Twists and Turns ++ QuiltCon Quilt Finish

 Are you taking part in QuiltCon Together?  I will be teaching four workshops on EQ8; Beginners, Modern Quilt Design, Alternate Grids, and the Serendipity Blocks.  I recorded the segments late last fall (and the MQG took those recordings and turned them into on-demand workshops).

I was also lucky enough to get one quilt into the quilt show.  Twists and Turns was juried into the Fabric Challenge category.

The challenge was to create a quilt (of any size) using 3 of the 4 challenge fabrics floral and vine fabrics from Moda Fabrics along with any solid fabrics

I decided to use the peach, checkered, and vine fabrics, leaving out the large scale floral.  When looking at these fabrics together, I felt that they were all around the same medium value so I decided to punch up the composition by adding in some bolder colors.  I added in black, some grays, turquoises, and orange.

I had this quilt designed in EQ8 for at least 2 years in the to-make list and was excited that I was able to adapt the design for these prints and colors.

To make the blocks, I made wonky strip pieced sets and then used the "two at a time" HST method to turn them into half square triangles.

For the quilting, I decided to do match stitch quilting using mostly gray thread by also included some  cream, turquoise, black, and orange thread in 50 wt, 40 wt, and 28 wt Aurifil thread.  All of the quilting gave the quilt great texture and an additional design element.

I went with black solid fabric for the binding and a light cream and tan print for the backing.  Twists and Turns wound up being about 41" x 48" finished.

I was excited for Twists and Turns to be juried into QuiltCon Together and loved seeing all of the other quilts "hanging" in the virtual show.

Aisle Path Lighting

I have a bunch of quilt finishes from 2019 that I have not yet shared on the blog so I will attempt to do so over the next few weeks.  The first quilt I would like to share is called Aisle Path Lighting.

My local guild, the Greenville Modern Quilt Guild, hosts a quilt challenge every August.  The challenge for this past year was the crayon challenge.  The rules were:

• Randomly select 3 crayons 
• Make a small quilt (no side larger than 36") 
• Use the the crayon colors as the majority of the quilt top
• Focus on negative space

My colors were a dark blue, bright yellow, and grass green.

I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone a little and try some improv piecing.  I started by creating little dots of yellow on a dark blue background which I thought looked a little like aisle path lighting you would see in a plane (which is how the quilt got its name).

I then slowly pieced the top together cutting different angles and using slightly different hues of the dark blue for interest.  I really did not care for the grass green so I included it in just one tiny spot :)

For quilting, I first machine quilted some dark blue lines echoing the seam lines and then added some big stitch hand quilting using Aurifil 12 wt in dark blue.  I faced the quilt instead of my usual binding.  The finished quilt measures 34" wide by 25" tall.

I am happy to report that I submitted Aisle Path Lighting into QuiltCon in the small quilts category and it got in!  I am working on putting a hanging sleeve and label now.

I'm linking up with NTT at My Quilt Infatuation.

QuiltCon 2020 ++ Quilt Submissions

Did you submit any quilts for QuiltCon 2020?  I submitted six quilts this year and I am happy to say that I will have three quilts hanging in the show (plus one in an exhibit).  Here are my submissions and results:

1. Logging into Alchemy (group quilt) - Accepted

Logging into Alchemy was created by the Modern Design Lab, a small group of quilters I belong to.  We each made log cabin style blocks that incorporated at least one half square triangle.  We used blues, grays, and orange Painters Palette fabrics that Paintbrush Studios provided for us.  Then, as a group we turned figured out how to get all of the different sized blocks into a quilt top.  Straight line quilting and some amazing binding (by Paige of Quilted Blooms) finished the quilt.  Many thanks to Hobbs for the batting and Aurifil for the thread.

2. Jupiter (Stripes Challenge) - Accepted

For the APQ Stripes Challenge, I wanted to explore the use of quilting as the main "stripe" element.  I created this minimalist mini quilt (about 17" square) using just three pieced dark blue stripes on white negative space.  Then I used randomly spaced match stitch quilting using a thick gold 12 wt Aurifil thread over the entire quilt.  My son said the gold of the thread reminded him of his tuba and thought I should take a picture of the two together, so the quilt is named after the tuba brand.

