Yesterday, I gave you some options for the Chisel Die. I started playing around in Electric Quilt and came up with some more options. The individual block will be shown first, and then the quilt la…

Center closeup

I felt like trying a different version of my pattern “Beach Bum” I picked burgundy and reds and then this hunter green and the light version of that is beige, so it’s kind of a…

Many quilting and machine embroidery enthusiasts are aware of the Rose of Sharon project Elizabeth Phillips and her business partner and fr...

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to revisit my Mediterranean Hexagons quilt from the Kaffe Fassett class I attended in January (y...

I took a workshop with Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably last week! The project was the Mediterranean Hexagons quilt from the book Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Morocco, available on Amazon here (affiliate link). Brandon Mably and Rebecca the Rebellious Workshop Student I'm going to start with a quick synopsis so those of you who are crunched for time can just skim through the pictures and be done with it: Everyone loved this workshop except me. Seriously -- no fault of Kaffe and Brandon whatsoever; they were delightful. I was miserable. I couldn't follow directions. I wasted a lot of money and -- worse! -- I wasted a lot of FABRIC. But Brandon was nice to me, and I learned to read the workshop description first before stampeding to the front of the line to sign up for a class next time. By the way, just because I didn't enjoy the class doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it to others. If you have a small hoard of fabulous Kaffe Fassett prints in your stash that you just don't know how to use in a quilt, or if you tend to stay in your comfort zone when it comes to color and you want to learn how Kaffe puts his fabulous combinations together, you would LOVE this workshop. Kaffe and Brandon are delightfully entertaining and I swear I was the only person in the room who was feeling stifled. Original Mediterranean Hexagons Quilt from the book, made by Judy Baldwin I shouldn't have signed up for this class in the first place, since it was all about learning how to imitate Kaffe Fassett's color and design style. I love his fabric designs, but I'm not really interested in making quilts that look like they were designed by someone else. Also, having worked as an interior designer for 20+ years, I'm used to having to work within a client's parameters as far as how much color and pattern they can live with and which colors they prefer or dislike, but I am NOT used to having anyone walk up while I'm creating a color palette and snatch fabrics right out of my hands or off my design wall... Honestly, what first attracted me to quilting is that I can put whatever crazy prints and colors together that my little heart desires, without needing anyone else's approval before the project can move forward. Quilting for me is about total design freedom -- and yet here I was, in a very restrictive class where I had to design a quilt using the same two shapes as everyone else. Students were instructed to fussy-cut large scale prints from the same color family for their hexagons, and then Kaffe and Brandon helped each student select a wildly different color for their triangle star points that would make their hexagons "glow." The workshop is ideally suited to anyone who admires the glorious mixes of colors and prints in Kaffe's work, but who doesn't feel confident putting those combinations together on their own. Although we all brought lots of fabrics to class, the quilt shop sponsoring the event had also stocked the classroom with bolts of fabric from their store that students could shop from to supplement what they'd brought with them, and those were the fabrics available for Kaffe and Brandon to suggest to students whose fabrics from home weren't wowing them once they were cut up and positioned on the design wall. Kaffe Fassett Explaining to the Class Why He Hates My Project Okay, so Kaffe didn't REALLY tell the whole class that he hated my project, but he was definitely frustrated with me for Willfully Failing to Follow Directions. He said my hexagon fabrics were not all the same color family as instructed; rather they were all the same MOOD. And I knew that; every fiber of my being was resisting the conformity of using the same fabrics/colors/design concept as everyone else in the class. When I rooted through my stash to decide which fabrics to bring, I was mostly drawn to some Anna Maria Horner prints that meshed with the Melancholy Autumn vibe I was feeling that day. And whereas most of the students