MY TAKE ON MODERN QUILTING AND THE MODERN QUILT MOVEMENT

I recently did a series of articles for my quilt guild.  Here is the first of several posts.  These are my personal opinions based on the research I have done in the last several months.  The opinions of other quilters may be different, but I am hoping to begin a dialogue with other quilters.  So if you have any ideas or comments just chime in and we can discuss it.

WHAT IS MODERN QUILTING?

For a while now I have been fascinated by the Modern Quilt Movement.  I first stumbled upon the modern style of quilt patterns on the blog of my quilting podcasting buddies.  I would follow links on their blogs and started seeing modern quilts.  As I read the blogs, I would comment or communicate with the authors.  I found I was often attracted to the patterns and colors of the quilts.  One day I stumbled upon the online MODERN QUILT GUILD (MQG) 

 http://themodernquiltguild.com  

http://themodernquiltguild.wordpress.com   

The MQG was organizing members on line.  Their rationale was that there were not enough members who lived close enough to each other.  Little by little the members in the same area started connecting and they organized brick and mortar guilds in the area where they lived.  Sometimes these guilds were off shoots of larger traditional guilds but more often they were independent groups.  Like traditional guild they evolved according to the group’s need.  Some are working groups where they learn techniques and work on projects.  Other groups organize themselves the same as traditional guilds. The majority have show and tell as part of their meeting. The groups tend to be filled with younger women who have just started quilting, but anyone who shared the same aesthetics and made modern quilts were welcome. 

The main difference from a traditional guild is the aesthetics of the quilts.  The groups belong to the main MQG, they continue to communicate and organize on line.   Blogs, Facebook, PINTERST and Flicker Groups connect the MQG community.  The growth of social media has spurred the growth of the MODERN QUILT MOVEMENT.  Often  members do not even live in the same state ( I am active in one group but am an on line member in several others.)

The MQG is evolving and growing, earlier this year they had their second QUILT- CON.  QUILT CON in the own words from their blog:

QuiltCon is the inaugural international conference and show by and for The Modern Quilt Guild. The first modern quilting event of its kind, Quilt-Con features top modern quilting instructors and will attract attendees from around the world. It includes a juried modern quilt show with cash prizes, vendors, lectures, workshops from top modern quilters, and more.

If you want to learn more about MODERN QUILTING you can check out the lecture series on Craftsy.  You do have to register on the website but you can sign up for several classes and the QUILT CON LECTURE SERIES for free.    You do need a high speed internet connection to watch the programs they do not work on dial up.  But if you can stream a TV show you should be able to steam these lectures.                          

http://www.craftsy.com    

http://www.craftsy.com/classes/quilting 

http://www.craftsy.com/class/quiltcon-lecture-series-2013/194

 

What are the aesthetics of MODERN QUILTING?

I did extensive research in what is considered MODERN QUILTING.  Just like traditional quilting for every modern quilter there is a different definition and an application of those definitions.  Modern quilters have differing levels of skills from the total newbie just learning to thread a machine to experience quilters who could win ribbons in any show.  Modern Quilters also have a growing group of quilters who publish patterns and books.  I am sure you have been seeing more books, patterns.  I do not think the MODERN QUILTERS are rejecting traditional quilts they are just finding their own voices and what fits in their lives.   I say bring them on let us welcome them to the club of quilting and enjoy their endeavors.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/freshmodernquilts

http://www.dsquilts.com/quilts.asp?PageID=1

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=wonky+quilt&m=text

Modern quilting also reflects the change in ways quilters gather (online), share (flickr/blogs), and shop (again, online).  Sure, traditional quilters do these things too, but with the speed of the internet, ideas light up and take off in an instant.  Someone posts it on a blog, everyone sees it, and by next week, 20 people have made one already (more if someone creates a flickr pool for them).  You don’t have to wait for magazines and quilt shows to see what’s new.

As voiced by a recent essay winner in the magazine GENERATION Q:

http://generationqmagazine.com/2011/09/notions-winner-of-the-%E2%80%98what-is-modern-quilting-%E2%80%98essay-contest

http://generationqmagazine.com/what-is-modern-quilting-essay-contest/#3

Modern quilts display an effective use of the principles of design: movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, contrast, proportion and rhythm.  Most interesting is that most modern quilters employ these principles organically, without any formal training or structure—they simply create what is in their hearts and minds of quilter.   Modern quilting alongside ancient and indigenous art and designs expresses the inborn drive of humans to create beauty.

 

Characteristics of MODERN QUILTING[1]:

---

[1]  CHARACTERISTICS  of MODERN QUILTING is a compilation of multiple sources  and some of my own observations based on what I have seen on Pinterest, Flicker groups.  Some of the notations are similar to each other as they share similar sources.  Some notations are a contradiction of previous definitions,  MQ is still evolving.

