Friday, February 28, 2020

My First Quiltcon

I was going to write a short description with a few pictures from Quiltcon. Or so I thought.
But Quiltcon exceeded all my expectations and it therefore deserves a full post of its own.

Sunday at Quiltcon

I dropped off the completed flimsies at the collection point next to registration.  The blocks were overflowing from the table, when I handed her my contribution.
Woman 1 - How are they going to take everything back?
Woman 2 - It is a good problem to have.

I silently wished there wasn't a need for these blocks/quilts.


Let the eye candy begin.  I have included the artist's description following each quilt.

Deportation by Jackie Benedetti

Detail





This is Bob. Bob won the Viewers Choice Award, which confirms my belief that at heart we are all kids :-)
Bob by Patti Coppock




Sedona Sunrise by Erin Andrews





Unfinished by Kathy York

Detail




New Mexico Crosses by Terrie H Mangat

Detail




Tuberose by Anneliese Johnson







Mell and I have very different styles. She is most definitely a modern quilter. My style is more traditional - Traditional Modernism at best. But there were a few quilts that we both agreed upon. The next quilt with improv triangles and color wash effect is one of them.


Triangle Color Study III by Nicholas Ball

Detail





 The following quilt won a ribbon. I can see why.
Like a Girl by Niagara Modern Quilt Guils


Detail





Homes for the Homeless - Community First Village by Kelly Hogan



There was a section devoted to Youth Quilts.  Here are my favorites from that.

No explanation required

Made me cry





Twist by Maria Shell






 And here is Jayne's quilt. Sold!!!
Making Waves by Jayne Willis





Damned by Skye Rayburn





Usually I would be hard pressed to pick one favorite in a quilt show that had so many spectacular beauties. Also it is hard to imagine that I would pick a quilt that had no color.  But this is that quilt.  It made me so happy, I have been going around and showing it to complete muggles and reliving the experience of reading it the very first time. I love this one!!! Kudos to you Tulsa Modern Quilt Guild.

For best experience, read aloud from left to right, one line at a time.





As far as techniques go, this is the one that I want to learn.  I had the opportunity to meet the designer Audrey Esarey. She won two ribbons but this is not one of them.  You can see her winning quilts on the MQG website.

Retro Radial by Audrey Esarey






I was not familiar with Lizzo's music or this song, but I fixed that as soon as I returned.  And I can totally relate to this quilt - music or not.

I Heart Lizzo by Alison chambers








Can you Get Inside by Isabel Munoz






Resonance by Cassandra Beaver





Nothing I Desire by Patti Coppock







Typographic Abstraction by Jessica Wheelahan






I was happy (but not surprised) to see Cindy's quilt. She is in my guild.
Kaleidoscope by Cindy Grisdela





This was a spectacular beauty that left both Mell and me awestruck!!! And yet not a ribbon in sight. Hmmm...

Zenith by Cassandra Beaver








We ended the day supremely exhausted but insanely happy.



People of Quiltcon

I met Alison Glass and showed off my finisher's pin from the Trinket QAL. She was kind enough to pose for a selfie.

With Alison Glass



I met Vasudha of Storied Quilts and talked about future quilty ideas. I invited her to DC and she offered to host me for the Quilt Market.

With Vasudha

Mell and I were admiring a quilt and trying to figure out the piecing.
Mell - It is partial seams
Me - Yes, but it is not partial seams in a block. It is the whole quilt. She had to sew one huge jagged edge of fabric to the next huge jagged edge of fabric.
That is when Victoria Findlay Wolfe surprised us, came from behind and said - Totally crazy, isn't it.
We chatted for a bit and I called her a glutton for punishment. She wholehearted agreed and then I took this picture of her.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe


I met Anja but forgot to take picture.

The best part of the day was when a kind looking woman approached me and asked me if I was Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts.  Yes, I replied.


Someone actually recognized me from the blog!!! Boy, I have arrived.
It was a mild high. OK, it was a huge high.
It was Kathleen. Oh but your picture doesn't do you justice, I remarked. She smiled and accepted the compliment.
We hugged and chatted.

Sightseeing in Austin

Monday morning Mell and I decided to check out the Capital in Austin.  Here are few pictures.
Life Size Sculptures

He was stealing my goat

I put up a good fight
I eventually lost but not without a fight :-)  Mell was kind enough to go along with my silliness.



Pioneer Woman


Goofiness

Spectacular

When I returned, I became a member of the Modern Quilt Guild. I am sure there are more Quiltcons in my future.  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. As usual I'd love to hear your thoughts.



Friday, February 21, 2020

To Australia, with love

A mediocre songstress was surprised when someone in the crowd yelled ENCORE following her ho-hum performance.

Twin Tree Block (falling short)


As she performed a second time, the same person yelled out - "and again, till you get it right"


Twin Tree Block (compensating)


That song is the twin tree block and that songstress is me!
By the time I got it right there were over 25 blocks. I figured I should make a few more.  I could definitely use the practice.

Pinned

In process

Trunks


And forty blocks later, we have two lovely flimsies.  I hope they will only see my intentions and not my imperfections.

