Category: Quilting in Maine

Quilting, mine and others

Turkey Tracks: Valse Brilliante Project

Turkey Tracks:  November 9, 2017

Valse Brillante Quilt Project

The block pile for the English Paper Piecing “Valse Brilliant” is growing.  This quilt is from Willyene Hammerstein’s book MILLEFIORE QUILTS.  And this work was one of the many Coastal Quilters (Maine) challenges proposed and started last winter.

There are close to 40 now.  I need just under 100 blocks I think.

My rules are brights and text fabrics, every block must have both.  Two forms of blocks emerge, one with darker color on the wide pieces and one with darker color on the narrow pieces.  When I glued block pieces, I often made both versions from the two chosen fabrics.  You can see both versions below:

 

I had fun with this block, which uses one of the Cotton+Steel whimsical fabrics with a desert motif and one of the C+S basic fabrics:

I have also used a lot of the “pearl bracelet” fabrics, both large and mini, from Lizzy House from Andover because they have such clear, bright colors.

I found an old computer laptop lap support tucked away in John’s technical supplies.  It works perfectly as a platform for English Paper Piecing blocks.

It is thicker on one side, and I put that side next to my body so my hands and arms have support.  This laptop platform saves a lot of wear and tear on arm, wrist, and neck muscles.  When I am putting on binding, I use a fat couch pillow for support.  Otherwise, I am always bending my neck over too far.

My as yet unnamed millefiori quilt (Katja Marek) is done but for one side of binding.  Pics to follow soon.  It may be my most favorite quilt ever.

Turkey Tracks: Recap: The Modern Quilt Showcase 2017 – whole circle studio

November 6, 2017

Recap:  The Modern Quilt Showcase 2017–Whole Circle Studio

Here’s a wonderful post from Whole Circle Studio about the Modern Quilt Showcase at Houston:

via recap: The Modern Quilt Showcase 2017 – whole circle studio

Turkey Tracks: Fabrics for Bonnie Hunter’s 2017 Mystery Quilt “On Ringo Lake”

November 6, 2017

Fabrics for Bonnie Hunter’s 2017 Mystery Quilt “On Ringo Lake”

I wasn’t going to do this year’s mystery quilt.

I have done four of them now, each a gem.  But, I have some other projects I wanted to finish before starting the mystery quilt.  I was just going to print the clues and make the quilt later.  Maybe.

But then, several people I know wanted to do it.

And the next thing I knew, I was pulling fabric.

For the first time, I’m substituting a fabric:  for Bonnie’s rich dark brown I am using two rich, midnight dark teals that have been hanging out in my stash for way too long.  If I buy any other fabric, it might be a third dark teal.  This dark teal does not show it’s dark richness when I try to take a picture of it.

Here you can see it provides plenty of contrast.

And here’s a pic I manipulated considerably to show the textures.

Below are pics of my aquas, corals, and neutrals:

 

I may add more neutrals.  These were pulled from my Cotton+Steel and “text fabric” bins.  On “En Provence,” I really liked the inclusion of some busier neutrals.  See?

Bring on the clues.

I’m ready!

 

Turkey Tracks: Timna Tarr’s Quilted Maps

November 2, 2017

Timna Tarr’s Quilted Maps

Timna Tarr is coming back for a workshop at Coastal Quilters (Maine) this month.

And it is not a moment too soon, as our 2017/2018 CQ challenge is making a map.  Many of us will be doing some form of Timna’s quilty maps, but the “map” category is wide open.  One could do any kind of map or map metaphor rather than a literal map.  Our efforts will hang at the state quilt show in July 2018:  Pine Tree Quilt Guild.

Here’s the kind of “Timna map” I want to do.

This quilt is one of her earliest maps, but I adore it.

Here is another:

I’m thinking this one includes more appliqué.

Timna is just finishing a map of the Mississippi river tributaries.  You can go to the gallery on her web site to see more of her work:  timnatarr.com.  And she has a blog where there are pictures of the Mississippi River Quilt.

I went to Camden’s online tax maps to get a start on my projects,  I was able to isolate what I wanted and to take a screen shot that I printed with the landscape orientation.  Next, I took those printed maps to Staples, and they blew them up further.  I asked for 20 wide by 14 deep.  The lot sizes are now big enough for me to work with them I think.

