Empty Bobbin

 I am very excited to announce that I am one of Empty Bobbin's new designers! Shea Henderson, the mastermind behind Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio, is expanding her line of sewing patterns to include designs by other quilt makers and sewists. You can read about the other new designers at Shea's blog: emptybobbinsewing.com.

This is one of my favorite of Shea's patterns: Seeing Squares. I have this pattern, but have never attempted to make the quilt. The cover is just so great. Don't you love the color combination?

I can't give away too many details about my own quilt pattern other than to say how excited I am to be included in this talented group of women and that my pattern will be coming out sometime in the future.

Until then, here is a picture of a quilt I am finishing up right now for a show I'm having in San Antonio. Anyone going to the Surface Design Association conference this June? My show is part of the conference exhibition tour and is called "Sense of Place". It will be up at the Parchman Stremmel Gallery from June 5 - July 6.

And! It's the best season of the year! Kitten season! There is a Cats of Nimh situation at my neighbor's house and every spring there are adorable kittens to swoon over. This one's eyes just opened and she looks like a tiny version of my Owen. 

Good news when I need it most

The past two weeks have been the worst of my life. My dad passed away quite suddenly and unexpectedly on March 20. We were close. I learned so much from him - how to cook, how to sew, the importance of being patient and kind, that good craft really matters, and so much more. The first quilt I ever made was with my dad when I was about 10. There are also quite a few things he tried to teach me, but didn't stick - like how to golf, how to be organized and tidy, and how to drive a stick shift. Every day has been hard since then, but today there was a tiny ray of sunshine. It feels a bit selfish, but for a moment I forgot about my sadness and loss and remembered how it feels when something goes right.
About a year ago I was contacted by Pottery Barn Teen to design a quilt for them. They loved my landscape quilts and thought they would fit in well with their line of bedding based on a "surfer aesthetic". I actually designed two, a girl version and a boy version, but they only ended up using one of them and it is finally available!

Isn't this so exciting?! I think I'm going to buy one. I have always wanted one of my own quilts for my own bed, but just don't have the time to make one for myself. So even though it feels weird to pay someone else for my own quilt, I'm going to do it. And besides, those shams are badass. I know my dad would be so proud of me. I love you dad! Thanks for being such an amazing person and letting me take your sewing machine to college so many years ago!

QuiltCon!!

This Thursday I'm leaving for Austin, TX to attend QuiltCon, the first conference of the Modern Quilt Guild. I am very excited. Though I don't particularly consider my quilts to be "modern", I still love looking at modern quilts and some of the techniques are integral to my quilt making process. I have been making things wonky and doing improvisational patchwork since before I even knew there was a Modern Quilt Guild.

This conference is going to be fun. I'm not going for any serious reason (this isn't the Textile Society of America, people). I'm going to meet people, and go to the 80's dance party, and buy fun supplies, and take a fun day-long workshop called "Get Your Curve On", taught by Sherri Lynn Wood (of dainty time). This is the kind of thing we are going to be doing:

Sherri Lynn Wood

It has been ages since I've been a participant in a workshop. For the past 6 years, I've been the one teaching the workshop. It's going to be so fun and relaxing to be on the learning side.

So if anyone else is going to QuiltCon and taking a workshop, I have some more hand dyed fabric scraps listed in my etsy shop. If you buy them and use coupon code "QuiltCon", I will waive the shipping and bring them to you in person. I will be arriving in Austin Thursday evening and can deliver them any time after that. Yay for quilts!

Summer Workshops

I am very excited to be teaching two new workshops this summer. I have had a few questions about both of them, so I thought it would be helpful to give a little more information here about what they are.
1: Exploring Color With Dye, June 2-5, part of the Surface Design Conference, San Antonio, TX
The focus of this workshop is on using Procion MX dyes on cotton. I will be teaching the percentage dye method, which is the method I use that requires using the weight of fabric to determine how much dye to use. It is a precise method that involves some math and is how I match colors and create smooth gradations of color. It sounds difficult, but after a little practice pretty much anyone can get it. Workshop participants will create an extensive book of their own dye recipes complete with swatches. The percentage dye system is a really important method for dyers to know. Learning it and becoming comfortable with the overall system would benefit anyone that is interested in dyeing fabric and the methods can be applied to any type of dye.

