detail of Quilt for the Latest Sexagenarian, by Mike McNamara
I’m not crazy. Really!
But there were some really crazy (in an awesome way) quilts at Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara this weekend.
I was excited to see so many dynamic and interesting quilts this year.
Three of the more compelling works were part of an exhibit titled I’m Not Crazy, compiled by the Studio Art Quilters Association, or SAQA.
Insane Asylum, by Silvia M. Weirdetail of Insane Asylum, by Silvia M. Weir
Held Together by a Thread, by Susan Lenzdetail of Held Together by a Thread, by Susan Lenz
Another Panic Attack, by Jane P. Broaddusdetail of Another Panic Attack, by Jane P. Broaddus
As many of you know, I have a real inability to sit through the creation and execution of any hand work at all. With that being the case, I am ever impressed and amazed at other’s ABILITY to do so. At PIQF there were so many quilts with an incredible amount of work completed by hand.
detail of Red Sunflower, by Susan Bianchi
Working on THIS would make me crazy! But I love it!
It won the ribbon for Best of Embellishment!
Red Sunflower, by Susan Bianchi
Red Sunflower, by Susan Bianchi
detail of Glorious Autumn, by Frieda Oxenham
So picture this. A bead at each corner and in between every half-inch wide quilt piece. Each block is made of four squares so that’s a lot of beads!
detail of Glorious Autumn, by Frieda Oxenham
Multiply that by ten blocks wide…
Glorious Autumn, by Frieda Oxenham
And twenty blocks long! Are you kidding me?
Speaking of hand work, these little circles were very intriguing!
detail of Three Views, by Carolyn Sullivan
I was able to get a view of the back of the quilt.
back detail of Three Views, by Carolyn SullivanThree Views, by Carolyn Sullivan
I wouldn’t survive!
detail of Quilt for the Latest Sexagenarian, by Mike McNamara
Now here’s my favorite (not) crazy part, these two remarkable large pieces made by San Francisco quilter Mike McNamara.
Quilt for the Latest Sexagenarian, by Mike McNamara
I’m enthralled by the fabrics used in these quilts and the exuberant way they were pieced together. I’ve got to meet this person!
Ashburnham, by Mike McNamara
Look at these detail photos.
detail of Ashburnham, by Mike McNamaradetail of Ashburnham, by Mike McNamaradetail of Ashburnham, by Mike McNamara
And the rules stated that we could add one fabric and we had to have a rectangle-shaped part to the block. I added the bright raspberry to bring out the flowers in the brown plaid and in the rose fabric. It’s very hard for me to work without a WHITE in there somewhere, but I persevered!
So when I went to design my block and saw that my fabrics included a brown – I JUST HAD TO make a mustache!
I designed the 12″ block to have a 6 x 12 panel in the middle to showcase the Wyatt. Then I thought the rest of the fabric would look nice with a piano key border. I drew it out nice, but then I sewed it wonky, of course!
Original idea
When I drew up a brand new mustache for this block, my Thoroughly Modern Mavis Wednesday Night Drop in girls named it Wyatt! They also thought Samuel, Twain and Clemens were good names for this guy, so feel free to change the name – in fact name it after your uncle Spencer or your cousin Gilbert; it’s fine with me!
Design with new rows added
I was worried about the piano keys being too plain so I added a 1/2″ cross strip to break up the 3″ piano keys.
So strap on your spurs! Here’s how to make The Wyatt Block!
Copy mustache to paper side of fusible
Copy the mustache to the paper side of the fusible.
Fuse to back of fabric, then cut out
Fuse the pattern to back of the fabric, then cut it out and fuse to a light background rectangle 6 1/2″ x 12 1/2″
Trace the name and embroider
I stitched around the mustache with a raspberry thread using a straight stitch. Then I traced the name from my pattern, using my trusty Frixion pen, and stitched it by hand using a back stitch. (For my loyal friends and readers who are in shock because you know that I NEVER do hand work, all I can say is needs must! And I’m a big girl now.)
Cut your strips
I cut my strips randomly-ish as follows (pictured in order above) 2 1/4″, 2″, 1 3/4″, 1 1/2″, 1 1/2″, 1 1/4″, 1″ and 1″.
Sew strips together
I sewed all the strips together randomly. Notice that I added in a tiny strip of the mustache fabric – very important visually.
Press all one direction
Press seams in one direction or open them if you like (crispy-fried fingers).
Subcut the strips and add a 1″ strip of the light fabric
Subcut your strips as follows: 4 strips at 2″, 4 strips at 1 1/2″, 4 strips at 1″.
I add a bit when I sub cut
When I am working with small, complex strip sets I add a bit when I subcut and then trim down when I’ve assembled the whole thing. Then I can be sure to get the measurements correct. I usually sew my just a little fat.
Lay out your 2″ strips, removing a piece or two
Create randomly pieced strips by removing a bit here or there and sewing the bits together. Rip your pieces apart and sew them back together. Don’t use a seam ripper, be rough, pull, tear, go Maverick! The quilt police aren’t watching!
