Material Obsession

BOO!

I didn't mean to scare you but October is almost over which means the October sale is almost over as well.  I really must say thank you to all the quilters that have come by this month. There have been many days of interesting projects and ideas coming to life which means  we have been having a blast.
After only a few weeks this pile is dwindling...dwindling...ohhh...how can someone so pretty be sooo evil....hehhhehehehhe.  My favorite line from the Wizard of Oz as the wicked old witch melts away....Behind the scenes,  my "It" guy has been busy getting all the new Kaffe fabric up on the website so go on over and have a look.  We have added a new button to the  Material Obsession website

If you want a custom order kit or if see something here on the blog and you have to have it you can order it via the special orders button.!!! No more searching for template plastic to place a dummy order.  Finally we are getting our act together.

Now, back at the fort, I want to congratulate the beginning quilter of the month!  Susan came in one Friday afternoon a few weeks back.  She wanted to make a quilt for her son.  She returned and this is what she had made...

We were, in a word, amazed...
It's a simple nine patch pattern in nice boys colours of red, black, gray and white.  Very effective.  She has the bug.  When Susan dropped off this quilt to go to the quilter she picked up fabrics for her next quilt for her other son. 

Each of the quilts has a personality, each one has taught her something new and now she has a bundle of fabrics for her third quilt...this one for a girl.  The shop has been a buzz with interesting projects all day every day.  It can be quite distracting.  Some days I try not to look so as I can do some oh so very important business like stuff in the office but really, 2012 calendars, class schedules, events and teaching trips aren't half as much fun as looking at people's quilts!

 

This one we had to see by email since it was made by Kate in Singapore.  She has been busy getting lots of quilts together for a lunch and quilt show of the quilters there.  Sounded like a big fun day.  Kate has also been working on this beauty..
Which is captivating as well.  Kate is very missed on a day to day level in the shop so it is nice to be able to catch up on her quilts via email.

Ok, it is another exam day and things have to start moving around here.  It is essential to make all boys taking exams a big breakfast so they don't get hungry half way through.  Today and then Tuesday and then...Noah is done!!!  We will all take a deep breath. 
If we can't see you in the shop try the online shop to take advantage of the sale...enjoy. Kathy

Wish List

At this time of year there is a thought that creeps into all our minds...its a whisper that contains excitement as well as dread...ah yes, the seal has been broken and we have started to turn our minds to the big event...Christmas!  Before that we have a lot going.  For starters, my number one son Oscar turns 21 on Sunday!!! I can hardly believe it when I look back.  The 21st party is a big custom here.  He has been attending them nearly every Saturday night all year which has been an unending schedule of theme parties for him to attend.  His chosen theme is Fiesta.

The banner is in progress. The fabric for the tables is chosen...the food is decided upon.  Half the battle is won.  That's what I think but somehow I have this ability to ignore how much work is ahead of me and I know I'll be swearing before the week is out. I have enlisted Izzy, neighborhood femme fatal in the kitchen to make 100 cup cakes!  And, John and I ventured over to the new COSTCO for a bit of bargain hunting.  Best find, bags of Mexican Cheese! oh and a bucket of candy for the pinyatta.  

Our Gai thought up this one and we all agree it is a great idea!  You know what you want (we all do!) but getting that message across is sometimes difficult.  To avoid getting that new vacuum for Christmas simply pop in, email or call us and tell us what you would like.  Then tell you gift giver to contact us and we'll sort it out!!! How fun is that????  I had better start one... Here are a couple of hot items in the shop:

These ribbons are luxurious and add a nice touch of detail to cusions, quilt borders, skirts or packages.   Best given as a gift so you don't have to choose yourself.

These are the hottest thing going at the moment.  Hexagons with Holey Peepers.  The acrylic window allows for fussy cutting the designs to create new repeats that delight.  The hexagons can be matched up with triangles and diamonds.  Not into a big quilt...they make great cushions and we have the inserts as well.  

Another new fun item are these clips.  They are great for holding the fabric onto the papers for basting.  If not the basting type, try the glue sticks.  They are revolutionary!  Gluing the papers means even a manic in a hurry person like me enjoys hexagons...