Flimsy 1 (Thank you Paul)

Paul is the model. In the picture below, Flimsy 2 can be seen on the right, trying to photobomb Flimsy 1.


Flimsy 2 (Flimsy1is photobombing)


In deference to Valentine's Day I added a tree of pink hearts to each flimsy.
Although I considered including a koala or a kangaroo but the idea seemed contrived and was therefore abandoned.


The dismal/depressing wintry landscape of my backyard is the perfect backdrop for these lively greens.


40 Blocks = Two Flimsies

I am taking these with me to Quiltcon in Austin. I understand someone will be collecting the blocks and flimsies for the #BushFireBlocks.


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Here are all the RSC blocks for February 2020. Since I love orange, I made not three but six large ones.

RSC 2020 - Orange Blocks

And two more!!!


In other words, these oranges are so juicy that I could not contain all of it in four large blocks.
It happily spilled into two more blocks.  That is fine. I have a feeling I won't be making as many yellow or brown blocks.


And this is the second RSC project. This time my low-volume fabric has a little more zing to it.

Low-Volume but a bit Louder

I am ready for March.  Will it be pink or yellow?
Will be linking with Angela's linky party, when it goes live...

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Remember that pretty package of cuteness that Bernie sent me?  Well it was a squirrel disguised as a package.

Squirrel!!!

So I dropped everything and made it...

Scrappy & Yummy

No not a quilt...not even a flimsy.

But then scrap vortex is not a sprint. It is a marathon.  I chase a few scraps, corral them into a block or two and move on to the current project.

Thank you Bernie
Will link with Sandra's Dreami Linky party (once it goes live)...


Although I am dying to show you my new finish (another UFO slayed), it will have to wait till I return from Quiltcon in Austin!!!

I am linking with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
As usual I look forward to your thoughts :-)

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Tara

Picture this - About noon on Superbowl Sunday

Me: I am going to eat my lunch and watch TV. Do you want to join me?
Paul (reclining on the couch): Nah, I am watching the eyelid show.
Me: Ooh that is a good show.
Paul: It was greatly reviewed.
Me: Yup, I watch it everyday.

Later, during the 4th quarter of the Superbowl game
Me: I am done here.
Paul: Sup babe?
Me: My eyelid show is about to begin.


For the Eyelid Show

Here is a quilt perfect for use during a little one's eyelid show :-)
I am calling her Tara.

Scrappy Triangles 


On the Design Wall


Tara came about because I was trying to repurpose the scraps left over from Enchanted Lake and Kinda Brave.



Sew, Press, Trim

6.5" HSTs can be combined in so many ways and there were several revisions.

In the Process

Getting There

Final Layout, I think.
Aha!!!


Added a skinny border to save the points.
OK, I could not save everyone :-( but most points were saved.


Skinny Border



For the backing I had to get slightly inventive. I used a striped fabric and added (cut and insert) a pieced strip of the same to get at 50" square.


Pieced Backing

Tara finished at about 48" square.  Here are some more pictures of the finished quilt.


Aquas & Purples

Black/White Binding

Walking Foot Quilting

Snug as a Bug
Did I label it?

Labelled

It is amazing how much your binding improves after 150 quilts :-)

She shimmers

Sweet Dreams!!!

She glows and shimmers and makes me as happy as a glowworm on a warm summer night.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Me: All the blocks for the #BushFire Quilts are complete.
Paul: That is good news.

Me: But some blocks are a smidgen short of the required 12.5"
Paul: What does that mean?

The first ones

Me: That they do not meet the strict guidelines - at least 12.5". Could be more, not less.
Paul: Will they discard your blocks?
Me: I doubt that.  But if I was collecting the blocks, I'd be upset if the blocks did not meet the specified dimensions
Paul: So why did you not make them larger?


Mix and Match
Background Triangles

Me: Well, the first batch of blocks ended up being slightly smaller because I was still trying the new pattern. The blocks I made later are more generously sized.
Paul: Then just send the generous ones.
Me: I could, but that is only half of what I made. Disappointing
Paul:  What now?

Pinned in Place

Trunks

Me: I could combine one or two skinny blocks with a generous block.
Paul: How? It is not like you can take an average here.
Me: If I sew them into a top the smaller blocks can be compensated by the generous ones and the overall dimensions will match their requirements (48" by 60").
Paul: There you go!

Falling Short

Coming Together


The finished flimsies will be revealed in the next blogspot. Stay tuned :-)

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Here are some of my juicy orange blocks for the RSC2020. Linking with Angela.

Small Blocks are Done


The big ones are in the works and I promise to have them done along with the BushFire Quilt flimsies.

Big Blocks in process

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This blogpost will not be complete without a shout-out to Bernie.  I was surprised (very pleasantly) when I received a package from Bernie (Needle and Foot) with a load of yummy scraps, a sweet note and two kisses :-)

Cannot stop smiling :-)

No, I did not win the giveaway but Bernie made a special package for me. I feel so loved.


Kisses to you, Bernie!!!

I don't have to be rich. I just want to have generous friends.
Wish granted!!!

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.