If you’re looking for a super quick, classic, quilt pattern with endless variety, then hop over and pick up my Streak of Lightning pattern at PatternSpot.com today! They are having a 20% off sale until August 23, 2105. Use the code KIDS2015 Here’s the link.
Pretty EyeletOpen-weave eyelet with backing
I’ve made this quick quilt as a wonderful rainbow quilt for a teen or tween. It was really fun at use all eyelet for the whites…
Auditioning the rainbow!
…and pull together bits of every color. (Actually, you might notice that I’ve totally skipped the red and added in turquoise, but other than that…)
Red Streak detail
The Streak of Lightning pattern is actually an old traditional pattern, usually completed in two colors, like this red and white version. I had seen a vintage one when I was working on the last museum show and it inspired me to make some kid versions.
Streak of Lightning Birdies
I first made a small version with bird fabrics and textured cottons from Andover.
Bee Streak was made with half-size blocks
Then I made the Bee Streak with some dotted swiss and Heather Ross fabrics – super cute and soft!
Zombie Streak of Lightning
Making the Zombie Streak of Lightning was my favorite because I got to use all of my skulls, skeletons, mustaches, music notes, zombies, flames and so much more to make a great graduation gift for a friend!
Let me introduce you to our cat Scott Hastings, who passed away last month.
Now, don’t be swayed by the photos – he was not exactly a little cutie!
He was a remarkable guy who blew through his nine lives in about two years and lived the next 16 years on borrowed time. He almost died from a million things including being shot by a BB gun many times, broken spine bone, crazy bacterial infection, multiple face surgeries after cat fights, lacerated tongue with plenty of stitches, just to name a few.
Scott Hastings in a rare moment of repose
We named him Scott Hastings after the ballroom dancer from the movie “Strictly Ballroom,” and he went by many nicknames, Grumpy Dude being the favorite one towards the end there.
Scott was the LOUDEST, most vocal cat I’ve ever seen, and as he went deaf in the last few years, he took to howling in the bathtub – charming.
He was really my son’s cat. He picked my son out at the pet store by snagging his shirt with a claw when we walked by. He was a bit older than the age of a kitten we wanted, but it was clear from the start that he was going to be Nathan’s cat.
Cowboy Trip Around the World, by Alethea Ballard; 1993
I have made a quilt for my son about every 10 years. When he was 8, I made this Trip Around the World, which was on his bed or his wall for ever. It was made of all cowboy fabrics and a great starry border fabric from Robert Kaufmann fabrics.
Fly By Blue, by Alethea Ballard; 2003
Then, at 18, I made a very manly quilt for Nathan, which ended up in my book Maverick Quilts. It’s all from 1/4 yard pieces of blue batik with great green “butterflies.”
Bit O’Blarney Quilt, by Alethea Ballard; 2013
Now that he’s 28, I figured it was about time for a new quilt. I made him an Irish flag quilt with his favorite lucky charm, shamrocks, on it. I absolutely love it and I think he does, too!
Sharing the birthday quilt, mother & son
Most of the fabrics in the quilt are of something that has meaning to us and I was able to use many of my conversation prints – always a good thing. From the State of California to golf to football to barbecuing, all of Nathan’s interests are there.
Of course, I had to include Grumpy Dude, right?
I started with a fabric that had an orange cat. But it was too light, and didn’t have Scott’s white bib, his deep orange parts, or the right face shape.
So I got out the fabric paints, added fabric medium, and went to town.
Cat image on fabric – no paintAdding white to fabricFinished portrait of Scott on fabric
Not too bad, right?
Scott and Priscilla the Silver PurseDetail of Bit O’Blarney Quilt, by Alethea Ballard
I’ll finish the binding on the quilt any minute now and give it to my son to keep!
Post script: Scott passed away at home after being able to say goodbye to Nathan. He’s buried under the redwood tree he used to climb.
Star section detail from All-American Flag Quilt, by Alethea Ballard
It’s true. I am very patriotic. I don’t have pictures of Uncle Sam all over my house or anything like that, but when it comes to the old red, white & blue, well, it definitely runs in my veins!
I do love to hang the Stars and Stripes at my house, especially on holidays!
All-American Flag Quilt, by Alethea Ballard; 1998
Years ago I made a picnic quilt to use on the Fourth of July. I made a star section out of an old dark-blue pair of my husband’s Dickies work pants and some white cotton sheeting. I cut up a pair of husband’s jeans and some of my son’s jeans and made the “white” stripes. (Terrible, but true, one of the pairs was actual acid wash jeans – so that just dates the quilt right there!) There had been a sale on 60″ wide red denim at JoAnn’s and I had bought three yards, so I had the red stripes and the back covered! I stitched it all together and, voila, Sam’s your uncle!
Jeans and tying add interest to the All-American Flag Quilt, by Alethea Ballard
We’ve used this quilt many times, on many picnics and holidays and it still looks great!
