Bridget Riley is the fantastic 1960s era British Artist best know for her optically vibrant and visually tension evoking paintings known as "OP ART" Ms Riley was the Ultimate 1960's Mod Pop Artist. Flashback to 1964. In the United States, we were still reeling from the assassination of our President, escalating the Civil Rights movement, being "invaded" by British pop/rock music and, in general, pretty much done with notions of achieving idyllic lifestyles (despite that which was touted in the 1950s). Given the circumstances, it was a perfect time for a new artistic movement to burst on the scene. In October of 1964, in an article describing this new style of art, Time Magazine coined the phrase "Optical Art" (or "Op Art", as it's more commonly known). The term referenced the fact that Op Art is comprised of illusion, and often appears - to the human eye - to be moving or breathing due to its precise, mathematically-based composition. After (and because of) a major 1965 exhibition of Op Art entitled The Responsive Eye, the public became enraptured with the movement. As a result, one began to see Op Art showing up everywhere: in print and television advertising, as LP album art and as a fashion motif in clothing and interior decoration. Riley’s vibrant optical pattern paintings, which she painted in the 1960s, were hugely popular and become a hallmark of the period. As your eyes explore the picture to the left, can you continue to see momentary after images (white dots) that cause a slight flickering effect? Riley works meticulously, carefully mixing her colors to achieve the exact hue and intensity she desires. She explores color interaction first in small gouache color studies, then moving to full-size paper-ad-gouache designs (as in the photo at right). The large-scale canvases are then marked up and painted entirely by hand — first in acrylics, then in oil. What a fantastic RETRO artist! She created a genre for the entire 1960s generation.
Check out Riley's senior photos at The Gardens Wedding Center in Allenton, WI. Senior portrait images by Allysha Noelle Photography.
What could be more exciting than taking a vacation to any number of National Parks throughout the United States! Each park has their own treasures just waiting to be explored. Riley Blake Designs is releasing panels for several different National Parks that are amazing. Zion National Park isn't far from where I live and it's a gorgeous place to visit. I love going there! Vacation Adventures At Zion You can find the PDF pattern in my Etsy store HERE. We took a day trip to Zion for photographs of my quilt. The day was beautiful, but a little bit windy. There was no shortage of helpers to hold up my quilt in they wind...they were all so nice! Ron's the best photo crew ever! The applique blocks show a few things you might see or do in Zion. "The National Parks collection by Anderson Design Group for Riley Blake Designs is great for quilting, apparel and home decor. This panel features a scene from Zion National Park. Panel size is 36" x 43 1/2". Official licensed product." These are the fabrics I used in my quilt... Utah National Parks panels by Riley Blake Designs Great Smoky Mountains panels by Riley Blake Designs Yellowstone panels by Riley Blake Designs Check out the entire fabric line at Riley Blake Designs HERE. My favorite iron-on adhesive for applique is Heat n Bond's EZ Print Lite Sheets. I run them through my computer...no tracing! It's time for an adventure...where do you want to go!
