One Down

 

The block I made in the "Make It & Break It" method turned out swell, so that's finished and ready to go. It's be a 'block' as part of a group quilt, and this one is 18 x 27 It's part of a project for Crafty Monkies, which I'm nearly finished with. Ya Hoo!

Here's the Fun

As a demonstration of improv and using templates, I took last week's prints and combined a few to make this large blog. Those who know my 'ways' know what I'll do next. With luck, it'll be finished tomorrow, and then you'll see how it has been tamed.
 

Make It & Break It

After printing for four days, the group had two days of sewing and design. Terry took fabric she'd just printed (and washed) and took on the project of Make It & Break It, where she put fabrics together to take apart and reset in a grid structure. I've made a few of these, and they are always a good puzzle.
 

Shameless Self Promotion

Might think all I do is shameless, but there are a few wee times I'm not. This is. I'm looking forward to this Island Art Seminar, and since I'm the keynote speaker, I'll be there in a big way. And, bonus, it'll be sewing and design. I'll anticipate loads of commercial fabrics, but hey, bring along the crazies if you want. I am.
 

Design Workshop

I'll be part of the Mackinac Island Quilting Art Seminar with a set of classes on Improv Piecing. I love seeing how design walls bloom into the fabulous designs after just a few prompts. Think about joining me in Michigan for the sew-fest. Info in my website calendar www.patpauly.com/calendar 
 

Waiting on the Design Wall

I've scrambled the lower portion of this piece, and I like the progression. I'll move some things around. For my "Columns" fan, this was part of the solution, and for my "Make It & Break It" fans, I've used some of that process as well. Following my OWN advice for this one.
 

Mackinac Island Retreat April 26 - May 2, 2025

I'll be teaching three sew/design classes at the Mackinac Island Retreat -- which promises to be a lovely and inspiring week. Consider "Within The Frame" there, where we'll look at what happens to the frame of a composition. Here's the info: https://www.quiltingartseminar.com/our-workshops-1
 

New and Just Hungup

My cape-coddie house hasn't a lot of wall space, but what's there holds the rotating collection. This is the latest, all set to go for October's little show at The Little Cafe. It's based on Make It & Break It, and I used the parts for a while in demonstration. Time to decide and finish, I thought. 
 

Class Study

We worked with three fabrics to make a small study, and some managed to eek out nine blocks and a composition. This one has the advantage of a strong dark, a light end, and great color in the third selection. It was a lovely two day class to Make It & Break It. Thanks San Diego!

Make It San Diego

Taking Make it & Break It to the streets of San Diego and this group of intrepid piecers took on the challenge. We'll do more tomorrow, after a good rest tonight. Improv at its best, with lots of fun mixed in.
 

Packing

In a week I'll be off to San Diego for a two day class in Make It & Break It. This four patch is made of four 24" squares. And being unconnected, there's lots of ways to set this before it's finished. That's the fun of this design, its ability to morph and change until the sweet spot appears. I'll pack it to go.
 

Choosing Time

Now that the set has been subdivided, I've got a chance to rearrange as nauseum. That's the fun and the torture. There always is yest another version to see. No worry, my camera has them all.
 

Studio Work

Heat is on in the studio, a nice change from last year and a broken boiler. I've taken some odds from other works and combined them into several 'blobs' which became the base for this composition. It won't stay like this, I'll split it all, but not till I'm teaching in San Diego. It'll be my demo for the design class.
 

Blob to Beautiful

I had a perfectly fine top that I just did not like. It needed some order, some redistribution, something. So, I cut it into 25 lovely squares and here's the better set. I'll put it together and get it in the queue. By the way, my workshop saw graffiti in the piece, so we're calling it "Skate Park".
 

An Improvement Over Yesterday

Well, I make it and then I break it -- my homework for tomorrow. I took my blob apart and reassembled it. This is not the final set. I've got to move these around at least ten more times till I'm satisfied. And, we'll be doing this at the Textile Center in Minneapolis next month, should you want to have fun with me there.
 

The Blob

Make It & Break It is always fun, surprising fun. I get to work up a piece along with everyone else, just to show the steps involved. This is the part where "the blob" is made before getting cut apart -- the Break It part of the moment. We'll get together Thursday, I'll have more then. Design Camp? Yes. 
 

Ever Changing

Back to the design wall and trying to make sense of this very soft group of fabrics. At this point it's about 8' wide, perhaps 4' high. I've got some reconstructing to do, so let's see what the rest of the week brings.

 

Leftovers

 

After piecing the large top, I started to clean up the leftover pieces. I have all intention of using them, but often they just take up space. So, new habit: use them. A new combination, a Make It & Break It solution, and I've a nine patch to go. New things!

The Full Monty

Now seen across the room from where I made it, it looks happy there. I realize that I need a name for it. Nothing seems to fit, so I'll just have to stare at it a while. Which I recommend -- staring that is. It takes time to get to know why you like the piece. 
 

Before and After Additions

 

The top image is about 3' x3' and is strictly the squares from an exercise. The lower image, about 4' wide and 3.5' high, included additions of plain blocks that expand and stretch the more complex pieces. I've often suggested adding in breathing room, and this worked for me here.