Mirror, Mirror on the wall........Who is the most accurate of them all?

Kaye England's "Double Dozen"

Is your 1/4 inch seam really 1/4 inch?
If it's not, is it your sewing machine's fault?

Can you make a 12 1/2 inch square 12 1/2 inches each time without fail?
Why not?
Is it really because you don't have a 12 1/2 square ruler to check yourself?

Do you believe that old saying "She who dies with the most fabric wins!"?

Do you know in your heart that the next tool, ruler or sewing accessory will dramatically transform your quilting forever?

Have you ever had a "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" moment with yourself about your own cutting, sewing, piecing and/or quilting technique?

We all have been guilty of these thoughts and more about our craft.  But where does the blame for error and shall we say "creative diversions" from good technique lie?

May 4th was that "Mirror, Mirror" moment for me. As a relative "youngster" in our guild, I was one of very few who had not been quilting before the advent of the rotary cutter. My skills come from my mother-taught 4-H dress and apron making days, but otherwise, I am self-taught.

Master quilter and teacher, Kaye England visited my guild this month. She gave an amazingly funny and truthful lecture (much of which I've lovingly borrowed for this piece) as well as a fabulous trunk show. Then she led two classes. I was able to attend her "Double Dozen" class which is the photo seen above.

Kaye England demonstrating use of her "Nifty Notion Quarter Square Ruler"

The essence of the entire six-hour class was really like a mini-retreat-- a moment to stop doing what you have been taught, to step back and look critically at your work, and then to meditate on the following idea:

Skill is a result of practice.

Accuracy is a result of good technique.

Tools should make your life easier...................not harder.
Kaye asked us, "Why square up when you can do it right the first time?"

Below are some of the tools which we learned were hampering our ability to make a perfect 1/4 seam the first time.  The search for the perfect 1/4 seam is truly one in which the piecer needs to look within themselves. The honesty of that fact combined with having a master teacher like Kaye England point out all your faults (or all the lint which you didn't know was building up in your machine) to a group in a fun-loving and constructive way is a humbling experience to say the least.

Kaye England and the ladies of Q.U.I.L.T.S. Schenectady

As we left the six hour self-reflection and attempt at rebuilding our skill-sets master class, many of us were still blaming our machines, hoping the rulers we purchased will "fix" things, and wondering if we will ever be "that" accurate. Below is my pile of attempts to better myself and I am now armed, with a new way of thinking, with new ideas (like how to finger press, to avoid pins, to use my tools to help not hinder progress, and how to make my geese "Fly Right!") and an arsenal of art-changing skills.

Thank you for the inspiration, Miss Kaye. I hope some of it sticks!

ThisQuiltingMama and Kaye England

"Ten Bears Dancing"

Midwinter my daughter's class had just finished a "unit" on bears. So, for "Show and Tell" I brought this quilt-in-progress. It's either five bears, from the Bear's Paw pattern, walking though the woods (on all four feet) or 10 bears (standing) dancing.  The kids actually seemed a bit nervous when I said that I had bears to show them!   Otherwise, the chat was very fun as we talked about pattens, the season of Fall, the "warm stuff" inside of a quilt, and what is the same in the large blocks. Mrs. L's class was a great audience and very kind to This Quilting Mama at "Show and Tell."

The pattern is an adaptation of "In the North Woods" a pattern on page 93 of Joan Ford's book "Cut the Scraps!" The top is pieced entirely from scraps and 2 inch units "cut up" from my stash. The only fabric purchased was the wooded background.

This is a gift to two friends with whom I've metaphorically been deep into the woods, survived great struggles and challenges, and finally, like the bears, have come out to a clearing at the end of a great adventure. Yes, at times, we too are dancing!!

Since my visit to Kindergarten, the quilt has been machine quilted by Eileen McCabe of Quilting Threads located in Schenectady, NY.  She used an overall computerized pattern with a neutral thread. See the photo below of how awesome even the back looks!

Naturally, you ask what has taken so long to get this lovely gift on its way to the rightful owners, and the answer is one you will hear from many a quilter----the binding, the hanging sleeve and the label!! HA!

Best wishes, G & L. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve OAKE with you for the past 6 years.
I will miss our fun, not the challenges, and hope we can dance and sing together again someday soon.
Peace, Lynn

Lions, Tigers, Bears, and Poppies?

Do you know this face?

 He is just one of many animals visiting the Joyful Quilter in Glenville, New York.

Traci from the Bigfork Bay Cotton Company brought a traveling trunk show to my local quilt shop this past weekend. Many friends commented on the awesome presentation, cool techniques as well as the patterns and kits available. Unable to attend the events, but not wanting to be left out entirely, I went to visit this bear and his friends this past Monday. 

 Local folks, you really should try to visit and check out the store. 

It is covered in these awesome quilts which will be in the store through this coming weekend.