The Backstory I am short. All the jeans I buy are too long for me. But I sew. So I thought I could cut off the excess length and rehem the jeans, no problem. I was wrong--they looked awful and hand-sewn. In addition, I often broke a needle or two in the process--even thick needles labeled for leather and denim. I tried all sorts of gadgets invented for the home sewer hemming jeans, including a hard-to-manage plastic plate called "Jump the Bump" (I'm not kidding), but nothing worked. Over time, I realized my inability to get a professional hem was because I do not have (a) an industrial sewing machine capable of sewing through several layers of denim, or (b) a professional sandblasting machine which gives the original hem that lovely worn look. Then one day a college roommate, who was also short, plunked down a hundred or two for a pair of designer jeans and changed my life. Like most high-priced items, the schmancy store was willing to alter them (re: shorten them) for her for free. They still had that professional look. I couldn't figure out how the store tailor had achieved it as I doubted he had a sandblasting machine back in his little corner. So I asked to look at them. Up close. She obliged. And what I discovered on closer inspection was... They were cheating! And since then, I've been cheating, too. I've also converted several other people to the cheater's method. I once derailed an entire baby shower by mentioning this technique in a side conversation to someone who was bemoaning her inability to find jeans short enough and others overheard me and asked me to explain it and, well, derailment ensued. So, since I bought a new pair of jeans yesterday, I finally decided to document it in pictures. I did not invent this method. I think you'll find others on the internet touting the same thing. But here's my take on it... Step 1: BEFORE Put on your new jeans. Look at the elephant legs their excess length creates. Shed a few tears over not being 6 feet tall. Mourn the NBA career you will never have. Step 2: Cuff jeans to desired length. Make sure the bottom of the cuff grazes right where you want it to. Also make sure you are wearing the type of shoes you plan to wear with your new jeans. Here, I am wearing flats as I plan to wear mostly flats and sneakers with these jeans. Notice how I still have it skirt the ground a little bit--don't get greedy and go too high. This is especially true of bootcut jeans*, like these ones, or straight-leg jeans--if they are above the ground, they will look like high-waters. If you wear skinny or cropped jeans, you can take them to the ankle if that's how you like it. Step 3. Measure the cuff. For this measurement, you want to go from the bottom edge of the cuff to the end of the original hem. In other words, you want to INCLUDE THE HEM in this measurement (it will be different for the next one; don't mix these two up). Here, mine worked out to be 2 inches from cuff to hem. This is the amount that I want to shorten the jean. Step 4. Take that last measurement and divide it in half. My measurement was 2 inches; therefore, half of that is 1 inch. Step 5. Reduce cuff to reflect new measurement and pin. Here, I reduced the cuff until it was only 1 inch from the edge of the cuff to the hem. This time, DO NOT INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL HEM in your measurement. Pin along the inner edge of the hem as shown below. Step 6. Sew along the inside of the original hem using a straight stitch. Here, I am using a zipper foot so I can get as close to the original hem as possible without actually stitching through any part of it. This is the brainchild of the cheater's method--because you are only going through two layers of denim instead of three, it is much easier on you and the machine. The original hem also provides a perfect guide for your stitch (although, in the process, you may discover the professionals are not as precise as you assumed). It will still be a little rough going over the leg seams (particularly the inner one), but far easier than if you had the fabric doubled up again. If you have a bootcut or cropped jean, the original hem might not be the same width as the part of the leg to which you are sewing it. Fortunately, most of these cuts of jeans also include some stretch--just pull on the shorter part as you go to make it work. Step 7. Turn the cuff into the leg. Once you have done this, here is how it looks on the outside of the jean... ... and here is how it looks on the inside.... Step 8. Stitch in the ditch. Place the leg back on the sewing machine as pictured below. Using thread that relatively matches the denim (nobody will get close enough to see it), stitch about one inch in the ditch of the leg seam, tacking the cuff you've created into the leg. Reinforce this stitch by going over it again in reverse. Repeat for each leg seam (i.e., twice per leg, four times total). You might be tempted to skip this step, but if you do, the cuffs you've sewn will forever be falling out and exposing themselves. If you were going for that look, you might as well have just rolled your jeans. Step 9. Press seam. When you are finished, it should look like this: I brightened this picture so you could see the seam I created. However, none of your friends will ever get close enough to your leg to notice it, unless (1) your friend has some serious personal space issues, or (2) you are in the process of kicking your friend in the face, in which case, I seriously doubt the hem on your jeans is going to be the matter that ends your friendship. As you can see, the manufacturer's top-stitching and sandblasted hem remains intact. Step 10: AFTER Revel in your petite-ified look and intact sewing machine needle. A few other notes The cheater method is virtually idiot-proof. That is, if you measure wrong, you can take out the stitches and start over--you didn't actually cut any of the denim off. *I know that bootcut jeans are passé, but I have bought no less than three pairs of skinny jeans and, after wearing each around the house for at least a day, have decided to grant mankind the favor of not wearing them in public. Writing this blog post took about 5 times longer than hemming the jeans did. Am I the only one who's having serious paragraph-spacing issues on Blogger lately?
Find inspiration for your next quilting project with the timeless and classic bear paw quilt block, featuring a simple yet striking design.