Create a 2″ strip longer than 12 1/2″
Lay out your 1 1/2″ strips, removing a bit or two
Repeat the process with the 1 1/2″ strips. Create a 1 1/2″ strip longer than 12 1/2″
Add in your 1″ strip
Move the 1″ strip bits around and then add in little chunks of the light background fabric for some visual punch.
Create a 1″ strip longer than 12 1/2″
Trim strip sets to 3 1/2″ wide
Then sew the three strip sets together and trim down to 3 1/2″ wide and 12 1/2″ long.
Make a second strip set that is different
Repeat the process for the bottom of the block. Have fun with this process! Don’t stress; make it wonky!
The Wyatt Block, by Alethea Ballard
Add your strip sets to the top and bottom of your mustache bar and go get a drink!
Yee Ha, you did it!
Thanks y’all for stoppin’ by – stick around the old blog and see what else I’ve been up to – and you’re welcome to sign up to follow my blog if you like what you see!
I will email you the PDF of Wyatt’s mustache if you send me a message at maverickquilts (at) gmail.com!
The Art of the Quilt Calendar 2012 – Starring Alethea Ballard!
There is so much going on I don’t know where to start. Charge up your laptops and buy extra coffee this weekend because you’ve got a lot of blogs to read!
First, my new calendar has hit the shelves! I got a copy at Pacific International Quilt Festival yesterday. (I’m sure someone will send me free copies from the publisher very soon!)
It’s GREAT! I am Miss March, Miss April AND Miss August – hot!
Yes, Three months of Maverick Quilts.
back view of The Art of the Quilt Calendar 2012 – Starring Alethea Ballard!
It’s very cool: all modern quilts from great quilt designers like Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr, Emily Ceir, Cherri House, Liz Aneloski and Camille Rosekelley.
Pocket with full instructions
AND it has a pocket in the back with full instructions for each of the thirteen quilts! Such a great idea. So you get 13 cool quilt designs for only $14.95 – a bargain at twice the price.
OK SOOO… I’m up for the Bar Bloggers Quilt Hopalong Cassidy TOMORROW to show my cool 12″ block tomorrow, and I’ve made a FUN design. Please hold!
AND now some images from PIQF. A photo tells a thousand words – or at least about 927, so here you are…
Quilt by Yoshiko KatagiriLife exhibit descriptionQuilts descriptionby Yoshiko Katagiridetail of quilt by Yoshiko Katagiridetail of quilt by Yoshiko Katagiridetail of quilt by Yoshiko Katagiridetail of quilt by Yoshiko Katagiri
Lynn Harris’ bogger’s Bar QuiltAlong block is up and posted on her blog – Its so yummy! She’s got directions to make one (or more) of your own on her blog – check it out!
Won’t you join us in our fun?
Feel free to join us and to post your blocks in the flickr group here! ?
That means you read the posts and make some brand spankin’ new blocks for a creative project!
The lovely Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studios has invited me to join in on his Blogger’s Bar Hop Quilt Along… Won’t you join us in the fun?
Here is what Scott has to say about this little shin dig…
“This year, some bloggers and a bunch of new friends have returned for this autumn’s Blue Nickel Quiltalong. This year we are focusing on using rectangles in our blocks and after much cleverness searching we came up with this title: the blogger’s Bar Hop Quiltalong.
Now lest we offend some of you along the way with our reference to a Bar Hop, let us all remember that Bars come in all varieties. Tavern/Pub bars, yes, but also: Candy Bars, Snack Bars, Breakfast Bars, Sand Bars, Tea Bars (okay, that would be a Tea House, I know…..) Ice Cream Bars, Behind Bars, etc. So pick YOUR favorite Bar and Hop along with us!
The fabric we are featuring has been generously supplied by Clothworks from their European TaupeVIII collection by Kinkame. Soft, subtle, and maybe just a little more “traditional” in tone. We have fourteen bloggers with styles ranging from very modern to the somewhat more traditional side of the quilting street. We believe the “wall” that sometimes comes up between quilters on those lines should be torn down, so that is part of why the collection has been chosen. If you choose to make your blocks out totally modern or totally traditional, they will work just fine. We love to see the variety of blocks that emerge from these quiltalongs!
Each designer was given four fat quarters from the collection and told they could add one solid and one print of their choice OR two solids and that was it. The other requirement was that they had to use at least one rectangle (bar) in the block somewhere. The blocks will all finish to a useful 12” x 12” size. Feel free to post your blocks here as you hop along with us!
Well, there you have it! I like what Scott said about the softer color palette: “We believe the “wall” that sometimes comes up between quilters on those lines should be torn down.” I’m up for that – are you?
Stay tuned for updates and Join Me in the QuiltAlong!
As many of you know, I have a real inability to sit through the creation and execution of any hand work at all. With that being the case, I am ever impressed and amazed at other’s ABILITY to do so. At PIQF there were so many quilts with an incredible amount of work completed by hand.
Look at these detail photos.
Maverick Quilts 