Friday, October 31, 2014

OH HAPPY DAY - FREDDY MORAN - HIP HIP HOORAY!







Freddy Moran was in the house!
And so was dear blogland friend that I met for the first time!
Miss Beautiful Kat from 
http://kellygirlquilts.blogspot.com/









Creative ladies working on collages...





And a new favorite pattern of Freddy's called Matrimony.




And some lonestars Freddy style.



My work in progress
using a painting by Vlaminck
from the Musee D'Orsay as inspiration.








Freddy = Pure happiness and joy!!!









Tuesday, October 21, 2014

TEACHING

Here's some pics of the latest and greatest 
from some of the classes I've taught this fall.
I am really enjoying watching the ladies
play, trust, create!

Finished Roman Stripes!
Whew! Look at all that pink!


Finished Flakes!



Scraptastic from the book Scrap Republic.


Same quilt in black and white - love the great value mix!
(the vertical line on the left is sunshine!)


More scrappy triangles rocket ships!



My very favorite moments, 
when I am teaching,
occur when the student gets in the creative flow
and confidently finds her voice.

This quilt used the scrap class and a Valori Wells pattern
as a jumping off point
into fun creativity!




Always happy Pat 
happily chugging along 
enjoying the process
one block at a time.


I like to make a little treat for each class.



YUM!


"Vintage Spin" by Kathy Doughty
taught at Calico Creations.
I'll be teaching this again this winter at Aunt Mary's.
LOVE IT!









I always enjoy my classes.
The ladies are so wonderful!


I'll be teaching another Kathy Doughty pattern 
at Aunt Mary's
Saturday November 15th.
Join me?!





Tuesday, October 14, 2014

CLASS WITH KAFFE AND BRANDON

Judy and I were up before the crack of dawn 
to arrive on Vashon Island just after sunrise!

Not too many people who can get me motivated 
for this early of a journey...
except...
Kaffe and Brandon
at Island Quilter!


Ladies brought
great fabric collections!







We are not "teachers",
Brandon said,
"we are encouragers".



The following are snippets of talk snatched from 
Brandon's and Kaffe's ramblings throughout the class.

We do not work to a theory...
open your self to the unexpected...


The only way you will know what works 
is if you cut it
put it up
and see 
if you have an emotional reaction to it.



Become like children,
work quickly
bypass the analytical.

People often ask us "why did you do that?"
There is no why!
It's what I felt like doing.
It's instinctive.
A gut reaction.


Every fabric is affected by what is next to it.


Be exciting!
Make it juicy!
Juzzsh it up!
Make those stars spin!
No box of cornflakes or chop suey!


Never say you are designing for that living room or bedroom.
You can repaint that bloody room!


What is the story of your quilt?
Is it a birthday party?
Is it dark and mysterious?
Keep your story rolling throughout the quilt
all the way through the border.






Here's the evolution of my 
no sew/just design 
day!



My take away from the class was 
to think of my quilt telling a story
(ties in with what Kathy Doughty says - what do you want your quilt to say?)
Then I watched the "story" change
as I changed the fabric.

Look at the very light tree trunk slices
ringing the dark center flower on the left.


Here that same flower is ringed by darker polka dots.


On the left is the fabric Kaffe liked for the border
and on the right is the fabric Brandon liked for the border.
Two different "encouragers"
two different stories
because there are two different gut reactions!

Kaffe said my story was
 "tingly"
"spectacular"
"lightly bouncing".

YES!
That resonates in my soul!
It makes me excited in my gut 
to think of moving forward lightly...
in my quilt...
and through life!!!


Last thoughts from Brandon -

It's not what you do in this class
it's what you walk away with.

At the end of the day you should be happy.

Last thoughts from me -

Good friends
great shop
time in the zone.

Happy I am!