Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 3

Can you believe we're already onto month three of the Kaleidoscope BOM? It feels like New Years 2016 was just the other day. I'm so excited about these two blocks because they start to get a little more detailed, which adds a new layer of dimension to these blocks. 

This first one is so cool to me. I love the way the orange in the middle creates a pinwheel, but it also adds a ton of depth to the lemon star. The plum secondary background adds a cool dimension to this block as well. I love the effect of the kaleidoscope pieces extending into the background as an optical illusion. The quilting could really enhance this when we're done. 

The second block for month three is also so fun. This one has a great out of space vibe to it. Maybe it's the fabric selection or the angles of the center of the star and the star itself, but I feel like I'm on Space Mountain going through the galaxy on a space ship. This just goes to show you how the fabric choice and pattern can really make a block pop. 

If you want to download these blocks and join along in our BOM, hop on over to Craftsy. And remember, if you make any, make sure to share them on social media using #KaleidoscopeBOM

Check out the previous months too:
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

One Block Wonder Progress

I finally got around to quilting my One Block Wonder quilt as part of my February goal to complete a project.  This has also been on my to-quilt list for the Boston MQG WIP challenge. I made the top back in 2008 and its just been sitting around, waiting to be finished.

The quilt top just didn't lay flat, but I managed to quilt most of that out and I am pleased to say that this quilt actually lays pretty flat now.

This is the back that I made.  I don't usually make pieced backings, but I wanted to showcase the floral print on the back that was used to make the front of the quilt.  It's fun to see what the fabric looked like before it was chopped up and transformed into what you see on the front.

I quilted it using Angela Walters' flower design using a green So Fine! thread.  I'm really pleased with how the quilting turned out.

Now I need to pick out a fabric to use for the binding and finish this baby off.  I'm hopeful to have it done in the next few days.  

A Quilter's Gathering 2012 - The Quilts

Warning: Picture Heavy Post!

I've attended A Quilter's Gathering several times before and enjoyed myself.  It's a smaller show, but it draws a decent selection of quilts and vendors. The quilts and goodies the vendors have for sale tend to be a bit more traditional, but it's still very enjoyable to see some great quilts.

They had a special exhibit of mini quilts that were united by a strand of color running through the quilts.  Here are some of those quilts:

And then there was the main show.  Here are some of my favorites from the main quilt show.

A Quilter's Gathering

Last weekend I spent some time at A Quilter's Gathering in Manchester, NH.

I took a class with Robbi Joy Eklow and made this wall hanging which will be a Christmas present for my dad. He's been playing guitar for 50+ years, so I'm sure he'll love it.  I made it with all of my own hand dyed fabrics.

I'll share more pictures of the quilt in a future post once I dig my camera out and take some pictures of it since this one was taken on my phone.  My goal is to finish it by Christmas, so hopefully soon.

I also began making this quilt top (the petals aren't attached to the center yet) that night as KK and I were hanging out in our hotel room after the class and before our dinner reservation. This one is lower on my finish list, but I'm really liking how it's coming out, so hopefully I'll finish it soon.

On another note, my Dazzling Diamonds quilt is a finalist in the Blogger's Quilt Festival in the Doll/Mini quilt category.  I'd love it if you voted for my quilt. 

Drawing Fabulous Fun Feathers

Last month I took a class with Sue Nickels at A Quilters Gathering up in Nashua, NH.  The class, drawing fabulous fun feathers, was a three hour class on Saturday evening.  No sewing machine, no fabric required, just some paper, a pencil and ruler. 

Sue was a fantastic teacher and really helped us understand how to draw feathers.  The technique we learned was to draw feathers on paper to then trace onto fabric and quilt.

This was my first attempt.  Eh, not that great. They look very stiff.  You could see them becoming less stiff towards the top as I got the hang of it more and more.

Sue's were much less stiff looking than mine started out as.

I slowly got the hang of it though.  See, these flow much better.

The circle was a bit challenging.

The heart was interesting.  You draw one half and trace it onto the second half by folding the tracing paper in half.

I then created this design which I later turned into the quilt from my last post.

To start, I traced the design with a permanent marker and then traced it onto the fabric before quilting it.  I'm pleased with how it came out.

Now I need to figure out how to "funkify" my feathers.  

A Quilters Gathering II - The Quilts and a Rant

On Sunday we went back to A Quilters Gathering to take another "class" (more on that later) and see the quilts on display.  I'm always inspired by the quilts I see in these shows.  After viewing some of the quilts though, I felt more motivated to enter some of my quilts in upcoming shows.  I'm thinking of entering my fire and ice quilt in a few shows once I get it back from the quilter.

Without further adieu, the quilts:

No my rant.  KK, Lynn, and myself signed up for a half day class on Sunday to make a poppy wall hanging. Prior to the class we were sent the supply list by the organizers of the show and we all went out and bought everything necessary.  In total, I probably spent over $100 in supplies for this class.  When we showed up, the teacher, Lenore Crawford, was wondering why everyone in the class had all of these supplies when this was just a lecture.  WHAT?!?  Um, we had all of our supplies because we were told that this was a class and we were sent a supply list to have for the class.  She then went on to blame the show for not communicating with us properly.  Then, she questioned everyone in the class as to whether or not we really expected to work on a project in a half day class and that it wasn't possible.  I then said that in our half day class yesterday we were able to finish our project from start to finish.  With a snarky remark, she then responded that people in her full day class hadn't even finished their quilt and she questioned whether or not we would be able to create a decent quilt in just 3 hours.  Needless to say, everyone was very put off with her attitude towards everyone and the clear lack of communication between everyone, between Lenore and the festival organizers, and the organizers to the participants.  On top of that, Lenore seemed very off her game throughout the lecture since this was her 4th or 5th day teaching in a row.  I can understand if you're tired, but don't commit to teach a class if you aren't able to handle it.  Basically, I was very disappointed with this "class."  I spent all of that money to register for the class and buy all of the "required" supplies only to listen to the teacher's history and how she does her technique without even getting to try our hand at it and ask questions in person.