Saturday, April 30, 2011

EM CELEBRATES VAN GOGH'S CATS

Em, of Em Celebrates, recently invited us to participate in making quilt blocks based on the children’s book Vincent Van Gogh’s Cat.  Em wrote on her blog, “This is Exotic Landscape interpreted by a second grade student from East Washington Academy in the book Vincent Van Gogh's Cat, Copyright 2010 by Scholastic Inc.  The book is winner of KIDS ARE AUTHORS AWARD and is fabulous.  I want to make a quilt to send to the elementary school, East Washington Academy, with each child's drawing turned into a quilt block then sash together and CELEBRATE the talent and creative process for the 2nd graders from Muncie, Indiana" 

Above is the block I made for the quilt.  I have no idea who originally painted this or what it is supposed to be.  I could not find the book at our local library.  Does anyone know anything about this picture?    


Em sent me this picture from the book so I would know what my block should look like.  I think I did  a pretty good interpretation, don’t you?  What was most time consuming and troublesome was hunting down the “right” fabrics.
 I’m still not satisfied with the background.  I wanted to add some darker fabric, but after auditioning fabrics from about a hundred different shops, I gave up and did not add these other darker fabrics.

Check out these other blogs today to see how they have interpreted their blocks.  Stephanie from Peas In A Pod did Monet’s Water Lilies.  You have to go see what she did.  She even put beads on the lily pads and it is absolutely beautiful.

Lynn of  Alamosa Quilter made a block too, but I haven't seen it yet.  I'm sure she will post later today so be sure and check back on her blog.

Keep checking Em Celebrate's blog as I’m sure she will post pictures of other blocks donated by other generous quilters.  When you click on the links above you will land on the current post.  If the Posts of their blocks are not up yet, be sure and stop back later to see what fantastic blocks they came up with.  Thanks Em for this great idea!  What a fun time I’ve had.

According to Scholastic the book, Vincent Van Gogh’s Cat is Written and illustrated by second grade students from East Washington Academy, Muncie, IN

"Join Vincent van Gogh’s cat on a journey through some of history’s most memorable and influential paintings. From a field of sunflowers to a pond of water lilies and on to a starry night, the clever layout and elegant art will leave readers immersed in their own imaginations, daydreaming of fantastical worlds."
Stay Positive!
Caroll

Thursday, April 28, 2011

THE KNOTTY GIRLS ARE BEING KNOTTY AGAIN

The Knotty Girls Stitching Bee met last night at the Attic Window Quilt Shop and again, they have outdone themselves in the Show-N-Tell department.  Maggie and her mother made this first quilt from a kit they purchased two years ago while in Chicago.  The Mill City Sampler is by Perkins Dry Goods.   This quilt is gorgeous!

Mary Holt (Maggie’s Mom) made this quilt.  All the pieced blocks came from her stash.  The Attic Window will soon have these Lori Smith patterns in the shop.  I would give anything to be able to piece like this.  These blocks are perfect!  

JoAnn (left) and Phyllis (right) worked on their Sue Spargo BOM that they started last year.  I wish I had taken a close up for you.  These women can take a piece of plain wool, embellish it, and make it look stunning!  

Oh Fransson has a free pattern for a birthday cake quilt.  Do not picture the traditional birthday cake.  You make this darling quilt from a Moda Layer Cake.  You’ll love it.

Stay Positive!
Caroll  

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

MAKE YOUR NEXT PROJECT WOOL

When I was at the Attic Window Quilt Shop last week, I decided to peruse the wool corner.  I love the looks of wool but the one time I took a class, I decided that I didn’t have the patience for it.  However, when this lovely table topper caught my eye, I started to think that maybe I’ll give it another try.  I love the vibrant colors and the precision and orderliness of this design.

This is another table topper.  These circles make an interesting design and maybe a bit challenging.  I love to stretch myself and try to do something new and learn a new skill.

Are you into making pincushions?  How about making a cute Cock-A-Doodle Pincushion from this pattern by Crow River Mercantile.  The shop has the pattern and the wool all ready for you to make this darling project.

It’s raining here in Michigan and predicted to do so the rest of the week.  Since I can’t work in the yard, I’m in my sewing room.  I am now working on my Aunt Millie’s borders and looking for just the right fabric for sashing.  How about you?  What are you doing this week?