2. Introduction to Quilting with a Modern Aesthetic, July 21-27, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
This workshop is open to experienced quilters who would like to try a more Modern approach (check out the Modern Quilt Guild if you don't know what this means) and people who have never made a quilt before and want to learn how to make a modern quilt. The primary focus of the workshop will be on experimenting with different piecing techniques including "wonky" patterns based on traditional quilt blocks, improvisational piecing techniques, and some paper piecing. We will also be discussing the use of color, asymmetry, and negative space in quilts. New quilters will be completing a small quilt during the workshop and advanced quilters can choose if they want to complete a small quilt or make lots of components to take home to complete. Everyone will end up with a lot of examples to take home.

Both workshops are going to be a lot of fun!

Holiday Sale Dec. 7

 Erika Lynne Hanson (of Vefa Handmade) and I are having a Holiday Sale! This Friday, December 7!
6pm - 9pm at 215 W 19th Ter. KC, MO 64108.

 

There will be scarves, blankets, coverlets, quilts, iPad cases, zipper clutches, and t-shirts. All lovingly hand made and designed to keep you warm and stylish!

Come on by, we would love to see you! And bring a picture of a cat with you to receive 15% off one item!

Holiday Hop! Friday, November 2nd, 10am - 1pm

I am so excited to be participating in the Holiday Hop this year! The lovely Betsy and Emily of Bon Bon Atelier in Westport (KC, MO) asked me to be one of their featured designers and I couldn't say no. They are too lovely to say no to. And it sounded like fun.

So! This Friday, 11/2/12, from 10am to 1pm I will be having a trunk show and demonstrating some dye techniques at their store. Here is a sneak peek at some of the things I have been making just for the trunk show:

 T-shirts! I dip dyed and screen printed some 100% cotton American Apparel t-shirts. I think they're cool. I already confiscated one for my own closet. They are each one of a kind and there are only 11 of them!

Lots of zippy treasure bins using my own very special hand dyed fabrics. The big one fits an iPad. The little one is just right for a wallet, keys, phone, snack, etc.

There will also be quilts, of course. And more than likely a large assortment of hand dyed fabric scraps for sale.

In addition to all that, you can come hang out with me and watch me dye some stuff. I will be dip dyeing, some shibori, probably a gradation or two, and some low water immersion. It's going to be amazing. And Bon Bon Atelier is the best place to buy fabric, yarn, and gifts for everyone on your holiday list (or for yourself).

Custom Quilts

I have been making a few custom quilts lately and they have turned out really well. I'm always a little nervous to accept a custom order. It's a big investment for the customer and a big time investment for me. I'm always a little worried that our communication will be off and I will make something that is off the mark. So far, all of the experiences have been great. They have all pushed me to make quilts that I probably wouldn't have on my own.

I love seeing the quilts on people's beds and I thought this one would be a great example to show. I have the sketch, the finished quilt, and the quilt on the customer's bed. This quilt was custom sized to fit a platform, California King Size bed.

The Sketch, done in Adobe Illustrator.

The quilt.

The quilt on the bed. P.S. Don't you want a pool outside your bedroom?

This is a queen size quilt I just finished a couple of weeks ago. I love how the top came out, with those streaks of blue.

I don't have a good picture of this quilt yet, but here is a detail that shows the color and a glimpse of the composition. It was a queen size quilt loosely inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge.

I have another queen size custom quilt in the works right now, based on a design I've made before in a smaller size. Maybe someday I can make a quilt for my bed. I would have to convince my cats not to shed on it or scratch it and my husband not to spill anything on it.
It might be better if I just keep making them for other people. 

Fabric Dyeing Workshop 8/11/2012

Only 2 spots left!!!

Once again, I will be teaching a fabric dyeing workshop at my studio in Kansas City. This is actually the second round of fabric dyeing workshops I'm teaching this summer. The first was a couple weeks ago and it was super fun. So! Yes! For the details.

my studio has been re-arranged. it looks way better than this now.