 

 

Use the template to trace around where you want the pattern to repeat and then cut it out either with scissors or a rotary.  Then let the fun begin.  Patterns start to appear in no time. 

The glue goes around the outside edge of the paper and then the fabric just folds over and sticks.  Too good and perfect for a summer project. 

Recently Quilters Companion re-issued the Pre-Cuts issue and we have had several calls for the Fairlawn kit.  Thing is we only had three pieces from the original range BUT we did have a new range, one of my favourites at the moment called Misaki by Melissa White.  How gorgeous is this kit? The stronger colours are for the smaller triangles in the pattern and the beautiful feauture prints are for the solid sashing strips.  

This was another version with slightly softer fabrics but equally effective.  Custom made kits orders are always welcome!  Making up kits for people is my FAVOURITE thing to do so if you love me you'll ask me to make you a kit...just like with the bargain bundles they can be contemporary, classic or pretty.  

This is the ruler that goes with that kit...can I say that and not sing "this goes with that at Susan's!"  I find these days that it sits near my mat at home as the 2 1/2" strip is very handy and once you try the triangles they become addicting.  Just finished a quilt with the quarter square version of this ruler that was equally as fun. 

OR what about a set of classes.  Join our happy new beginners classes, workshops or new to the schedule Create Workshops coming next year!  Patchwork, the gift that keeps on giving.  wish I had more time....k

Start chanting...swap day...swap day...swap DAY...coming soon!

Sue Spargo

Sue Spargo is coming to Australia and Material Obsession will be hosting her in Sydney!  Yes, this is exciting news.  We are in planning stages at the moment but if you are interested and would like to put your name down, just let us know.  The timing is way off...July 2012 but you know how time flies when you are having fun and you know how much fun we are having so...we just whispered her name and got people signed up.  As per usual, we got to talking about Sue and her work which spurred a few creative ideas for  this event so if you want in, let us know.

I have been collecting wool, wool threads and embellishing items for a while now but they have sat quietly in the too hard basket.  Too hard?  Not really  but what happens when I look at Sue Spargo's work is that I love it so much I don't know where to start.  I decided that since we will be hosting her it is time I broke through the barrier and got out all my woolie bits and got to work. It was a lovely experience to look through her books and decide which elements I wanted to recreate and how I might add my own personal touch...which is the key to her work anyway.  She gets us going in full throttle imagination and then...we add in ourselves.

The day disappeared into night and then the next morning arrived.  I realised that I had spent most of the previous day looking for things.  My sewing room was in a state of total dissaray.  So, as is my way, I started pushing and shoving furniture around the house to get an even bigger unit to hold my fabric.  One that meant I could see what I was looking for without lids, box tops or bundles.

This is the start of something big.  As with most renovators, our time line and budget ran out before our projects were finished.  Then we had a few health issues in the family and suffice to say my sewing room built ins are still a dream away.  I am not proud of a "pretty" little sewing room but rather aware of how managing a stash of fabrics is key to working out projects.  By thoroughly sorting all my fabrics I am now able to see at least the direction in which I want to go and the hunt can therefore be much shorter and less frustrating. I am also much more clear on how I want to build my storage units.  Lots of shallow shelving...what good are the bits in the back when I can't see them!
One of the best things I did was to sort out all the big pieces, the linens, the upholstery weight and vintage fabrics.  These are the ones I use less frequently so they had been buried in plastic box after box.  By laying them out in this old linen press I can now see in a glance what I want.  OH JOY.  I rediscovered many treasures in the process of this day.
I even started work on my Hunters Hill Convict Challenge...These two are Lydia and George, my recently married sister and her husband who sadly have been left behind in England as I am on my way to Australia after 7 years in prison.  My crime...that cannot be mentioned!  I am happy to have this challenge under way.  As you might remember from a previous post, it is not yellow!  I swapped bags with one of the other convicts and as a result had to push her overboard.  Don't tell anyone. k

 

 

Nagging thoughts...

