Friday, December 28, 2012

Something New for the New Year

The Wizard
I've very flattered to have been asked to be the Keynote Speaker at the Minnesota Quilters 35th Annual Quilt Show and Conference in June. I'm going to talk about "So Many Ideas; So Little Time". This new lecture is a humorous look at how I design and made my contemporary quilts. You can relate to these true confessions of the struggles and foibles of a prolific quilter.

So the something new? They are asking for a sample. The challenge, how to make one sample that includes Fantastic Foil, Borders; the Final Chapter, and Machine Quilting?  Resuilting in ...  The Wizard.  I'll also be there with Eye Candy Quilts, since I have many of them, choosing one will be the hardest part. More on this event later.
Lots of fun stitching to highlight the foil.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas Too All

The best place I know in the south end of King County to see Christmas lights is 300th Place, Federal Way WA. Just off 1 St Ave South near Dash Point Road, this display is wonderful! Enjoy, and have a Happy Merry Holiday!

Friday, December 21, 2012

A Few More of My Favorite Things

Through trial and error and the occasional ‘beads dumped onto the carpet’ fiasco, I have learned that a neat way to hold your beads is in a six-inch embroidery hoop, lined with fabric and turned upside down. Thus safely corralled, the beads don’t jump around because there is no static charge to get them going. It definitely turns what should be a fun and creative process into an exercise in frustration when you have to chase down each and every bead! Another great advantage to this method is, if you happen to work in an upholstered chair or couch, you can pin the hoop directly to the arm, making it pretty close to impossible to knock over. A win-win situation if ever there was one.


"Fast Finish" Triangles - This is a great way to quickly and easily provide a fake sleeve to hang a small quilt on a single nail. Before sewing the binding, fold two squares of fabric in half diagonally, press. On the back, place them over the two top corners, all raw edges together. Sew the binding. Simply insert a pencil, small dowel, or chop stick under the triangles and balance the quilt on a nail.


Is the eye of the needle getting smaller every year? Try the Clover needle threader. Just like having younger eyes, well almost!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS


    Why is starch is my friend? Need to tame bias edges? Looking for the easiest stabilizer for stitching or just because you like to work with washed fabric with some stiffness. I prefer to use concentrated liquid starch, purchased at a big box store. A heavy solution of 50% water to 50% starch. Spraying the starch to warm fabric, makes the fabric firm faster. Need more body? Dip the fabric in straight starch and place in the dryer. Maximum stiffness? Dip fabric in straight starch and hang to dry!

    Stenciling: Use some hairspray on the underneath side of your stencil to make it stick on the surface, and to help prevent the paint seeping in at the edge.

    The Bottom Line by Superior Threads - This thread has a shiny appearance and is virtually lint free. It can be thin and lightweight, yet strong. Due to its smooth surface, it works well with metallic threads and heavy cotton threads. The smoothness of the filament poly thread does not snag or grab the top thread. If you've had trouble using metallics or heavy cotton threads,  smooth bobbin thread may solve some problems.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Stitching Through the Layers: The Art & Elegance of Straight Line Quilting




Quilting Counts! Really, when you think about it, it’s the stitching through the layers that transforms a top into a quilt, so make sure it contributes in full measure to the beauty of your quilt!

Elegant & Powerful Straight Lines: Fully integrated and thoughtfully planned quilting enhances and supports the quilt. By integrated, I mean that the quilted stitch design should tell the same story as the quilt’s composition.

Strong lines make a very noticeable contribution to the visual impact of a quilt. Lines have the power to direct attention toward or away from its various parts. They can affect the mood of the work by adding movement and excitement or contribute a quieter, mellower feel. For example, horizontal lines commonly create the impression of calm, tranquility and space. Strong vertical lines can give the feeling of importance, drama and height. Diagonals tend to indicate action or forward movement. Tightly angled lines that constantly meet and cross each other give a dynamic, lively effect to the work.

The same kind of line, running in different directions, can add interest to the overall quilting pattern. Repeated lines of parallel stitching on traditional quilts often changed direction upon reaching the outside border, thus highlighting the center or the border – or both!

Decoding the Magic of Lines: There are three basic qualities of any stitched line; visibility, style and scale. Understanding them lets us easily expand the range of potential designs we can create. Varying each of them opens an endless range of quilting ideas.

Melody’s TIP: A great way to test a design before stitching is to draw it onto a piece of clear Duralar™ or Plexiglas™, a piece about 18” by 24”. Mark the edges with tape so you know  where to stop from drawing on your quilt top. Place it over your quilt, test patterns directly onto the plastic with a Vis-à-Vis Wet Erase™ pen. This allows you to evaluate how the lines and shapes of your planned quilting design will
relate to the pattern of your quilt top

In ConclusionYour quilt top is beautiful – and the quilting is the delicious frosting on the cake! Let the feel of your quilt and your unique artistic interpretation play out in your work. The result? Pure genius!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Hands All Around Quilt Guild, Bloomington/Normal, IL

Great guild with a wonderful show and tell!
 We played with foil and paint sticks in the Simple Surfaces workshop.