Detail of All-American Flag Quilt
I’d really been wanting to make a pattern so that I could share this quilt with my students and y’all, so I decided to make a new version using all red, white and blue shirts. I didn’t have any of my own, so I crept into my husband’s closet and right then and there stole a shirt. Two minutes later I was cutting it into 6 1/2″ sections and the next thing I knew the quilt was on its way! I used the back yokes, the sleeves, pocket and even the button section.
I promptly headed to the thrift store and bought (not stole) some gently-worn shirts, and the rest is history!
All-American Flag Quilt – men’s shirt version, by Alethea Ballard; 2013
I sold this version to a wonderful lady from Carmel Valley, so this is the only photo I have – I wish I had taken some close-ups! All of the parts of the shirts really added visual interest to this quilt. Again, I had three yards of on-sale denim just lying around, this time a soft blue, and the back and border was a snap!
Now I’ve created a great downloadable pattern at my Etsy.com Pattern Store. It has loads of color photos and complete instructions for making the quilt. I even include information about stitching it and doing the tying!
But wait! Yes that’s right folks, you also get a YouTube video! Yes, you heard that right. I’ve made another dorky video (just like when I was a Home Ec teacher). This one shows how to make half-square triangles without having to cut triangles to make them! Yeah!
Alethea’s YouTube video has a tutorial on how to turn humble squares into stars!
I’m on track to make more dorky films, so be sure you sign up to follow the Maverick Quilts YouTube channel when you’re there for the nerdfest!
This is a Special Report by intenerate (illiterate, Ed.) cub reporter, Mavis Quinn…
Hello Dreary Readers,
I am happy to say that I am back, out of jail, on parole, and ready for my next assignment for my great magazine Where Cuckoo Women Create.com.org.biz.
As you may know my Editor-Who-Is-Large sent me on a year-long assignment called Bleat, Clay, Blubber, based upon a best-selling book by that name.
You see, Marvin had decided to “spend some time apart” from me so he could “delve more deeply into his analog radio repair business.” Where have I heard that before?
I was shattered to say the lease, so Editor thought it would be best for me to go abroad. She asked me to cover the wool industry in New Zealand, the pottery industry in China, and the whale bone jewelry of the peoples of southern Argentina. These places all seemed really, really far away, but what Editor wants Editor gets!
In the end what I really found was my inner fleece and the meaning of strife.
Read on…
Faithful companion, Tanya
For the first leg of the journey I spent three months in the wilds of New Zealand, living with a flock of sheep and a dog called Tanya.
Canned or fresh – there really is nothing like opossum for dinner!
I lived on opposum meat and kiwi fruit.
My flock of sheep – the little one was my favorite – Mitsy
Not too much happened, but I am happy to report to you all that yes, sheep do indeed bleat. And often. AND LOUDLY! And they do have a lot of wool.
My ship – the Turpentine Nosebleed, or something like that
The first mission accomplished and it wasn’t a day before I was shipped, and I mean on a ship – for seven weeks – to Mongolia to live in a yurt and explore where the best clay comes from. Who knew Mongolia had clay? I thought it was all dust storms and beef.
My Mongolian host family
The first thing I realized is that there would be no yummy Mongolian Beef dinner like the stuff I get at my local Mongolian restaurant, The Dusty Yurt.
This might have been one of my sheep
To “welcome” me to the village, my host family made me a special dinner – roasted whole lamb. It looked just like my favorite lamb Mitsy, and I burst into tears and ran out of the yurt!
After that I took to my grubby yurt bed and didn’t come out for a week.
When I did emerge, I set about the task my editor sent me on – finding good clay.
My Mongolian yurt and the “hills”
The locals were very kind and shared their clay with me by slathering it on my face each day, before sending me to “watch” for storms at the top of the highest hill.
KYRT Radio
It was not a happy time for me, as these people listen to the carpet radio all day and it just made me miss Marvin all the more. I begged Editor to send me elsewhere and she happily obliged.
The Kon Tiki – not as big as the Turpentine Nosebleed
Traveling alternately by ox cart, camel, rickshaw, the shoulders of a Yeti, the Kon Tiki, and a canoe carved out of an endangered Lupo tree, I arrived at the final leg of my journey, a stay with the native population of the Southern Argentinian coast.
My host family in Terra del Fuego
Meeting my host family was nice, but I really felt overdressed for the occasion.
They did have jewelry, but not so much whale bones. More feathers, actually.
Terra del Fuego – My home for 37 days
They had a lot more birds, and a few seals.
My host family in Tierra del Fuego in their Sunday best
I didn’t understand a word they said, and I was very cold all of the time. Everyone got dressed up (in feathers) on Sundays (or Thursdays – I couldn’t be sure) and we all ate bird meat and seal meat and there was quite a bit of belching.
I couldn’t find much of that whale bone jewelry baloney and frankly I was tired of traveling around and stuff. So, I gathered up a pile of bones I found in an old building (The National Museum, Ed), and after my toes had completely frozen off, I packed my bags and headed home.
My (t)rusty plane
This time I got to take a plane.
