It's That Time of Year

Fall brings cooler temperatures which I love. It also means many of us are getting ready to go to Houston for the world's largest quilt show:  International Quilt Festival--often known by only one name: HOUSTON!

I also go to International Quilt Market, so I will be in Texas for two weeks. 

Those who work in the Education Department are often lucky enough to be given fabric from one of several great manufacturers to use for a garment. This helps identify us as "staff" on the third floor where all classes, lectures and special events are held. We can make whatever we like and each day on the schedule is designated for a specific garment.

So, it's time to make the Garment. Here are several from years gone by, some of which will be worn this year:

My new one for 2022 uses fabric by Art Gallery, from their GRID collection:

I made it reversible for twice the use: 

This is Kaffe Fassett's 85th birthday year and there will be some celebrating at Market. Here are two Kaffe garments I made years ago--we had these fabrics in 2005 and 2008. I will wear one of these for the celebration:

And since I'm showing off my IKEA bookcases, here are two of my most favorite things on those bookcases.

Sue Garman, my dear friend and a mentor, was the designer of Afternoon Delight, the quilt we used for the 2020 Block of the Month for The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. I went to Dallas to tape the show, using the sample quilt I made along with great help from the Sunday Sew and Sews.  We had this lovely photograph of Sue on the table during the interview. I felt she was there with me. I see her lovely smile every day and miss her always:

Many years ago I was an Admin Officer in the United States Marine Corps. My first duty station was MCAS Cherry Point, in North Carolina. One of the clerks in my unit, H&HS-28, was a cartoonist and he surprised me with this caricature. He didn't sign or date it and I cannot remember his name, I am very sorry to say. This has been with me for 45 years and is one of my most treasured items:

Also, sad to say, I still have those chunky calves.

Lots to do before heading to Houston. The "Secret Sewing" has begun for the 2023 Block of the Month quilt--it will be revealed very soon. Several other great quilts have to get made or finished. I am always busy, happily so.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Art Gallery Fabrics Garments

I've been asked about the Education Show Team Garments.

Each year, we are provided fabrics from one or two manufacturers to make garments we wear at Market and Festival. We can make whatever we like, and we select up to 5 yards of the fabric lines that are offered.

This started many years ago. I remember telling Judy Murrah after my first year on the team that planning my wardrobe was the hardest part of the job. We are expected to look professional--no jeans, no exercise clothes, etc., but have to be comfortable since our jobs involve a lot of physical activity.

Judy came up with the idea to have fabrics donated to the team. It's been more than 20 years and this is still the way it works.

This year we asked Art Gallery Fabrics to be one the wonderful companies that support us in this way. Their collection "Indie Folk" by designer Pat Bravo, really caught our attention at Spring Market. Happily, they agreed.

I sent out information to the 21 members of our Education Show team and they selected up to 5 yards from the line. After double-checking their selections for accuracy, I sent the order to the company and they sent the fabrics to each person. Each person told me how excited they were about this collection!

The fabrics I selected with the pattern I planned to use:

Here are a few closeups:

The Market Team, Mechelle and Barbara C are missing

Sheryl and Cassie

Anne and Sue B

Sue H

Tanya and Cassie, caught studying the Schedule board

Tanya and Cassie, face front

Each year it is fun to see what our folks make. We wear specific garments on specific days. While we look similar, we are not the same. The garments help make us identifiable as "staff" and planning our wardrobes is easier.  I bring several pair of black slacks, a variety of knit tops and 3 pair of comfortable shoes--it works!

We will wear these garments at our shows for the next 3 years, before they are "retired" as we add new garments every year.

It's a good thing we get 5 yards. The jacket I made was too big, too bulky, too "not wonderful" for these great fabrics. After taking it in some, I still didn't like it so I used the remaining fabric to make a simple tunic top. I could take the jacket all apart, and re-do it for next year, and I might. I might not, time will tell...

The reject

The replacement

A Huge "THANK YOU!" to the fine folks at Art Gallery Fabrics.