Here is Trisha Hooker working on her Embellishments, etc project


Give Marsha the award for bravest quilter ever! She came with a completed quilt, wanted to 'do' something with it. Decided to cut it up to embellish it!






Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Tiny Quilts Raise Big Money to Fight Alzheimer's

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) raised $75,000 selling small format art quilts at International Quilt Festival (IQF) in Houston, Texas, October 31 through November 4, 2012.

Volunteers sold 1,597 Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts (mini quilts measuring 9" x 12" or less) breaking all previous sales records for the all-volunteer nonprofit.

This was the seventh year the AAQI was invited to sell Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts by IQF founder and director Karey Bresenhan. Brooke and John Flynn, from Billings, Montana, have sponsored the AAQI booth in Houston since 2006.

There were 2,185 quilts for sale. In case you’re curious that’s approximately 230 pounds of quiltlets, shipped to Houston in three 50-gallon Rubbermaid trash cans. They’re sturdy as the dickens, they have wheels so they can be rolled around, and holes drilled in the lids/rims to secure them with “zip-ties.”

Sunday, December 2, 2012

DORIS DUKE’S SHANGRI LA


Our last day in paradise we visited Doris Dukes Shangri La. It is the Honolulu home of American philanthropist Doris Duke. Built in 1937, Shangri La houses an impressive collection of Islamic art and is considered one of Hawaii’s most architecturally significant homes. Shangri La Take the virtual tour and see for your self. 

Photo: David Franzen.Talk about inspiration, blue sky, blue sea, sunshine, and more geometric and floral patterns than one can imagine. A perfect ending to a wonderful trip.



Thursday, November 29, 2012

Surfing USA

 
The North Shore, in the context of geography of the Island of Oʻahu, refers to the north-facing coastal area of Oʻahu between Kaʻena Point and Kahuku Point. This area is best known for its massive waves, attracting surfers from all around the globe. The Banzai Pipeline is my favorite. We took a couple of beach chairs and watched to our hearts content!

 












Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Fabric Mart




Leave it up to me to find this jewel in the rough. Hawaiian patterns to satisfy everyone. Huge fabric selection, you can find overall patterns, gaudy, or subtle to your heart's delight. Prices are extremely good. Set you phone's GPS for the place when you visit and have fun!
Not visiting any time soon? Check out their web site.

 

Fabric Mart
98-023 Hekaha St., Harbor Center Bldg. #1-1
Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 488-8882

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Hawaiin Food

I don't usually blog about food, but Stacy insisted that we have lunch at a shrimp truck.and test the wares at Leonard's Bakery. 

Most of the shrimp trucks on Oahu's north shore are located near the town of Kahuku, which is a well-known shrimp aquaculture area.

Shrimp plates are ordered at the windows of these shrimp trucks, ours came with two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and a lemon slice.Wonderfully messy to eat, the garlicky butter sauce dripped down our arms...delicious!!!


Malasadas & DoughnutsLeonard’s Bakery bake their delectable Masasadas fresh and ready to be devoured. Which we did!




Saturday, November 24, 2012

The Vistas


The Pali Lookout overlooking the 985 foot cliffs of the Koolau Mountain Range,is one of the best views on O'ahu.From this vantage point you can see Kaneohe Bay, Chinaman's Hat,and Hawaii Pacific's Windward Campus.


Sometimes it's nice to take a relaxing drive through winding country roads. Sometimes it's exhilarating to breathe thin mountain air. Sometimes it's nice to roll down the windows just to get the occasional mist in your face The views from Mount Tantalus are, indeed, tantalizing.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Aloha Stadium Flea Market



Just 20 minutes away from Waikiki, we discovered unique treasures at Hawaii’s largest open air flea market where the locals shop for the best deals in town. There are endless rows of over 700 local merchants offering great values on imported merchandise, hand made items, eclectic art pieces, popular local snacks, and other made in Hawaii products. 

This is my one stop destination to find that special gift for everyone on my list.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Few Days in Paradise


The fresh, floral air energizes you. The warm, tranquil waters refresh you.
The breathtaking, natural beauty renews you. Look around.
There’s no place on earth like Hawaii.



Feel the sand between your toes and enjoy the warm waters.






The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In Temple in O'ahu is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Just Imagination



My favorite: Saturated colors

I took a class from Judy Robertson this summer. I just realized that I never shared the fabric I dyed. She taught the techniques she developed to make and sell fabric.
Trying at least six different cotton fabrics for different results.
How to create your own dyeing palette.
Produce saturated colors
Make several values of the same color combinations in a very simple way.
Use a low water method to dye many different styles of fabric.
Stripes

Beautiful fabric


More stripes