 

Base their quilt structure and blocks on design principals found in architecture  and art classes.

The defining design principles in modern quilting are rhythm and movement.

Designs exhibit influences of modern art and architecture

Functional /utilitarian quilts used in the home, not show quilts, not art quilts

 Simple, minimalist design using geometric shapes

One rule in modern quilting, it would be that there are no rules[2].

Expression of the time in which we live

Original form not always a recreation of traditional blocks or quilts; it is a blazing of new trails.

Reflect the individual personality and personal style of the quilter and it also reflects the current aesthetic of the day.

Asymmetry in quilt design

Frequent use improvisational piecing

Alternate grid work is often a part of modern quilt compositions

Bold colors, on-trend color combinations and graphic prints and use of complementary color schemes

Modern quilters tend to collect and use MODERN QUILT / GRAPHIC FABRIC DESIGNERS… Amy Butler, Tulula Pink

 Increased use of solid colors, including grey and white as neutrals

 Less emphasis on block repetition

 Increased use of negative space

Unusual block settings and block arrangement

Decrease use of borders, more edge to edge patterns

Pieced backings / dual quilts

Increased use of solid fabrics

The use of diverse fabrics (keeping in mind the way the fabrics different in their wearing and use.) is often found in the same quilt.  Using vintage and recycled fabrics in different ways is common.  I think this is an off shoot of inheriting stashes and thrift shopping.  Mixing fabrics types can frequently be found in a MODERN QUILT PROJECTs.

Block aesthetics:

Reinterpreted traditional blocks

 Unconventional block structures

SIZE of blocks and patches tend to be larger than traditional quilts (16 to 20 inches are common in Modern Quilting patterns.

Graphic / geometric block designs.  Fabrics are showcased not the blocks. 

Use of precuts and fabric bundles / kits is often used by the new Modern Quilters but they to branch off as their skill level and quest for personal creativity grows.

The piecing could be improvisational and liberated, or it could be very exact and measured, following a pattern or creating your own.

Using a traditional quilt block and updating the blocks :

using modern fabrics

 modifying the block arrangement

 modifying  the scale of the block

 

Use of technology in MODERN QUILTING …Beyond standard quilting tools

COMMUNICATION and Sharing:  Pinterest, Blogs, Flicker groups, Facebook  and twitter

ONLINE LEARNING STYLES … Craftsy, Flicker, YOU TUBE tutorials

BLOG TUTORIALS

SPOONFLOWER FABRICS for designing your own fabric

Design Programs such as Electric Quilt

Less high tech… sketch and design books and journals

Digital cameras are used for inspiration and communication of a quilter’s own projects for journals and blogs.

I enjoy  the MODERN QUILT aesthetics and what I have learned about the MODERN QUILT MOVEMENT, but I have never made a modern quilt.   I think I agree with a comment voiced by Angela Pingel on her blog  http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com  :

“The concept of modern quilting is not meant to divide or segregate. It is meant to welcome new quilters, of all ages, to the world of quilting in a style that they can relate to. In many ways, modern quilting takes us back to the basics of the early quilters, when women of the day used the colors and styles of their time to express themselves creatively.

THAT is the Modern Quilt movement that I want to be a part of.  I am sure that I need not put myself in the box of “modern quilter”.  I don’t put myself out there as a “traditional quilter” either.

I am, without any other label, simply a quilter.”

I too consider myself a quilter.  

Happy quilting to all my guild sisters. 

 NONNIE of Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

 

---

[1]  CHARACTERISTICS  of MODERN QUILTING is a compilation of multiple sources  and some of my own observations based on what I have seen on Pinterest, Flicker groups.  Some of the notations are similar to each other as they share similar sources.  Some notations are a contradiction of previous definitions,  MQ is still evolving.

[2]   Even now the definition of MODERN QUILTING is changing and being further refined.

.

.

ADDED MAY 11, 2013

WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE ABOUT THE MODERN QUILT MOVEMENT

NON RICKY QUILTS

OAKLAND COUNTY QUILT GUILD RAFFLE QUILT RAFFLED OFF AT THE SEMINAR

THE QUILT SHOWS BLOCK OF THE MONTH QUILT designed by Sue Nickles and Pat Holly

Close up of the FREE MOTION QUILTING

ALEX ANDERSON QUILT

ALEX ANDERSON QUILT

ALEX ANDERSON QUILT

ALEX ANDERSON QUILT

This quilt was made by ALEX from gift blocks made by the speakers on THE QUILT SHOW

THE LAST BOW OF THE NIGHT

MORE pictures from the Ricky Tims Seminar

I just want to tell you in advance my camera …. needs to be thrown out.  First I forgot to take the program off MACRO, so all my first set of pictures are fuzzy.  I was able to re-shoot lots of pictures but they will still need editing.  When the seminar was done I reset the entire camera to factory default.  I had been afraid to do that earlier because I was afraid to mess up the settings worse then what they were.  The settings  were fixable in an editing program.  The only thing I have trouble with is out of focus shots ( that was why had I had to reset the factory settings) but the focus settings had been messed with and I no longer knew how to fix the setting.  I think this will work.  WORD TO THE WISE NEVER LET A 5 YEAR OLD USE YOUR GOOD CAMERA…. give him an old one. 

