Colorplay

Happily, I got a work-in-progress off the design wall, my project from the QuiltCon Together class Color Interplay with Maritza Soto. The finish is just 18" x 19", but it was a fun one to pull together. I began with a complimentary color palette - a couple of greens + several reds, and in retrospect, I remember the navy not being in my original fabric pull, but added during class to add that 'pop' we hear so much about. 

For quilting, whether it was a perfect choice for this particular project or not, I really wanted to use the Dimensional Arrows design from Jacquie Gering's Walk 2.0 book, one of her "Sashiko-Inspired Designs." I had recently used it on a very small project and really enjoyed the execution, so I was eager to try it again. There was a little internal debate, but I settled on Aurifil 50wt #2250 [Red] for thread, which in the end, I really love.

I kept things simple and bound it with Kona Rich Red.

Yeah, it's small, but still a good reminder of things we talked about in the class, and ties up the loose end on projects begun during QuiltCon. So moving on down the list!

Atypical

So I finished my first project begun at QuiltCon Together. It's from Improv Triangles with Maria Shell. Though I've tried quiet a few techniques from Maria's book, Improv Patchwork, I had yet to dabble with either the 'flying loon' triangle blocks or 'short row' stripes. Happily, they were enjoyable to make and I really liked them together.

There was another triangle block Maria taught us in class - that pinwheel-ish block there in the middle, below. It turned out ok, but I didn't like it nearly as well as my original triangles, so this large block became a focal on the quilt back. As you can see, I pieced together scraps from my fabric pull for the pieced back, and included some left-over triangles and stripes, which worked out great.

For quilting, I settled on an equilateral triangle grid that I found in Jacquie Gering's Walk book, and quilted using Aurifil 50wt #2021 (Natural White). Even though my pieced triangles aren't equilateral, I think the overall design works well.

The quilt finished at 27" x 30", bound in a solid black; and still, one of my favorite things about it is its atypical rainbow palette + neutrals. I'll definitely consider going that route on a future project as it resulted in such a fun and interesting color combination.

QuiltCon Together: The Classes

So it's not unusual to come home from QuiltCon with a couple of works in progress, and virtual QuiltCon was no different. I actually took four classes, though only started new projects in two of them - so far. 

• Design with Contrast with Anne Sullivan was a no-sew workshop where Anne explored color and more, playing with contrast and movement in design. It was alot to take in, and thankfully came with a hefty handout to consult for future work.

• Color Interplay with Maritza Soto felt the most like QuiltCon to me, since I was able to virtually take the class with my daughter Rachel/@snippetsofsweetness. When we've been able to attend QuiltCon together in person, taking the same class has been a highlight, and it definitely was virtually as well.

The focus, of course, was on relationships between colors, with a fun exercise that is still in the works. We enjoyed taking the enhanced version of this class, so were able to share and discuss our works in progress, and that was really enjoyable too and definitely a nice option. None of what you see in the photo is actually sewn together - just adhered and layered on the design wall. I expect it to spread out and morph quite a bit before it's done. 

• Adventures in Improv Design with Anne Sullivan and Melanie Tuazon, who together approached story-based improvisational design in a very defined way, still ripe with many possibilities. It was a terrific presentation; and though I intended to start a project during this class, my overall schedule kind of overwhelmed me, and I just wasn't in the right mind-space to take it on. But again, it came with a good guide to explore further at a later date.

• Improv Triangles and Maria Shell also felt very familiar, as I've sewn alot from Maria's book, Improv Patchwork. We began by choosing a 'rainbow' + several neutrals. As you can see, my rainbow is not the traditional brights, which was very intentional. Similar but decidedly different, right?

Though I've tried many of the techniques from Maria's book, I don't actually think I've made 'flying loons' before. They are similar to flying geese, but more square, and I use that term very loosely.

In my initial fabric pull, I forgot to include brown. Brown you say? Maria pretty much insisted, so you'll see that included going forward. Here I used it in my striped half-square triangle pinwheel. I'm thinking this will be inserted in the backing of my triangle quilt.

Meanwhile, here are my blocks so far. They've since been rearranged a bit, some blocks removed entirely (those dark gray and teal in the bottom right - they read entirely too dark) , and I've begun piecing some stripes to insert. 

So now at least I have a plan, so I'm anxious to keep going.

Now I know that four virtual classes, in addition to all the lectures, quilt show, and socializing is A LOT. But I give QuiltCon Together high marks overall, and I'm glad I was able to experience so much.

