My Best of 2015

If you haven't seen it yet, Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a Best of 2015 Linky Party for everyone to share their 5 best blog posts of 2015.

The criteria is up to you. Most views, most comments, best finishes, best tutorials or simply your favorites. I decided to go with the posts that marked an accomplishment for me in one way or another. So here they are in no specific order . . . my best posts of 2015.

1.  I started and ended my year with this quilt.
A new Christmas quilt as part of the Drunkard's Path QAL.

It's the end result of hosting my first ever quilt along. You can find links to all the posts here plus you can do it anytime. It doesn't have to be for Christmas either.

A more accurate description might be a block a month plan because, from January through September, I made one block each month. Then I moved on to borders and finishing in October and November. Thanks to the commitment of monthly blog posts I was able to keep up and finish up.
A new Christmas quilt on my wall for 2015. WaHoo!!!

2.  Next up in 2015 came QuiltCon. I can't even express how rewarding it was to attend, meet online quilty friends in person for the first time, meet even more brand new people and make new online connections . . . and last but not least get to see two of my quilts hanging in the show. The first was Matrix Blooming, a quilt from my Matrix pattern made specifically to enter into the show.

The second was our guild charity quilt based on my design and put together by the Boulder Modern Quilt Guild. Great job ladies!

3 and 4.  Next up on my list are these two posts in July, Matrix and Offset. Each marked the release of a new pattern. Designs that were a long time in the making and big accomplishment to finally wrap up.

 


5.  The final post on my list is not really a single post but a series of posts on Color Inspiration.

So far I've done six individual colors plus analogous and complementary color schemes. I will be continuing these posts in 2016 as well as adding some other design topics so stay tuned. You can get to all the color links from here.

January 2nd is the last day to link up so don't wait a moment longer. Show us your best posts of 2015?

Happy New Year.
Here's to a fabulous and productive 2016!

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Blogger's Quilt Festival: Modern Entry

Time for the spring edition of the Spring 2015 Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side. It's a virtual quilt show featuring loads of beautiful quilts and everyone is invited to hang a quilt (or two) in the show. Do join in the fun.

I'm entering Matrix Blooming into the Modern Quilt category as my second entry for the Festival.

I've never really dedicated a post to this quilt. It's a modern variation on my original design called Matrix. I wanted to explore the use of minimal color while still using the block design as a supporting structure for the composition. The same block was used throughout the entire quilt with the only changes being in the use of color. Low volume fabrics were used to create a ghosting effect in the background. Even the few blocks that are all white were still constructed so the seam lines maintained the basic design elements. Finally, bold print fabrics were stratigically placed in only certain blocks creating a flow of color arcing through the composition. I was very excited to have Matrix Blooming shown in the negative space category at QuiltCon 2015.

Please stop by and visit my other entry, Tumble, in the Original Design category here. Of course I would certainly appreciate a vote for both my quilts in their respective categories. Be sure to visit the quilt show too. You will definitely be inspired.  : )

QuiltCon, the Magazine

QuiltCon 2015 seems so long ago now. I had the best intentions of writing several posts about the quilts, the classes and lectures, the whole event . . . they just didn't get done.  I also felt a little QuiltCon overload from reading all the other posts and Instagram pics out there. Perhaps it's a little after the fact now, but there are still a couple of things I want to share with you.

Today, it's this sweet little quilt that was in the special QuiltCon magazine put together by the folks who produce Modern Patchwork at F & W Media. It's a small baby sized quilt that's easy to make plus it looks great in any number of fabric/color combinations.

Below you can see my original submission. (please excuse the somewhat fuzzy images). I submitted my concept before making the quilt and provided several alternative color examples as well. My preference was the yellow/aqua version with the large scale prints that you see on the first page. I think this color combo is cheerful and sunny. Plus I would love to see more examples of modern quilts using prints . . . especially large scale prints. Anyone with me?

The magazine chose the pink and gray version. Honestly it's probably my least favorite of the color combos I submitted but it's still a sweet little quilt.

I'd love to make a couple more in other colorways. It really is an easy quilt to throw together. Really. The circles are appliqued using fusible that results in a turned edge so everything is nice and finished. If you'd like to make your own version you can get the magazine here. They are also selling kits of the pink/gray version here.

This is a great issue stuffed full of lots of modern projects plus some good articles. I hope they'll continue to publish these special issues each year now that QuiltCon will be a yearly event.

Maybe next time you'll try submitting an idea.  Seriously . . . go for it!    : )

QuiltCon Review Part 1

I'm slowly recovering from a fabulous time in Austin at QuiltCon 2015. It was amazing, overwhelming, inspiring, exhausting . . . you get the idea. I'm bursting with so many new ideas I don't know how to process it all let alone know where to start.

