Curated Quilts Challenge

Though the Coronavirus is no laughing matter, it feels good to chuckle. This one got me.

While at QuiltCon (yes, it was "eons" ago - February 20-23) I stopped at the Curated Quilts booth. If you haven't heard of Curated Quilts... it's a publication of modern quilts, written in a journal style. There's no advertising and it's printed on heavier-than-magazine paper.

Each quarterly issue has a theme. Past themes have been: triangles, black and white, curves, appliqué, "well said" (text), etc.

At QuiltCon, co-owners Amy @amyscreativeside and Christine passed out cards with information about the next challenge.

The next mini quilt challenge is half-square triangles using the design technique of subtraction - removing design elements to create more negative space.

The designated colors palette (shown on the postcard) could use some or all of the following fabric colors: soft pink, orange, golden yellow, frosty blue, and cool-tone neutrals such as silver to graphite.

It's a color palette that's "not me." But, I'm usually up for this challenge because quilts need only be between 10" X 10" to 16" X 16" square.

As soon as I returned from QC, I began designing in EQ8, and across several days came up with a satisfactory design. It doesn't knock my socks off, but it fulfills every requirement. My fabric colors are an exact match to the postcard.

I made the quilt sandwich with Quilter's Dream Wool, and used a Fine Line semi-circle ruler to quilt rows of curves across the quilt. Thread is dove gray Aurifl.

I like this brand of ruler because each ruler has a post (or two) that can be held to help guide the ruler.

To keep the quilt within the required dimension, I faced it using this faced binding tutorial on Bernina's "We All Sew" blog.

Here's my finished small quilt is 16" X 16". 

I submitted my entry on March 6. The deadline for submission is April 1, in case you want to join in. Here's where to submit.

As all of us are now fully comprehending, the coronavirus pandemic means we're in for a long stretch of social distancing. And no doubt, like me, you're wondering about the long-term ramifications - to families, schools, small businesses, and our overall economy. It's worrisome enough to make us speculate ourselves into a tizzy. Or at the least, cause sleeplessness.

Several quilters suggested reading Psalm 91 in the Bible where many verses offer comfort and assurance. God is always in control.

Psalm 91:4-10

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.

You will not fear...the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

Believe. Pray.  May you be at peace in the knowledge of His loving care. Linda

Social distancing? No problem!

Given worldwide concerns about the Coronavirus pandemic, life hasn't seemed quite normal. Though we had company earlier this week and enjoyed a lovely visit with my cousin and his wife, awareness of the Coronavirus cast a shadow on everything. Then, emails began to trickle in, canceling or postponing this or that activity.

I was scheduled to teach a free motion quilting class here, Wednesday afternoon; that has been postponed.

I was contracted to give a free motion quilting presentation to members of Ladies of the Lakes Quilter's Guild in Lakeland. I apologetically backed out. The program person told me their members would be in attendance. Really? At this point, wouldn't it be irresponsible to not adopt social-distancing?

Apparently people have differing views about this pandemic. I'm erring on the side of caution, and have no problem staying at home. After all, I'm a quilter! Does anyone who makes quilts have a hard time ever finding "something to do?"

When I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the worsening Coronavirus news, I turned to "mindless" piecing, or "mood sewing." I use those terms because it's the kind of piecing that's satisfying when I don't have to pay attention to what my hands are doing. I can be introspective. Spend time in thoughtful prayer.

This week's mindless sewing was piecing another dozen blocks for my #colorblockpostagestampquilt. These are 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" squares from my leaders/enders basket, alternated with 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" solids. Each 64-patch block finishes at 8" X 8". I have more solids cut/ready to go.

During travel time to/from QuiltCon in Austin, Texas, I English paper pieced Prudence Quilt blocks. Since I'm randomly using scraps and fussy cutting some yardage, I wanted to see how the blocks look together. I'm liking it! In particular, I'm happy about choosing the small black and white stripe for in-between blocks.