in the Kaffe Fassett workshop were using Kaffe Fassett Collectives fabrics, I deliberately chose different fabrics so my project wouldn't look like everyone else's. However, the fabrics I'd selected for my star points were all VETOED by Kaffe. And then I ran into the dilemma of being halfway through an all-day workshop, with no fabrics that I liked for the star points among what I'd brought from home, yet none of the fabrics lined up in bolts in the classroom was doing it for me, either. Students Working With Kaffe Fabric Prints Had the Most Options for Coordinating Fabrics There was nothing in that conference room that looked amazing with my "moody" hexagons -- all of the fabrics that were brought in for the class were too bright and cheerful. So I ended up settling for these ugly dark teal batiks that you see in the photo above... And since they are about the same value as my hexagons, those fabrics (which I had to purchase in class in order to avoid sitting there doing nothing all afternoon) just make the whole think look like a muddy mess. Blech! I agree, Kaffe; my project is hideous -- and the whole exercise of cutting up my favorite fabrics just so I can put them up and the wall and THEN decide if I like how it looks? That feels like the DARK AGES to me!!! Never again!! You guys, I butchered so many fabrics in this workshop that are not even going into a quilt now. What a horrendous waste, especially since some of them are treasured discontinued skus! I wish I'd had a computer in the class loaded with EQ8 quilt design software (affiliate link) so I could audition fabrics like a sensible 21st century quilter, and only start cutting into fabric (or purchasing additional fabric!) once I was 100% certain I was going to love how everything looked together. The Digital Workshop Do-Over in EQ8 So today, with a little help from fabulous Matt at EQ Tech Support (he walked me through setting up the quilt layout for the hexagons with star points, which only took about 5 minutes), I decided to give myself a Digital Do-Over for the workshop. This is what I came up with: This is the Vibe I Was Going For in Class This first version is what I was originally aiming for in class. Kaffe wanted everyone to pick out fabrics for their star points that would "make their hexagons glow," but I wanted to explore what it would look like for my stars to glow and my hexagons to recede instead. And of course, unlike designing a quilt by chopping up actual fabric to audition it on a wall, once I've set up the quilt layout in EQ8 software I can recolor it over and over again as many times as I want, without wasting any fabric in the process. It's a LOT easier to change your mind about a fabric that isn't working with the others when you haven't already chopped your yardage up into Swiss cheese. So here's my second version, which did use mostly Kaffe Fassett Collective prints: See, I CAN Follow Directions. I Just Choose Not To! By the way, these computer renderings are totally to scale, and the fabrics are all to scale as well. I can rotate them and slide them around to simulate "fussy cutting" a particular flower so it's right in the center of my hexagon, as well. Version Three, Also Following Directions See? I was able to design two quilts that look like they came right out of a Kaffe Fassett book. But I still like my version with the gold stars better, even if no one else does! Still My Favorite If I was actually going to make any of these quilts, I'd have to jazz up some of those hexagons, maybe with some appliqué in some of them or some pieced hexagons made from stripes. I can actually plop any pieced block design inside my hexagon with EQ8, so I could put stars within stars... The possibilities are limitless. Anyway, I'm done with classes and workshops for awhile. I've got too much of a backlog of unfinished projects, too many ideas swirling around in my own mind, and too many techniques that need to be practiced until they are developed and solidified into skills. I'll probably write up an EQ8 tutorial within the next two days, showing how to draw this quilt layout in the software, just for my own future reference so I don't forget, but I've got some other work to get caught up with first. Meanwhile, I'm linking up with: MONDAY · Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts · Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt · Moving it Forward at Em's Scrap Bag · BOMs Away Katie Mae Quilts TUESDAY · Colour and Inspiration Tuesday at Clever Chameleon WEDNESDAY · Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication · “WOW” WIPs on Wednesday at Esther's Blog THURSDAY · Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

