Improvisational Patchwork Class

Last Saturday was awesome! My mom and I headed down to the Quilting Loft to take an Improvisational Patchwork class from Katie Pedersen. Six hours of creativity, companionship, and learning new (to us) techniques went by in a flash. The class was loosely based on Katie and Jacquie’s book, Quilting Modern:Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts, as Katie taught each of the techniques in turn: Free-Piecing, Strip-Piecing, Stitch and Flip Triangles, Slice and Insert, Improvisational Log Cabin, Improvisational Curves and Crazy-Piecing. Strip-piecing and crazy-piecing were my favorites, although I am very pleased with my wonky log cabin block.

The night before the class, I gathered a good selection of turquoise and green scraps to use in a small wall quilt. Since the quilt I started last time I took a class from Katie is still unfinished, I wanted to make something small that I could complete quickly and enjoy using. Katie generously put her scrap bins at our disposal, so I ended up returning home with more scraps than I had brought with me!

I also ended up with eight blocks in three different styles that I liked. I think I’ll turn the log cabin block into a mini quilt, but I’m not sure what to do with the rest. I’m inclined to keep sewing until I tire of the techniques or deplete my pile of turquoise and green scraps. Either of those options might take a while.

All in all, we had great time! I’m already itching to take another class soon!

Photo by Debbie

Christmas in July Update: Everything Bags

Have you been wondering about my Christmas in July progress? Well, fear not, I have made some progress and I have even photographed it!

Jeni’s Lined Drawstring Bag has been popping up all over the blogosphere, but I was able to resist its charms until my mom wrapped my birthday present in an Artist Bag. I decided to try out the tutorial before buying the pattern, and started on an Everything Bag, using three fat quarters of Joy by Kate Spain. Before I even finished the first bag, I liked it so well that I bought the full pattern. 

This pattern is absolutely genius! With careful cutting, I was able to make two Everything Bags out of three fat quarters. They came together super quick and easy. I have less time to sew than I would like, but still managed to make four of these bags in less than a week. 

They are so much fun that I already have two more in progress, in different sizes. I love the bags I’ve already made, but they seem a little small for my purposes, so I’ll probably make more bags in the bigger sizes. I can’t wait ‘til Christmas when I can wrap presents in these fun bags!

Yogurtland: Tastes Like Summer

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of frozen yogurt. My sweet husband and I stop by our local Menchie’s on the flimsiest of pretexts. As much as I love Menchie’s, I am always on the lookout for new (to me) yogurt places to try. Recently, a friend and I stopped by Yogurtland in Wallingford, and I must say I was not disappointed. Where our local Menchie’s is cozy and somewhat inconveniently laid out, Yogurtland is spacious and flows well. At Menchie’s, I usually get a variation of the same thing, but Yogurtland boasted such a plethora of intriguing flavors that I branched out and tried their seasonal Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet and topped it off with fresh fruit and Fruity Pebbles. 

It tasted like summer. Not my adult summers, when I get cranky in the heat and make excuses to stay in the shade, but the summers of my childhood, when I spent entire days reading, swam until I was all wrinkles, and roasted marshmallows over campfires. Isn’t it amazing when a bite of something can transport you to another time and place?

Linking up with Tuesday at the Table.

 

Exhibition Expedition

Recently, my extended family and I headed to Vashon Island to see the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Exhibition at the Island Quilter. We had a blast eating at the Hardware Store, seeing the quilts, and exploring the store. Seeing my Sunshiny Day and Blueberry Muffin quilts exhibited was a real treat.

Ingrid's Quilt, by the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild

I loved seeing all the other quilts and wish I could have spent more time looking at them. I also wish that I could have taken more pictures, but running after an active toddler in a quilt store doesn’t leave much time for photography. My sweet girl loved playing hide and seek in the labyrinth of fabric at the store.

Willa's Quilt, by the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild

The Island Quilter is one of the most organized and impressive quilt stores that I have ever visited. The pictures on their website don’t do the place justice. They have an awesome selection of fabric and not a bolt out of place. Even though I do most of my fabric shopping online (see: running through store after active toddler), I love going to brick and mortar quilt shops because usually I can find out-of-print fabric that I love. The Island Quilter does not disappoint. They have a nice mix of current fabrics and collections that I knew were several years old.

Arkansas, Traveled, by Ara Jane Olufson

In the end, I walked away with flannel fabric perfect for making into children’s pajamas, some Star Wars fabric that my husband insisted I buy, and Scrap Republic by Emily Cier. Her Mrs. Roy G. Biv quilt was so impressive that I am itching to start a scrap quilt of my own soon. 

Mrs. Roy G. Biv by Emily Cier

If you’re in the greater Seattle area, stop by The Island Quilter sometime. The Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Exhibition runs through August 2^nd. 

Constellation, by Grace Lainhart

Upcoming Quilting Events

So many exciting quilting events lately! Here are a few that I am especially looking forward to:

• Now – October 2012: Bold Expressions: African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley at Bellevue Art Museum

• July 28, 2012: Improvisational Patchwork class by Katie Pedersen at the Quilting Loft

• August 10-12, 2012: Vancouver-Seattle-Portland Modern Quilt Guild Meet-up

Wordless WIP Wednesday: July 18, 2012

Tuesday at the {picnic} Table: Personal Picnic Purse

Do you like picnics? How about purses? Either way, head on over to A Quilter’s Table and check out my guest post for this week’s Tuesday at the {picnic} Table.