We appreciate the generosity of the companies that provide us their newest fabrics. The garments serve us well in our jobs and help to show off these latest prints. And, of course, packing for 13 days in Houston is easier, really.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Garment Time

Though it doesn't feel like Fall yet, it is time to make the Garments--the two I need to make for International Quilt Festival/Market.

As part of the Education Show Team in Houston, we work each year at Festival, helping students and the Faculty to have a wonderful, even thrilling, experience. To help identify us as "education staff", we are given great new fabrics from manufacturers that we use to make whatever kind of garments we want.  Here is a photo from 2011 to give you an idea:

This really helps with wardrobe choices all week. We need to look professional but we have to be comfortable too. I work Quilt Market, also, so I am in Houston for 13 days with no time to do laundry. A simple jacket over black slacks and tank shirts works well.

This year is the 45th anniversary of the International Quilt Festival--the Sapphire Celebration! Blue and White will be seen everywhere, just as Red and White was 5 years ago for the Ruby Jubilee--the 40th anniversary.

For a blue garment, we are working with Michael Miller fabrics, selecting from several of their collections from specific blue fabrics. My selections, including a pattern from Indygo Junction--they kindly offer us patterns as well:

The other fabric line is from Art Gallery Fabrics: Indie Folk. We get to select up to 5 yards of whatever we want for our garments. Here is my choice with the pattern I am using:

This week I started both garments but have to wait for lining fabric I ordered online to arrive to complete them. Before Hancock's Fabrics closed, a few years back, I was lucky enough to have one just a few blocks from my home. I sure miss them when making garments--linings, interfacing, buttons, trims, patterns--all used to be right there. No longer, I have to shop for those things online now.

Progress shots:

I head to Houston in just over 5 weeks so these have to get done. My guild quilt show is two weeks before that trip and I am pretty busy working on that as well. At this point, I think I am ahead of schedule...

Let's quilt (and sew).

Barbara

A Few Finishes

After a busy September traveling, I'm now in the "soon to go to Houston" mode. And I've been busy teaching local classes here.

My "go-to" quilt to make as a gift for nieces and nephews graduating from college is what I call the Super Southern Star--it's from Calico Carriage Quilt Designs. No "Y" seams, only half square triangles. I've taught it many times and have made about a dozen of them, about 75" square.

Here is one a student just completed as a wedding gift:

A quilter won't mistake this pattern for a "real" Lone Star" or Star of Bethlehem quilt but it makes a bed-size quilt top in a weekend and can then be quilted simply or with more complexity.

I recently taught this locally to 5 fairly new quilters. They did great in  our one all-day class, learning all the steps needed to finish their quilts. In the morning they learn how to make one quarter of the center:

In the afternoon they learn how to make one quarter of the side panels:

Two center quarters done, you can really start to see the star

  

They will all have terrific quilts when they are finished. Here is the one I made as a sample to keep for myself:

My two garments for Houston are now officially done. We are given fabric each year from manufacturers so we can make garments we wear on specific days while working on the Education Team. This helps identify us as staff and helps us in planning our wardrobes--I am there 13 days so having specific jackets I wear on specific days sure helps with  packing. Five pairs of black slacks, a bunch of shells or blouses, and the jackets are all I need. We can make whatever we want and can add one additional fabric to the ones we are given. These fabrics are from Alexander Henry, I added the red:

This is a beautiful rayon from the Menagerie collection of Rifle Paper Company, part of Cotton + Steel, a division of RJR Fabrics:

The other day I just wanted to quilt something so this wallhanging Trip Around the World was basted and ready--a former class sample. In a few hours I quilted  and bound it and it's now added to the pile of potential "gift" quilts:

Today I finished the Palmateer Point Sew-A-Long quilt from Humble Quilts. Lori does a small quilt sew-a-long once a year or so and I usually join in. Without a border, 21" square:

With a border, 25" square:

Think I'll baste, quilt and bind this one soon--no sense adding it to the unfinished top pile.

I have one more bed-size top for a class sample to get made in the next two weeks so I better get busy on that.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Fall!

It took its' sweet time getting here, but we finally have cooler temps here this week.

