color challenge #16 kelly green... and long lost #6 orange...

Well here is my final color challenge block #16 kelly green as well as my long lost #6 orange block. I love both these colors. Like in my other blocks, the starter fabric from my "to donate" bag is on the lower left with my added fabrics. Can't believe this is the last of the series! The way these blocks will be joined is kind of complicated and involves much more sewing so it will be some time before this quilt is finished and a photo posted... 

and here is orange...

These challenges were so much fun to participate in. They made me think about colors that I'm naturally drawn to, those I'm decidedly not and how important it is to stretch one's own perceptions and break out of routines. There are no bad colors- who knew? Thanks so much to Victoria and everyone involved!

kathy doughty...

When you start out doing something it is often hard to find "your people". Generally I like a mix of clean graphic blocks made up in strong and often bright or modern fabrics. The quilts I love and want to make are not quite traditional and wouldn't be characterized as art ones. I love the rather busy play of color and pattern on color and pattern. Through the internet, I found my quilt "home" in Australia at Material Obsession a place that is geographically thousands of miles away. At the helm of this wonderful store and group of inspiring quilters is Kathy Doughty. I loved her previous books and was thrilled to receive her new solo effort "Making Quilts... The Promise of Joy" published by Quiltmania. It is filled with beautiful patchwork, gorgeously photographed in rural settings and shot in that very unique "Down Under" light. Most interesting is that Kathy gives lots of space in her new book to explaining her influences, goals and creative thought processes behind every design. The book is divided into three sections: Optical Illusion, Tradition With a Twist and Folk Art Inspiration. There are many beautiful quilts and it is impossible to choose a favorite. As well, it is hard to write about this book without spoiling the surprise of discovery. Will say, it is worth getting "Making Quilts" just to see the creative ways she uses one of the best Kaffe fabrics "Marquee Stripe"...

For example "Marquee Diamonds"...

Other great quilts include "Fractured"...

"Uzbek Patches" detail...

and "Pheasantville"...

If the book isn't enough, Quilter's Companion has just published a special issue called "Old Quilts Made New". The magazine is filled with lovely designs but the real draw is a DVD with Kathy called "Recreating Old Quilt Treasures". This dvd is a further explication of her creative process. On the disc is a series of talks in which she shows us how she: finds inspiration, works with fabric including choosing color, pattern and building palettes, uses her favorite specialty tools and shares a myriad of other unique ideas. As you would expect from her blog she is intensely creative and creatively intense. I really enjoyed the dvd in conjunction with reading her new book as watching it is as close to taking a workshop with her as I am likely to come at any time soon. It is tempting to emigrate to Australia just for the quilting. Perhaps, Cathy can explain why her nation produces so much talent. You may purchase both Kathy Doughty's new book and the magazine with dvd at her online store. 

The "Dreamcatcher" pattern is in the magazine and here is the quilt... Just stunning!

a thousand "thank you"s...

A thousand "thank you"s to the divine Sujata for posting about this book "Bold Improvisation"!  Years ago, I was lucky enough to befriend an elderly textile collector who turned me on to African American quilts and I've been collecting books about them ever since. Funnily, it never occurred to me until relatively recently that I could become a quilter myself. Don't know how this book was missed. It is wonderful and teeming with beautiful quilts like this one...

and this one...

If you want to see two gorgeous interpretations of a Lighting Streak quilt, you must check out Sujata's blog and also an extraordinary version (widely coveted by all who see it) made by LeeAnn. This lovely book will make you want to create your own patchwork example of each and every quilt...

color challenges #14 maroon and #15 lime green...

maroon...

Here are color challenges #14 maroon and #15 lime green. The first block was trickier as I thought I disliked this color and wouldn't have enough to make it. The block ended up being like Victoria's, one of my favorites. Inspired by wine colored Zinnias, I added hints of orange, pink, green and turquoise and a fair bit of black. The starter fabric is on the lower left with the added fabrics.

lime green...

