March 23, 2009
Beginning Cathedral Windows
Simply Quilts #623 Sample
It’s been ten years since I came up with my technique to make a Cathedral Window Quilt by machine. I don’t know where the time has gone. I have traveled and taught for a lot of that time.
The Beginning Workshop is Machine Stitched Cathedral Windows and Jessica at I’m So Happy just did a wonderful example and she’s never been in one of my classes. Check it out on her Post. She learned the technique from my book and an episode of Simply Quilts that she taped. She did a great job don’t you think?
Here are a couple more samples from the Beginning Cathedral Window Workshop.
March 19, 2009
Celebrating Spring
Last week I spent a few days on the Central Coast of California with the Santa Maria Valley Quilter’s Guild. After my lecture I did a Parchment & Black Lacquer workshop. It’s one of my most popular workshops. 
Barbara Wemmer used her Easter fabrics instead of the Asian fabrics. I lived in San Luis Obispo for years and really enjoyed getting together with lots of old friends while making new ones. 
March 17, 2009
A Twilt for Spring
The grass is green and the sun is shining. I left my door open yesterday to enjoy the moderate temperature. It made me think of Spring which is just around the corner. So this Twilt welcomes “Spring’s Arrival”.
The flower is a much smaller version of the block from my pattern, Lotus Lullaby.
This is what the block looks like before it’s quilted. It uses 3D triangles to form the petal shapes.
For more info: Twitter Quilts….Twilts
March 16, 2009
Cathedral Window X & O Stars
A couple of my more recent patterns, Cathedral Window Stars and Cathedral Window Hugs and Kisses, use these blocks. They are Ohio Star blocks with X and O centers, they achieve the look of a Cathedral Window block but are not interconnected as the full version of my technique.
They are a good place to start when trying out the 3D piecing used in my designs.
Opposite colorways also show the different effects that can be obtained with these blocks.
I’m a little behind updating my website so these patterns aren’t there but I have started a pattern page here on the blog. So, check it out.
March 10, 2009
Twilt Tuesday – Fan Dance
Tuesday’s are going to be Twilt day. It will keep me motivated to make at least one Twilt a week unless someone else makes one and I can use theirs. This week you get both.
Jes from I’m so Happy has made her first Twilt, “Lisa and the Sky of Diamonds” and it’s lovely and has a significant sentiment. Check it out on her Blog. I think she might be starting another too.
Mine is just a simple piece that uses bias curves to create little fans. I created a little foundation paper pieced fan and than basted the folded squares on top so that I would have bias folds to make the curves.
“Fan Dance”
What do you think?
March 9, 2009
Star Puzzle
I just finished up this class sample that uses one of my patterns, Star Puzzle, but I have reversed the contrast. Sometimes its good to see what a pattern will look like using different fabrics.
A 3D square, like the 3D bowtie block is the basis for this design and the first step to a Cathedral Window using my method.
Below is a closeup of what the blocks look like at the quilting stage, after the grid is stitched but before any of the folds have been rolled. The finished version is next to it. Intrigued?
March 5, 2009
Another Twilt
This really could be addictive. I chose this Australian fabric to feature in this Twilt. The strip in the center has 3D Flying geese with Cathedral Window scallops. I’ve used the geese in quite a few of my patterns.
“Oh what kind of birds are these, Spotted Pardalote maybe”.
What do you think? Are they Spotted Pardalote from Australia?
March 2, 2009
My Technique, Your Work
I love, love, love it when I get pictures in the mail
or email from quilters who have used one of my patterns or books to make a quilt. It’s very gratifying. So, I am going to make an effort to track some of them down. I have two today that I would like to show. Denise from Santa Clara, California made a quilt from my pattern Romantic Reflections. What a lovely quilt!! Her Cat enjoyed it as well.
Elizabeth from Portland, Oregon made this quilt from my second book, “Machine Stitched Cathedral Stars”. The quilt design is called “A Window Full of Stars”. She made it larger and added a very cool border. Wow!
If you’ve made one of my designs, I would love to show it off. If you want me to use your full name, just let me know and I will. A great big Thank You to Denise and Elizabeth!!
March 1, 2009
Twitter Quilts ….. Twilts
The Reason
When I get home from a trip, am between projects or in any kind of transition I often have creative down time. I realize that I don’t give myself a lot of permission to play. This idea really got me excited because it gives me the opportunity and rewards of creative play in small bursts.
The Concept
I have been exploring the social networking phenomenon partly at my daughter Becky’s encouragement and partly because I believe it’s the direction of the future. Still, it makes my head spin, Blogs, Widgets, Tags, Links, Flickr and Twitter. Where does an aging hippie start? Twitter in particular got my attention. Quick bursts of concise chatter called Tweets exchanged between users. Read about it in Wikipedia. It’s a fascinating concept. I don’t feel ready to jump in just yet but I thought what about using the same concept to do little quilts. Twitter Quilts or Tweet Quilts…….Twilts.
The Rules
The size of the piece can’t be larger than 144 square inches, which is 12” x 12”.
The title should be a quick pithy idea like a Tweet, which is limited to 140 characters.
That’s right, just two rules. I have added two additional rules just for myself. I will try not to take more than a day to do each Twilt and the materials should come from my stash.
I will try to post my Twilts as I create them and welcome everyone to join me. I would love to see what other quilters come up with. I am excited to have the opportunity to play; some of my best ideas, like my method for Cathedral Windows, came from a moment of play.
What do you think of this idea? Want to join me? Here’s my first one. I will be posting a new Twilt every tuesday so check back to see what’s new on Twilt Tuesdays.
Thinking of Cherry Blossoms
February 24, 2009
South Bay Quilt Show
The South Bay Quilt Show is held in Torrance, California every year around this time. This year I covered the show in Monica’s Quilt and Bead Creations booth. She has a fabulous store in Palm Desert, California. We all had a great time. When I had an opportunity to look at all the wonderful quilts I came across a piece that one of my students made when I did a Lecture and Workshop for their guild in the summer. I just love finding student work. Nancy Payne got creative with the actual class project. Her piece is an original layout of my Parchment & Black Lacquer design and she called it Oriental Table Runner. Great job, Nancy!
Snips and Bits from Shelley's Studio 