This star block is an absolute classic. I think it’s probably one of the first blocks any of us ever makes when we’re learning to quilt. It can be done in many sizes, but typically we u…

Here's my big list of the best AccuQuilt Go! Dies for beginners and quilters looking for new projects with AccuQuilt dies.

Visiting Alaska is at the top of my bucket list. I hope to have a chance to go to this beautiful state soon! I love Alaska so much, that I even dedicated one of my designs to this magical place. I am so excited to share some tips on how to create this gorgeous quilt. I am going to make my blocks using our pre-cut kit. These kits are available on our website and include marking templates and fabric for the quilt top. You’ll also need the Alaska Pattern, it is available as a printed pattern or

Finished project.... My version of the Ann Randoll coverlet. Just to recap - I started it in January 2014 when I was lucky to attend a great workshop with Rhonda Pearce who had just drafted her own pattern. The original antique coverlet (in the V and A in England) is huge - 147 inches (3.75m) by 118 inches - too big for me! So I worked a few changes - made my version square, omitted the large outer pinwheel border, and drafted my own final border (the one with hexagons and applique). My quilt finishes at 82 inches square - hand quilted. If you recall, I added a wide border of scrap fabric just to help in the hoop with hand quilting the edges. So that had to be unpicked and removed before trimming the batting/backing to size - easy enough (she says). Adding a solid brown binding to match the dog tooth edging: ...including a hanging pocket along the top at the back: There we are - bound and hung (...sounds painful?) I'm very happy with it and love the hand quilted finish but I tell you what - just for now - I need a change from brown! I actually really like brown but is it Spring and the timing seems right for something fresher and lighter. New project... Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album sewalong (SVBAQ) - and no brown in sight here. For more info on this project see the SVBAQ blog Picture from Marcus Mentions website I've made a change in my greens selection for this quilt. There was a lot of dithering indecision last post trying to pick just the right shade of green, and I had a feeling it wasn't over! But now I am committed...out with the old and in with the new. So - to make a start - I am piecing my background squares (to make a 12 inch finished block). I cut background fabrics in to 7 inch squares (allowing the extra inch to play with) and machine stitched them together. Now I don't want a nasty big bump of seam allowance in the middle - won't be fun to applique over that! So I'm following a good tutorial "How to reduce bulky seams when piecing patchwork blocks" (thank you, thank you for this) and here is the back of the first block: ..and the front - nice and flat: My chosen applique technique is needleturn with back basting prep. Here is the first block drawn on the back of the block : ...and in no time I had two blocks completed. I think the idea is to complete one block a month but this is a relatively easy one, and will be repeated three times in the quilt, so I couldn't resist making two: They do feel like Spring don't they? Such a lovely pattern .... I have three Dogwood trees in my garden. They don't grow fast here as the heat knocks them back a bit, but this Spring they are the best they've ever been - especially this little one. Now that is a good effort - extra mulch and water for you!

I’m so excited to bring you this pillow tutorial! I can’t get enough of these Good Folks fabrics. And the

Block Count - Thirty Six + + + + + + + Just a friendly reminder to get your weekly One Block Wednesday blocks done. + + + + + + + Need to get caught up all the details can be found here.

Hi, all! Well, it is almost that time of year again - time for the Twelve Days of Christmas in July blog hop and quilt-along! We've got some great bloggers all lined up to share some fabulous ideas with you, and I'm working out the final details on this year's quilt-along quilt! Because this year's quilt is a bit different - you can create a design of your own and have a totally unique quilt - I'll be sharing a coloring chart for you to fill in, and show some examples to get you started! First of all, here's the coloring chart: Copy this picture and print out several pages to play with. There are many ways to do this - on my Mac, I can right-click on the image, select "Save Image As" and tuck it away in a file on my computer. I can also do a screen capture by clicking Command-Shift-4, then drawing a box around the picture. The file will appear as "Screenshot ***" with a date and time in the Desktop file. I'm sorry I can't tell you how to do it on a PC, but I'm sure it's something similar. Once you have a file, open it up and print it out. You'll want to try various layouts, so print lots! Colored pencils or even crayons or fine-tipped markers are helpful here. And now, here's some inspiration! These are four designs I came up with when I was planning this quilt-along... As you can see, I used the same five colors in each (white, pink, red, lime green, and aqua), but the placement of the colors in each creates very different designs! Sorry for all the markings and dots in the triangles - counting is a lot easier if you don't count the same triangles more than once! And here's some inspiration I found on Pinterest by searching "kaleidoscope quilt"... I'm working out fabric requirements for two different sizes, but I would recommend that you get a 45 degree triangle template. I have two - one is 6.5" tall: and the other is 8.5" tall. The 6.5" size will work well for the wall hanging version, and I recommend the 8.5" size if you choose to make the larger version. If you have a triangle template, be sure it measures 45 degrees, or it will not work for this quilt. NOTE: I highly recommend getting a template with the blunt tip - it is much easier to use in the final stage of making the triangle units. You can order either of these templates from Amazon (there are links above) and get free shipping with Prime. I hope you'll consider joining in - this is a fun quilt to make and so much easier than it looks! I've come across a great trick that makes it go together like a charm. Next week I'll be showing you how to make a sample block so you can work out the kinks and see how easy it is, AND give you charts so you can figure out your fabric requirements. Hugs! Sarah

I am working my butt off in CA…Taught a couple of classes…and now we are working on our booth for the Road to California Show…Jan-18-22 in Ontario CA. But I wanted to take a sec a…

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? But, when life gives you different colors of cabinets, you make a two-toned kitchen!