Just a thought.  Amy Butler's Ikat style stripe, Reece's shot cottons and Uzbek Patches pattern.  Just a thought.  Just a nagging, repeating, uncontrollable thought.

And speaking of Reece's shot cottons, Pip made this quilt from Kaffe's book Simple Shapes, Spectacular quilts and now I want to make it too. 

It was a day stopper.  She arrived and pulled this quilt out of her bag and we all dropped what we were doing to have an inspection.  I had seen and marvelled at this quilt in the book but hadn't made the leap from nagging thought to actual made up quilt.  Did I say I want to make it now too?

I just love the big bold shapes that are the perfect background for the stitched circles which are a wonderful texture to the background.  The border looks fantastic with the loopy half circles.  The mind then wanders to quilting.  I have a favorite wadding and backing combination that would make this quilt a dream to quilt (when I finally make it!).  Wandering lines of vines, overlapping circles or curves...it is easy to get lost in a sea of ideas.  What I love about a project like this is that the original idea is there for us to love and then to take it to our own place.  To add a bit of ourselves.  To bring to the table what is inside of us.  That is the creative spirit alive and well.  Pip told us the story of how she had her daughter help her with the circles.  The idea of her working with her daughter, passing on the skills that makes us so happy was heartwarming.  Her personal involvement made this quilt what it is.  Thanks for planting the seed of making this quilt!

Our fabulous sale has been keeping us mighty busy fabric buying frenzy this month.  Many, many gorgeous quilts have arrived ready for backing (great deals here!)  Francis has hand pieced this beauty that she did in Brigitte's Giblin's class.  Levan's Hall is the name and glorious is the result.  Francis often uses some of my favorite fabrics and in this quilt it was that divine red.  YUM.  Hand piecing means many moons to complete but it was very exciting to see it in all it's glory and the satisfaction is deeply felt.

Her sister Lynn has also finished a quilt from Brigitte's class.  Backing options were stacked high!  The pretty blue surrounded many treasured stash fabrics and a few...actually when I look more than a few...of my favorites in there as well.  The sashing strip is beautifully fussy cut as well.  That brown really contains the variety of the colours in the hexagons. 
Lynn had also finished this sweet red and white hexagon quilt.  We had a long discussion about quilting.  In fact, we have had many conversations about quilting this week as there are so many quilts being finished at this time of year.  As a result, we are going to put on a quilting workshop.  Quilting is an important part of the process.  For the purposes of the workshop you can bring along a basted quilt or a practice mini quilt (or we can make one up for you).  We'll look at the design of the quilt and lots of options.  We'll talk about technique and tools and whatever else comes up as we get the projects started.  Pop us an email if you are interested in attending and we'll give you the details. 

Speaking of all things hexagons, we have had a few people announce trips and there are a few spots available in Marg's class, you know the one...the one that prompts 100 emails every time I do a post!  Marg can get you started on a project for the summer that will keep your mind and hands busy in the quiet moments.  The class is on a Friday so let me know if you want to experience the magic!  Don't be shy...you'll love it.
Another thing that has been getting the creative juices flowing in the shop are custom quilts.  Requests have been pouring in for kit versions of patterns.  We are happy to make up kits for our patterns with substitions that represent the original choices. 
This may look like a fabric tornado but it is actually the making of a kit.  We finely tune and balance the available options until we get the right mix.  Although it is time consuming it is what I live for.  Each choice is an opportunity to relive the original quilt.  To reach into the dark corners and feel the original choices and in some cases make corrections.  Hindsight is always best.

Wendy has been at it again!  She has now designed this bag called Palm Beach.  It has a fabulous opening so that heaps of things fit into it.  The decorator weight fabrics look dynamic inside and out and those handles are handle worthy!  By the way, Hooterville, the pattern and kit, are available on the website now...at last.  Patterns are $20 and kits are $190.  Fresh deliveries of wool for the kits are on the way as demand wiped us out!  Look out for a workshop for this quilt coming soon.