This block was lots of fun to make because I love lime green in every form. This color is cool and juicy just like its namesake. To my starter fabric on the lower left I added some yellow, teal, leaf green and some salmon as an accent. This series of color challenges has been so much fun. I can't believe I'll be posting my last one next week and hopefully the long lost orange block too...

blue and white...

Blue and white is a classic combination especially for the summer. I don't know if it is the influence of this endless heat wave but I've been itching to make a blue and white quilt. I found these Marimekko placemats at Crate & Barrel. Wouldn't a quilt inspired by this print be gorgeous in Lotta Jansdottir's Echo fabrics? The pattern looks like strings of beads to me...

My new quilt will be another tile based design and I hope to use these Indian fabrics on the left with a crisp white for the background. If the scale of the prints does not work I may switch them out for some Amy Butler (below right) or Kaffe Fassett fabrics in blue.

Here is the preliminary design:

Hopefully the end result will evoke the gorgeous tiles of Spain like these Andalucian beauties from Fired Earth.

Am very busy these days so am working on a way to speed up making this quilt which I'll post about in a few days... Hope you are all keeping cool!

thank you reebok...

Like lots of women, my closet is a sea of black. It is an easy, mindless, urban uniform. I do like color in accessories particularly in shoes like these Louboutin lookalikes:

Unfortunately, I would be a danger to myself and everyone around me if I ever tried to wear 5 1/2" heels so I was thrilled to find new runners in colors that I love. Thank you Reebok. This might start a new trend for me of buying shoes inspired by my favorite fabrics...

color challenge # 13... aqua...

This is color challenge #13 aqua. I found it hard to determine at what point a green blue becomes a blue green. It was an effort not to end up with a second mint block. For some reason the image of Martha Stewart's Bedford farm stuck in my head, that is, the time period when she painted everything in colors that matched the eggs of her Aracuna chickens. To aqua, I added pale blue, pink, orange and little hints of yellow.

The starter fabric is on the lower left with the added fabrics...

tile block tutorial...

Due to our inability to buy a house that does not need renovating, I own an enormous number of interior design source books. Years ago while restoring a Victorian fireplace, I became obsessed by elaborate tile patterns. Long after the hearth was finished these patterns remain my main inspiration for my quilting and knitting projects. Have had a few requests for the block that I'm using for the 15 Minutes Play color challenges. I drafted it from a Moroccan tile and thought I'd show you how it was done. I'll use this photo to illustrate the process.

To begin, isolate the repeat:

It is easier to draft the block in the absence of color so print the shot out in black and white:

Taking a ruler and pen mark all of the vertical and horizontal intersections to divide the image into easily sewn units to come up with the block. This method of marking the intersections works on a variety of tile patterns. Quite complex looking arrangements can be made by breaking them down into small units of squares, rectangles, flying geese, half and quarter square triangles.

Here is the result. You can choose to color the pieces differently, cut out spaces within the center, turn the block on point and/or eliminate seams... In this block the measurement of the corner piece times 6 will determine its end size. Don't forget to add seam allowances!

For the flying geese units I use my Accuquilt die cutter as I have a variety of triangle shapes in different sizes but you can use the "no waste" method of making flying geese. You can find a great printable pdf tutorial for this technique here.

15 minutes play block:

The measurement chart for different block sizes is below:

Am sure it is faster to do all this digitally but I still like to draw with pen and paper. 

my block for Victoria's signature quilt Spring '11...

ironwork from Malta...

wall pattern from the Taj Mahal...

Tile patterns are easy to sew and lend themselves brilliantly to the exploration of pattern and color in fabric. There are so many geometric tile patterns that would make fantastic quilts both pieced and appliqued. Books like the following ones are great for inspiration. Do a quick search for titles at Amazon or your local library and you'll find tons of mouth watering tile books out there. Keep an eye out for pattern if/when you travel but don't ignore your surroundings nearer home. Old banks and restaurants often have great potential patterns...

and this...