Wednesday, February 27, 2013

A True Modern Quilt

I just finished my first ever really true modern quilt.  Complete with a white background and limited colour running through it.   Have you seen the pictures from QuiltCon?  They truly fascinate me.  
You can check a great video out here.

I will be honest, I don't really understand the 'modern quilt movement'.   I am trying to.   I figure if I use lots of white, a bit of colour and a good design, I may get close.  



Here is a close up of the quilt I just finished.   The great part is I wrote a tutorial up for it.  The bad part is I can't show it to you till March 18th.   

I think I can show you another little sneak peek or two...shhhh don't tell.



What do you think so far?  Does it look modern?





Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Fabric Fest

Have you heard of it?  If not you better keep on reading!

Riley Blake Fabrics is hosting a fabulous retreat in Las Vegas!

Fabric Fest 2013

They have Eleanor Burns and Nancy Zieman as keynote speakers.  There classes are to die for with designers Lila Tueller and Lori Holt, who create the sweetest patterns and fabric lines.  And my favourite designer in the world, the lovely and crazy Amanda Herring who is also emceeing the event!

Other teachers include Amy Smart and Sue Daley  and so much more.   
To check out this not to miss event, go here.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

One Sheep Two Sheep

I finished a really fun wall hanging yesterday.   The best part is that it is going to be a tutorial for Pellon Inc.
A while ago they sent me some new stuff they were marketing and asked if anything grabbed me.   As soon as I saw the 'Perfect Loft', 100% Cluster Fiber Fill, I was in love.  

  Picture of Perfect Loft™

There was no possible way that I was hiding that perfect little round squishy filling inside something without showing them off a little bit!   They instantly reminded me of the sheep my grandparents used to have on their farm.   Their hair was so white, curly and cuddly.   

After a bit of planning, alot of fun, and a few little sheep running around, I came up with this.


The background fabric is from 'The Quilted Fish' fabric line called 'Flutter'.  I love how bright and busy the background is.   I find it makes my little white sheep stand out that much more.

As soon as I hear that Pellon Inc has put up the tutorial, I will let you know.   

Let me know what you think=)


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Baaaa and a Sneak Peek

How is that for a funny post title?   If you guessed you would see sheep, you are correct.  

First, a few glimpses of a 3D art quilt I just finished.   I will post pictures of the whole quilt shortly.




Remember this photo I showed you?

Here is what I am working on.   They are all in separate pieces and I have to figure out how to stitch it all together, and put it on a fun quilt.   Wish me luck!




Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Free Modern Quilt ebook

You have to love it when you get an email asking you to do a review on a Modern Quilt ebook. The icing on the cake is when they give me the link that I can share with my readers!

This ebook  from McCall's Quilting has three cute and uncomplicated patterns for modern quilts.   Each pattern offers some really informative technique tutorials.   It was here that I learned about 'quilt as you go' in making a fun modern quilt.

I think my favourite is this one.  It is called 'Baubles and Beads'.
Free Modern Quilt Patterns from McCall's Quilting

'Rainbow Rhythm'
Free Modern Quilt Patterns from McCall's Quilting
This quilt has a touch of black that really makes your eye wander around it.

'Lemon Squeezy'
Free Modern Quilt Patterns from McCall's Quilting
This is the ultimate summer quilt, hands down.



Do you want to know how to get one?   Go here and sew up a little bit of modern!  Thanks McCall's Quilting!


Friday, February 8, 2013

Backgrounds of Art Quilts

I will be the first to admit when I first started making art quilts, I was so focused on what 3D embellishments I was putting on my background that I never even touched it.   There are many an early quilt in which the background is literally a piece of fabric!  

While I am not an expert in the design of backgrounds, I am at the very least more conscientious about it now.

Today, I decided to just go a little crazy  and  take some jelly roll strips and see where it led me.

How is that for a walk on the wild side of backgrounds?


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Working on Some New Projects

I am working on some fun projects right now for two companies.     I am creating some unique 3D elements for one and some really crazy stuff for another.

This is where I am currently at.  I am using a new product and am really pleased with the results so far.



The picture below is also a new product and while I can't tell you what it is yet, there is no way in this world you will ever guess!   And it wasn't meant to be used for this, but my nutty head thought it would work and so far it has.

Do you want to venture a guess as to what this is going to be?



Sunday, February 3, 2013

Another Happy Dance!

That doesn't even seem possible, that I am doing two crazy happy dances over the course of two days!   Yet, that is the reality.  

I opened up my email to find this lovely paragraph addressed to me:

I am pleased to inform you of the acceptance of your entries A Walk Through Time and My First Modern Quilt for exhibition in the 2013 National Juried Show (NJS) to be displayed at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre  from May 16– May 18, 2013.

Both my quilts got accepted into Canada's juried show!  I was so flippin' excited.  Especially because I had just hosted a full turkey dinner for ten people and was a little tuckered out to say the least.
Then after finishing cleaning to pop open my email and find that lovely letter, gave me my pep right back!

I have another art quilt on the design wall right now and am trying to figure out if I want to use the 3D flowers you see pinned on it.


I do love them on it!

I have also been playing with some fun little gems trying to figure out how to turn them into an embellishment... any ideas?




Friday, February 1, 2013

Happy, Happy Dance!


Yep, super awesome news here today=)  You have heard of the best magazine for art quilting in all of North America?  'Quilting Arts' is the one I am referring to.  And each time they put out a new magazine, they have a 'Reader's Challenge' in it.  

The last one was 'Map It Out'.  I had showed my entry previously on my blog.


On a specific day, which was today, you go on their blog to see the finalists.   This is what I saw today.  (you are to look at the very last line):

We are pleased to announce the finalists of our recent Reader Challenge, "Map It Out."  We had almost 100 participants in this challenge and they led us north and south, inside and out.  Even to the moon!  It was very hard to choose but here's the list of finalists:
Judith Ahlborn (Crazy Map!)
Terry Aske (Where I Live)
Evans Fletcher (Direction Through Chaos)
Jane Frenke (untitled)
Karen Hansen (Kayak Karma)
Sheila McAvoy (untitled)
Jane Rommel (Wrinkles Map Out My Life)
Sandra Schlagel (Kitchen Garden)
Nancy Smeltzer (A Sky Map of Somewhere Over the Midwest)
Jennifer Scantlebury Vienneau (By The Seat of Our Pants)
Jackie White (untitled)

So at this point I stopped breathing and read the whole thing over again.....twice.  And then the biggest grin spread across my face and I just started emailing my quilting besties all over the place!

Yesterday I had been lamenting to a good friend about the number of rejection letters I have piled up in a desk drawer designated just for them.   

Today, it was all worth it!