How is this!  Cath "inspired" by Dinozag pattern, made this homespun delight.  In a short amount of time she quilted it (successfully on a short deadline).  It is often the simplest interpretations that are the best.  I love the changes in the colours.  Method gives way to madness and an original piece is made.  It starts with an idea but Cath has made it hers. Speaking of Cath, it was her birthday yesterday!  We prowled around Balmain and visited the marvy Prue Trollope shop to see Kate and had a nice lunch.  We even bumped into Lyndsay and had a nice chat with an old friend!  No cake though.  Sometimes growingup is tough.

Did you put SWAP DAY on your calendar?  Saturday, 3rd December!  Make it a nagging thought...but I'll remind you again. k

Last minute details...

It is HSC time in our house.  That means that 13 years of education is about to be tested for retention, application and the results will determine future planning.  No BIG DEAL because really, the main work is already done.  Early mornings of sandwiches and gathering sports gear, catching trains and heading off to school, that long haul is already done.  Uniforms, class bells and lunchtime antics...all finished.  Classes ended a month ago and since then, every day, Noah has headed off to the library to study, memorise papers and to generally prepare for the next few weeks of exams.  I can't tell him how anxious I am for him to be finished with this intense experience.  English was yesterday.  One would think that it could be a stressful morning.  As I sat at my computer while he had breakfast I heard a funny thing.  It was like Christmas morning in Whoville.  He was singing.  The sound broke through my consciousness as I realised that although this was a day he had most likely been dreading throughout a year of preparation, it had arrived and he was singing.  I asked in astonishment if he was nervous and he said, "No.  I am prepared." What a great feeling that must be for him and his peers to know that his school has brought him to this moment and he is ready. 

However, the next thing he said was, mom, my pants don't fit.  Details.  Here is is the very last minute and I had to let his summer uniform pants out two inches.  No time to fiddle with matching threads or washing out pressed in seams.  Just let them out and let him go. 

So, good luck to all you NSW moms out there sending your year 12 students out for exams.  Having been through this before I know that the light shining at the end of the HSC tunnel is bright.  Once finished they can do anything but the thought of perhaps missing the start bell, last minute jitters in a subject, misreading a question, or throwing up as he walks in the door of the religion exam like his brother before him did...well all this too shall pass.

On another note, things have been going less stressfully in the shop where I seek refuge each day from reality.  Last week I chanced up Wendy's Liberated class and found this Marquis Diamonds in the works.

I LOVE this fabric and might even say that Kaffe's  and Brandon make the best stripe fabrics out there. 
Then we got to see the results of the Face It work we did in my design class on Monday.  These gals were really pushing themselves out of the reported comfort zone.  Even the most traditionally based quilters had fun with this idea.  I am fascinated by how the abstraction of line, shape and colour can create such interesting results.

We then moved on to do a bit of machine work on the faces.  This was a new technique for all of us really but simply having a go made it one we will all do again.
If you think you'd like to have a go at a small abstract piece, Cath is working on one for Starter Blocks in November.  Let us know in advance and we'll make up extras if you you want to have a bit of fun!

It is going to be a fun one!

There is so much more but time is short.  Even though I only have to make one sandwich for one lonely school boy, the morning still goes so fast.  k

Special Specials...Sale Days are here!

 The other day we made an impromptu visit to the fabric warehouse...not just any fabric warehouse but the one that houses Kaffe and the rest of our favourite contemporary designers. We filled the trolley then we filled the boot of the car...
As we drove back to the shop I had a queazy weird feeling as though I had been to a party and had too much to drink...or a fine restaurant and had too much to eat...or a day at the beach with too much sun...It was a woozy kinda fun feeling.  The result was a lot of excited giggles and then we started unloading...

I sometimes forget that my indulgence affects others!  This was only a small part of the load and it was on top of what had arrived while we were out..
Sweetness as well as ultra cool style from Japan.
It is almost too much excitement to take in on one afternoon.  We had to stay and absorb it all until well into the evening!  I got home feeling spent...completely exhausted from the excitement of it all.Funny how life changes what gives us a thrill.