What happens in Austin should perhaps stay in Austin . . . but I'm sharing anyway. Yee-Haw!!!

who knew you could ride a sewing machine?

The best part of QuiltCon was meeting and making new friends and it started in the airport on my outbound flight. I just knew there would probably be a few quilters on my flight and sure enough I had the chance to meet five from both the Denver Metro MQG and the Front Range MQG. Even got to sit with one (Chris from FRMQG) on the way to Austin. We talked non stop. First time I've never bothered to crack a book on a plane ride.   : )

Met up with my roomie Cindy of Live a Colorful Life in the airport.  I'd never met Cindy in person and now feel like we are BQB (best quilt buddies).  I owe the fact that I even went to QuiltCon all to her. She gave me the kick in the rear I needed to actually commit to going when she asked me to be her roomie.  THANK YOU CINDY!!!!!

A quick hotel check-in and we were off to registration. There we immediately ran into Elizabeth of OPQuilt and her friend Leisa. Also Leanne of She Can Quilt and Marianne of The Quilting Edge, who are both from Canada. Plus there was Amy of Amy's Crafty Shenanigans from the UK and Stephanie of Venus de Hilo from Hawaii. How's that for spreading the quilty love? These were just a few of the quilters/bloggers that I already had a connection with prior to QuiltCon. I was happy to meet many more throughout the event by trading pins and a laugh or two. Quilters from all over the world attended.

Meeting some of my MidCenturyModern bee mates was definitely a major highlight. Wish we could have spent a little more quality time together. Maybe a MCM retreat is in order soon. I also had a great time getting to know some of the Boulder MQG members better, especially during a lovely dinner with Cynthia, Kim and Kim's sister-in-law Ruth. Sadly I didn't take many people pics. Here are just a few.

Cindy, Me and Elizabeth

MCM bee dinner with Cindy, Elizabeth, Debbie, Linda, Leisa, Rene',  Elizabeth, me and Michelle.

Rene', Linda, me and Cindy

walking back from dinner, Cynthia, Kim and Ruth

Trading pins with lots of people was so much fun and an excellent way to introduce yourself to total strangers. Although quilters are never really strangers, are they? My lanyard got so heavy I finally had to take all the pins off just to save my neck.

Giving and receiving handmade gifts added such a special touch to the whole experience. Cindy gifted me the most beautiful Sew Together bag. I've admired them from afar but have not been brave enough to make one. She nailed it with all the Kaffe fabrics plus it was full of little Kaffe charm squares. She knows me well. Linda of Flourishing Palms made the handy fabric tray to hold loose items on the night stand when you travel. I made use of this right away. Read more about them here. And Elizabeth handed out Washi tape that is so so cute. Can you believe I've never bought any Washi tape? Love them all . . . the gifts and the givers.

My talented daughter also gifted me with this custom quilty necklace and set of earrings before leaving. It couldn't have been more perfect. Thank you daughter dearest. You're the best. If you'd like a necklace or pair of earrings of your very own she'll be happy to make a custom one just for you. Choose your own quilty phrase and color scheme. You can contact her through her website. EmilyClaireStudio.com.

I made little fabric pin cushion rings for all the MCM ladies and all the Boulder MQG members at QuiltCon. Loved making them and can't wait to whip up some more. Each one became my favorite and now there are none left. Not even one for me. Time to cut more scraps and fill my bowl again.  : )

For the longest time, QuiltCon seemed so far off into the future . . . plenty of time to make, prepare, get ready and plan for the event.  Then it was here.   Now it's over.   : (  

It went by in a flash and I felt like I was in a complete daze the entire time. Let me repeat. A complete daze the entire time. Normally I'm quite the planner. Very organized, very structured. Not this time. Not at all. My apologies to anyone I met who thought I was a space case. I'm not. Believe me.

I'll be back with another post on my favorite quilts in a few days. Of course one of my favorites was my own called Matrix Blooming. There's nothing like coming around a corner and seeing your very own quilt hanging in a show.

I also designed the quilt made by the BoulderMQG for the charity challenge. My design, everyone's help sewing and Cynthia's fantastic quilting. I believe there were around 70 charity quilts hanging. That's a lot of charity quilts people.

I know this is a stretch, but pulling all my thoughts together really is my WIP for this week so I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced. I had hoped to meet her in person but sadly didn't get the chance. Maybe next time.

Ready or Not . . . Here I Come QuiltCon 2015

It's finally here. I leave for Austin in the morning.

