On Vacation

I brought two quilts to bead (K-2 and K-3), my art supplies, and laptop. However the wireless service in the lovely remote place in the Rocky Mountains where we are staying offers such a weak connection that I am unable to connect. Right now, I'm in their main building plugged in direct with a cable. Besides that, it is pouring rain and I want to hibernate, not go out to post blog messages. As soon as the sun shines, I will be back (or when we go home, whatever comes first!)

BTW, the beads are looking good. Such a relaxing way to spend a rainy day. We have a spectacular view, even with the rain, and our chalet is roomy, warm and has everything but email. What more could I want!

Kaleidoscope 2 - Day 3

Last night I was able to add another unit to each of these two kaleidoscope quilts. While I was having a great time with my own quilts, the others in the room were enjoying themselves even more. Three of them are experienced quilters. One had never sewn before, never mind made a quilt.

I will post all their efforts when they are finished, but have to show off this beginner's work. She has three of the units pinned in place (on a piece of flannel so she could roll it up and take it home). Her fabrics make this one look like a piece of jewelry!

I'm hoping to finish mine this week. My next task is to make another strata, because my next unit is a bit larger than the others and I could not get two sets out of the one piece of strata. Ho hum stuff, but putting the pieces on the wall is exciting!

This one is Jen's quilt. Remember, ignore the pins. When sewn together, these will look even better. Jen calls her quilt "funky" but the rest of us called it an incredible first attempt!

Kaleidoscope 2 - Day 2

Yesterday I added the next round of pieces to these two Kaleidoscope quilts. Again, I was able to get two sets of piece #4 (there are 5 and you work backwards) from my strata, so had two different "looks" for each quilt.

I put each set on each quilt and this is my decision. I can hardly wait to add the next set. This quilt is so much fun to make, like a puzzle without the picture to tell you the outcome or a mystery with optional endings!

Today I hope to add at least one more set of pieces, and hope that my strata will be long enough. If not, I've enough fabric to make some more.

This quilt cannot be sewn together until all the pieces are laid out. I have to take it to a class tonight, so it is heavily pinned on an old sheet so it will transport. If those pieces fall off, it would likely not be too much fun trying to figure out where they belong.

Kaleidoscope 2

I made a Ricky Tims Kool Kaleidoscope quilt last year in a class, then decided to make another one this week, only smaller (15" pattern instead of 18"). This quilt is made from striped fabric called strata, that you make yourself. You make pairs, put them right sides together, and cut six pieces from each pair. This creates mirror images. Unpredictable but great fun!

This time I made my strata the same length the larger size required, but not quite as wide. It turned out that the first pattern piece for the 15" size was small enough that I could get two sets of six out of one set of strata.

I turned the pattern around for the second set and cut out six more mirror images. This picture is of both sets put on the design wall. The pattern piece is stuck up there too.

Once I cut out the other pattern pieces, they will be sewn together, but the picture is of the middle section of my kaleidoscope quilt, or in this case kaleidoscope quilts. Both are from the same strata but what a difference in the way they look just from rotating the pattern piece 180 degrees!

Actually, if I can do this with all the pieces, I will make two quilt tops and sandwich them back to back. That way I can turn the quilt around for variety, or even hang it like a flag so both sides can be seen, depending on the vantage point.