The workshop is designed mostly for quilters, but anyone who is interested in learning how to dye cotton or silk using Procion MX dyes would benefit from it. This workshop is going to cover the basics: solid shade dyeing, gradation dyeing, and some low water dyeing (Ann Johnston's technique for getting interesting mottled colors). You will get a special dye kit with 4 dye colors and the necessary auxiliaries to make them work properly. You will also get two yards of my most favorite white cotton fabric to dye. Plus instructions and demonstrations, of course.

a lovely assortment of hand dyed fabric scraps

The workshop is next Saturday, August 11, 2012. It meets from 10am to 2pm at my studio at 750 Armstrong Ave, Kansas City, KS. The cost of the workshop is $75 plus a $20 supply fee. Members of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild get a discounted rate of $40 (plus the $20 supply fee) because the lovely guild is sponsoring the workshop. If you want to come to the workshop, you can register ahead of time by buying the workshop through my etsy listing or contacting me if you are a KCMQG member.

Summer Break

I have been on summer break for a little over a month now. It is the best. Everyone should get a summer break. I kind of wish that my whole life was summer break. Seriously. So far I have been to two amazing places:

Arrowmont, in Gatlinburg TN, is where I was an Artist in Residence in 2007/08. I spent a week there in May for a reunion for past Artists in Residence. There were about 60 of us in attendance and I was able to work in the beautiful and huge fiber studio all week, meet some amazing new people, and reconnect with two of my best friends who were residents the same time I was (Alex and Sarah, above).

I also spent a week in Utah with my mom.  We stayed in Moab and visited Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. We did a lot of hiking and took a raft trip down the Colorado River. The landscape there is really unusual but beautiful. We ate a lot of really good food and watched a lot of Iron Chef at night. And I brought her over to the dark side by making her watch The Bachelorette with me.

 

On my way to Utah I flew in a tiny plane over the Rocky Mountains. I was sneaky and used my phone to take pictures even though they repeatedly said to turn off all electronics. We didn't crash, so I guess the rules don't apply to me. 

In between those two trips I got to help Denyse Schmidt with her booth at Quilt Market. She is my quilt idol and I have repeatedly said to many people that I want to be Denyse Schmidt when I grow up. So you can probably imagine how amazing it was to spend two whole days with her. The best part was just talking to her and realizing she is a real person and getting to hear her thoughts on quilts, designing, and making a living in this business.

 Quilt Market in general was great, but overwhelming. Everyone I met was super nice. There was a lot of stuff that honestly doesn't' interest me at all, but also some things that were really exciting and refreshing. Like Carolyn Friedlander's booth in the picture above. I love that quilt. Love. That. Quilt. I wish I had made it. I bought the pattern and it will get added to the list of things to make someday when I'm not busy. Carolyn was lovely and smart and her work is so refreshing.

octodecagon madness

 About a year ago I started making little color wheel quilts as color mixing references for myself. I made two little ones using different sets of primaries. The one one the left was muted primaries, the one on the right was bright primaries. I liked the muted one better so started piecing it first. It doesn't lie flat. For the second one, I decided to try bias binding because I had never done it before. It still needs to be finished. They turned out to not be that helpful, but I learned a lot making them.

 Then I decided that what I really needed was a giant color wheel quilt. So I drew the plans for an 80" diameter do-decagon (12 sided) color wheel with eight steps from light to dark in each color. I also figured out the dye recipes and then it sat in my graph paper pad for months. In January I got an intern and it was the perfect time to dust of the do-decagon plans. While I was too busy to work on it, Aaron had plenty of internship hours to fill and already knew how to dye using my method because he was in my surface design class at KCAI last semester. Yay for interns! So, he started dyeing the fabric and somewhere along the way we decided twelve sections wasn't really enough. It should really have 18 sections. That's 144 colors. If Aaron hadn't been around, this quilt would probably still exist only in my head and my graph paper pad. I am super excited that it exists in real life, and so is my cat, Owen.

The quilt after quilting, before trimming and binding. Owen is helping.

The finished quilt with invisible binding. Isn't it like magic?

It really is like magic. Or science. Or something. This quilt was made using my three favorite custom primary colors (red, yellow, and blue). So the gradation happens not only from dark to light but from color to color. There is one big mistake in this quilt (and a couple of little mistakes) and that is the red dye was not consistent. Aaron and I lost track of which red we were using to mix our custom red and some of the oranges and purples came out not right. But I kind of don't care. The next one will be closer to perfect and will have 24 sections. It will be more like magic than this one.