Here are my maps, printed on a kind of vinyl:

A map of the Megunticook Lake and river environs, which includes my house lot.  I am not on lake front property, but am close to the lake or river.  This river runs into Camden harbor via a dramatic waterfall.

And a map of the center of Camden and our harbor.

Where to start???

My own house lot I think–to learn the skills.  Then, if I like the work, the town.

Turkey Tracks: The Coastal Quilters’ 2017 October Retreat, Part 1

Turkey Tracks:  October 24, 2017

The Coastal Quilters’ 2017 October Retreat, Part 1

Heidi August

It was a good retreat!

And, was made better by the addition of a quilter new to our group.

Heidi August brought this GORGEOUS quilt for me to see–once again.  I saw it at the Vermont Quilt Show two summers ago and took a picture of it, which I posted on this blog.  This quilt is one of my all-time favorite quilts and maybe THE favorite one.  It has now won TWO ribbons at major quilt shows.  Go Heidi!!

It was a delight to meet Heidi!  She is full of lively, creative, energy and boundless good will.  There is nothing nicer than meeting a quilter like this one and bouncing up and down with her ideas.

The block is a pineapple block, and Heidi told me that there is a pineapple ruler that made this work much easier.

Many facets of this quilt make it wonderful:  the subtle use of color, the block itself, the clever use of text fabrics, and the whimsy in each block.  Take a look at some of my favorite blocks.  It was hard to choose which one were “favorites.”  I could have taken a picture of each and every block.  Of course I have to start with CHICKENS.

 

 

 

 

Taking pictures of these blocks is like eating only ONE potato chip…  I could go on and on…

Look at the clever backing:

And binding…

I have a fat quarter collection of those little colored squares, but never thought to use this fabric for a binding.

It’s PERFECT!

***

Heidi worked on a fun quilt and a more serious one.  Sadly I did not get a picture of this latter quilt.  The fabrics were dark and the light in the gym was not great.  I hope she sends me a picture when she gets the top finished.  I”ll share if she does.

And she very kindly sent me three quilt pictures that stemmed from our conversations:

A Halloween quilt top she just finished–which is as lively as Halloween is.

And her Tula Pink 100 Modern Quilt blocks–laid out and, following, the finished quilt:

This setting is one Tula Pink suggests in the book.  But Heidi, unlike Tula Pink, sorted the blocks by color.  It came out great, don’t you think?  I also like the wavy grid quilting!  A lot!

Go Heidi!

I look forward to more interactions with YOU!

Turkey Tracks: The Coastal Quilters’ 2017 October Retreat, Part 2

Turkey Tracks:  October 24, 2017

The Coastal Quilters’ 2017 October Retreat, Part 2

Here’s our space at the Franciscan Guest House in Kennebunkport, Maine.

This time the FGH located us in the gym as another larger group had been there just before us.  So, we had space, ironing boards and irons, tables, and design walls to spare.  The entrance is across the room from this picture.  And we had access to a nice kitchen with both a microwave and a convection oven.  We brought food and bought food.  A group has to have 15 in attendance to get FGH ood served.

Additionally, Jan Kelsey and crew sought out nearby quilting stores this trip.  There are more than the one very small one just down the street.  Sanford sewing is about 20 minutes–and they have been so supportive of us during our retreats, including fixing machines we’ve dropped off there while we are at the retreat.  There is a nearby Marden’s.  And there is a store called Wool Camp that the girls who went on this expedition loved.  Who knew?

From left to right, Deb Hazell, Heidi August, and Deb Torre.  That’s Tori Manzi in the background.

Vicki Fletcher.  Don’t you love that smile?

Mac Saulnier.  Mac and Jan Kelsey went to college together and have stayed in touch.

Mary Bishop, with the quilt she designed and the jacket she made at the October 2016 retreat:

Vicki Fletcher and Sharon Flanagan with Sharon’s quilt:

Jan Kelsey with a baby quilt.  This fabric is interesting because I made a quilt for a grandson with this fabric and put the remnants into our last fund-raiser auction.  Jan bought it, not realizing that I had donated it.  I like what she did and am so happy that someone else was using the fabric.

I did not get a picture of Jan Corson (!!!) or myself.

And I went back into old files to find what I did with the fabrics Jan Kelsey has above:  it was quilt No 43, made in 2009.  I’ve come along way baby!  As has technology.  The pics are from a camera that distorted the “rectangle” of the quilt, for instance.