I managed to get the September segment of Rajah Revisited done before the end of the month, it's 50.5" square at the moment:

This pattern is the 2016 Block of the Month quilt from thequiltshow.com, a subscription internet quilt show and so much more. It is based on an historic quilt made by slave women shipbound to Australia from England, in the 1840's.  There are two more borders to go.  If you subscribe before the end of 2016 you will have access to the entire year's patterns.  A new Block of the Month will start in January, 2017, and it is designed by the incomparable Sue Garman.  I am a huge fan of The Quilt Show--even when I am not particularly interested in one of the shows, I still learn things.  And the forums and puzzles, and special features are just terrific.  You can sign up as a basic member and look around before you decide to subscribe.

Next up is making two garments for International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston--I head down there 4 weeks from now for thirteen days.  It is the highlight of my year.  Having these garments really helps with wardrobe issues for that long.  Each year, fabric companies donate fabric to the Education Team.  Each person selects her choice of fabrics from a specific line and can make her choice of garments.  We wear specific garments on specific days.  This helps us look like "staff" to the thousands of students on the 3rd floor and helps us look professional but comfortable.  Several pairs of black slacks, a handful of tank tops/blouses, and I am good to go with my jackets.  This year we are sporting Amy Butler's latest line, Eternal Sunshine by Free Spirit Fabrics and Cherrywood Fabrics, with our choice on one print to be added to the Cherrywood suede-look solids:

I rarely figure out what I'm making before I order, just take a guess and make it work.  Some of the others plan their order for the specific garments they plan to make.  I am excited about this years' fabrics and eager to get my jackets made.  For me, selecting the patterns and which fabrics will go where is the challenge--once that's done, making them just comes together.  We'll see if my luck still holds in that department.

Here's hoping Fall has made an appearance at your place too.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

What's New Pussycat?

Back from Portland and there is a new project:  rearrange the studio to accommodate the Bernina Q20 sit-down longarm that will be arriving soon.  Mostly, I just look around the room and say "oh, my, where do I put this stuff?"  It's time for a major purge again...

Instead I worked on this:

This is a replica of an antique top I bought at Spring Market in Minneapolis, read about it here. I think I will make twenty more blocks and add a border.  Time will tell.  It's going on the back burner for now.  Patches gave it her seal of approval.

And I worked on Smitten:

This is not the final layout, just a grouping of the blocks I have done.  Some are hand-pieced, some machine-pieced. The pattern is by Lucy Carson Kingwell--I first saw it on Instagram.  Most are doing this by English Paper Piecing.  I am using Marti Michell's Perfect Patchwork Template Set H--cutting out for regular piecing, either by hand or machine.  This, too, is now going on the back burner...

What I have to do right now: 
       1.  prepare a Power Point Presentation I am giving in early September--I'll be much more relaxed when that is in the can

      2.  Figure out the 3 garments I have to make for Houston now that the fabrics and patterns have arrived

 

 

Great manufacturers donate fabrics each year for the Education Team to make garments--we wear specific garments on specific days.  This helps make us visible as Staff, people able to help and answer questions from the many hundreds of folks we see each day, and makes it easier for us to plan our wardrobes for 1-2 weeks living out of a suitcase.  This year we have Vintage Made Modern by Amy Barickman for RJR, Zen Chic from Moda, and Shimmer by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  In addition, Indygo Junction has graciously allowed us to select patterns to make our garments.  Part challenge, part wardrobe manufacture, it's fun but time-consuming.

      3. As co-chair for our guild quilt show October 9-11. 2015, there is much work to do in the next 6 weeks.  Five of us met for 6.5 hours yesterday planning the quilt layout for 201 quilts, an exhibit of Inspired By Gee's Bend quilts that are for sale, and a big Silent Auction.  I've been heavily involved in most of our 14 shows, in charge of 3 of them.  This will be the last I plan to be in charge of.  If you're involved in a volunteer organization, you cannot thank the people who make things happen enough--most members simply have no idea what it takes to pull off an event like this.  By the way, our show will be FABULOUS--it's a not to be missed event in the Southeastern US. Information on our website:   Heritage Quilters of Huntsville.  Here is the raffle quilt--you are not too  late to get tickets:

Celtic Solstice Fanfare  94" x 94" pattern by Bonnie K Hunter, used with permisson

Time to get to that Power Point--let's quilt!

