finished their entire block in our three hour class.

This is another sample that Sara shared with us.  I love the quilting -- the vining leaves on the dark background.  I am also dreaming of making one quilt of four trees, each representing a different season.  Sara also shared her version of a Four Seasons quilt that she had made.  I can also picture my many quilt-pins being attached to the leaves and in the background of this quilt ... I have many plans for more of these tree blocks....


I must end with the tale of a lovely wedding that I attending in New Orleans this week-end.

The bride and groom exchanged their vows under the spreading branches of the spectacular "Tree of Life" located in Audubon Park.

Legend states that "the tree was first planted as a wedding gift for the bride of a New Orleans plantation owner many years ago. And the gift of love still stands today", over one hundred years later.

While many brides and grooms in New Orleans are married standing in front of this massive and impressive Tree of Life, not many of them exchange their vows in a rain storm!  This wedding happened in spite of the weather, and the party that followed was loud and festive.  Great food, drink, dancing and the live music was awesome!  If you're ever invited to a wedding in New Orleans, go!  You will be glad you did -- and check the weather before heading there so you arrive prepared with a rain coat (if needed).  Mazel Tov to Lizzy & Danny!  May your years together be filled with love, sweetness and good times, regardless of the weather outside.

New to Thangles

Here is a quick peek at new patterns seen in the Thangles booth during the International Quilt Festival earlier this year, well a last fall....

Thangle Maple Leaf is the quilt on the left.  This pattern uses Thangles and teaches how to piece the leaf block using fewer seams.  It uses 2 1/2" strips of fabric, perfect for using with Jelly Rolls, Bali Pops or such.  Click here to learn more and order your Thangle Maple Leaf Project Pack.
  
Mod Triangles is the quilt on the right and is a new best seller for Thangles.  It uses the popular 5" charms (40 charms for the lap size, or 91 for the queen size quilt).  Click here to order your Mod Triangles Project Pack which comes with the pattern and enough Thangles to make the queen size.


 Here are two more classic patterns created by and with Thangles.

The left and center quilts are a simple pattern that is hard to find (I don't see it on the website at the moment, but email and ask for it).  I love it.  It is called Memories of Mondrian.  Like the Thangle Maple Leaf quilt above, this quilt pattern uses 2 1/5" strips and gives directions for several sizes.  I envision making an alternate version where some of the blocks are nested inside others -- but then that would be a different look, and thus a different pattern, wouldn't it?

The quilt on the right is a best-selling Thangles pattern called Orion Star.  It pieces together easily that looks like the Hunters Star in the finished quilt.  However this pattern does not require any of the difficult "y-seams" during the stitching. Click here to learn more about this pattern, which happens to be high on my "Quilts-to-Stitch Bucket List".

Do you have your own "Quilts-to-Stitch Bucket List" too?  If so (if sew?), which quilt patterns are on your bucket list?

Quilts by my friends

I always love wandering through the many quilt exhibits on display at the annual International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas.  I'm thrilled when I spy quilts made by friends of mine.  This post is to share three of these quilts.

First up is this lovely vase of flowers, Spring Bouquet, by my friend Ann Graf.

Ann is in my Art Quilt group, Beyond the Sunset.  She started this quilt about twelve years ago, then it sat in her UFO pile until more recently, when she brought it a time or two to our Beyond the Sunset meetings.  Ann's quilt was displayed as part of the "In Full Bloom" exhibit, sponsored by Martelli Enterprises.  This juried exhibit celebrates the tradition of floral quiltmaking and is in memory of Helen Pearce O'Bryant, one of the founders of the Quilt Festival.  To see more of the quilts from this exhibit, click here.  Ann also had quilts in the Journal Quilt exhibit in 2003.  Click here for a view of those.

Insanity 3,044 is a quilt by my friend Lynn Roddy Brown.

The quilt's name comes from the number of pieces within it: three thousand, forty-four and the zaniness of the scrappy fabrics used.  According to Lynn, "the variety of fabrics" used in this quilt "lends exuberant chaos to the very structured pattern.  A uniform pieced border brings all of this discord into harmony."