While surfing this morning I did find this lovely tutorial for an interesting block.  I can’t wait to try it and hope I can find some time this week.  Check out Lily’s Quilts for the tutorial.

PS:  Blogger is giving me trouble today.  I don't know why I can't make my links blue, or why it keeps throwing words into the next line, but Lily's Quilts does work.  

Stay Positive!
Caroll  

Sunday, April 24, 2011

JOIN THIMBLEBERRIES AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

Border Blast is the name of the quilt for the new 2011 Thimbleberries Quilt Club at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Make this quilt using RJR Fabrics in Throw size (74” x 90”) or Queen (96” x 112”).  Above is the completed Throw size quilt.  I stopped in at the shop last week and Cathy M. and several others were making their blocks.  They looked like they were having a great time.  I love how large the blocks are and that each block is different.  If you register for the club you will complete 12 blocks using two fabrics each month.  You will receive the monthly club newsletter, door prizes, and membership card.  You will also receive eleven bonus wall quilts in various Thimbleberries designs.  Club meets first Thursday and first Friday each month.   It’s not to late to join this club and make this beautiful quilt.  Call the shop and sign up now.

Above is the Heart and Home BOM that Maggie made for her club earlier this year.  I wanted to show you the finished project.  Isn’t it lovely?  You won’t want to miss out on all the new projects Maggie and the other teachers have planned for you this year.  Watch for the next newsletter, which will be published the end of May.  

Don’t forget that Knotty Girls meets Wednesday evening.  Bring you projects for Show-N-tell.

It’s spring and the kids are out riding their bikes. Noodlehead has this cute bicycle basket that you can make for them and they’ll be the hit of the neighborhood.  Check out the tutorial.
Sorry, I just heard the link didn't work but now it is fixed!
Stay Positive!
Caroll  

Thursday, April 21, 2011

YOU TOO CAN MAKE UNIQUE BIRDS

One always wonders if explanation is required.  This is a bird.  I’ve joined Mary Lou Weidman’s swap again, and this time we are making birds.  I love Mary Lou’s work and “patterns.”  I put that in quotes because I don’t think she really has patterns, at least not in the traditional sense.  She has a unique way of making blocks.  She calls it her Hoochy Mama technique.  You take a piece of fabric and hoochy this and hoochy that and you can end up with a bird like this.  Isn’t it cute?

You may have heard that I don’t care for piecing, mainly because I can never get my seams to match or my blocks to be square.  With Mary Lou’s Hoochy Mama technique I am free from math and worry about seams.  I am free to create.  

Mary Lou encourages quilters to stretch their skills.  She invites you to play and discover your inner artist.  What an adventure it was making this block.  Using the Hoochy Mamma technique, I’ve had fun being creative with the bird’s tail.  I hate to throw away scraps.  When making the bird’s body, I cut the corners off a block of fabric.  I couldn’t throw away those small scraps.  I had to use them, so I made a unique tail.  What a thrill it was to see this develop as I used those left-over pieces of fabric.

This is another creative experiment at making a different kind of tail using scraps.

This is another one where I used the left over corner scraps for the tail.
 
Mary Lou says she is a process teacher.  She does not teach you to make the same quilt that your neighbor makes.  That certainly was true for me when making these birds.  Not one of my bird blocks turned out the same.  Each bird has it’s own unique identity.  I can’t wait until I get my birds from the swap group.  If you want to be adventurous, if you want to be unique, if you want to make quilts that are not just like all the others, I encourage you to check out Mary Lou’s blog.  It is a fun experience just viewing it.   

Allie of Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life has a whole list of great links to tutorials and patterns.  After you have spent hours surfing that, check out her blog here where she has a tutorial for a magnetic quilted photo frame.  Wouldn't that be a great Mother's Day gift!
Stay Positive!
Caroll  
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Attic Window Teachers

Attic Window Teachers
Attic Window Teachers

Quilting for Kids With Cancer

Quilting for Kids With Cancer
Generosity has no bounds. Above are the women in the Quilts For Kids group at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Left to right, Henrietta, Phyllis, Nancy, Carol, Karen. These women donate their time, fabric, money once a month to make quilts for kids who have cancer.

Quilts For Wheels

Quilts For Wheels
Many thanks and much appreciation goes to the women who work diligently each month to make quilts for those in wheel chairs. Kudos go to: Yvonne, Mary T., Fran, Joan, Mary Ellen, Barb, Lee Ann, Nancy, Mary.
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