This project was part of last week's sewing activities. Daughter Jill, for whom I made this Moroccan Tiles quilt, requested a table runner from the same fabrics, using the same design. It's 13" X 27-1/2".

Every evening, after several hours of sewing at the machine, I sit down in my comfy aqua-colored swivel-glider, pick up grandma's vintage quilt, swing my Daylight Slimline lamp over my lap, and big stitch quilt X's across the quilt top. I'm quilting with Sue Spargo Eleganza #8 pearl cotton.

You can see exactly where it's quilted! (Gosh, doesn't my new camera take great pictures?!) See the ripples? That's the quilted part. See the smooth fabric a little higher? Especially along the border fabric. That's the unquilted part. 

Compared to last week's lively audiobook review - Where'd You Go, Bernadette - this week's listen is extremely tame. I checked out a Christian book - Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity by Charles Swindoll.

I've always liked Esther - the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God, or use His name. I listened to this because I adore and have watched many times the movie "One Night With the King," a beautiful movie portrayal of Esther's story.

Oh my! I just looked and found the movie on YouTube! Watch it here.

Reverend Swindoll provided numerous insights into Esther's seemingly fairytale story. She's an orphaned Jewish girl being raised by her Uncle Mordecai. She's a beauty, and is invited into King Ahasuerus's (AKA Xerxes) palace to be pampered and adorned to meet the king. When Esther is favored by King Ahasuerus she marries him. Then, after the king's prime minister, Haman, decrees that all Jews must be killed, Esther boldly steps in for an audience with the king. She tells the king that she too is a Jew. Still he grants her every request, even to the point of executing Haman... on gallows Haman had built to execute Mordecai! Esther then issues a new edict that saves her fellow Jews from death. It's an interesting and remarkable account of God's sovereignty. He can do all things, through anyone, and accomplish good. It's a message every one of us needs to hear. 

Linda's score: 4.0/5.0

Be safe. Stay healthy my friends, Linda

Camera, Ruler Quilting Program, and Favorite Book

It seems I have so many little things to share this week that I don't know where to begin.

Tuesday afternoon, my darling new Canon SX620 camera arrived.

The camera had a work-out as soon as I could unbox it and get the battery plugged in for a charge! I began taking photos to complete the Keynote presentation I gave to the Orlando MQG on Wednesday morning! I had a short amount of time to learn how to utilize the camera's ability to wirelessly upload pictures to the Canon Gateway... and then download the pictures to my MacBook, to insert into my presentation!

It worked though, and on Wednesday morning I happily shared ruler quilting on a domestic machine with about 50 OMQG members.

I gave my program in a big classroom attached to The Sewing Studio Super Store in Maitland.

Even though my Bernina 770QE is a large, I took it with me because I knew I'd feel most comfortable demonstrating on it.

The store has high-tech equipment, including a close-up camera to project my ruler quilting demonstration onto a big screen. I should have gotten a manicure!

Afterward I answered questions, and gratefully accepted positive responses to the program and demo.

Afterward I was given this aqua-colored Orlando MQG zip tote (on the left), filled with swag from their chapter - a drink bottle; can koozie; small zipper bag; notebook; along with a lovely thank-you note. I was certainly treated royally!

Following the meeting, I spent time browsing through the The Sewing Studio, looking through a big variety of fabrics and products. A garment sewist like me really enjoys considering all the possibilities. Fabrics and a few notions came home with me - Who can't use a new, sharp seam ripper? And have you ever seen  a disappearing marker with pink ink? Supplies are to make a special tote.

Also, The Sewing Studio is going to sell my Florida quilt pattern!

The quilt will be displayed, and patterns sold in The Sewing Studio booth at the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Lakeland on March 19, 20, and 21.

It's now time to get my sewing room sorted, put everything away including setting up my Bernina, and get back to quilting my temperature quilt. The MQG contacted me today, asking permission to show my temp quilt in their next e-newsletter. Of course I agreed. I must finish quilting it!