Although really breath-taking, the animals didn't interest me half as much as the flowers. Here is my first attempt at Brenda Hermundstad Yirsa's "Poppy" pattern. The first three sections are laid out on the full-sized paper template which guides the maker.

This is what it will look like on the background.

 After all the little bits (and I really mean LITTLE!) are cut and assembled, I will fuse it to the background (leaves and a center to be included as well) and then free-motion thread paint on top to applique the pieces in place while simultaneously quilting the work. The finished "Poppy" can be seen on the Bigfork Bay Cotton Company's website.............or you can wait around here to see my completed flower garden!

CHECK OUT MY PROGRESS!!!! The above photo was taken today, two days after the one above!

Amazing how quickly these patterns come together. Let's see how long it takes me to quilt it! HA! 

Today is one week since I purchased the pattern. Below is how it looks now!!! 

Can you tell I'm excited about this?

 The "Bird of Paradise" and "Iris" (photographed at The Joyful Quilter and seen below) will be next on my grand list of accomplishments. 

 The Tulips and Sunflowers above are just more eye-candy.  Please go and visit the shop and check out these awesome quilts! You'll be glad that you did.

Inspiration from Boston

This April we took a three day, two night trip to Boston for the purpose of visiting the New England Aquarium and the Boston Children's Museum. Both were absolutely fantastic and perfect for the ages and stages of our children.

Obviously, no quilting has happened recently, so as an amateur photographer (without a great camera currently), I share these photos as inspiration for your art and possibly for mine.

YouTube Video of Flag flying in Boston April 2012

The photos are from the aquarium, downtown Boston and Quincy, MA where we stayed.

 

These last two photos are courtesy of my daughter and the lobby of the Quincy Marriott.

 

May you find inspiration for your art at every turn in your life.

- This Quilting Mama

New Tool Fun

At the late Spring 2011 New York and Western Massachusetts annual Shop Hop, I acquired Kim Templin's Double Diamond Ruler. What a hoot I had creating the following pieces in a quick and easy manner!

The technique involves fusing two fabrics together (in the above piece- the green background and the orange and in the photo below- the green background and the red), then using the tool to cut angled slots which make the triangles which you then turn out to leave empty space below. That space is filled with backing fabric (purple above and the yellow below). Instructions and an entire gallery of ideas for how to use the Double Diamond Ruler can be found at Kim's Website and this link: How to Instructions.

This piece, which I call "Christmas Tree" Quilt #8769 is for sale at the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative Website (AAQI) under my $1000 Promise page.

 

Kim Templin's own donation, "Christmas Star" Quilt #9220 (seen above),  will be featured in the April AAQI Auction.  It, and all the other auction quilts can be found at the AAQI website: AAQI Auction  
Profits from the sale of all AAQI donated quilts go to fund Alzheimer's research projects. Since January 2006, the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative has raised over $704,000 for Alzheimer's research. The projects funded by the sale of these small quilts (all 9 by 12 inches or smaller) are detailed under the Research Tab on the AAQI Website.
Happy Bidding!

Change

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/change 

Leap Day every four years has a special place in my "decade plus" diary. It has a whole page and there are only three entries. Leap Day 2012, however, was not a great day for me. I learned that our beloved local quilt shop partners, Jim Helms and Bob Silverman, had left The Joyful Quilter for the adventures of caring for family and for whatever the quilting universe has in store for them. Susan Pettengill, store owner, continues to bring all that The Joyful Quilter is and has always been to the area with, yes, JOY!



(Photo lovingly borrowed from Facebook.)

Bob (on left) and Jim (on the right) were more than partners of my favorite store, they were always friendly, kind to my omnipresent and not exactly quiet children, willing to offer an idea, a "Really?" when needed, and just good kind men who share my passion for quilting. As teachers Jim and Bob offered something for all levels of student and will continue to lecture and teach. They already have a pattern and template line available on the internet. Check out Jim's (and Bob's) Quilting when you have a minute.

So, my Leap Day was one of change. Change is something I abhor! I can do crisis. I can juggle children, husband, in-laws, parents, school, life and swim lessons, but CHANGE, I detest! 

Where do I manage to funnel this negative energy which change brings upon me?

Have I taken up drinking? Smoking? Shopping? Excessive romance novel reading? Too much time on Facebook and Pinterest?

No, instead I quilt.

Here is my latest tribute to change using the Twister Tool from CS Designs that Bob sold me the last time we met.

 

Using 10 inch squares, of lovely batiks from The Joyful Quilter, I arranged them in this way.
Then I bordered the piece with a sunny batik patterned fabric.

After pressing well, naturally, I cut the following squares using the Twister Tool.

Finally, I squared up the blocks, resewed them together in rows............

 ..............and the end result is this beauty!

May the pinwheels of change be kind to you Jim, Bob and Susan!

All my best, 

Lynn, 

This Quilting Mama