Barbara

New Projects Yet Again

I decided to make one more garment for our Ruby Jubilee Festival when I had access to more of the great French General fabric, Rue Indienne for Moda.  After seeing this line at Spring Market in Pittsburgh I asked my local quilt shop, Patches & Stitches, to order some of it.  Two weeks ago it came in, right after I completed my less than successful linen jacket and switched to making a simple vest--see that story here.   They also ordered the great linen in a red paisley--that will be another outdoor-type jacket after I get home from Houston--I'm running out of time for any new starts.

Here is the replacement jacket--cotton, not linen, but it will work as a "working" tunic:

I added a Runaround bag, too, a little purse that makes it easy to carry my phone and just a few essentials when I leave the office on an errand or assignment.
Other projects ongoing:

A cute baby quilt called "Little Letters" from Temecula Quilt Co.   I started this a couple months ago for a "someday" grandchild.  They post 2 letters/blocks a week and they are quick to cut out and sew. 

Our quilt show committee had a meeting recently and I showed them what I am doing with the swap blocks they are making for me:

Most of the folks in the swap have their blocks done or will soon.  String blocks are very fast and easy for utility quilts.  Here is more info on string swap blocks.

The most important thing I did in the last week was decide on what quilts I want to have ready for our next quilt show--that helps me focus on what needs to get done next.  Two are to be hand-quilted so that has to get started soon.  The show is a year off but time seems to fly by!

That's it for now.  Check out Judy's blog to see what others are doing.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Sewing Things Not Flat

It's that time of year when the trip to Houston is looming and I HAVE to get my garments made.  Yes, I've had the fabrics for 2 months, and yes, I've put it off but now I have to get going.

So I stopped making quilt things and started making clothes things, which are not flat.  Flat is easier.

First, I worked with a collection of fabric from Cotton + Steel, a new division of RJR Fabrics.  We were introduced to this line at Spring Market and the 5 great young women who made this happen--see their story here.  I bought a pattern which used lots of pieces, a good way to showcase this more modern line.  I should have known there would be a problem when it took 5 hours to trace the pattern and then cut out all the pieces.  After another 4 hours of construction, I was able to try on the body of the jacket and it was NOT going to fit properly.  I made one sleeve and it was absolutely NOT going to fit.  So, stop now, waste not another minute on this project.  The next day I took my rotary cutter to it, cutting out the largest hunks of fabric and went to my go-to garment, a simple vest that is easy and fits. 

 

 

One down, one more to go.  This time the fabric is a beautiful line from Moda, designed by French General.  It's a new line, Rue Indienne, not shown on the website yet. And best of all, a few pieces were available in a great linen.  Once again I used a new pattern, a very simple jacket pattern, and one that was sure to fit.  I bought a beautiful lining fabric, Radiance by Robert Kaufman, half silk, half cotton.  Lovely stuff.  The pattern was much easier than the last jacket fiasco, and not only did it fit, it was BIG!  That never happens.  And the linen fabric is hefty and so, guess what?  This garment is like a fall outdoors jacket, way too hot to wear running all over the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston.  Oh, NO!  Now I have to make yet another garment. 



Back to my old trusty vest pattern.  Fortunately, I had 2 yards of another red from French General, the same linen, and it worked nicely in the vest:

As this is the 40th anniversary of International Quilt Festival in Houston, the Ruby Jubilee, we are featuring red everywhere.  So this vest will work most of the time.  It fits, it's comfy and it's certainly red.

Now I want to make a red rayon blouse to go under the French General garments, and a small purse from the French General scraps.  And another quick garment I have to make for a fabric designer.  So there is much to do in the next 3 weeks before flying way south to Houston.

Flat is easier than not flat!

Let's quilt!

Barbara