I will be posting more pictures after I edit them.  the main edit will be re size to a size this blog will accept.  So enjoy.

WHOLE CLOTH PHOTO QUILT

This photo was printed from a 60 inch printer on to fabric on freezer paper. Ricky then FMQ accentuating the photographs. He used shadowing to maintain the integrity of the shapes. Everyone stopped to admire this wall quilt.

ONE SEAM FLYING GEESE

Ricky said he made this 3d- ONE SEAM FLYING GEESE QUILT. HE taught this technique on the quilt show. I have made some of these quilts for kids, but I used larger flying geese units and novelty prints. Kids love putting little toys / treats in the pockets. It is a fun quilt. If somebody wants I will post the directions to the quilt I make using this technique. I have directions to multiple size geese and a rectangular block. LET ME KNOW IF YOU want me to post the directions.

Ricky’s newest pattern

RHAPSODY, center medallion

THIS is a LIBBY LEHMAN QUILT

Ricky and his father made this RHAPSODY QUILT Ricky’s dad made the lone star quilt and Ricky finished it with the applique and innovative setting. This is what happens if you let your imagination run wild and you push your boundaries.

KALEIDOSCOPE

BLUE KALEIDOSCOPE

Ricky demonstrated the technique used to make a KALEIDOSCOPE QUILT. This is my daughters and grandson’s favorite pattern. I made a kaleidoscope wall hanging which now hangs in my grandson’s room. (See LOGO) He threw a fit when I tried to take it down from the wall to take to the seminar to have Ricky sign the back of my quilt. He can be so BRATTY!

This is another caveman piecing technique quilt that has applique. The caveman piecing makes a great background for applique.

Shantel Tulip a caveman piecing technique shown during the seminar. He also has a DVD that teaches this technique is greater detail for people like me who have no memory and need constant reminding/ prompting on how to do a technique.

LADY RAGS (AKA NONNIE) with RICKY TIMS

Happy QUILTING
NONNIE

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com
.
.

Ricky Tims Seminar in ROCHESTER MI

JUST got back from the Ricky Tims Seminar in Rochester MI.  I will be posting more pictures and information about my experience in the next couple of day.  Ricky has given permission to post pictures of the quilts at the seminar and I will be doing it as soon as I reformat the pictures.   IN the mean time I am posting just one or two …. plus the picture of part of my haul.  And NO I did not buy any fabric… I had promised my hubby that I would NOT…. but I did not promise I would not buy anything else. …. but I have no storage for more fabric so I was a KIND OF GOOD GIRL… so here are the pics…

.

.

.

MIRROR IMAGE of APPLIQUE

.

.

.

PURCHASE from the BERNINA booth at the Seminar

.

It is kind of hard to see what I bought…. NEW TOYS for my BERNINA 440QE

CIRCLE EMBROIDERY ATTACHMENT

MAGNIFICATION GLASS

FOOT #10 EDGE STITCH

FOOT #34 CLEAR APPLIQUE FOOT

FOOT # 37 1/4 INCH PATCHWORK

FOOT #43 FREE MOTION COACHING FOOT

FOOT #55 LEATHER ROLLER FOOT

 

SANDY over at QUILTING for the REST of US buys fabric dying supplies….. I buy toys…. love toys and gadgets.  I am so addicted.  NOW I have to get some sleep so I can play with my new gadgets tomorrow…. Bye for now.  ( MORE PICTURES COMING)

HAPPY QUILTING,
NONNIE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

.

Pat Holly came to our guild

http://aqsshows.com/AQSPaducah/

http://aqsshows.com/AQSPaducah/contests/2013-aqs-quiltweek-paducah-winners/

Pat Holly came to our guild for the March meeting.  I have already posted pictures from that night in an earlier blog.  What I did not include at the time was pictures of her newest quilt as she was taking it to PADUCAH for the big quilt show.  While at the guild she talked about her earlier works.  At the time she gave me permission to post a picture on this blog of her quilts including the her newest quilt.  So here they are.  Just think this little quilt is less than 18 inches by 18 inches.   Pat explained one of the characteristics of a miniature quilt is that it is proportional in scale.  They should look like a large quilt when photographed.   Pat won the Benartex Best Miniature Award for the quilt she called, Tiny Tigers 2.  TINY TIGERS one is a gift for her daughter.  Pat says she now makes two quilts at the same time as it is easier and allows her to experiment with the projects.  Here are the pictures of Pat’s winning quilt.