That’s where the trouble started. You see, I was on the plane with my pile of whale bones and someone got it into their head that I was a voodoo priceless or something (Priestess, Ed.)
The guys who arrested me
So, when I got off the plane some police people took me in a little room and took all my whale bones away from me.
Apparently these are not whale bones
Then they arrested me and put me in a jail cell with a woman called Simone.
Apparently my bones were not those of a whale. How was I supposed to know that they were some national treasure of a dinosaur? Do I look like a Palintologist? (Paleontologist, Ed.)
Simone – my cellmate
Now Simone was a very interesting person who kept claiming that she was being falsely imprismed. (imprisoned – Ed.) But I know that I was the one who was not a criminal and that led to a fight where we slapped each other a very much lot and then my nose got broken and I had to go to the hospital and then Editor had to come and get me and she was mad. And when I say mad I mean really angry.
So next up she wants me to look into this computer thing called Pinetreerest. I think it’s about some green trees.
(The views expressed here are entirely those of Mavis Quinn and not our magazine. Any animals harmed in the making of this post are not our responsibility. Editor)
Kim wrote about the new Amy Butler Alchemy fabrics and they actually stopped my tiny, cold heart.
As you know I can’t get enough of large-scale prints, so I’m really hoping that in person these prints are LARGE!
Over at Amy’s website you can view the whole she-bang and what a great line it is!
Even though I haven’t seen it on the shelves yet, but i did spy some online at Fabricworm and other places, so I’m going to stomp my tiny cold feet until I get some!!!
Amy Butler sketchbook roses laminated
Look at this color! and it comes in laminated fabric – great for bags!
Amy Butler sketchbook roses cream organic
And it comes in organic!
Amy Butler victoriana:port
And there are some great other designs in the line!
I wish I could just do all fabric all day long!!! Cut, sew, touch, buy, design, cuddle!
Well, I decided since you were all so sweet (and I really didn’t want to do three different drawings) that I would pick three winners for the free Art of the Quilt Calendar Birthday Giveaway, as the publisher had sent me three free copies to give away. And then the lucky winners could all receive them before Christmas (just in case they MIGHT be giving it as a gift)!
I felt a lot of pressure about picking the numbers, so I consulted my friend Gigi Google and she picked for me.
Screen shot 2012-12-15 at 11.56.50 AM
If you have your microscope out you’ll see that numbers 11, 6 & 9 won the drawing!
My detectiving indicates that means that Hilda (featured in this blog), Cyndy and Cassandra are the WINNERS!, Congratulations ladies! I will mail them to you on Monday!
But WAIT! There’s a bit of a mystery!
When Joanie asked me where she could get the calendars, I went and asked Gigi Google and she showed me this photo:
The Art of the Quilt Calendar Mystery cover
Well, that’s not the calendar I have with that title. But I checked out the photos on the back and lo and behold…
The Art of the Quilt Calendar new back cover
My three quilts are in this calendar, as well. And it’s printed by the same company.
Something very fishy is goin on here… How did some quilts get removed and replaced with others? Oh, I wish I knew the story behind this!
Please hold as I detective this case!
Oh, and by the way, the calendar can be found at Wooden Gate Quilts, Barnes & Noble and at my friend Gigi’s home.
This weekend I celebrated my 21st birthday, so I’m legal to drink. Add to that I also celebrated my 18th birthday, so I can vote. Plus, it was my sixteenth birthday, so I can legally speed down the freeway. Oh, yeah, plus my terrible two birthday because I can be a brat. And one to grow on.
I hope all of that was confusing enough to obscure the large number of birthday’s I was celebrating this year!
My beautiful birthday roses!
I do love my birthday. It’s the one day I don’t have to feel guilty about doing anything I want! This year I did pretty much nothing for the “actual” day and did partying things for the other (not actual) days! Perfecto!
Love the stitches on this card!
I did recieve this card from my three-year-old twin grand niece and nephew.
Alethea’s birthday portrait, by D
It came with some portraits included. This is me (a great likeness, if I do say so).
The twins & Uncle Steve, by O
The twins on the bottom. And my darling husband is the green scribble – practically a photographic likeness!
The Art of the Quilt Calendar 2013 – Starring Alethea Ballard!
For my birthday I am giving out a present!
back view of The Art of the Quilt Calendar 2013 – Starring Alethea Ballard!
Orange Circle Studio, who has put out a calendar with THREE of my quilts, sent me some 2013 calendars as a gift to share with you, my dear readers!
It’s very cool, because there is a pouch in the back with the full instructions for each of the thirteen quilts in this calendar! Wow! That’s such a great addition!
I would like to send the first calendar out on Friday to one lucky blog reader.
All you have to do is comment that you’d like one for yourself or some dear friend and I’ll pick a winner. If you don’t win this time, stay tuned for another give-away next week!
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!
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! ?
Then I made the Bee Streak with some dotted swiss and Heather Ross fabrics – super cute and soft!
Maverick Quilts 