This detail view makes it easy to spy the triple nine-patch blocks which were joined with a nicely pieced sashing.  The blocks in the outer border are also triple nine-patch blocks, but these are made in a uniform fashion using only two fabrics.  The triple nine-patch blocks are very scrappy in the center of the quilt as she has swapped these with quilting friends.  In fact, that is how I know Lynn.  She is one of the members in the Block Builders Bee that I am also in.  It is just one of the many bees within the Quilt Guild of Greater Houston.

Scraps, Spare Parts and Leftovers is also by Lynn.

Lynn excels at making scrappy quilts.  This one has a medallion look with a center built with three different quilt projects.  There are split nine-patch blocks, rail fence blocks, a block made in a Sharyn Craig class and four corner blocks.  The borders were made from other spare parts that Lynn had on hand.  According to Lynn, a quilt made entirely from her stash is a 'free quilt!'

Both of Lynn's quilts were part of the exhibit showcasing "Texas Quilt Guilds' Award-winning Traditional Quilt".  Lynn is a master of making scrappy quilts.  Learn more from her in any one of her three books published by Martingale.  Her first book, Simple Strategies for Scrap Quilts, is available as an ebook (click here).  Her second book, Simple Strategies for Block-Swap Quilts, is also available as an ebook (click here).  Patchwork-Play Quilts- Make the Most of Scraps, Spare Parts and Leftovers is Lynn's most recent book and is available in both print and ebook form (click here).

Challenge to finish and dolls

Here it is -- this is the packet of beautiful pastel solids I received from Michael Miller for their Spring Cotton Couture Challenge for 2015. 

In this latest challenge (issued to the Modern Quilt Guild members), rules state that we can use only Michael Miller's Cotton Couture fabrics in the quilt.  Thus my first challenge was not only what design shall I use, but where in the world can I find more of their Cotton Couture fabric line?  Using the trusty internet, I discovered that High Fashion Fabrics carries their fabrics.  After a Sunday afternoon trek to their downtown shop, I discovered these darker solids to add to my challenge piece.

Now for my list of steps:

• Decide on a pattern (done - plan to revise (slightly) a pattern by my friend MBHayes of Thangles fame - I will share more on this in the next post about this project), 
• Cut it out and stitch it up (the top is stitched!), 
• Select on a back fabric (any Michael Miller - print or solid - is acceptable.  I've chosen one from my friend Patty Sloniger's latest line called Emma's Garden), 
• Choose a quilting design and thread to use (this seems to be where I am stuck ... ).
• Quilt it, 
• Bind and label it.
• Last of all, photograph and submit it before the fast approaching deadline!

My quilt is not finished, so I have made it my November "Lovely Year of Finishes" challenge.  Now it is in two challenges!  I have stated my goal and am linky #38 on the November Goal Linky Party page.  Check it out here and feel free to join us!

I have selected my pattern and have stitched up the top, but am still playing with many ideas of how to best quilt it (and shall I pull in Pam_Quiltaholic's expertise to do the actual quilting?  Here is a photo of my friend MB and myself standing in her Thangles booth during the International Quilt Festival this year.  We are standing in front of my "Summer Baskets from My Friends" quilt!

It is really fun to see something you have made hanging up in a public place for many to see it, admire it, and possibly even buy the pattern for it!  Read more about my basket quilt here.

The International Quilt Festival has closed for the year so now I have time to share a few photos taken during the busy days of the show.  First - "In Celebration of the Doll" is always a fun exhibit.

It is even more fun when you are searching for a doll made by my friend, Marlene Slobin.  I'm glad I knew to look for three dolls, not just one!  Below is a closeup of "The Novak Sisters" that she made. 

 Marlene, your creative dolls always make me smile!  I look forward to your next one...or group ...

Ruby Jubilee

This year the International Quilt Festival is celebrating its Ruby Jubilee, 40 years of fabulous-ness.

As per their usual, they are celebrating in grand style with a wonderful exhibit of red-and-white quilts...

 Making a red-n-white quilt has been on my "quilt bucket list" for a long time.

After seeing these wonderful quilts,

 the urge to make my own, and possibly to make several of my own, 

has moved higher on my "must-make-this-quilt" list!