I would definitely put cornerstones if I were making this quilt today.  The panel details are so cute though.  They remind me of the Japanese designers who are making fabrics with these “retro” motifs.

Turkey Tracks: The Coastal Quilters’ 2017 October Retreat, Part 3

October 24, 2017

The Coastal Quilters’ 2017 October Retreat, Part 3

The Work

Wow!  Look at this fun quilt Deb Hazell is making:

Here the pattern:

Deb H. also worked on this yummy wool blanket that is meant for “ownself.”

The blanket is yummy, but look, too, at the nifty portable sewing table Deb has.  The top has a clear acrylic piece that fits exactly around your machine.  I think the brand is Sew Eaze???  They are not horribly expensive either.  To her right is one of the portable tables that let you put your cutting board or ironing pad and iron right at your fingertips.  I got one at Amazon and can’t imagine what I did before I had it.

Tori Manzi is a master foundation piecer.  She finished the side sections of this quilt on this retreat.  There is a big plain section that goes between the arrow points.  And see below that the arrow head and some of the stock are elaborately foundation paper pieced.

Tori has a lot of the components of this quilt done now.  I think the little stars on the right will go into that middle section.  My goodness!!

I love this quilt Jan Corson is doing.  Blue and neutrals, stars and log cabins, what’s NOT to like??  She got the top done this trip and all the blocks trimmed up so the quilt will lie true.

Next, she made these little pouches for her daughter’s wedding in July–gifts for the bridesmaid’s.  Four done!

The inside of each has a different, charming fabric.  If these pouches run away from home, Jan, you could start looking at my house.

I am living vicariously through Deb Torre, who is just moving into the most beautiful farm house with a BARN and outbuildings.  Animals are coming in the spring.  I voted for chickens.  Hubby has a new tractor.  Deb is making this “star” quilt to go with the new bedroom’s colors.  She made great progress during the retreat.

In addition to her star quilt, Mary Bishop also made this Halloween table runner.

Mac Saulnier worked on these log cabin wreaths.  If I understand her correctly, they will be put together back to back to make a hanging for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas.

Jan Kelsey worked on two Christmas funky block log cabin quilts.

But her big project for several retreats now has been this quilt that uses old postcards saved by her grandparents during their travels.  She copied the cards and printed the copy on to fabric.

Clever!  And, a lovely way to capture family history.

Vicki Fletcher got borders on her “disappearing 9- patch” quilt.  From a distance, this quilt looks so lacy.

I got the last 40 Tula Pink blocks done, from TP’s book 100 MODERN QUILT BLOCKS.  I used all Cotton + Steel fabrics and will set the blocks in this “city” setting.  Mary B. said the blocks remind her of old-fashioned comic book pages, all colorful and each page different.  Yeah!  That’s the look I wanted.  Now I am looking for C+S setting fabric.  The ones I like are virtually sold out.  I really liked the sparkle/Stardust fabric in grey.

I relaxed by making some Wild and Goosey blocks with my teeny scraps–a pattern from Bonnie Hunter.

I’ll set them with black and white strips and will set the blocks with wide sashing grounded by a small-block 9-patch.

I made two of the big star blocks (16 inches) that I designed after taking Amy Friend’s improv workshop.  Her book on this method is IMPROV PAPER PIECING.

It was a productive retreat.

Turkey Tracks: “En Provence” Quilt Finished

Turkey Tracks:  October 23, 2017

“En Provence” Quilt Finished

Bonnie Hunter’s 2016 mystery quilt.

This quilt is BIG.  And, very graphic.  Like all Bonnie Hunter quilts, the “bones” are really good, so that it is easy to substitute for color as long as one pays attention to VALUE (darks and lights).  I have never substituted from Bonnie’s color plan, but many do, and all these quilts come out really beautifully as long as value is kept constant.  I may start altering color plans.  You never can tell.

I had all the units for this quilt made by New Year’s 2016.  I’m not sure why it took me so long to finish it.  I had too many projects ongoing, for one thing.  And I am mostly caught up now.  More or less.  As “caught up” as I ever get.

I quilted with a lavender thread, which matched the backing, and it worked beautifully.  The pantograph is “Arcadia” from Urban Elements by Patricia E. Ritter.

I used a light cream binding–because what draws me most to this quilt is the neutral border with the beet-colored stars.  Would love to see a quilt made with just that combination.

The quilt is beautiful:  intricate and complex.  And, scrappy.

Thanks Bonnie Hunter.

