Home Improv Stretch

I spent today with the delightful group of quilters from Quilters' Connection near Waltham, Mass. The goal was to make a big blob, cut it into four squares, add a frame for "Within the Frame". I kept time poorly, so ended before that glorious finish. One day not enough! But much delight in improv piecing. Thank you Quilters' Connection!
 

Size Matters

For the Northern Suburban Needlearts Guild I asked that each person have a table and a design wall, They did! So, it was great to spread out and manipulate fabric, as well as move it around on the design walls (insulation foam boards). We accomplished so much, and made exceptional designs. 
 

Taking on the Blob

Criss has sewn a large assemblage of fabric which I call 'the blob' with which we will work our design chops. I've been with the North Suburban Needlearts Group this week for a lecture and 2 1/2 day class. Meeting up with new folks and some 'repeat offenders' as well, we've had a great time with improv design. 

A Few Hours

I've spent the last few days reorganizing my bits of videos for Crafty Monkies. They are putting together a set of online views of me doing a project, along with others, for a group  quilt. This is one of the 'blocks' I've made. I've still got to put finishing touches on the three and mail them, but these videos come first.

 

Hunkering Down to Design

First day of four and works are being drafted, cut, sewn, improvised. A truly great class, 19 in all, who took on the challenge to learn more about improvisational quilting. The Australasian Quilt Convention is run as smooth as clockwork, always support when you might need it. 
 

One Last Twist Before I Go

It's hard to resist a good scrambled block. This has the elements I love -- dark and light, large 'blank' areas, and places with small textures. I love getting the parts to move across the inherent grid of the four patch. I've left it on the wall so I can return to it.
 

Second Block

The smallest block meant for the collaborative quilt measures 9 x 18. I've pieced the heart, the thin lines, and the rest relies on the printed fabric. The red of the heart is cut from printed fabric. 
 

Back to the Wall

Call it the windfall. More than once someone has walked past my design wall and the rush of wind caused the pieces to fall. I discovered that a good windfall (all take down) and then put back up again is the best way to see a composition anew. Never fails to improve design. So, I'll keep this going, but I'll use pins. 
 

So Far, So Good

This piece seems to know just what to do, and seems that I'll be lead on by that. It has been amazing that I am able to use just about every inch of these four fabrics -- some that are half yards -- but with almost no waste. The rough size is about 50" x 70" wide. And the print is doing the heavy lifting.
 

On the Cutting Floor

Good thing I left a draft on the design wall before I left for a 10 day east coast swing. A few hours in and this piece is snapping right along. Notice that illegal ruler? I use it to place the square in the frame of the surrounding fabric, measuring the cut to allow for reassembly. Need that perfect 1/2 inch to make it work. 
 

Officially Official

Here's the logo that identifies me as an tutor for the Festival of Quilts. I'm excited to bring improv piecing to Birmingham, England in "Within the Frame" on the Tuesday before the opening on Thursday. We'll go with a bit of 'however it lands'!
 

Same Fabric, Two Works

My faithful readers know I rarely post two images, but I needed to show you how one of the piecers in my design class "Within the Frame" took on the project. She's used the same fabrics as the improv base, but finished with two distinct frames for them. It was so fun to see each one's piece finish differently.
 

Parts is Parts

Lisa assembles her work with the suggestion to join a few fabrics together before adding them to the design wall. Once a few sets are made, they can be shuffled. Sounds easy? Sounds odd? It's not for the faint. We're working in columns, but you'd not guess. And in that great space in Warren, RI, Cutler Mills.
 

Flat Seams Good

A seam pressed flat will allow me to have all the images flat on the 'page' as opposed to the rise that comes from pressing to one side. An experiment learned long ago from a talented teacher. It gives me the greatest range of application when choosing the final quilting. Anyway, here's something never to be seen.
 

Tell Me About Mackinac

Yes, that's me giving a hearty welcome to this seminar. Thing is, I've never been to Mackinac Island and I'm very curious to know what it's like. I'll be teaching a week there, from freezer paper templates to improv design. And it will be Spring! That alone sounds good. Tell me if you know about this seminar.
 

New and Hungup

This gives you a sense of how a 30" square can look in scale with the room. I've not a lot of wall space, but I love to see what happens when these go from design wall to living wall. I've made this specific size to work with a same-sized painting for an October exhibit with my friend Judy Gohringer. 

Hidden in the Frame

If we're talking about Within the Frame, I'll bring this to the discussion. There are a handful of squares imbedded in this large work (80 x 82) and they are meant to go unnoticed. I love making ones that have a bit of foolery, as they capture the traditional way of hiding or blending pieces in the design.

Within the Frame, Too!

As I was packing, sorting, tossing things today for my trip to Cape Cod and the Cahoon Museum's three day design class, I realized that this piece was a direct descendent of the Within the Frame mentaility. And it can be made square, so I can finish it and put it in the "Be There, Be Square" show in October.
 

Within the Frame

I should mention that I'll be in person in Cape Cod's Cahoon Museum for a three day improv design workshop "Within the Frame" August 9 - 11. Although most of my teaching gigs are printing fabric, I love to dive in a pile of fabric and reassemble, getting things like this. Join me, there are spots left. 
 

Within The Frame

I'm fascinated with the square format. I'll be on Cape Cod at the Cahoon Museum this August 9-11 for a workshop that examines the great effect when printed or figured blocks are framed with another whole cloth. Seems simple, but appears complex. To join me August 9-11, see my calendar/website for details.