Creative Life Sampler

I was once involved with a group which included an individual that didn’t say much. It was obvious that they were engaged and very aware of what was going on, but they were quiet, unassuming, and thoughtful. The thing that impressed me most about this person was that, when they chose to speak, the conversation stopped short and everyone gave space for them to share. I’ve often thought of this individual when feeling pressure to join in on a conversation. When circumstances call for it, I’ve tried to emulate this unhurried, measured approach in order to think things through; choosing words and phrases judiciously for clarity in presenting my perspective. Ten years ago, those words didn’t include expletives or profanity. That was a conscious choice. But a lot has happened in the world and our country since then. There are times when stringing words together don't seem as effective at expressing the emotions of the moment as a single word.  As I was walking through a row at QuiltC...

I can't emphasize enough how important human connection is to the experience of attending QuiltCon. Whether you are standing in line for an event, hanging out at your own quilt, or lingering in front of a quilt you really like, it is so easy to strike up a conversation. People are joyful to be there and pleased to be with other quilters. There is an instant connection because you already know you have quilting in common.  After all, it is a celebration of quilts. Running into a ribbon winner, it is natural to lift them up for their accomplishment. This year when I came across Heidi Parkes in front of her prize winning quilt, I put aside my usual reticence to congratulate her. As we spoke, I was reminded of my first encounter with her work.  Back in 2021, I was doing a lot of hand appliqu é  and hand quilting, but I hadn’t been in the modern guild very long. Sometimes it felt like I was fumbling along, trying to figure out what made modern quilts different. That spring Hei...

They were expecting the Modern Quilt Guild in North Carolina. This greeted us at the Raleigh airport!  What a great way to build excitement!! And here's the view from our hotel room Thursday morning.  Way before the doors opened to the show, quilters were lined up for early classes. First views of the convention center floor.  The left side showcased the quilt show, the right side the vendors. Coming down the escalator, we were able to spot my quilt, Midnight & Noon in the front circle.  At the award ceremony Wednesday evening I learned it had been given the Best Hand Quilting award, sponsored by Wonderfil Specialty Threads. It was such a joy to see people get close to my quilt to really take in the textures and the stitch work. I had so many wonderful conversations with people who were curious and engaged. Having this kind of interaction between creator and audience is a special experience at a large show. That it happens pretty regularly at QuiltCon is unique t...

Quilt Carrier Quilt Carrier- 18x24x7.5 inches Every time I tightly roll up a quilt to fit it in an old canvas bag so I can trot off to show & tell at a guild meeting, I wish I had something bigger for transporting my projects. So, I've finally done something about it! Most everyone has an old, well used quilt or bedspread lying around, threadbare, ripped. We had one that I just couldn't bring myself to add to the landfill; it was still good for padding. As I was cutting it up to wrap some items for storage, it occurred to me that it would also be great for batting. This is an old quilting tradition. Many a second quilt has been found in the center of vintage quilts.  And "upcycling," ("reusing discarded objects in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original," -  Webster) is really on trend right now.  I sincerely hope it never goes out of style!  Left: the old quilt, Middle: top fabric quilted in place on the used quilt...

The Potholder/Mug Rug/Trivet Once again my quilt guild has introduced me to something new, (well, new to me.)  Our challenge was to create potholders that would be gathered for an International Quilt Museum fundraiser. We each randomly drew crayons from a container to determine what colors we would use. I happened to get red and blue, and went for the obvious red, white and blue theme. Who doesn't enjoy holiday themed accents, right? The technique for this star was taken from Kaye Wood's Hexagon Star Project in Best of Fons & Porter: TableTop Quilts. And the guild provided squares of Pellon Insul-Fleece, a product that will "reflect heat or cold back to its source." Paired with one or two layers of batting to absorb moisture, this makes for a substantial and effective potholder, . . . or trivet, . . . or "mug rug".     Left: one of several products available  Right: layers- backing, batting, Insul-Fleece, batting, front Insul-Fleece can be found in the i...

