Improv for Everyone :: On the Grid

When I saw Maria Shell @mariashellquilts post about her Improv for Everyone workshop on Saturday, I joined right up. Having taken a previous class with her, and exploring several improv techniques in her book, Improv Patchwork, I knew it would be worth my time. Plus, last year, I'd seen her On the Grid exhibit locally. I was definitely interested in hearing what she had to say.

In preparation for the workshop, we were to pull a full range of solid fabrics representing the color wheel (purple, blue, turquoise, green, yellow, orange, red, and pink) and neutrals (black, white, brown, and grey). I remembered that Maria encouraged us to create a non-traditional - not the traditional brights - so I kept that in mind. In retrospect, the brown I chose (left fabric on bottom) looks pretty close to the red (second from right on the top). So I probably won't use both.

"On the Grid" was primarily about making improv plaid blocks, but Maria included so much more. I made the blocks in the left and center columns below during the workshop - plaid, quarter log cabins, and tiny crosses. The 'track' on the right, I couldn't resist trying once class was over. Not quite sure where all this is headed, so I'll let it marinate for a bit. I'll definitely be adding more to the quarter log cabins.

At any rate, I'm so glad I was able to attend the workshop, and am looking forward to the next Improv for Everyone workshop in January 2025.

Abstract Piecing Scrap Play

So the other day, I saw a post on Instagram about Sherri Lynn Wood's Abstract Piecing Scrap Play workshop, the first session in a series of workshops with a variety of guest speakers throughout the year. I went ahead and signed up, not knowing what my weekend schedule would look like, but just in case it worked out. And it did, thanks to my friend, Louise/@imfeelincrafty, who pointed out I was planning on the wrong time zone. Oops.

Anyway, there was an introduction of the series' speakers and some good conversation about abstract piecing, using value to your advantage, and creating order out of scraps. In retrospect, I maybe wasn't clear enough about my own personal algorithm for my piece, but then again; Sherri Lynn commented that success could merely be 'just playing' with the fabric and design, so in that regard, my creation was a total success. The pure satisfaction of exploring color and rediscovering some scraps that had been buried for too long felt really, really good. When the session ended, my piece measured about 21" x 22", and I plan to revisit it another day.

One thing I really appreciated was Sherri Lynn encouraging us to share a surprise, discovery, satisfaction, or challenge in our work. During this particular session, mine was pretty simple - the satisfaction of play. But food for thought as I work through my scraps this year. I'm not that practiced at self-reflection, but it's worth focusing on, so I hope I can keep coming back to that.

I don't think I'll count this as the official start of my next 50(?) Days of Scraps, as I really need to focus on finishing my final 2021 quilt wip, but it was really fun and refreshing, and in rummaging through my scrap basket, I found several fabrics and groupings I'd like to build projects around. So that feels good and is incentive for getting that quilt done so I can get back to the scraps!

Everyday Improv & More with Seattle MQG

It had been planned for months - a doubleheader with my own Seattle MQG - and though I was really looking forward to it, I was basically consumed with the anticipation of it all over the past few weeks.

First up was an Everyday Improv workshop! Basically, it was a chance to explore 15 improvisational piecing techniques, all of which are incorporated into my All In quilt. I took it and several other quilts to give my students an idea of ways to either incorporate the improv techniques into their quilts or be the basis of new quilt-making explorations.

What I most hoped to convey was that the techniques were a fun and easier-than-they-look way to include more improv into their sewing day to day - basically show how versatile they can be. And I think that was accomplished!

Of course it was great fun to see what the class came up with and how they made the techniques their own! I look forward to seeing more as they continue to explore.

Then a few days later, at our monthly guild meeting, I shared a trunk show.

I think this made me the most nervous. I showed my very first quilt, which was completely hand-stitched and quilted during a beginning quilt-making class in 1988....

my first improv quilt, made after taking a class with Katie Pedersen in 2012....

Improv Achieved

the first quilt I entered into a show....

Common Affection

and on to more of my more recent quilts.... 25 in all. In a nutshell, it was my quilting journey from the beginning, fraught with 'rules' galore, to the present, where pretty much anything goes. Though thankful for the past, definitely, I'm happy to be right here, creating with plenty of freedom.