QuiltCon Together :: Group Quilts

I do love a group quilt and though you already know about Rings hanging in the QuiltCon Together show, I had a very small hand in three additional group quilts in the show.

The first is Resilience, Seattle MQG's response to the Community Outreach Quilt Challenge. The theme for this year was "Curves," drawing from a specific color palette. The design for our quilt was initially inspired by member David Owen Hastings/@davidowenhastings. 

Personally, I used Stephanie Ruyle's Curves Ahead tutorial to create the blocks I submitted. The original quilt design evolved a bit to embrace the blocks that were received from members, but I really like the finish. The top was constructed by Rachel Singh/@liketosew and Matt Macomber/@odditease; quilted by Pam Cole/@pamjcole; and bound by Matt.

I'm still smiling over my friend Ellyn/@ellynz' first place win in Group or Bee Quilts! Her "Urban Emergence" portrays a relevant message about how "major cities around the world began to emerge from the smog and blue skies were revealed" at the beginning of the lockdown in 2020. Still good food for thought.

I was pleased to be invited to contribute a handful of gray improv blocks to Ellyn's quilt.

And then there's COQQUILT2020. When Jen/@jen.broemel put out a call for black and white improv blocks way back in March of last year, I got right to making and sent a block. Her intent was very clear... to create a collaborative quilt to emphasize our community's interconnectedness in spite of our separation. In the end, over 75 artists contributed to the "Collaborative Quarantine Quilt" that is currently 'hanging' in the QuiltCon Together show.

DO look close, as Jen blanketed each block with her own stitches. According to Jen, "Each stitch brought me hope, gratitude and solace in an unusual time..."

See what fun group quilts can be? And so varied.... definitely worth it to jump in when you get the chance to participate.

QuiltCon Together :: My Quilts

So the virtual QuiltCon Together is in full swing! It's very different, of course, but still very good. This is my 4th QuiltCon, and yesterday as it began, I felt the normal excitement and overwhelm. As usual, I headed straight for the quilt show for a quick look around before exploring other portions of the site. Would you like to see the quilts I have hanging in the show?

Split Segments is in the Small Quilts category. Made entirely from scraps, it started with the dark blue cut-offs from my 2019 Summer Sampler.

Note to Self was made for the MQG Classics Challenge from a pattern by Karen Foster/@capitolaquilter. There are 22 quilts in the special exhibit, all made from a pre-selected fabric palette.

And then there's Rings, my latest Bee Sewcial quilt, which of course, is in with the Bee/Group quilts. I was surprised that there are just 13 in this category! My collaborators were MarciDebetaz, Karen Foster, M-R Charbonneau, Leanne Chahley, Stephanie Ruyle, KenSmith, and Felicity Ronaghan, and they definitely helped bring my vision for this quilt to life.

And finally, there is Autumn Steps, which is in the Modern Traditionalism category. This is the one I was most surprised was accepted. It happens to be the largest of those quilts I had accepted (72" square), but quilted least densely, and the only quilt of the bunch that I had washed prior to entering. (I mention about washing mainly so I remember, as I know some folks wash every quilt when finished; but I usually do not necessarily, especially if it's a quilt I might submit to a show. Just personal preference, I know.)

To top things off, Autumn Steps was included in this year's QuiltCon Magazine!

So all that is of course very gratifying. I've already been back for a few more in-depth 'walkthroughs' of the show quilts, and they are amazing. An added bonus in these virtual times is that many of the quilts have an audio component - a short recording of the maker telling about their quilt. I like this feature very much! 

If you'd like to see the winning quilts, they are all posted on the QuiltCon Together site. They are a fantastic group!

Not to Be

So QuiltCon Together acceptance letters went out yesterday, and I had a mixed (but overall happy) outcome. And I was preparing to share about all of it in this post, but I've noticed that this year, alot of folks are holding back on sharing their acceptances, and just sharing their 'rejects'. That's due to the nature of the 2021 quilt show being virtual. So I think I'll follow their lead and let you be surprised. But here are two of my quilts that will not be in the show in February:

Cutting Corners was entered in the Improvisational category, and I kind of expected it not to make the cut. Total fabric-play, this one, and made entirely of scraps, it still makes me very happy.

Modular was entered in the Group category, as it was made in conjunction with Bee Sewcial, the improv, solid-only bee I'm a part of. I'll admit I was really hoping this one would get in, as I'm very pleased and proud of the finish. But maybe another day....

So if you're on Instagram, do take a look through the #quiltconreject hashtag. We know they can't all get in, and this infamous 'show' is always spectacular.