New Big Leaf in Unique Fabric

At this weekend's quilt show I was surprised with Leslie Delpopolo's  "New Big Leaf" both because it was a fine piecing and it was using my pattern, but more importantly, she used the fabric she made in my class. Those who have been there no that there is needed courage to cut and sew that fabric. Brava!

 

New Big Leaf Day

With the snow fall, temps in single digits, I spent the day virtually with the Ohio Modern Quilt Guild making The New Big Leaf. I ended with a demo leaf, and I like the quirkiness of it. If I had time, I'd finish, but tomorrow I'll set the stage for a print class, if I can get out of the drive. Still not shoveling.

 

Roomful of Leaves

 

Twenty intrepid quilters from the Genesee Valley Quilt Club meet in my New Big Leaf workshop today and built leaves in every color combination there could be. And they were glorious, both the leaves and the quilters. My thanks to the club and the good people who spent the day learning freezer paper templates.

The Other Part of Business

For teaching "The New Big Leaf" I supply a full scale pattern and the instructions to make a freezer paper pattern. So, off to the large format printer at FedEx on a drizzly day, A couple hours later I've got the layout and reverse printed, folded, packed to go. I will also teach this online, perhaps in this winter,.
 

New Big Leaf on Mackinac Island

We spent day building a New Big Leaf in the Art Quilt Seminar, and the results were all different and well thought out. I love using freezer paper templates to land the design, and I know that once the planning is set, I have only to determine the pallet. There's more tomorrow, this is plenty to learn today.

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.
 

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
 

Remains of the Day

No matter how, I've a heap of parts left over. That's all right, I explain the ins and outs of using freezer paper with a predetermined plan. And talked about how to alter the scheme in the process. Thanks to my class today; it was lots of fun. And, I got to have people in the studio once again.
 

Should You Need a Plan

Tomorrow is The New Big Leaf Class. And though we practice on my pattern, I've many ways to show how I've used the freezer paper technique to make complex reproductions of drawings. This was the part for a large lily seed pod. 

Using Freezer Paper

Yesterday's The New Big Leaf class was all about using templates to fabricate a design. Although this work was improvisationally pieced, I used freezer paper to select the perfect oval, cut out the interior and surround, and apply the parts to the work before piecing in place.  No fabric waste (like a mistake!).  
 

Aftermath

Those in today's New Big Leaf now know the chaos left behind on my cutting table. What was an ordered life was swept away by the fast pace of "getting it all in" in a day. I enjoyed seeing the results, and no matter that the examples I had neatly stacked went topsy-turvy. It was a great day. Thanks!

Ready or Not

Friday is a New Big Leaf Class. That means company! I've got my drawing all set on my freezer paper, the last details ready to add. Then the fun starts. Fabric, which one, what range, does it work, and can I get it finished today? Depends how much I talk. The next Big Leaf is March 18 (with a couple of spots left).
 

Another New Big Leaf Class?!

Life got in the way of The New Big class that was meant for March 12. Now TWO classes are offered March 5 and another March 18. There are spots in both, should you care to learn the technique on my Big Leaf pattern. Check my virtual classes page to see examples. It's a day of fun! https://www.patpauly.com/virtualclassesbackroom/bl21002
 

New Big Leaf Redo

A quilter outside of the US asked me to find a way to send the New Big Leaf pattern via pdf. Easy, maybe. Took me a day (and counting) to gather and figure. But it's about ready to go -- maybe tomorrow -- for downloading. Mailing a full size pattern still available if you want, but I love options.
 

Freezer Paper Lotus Pods

Seeing as it was snowing today, talking about freezer paper might be appropriate. This was made from my photo of lotus pods and a full sized drawing with templates of freezer paper. It's about 6 1/2' square. Just to help the class from Sunday (The New Big Lear) think big, bold, and wild. 

Not All Leaves Are For the Dogs

After yesterday's class I had a lecture, then there was show and tell of finished New Big Leafs. Cathie's is with Pennie for scale. The class was about 18 people, and we spent a day knocking out a big leaf, learning the ins and outs of freezer paper, and just having a good-dog day of sewing. 
 

The New Big Leaf

The Courthouse Quilters in New Jersey were my workshop today for the New Big Leaf. Such different leaves fell all day long. And I didn't have to rake! My thanks to the CQG for having me, and laughing at the jokes during my lecture. Virtual is fun!

 

Now for Something Completely Different

The first Big Leaf quilt was almost a dozen years ago, and I've revamped it so the leaf floats in space. Tomorrow a group from the east coast will try the New Big Leaf pattern in a full day workshop over Zoom. Live, of course. And yes, the pattern is available on my website store, in case you wondered.
 

Bird's Eye of the Afermath

Since our class today was virtual, I've no record shots of the lovely solutions using the New Big Leaf block. Just a view of what I had left at the end of the day. There was a lot of fabric flying, quilts draped about, and the studio was filled with good company. A good day, and thank you my Big Leaf Piercers! You are the best.
 

It's All About them Leaves

Since it's the first day of fall, we in the Northeast must start to worship our leaves. So, a wall of leaves are ready to usher in The New Big Leaf class tomorrow morning. I'll be joined by people from Massachusetts to Alaska, so it should be a fun tour for the day learning about them and also freezer paper templates.