Follow the Dots

Whew! All that was exciting and overwhelming all at once! But what a wonderful opportunity it was to share with the group that has meant so much to me and affirmed me over the past five years.

Photo credit at trunk show, Rachel Pascual. Many thanks to Elizabeth Gould and Kathleen Munns for quilt-holding.

Time with Giuseppe

Gotta say, it was a really fun weekend. Giuseppe Ribaudo/@giucy_giuce led two workshops with the Seattle MQG, and I had happily grabbed spots in both of them. First up was Modern Quilt Photography & Branding.

Giuseppe discussed several techniques for us to consider in taking photos of our projects - lots of helpful tips and sharing plenty of examples of each. His suggestion to make clear the message, "Don't forget for a moment that I made this thing," was a good reminder that as much as we want to show off our projects the best we can, they aren't made by machines, and it's ok to add some reality to our photos. I suppose it's a balancing act for each of us, right?

One handy takeaway was learning about the Snapseed photo editing app, which already has been interesting to play with.

After the lecture, we took to outside with our quilts in hand! Kinda fun wandering the neighborhood as a group, looking for possible photo spots and taking photos of each other's quilts. [Here's a few.]

The next day, I went back for some reallllly Tiny Piecing. I had curated a colorful combination of fall-ish scraps and stash to take with me, though after my first block - a micro log cabin measuring 4 1/2" - I realized the scale of some of them wasn't ideal. Still, I like my little block alot, and I'm thinking of making a quilted bag like Giuseppe had. He made a point to suggest that these small blocks are great to add to larger projects.

Anyway, for my next block I gave Giuseppe a wave and asked if he'd help me choose a selection of fabrics from those I'd brought with me. It was obviously second nature for him, and when we needed just one more print, he suggested I see if there was anything among his new Quantum scraps that would work. And of course there was - that dark green "Aquastone" was the perfect final touch. Here's the mix we came up with!

Oh yeah! Love this little pineapple block - just 3 1/2" square!

See? The second block is 'significantly' smaller than the first. ha.

I loved taking a break mid-day and walking around to see all the blocks my bee-mates were making. Really impressive!

So there's a little summary of my weekend. If you'd like to try your hand at tiny piecing, the block patterns are available for sale in Alison Glass' shop, either individually or as a set of four designs. I think I'll try the Stretched Geese next!

All In with McKinney MQG

It was nearly a year ago that my buddy Ellyn/ellyn's place first suggested the possibility of me traveling to Texas to do a workshop and trunk show for McKinney MQG. We worked out all the details and then waited for the time to come. Finally, last week it did!



The workshop, Everyday Improv, focused on the 15 improvisational piecing techniques I'd worked into my recent All In. I also shared several other quilts with the group that used some of those techniques, just to give them some idea of how versatile they can be.



Guild president Martha/@sewgreen created the perfect atmosphere with her infamous letter dishes.



And needless to say, we all had alot of fun immersing ourselves in improv.



It was so good seeing friends again, meeting online friends for the first time, and of course, making new friends.

Bonnie, Debbie, Beth, Loide, Jenny, Ellyn, Bethany, Jackie, Martha

Chris, Chris, Jeri, Stephanie, Michelle [Sterrett, not pictured]

So the next couple of days I had 'off' and had a chance to explore McKinney with my hubby, who had traveled to Texas with me. [Check out the Instagram hashtag #debandjoegototexas if you like.] We also hooked up with Ellyn again to visit Urban Spools, a wonderfully modern shop and 'sewing lounge' in nearby Dallas.



That night, it was time to share a trunk show with the entire McKinney MQG! I had taken 25(!) quilts of various sizes, from my very first quilt to my most recent, and a variety representing my quilting journey in between. I gotta say, it's gratifying when folks are interested in your story... a good reminder to be open and affirming, no matter what phase and stage our fellow creators may be at.



Bonnie gifted me with a McKinney MQG mug and a few tasty treats.



And Stephanie kindly brought one of her quilts that I had admired on Instagram and featured in my most recent newsletter. It was SO good to see it in person!



So... there's a little recap of my visit to McKinney MQG. It was a very good time!