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Lisa's Mug Rug

Lisa took my free motion quilting class at The Sewing Machine Exchange earlier this month. I love seeing student projects--and this one is terrific--love the design and the fabric with the bird is so great. Look it up! A small project like this is a perfect opportunity to practice new skills. Go quilt!

Floral Nine Patch

Sometimes it's fun to do something quick and easy. I can enjoy the colors and patterns without over thinking it. Having just finished my piece for this year's challenge (which is not revealed until June) I wanted just such a breather. I had several florals kicking around--mostly sunflowers in various sizes. I did not want to buy fabric for this piece, so I found a design that accommodated the fabrics I had on hand (although I did have to mix in a few bits--but that always adds interest, no?) I might have improv pieced, but I've always liked this pattern, with its simplicity showcasing the fabrics, and it seemed serendipitous that what I had could be made to fit the pattern requirements.The large red print has chickens in it--a piece of red fabric with small black chickens was the perfect tie-in. It is coming together quickly, though I've not thought about how to quilt it. I'm sure inspiration will strike by the time I finish stitching the top--perhaps you have an idea? 

Baker's Dozen

Just finished quilting a small quilt top I made last summer. Time can get away from me! In a departure from my usually more scripted work, this top was pieced improvisationally from strips and squares. I don't have solids in my stash, but I had a bag of solid scraps (and added one fabric to make 13 colors, but used the back side to hide the print!) With a few parameters in place, the blocks came together quickly and went up on the design wall. Pieced sashing helped blur the block edges and brought the composition together.

I enjoyed the improv piecing so much I started on another one right away! I made the second one from shirting fabrics and quilted it in Friendship last summer, in an all-over clothes hanger pattern. A friend snapped it up, but here's a photo.

Recently I pulled out the solid pieced top and decided it was time to quilt it. In keeping with the improvisational spirit, I  chose to let the quilting develop organically as well. The first decision I made was to overlay the quilting, rather than follow any of the lines in the quilt, but I wanted something more than an all-over pattern. I grabbed a dinner plate and a salad plate and a piece of chalk and drew large, concentric circles. Stitched those. Filled the space between the circles with smaller circles and curlicues. Added straight lines, like ladders. Decision by decision, the quilting filled the top.

Now that it's done, I want to share the fun of making these quick, no stress pieces. My friend Linda and I will be teaching a beginner friendly class, Baker's Dozen Improvisational Piecing on May 14 at the new class space at The Sewing Machine Exchange in Falmouth, Come if you can!

Hope Blooms

Hope Blooms 2015 Rana O'Connor

A small tribute to a long time colleague in the world of foster/adoptive care. We worked together for many years on a collaborative team designed to raise awareness of the need for foster/adoptive parents and to support families who work with Maine's treatment foster care agencies and the Office of Child and Family Services.

Jo recently retired. I hoped to recover a banner we once created for a fundraiser with the statement, "Hope Blooms in Foster Care." The banner was long gone, though, so I set about to make Jo her very own memento.

Pulling scraps of fabric for the petals, I found a green swirled fabric in my stash for the flower center and applique letters. The girl with balloons came from fabric we used in a more recent banner. The muslin background seemed plain, but a set of alphabet stamps came to the rescue, and I stamped h-o-p-e randomly across the field. Thread paint for the petals and quilting in the flower center and background complete this roughly 15" square wall hanging.

After years of tireless advocacy on the part of Maine's children and foster/adoptive families, I wish Jo many years of happiness ahead. Cheers!

Friendship Ahead

Student work, 'Picture This!'

Summer flew by in a flurry of visitors and travel. We got the dining room/studio window replaced and repainted the room, finally! Although the design wall went up last weekend, my sewing machine is waiting for clear space on the table. I plan to kick start sewing again with a long Labor Day weekend retreat in Friendship, Maine. 4 days and 7 projects--maybe more!

I've also scheduled fall classes at Sew Portland. 'Picture This!' an all techniques class, spans two full Saturdays. Starting with a photo (or two) I describe how to turn photos into patterns and patterns into quilt tops. In class we'll be using a photo of mine taken in Friendship, but the techniques will translate to your own photos. My favorite part of this class is creating the tree!

The class was popular enough when I taught it last year in Trenton, that I created a pattern, 'Safe Harbor' which is available for sale at Sew Portland. No need to purchase my pattern for class though--I will provide what you need and teach you to make your own patterns. 'Picture This!' is scheduled for September 12 and 19.