TINY TIGER 2 BY PAT HOLLY

Pat Holly’s Miniature Quilt TINY TIGER 2

UPDATE: APRIL 26, 2013
HERE is a video of Pat Holly at Paducha on YOU Tube. Be sure to sign up to the YOU Tube Channel.  AQS has been posting new video interviews every day of Quilt Show.

Pat Holly at Paducha: Interview by AQS

ENJOY
Happy Quilting
Nonnie
~~~~~~~

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

NONNIE has been very bad !!!

NONNIE has been very BAD!!

Because we just bought a new wood floor and had it installed, I have been trying to be more frugal and not buy every quilt book I have wanted.  I did good for three months then last night in a fit of insomnia I came across the QUILT with the STARS at the Fons and Porter web site.  I watched the interviews with Lynne Hagmeier of KANSAS TROUBLE QUILTERS.

 http://www.fonsandporter.com/quilt-with-the-stars.html

http://www.ktquilts.com

I fell in love with Lynne’s new layering instead of piecing technique she uses with layer cakes ( 10 in,) charm squares ( 5in,) and various Jelly Rolls ( 2.5inch)  She is finding way to use all the pre cuts in an interesting way.  First of all I would say this is a bonanza technique for quilt shop owners and Moda… I foresee them selling more precuts.  I also think this will be a versatile technique that will explode in the future into all kinds of new patterns.  This technique and several new patterns are laid out in Lynne’s new book, LOOSE CHANGE.  What I like about the technique is that it is fast and easy allowing me to make new quilt tops faster with less work on my part.

http://www.ktquilts.com/shop/Books/p/Loose-Change-sku-KT-12100.htm

I loved every quilt in this book and see myself making several of them for baby gifts.  The only drawback I see is that lack of pre cuts because I am on a fabric diet but I see myself cutting and using patches from my fat quarter stash.  Yes, it will add work but I can get 10 inches and 5inch patches easily from my fat quarter collection.  I can then make my own coordination and kits for these quilts.  I will be posting the blocks / quilts as I go along.

Happy Quilting,

Nonnie

~~

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Where did the time go???

Not much progress on my FMQ as this weekend just flew by with family activities. I did wave to my sewing machine a couple of times as I scampered out the door. Then when I had the time to sew I was able to enjoyed practicing several motifs that I had learned over on Craftsy. My favorite is SQUARE DOODLE and horrors of horrors you cross lines. I practiced the motifs by drawing out the motifs on paper over and over again. I was trying to practice the ins and outs of the motif. Even with the drawing practice my motifs were variable in placement, size, shape of the squares. They were kind of quirky and I am leaving them. I believe in doing the best that I can and in this time and place in my skill level this is where I am. I will not tear it out… besides I think they have a certain charm.
.

.

doodle over and over again

.

Every FMQ instructor I have ever took classes from all mention the importance of doodling a motif over and over again to build muscle memory and to teach the quilter how to get in and out of tight spots. I doodled the motifs over and over again all sizes, all approaches. I really like this little motif and plan to use it again in the future.    When I stitched out the border I did not even attempt to keep the size, shape or placement consistent.  I am finding I have difficulty with the starts and stops and I tend to wiggle whenever I was trying to stitch a straight line.  This is something I have to work on.              .
.

.

.

What you do not see in these pictures is the markings. I could not find my marker box the only color marker I found was orange. I tested the marker on several scraps of fabric to make sure it would wash out, no problem. I had used CRAYOLA WASHABLE MARKERS several time to mark my quilt tops in the past but usually the softer colors.  I also use the fine line markers and not the large markers.  When I had finished FMQ this motif I found I could not stand to look at the bright orange markings I had used.  So I gave it a little spritz… nothing.  I spritzed the markings again and they remained.  I then began to worry so I ran water in the wash tub just trying to soak only the area I had marked.      The markings lighten but I could still see them easily.   Panic … I ended up rubbing some laundry soap directly on the markings.  I then drove to JoAnn’s Fabrics in town to get  stain remover.  I did not want to take any chances that I would not get the marking out.   By the time I got home from my run to JoAnn’s the markings were gone.    The kicker is I bought two new boxes of  CRAYOLA WASHABLE FINE MARKERS and then found my box of markers.            …..
.

.

THINGS I LEARNED ( after the fact) :

1/ Sharon Schambers suggest starching the quilt top heavily. She uses cheap BIC mechanical pencils to mark the quilt. The markings sit on the starch protecting the fabric; they wash away when she blocks her quilt. I probably should have used more starch before marking the quilt. I also should have continued looking for my box of markers. If I had continued looking for a little longer I would have found my box and not had to use the large orange marker. As I have used this marking technique in the past and knew it worked well…. I SHOULD NOT HAVE PANICKED.