3. Stripes on Stripes on Stripes (Stripes Challenge) - Rejected

In my day job, I write patent applications on textiles.  One of the things I do often is selectively pull out the warp or weft fabrics from a woven fabric to look at the individual yarns.  I noticed one day that when some of the yarns are removed, it makes the fabric look striped.  That was the inspiration for this work.

I took squares of a dark blue Kona fabric and selectively pulled out some of the weft yarns to make little striped fabric squares.  Then, I appliqued the striped fabric squares in striped columns on negative.  The negative space itself is striped using white quilting thread.  Therefore there are stripes, on stripes, on stripes.

4. Robo-bot (Hoffman Fabric Challenge) - Rejected

Robo-bot was my submission into the Hoffman Fabric Challenge.  I had just finished up my Camden Road quilt with all of its flying geese and just wanted to play with fabric.  The quilt top was made using improv without the use of rulers until the borders were added.

I hand quilted the quilt using a very organic, big stitch quilting design to highlight the imperfections and randomness in piecing.

5.  Aisle Path Lighting (Small Quilt) - Accepted

I made Aisle Path Lighting in August for my local guild's, the Greenville Modern Quilt Guild, challenge.  We randomly picked three Crayola crayons and had to make a modern mini (no side greater than 36").  I had picked a dark blue, sunny yellow, and bright grass green color.  I used improv piecing to make the quilt and a combination of hand and machine quilting to finish it.

6.  Wooly Bear (Modern Traditional) - Rejected

I made Wooly Bear for the Michael Miller challenge category last year and it was not accepted into QuiltCon 2019 so I thought that I would try again.  More pictures and information are in the Wooly Bear post.

7.  Disappearing Oranges - Part of the Quilt of the Month Exhibit

Disappearing Oranges, a quilt and pattern I made the for the Modern Quilt Guild will be shown in the Quilt of the Month Exhibit at the show.

I hope that you had good news on your submissions, I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful quilts in February!

Teaching at QuiltCon 2020

I am very excited to be teaching again at the upcoming QuiltCon 2020 in Austin, Texas!  

The lecture and workshop catalog has just been released (you can find a copy here) and I will be teaching 7 (yes 7!) 3-hour workshops.

DES100 & DES103 EQ FOR BEGINNERS 

Are you new to Electric Quilt 8 and don’t know where to start? You can leave your pencil and graph paper behind when you learn the basic functions and explore the versatility of EQ8 with this beginner workshop. We’ll cover how to navigate the block and quilt worktables, use library blocks and fabrics, create your own blocks, and build a quilt top with the blocks using different block settings, colors, fabrics, sashing, borders, and more. Students must bring their own laptop computers with EQ8 already installed.

DES100 Thursday, February 20 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
DES103 Friday, February 21 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

DES200 & DES211 ALTERNATE GRIDS IN EQ8 

Learn how to use the Custom Set feature of EQ8 to create quilt top designs with different sized blocks, sashing, and/or negative space to yield alternate grid designs in this workshop. This is a hands-on intermediate EQ8 class that requires students to have a basic understanding of EQ8. Students should be able to navigate the program well and must bring their own laptop computers with EQ8 software already installed and activated. 

DES200 Thursday, February 20 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

DES211 Sunday, February 23 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

DES209 & DES212 SERENDIPITY BLOCKS IN EQ8 

Looking for ways to create interesting and new blocks using EQ8? Electric Quilt has a special set of Serendipity functions of Frame, Tilt, Merge, Clip & Flip, Shrink & Flip, Kaleidoscope, and Fancy Star Blocks that can create new and interesting blocks for your quilt designs. This an intermediate EQ8 class that assumes that students have a basic understanding of EQ8 and can navigate the program well. This is a handson computer class, and students must bring their own laptop computers with EQ8 already installed.

DES209 Saturday, February 22 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
DES212 Friday, February 21 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

DES011 SUBTRACTING FOR MINIMALISM 

Subtracting for minimalism is a combination lecture and hands-on workshop that explores taking away elements from a full quilt design to create a minimalist pattern. We will begin by showing sample quilts made using the subtracting for minimalism technique, then the method will be taught using both computer and hand drawn approaches. Students will practice the method by creating their own hand drawn minimalist quilt designs and then learn how to develop the designs into a plan for an actual quilt. This is a no sew class.