This exhibit is in honor of the amazing exhibit called "Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts".  For more information on this exhibit that was on display in New York City in March 25-30, 2011  please click here.  Note - there is a free ap to download that features great photos and more information on each quilt.

If you can, come to the International Quilt Festival at the George R. Brown Convention Center this week.  Opening Preview night is Wednesday, October 29, 2014.  The show runs through Sunday, November 2, 2014.

Throwback Thursday

I can't believe it is already that time of year ... 

  the International Quilt Festival and Market opens soon in the fair city of Houston.

In honor of Throwback Thursday, I'm featuring a few of my favorites ...

 

from 2008: My three guys with Mary and Pat outside their Thangles booth at the end of the day.

from 2013:  I've joined my quilting sisters, Sara Hochhauser and Mary B Hayes in Chicago -- their neck of the woods, so to speak.  This documents my first trip north to the Chicago International Quilt Festival.  I hope to return often!

 I really should dig deeper in my archives of photos for earlier photos of my annual quilt family reunions at the International Quilt Festival!  I know have many .... stay tuned ....

My discovery at Quilts, Inc.

I have a new part-time job .... working at Quilts, Inc. headquarters as we prepare for the many shows they pull together.  I began this summer working with quilts and knit garments for the new Quilt-Knit-Stitch show in Portland, Oregon - receiving, inspecting, packing for the exhibit and later, packing to return after the show.  The offices are lovely, with an ever changing exhibit of quilts hanging up in the halls of the office.

Imagine my surprise to discover among the quilts (new and antique) that are on display, there is also a collection of fiber art postcards.  I was drawn in particular to this frame featuring nine postcards.

Can you see why?

Look carefully, 

especially focus on the far left card in the middle row....

"Untitled" by C. Winter

It's my card!

How cool is it to discover that something I made is in a collection owned by Karey Bresenhan?!!!  I am so tickled and thrilled and love checking to see if it is still on display every time I come to work.  I work barely once a week and I am loving it!  This week, I worked on editing various components of the International Quilt Festival coming up at the end of October.  It is a fascinating place to work!

If you are coming to this year's Festival, ponder volunteering as a Quilt Angel -- it is how I got my start with the show that eventually led to this part-time job!  Click here for more info.

My star for NASA

I have made a star for the "Astronomical Quilts! Block Challenge" and here it is!

This challenge began when NASA Astronaut Karen Nyberg made her own star-themed quilt block while she was on board the International Space Station.  This special quilt block will be combined with other quilt blocks made (and submitted) by others attending the International Quilt Festival. The quilt made from all these blocks will be on display this fall as we celebrate the 40th anniversary International Quilt Festival!

You are invited to participate too!

The rules are simple:
1). Make/create a star-themed 9.5" square unfinished block (that will finish to 9" in the quilt)
2). Any and all variations on a star are welcome (traditional, modern or artsy).
3). Any color scheme and techniques are acceptable BUT do not add any embellishments!
4). Sign your unfinished block on the front with a permanent marker.  Include your name and your location.

LIMIT:  One Block per person!

Once you've created your unique star block, mail it by August 1, 2014 to

Star Block Challenge

Attn: Rhianna Griffin

7660 Woodway, Ste. #550

Houston, TX. 77063

The deadline is nearly here, so whip together a star block and mail it in now!

I can't wait to see the quilt made with all these stars.  I especially look forward to finding my block in this new quilt.  It promises to be a spectacular exhibit!

Oops, I still need to sign my block!

Aprons

It's chilly tonight in Houston and cold weather always makes me feel like cooking.  Of course if you're cooking in the kitchen, you must wear an apron.  Thinking of aprons reminded me of this lovely quilt by Eileen Daniels.

This quilt is titled Aprons are a Tradition in My Family and was on display in the "Festival Gallery of Quilt Art: Traditions" at the International Quilt Festival and Market in Houston this past fall.

Eileen, from Brodhead WI, stated that her design source was "her vintage apron, fabric and hankie collection from her ancestors".  She explained:  I have photos of my family wearing aprons going back to 1910 on the back of the quilt,  What a great tradition that we are continuing!  When she inherited the collection of aprons, hankies and fabrics, she just had to make this quilt which showcases 232 vintage fabrics and her love for the creativity of apron pockets!  She adds: Wearing  aprons with a hankie in the pocket is a tradition in my family and already my four-year-old granddaughter is carrying on the tradition!  She closes with "No apron was destroyed for this quilt!"

