Monochrome

Monochrome was created explicitly for the August Quilt! Knit! Stitch! show in Portland, Oregon. This is my second year entering the challenge, last year getting into the show with ástərisk. When announced, this year's theme, Black to White, was another "oh dear, what will I do with that?!" just like last year's modern metallics challenge. But once I had an idea, I ran with it and really enjoyed myself.

Fresh from Room Temp's "improv under the influence", the gradient of black to white seemed a good fit for the same technique, and I was anxious to try it again. Except I used the white very sparingly, only in the Michael Miller's Clown Stripe. The rest of the fabrics were solids from my stash, mostly Kaufman Konas. Rather than begin with 5" squares as in Krista Hennebury's original, I used 9", wanting to work with larger strips.

Backing is Jazz Jam by Jane Dixon for Andover Fabrics, and quilting was done with Aurifil 50wt #2600 (light gray) and #2605(medium gray) in straight-line spirals and echo-stitching in random areas.

Again I used the quilt facing tutorial by Terry Aske Art Quilt Studio, and the finished quilt measures 45"x53". So there's my interpretation of 'Black to White' - I'll let you know if she makes it into the show!

The Show Continues

Since you enjoyed the mini quilt show last week, here's more! Darting Birds by Whitney (the peacock tree) of That Stash Bee had us using Whitney's own tutorial {here} for 6" finished blocks. Her palette is one of my favorites, and I really enjoyed how she arranged the blocks. Isn't it fun?

A current photo of my ástərisk, currently hanging in the Modern Metallic exhibit of Quilt!Knit!Stitch! in Portland, OR. I'm not able to attend the show, so it was nice that Cath of Wombat Quilts kindly took a photo of my quilt . . . which just happens to be hanging next to hers! Feel free to check out more of the goings on under the #quiltknitstitch hashtag on Instagram.

photo by @wombatquilts

And finally, here's a pair of snapshots taken during Sew & Tell last night at the meeting of the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild. We had each just shared our MQG Fabric Challenge projects before gathering together for this group shot. Boy there were some beauties there! See them closer plus all of the other projects shared last night in our guild flickr group.

photos taken by Rachel/snippetsofsweetness/@snippetsofsweetness

That's it for now! Hope you enjoyed the show!

This and That

It was daughter dear's birthday this last weekend, and I thought she would enjoy some 'handmade' gift-wrapping. So I started with a project I saw on Pinterest - Fabric Twine by My Poppet. 

 I think I need to perfect my technique, but for the first time out, I thought it turned out ok.

 Plus it looked colorful and cute around a fabric-wrapped gift.

Then of course was the requisite Lined Drawstring Bag by In Color Order. I can't tell you how many of these I've made - Rachel's made oodles too. It's just a great little pattern and turns out so cute every time. This one's the Project Bag.

Not having the pleasure of attending Quilt Market last weekend, I must say I enjoyed watching from the sidelines on facebook and Instagram + reading folks' posts telling of their experience. And yes, seeing all the new collections is pretty exciting. Of course there had been alot of hype about the new Cotton + Steel, and it certainly doesn't sound unwarranted!

C+S Spring Collection Preview from Gregory Miller Pictures on Vimeo

Not saying that's all I'm looking forward to, but some of many!

Also, I got word last week that my ástərisk quilt was accepted for inclusion in the special exhibit Modern Metallic 2014 at Quilt!Knit!Stitch! in Portland OR this August. So that's pretty exciting! Definitely worth the rush to get it done!

Lastly, something you probably won't find me doing any time soon, but I thought they were SO darling! Hexistars from Nellie's Niceties. I thought some of you EPP types might enjoy them!

 

That's it for now! Hope you all are having a good week and enjoying the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Linking up with Really Random Thursday.