I’m super excited to be apart of Shari Butler of Doohicky Designs’ Whistful Winds Blog Tour! I met Shari at Quilt Market in May and I was introduced to her Wistful Winds fabric line. …
Check out Riley's senior photos at The Gardens Wedding Center in Allenton, WI. Senior portrait images by Allysha Noelle Photography.
Get the free pattern for this sweet Daisy Chain Block in the 2022 RBD Block Challenge! This mystery quilt is so fun to sew along with!
Meet the Maker Quilt Block tutorial by Riley Blake Designs featuring Sunnyside Ave and Gingham Girls fabrics by Amy Smart.
Hi, Everyone! Today is my turn on the Riley Blake Designs Blog Tour for Gingham Farm Fabric by My Mind's Eye. This fabric was such...
Get the free pattern for this darling Sweetheart Block in the 2022 RBD Block Challenge here! This mystery quilt along is so fun to sew up!
A collection of quilts made with the Albion fabric collection by Amy Smart for Riley Blake Designs - including precuts-friendly quilt designs!
Last week Riley Blake Designs shared their FINISHED 2023 RBD Block Challenge Quilt. Did you see it? If not, don't worry. Check out the beauty below. Can we spend a moment admiring THAT quilting!! Come on!! I'm typically not a wide open "white space" person but when RBD's long arm quilter, Chelsea Fitzgerald of @cuddleupquilts creates the secondary "stitched" blocks, keep the spaces wide open please! GREAT job Chelsea!! The bar has been set pretty high after that reveal but I am so excited to share with you what two of my quilting buddies, Lisa Garber and Diane Merritt, created. As mentioned in an earlier blog post here where Lisa created EACH of the designer blocks using (1) Fat Quarter Bundle of my Floret Collection for the 16 blocks plus my favorite background fabric, Riley Blake Confetti Cotton Cloud. I then mailed ALL the finished blocks to Diane Merritt with RBD's layout plan with a quick note stating "IF IF IF you're up to it and feeling creative, can you use my Blooming Blossom Templates and fill in the white space with a flowing/flowering vine using the easy fusible applique method? Guess what she said? Yes!!!! Isn't it beautiful?!!! I was absolutely blown away when it arrived from my long arm quilter, Penny Barnes! We need to hit pause and admire Penny's quilting too; isn't it gorgeous! My only request was heirloom quilting and look at what she did!!! Cross hatched all the blocks and stitched a double orange peel (I think that's what she calls it) in the applique space. Ok, back to the open space applique. Diane simply used the Blooming Blossom templates in a fun and unique way to create the flowing, blooming vine. Here's some close ups to see her creations and Penny's quilting too. Isn't it beautiful?!! What is more surprising to me and absolutely warms my heart is how it all came together knowing both Lisa and Diane worked completely INDEPENDENT of each other. Both were given creative liberty to use the Floret colors they wanted for the blocks and applique flowering vine. It truly is confirmation when you work within a collection, you really cannot go wrong with your color choices within the block and the overall quilt! Have you been following along with the other 15K+ who participated in this fun weekly block challenge? If not, I HIGHLY encourage you to check out the Facebook group #RBDblockchallenge | 2023. There are some incredible layouts found throughout the group. Can you keep a secret? Promise? You didn't hear this from me but there's a really, really strong possibility that RBD will be kicking off another challenge at the beginning of the new year - 2024! I know, right!!! I "think" I'll be participating in that one too. Well, I'd love to hear what you think. Are you a wide open white space kind of quilter or do you need every part of your quilt to be filled with blocks and patches of fabric? Please let me know in the comments below. Happy Quilting! Gerri Quick Links to all the products used in my 2023 RBD Challenge Quilt: Floret Fat Quarter Bundle (30 pieces): Block Fabric Riley Blake Confetti Cotton Cloud: Background Blooming Blossoms Templates (20 pieces): Applique 2023 RBD Challenge Block Patterns (16 patterns): Block Patterns
Read all about things to do in Edam, one of my favorite towns in the Netherlands, including cheese and what else to eat, wooden clogs, and windmills.