Techniques used include Machine applique and photo transfers.  I know you'll enjoy this detail view...

 Lovely quilt Eileen!

To learn more about Eileen and see more of her work, or contact her to speak to your guild or give a workshop or otherwise ... check out her website by clicking here.

You must check out her website both for more info on Eileen but also to see who she shares the site with ... Ross Daniels, a Master Wood Craftsman!  He has buttons, bowls, rolling pins and lovely ornaments on display and available for purchase!


The Daniels' website is http://danielsstudios.com/

Go Hawaiian

I've always wanted to do a large Hawaiian applique' quilt, so this year at the International Quilt Festival, I took a class from Kathy Kansier called "Meet Me in Hawaii" (isn't that a nice invitation?).  In three hours, students cut an original Hawaiian design and applique'd it onto a background fabric (via machine applique).  I've been busy making more blocks that will grow into quilts, rather than lingering in my w.i.p (works in progress) pile.  Click here for more about the class.

Here is a peek at one of my original designs which I am currently shadow quilting, much in the style of Hawaiian quilts.   My goal is to finish this for the ALQS8 swap that is fast approaching.  I am also pondering if I should teach this as a class/workshop at one of my local quilt shops, such as Quilt 'N Sew.

Click here to be inspired by more Hawaiian quilts (as found on Pinterest).  There are also many websites with Hawaiian quilts for sale (I will let you explore those on your own ....).

Meanwhile, maybe I will stitch a few more rows before calling it a day....

Venice

Daydreaming of favorite places I've been and would love to visit again .... and thought I would share a lovely quilt of one of these places - Venice, Italy!

 Venice Lagoon

by DAMSS (D. Arnoldi and M. Sarzi-Sartori)

of Milan, Italy

I snapped my photo of this lovely quilt when it was on display in the 2013 Tactile Architecture exhibit at the 2013 International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston, Texas.  It evokes memories of my visit to Venice when I was in college.  I too took photos of the picturesque canals during my visit.  I must find them and post one here .... soon (but not tonight).

The quilt artists used manipulated, pieced, embroidered and custom techniques.  Their inspiration is taken from one of their countless visits to the city of Venice.  They state: "Here we see landscaping and urban perspectives reflecting our respective engineering and architectural vocations.  This quilt is inspired by the Italian Lagoon of Venice."

I love this detail shot.  See the reflections in the canal?

But you must see more work by this amazing pair.  Click here to see several, including nice detail views.  DAMSS, Daniela Arnoldi and Marco Sarzi-Sartori, are featured as L'Artiste du Vendredi (French for the Artist of Friday) on the blog/website of L'Atelier D'Emma (the Workshop of Emma).  I may need to refresh my high school French so I can read more of these wonderful posts of Emma Coutancier!

In her own statement (which I had the talent of the internet translate for me), Emma says:  

I am a textile designer, a little slacker, always in a hurry and impatient, and I offer on this blog sewing projects, patchwork deco and the machine.   My motto: colors, speed and simplicity! Sign up for the newsletter to not miss my adventures and feel free to comment!

I have done exactly that!  If you are interested to sign up for her newsletter too, start by clicking here or http://www.atelierdemma.com/

Letter Carriers

I like sharing some of my favorite quilts from the International Quilt Association's judged show held in Houston during the International Quilt Market and Festival.  The winners are revealed on Tuesday evening, after Quilt Market has closed and before Quilt Festival has opened.

In the Mixed Technique category, sponsored by Robert Kaufman Co., this delightful quilt caught my eye.  It was created by Janet Stone from Overland Park, Kansas and is titled "Letter Carriers".  This quilt won a first place ribbon!  (Validation that someone else likes the same quilts that I do!)

The quilt is an original design created by Janet Stone.  It features a variety of techniques such as: weaving, machine piecing and raw-edge applique (also by machine).  Decorative touches include prairie points, half penny circle edging, hand-covered buttons, and both hand-sewn and hot-fixed embellishments.  There are wood, metal, plastic and glass embellishments - can you spy them?

