Quilting finds

We managed to go car booting this weekend as the rain decided to give us one day off:-) And I'm glad I went. Of course, I was looking for something entirely different - which I didn't find - but I did find a bag of quilting things. I was looking through them thinking which ones I could afford when the woman said I could have the lot for £1.50. Wow! Most car booters now really charge a lot so I was feeling rather lucky walking away with my bag of quilting goodies!

So on closer inspection, heres my haul:-) First off, there were three books; one with projects for log cabin which are a bit, ahem, naff, but the technique info is good. The second is another general projects book but the how-to information is good as well. The third is a quilting pattern resource, full of patterns for quilting the top once you've finished or if you are just quilting a plain top. They're all big enough to scan in and print out to use so that's ideal.

Another find, and the main reason why I picked up the bag of quilting goodies, is this grid for quilting to get your angles. I've always fancied one but never got around to getting one of my own and I'm sure they cost quite a bit more than the total of my whole bundle. Also there are some paper templates for making a Dresden plate quilt. I didn't know the name of this until I was looking at Sonnetofthemoon's blog recently where she found some wonderful examples of Dresden plates - I did at first think she was talking of actual ceramic plates, in my ignorance;-)))

Also, tucked away at the bottom of the bag, there was a sample of a dresden plate circle with some old notes from some quilting lessons. Apparently you can have them with pointed or rounded ends. I learn something every day!

I think I'm showing great restraint in not running headlong into making one of these dresden plate quilts:-) But, I might start to collect some fabrics with this specifically in mind..... or maybe dye some? Or maybe I should just finish the quilt I am making first before starting another large project!!

Kaleidoscope Quilts

I just had to mention this quilting exhibition that is on at the moment running from April 21–September 13, 2009 at the American Folk Art Museum in New York. This truly amazing kaleidoscopic quilt is one of a series of gorgeous art quilts by Paula Nadelstern.

I love the complexity of her designs and how she balances her fabrics to give such a stunning composition. These are very large pieces and must have taken a long time to make - a true labour of love! Just look at the detail! And all the minute piecing required! I'm just thinking of my large but simply designed quilt still sitting unfinished and it totally shrinks into insignificance:-) And although my quilting track record is, ahem, poor, I still feel the urge to get all my fabric out and start designing something hideously complex, right now! The urge is strong!

There is a more detailed post on her work over at the Textile blog where you can view some videos of the artist discussing her work at the actual exhibition. Its rare to get an insight into the artists thought processes and ideas so I'm looking forward to getting some quiet time so I can enjoy and absorb the full quilting atmosphere.

The museum also has a link to their online gallery catalogue which has a detailed biography on Paula Nadelstern's work which you can download as a PDF as well as viewing images of the quilts in situ in the gallery. Links are at the bottom of the Paula Nadelstern page.

Enjoy the kaleidoscopic quilting experience!

Awesomely gorgeous!

About a month ago, I answered Sonnetofthemoon's wish for a wool winder. I had a spare collecting dust so I thought it would be much better being used and for once, I could help someone out! As you do in crafty circles, you put a few extra nicey's in there as don't we all like presents? Especially when it's a surprise? Well, imagine my surprise this morning when this big box came to the door as a thank you. To say that I was speechless was an understatement! (and if you know me that's quite a feat!!) Really the generosity, the awesomeness of these gifts has stunned me. So the rest of my blog today will be to show you all the yummy loveliness in my parcel. Lots and lots of photos of gorgeousness.

Unwrapped and opening box - a definite pink tinge peeking through...... Do you think Crystal knows I like pink?!

Wow! Pink city! How yummy is that? A full box of fabric loveliness:-) The box is full of table linen - a long runner, 6 double sided napkins and drinks coasters, 2 hot plate mats - all quilted in the most gorgeous matching fabrics. The amount of time this must have taken to make!

In my excitement, I rushed upstairs straight away and fetched my camera to take pictures to show you everything. The set of drinks coasters...

Look at the stitch detail - how straight are those lines? That takes a lot of sewing practice;-))

And the hot plates mats - these are just so yummy close-up. There is patchwork detailing on one side and lovely solid pattern on the other.