2/  I need to practice more, especially straight lines. I do not have good muscle control.  When I stopped and then restarted, my stitching would jerk and I get a bobble in my stitch line.  I also found had difficulty making nice sharp corners.  That required me stopping then changing directions.  I often got a slight bobble.  Nothing that will not be covered up by the texture of the quilt after blocking and first wash, but I know they are the result of  lack of control and skill, so I will continue with practice.   

Happy Quilting,

NONNIE

I will be making more notations on what I learned but right now too tired to continue.  Look for future edits.                                  ….

.

                           ….

.

.

.

It is 3am so why am I awake????

It is 3 am (est) so why am I awake.  My darling grandson  had a night mare and woke up screaming.  He is now sleeping the sleep of the unconscious but I am wide awake and can not go back to sleep.. BUMMER!! So I decided to journal my FMQ adventures because this is basically what this blog is about. This little baby quilt will go live in Arizona with my nephew, his wife and their expected daughter. If I want to remember the lessons I learn in this quilt I have to record them here because I will probably never see the quilt once it is gone.

I was able to get some short quilting sessions in this week.  Each night after I came home and got some dinner on the table I was able to FMQ one of the small sheep borders.  Each session was about a hour before getting ready for bed.  I do not do my best quilting this late at night, but I have to do the quilting when I have some free time.  I find working in small time frames get the work done; but it does have some draw backs.   In this quilt I plan each border to have a slightly different motif, but if I wanted them all to be the same I would have some problems maintaining the same pattern in each border working the patterns on separate nights.  Since I did a new pattern every night I did not have to worry about consistency.

I wish I had placed a second layer of batting behind the little sheep as they would have looked very cute as a trupunto, but I opted not to do that. Each border has a slightly different FMQ motif in the background. Sewing in such a small scale was harder than I anticipated.     My hands tended to cramp a little as I worked so I had to shake them out to loosen my grip.  I had not noticed this problem when I worked on larger scale motifs.  Small scale FMQ is more forgiving if you break pattern… I dare anyone to find my mistakes.  The thin blending thread I chose to use makes it very hard to see errors.

On my last night I made a major mistake in my FMQ resulting in me spending part of my time picking out the stitches.  I now plan to pin my extra backing so I DO NOT sew it into my FMQ again.  I have done this before… YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD LEARN FROM THE FIRST TIME.

I will be journalling more as I finish each of the borders.  I am thinking a different motif in each section.  I hope you do not find it to boring but I want to write down what I have learned so I do not forget in the future.  I have been scouting out various motifs on FMQ BLOGS mostly Leah Day and Angela Walters and of course PINTEREST.  What would I do without PINTEREST?  I can mimic FMQ patterns but I am not to the point that I can design my own… I need all the inspiration I can get.

So sleep is finally coming to me.  Here is my first set of small border pictures.  Tomorrow I plan to do the larger borders.  I have no idea at this time what patterns I will do.

 

Swirls and Curls

.
.

Swirls marked with CRAYOLA WASHABLE MARKERS

.
.

TINY BUBBLES

.
.

RICKY DOODLES

.
.

BIG BOO BOO– sewed the side to the FMQ motifs…dumb

.
.

HAPPY QUILTING
NONNIE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com
.
.

A NEW QUILTING PODCASTER has arrived

There is a new pod-caster BASHFUL, BRITISH QUILTER just published her first podcast. Keep our fingers crossed we are hoping she will be posting about the English Quilting scene. She is just starting her blog and podcast; currently you will find her at:

HERE IS THE LINK TO …. BASHFUL, BRITISH QUILTER’S BLOG AND PODCAST

DIRECT RSS FEED

I hope everyone will stop by her blog and leave a comment welcoming her to the world of quilting podcasters.

Happy Quilting to all,

Nonnie

.ADDENDUM:

CAROLYN the BASHFUL BRITISH QUILTER has said she is in the process of fixing the email issues and getting a new address to publish.  So keep checking the blog for updates.

.

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

.

.

Free motion quilting : session TWO

MIDDLE PANEL

.
.
This is from my second session of FMQ on this sheep quilt. I used a french curve for the top panel and made gentle swoops. I was trying to mark them consistently but when I sewed them I strayed from the path. I only did one single pass using 40 wt King Tut thread. I was trying to mimic background hills.
.
.

Bottom half of the quilt panel …

I originally tried to use a vertical flame pattern similar the horizontal flame pattern in the section above. I ended up picking out all the FMQ stitches. Thank goodness, there was less than a quarter of the section quilted. I then marked new lines in a curved grid pattern. I was having trouble following the lines without back tracking. As again I was using the 40wt King Tut thread,the back tracking showed, I kept getting bobbles and funky miss-stitches when I moved my hands. This would not win any prizes in a quilt show; but works great on a baby quilt. I find over quilting covers up a lot of mistakes and it looks like it was intentional. I do not think it would have looked so funky in the first place if I had used a thin thread such as bottom line, a 60 to 100 weight thread.