I teach Free Motion Quilting on October 17. If you've been waiting for that one to come around, it isn't posted yet but they will take your name at the store or over the phone.

Taking a few months off of quilting wasn't easy, but I did take lots of photos to inspire new pieces this fall.

Summer!

Lamassu

Summer in Maine. Time to get out and enjoy other people's work at quilt shows, craft shows and galleries. Time to visit and reconnect with family and friends from away. We plan to paint the dining room/studio so, for the first time in a long while, the design wall is empty. I've been working on a commissioned king-size bed quilt for which I was asked to include a woodblock printed heavy cotton, with images of Cyrus the Great, Ahura-Mazda and protective Lamassu! What to do? I collected over 30 fabrics before I dared cut up the hand-blocked textile. I took courage from the fact that the piece had stains and would likely not be used again as it was. Keeping the piecing simple showcases the focus fabrics. A center section and borders are pieced but separate. I am contemplating whether to quilt in sections, complete the top before quilting on my trusty Elna, or complete then send the top to a long-arm quilter. I think my next step will be to work on quilting designs. That may drive the final decision. Here's a sneak peak!

Center panel

One Done!

One more student quilt from the Voila class! Lisa completed her quilt with binding to match the brown and green polka-dot flower centers and first time free-motion quilting throughout the green background. Although she nearly changed her mind on the orange petals, they make a bright, sunny quilt. Way to go! She sent along this photo with her comment, which says it all--"love it, love it, love it!!!" 

Lisa's finished quilt

Voila!

Voila!

I am teaching a two-day class at Sew Portland (part 2 is this Saturday.) We are working on raw-edge fusible applique. I designed an easy baby size quilt to learn on.

Last Saturday we spent time choosing fabrics--each student had her own unique vision. Fabric shopping is so much fun! We could have spent the whole day playing with fabrics but eventually we got to work cutting and stitching the backgrounds and learning to use fusible web. The product we used in class is Steam-a-Seam II Lite. My personal favorite is an oldie but goodie, Wonder Under. I love that stuff. But Steam-a-Seam has the advantage of acting like a Post-It note until you are ready to hit it with the iron, so the applique pieces go on the design wall, get moved around until you love it, then set with the iron, no pinning involved! A huge advantage in a classroom situation or for working on the large-sized petals in this pattern.

With tops done, students headed home to spray-baste the quilts in preparation for this week's completion session. If all goes according to plan, they will secure the fused applique with a variety of stitches, add some quilting in the background (free motion here we come!) and finally, apply the binding entirely by machine.

I couldn't resist showing off Victoria's completed top--she chose prints for her flower petals and added a border to make the quilt a little bigger. Flower Power!

Victoria's top

First Friday!

Linda Morrisette "Mermaid"  Diane Brause "Lighthouse" Rana O'Connor "Dream"

On my list for the last few years has been to participate as an artist in First Friday Art Walk in Portland, and this past Friday, I had the pleasure of exhibiting (along with many other quilters and fabric artists) at St Luke's Cathedral on State Street. What a venue!

The organizers, Pat and John Fowler, did an amazing job. Pat must have called every quilter she knew in Maine. I had about 30 pieces from quilters and fabric artists with Art Quilts Maine and Calico Quilters in Yarmouth. As we were setting up, the doors kept opening and in would come another woman or two with suitcases and boxes filled with quilts.

I thought the juxtaposition of traditional quilts and fabric art would be inspiring, and it was beyond expectations. Traditional quilts were draped over every pew, filling half of the church with color. Art quilts were hung from easels all around. A wonderful pianist provided live music, a table held wine and cheese, and around 5:30, people started coming in. The turnout was great.

People walked in, took a minute to absorb the riot of color, then took time to talk to quilters who showed off their handiwork, describing the impetus for a certain quilt, unfolding another to reveal details. Said Pat, "I think this was the best showing of any art that we have had in the cathedral in the 3 years that we have been participating in the Art Walk." The photos tell the story. We'll be back next year!

Mary Hodgkin "Wavy Logs in Batik"

First Friday Art Walk

Members of Art Quilts Maine join Yarmouth's Calico Quilters in an exhibition of their work at First Friday Art Walk on FRIDAY MAY 1 at the Cathedral Church of St Luke on State Street in Portland. Doors open at 5:00, the exhibit closes at 8:00 pm. The juxtaposition of traditional and art quilts promises to be a conversation-starter--bring a friend! Some works available for purchase--checks or cash only, please. Hope to see you there!

Chairs, Finis?