Janet explains that a love of basket blocks sparked the idea to create baskets by hand-weaving new fabrics together.  She also created twenty six new baskets to adorn the sides of the quilt, each with a single letter embroidered with in it.

I enjoy the variety of basket blocks, as well as the tucked-in alphabet.  Is it possible that teaching my two and three year-old students has increased my interest in alphabet quilts?  I love alphabet samplers too -- the embroidered samplers -- both old antique samplers and new modern-day ones.

It is a lovely quilt!  Hopefully Janet will be publishing a pattern for it one day!

Wool!

In many previous Quilt Festivals I have admired Mary Flanagan's Woolens - from the wonderful colors of her hand-dyed wool fabrics and the great Valdani threads to the fun embroidery patterns and projects.  For many years I have resisted the urge to buy - for fear that the purchased goods would only lie dormant with so many other bags and boxes of previous Quilt Festival projects.

This year was different.  My eye was first grabbed by some wonderful packets of woolen strips and the lure worked!  I was pulled into the booth (not against my will, promise! just had to touch some of these wonderfully rich colors).  I started by picking up a woolen charm pack in one hand while grabbing 2 patterns in the other hand!  I spent a long time drooling over the wonderful colors and choices as I labored to narrow down my selection......

This is what came home with me that day.

Stay tuned as I am determined to make something (or several somethings) with my purchase.  Perhaps I will stitch up this pattern first ...

To order your own Mary Flanagan Woolens (believe me, they are luscious hand-dyed woolens!) check out her website: http://www.mfwoolens.com/

Aloha!

The International Quilt Festival comes to Houston every year with exhibits of gorgeous quilts, vendors offering lots to buy, and classes covering a variety of quilting topics.  The first class that I took this year was "Meet Me In Hawaii" with Kathy Kansier.  

It was a fabulous class with the one big snafu being that the published supply list for the class did not include paper scissors, fine-tip embroidery scissors, or pins.  Fortunately Kathy had some scissors for sale and many were happy to take turns with theirs (if they had them).  We were in a classroom supplied with sewing machines, so we need not lug a machine (whew!).

Hawaiian Applique

This Kathy's class quilt which she shared, suggesting that we lay it down in the hallway to get photos of the full quilt.  The one drawback was that more than one person walking by did not notice there was a quilt on the floor.  We were standing around its edges taking photos, yet they cut between us and stepped onto the quilt!  Yikes!!

In our three-hour class, everyone drew and cut their own original pattern to use for their Hawaiian applique block.  Once the design was cut from freezer paper, it was traced and cut from fabric provided in the class kit.  Then it was fused to the background (white or black) and machine applique'd before class ended.  An impressive amount of learning, cutting and stitching was completed together that night.

This is my block, my original design.  I was perhaps the only one to not finish my applique in the class....  It was my second block that I cut out, as my first design was even more detailed and intricate.  Actually the true reason might be that I did not have the proper supplies.  Fortunately I was seated next to a generous soul who happily shared her newly purchased scissors. Thank you Lish!!!

Kathy kept telling us that designing these blocks is addictive and I believe she is right!  Since finishing my first block at home, I pulled out some freezer paper one evening and cut the three designs below.  They will be stitched down soon, once I purchase yardage of solid Kona cotton white fabric and Wonder Under (for fusing). 

These images are the reverse of my intended design.  You see the paper patterns laid on top of different batik fabrics.  Each block will be a batik in the center of the block, the design, that is stitched onto a background of white.  If I can cut the batik fabric carefully, I might be able to fuse these designs as they appear here -- where the batik is stitched down on the edges, leaving the white design in the center. This will give me the positive and the negative of each design.  Hmmm, I will have to try hard to do this.

Can you see the pineapple in the design below?  It is meant to be a pineapple, not a pomegranate.

Below are the remnants from each design above.  Can you match each triangle to their coordinating blocks above?

Answer key:  The one on the far left is the pattern on orange/red above; the middle triangle is the pineapple block and the far right matches to the top pattern on blue above.


Just seeing them here is making me itchy to get sewing again!