Patchwork and quilting close-up for you....

And everything is bound and hand stitched down - what time and effort! What perfect little stitches:-)

The napkins were all perfectly presented ready to go on the table. And I suddenly thought 'Why not lay them out on the table?' But our room is quite dull inside so I used the table outside in the bright sunshine and I think it looks brilliant. I so want an outside party with these!! All we need is some wine glasses:-)

Close-ups of the double sided napkins......

But there is more! The most beautiful long double sided patchwork runner as a centrepiece. All these fabrics are so lovely and work really well together. The white strips really sets them off well, don't you think?

Detail of the fabrics on the runner......

Look at the straightness of these lines:-))

And it's double sided with a completely different visual feel on the reverse. The patchwork detail matches the plate mats perfectly. So much attention to detail and in the balance of the design. As well as pure unadulterated yumminess:-)

Thank you so much Crystal. I can't tell you how much I love these. I keep looking over and seeing the lovely fabrics and colours, and I'm overwhelmed again by your kindness and the amount of time and effort you have spent making these for me.

It has been such a wonderful day getting such a lovely present and it has really inspired me to get going and start being creative with my sewing machine again. Thank you. Watch this space;-)))

Random Wednesday

While I was downloading the magenta flowers from my phone I found a whole stash of photos I had forgotten I'd taken. This was one I took way back last summer when all the tourists were down in Cornwall with their campers. Both campers were filling up with petrol/diesel - I love how you could probably fit two of the small camper into the big one the size of a bus!

So, random thoughts today:

Surprise of the week: Finding photos on my phone from my parents visit last October:-)

Most interesting blog this week: well, I have several for you today. Firstly, Posie Gets Cosy has a lovely visual entry on her local walks - always worth visiting.

Design from Material Obsession's new book

My main blog discovery this week is Material Obsession and The Last Piece. I found these sites through a link from Jane Brocket's mention of the book Material Obsession and discovered their quilting blog. Kathy now runs the Material Obsession blog and Sarah has started her own - The Last Piece. So you get twice the loveliness! They are full of ideas for quilts and visuals from the courses they run, the fabrics from their shop, workshops by well known artists - I love Sue Spargo's folk art quilts, yum.

Sue Spargo's design

All photos are from Material obsession's blog - go have a look for more quilting loveliness. It's really got me thinking about applique and decorating surfaces again. Maybe it's time to get my sewing machine out!

Reading: Lots of quilting books I got out of the library - all 7 of them!

Would still like to get done this week: Tidy, then organise my room to include the sewing machine - this could take a while....... Is there such a thing as a Mary Poppins room instead of a bag?! I could do with some invisible storage ready to call out of thin air whenever you need it!

Hidden Stories

Still thinking about colouring fabrics and building up backgrounds, I thought I would show you a book that covers just this subject - 'The Painted Quilt' by Laura and Linda Kemshall.

Although their main outcomes are quilts, there is a full range of ideas and techniques for the preparation of fabrics using printing, layers, drawing with stitch, painting with dyes, tie dyeing, overdyeing and printing combinations.... You get the picture!

The layers of techniques are very rich in colour, texture and visual contrast and the book explains the development of ideas from source, the techniques and processes used towards both conventional and unconventional interpretations of the quilt.

It highlights ways to use all elements of visual language in a balanced and considered way to enable a strong overall outcome making good use of texture and colour as well as detailed imagery.

I do like the layering of techniques and the way the use of photographic imagery doesn't dominate the compostition and manages to be seen but hidden at the same time. Some of Laura's work has a 3D quality using flaps - telling another aspect of a story that is partially hidden? It is an intriguing concept to play with.

If you feel you must own this book then you can find it here. If you are interested in Laura and Linda Kemshall's work you can visit their website here. They also run creative courses in all these techniques if you live near enough - and can afford it! It would be lovely to be able to indulge!!
Update - apparently the courses are all now online. You can view the details on their website.

Anyway, more ideas to add to the creative melting pot. Time to go away and think and then start to experiment!