Chair 2.1:Blue and Chair 1.4:Pink

 Maybe I have arrived at the final chairs in the series. We'll see. Two sold at the Center for Maine Craft. Four will be at Kimball St. Studios in Lewiston for the month of November as part of the Art Quilts Maine exhibit there. And let's not forget the parade of chairs at the workshop in Trenton this summer!

I plan to be at the reception for Maine FiberArts' exhibit at USM's Glickman Library on Friday, November 21, 3:00 to 5:00. If mom is up for it I'd like to bring her to see her quilt in the show.

One more fun venue coming up--Portland's First Friday Art Walk on November 7. (oops--they just called to reschedule for a date in 2015--stay tuned!). I'm hoping fiber artists and quilters from both Art Quilts Maine and Calico Quilters will join together to offer a diverse variety of all things fabric. We'll be at the Cathedral of St. Luke on State Street in Portland, from 5:00 to 7:30. If there are a lot of pieces (and I hope there will be!) the coordinators have offered to drape them over the pews--I can just imagine it. The Cathedral offers a self-guided tour of its own fabulous artwork and stained glass for people who stop in on First Friday, so make it a point to come. Refreshments available!  

Maine Fiber Arts at USM

Click here to see what made my day today!

If you are in the area, stop in to see Maine Fiber Arts' current exhibit at USM's Glickman Family Library, open every day, now through December 19. I am walking on air.

Fall Classes

I have taught more classes this fall than ever! Free Motion Quilting is a very popular class--the third session is coming up Saturday. We unravel the mystery of "quilt as desired" and leave with the skills and confidence to finish quilts on your home sewing machine.

Yellow Brick Road is a classic pattern. I generally have not used a pattern for my classes, probably because I rarely use patterns for my own quilts. Every class is a learning experience for me. I had wanted to see tops completed, but we ran out of time before borders could be stitched. Everyone left with a plan and fabric to finish, so that part is good, but I'll have to build in more time to shop! I enjoy teaching and hope to continue with a regular schedule--although we are heading into a tough time to fill classes--holidays followed by snow days. Wouldn't it be nice to spend a snow day sewing a cuddly new quilt?

 Quilt Gallery

Fall Class Announcement!

Yellow Brick Road
O'Connor 2013

My partner in crime Linda M and I will be teaching classes at Sew Portland again this fall! Over the course of several classes we'll be piecing two quilt tops using shortcuts, pre-cuts and easy-peasy piecing, then spending time learning how to finish those quilts with the infamous "quilt as desired." The classes are geared towards beginners, but any level quilter will have fun with strip piecing; playing with the stack, slash and shuffle technique or free motion quilting. Does this all sound like Greek to you? Come to class--you'll be talking "quilt" in no time!

Yellow Brick Road detail
O'Connor 2013

First up is "Yellow Brick Road" an older but very popular pattern by Atkinson Designs. Fat quarter and scrappy friendly. Class meets on Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14, from 10:00 to 3:00 each day.

Crazy patch blocks
O'Connor 2013

Next is "Crazy Patch". This technique produces blocks that resemble crazy quilt blocks--you will be surprised at how easy it is, yet no two blocks end up the same! Sew Portland will have class kits of pre-cut batiks for a head start on this one. This class meets Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, also 10:00 to 3:00 each day.

Need help to finish your quilt? Spend Saturday, October 4 from 9:30 to 2:30 learning how to plan and execute the quilting that finishes your beautiful work! We will practice free motion quilting although we will discuss other ways to get that quilt finished as well.

For more information, to sign up and for class lists, contact Sew Portland at 207-797-6700. Hope to see you there!

More Quilts Here

Win a Free Online Class!

An opportunity came my way from Eric Woolf, online media coordinator from Fons and Porter to review an online class at:

 Click the link to check out their many classes for yourself! This site has lots of great classes, with new ones being added all the time. They are not liminted to quilting, either--classes on Knitting, Crochet, and Papercraft, or Sewing and Scrapbooking are also available at a click of the mouse.

I had my pick of the classes, so I chose

with several well known instructors. The class was an hour long, formatted much like a TV show, with several 10-minute segments. The focus was on enhancing quilts (primarily art quilts) by the use of image transfers, colored pencil applique, understanding color temperature and more. I really enjoyed the technique segments--Heather Thomas' image transfer techniques really got me thinking about adding photography to quilts again. I had not loved using the prepared fabric and she shows several ways to use your own fabric for fabulous results. I also love that you can move through this class at your own pace, stopping, rewinding, or returning to the information at a later date.

