What's On the Wall

Here's the selection of fabrics. I've taken down the jumble that was singing all out of key, and put these up mainly because I love blue. And I've been missing blue. Not the earth shattering thought, just a kind of "I'd like to just eat dessert, thank you" statement.
 

Tight Fit

I finally got the time to get this on the wall -- and it just fits! I can see that Studio 301 is deceiving me. The walls there are 12' high, mind are a modest 8'. I'll most likely continue to make large things, but I do like to live with them before they go out in the world without me.

 

Enough Room

QSDS takes over the art building at the Columbus College of Art and Design for their symposium. And they give me a generous and wonderful to have students work at building abstract compositions. The finished pieces were just lovely to watch take form.
 

Make It & Break It

A two day class in improvisational design for quilting started today at QSDS in Columbus, Ohio. We started small, with half yard cuts of three selected fabrics. Each started with different fabrics, and at the end of the day, finished with a great start to an abstract piece.
 

Change Is Good

I've got all the parts set in columns, hence the name of the class. I've just a little shifting left and then I'll attach them all. The class this week had many who came with their own hand printed fabric,  very well made graphics, each one refreshingly different from each other. A treat to see them used!

Squirrels

When I was concentrating on one, another unfinished work took over. This is more challenging, and lively, that's certain. We'll see how it all goes. Or not. 
 

Oh, Just Finish It

Day on of the two day class of "Columns" and my homework is to photograph the before of the work. Tomorrow I'll try to finish, which means sewing the top together. This might be the "Auction" piece for QSDS.  Too soon to tell.
 

Strange Things Happen

In a demo on composition for Line, Shape, and Setting, I take randomly made "blocks" and try to make sense of them. Once in a while, they stick and emerge to be a "keeper" of a composition. In that case, I snap a photo quickly. Then I can take them and rearrange with abandon. 
 

Oh, Cut It Up

Two photos (I know, big treat) with an old block I've cut up and rearranged to demonstrate the power of the slice and dice. Tomorrow is day #2 of Line, Shape, Setting. It's fun. 
 

End of the Day 1

Line, Shape, and Setting is all about technique and construction in improv quilts. And for me, the demos generate a mound of bits. Quilts are flung about, yards are left in heaps. I've got a day before the second half, and so tomorrow I'll clear this up and attach parts. My homework!
 

Trimmed

Trimmed to finish at 72" wide, I've not got the binding on it. But that's the final part, and easy. Another garden quilt, I think. Plant a Seed, Grow a Weed. I've used a column structure to get it built, and some ideas for improv to move a motif around. Part of my "Columns" class. 
 

My Hot Mess

The second day of the Columns workshop had me searching for an example of blocks that had set in shapes. This pile from long ago surfaced. Its last configuration was awful, so I applied the columns rule, added a large piece for breathing, and this I'll keep. Moral: listen to your own directions.
 

Columns Sketched

I've done a few sketches for an upcoming class "Columns". I've got the two starters on top, the mix at bottom. The class is about composition using a columnar form. Another class "Make It and Break It" deals with improvisational piecing (as does Columns) but with adding a template to capture the design. Check my virtual classes if you're interested www.patpauly.com/virtualclasses
 

Settling In

I've gone back to a square format and center medallion composition that might be the last iteration. But, it's not done till I sew it!
 

Try a Landscape

Now that I've added the remaining pieces, I've used a template to split into blocks. I can't resist arranging and rearranging a million times. This was my landscape based design. I've got this photo to return to when I take it apart and try another composition.
 

Shuffle Along

I've saved half of the pieces and shuffled the other half. It seems rather random, because it is, but that's part of the mystery. Now I'll add in the rest.
 

What Happens When?

A quick study to break the background fabric with random blocks is the start of reconstructing this four patch. I'll rework it, but I love the possibilities that are there. The second day of Make It and Break It was fun, and thank you to a great group of quilters from Germany to Vancouver. What a world I've got!
 

Loading on the Inches

Two sets of Nine Patches show just how different the size of the square is. On the left it's 12" square and the right is 9" square. Larger offers more generously sized shapes. Harkening back to traditional block structure, this arrangement presents improv as anything but pedestrian.
 

Beginning to Become Apart

I've gone back and recombined the three quarter yards with no particular plan in mind. I added some line contrast, scrambled them a bit, but tried to keep the size of the pieces large. I know they will be cut more and that motif will  be lost if I cut smaller and smaller. 
 

Spinning Around

The blob became a four square. I could fiddle with this for days, and most likely will.  These are just two of the combinations that emerged. But I've got other ideas. Might save the for my "Make It and Break It" class. Can't tip my cards, can I?