DES011 Saturday, February 22 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Are you planning on attending QuiltCon 2020?  I hope to see you all in Austin!!

QuiltCon 2019 Recap ++ Other Quilty Adventures

In addition to the quilts (you can see my favorites here), I had many other quilty adventures including meeting friends, teaching, learning, shopping, etc.  I am very bad at remembering to take pictures, but here are some from my time at QuiltCon.

Teaching

I taught two classes at QuiltCon, Subtracting for Minimalism on Thursday morning and EQ8 for Beginners on Thursday night.  Paige of Quilted Blooms (my roommate, co-author, and winner of two ribbons at QuiltCon) helped me in both of the classes and took these pictures.

Subtracting for Minimalism

EQ8 for Beginners

Learning

I took Intermediate Lino Printing from Karen Lewis which was awesome.  I don't think that I created any amazing prints, but I had a lot of fun.

My other workshop was Yoga for Healthy Hands by Heidi Parkes.  I have wrist issues and Heidi took us through some great stretching and strengthening exercises for our hands.

 Intermediate Lino Printing

Helping

I had the opportunity to help out Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl in her workshop on Transparency Quilt Design.  Yvonne has such great flow in her class and was very instructive and supportive of her students.  Here we are together.

Shopping

The only thing that I purchased from the vendors was my thread pooping unicorn from Deborah of Fish Museum and Circus. 🦄  I have followed Deborah on Instagram  for a long time and had my heart set on one of these unicorns.  My unicorn is currently pooping some 12 wt Aurifil thread.

QuiltCon 2019 Recap ++ Quilts

QuiltCon was an amazing trip, I got to see so many friends, teach some workshops, take a wonderful class, and see such inspiring quilts.  I am going to break this recap into two posts, the quilts and the quilty adventures :)

I am sure that you saw oodles of quilts from QuiltCon on Instagram and on other blogs, but here were some of the quilts at the show that really spoke to me...

Blue Houses by Melanie Tuazon

@melintheattic

I love how Melanie combined improv piecing, simple shapes, and high contrast colors to create such prospective in this design.

Louver by Jayne Willis

@twiggyandopal

I love Jayne's designs and was very excited to see these 3D flap like elements in person.

Slivers of Rivers by Simone Bradford

@simone.g.b

Another improv quilt that made my favorites, I love the ombre affect with the pops of orange and the quilting compliments the design well.

Self Portrait by Melanie Tuazon

@melintheattic

The simple curves and colors of this mini quilt drew me in.

Burst by Marge Tucker

@margetuckerquilts

I love how the quilting extends into the white framing fabric in this design.

Modern Mandala by Betsy Vinegrad

@betsy.vinegrad

This quilt was so tiny with such detail it was amazing.  The quilting in the blue background is difficult to see in the picture, but it was amazing too.

At the Junction by Marla Varner

@pennylanequilts

This was my viewer's choice.  The piecing, colors, quilting, and design were amazing.  I loved this quilt when I saw it on Instagram and even more when I saw it in person.

Here is my guild, the Greenville Modern Quilt Guild's charity quilt.  My contribution was the swirl quilting on the lower third of the quilt.

Here is my quilt Flew Away in the mini category.

My quilt Periodicity hung in the Pattern of the Month exhibit section.

My design, Mikado, hung in the 2-color challenge category.

Dorito-ish by Christopher Brickey

I watched people walk by my son's quilt and it seemed to bring a smile to people's faces.

I hope that you enjoyed a little peek into the QuiltCon quilt show and maybe saw a few quilts here that you had not seen yet on social media.  Did you attend QuiltCon?  Which was your favorite quilt?

QuiltCon 2019 ++ Quilt Submissions

Did you submit any quilts for QuiltCon 2019?  I submitted four this year and I am happy to say that I will have three quilts hanging in the show.  Here are my submissions and results:

1.  Mikado - accepted

I entered Mikado into the APQ two-color challenge category.  You could only use two colors in the quilt top, binding, and quilting thread.  It was difficult not to put a pop of color into the quilt top, but I am hoping the black and white striped fabric gives the same affect.  More pictures and information are in the Mikado post.