.
.
Off I go for another FMQ session. I need to plan out what I am going to do in the multiple borders. One thing I know is I will only be using thin thread for the rest of the quilt. I am thinking of doing some of the motifs and patterns I learned through ANGELA WALTERS Craftsy classes and books. I will be posting them in the future.

Happy Quilting,
Nonnie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

.
.

An evening with PAT HOLLY …..

GALLERY OF QUILTS for Pat Holly and Sue Nickles

PAT HOLLY was guest speaker at our March quilt guild meeting. She brought many of her quilts and talked about her journey from a newbie quilter to award winner. The guild members were able to get and up close and personal look at the quilts. I asked Pat if I could post pictures of her quilts on my blog and PAT said yes. I also should let you know that she showed her newest quilt that will be debuting in Paducah, Kentucky this spring, but I will post pictures after that time.

applique challenge

*
*

Amish style quilt- early

*
This is one of Pat’s earliest quilts. At the time she was doing everything by hand including the quilting.
*

hand quilted – early quilt

*
*
PAT specializes in miniature quilts. She uses fused applique techniques in most of her quilts. She also started using stitched background using the decorative stitches on her domestic machines. She does FREE MOTION QUILTING on her miniature quilts, but her sister Sue Nickles does most of the FMQ on the big quilts.
*
*

Australian art challenge

*
*

*
*

*
*

*
*

*
*

*
*
I hope I will be posting more pictures in the future… so stay tuned.
Happy Quilting,
Nonnie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

 

DAVISON MI EVENING STAR QUILT GUILD’s 2013 RAFFLE QUILT…. isn’t GORGEOUS !

This gorgeous quilt was made by a talented group of quilters that belong to our guild. This is the second quilt they have designed for our raffle and each quilt just gets more fantastic. I just had to share the pictures with all of my friends.

*

*No I did not work on the quilt… I am honestly not in the same caliber as this group of quilters.

*

*I can hardly believe a person can buy a chance at this quilt for only $1. I have already decided to buy my entire packet of 25 but I will have more tickets to sell… any takers? (email me)

*WE will be selling tickets at the RICKY TIMS QUILT SEMINAR IN ROCHESTER MICHIGAN. MAY 2-3-4th **** THIS IS THE LINK TO FIND OUT MORE!

*

*Anybody planning to be there? Let me know I would love to meet you!

HAPPY QUILTING,

NONNIE

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

 

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

 

Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

 

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Finished thread basting

*
*
*

*
*
*

*
*
*

I spent the day thread basting my quilt. It took about 8 hours but it would have been faster if I did not have to cook two meals, keep the grandson out of the pins and machines. I also had my neighbor drop by for a visit but since she is a quilter that was okay we just gossiped.

You will note my thread basting is kind of close together…. two reasons… I only had a short needle and I stopped paying attention to spacing cause I was talking too much. Sharon Schamber’s YOU TUBE videos show spacing about 3 inches apart, but she uses different needles. I could only find my embroidery needles so my spacing is much closer together. As she has stated if you have applique elements in your project you can space closer together.

I also realized I should not have basted over my seam lines. I am taking CINDY NEEDHAM’s Craftsy class Design It, Quilt It: Free-Form Techniques. She said you have to stitch in the ditch EVERY STINKING SEAM! That same sentiment has been stated by RICKY TIMS in his DVDs, so I guess I will ANCHOR EVERY STINKING SEAM with stitch in the ditch.

The last picture I posted is of the back. I had done some thread painting instead of a label as I got kind of lazy I did not want to applique or piece a label into the back. I also think the label should be applied before quilting. I used a free form thread painting technique. My only regret, besides my sloppy handwriting, is that I did not use a good stabilizer. I used an iron pellon instead of my wash away stabilizer and it did not do a good job stabilizing. Live and learn.

***************************************************************************

 

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

LAYERING my quilt sandwich ala SHARON SCHAMBER

Link to Sharon Schamber’s You tube videos

Hand Basting using boards

Several years ago when I started getting interested in FREE MOTION QUILTING I watched all the YOU TUBE videos I could find. I found several by Sharon Schambers. I started using her method because I did not like putting my quilt sandwich on a bed or the floor. I could use my sewing table for most quilts and it was the perfect height. For really large quilts I go to the guild or a local sewing group and use their big tables. I figure if this method works for Sharon Schambers it will be good enough for me. I like not having to strain my back so I will keep using this method. I posted my links so you can see her video. YOU will notice I use a separate trim board for each layer. I think Sharon used only one set, but I found this the easiest method and all my layers come out nice, flat and well aligned.

