Weaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life: Best of August, experimenting with new bag-making skills, reading This Life (a book of philosophy) and making plans to celebrate my 40th birthday at the apple orchard.
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This quilt celebrates the rich beauty and brilliant confidence of red, red, Red. The stars sparkle on a scrappy cream and peach background, with splashes of bright white and royal lavender. If you squint your eyes, you may no longer see stars, but rather two grids of sparkling squares.
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Sometimes sewing makes me feel like a magical creature. I’m still amazed that I can transform a pile of cloth into a whole new look for a room. I used Kismet fabrics to make a new set of patchwork curtains in February, and since then I’ve been gradually changing things here and there in the living room to evolve the space.
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When Elora caught sight of this fabric, she asked if I would sew her a skirt. I thought, perfect! The fabric is dark enough to avoid staining, strong enough (it’s a linen blend) for everyday play and exactly right for the fall weather to come. How serendipitous!
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As I gathered images for today’s In the Studio update, I noticed a theme - bright and modern. These quilts use bright colors and/or oversized motifs, in a way that connects to the modern quilting movement. Please enjoy these beautiful quilts sewn by my customers in The Netherlands and Germany.
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My stars are spreading like contagious laughter! The red feels bright and intense, especially over the lavender background. I’m using color-blocking in the background and discussing the pro’s and con’s of Economy Stars vs. Sawtooth Stars.
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Free batting, anyone? Just order all-over or custom quilting, your choice, and you’ll receive free Quilter’s Dream batting sized correctly for your quilt. That’s up to a €76 value, depending upon your quilt!
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I so appreciate your suggestions about possible background colors for my red, red, red economy stars quilt! Here I try out a few and come up with a plan that strikes me as adventurous.
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This is Kale and Carrots because the colors and energy remind me of a late summer garden. The big, leafy greens are bolting in every direction and the earthy orange carrots are ready to be plucked. Everything is a bit topsy turvy, but in a healthy sort of way that indicates life and abundance.
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My next quilt is going to be red, red, red. I don’t reach for my red fabrics often, but I actually find the color incredibly beautiful when used intensely. I have in mind small Economy Stars in a compact layout. I’ll start by cutting scraps - - -
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Stars are my favorite overall patchwork motif. I love their sharp, sparkly personality and the way that they show off fabric. Patchwork stars can be simple or fancy, traditionally pieced or paper pieced, wonky or tidy, scrappy or fussy cut. In every form, I love them! Here are my favorite 8 patchwork star blocks.
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In my opinion Pas de Deux is my most successful sew-along yet. I am thrilled to see that the pace and design of this project is helping quilters to maintain momentum and keep on with the project. That’s the very best indication of success, in my book.
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Sometimes sewing that first block is the easiest. You begin with so much energy, so much enthusiasm. But sometimes the first block is the hardest. To improvise is to welcome change, answer challenge and celebrate the serendipitous. With such a project I know that I am growing too.
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It is the first day of August, the warmest month, when the wild days of summer burn themselves out. I have begun a new quilt with green as my mental starting point. Lively, living green. It brings the energy of growth and the relaxing cool of the shade.
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