Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Lucienne Day Block
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
My Beatnik Quilt
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Block for Blair
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fireplace block for Blair
I can't wait to see how you put them all together!
Monday, May 16, 2011
a lucienne day quilt
Monday, May 2, 2011
Block a palooza!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Beatnik Block
I hope you like the result! The block is a bit bigger than what you asked for, Robin, but I'm thinking you can either work with it or find the best way to cut into it.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
April Block
This is what I posted on my blog last week, some of you may have already gotten your packages, here's some additional info. -Blair
---------
I have so enjoyed the Mid Modern Quilt Bee. Its been amazing... and a little intimidating... to see the original and unique inspiration coming from the other ladies in the bee. Some really amazing mid-century inspired ideas! The most recent block is always my favorite, and I feel like that's the point, really. It's fun.
But now April is upon us, and its my month to feel inspired. There have been more than a few moments in the last few weeks where you would have randomly found me sitting or standing, attempting to concentrate real hard on what I imagine this quilt to be, and to be inspired by. You know what? All that thinking and I got nowhere. Nothing.
I finally starting looking around online, pulling the ideas and images that really resonated with me and pinning them all together on one pinterest board. (I love pinterest!) I did not stop to look at the board and everything on it until I felt I'd pinned several things. It was so interesting to look and spot little similarities. Between that and looking at this book, I really started to get inspired.
I am a people who really prefers symmetry and balance in all areas of my life, both literally and figuatively. That idea certainly goes for quilts, I tend to like designs that are balanced and somewhat even. With that in mind, I kept looking at these two photographs of mid-century modern homes, from Mid Century Modern. The fireplaces, in particular.
I love the "little stripes" effect. I could definitely see this translated into a quilt. Broken stripes, letting the colors and fabrics I choose do the heavy work. I drew up a quick sketch of what I see in my mind's eye-
I sat with my Kona color card and had a ball picking out colors. Each block of randomly-sized and randomly-colored stripes (all that is the quilter's choosing). I chose all Kona Cotton solids ("azure", "earth", "caramel", "flesh", "amber", "mustard", "ash", and "ivory"), and only one print, one of my absolutely pattern-y non-patterns, Alexander Henry's "Heath" in chocolate.
Ladies, I'm sending out the packages tomorrow. I'm so excited!!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Block for Rebekah
I have wanted to experiment with using a line of satin stitching as a design element for quite a while and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
As some of you know, improvisation is not my strong point - it is not my default position. However, I don't know how to draw the shape that Rebekah wanted with any of the programs on my computer, so there was no way to make nice, neat templates :) So, I cut the shapes free-hand, knowing that you all are not sticklers for perfection. I hope the results work well for you, Rebekah!
Next up, Mondrian inspired for Robin.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Mid-century quilt inspiration
Debbie's block (this one has all my favorite colors in it!)-
Rebekah's block (I was afraid of the curves until I started, but I decided to applique rather than piece and enjoyed the little bit of handsewing involved)-
and Robin's block (I love using shot cottons as solids!. The colors are jewel-like together.)-
I hope these all meet with your approval! So fun to do!
My inspiration for my quilt is coming tomorrow. I've been waiting for several fabrics to arrive and now they are here. Now to cut up and send out.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
behind but catching up
For Cheryl-
This one was fun to put together, I love the mix of patterns, but man I was scared to death to cut the final block Cheryl. I hope I followed the directions you sent as you intended, if not, I am happy to remake it.
For Amanda-
I love the idea of this quilt, and can really envision how all the different "v's" that everyone has done will look pieced together. I was a bit worried about the final size, I hope its not too small.
I know that my month to send out blocks is upon us! I have been collecting some inspiration shots over on my pinterest board and it's helping me form an idea. I have a feeling that the overall design will be simple and symmetrical, but how that translates into individual blocks I will try to figure out asap and let you know.
Thanks for your patience!
curvy blocks
Friday, March 11, 2011
kelp strip
mosaic for robin
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Catch-up.
I am determined to fit the last five months of bee-ness into 3 days.
So, to all of you who are waiting on blocks from me, THEY ARE COMING, and I have photographic proof, and I apologize for being such a late jerk, and thank you for your patience.
PROOF:for Amanda
for Debbie
for Rebekah
and for Robin.
I'm going to include a little commercial here: Several of these blocks required quite a few pieced curves, which, a week ago, I had never done. If this is something you do often, and you have a Bernina, GO AND BUY THIS FOOT: It's called the leather roller foot, and it isn't cheap ($70 ish?), but it is so, so worth it. You can turn on a dime, it's a ton of fun for doing quilting, and when doing pieced curves, it is BRILLIANT. I don't think I pinned anything more than in the middle-- since it takes absolutely no effort to turn the fabric, you can concentrate completely on keeping the edges together and don't need to worry about the angle. I really can't imagine doing this stuff with a regular foot, this makes it so fast and easy.
Ok, commercial over, and I should mention that I have absolutely no affiliation with Bernina, just wanted to share.
I'll be back tomorrow with my inspiration and concept for my quilt blocks!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Block for Rebekah
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
1950s Fashion Print
I must have bought that first book at Amazon.com, because they recommended this newly released book 1950s Fashion Print to me. When this book first arrived and I flipped through it, I was a little disappointed as many of the images do nothing for me:
But, some of the images are just lovely:
And of course, Lucienne Day has a good showing:
Unlike V&A Pattern: The Fifties, which contains minimal text, 1950s Fashion Print is at least as much about the text as the images. As such, it wasn't until I sat down to read the book that I realized the true worth of this book.
Yes, yes, yes! I've been slowly making my way through the book, really enjoying myself. I have found it really useful to have the internet at hand while reading because Fogg often makes reference to different designers, artists, and such without providing representative images of their work. I'm sure this is in order to keep the cost of the book down, but it is useful to have a picture of the Skylon available when Fogg is going on about its pervasive influence. Google Images to the rescue!
Anyway, if you are able to buy or borrow this book, I'd recommend it...inspiration awaits!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Mondrian's Nephew was a Beatnik
Friday, January 28, 2011
A Block for Rebekah
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Block for Esch
I'm not sure it makes a very interesting block all on its own, but I think once it gets put in with the others, it will work really well.
Monday, January 24, 2011
architectural block for Debbie
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
lines and curves
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Amanda's chevron
I originally intended the right side of the chevron to be fatter than the left, but had to decide on fat or curve, so I chose curve. Hope you like it, Amanda!