Because this was a series of short segments, I was aware that not all the segments would appeal to me--such as joining binding edges--but I could skip over that easily enough. Also, being short segments, I found myself wanting more--more information, maybe taking a project from start to finish. But, there are classes on the site with a single instructor and those would cover a topic in depth. Maybe Heather Thomas will do a full hour on image transfers soon!

While these classes are quite affordable--ranging from under $4.99 to $9.99--the quality is excellent, with plenty of close ups to be sure you can see what the instructor is working on.

And here's the best news--one lucky reader will win a Free Class at
   

Just leave a comment on this blog saying "I want to win!" and I will contact the winner with instructions on how to access their free class.


More quilt photos! Click here

In the Water

Honu (Hawaiian for sea turtle) has made it into the water. He has definitely moved at a "turtle's pace" since the image was drawn onto the background fabric at last year's Friendship retreat. I'll be back in Friendship this August and hope to bring Honu with me! Next steps to consider are thread paint (or not) trapunto (or not) and quilt--no choice on that, it has to be quilted or it will be too fragile to travel. I wonder how adding thread is going to change this piece? wonder how this temporary spray adhesive technique I came up with will hold up to the maneuvering needed for stitching?
For now, though, I am savoring the moment of finally pinning Honu in place on the background and enjoying seeing him swim.

Honu 46 x 36 Rana O'Connor

More quilt photos

It's Not Water Yet!

I am at an impasse with my honu quilt. The turtle is great. I covered it with tulle so it can be lifted up as a separate element and put to the side, which is also good. The background, though. The water. It has stymied me for months! I've bought lots of blues/greens. Pulled out every blue in my stash and scraps. Cut strips, irregular shapes, small bits. Ever get to a place where you can't seem to make progress? My next thought is to pull the piece off the design wall and try working on it, section by section, on a table. At least that would alleviate the fatigue of having my arms up all the time, placing and rearranging fabrics. And I want to try using very small bits of fabric--it feels too jumpy with the wide strips and large shapes. I know I will resolve this--I always figure a way out of my self-made dilemmas. On the bright side, Linda M and I will be teaching a new class, starting May 31 at Sew Portland! It's our class on color and design--I totally love the variety of designs that flow from a stack of half square triangles.

Quilt gallery and quilts for sale at: Rana's Quilts

Stephannie's Monkeys

Stephannie finished her quilt! She took the Stacked Coins class but missed part of it, so she caught up with Linda and me to complete her adorable Monkey baby quilt. It is a present for a nephew, and I think it came out great! Especially love the red and white striped binding, which she completed entirely by machine. Check out the straight rows of quilting in the solid cocoa brown, too. Nice work, Stephannie! Anyone else from the class want to send a photo to post?

I expect to teach another class later this spring. I hope to have the posting up on the Sew Portland site soon.

Quilt gallery and quilts for sale at:Photos

Book Review Monday

Once again I received a book to review for you! This e-book, titled Modern Quilt Patterns, couldn’t have found its way to me at a better time. Having just shoveled out of a record-breaking snowfall, seeing the cover of Modern Quilt Patterns with its light, bright, sherbet colored quilts just made me want to run out and buy some spring-colored fabrics and start sewing! I was also intrigued because a Modern Quilt Guild chapter has recently sprung up in Maine. While I haven’t made it to a meeting yet, there has been plenty of discussion about just what IS a modern quilt anyway? In the introduction to this e-book Beth Hayes, Editor-in-chief for McCall’s Quilting,  defines Modern Quilts as “notable for their minimalist aesthetic, use of bright, bold colors with large doses of white and other neutral solids, asymmetrical designs, and free-form piecing.” The book goes on to showcase three happy quilts, one of which, Lemon Squeezy, uses a strip-quilt-as-you-go technique. This is a technique I have been exploring for my class (see tutorial) so I was very interested to read how this particular quilt was constructed. Download this book. You may be sorely tempted, as I am, to pull out strips and scraps and begin quilting-as-you-go. Or perhaps the design possibilitres of half-square triangles will excite you, as in Rainbow Rhythm. Although the directions are based on fat quarters, the units begin with 5” squares, which got me thinking, what if you started with 4 or 5 charm packs? Finally, there’s Baubles and Beads, which relies on more traditional block piecing and white sashing. Pictured in spring greens, pinks and yellows, it would be perfect for a girl’s room. If it’s winter where you are, download this book and breathe in a little breath of spring!

Quilt gallery and quilts for sale at: Photos