Months ago when Cindy of Live A Colorful Life asked me to be her roomie I was thrilled. If it wasn't for her I probably would have procrastinated about committing and wouldn't be packing now. Thank you Cindy. Can't wait to meet you and the other MCM ladies.

QuiltCon seemed so far into the future at that time. I had thoughts of making all kinds of things. Gifts, new bags, maybe some clothes. Haha . . . very little got done. My biggest accomplishment was finishing a quilt entry and having it accepted. I'm looking forward to seeing Matrix Blooming hanging in the show. I'll share more about it after I get back.

I've also got a few buttons to swap. Would love to meet you and trade pins.

If you're going, I hope we get to meet.  If you're not, I'll be reporting once I get back.
Time for me to finish packing.  : )

Button Button, Who's got a Button?

I used to love playing the game Button Button, Who's got the Button when I was little. Does anyone else remember playing that? You'd have a button in your hands and pretend to pass it to another person as you went around the circle. Then you'd guess who ended up with the button. I'm probably dating myself but it was a good way for Grandma to keep all us kids sitting down, relatively quiet and calm. And all you needed was one little old button. Life was simple then.

In just three weeks I'm going to play the grown-up version of Button Button at QuiltCon. I ordered a supply of 1" pinback buttons from Wacky Buttons and they were delivered today. WaHoo!!!  I love them. Here's my pile of 100 on the tote bag I'll probably be taking. I didn't plan on them matching my bag, but love that they do.

When I ordered mine, I also got a few for my local guild, the Boulder Modern Quilt Guild. We have a little over 20 members now and at least six of us are going to QuiltCon. I love these too. Of course I'm a little partial to the logo since I designed it.

Can't wait to swap with as many online blogger friends as I can while in Austin. . . or as long as my supply lasts.  If you've got buttons to swap at QuiltCon,  I'm ready to play.    : )

PS if you got a strange blog post from me yesterday, it was my attempt at testing the download for the quilt along templates. Please ignore. The real info and templates will be posted in a few days. Sorry about that. It's going to be a great way to kick off February (which just happens to be my birthday month.)  Hope you're planning on joining in the fun.

QuiltCon Charity Quilt Challenge

Can you guess what this pile of scraps is for? Yep. The QuiltCon 2015 Charity Quilt Challenge.

I designed the quilt our Boulder Modern Quilt Guild is making and must admit when I first saw the colors I was both sceptical and a little uninspired. Working with this palette was a challenge . . .  a good challenge, but still a challenge. I guess that's why it's called a challenge project right?  However once a few ideas started coming together, the colors also fell into place. Turns out most of the guild felt the same about the colors. Many said they weren't ones they would have put together and yet everyone ended up liking how they were working in our quilt. My least favorite . . . the burnt orange.

In contrast to the color challenge, I found designing with an alternative grid to be lots of fun. While many of my quilt designs are block based, I still look for creative ways to use the blocks and love exploring all the possibilities. Playing with blocks and alternative grid ideas while designing this quilt was no exception. I think the design works quite well and creates a lot of movement, especially with the addition of the partial blocks.

The next challenging part came with the construction. It's a paper pieced design which I always find a challenge. Really, what was I thinking? Definitely not my favorite type of sewing. No matter how hard I try, I always make a few mistakes. The fabric doesn't cover the entire area. I forget to trim the seam allowance before adding the next piece. I sew on the wrong line. You get the picture. And ripping out those teeny, tiny, itty, bitty stitches is a b___!  Everyone, including me, struggled at times. Let's just say seam rippers were in high demand.   : (

But thanks to the help of our fantastic members, we not only persevered, we conquered!   : )   This past weekend we whipped out ALL the blocks. Let me say that again . . . ALL 36 paper pieced blocks. DONE. Way to sew ladies! I was very impressed that everyone hung in there. No one even came after me with a rotary cutter for designing a paper pieced quilt. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Here's how it looked by the end of the day. I'm loving how the blocks and colors are working.

We'll be assembling the top at the next sew day in November and that should be a breeze after all the paper piecing. Yea! Then it's basting, quilting and binding. I think we'll be in good shape to have it all done in time to meet the challenge deadline.

Stay tuned here at SpringLeaf Studios and on our Boulder Modern Quilt Guild blog as I post about our ongoing progress.

I'm also curious . . . are you part of the QuiltCon 2015 Charity Quilt Challenge? If so, what has been the most challenging part for you and your guild?

Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. This is a big WIP for our guild. 

I'm also linking up with Sew Solid Sunday at Esch House Quilts. I don't always have a solid quilt to link up, but this one fits the bill. Check out the links to see what others are doing with all solids.