2.  Wooly Bear - rejected

I made Wooly Bear for the Michael Miller challenge category.  For this category you had to use at least two of the three selected hashtag prints along with a peach colored Cotton Couture solid.  You could add in additional Cotton Couture solids and hashtag prints.  More pictures and information are in the Wooly Bear post.

3.  Flew Away - accepted

I made Flew Away for my local Modern Quilt Guild's (Greenville MQG) challenge where we had to use a traditional block that's name started with the first initial of our first, middle, or last name.  This is my variation on the Beggar's Block.  I entered it into the small quilt category.  More pictures and information are in the Flew Away post.

4.  Ruminate - rejected

I was really on the fence with submitted Ruminate, I did not feel that it fit into the look and feel of the curated QuiltCon quilts, but I took a chance anyway and entered it into the small quilt category.  I started this quilt in a Densye Schimdt QuiltCon class in 2017 finally finished it this year.  I added a ton of quilting with different thread weights to give the quilt an interesting look.  More pictures and information are in the Ruminate post.

5.  Periodicity - MQG Pattern of the Month Exhibit

Periodicity will be hanging in the QuiltCon Pattern of the Month Exhibit.  It was the pattern for June and will be hung with all of the other monthly patterns available for free to all MQG members.  It also had the honor of hanging in the MQG Showcase during Quilt Market this fall.  More pictures and information are in the Periodicity post.

6.  (My son's quilt) Dorito-ish - accepted

My son was so excited to find out that his quilt, Dorito-ish, will be hanging in the Youth category at QuiltCon.  More pictures and information are in the Dorito-ish post.

I hope that you had good news on your submissions, I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful quilts in February!

Wooly Bear ++ Quilt Finish

I am happy to share my last QuiltCon entry today, Wooly Bear.  Wooly Bear is my entry into the Michael Miller Challenge category.

For the challenge, we were given fat eighths of four fabrics, three Hastdot prints and a peach colored Cotton Couture solid.  We had to create a quilt using using at least two of the given Hashdot prints and the peach solid in the quilt top and binding, but in addition to these fabrics we could also add other Hashdot print colors and any other Cotton Couture solids.

When I started to play around with the colors in designs, I could easily make all of the Hastdot prints work well together, but the peach was throwing me for a loop.  It just did not seem to fit in with the other colors (I think that in real life the peach is a little less bright and a little more pink than in the photo above).

None of my ideas were working until I thought to incorporate in an even brighter orangey color.  I added in the Cotton Couture lava and that seemed to calm the peach down in comparison.  I then added in some black just for a little contrast and depth.  I wound up not using the turquoise hashdot print.

I knew that I wanted to create an almost floating image and incorporate some curves into the design.  After playing around in EQ, I had my block design.

I first pieced random sized strips together on the diagonal and trimmed them down to 12 ½" square.  Then I added Drunkard's curves to two of the opposing corners.

Oreo "helping" me quilt

Once the quilt top was complete, I got to move on to the quilting.  For the background, I used a combination of large pebbles, teardrops, and elongated swirls using a matching Aurifil thread in 50 wt.  This was my first time ever using wool batting and I was really happy with how puffy all of the quilted shapes were.  I used Tuscany 100% Wool Batting by Hobbs and it basted and quilted wonderfully.

My initial thought for the pieced sections was to have dense straight lines echoing the seam lines within the blocks.  After doing half a block though, it was not turning out well.  The ruler work was causing some tucks and it was looking messy.  After a bunch of un-sewing, I tried again using a dense, small scale bear claw.

I used a lime green Aurifil thread in 50wt for the pieced sections (that matched the lime green hashdot print), which looked decent on all of the different fabrics in the pieced areas.

For the backing, I used some acid lime green Cotton Couture fabric.  For such wild colors on the front, I had to go equally as bold for the back :)  After quilting, the quilt measured 53" x 57".

Thanks for stopping by, I'll let you know if the quilt is accepted or not.