Workshop on Reverse Appliqu é  Technique and Lettering My little work area for our 6 hour workshop day. Cozy. Last week was a busy one for me, - all new experiences! For a couple of months I've been preparing to give my first trunk show and workshop. A trunk show is an event where the quilter displays their work and gives a little lecture about it. Frequently, this is followed by a workshop on some aspect of the work that was shared. Under normal conditions, it's no small task to select the quilts, pull together a talk, and come up with a lesson plan for the workshop, but these days everything is still virtual. So I'm really grateful to have had some extra time to get ready, especially because it's been years since I've had the opportunity to teach. Setting up the technology to start the day. What a great experience!  I won't say that it went off without a hitch. The added challenge of dealing with the technology that facilitates meeting virtually added a layer ...

Tour of Quilters' Homes Continued (2 of 2) There is something cozy and gratifying about a home filled with quilts. Aside from seeing so many quilts in different settings, there were several unexpected advantages to the tour of quilters' homes. A crazy quilt displayed on Nadine's front porch   At large quilt shows the crowds can get pretty dense and you don't always get to see quilts up close. Of course, the "look, but don't touch" rule always applies, but this was an opportunity to view quilts in an intimate setting, with smaller groups. Good-natured volunteers helped visitors navigate through the homes and answer questions. The home owners/quilters were also available to greet guests and share their work. I have seldom happened on the creator of a piece at the same time as I'm viewing it at a quilt show. It was a treat to chat with several of them about their work,- right where they create it.   Nadine's Sewing Room, with an id...

A Different Kind of Quilt Show (1 of 2) Last weekend I attended a quilt feast . Well,… actually,… it was more like a quilt progressive dinner . A quilting buddy gave me a ticket to the Conejo Valley Quilters’ 2019 Rooms and Gardens Tour. The tour map included five homes and a final destination with more quilts, a boutique store and refreshments. Guild members  graciously opened their homes to visitors and shared their creations, as well as the work of fellow quilters. Each stop had a particular focus and reflected a style or personality different from the next. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon; getting more familiar with the community and being inspired by some great quilting. My first stop was Patti's home. So many quilts! There were quilts of all sizes and block designs, including lots of samplers, displayed in the kitchen, bedrooms, back porch area,... just everywhere. Quilts were displayed inside and outside at Pauline's home. (It's one...

New Guild Member (2 of 2) My first contribution to the guild. I soon found that lots of activity goes on in a guild. Aside from the show-and-tell portion of a meeting and the opportunity to meet other quilters, the guild invites guest speakers to share their work. It's a great source of information, which you don't get when you're alone in your sewing room. A mission of this guild is to share the art of quilting and give back to the community. Members have created baby quilts for the Public Health Department, and donated quilts to people affected by the Thomas fires and last year's mass shooting in our area. With this in mind, they are gathering "text" blocks from members for their 2020 Quilt Con charity quilt. The theme is: "The Spirit of Giving" and submissions are words that reflect why we create quilts and give them away. Second contribution: "comfort". Since I've worked a lot with hexagons, I thought I...

Modern Quilt Guild (1 of 2) Show-and-Tell at my first guild guild meeting.  (Here is a link if you want to see this quilt: https://creativelifesampler.blogspot.com/2018/02/aaaaand.html  ) It happened at several quilt shows that I attended. I would wander through the rows of displayed quilts, appreciating the craftsmanship, colors, patterns, ideas, and the inspiration to create would gain momentum. In this enthusiastic state of mind, I would come across the Modern Quilt Guild booth.  Each time I toyed with the idea of venturing out from my secluded sewing room to meet other quilters. Then the loner in me would reassert herself and I would think, “Maybe someday,…I’d rather be sewing than going to meetings any way.” The idea was always put aside. Last November my quilting friend suggested we finally check out a guild meeting together. It wasn’t the best timing; it turned out to be their business meeting. But we each brought a quilt for the show-and-tell p...