My current baby quilt is now loaded and I will be hand basting it this weekend so I can start the free motion quilting. I use DMC embroidery cotton or a fine pearl cotton, usually in white. I have also heard of using WASHABLE THREAD for the basting the quilt and not removing the thread but I think that is a waste of expensive thread. Once I have the quilt top basted together I can free motion quilt and remove the thread as I go. I find that this type of basting keep the layers together and there are no puckers on the back of the quilt.

I will post updates of the quilt as I go along.
Happy QUILTING,

Nonnie

 

 

Long time NO POST

LONG TIME NO POST… just trying to get caught up on life. We are having new flooring place in the living room and I have put things into storage, given away a lot of STUFF! I have gotten very little sewing done. I took the evening off and finally got my baby quilt put together… it took forever because it stayed up on the design wall instead of being worked upon.

I did do a lot of mindless sewing in that I made over 500 NINE PATCHES… 3 inches in size. I started this quilt years ago and decided that since I could not do much else I could sew the nine patches. My strips were already cut out… I just had to sew them together. Boy the difference quilt classes and practicing good technique makes. The NINE PATCHES I made in 2005 and 2006 are totally wonky… Why because I did not know how to cut, press or sew accurately. But they are going in the quilt as is. This is a MAKE DO QUILT / FINISHING A UFO type project so if they are wonky… that is okay with me. The important thing about these blocks is they hold up together and do not fall apart .. if some are the wrong size I will compensate for the discrepancy in the next step when I assemble the rows. I will be blogging about this in the future.

Well this is all the NONNIE NEWS FOR NOW. MY podcast is still down but I hope that in March I will be able to post a podcast. We will see. I am planning to go to the RICKY TIMS SEMINAR in south east MI this spring ( MAY 2-3-4.)

Happy quilting to all,

NONNIE

http://eveningstarquilters.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html

http://www.rickytims.com/seminars

Mindless Sewing : Journal January 20, 2012

MINDLESS SEWING Journal Notes

Sunday, January 20, 2013
7:51 PM

I took a little break from blogging, but I was able to do some quilting. I had promised myself to do nightly 15 minutes of sewing and I have done that but just barely. The mad house which is my home right now has prevented me from working on my baby gift. I have been able to work on a UFO that I started in 2009 and never got very far with the quilt. A group of us started making 3 inch Nine Patches to exchange but when we went to exchange I realized I did not like their fabric and they did not like mine. I also think there were some technique and quality control issues…. YOU know 3.5 inch patches that were not 3.5 inches. We came to the agreement to keep our own patches.

McCalls 2009 / Skyward Nines

I revised my plans for my patches when I went through my folders of magazine clippings. I found a picture of a Nine Patch quilt I always admired. I decided to make it… only bigger. For the past two weeks I have been doing MINDLESS SEWING. In that I have scrap bags of left over fabrics and have been cutting them into 1.5 by 5.5 strips. I then sew them into NINE PATCHES. Any small chunks get cut into 1.5 squares then sewn into a scrappy nine patch. I currently have over 200 nine patches but I need over 200 more. So every night after dinner I am trying to sew for 15 minutes. What I am finding is that the 15 minutes stretch into an hour. I think I have made good progress.

I call this mindless sewing because I am not being 100% fanatically careful with these patches. A lot of my seams do not match up. They are kind of wonky. The strips came from previous projects I had made and some of my patches will be smaller than the 3 inched finished. I am doing a lot of fudging of the blocks to get them made. I am in a USE WHAT YOU HAVE FRAME OF MINE. I will be making up for size difference when I add the sashing to the quilt. As a matter of fact I am thinking of deliberately making some odd size blocks as I think they will add to the whimsy of the quilt. I am having a lot of fun making these blocks.

The picture I am including is the steps to making the four patches. Cutting the strips and 1.5 inch patches. Chain piecing. I am sewing many of them in the standard four and 5 patch setting but I am also mixing and matching my block depending upon the fabric available. I am starching the heck out of the fabric because I am having some difficulty keeping the patches straight. For some reason some of my fabric wavers. I think the scraps might not be on straight of grain.

Steps for NINE PATCHES

Saturday and Sunday January 19 & 20th

On my design wall I have the sheep panel for a baby quilt. I was able to work on this weekend. I have been adding borders to the quilt. Since I am trying to do the best I can this takes a little more time than usual. I bought the panel and coordinating fabric six months ago, and of course the local quilt shop does not have any more of these fabric. I have been trying to adjust the running sheep border to the quilt. I ended up cutting the ones on the top and bottom and adding the pinwheels. I used a slightly different shade of blue fabric that mimicked the swirls in the other fabrics. I have been trying to be very careful to get the panel square and the quilt top flat. So far so good. Right now I am pleased with what I have done. Hopefully this week I will be able to work on it again this weekend.

