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!
Wow! Thank you for the wonderful inspiration. I will come back here and read Kaffe and Brandon's thoughts again and again. I especially like "become like children...bypass the analytical." Wonderful quilt from Loretta too! I don't even remember my block. They look surprisingly great all together!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, thank you so much for all the luscious pictures and great inspiration from Kaffe and Brandon.
ReplyDeleteWow...what an awesome class...I am super jealous and drooling with envy over here. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW what a wonderful experience to take away from this class. Your piece is coming so well...looks like great fun, too. Hugs Julierose
ReplyDeleteI bet it gave you a new perspective on color/pattern. I felt the energy in the store during our visit. Everyone was challenged... but in a good way. I liked seeing your creative progress, and I know it may even change as you start sewing and thinking about it some more. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo agree with Nifty's comment! Your blog has really captured and shared a wonderful class/experience with your readers, it is an inspiring post. Thank you Beautiful Stephanie!
ReplyDeleteSuch a stunning class.Thanks form sharing your crear pics!
ReplyDelete