This beautiful 1930s Amish Quilt is in pristine condition. The contained diamond is in the sunshine and shadow design and color. Great color and great condition. The Border is pristine. This one patch pattern in the diamond is most unusual. Originally was from Ohio.

Block #3 New Garden Star by Jean Stanclift New Garden Star layers the classic eight-pointed star atop a four-pointed star. Th...

Note, the fabrics for this project were given to me by Island Batik as part of their ambassador program. The March Island Batik ambassador challenge is "Vintage Reimagined." I waffled around for a while with what to make, mostly because I wasn't sure if my ideas were reimagined enough to fit the theme. In the end, I decided to go with two of my favourite traditional quilt designs - a pinwheel block and a single Irish Chain. I used Island Batik's solid white for the background, in part because a white background is one of the things I think of when I think 'modern quilt' and in part because I knew the bright, clean white would show off the other fabrics so well. Here is my finished Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt top, which measures 50" x 74". Edited to say, I'm working on the pattern for this quilt, so if you'd like to make your own version, sign up for my newsletter so you'll be notified when the pattern is available 😊 I had hoped to get pretty outdoor pictures, but the wind has come up and will be up for the next few days. Quilt tops and wind do not make a good combination for photography! On the plus side, the sun is up longer now, allowing me to get natural light for these pictures after work today 😊 The nine patch blocks and the sashing cornerstones that form the Irish Chain design are made with blues from the Foundations line. I love the depth of colour in these fabrics! I used six different blues and strip pieced the nine patch blocks. When it came time to lay everything out, I tried to keep the six fabrics separated, but I did notice that I ended up with one spot where two of the grey-blue squares are touching. Oh well, I'm not about to take it all apart now to fix it! The pinwheels are all made of Paisley Dot Brights and I love how cheerful they feel. Aren't they perfect for spring? This challenge comes at the same time as Sarah's Hands to Help Comfort Quilt Challenge, so this quilt top is my contribution to her fabulous comfort quilt drive. There's a Canadian charity included this year, Victoria's Quilt's Canada, which provides quilts to people with cancer, and that is where I'll be sending it. They specifically ask for quilt tops only and they say their greatest need is for adult sized ones that are approximately 50" x 70". I've always loved the Irish Chain design, pinwheels and blue, of course, so this feels like a collection of my favourite things. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure one of the first quilt magazines I ever bought was chosen for an all blue pinwheel Irish Chain baby quilt, though I never did make it. I guess this is my version, with plenty of cheerful colour added to the blues 😊 I loved making this quilt top and I hope it brings comfort to someone in their fight against cancer. Thank you to Island Batik for providing the gorgeous fabrics and to Sarah for connecting me to Victoria's Quilts Canada 😊

Explore uppitygirl's 965 photos on Flickr!

The GO!, GO! Baby, and GO! Big fabric cutters will all cut up to 6 layers of a wide variety of fabrics at speeds 90% faster than rotary cutters. To get the most out of your cutter, follow the tips bel

Flickr is nothing without you, our community. We want to make sure this community continues to thrive, grow, and inspire, so we've made some big changes.

Working on it!

Mondays is my day @ the Quilt Palace I was in need of another project for Mondays: I brought along my Eclectic Hexy Quilt Top I am adding a red striped border treatment... whenever Ralph, the quilting kitty, decides to wake up from napping on the hexy quilt top. I also brought along another UFO... my hand pieced Apple Core Quilt Top. I am also adding a border treatment to this quilt top. Ralph and I hung out together at the Quilt Palace for a few hours, then it was time to head back to the hay fields... The cowboy is baling the 2nd field I mowed last week. In the Thread Shed... I have a discharge piece up on the design wall. I like what I see, so I am anxious to get this pieced together... On the Sweet 16 is the wholecloth Chickadee quilt in progress... I have an August deadline for this project. I have a July 27th deadline for the Abstract Art Quilt... I need to pull some fabrics and get something up on the design wall. A month late, but we managed to get most of the cow and calf pairs worked last week. I feel like the guy on the Ed Sullivan show who was spinning plates in the air... We have a lot of plates and we are keeping them spinning as fast as we can! Luckily, I am a girl who does her best work under pressure... More to Come! CLICK HERE: to see My Quilts May Your Bobbin Always Be Full, LuAnn Kessi

The diary of a Traveling Quilter. "Taking Quilting just one step further"

Yesterday, I gave you some options for the Chisel Die. I started playing around in Electric Quilt and came up with some more options. The individual block will be shown first, and then the quilt la…