The Bonnie Hunter 2017 mystery quilt color scheme will come out any day now.  Bonnie is in China, so probably when she gets home again.  And, after attending a family funeral.  Go gently, Bonnie!

 

Turkey Tracks: Mt. Battie Modern September Show and Tell

Turkey Tracks:  October 6, 2017

Mt. Battie Modern September Show and Tell

We had fun at our September meeting.

It was fun to see Joann Moore, who worked all summer.  She brought two quilts with her.  She’s a new grandmother, so there is a fun baby quilt.

And her version of a quilt in Amanda Jean Nyberg’s book NO SCRAP LEFT BEHIND called “Happy Rails.”  Love her use of the blue background and the bright fabrics with it.

Vicki Fletcher has been working on this English Paper Piecing large hexagon quilt.  She is enjoying this project and loves the old-fashioned fabrics.  They are special, and so is she.

Tori Manzi showed us a new bag she acquired from an internet “swap” friend.  Wow!  Great bag.  We examined it in detail as we are, most of us, bag crazy.

Paula Blanchard showed us this small quilt from Amy Friend’s Improv workshop with us last spring.  Amy’s blog is “During Quiet Time,” and the method is in her book IMPROV PAPER PIECING.  This is a “wow” quilt, isn’t it?

Karen Martin has her Tula Pink blocks not only done, but put into a top.  Didn’t it come out gorgeous?  These blocks are a challenge for Coastal Quilters, but Karen is the first person among us to finish a quilt top with the blocks.  We finish making the blocks in December.  I have about 40 more to go, but will catch up soon.  The book is 100 MODERN QUILT BLOCKS, and they are all about the fabric.

Love the sashing fabric with the different intensities of black dots.

Here’s Karen:

Mt. Battie had a challenge to make a “minimalist” quilt, from directions and discussion in the MIGHTY LUCKY QUILTING CLUB 2016 WORKBOOK–“Minimalist Improvisation” by Season Evans.

Here’s Becca’s:

Here’s Paula’s:

And here’s mine:

I am enjoying these exercises.  I am making and using bias tape in both quilts and clothing now.  And I’ve found that I’m thinking differently about quilt compositions all at once–along the lines of the creativity that can come with constraint.  It is freeing somehow.

On to the next challenges–which will make the next two months more interesting.

Turkey Tracks: September Mt. Battie Modern Traveling Quilts

Turkey Tracks:  October 1, 2017

September Mt. Battie Modern Traveling Quilts

The “reveal” at our September meeting was so much fun!

The quilts are so full of life and energy.

Here’s what Becca Babb-Brott made for the quilt she was working on.

Here’s Becca’s contribution alongside other blocks in this quilt.  The owner asked that someone start to link up the blocks now.

Vicki Fletcher made a village green for Margaret Elaine Jinno’s quilt.  It shimmers with life, doesn’t it?  This block could become a strong unifier for this quilt.  Good job Vicki!

Nancy Wright made this block for Becca’s quilt.

This block is adding a whole new element to this quilt.  Becca wanted to join all the pieces herself at the end.

Tori Manzi added the lower blocks and the color wheel on the right to Lynn’s quilt.  Wow!  This quilt is going in a very interesting direction with the work of Nancy Wright’s sewing machine and Tori’s blocks.

Lynn Vermeulen these words to Joanne Moore’s quilt.  They are PERFECT!  I like the way Lynn used blocks to separate words.

I worked on Vicki Fletcher’s quilt.  I made her a “tree of life” block, and, as she homesteaded in Alaska, I gave her a forest and a cabin in a clearing in the forest.  Vicki has an abiding Christian faith, so I thought the “tree of life” would be nice for her.  The small trees are from Janeen Van Niekerk’s Craftsy shop, Quilt Art Designs, which features her foundation piecing designs.  Other trees and the cabin came from my EQ7 program.

Here’s the label I made for Vicki.  We are each making a label for whatever quilt we worked on.  AND, we are giving ourselves two months per quilt now.

LInda Satkowski added the row of “x” blocks at the bottom of Tori’s quilt.  And the flower on the right–English Paper Piecing, bias tape, and applique leaves.  Tori’s theme is “color,” so we are having fun with bright colors in this quilt.  It is on my design wall now, and I am thinking about it.  Linda’s additions are going to be a hard act to follow.

So, that’s it for now.  I’ll have a separate post on the Mt. Battie Show and Tell.