Who needs sleep?

After Wayne's Trunk Show, I had to get on my computer and play with some nine patches. I'd made a small mat a few years ago from leftover HSTs and just picked two nine patches at random from it. Don't know if Wayne has done these configurations, but it was definitely fun. In the one on the right, some of the HSTs needed to be recolored to make the medallion effect. 

Only problem is that I started it late and didn't get to bed. Maybe I'll call these designs, "With Eyes Propped Open I and II."

 

For those not familiar with what Wayne does, I drew a nine-patch (used CorelDraw) and rotated, flipped, etc. until I liked it. Changing colors would create more variations. The quilts look complicated, but the blocks are simple. I've already too many UFOs but if God permits sewing machines in heaven, eternity should be long enough....

Trunk Show

Yesterday presented a delightful opportunity to meet Wayne and Linda. They were at a quilt shop in my city to present a trunk show, a small part of the quilts from Wayne's amazing mind. For this display, he used quilts that came from the idea of nine-patches and pinwheels only. Each quilt is named after a town in our province. The variety is astonishing. You can go to his blog and click on that category from a list down the side.

While the quilts were even better "in live" than the photos and ideas from the blog, the best part for me was the delightful personalities of Wayne and Linda. They are fun, down-to-earth and very friendly. This matches both their talents in designing and making quilts. 

Hop on over to Wayne's sketchbook and poke around. He has a website, a book on designing, and another one in process. If you are every in Alberta, look him up. He sells patterns too, and his patterns are not only well-executed, but he also gives several suggestion in each for variations in using them, a real bargain that shows his heart... he wants everyone to share in the fun of "I designed this myself!"

Thanks for a super couple of hours, Wayne and Linda!
 

Happy Thanksgiving

In Canada, today is officially Thanksgiving. The turkey is in the oven! However, since being thankful cannot be restricted to one day or to one country, my prayers for all to have a delightful day of being grateful for all good things, such as:

- God's grace and blessing
- freedom to live and work and laugh
- family near and far
- times to play, worship, create
- old friends and new
- the smell of toast in the morning
- a good night's sleep
- warm homes 
- clean water
- dishwashers and coffee makers
- good food from the farmers' market
- the ability to say YES
- good sense to say NO
- color
- ideas and plans 
- clear sky and sunlight
- quilts finished and on the go
- memories
- space for books and fabrics and other stimulating stuff
- and time to make thankful lists, even if I must get busy for now instead of writing forever!

Unfettered progress...

 

This one is now in fabric... and pinned to my design wall. I'm waiting for the Quilt University teacher to say "change this..." or "go for it" and then will sew down the pieces, sandwich and quilt it. I'm planning to put a facing around but there will be three parts that refuse to be inside the box... they are already faced and will be tacked in place last. It is about 22" x 28" - big enough for a fairly simple design. I was dreading trying to do an abstract piece, but this is turning out to be a lot of fun. There are about 30 others in the class and watching what they are doing is very interesting.

Quilt University class

Signing up for a class at Quilt University was likely bad timing for me, but I wanted something small to work on alongside that huge Mariner's Sunset, something that didn't tax my muscles or make them ache. 

However, the class has been a challenge nonetheless. I've not done any sort of abstract art, at least not recently or with gusto. This class has pushed me to give that a try. I selected photos, did the sketches, and came up with this one as my choice for the quilt. It was originally a photo of an old gate. It was still upright and the posts and angles said "strength" to me. Even though the fence was down and the gate no longer had any purpose, it also said, "unfettered" strength. So that is what I am going to call it... even though I tipped it over.

This is my drawing, not the quilt. The fabrics are laid out and ready to cut into shapes and sew. I'll post it when completed. Right now, it is only this drawing and an expanded drawing and a big pile of fabrics in these colors!

Mariner's Sunset Progress

Last Monday I put this monster on a table (where it hung over all edges) and then on my living room floor to get it squared up so the horizon was level, and to trim the edges, and get the foreground rocks in the right places. Did lots of pinning and basting also. Two-three hours later and I took these pictures. I'm too old to crawl around on the floor so needed a massage on Wednesday! My thighs are still a bit sore but I'm accepting that 'no pain - no gain' bit of wisdom.

That is because this is starting to look the way I hoped. Lots to do yet though... the tulle over the "sun" reflection in the water is cut too large, so you can see a gray circle that will not be there when it is done. Also, there is a patch in the sky that needs some lighter tulle. The leaves that frame the sides and top (scroll to sketch in earlier post) will go on later, after I get some quilting done to hold all this together. It is already pinned to the back leader for my HQ 16, but I might baste it instead. 

This one is physically hard work! It is now 101" wide x 75" tall, and I do have a place to hang it, but if anyone knows of a hotel or such that has a nice big blank wall, do let me know! My aches are telling me that I would be glad to sell it to anyone who is interested.
 

K-5 - Fractured & Frazzled Flowers

 

This is K-5 Fractured and Frazzled Flowers. The title came from the fabric, design and the goofy way that I quilted it. Just have to finish sewing on the sleeve and the label and it's done. I'm waiting for the next football game :-) Also added a close up so you can see what I mean by frazzled...

I had enough leftovers from cutting my strata to make another star/kaleidoscope. Yikes, this is addicting. 

I also have Mariner's Sunset on the HQ-16, partly. So it is going to get finished, but it is 101" wide so will take some time to quilt. The water needs more rocks yet.This is only my drawing since I cannot get far enough back from the quilt to take a picture. When it is finished, I'll take it outside for its photo session!