Boy, do I ever have a fun book to recommend! It has achieved the status of "my favorite book in 2020. "Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple was published in 2012, and released as a movie in 2019. Cate Blanchette starred, though I can't imagine the movie is nearly as good as the book. Anyway. I don't know how I missed this, but... oh my goodness, am I ever glad I listened. It is delightful!

Bernadette Fox is a former architect, and reclusive mom to a genius 15 year-old daughter Bee; and wife of Microsoft mogul Elgin Branch whose T.E.D. talk (according to Soo-Lin) is the fourth most-viewed T.E.D. talk on the Internet. By her unusual behavior, Bernadette manages to ostracize parents at Bee's private school, and next-door neighbor Audrey... who herself is slightly psychotic. "The gnats" talk about Bernadette. There's a mud slide. The FBI investigates. Bernadette disappears. Elgin's life changes when Soo-Lin becomes his admin. Bee believes her mom is still alive. Bee and her dad head to Antarctic on vacation. It's just a wild and funny story.

The narrator is actress Kathleen Wilhoite who enthusiastically creates believable characters and voices. One particular scene in which Soo-Lin composes an email to her friend Audrey, had me laughing out loud. Over and over. Of course, my hubs wanted to know what I was laughing about. Now I want him to listen to the book too. It completely tickled my fancy. (Profanity is used a few times.)

If you read it, please let me know what you thought.

Linda's score 4.9/5.0

Linda

More QuiltCon

I'm glad most of you liked my previous post about QuiltCon. I can't let QuiltCon go - yet - though I am finding I must move on here at home.

This coming week...
Monday evening I'll share a photo presentation of QuiltCon quilts with our Central Florida MQGers. If you're in the area (Lady Lake, Florida), you're welcome!

Wednesday finds me giving a presentation and demo on ruler quilting to members of the Orlando MQG. See my program/teaching schedule by clicking the tab above.

Almost the only quilt-y related things I've done this week is put together a short stack of fat quarter-sized quilt sandwiches on which I can demonstrate quilting. I used my favorite homemade basting spray. Recipe on right-hand side of this home page.

Among several vendors at QuiltCon, I shopped at the Daylight booth. Already having a Slimline table lamp clamped to my sewing machine table, I knew I'd make good use of a Slimline floor lamp. Having the floor model next to my aqua chair is ideal for nighttime handwork as I continue hand quilting Xes across this vintage quilt.

This picture, taken by Colleen Molen @cj.molen, Exhibits Coordinator for the MQG, speaks volumes about the QC quilt display. It just so happens you can see my "L Cabin" quilt.

While I was in my (only) workshop, all day on Friday, I received a text message from a friend who was sitting in on Steph Skardal's lecture: "The Intersection of Generative Art and Quilting." Steph had put up this presentation slide.

That's my temperature quilt (top), on the right! The temp quilt on the left belongs to a fellow Central Florida MQGer. Neither of us had been contacted about our quilts being shown during Steph's lecture. Credit is given, so how can I be upset?

The next 30 pictures are of QuiltCon quilts. Credit is given to each maker. I am only sorry I don't have quilt dimensions for every quilt. That information isn't provided on the show tags, and only appears on the QuiltCon website if the quilt has won an award. See all the winners here.

In no particular order....

This is 37" X 41" "Rift" by Jera MacKenzie @jeramackenzie. It won second place in the Minimalist category.

Amazing to realize how tiny the piecing is!

I'm so glad I chose to take an all-day workshop with Carson Converse @carsonconverse. She's really a talented artist, and I learned so much in her "Designing Intentionally" workshop.

She had four quilts in the show, two of which won awards. This one received third place in the Minimalist category.

Her matchstick quilting is exquisite! 

Here's another of Carson's quilts that received the first place award in Modern Traditionalism. The photo just can't capture the depth of color she achieved in the piece. I literally stopped three different times to gaze at it. It too has fine matchstick quilting.