Baby Quilt for Tom and Kristen

Well this is all for now…
Happy Quilting

Nonnie

***************************************************************************************************************

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

 

Pod cast link for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

JOIN me at GOOD READS

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Nonnie’s Flicker Pictures

Sad PODCAST Announcement –

I will not be podcasting for several months. I have had to down size my service and am at maximum file storage for another month or two. I could not afford the upgrade to the new program (It was over $300 to maintain the program I had last year and I can not see spending the money for what is a luxury but not necessity.) I understand the need for the podcast services to make money but I can not afford to continue.

The other reason I am not podcasting is lack of time. The actual recording time was about one to two hours but then I usually spent 4 to 8 hours editing. FRANKLY I would get tired of hearing my own voice and it was boring work. Time I do not have as my grandson grows older and wants more attention. Playing HEADBANZ and board games or crashing cars is my idea of fun. I also found podcasting ate into the free time I had for quilting. What a conundrum I could talk about quilting or I could quilt. With the amount of UFOs I have accumulated the answer to me is obvious… hit that sewing machine running.

I am sorry I was not able to make an announcement of the demise of the podcast. I do hope to continue with quarterly podcast once my service site gets adjusted but I do not know when that will be. I will be continue with this written blog and hope to post more often as I quilt. I see this as my quilting journal. No one in my family wants to hear about my quilting so I look to you my listeners and blog readers to converse with. Looking forward to a prolific quilting year.

Nonnie
.
.

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 29,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 7 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

New PROJECT FOR 2013

I have always wanted to make a 1000 PYRAMIDS QUILT and I have finally started one. While cutting my scraps for Easy Street, I thought to myself I should start cutting my pyramids. I hope to have one pyramid from every fat quarter I own. I will probably get two as I found it I could get two pyramids from a 9 inch by 18 inch cut of fat quarter fabric I have. I am going to float them on a white background. I have a whole bolt of WHITE KONA that I have wanted to use to make a modern quilt with. This will be my version of a MODERN QUILT.

CUT FROM A 8.5 INCH X 10 INCH PATCH: added 2-1/2 inch strip

I am sewing a 2.5 strip of the white KONA to each triangle prior to cutting then I cut them out at the same time. This works good for single patches but worked best for a fat quarter section. ( See pictures.)

From a 8.5 inch x 10 inch patch one triangle can be obtained.

TWO pyramids are obtained from 9 inch x 18 inch Fat Quarter section.

MOCK UP of Pyramid Quilt with rainbow color plan

.
.
.
I used my EQ7 to plot out my idea for the quilt. I want the triangles to float in a field of white. Well this is a start. I plan to start cutting during the BOXING DAY SEW IN…. ARE YOU JOINING US ON TWITTER?

HAPPY QUILTING

NONNIE,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ADDENDUM: 12-26-2012
I will also be doing PYRAMID within a PYRAMID blocks for my quilt. I figure I can use up a lot of scraps by making these blocks. I will be paper piecing them from a pattern I made in EQ7; I think that will make them accurate. I will be doing several trial triangle blocks till I get them CORRECT. The patches are made from 3×3 squares but I won’t know for sure till I do a mock up of the blocks… I hope to test the pattern out this weekend. Wish me luck.

PYRAMID IN PYRAMID BLOCK

Sewing on Codeine

Mistakes in math

Here are my flying geese. I am making a baby quilt with my blocks. The first time I calculated the number of geese I would need I underestimated by half. I had to make more geese. I have had a severe cold and been taking codeine cough syrup, so my math skills took a total decline. I also sewed several flying geese backwards, putting the background geese on the bottom instead of the top. I had to rip it, rip it, rip it. Because of the size of the scraps I am using I cut each patch individually. I used Bonnie’s method of cutting my patches using the angle rulers. This time it went easier since I have figured out how to piece the patches easier.

My recommendation do not sew on strong medication.

*
*
*
*
*

Over View of panel – FMQ

*
*
*
*
*

Over view of FMQ Panel… Now for the borders….

LEFT HALF

*
*
*
*
*
Panel’s left in detail….

Right half of panel

RIGHT half of my panel, in detail. I am getting closer to the end. I hope to have it done by New Years when we go see the family.

*
*
*
*
*

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Pod cast link for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

JOIN me at GOOD READS

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Nonnie’s Flicker Pictures

*
*