Bands of color form "Shade Study," 46" X 52" by Megan Ellinger @meganmm. It won second place in the Stripes Challenge. 

On close inspection, you realize the color gradation is achieved with 1/8th inch-wide strips!

2,160 strips, to be exact!

On first glance, "Intersections" by Rachael Daisydodd @bluemountaindaisy doesn't look like my cup of tea. 

On closer look... Wow! All the designs are visibly stitched to the surface!

This one impressed me because reverse appliqué isn't often seen in a modern quilt show. Heidi Cronce @handmade_by_hilda made "Wings/Taking Flight."

Lots of hand stitching here too. Those short vertical stitches on each block were all that held the quilt sandwich together.

I am always fascinated by improv. I don't do it well myself, so I'm intrigued. This is "Eyes," a Group Quilt made by Karen Foster of @capitolaquilter. Members of the BeeSewcial group made the blocks.

Love seeing quilts with a bright range of colors. This one, "Rectangles Become Squares" by Elizabeth K. Ray @elizabethkray is densely matchstick quilted, and has been selected to be part of the MQG's traveling show that can be seen at various venues for the next year. Elizabeth had it marked for sale: $950.

I follow Kate Henderson on Instagram @katehendersonquilts, and watched her progress as she hand-appliquéd each of these block. She randomly assembled them when they were finished.

Lorena Uriarte @lorena_in_syd seemed to have whipped up this quilt in no time for the Stripes Challenge. I was following her on IG as she made it. This is 68" X 68" and pieced with striped fabrics. "Dynamic Hypnotic" definitely makes one's eyes go wonky, in a picture and in person.

Her quilting is impressive because after spiral machine quilting, she added big stitch quilting in between machined lines. 

I also follow Sarah Lefebvre @sidestitches, on Instagram, and watched as she made "Kangaroo Court." 

It too is super-impressive when you realize how tiny her piecing is! Only 3,113 pieces in this quilt!

Another Stripes Challenge entry was this improv quilt by Karen Foster @capitolaquilter. 

Machine and big stitch quilted, of course. 

I've been a fan of Heather Black's @quiltachusetts designs since before she became a celebrity quilter. I always like the graphic-ness of her designs which has become very identifiable. She's now a QuiltCon instructor and lecturer, and author. This quilt is "Festoons."

Another improv quilt, "Good Vibrations," made me stop and study. It belongs to Kristin Shields @kristinshields.

Big stitch and decorative hand quilting with pearl cotton was the name of the game in the next three quilts. If I was to name one trend at QuiltCon 2020, it would be hand-quilting, though not in the traditional sense.

Jen Broemel @highfivesandsilverlines made this improv quilt called "Lessons Learned."

So much hand stitching! In person, these threads looked neon.

 

Another quilt, also by Jen Broemel @highfivesandsilverlines won third place in the Small Quilts category. This is 28" X 35" "Blushin' Blue."

Doesn't it appear that she machine quilted, and then hand quilted in between the machine lines?

Bright. Improv. And big stitch. Does it get any better? Jen Broemel @highfivesandsilverlines also made "Getting Centered."

"Lys" by Daisy Aschehoug of @warmfolk.

I could sure post lots more pictures of QuiltCon quilts, but putting together these blog posts takes considerable time. So I'll just say that I highly recommend attending a QuiltCon when you have the chance.

In 2021 that will be in Atlanta, Georgia: February 18-21.

In 2022 that will be in Phoenix, Arizona: February 17-20.

The Lord willing, I will attend!

By the way... thank you for your comments about continuing to follow by blog, even though I'm no longer associated with the blog-reader Bloglovin'. (Too many of my new followers were linked to sex websites, and Bloglovin' does not offer a feature to block such followers.)

I hope you've subscribed by email (enter your email address on the right side of the home page), and continue to comment. Your comments keep me going! Thanks! Linda