Not all the fabrics are wildly colourful.  I know it isn't expected but we do have some lovely subtle fabrics as well.  These are a few of my favourites...you know, the ones I sort of set behind something so no one buys them until I get a chance to use them! Oh, you didn't know I did that?

I also have a soft spot for anything folk art style and this is one I have my heart set on in any of the colours it comes in. 

 I love the simplicity of the design and how it captures my imagination and starts a story in my mind.  At first glance it would look great in Dinozag...an old favourite pattern of mine that could pick up on that zig zag of their arms! It might take some playing around to figure out just how to adjust this pattern but I have an urge...

This organic cotton range is another softer palette that we are loving.  That coral is a colour that has really grown on my this year and particularly when set with the softest of grey.

The downside of imagination overload is overloads of bolts of fabric so I am having a sale until the end of October.  Yep.  Discounts of 10-50% of selected items in the shop.  We have a HUGE sale bay of $12 fabrics, a large refreshed collection of Wacky Backs (5 metres for $55!!!) and other specials in the shop.  If you are enrolled in one of our classes or BOM programs be sure to ask about a special treat as a sign of our appreciation!

For those of you that can't make it in...can I interest you in a Bargain Bundle? We'll put together 25cm (10") strips of hot fabric 5 for $22.  You pick...contemporary, pretty or classic and we'll surprise you with our favourites! Pop us an email of what you might like and we'll work it out the bundles.

I best be off now and brace myself for the day.  It's already been a busy week as everyone gets into the Spring Fling Sale fever...must be the gorgeous weather. More to come for those that wait! k

 

SWAP DAY NEWS

Before it gets too late mark your calendars for the first Saturday, 3 December for our annual SWAP DAY....

Yes...it is that time of year again when we start to fill the calendar with special dates and cheer.  Thought of Christmas start to creep into our plans and we all get excited about just about everything!  SWAP Day has become an annual event at Material Obsession that allows us to present the work being done in and around the shop throughout the year as well as to present what will be happening next year.  We are cooking up a storm of new ideas for classes...classes full of creative options and ideas.

In addition we will have some of our favorites companions on board like Joanne from Francis Ergen,

Scrap bags, orphan blocks and stash treasures to swap...

Colleen Tracy and her gems!  (got a nice present from the husband from her last year!!!)

We will also have our treasured tutors on hand with samples of their work and things to sell as well!

For me one of the highlights is showing off all the quilts made in classes.  This year we are putting the pressure on everyone that has made a quilt with us this year to bring it along.  In our new home we have some great ideas for showing off the quilts this year that will make it a showcase not to be missed!

So...consider yourself informed and tell ALL YOUR FRIENDS to mark the calendar with a must stop by for a minute or the entire day!!!  Come one, come all...and for those of you too far to visit we will have some on line specials as well.  Ok.  now it is out there I better get a wiggle on with the plans...SEE YOU THERE!!k

Fear Factor

Last week I had to drop Oscar at the airport on his way to New Zealand.  I hit the gym on the way home and then leisurely walked the dog around the area before heading home to start the day.  I was planning on going to quilting and to sit casually chatting to the gals. I am excited about quilt group because for our 30th birthday next year we have a fab challenge.  My name, for the purposes of this exerice is Hanna Brown, 40 years old (as if!) and I was in jail for 7 years before being assigned to a convict ship and banished to....AUSTRALIA. (been there, done that I thought!) I got given a 2k bag of fabric and an assignment.  It is to make a coverlet with the contents only of the bag only...that's right...no templates, rotary blades, mats, papers or pencils.  ONLY the contents of the bag.  No additional fabrics!  Upon opening the bag I realised just what a fabric snob I am!  Yikes...no contrast, no colour, no Anna, Amy OR KAFFE !  What is a quilter to do???? I can swap with someone but I can't add to it.  

I am not intimidated but oddly curious about this challenge.  The only thing that worries me is how to fit it into my schedule as quick is usually best and that does involve tools that I am addicted to using.  Anyhow, I love the idea of taking our quilting hands back in time and letting creativity bend slightly.  I will admit that I keep looking at the pile and wishing for at least one interesting fabric but I guess beggars can't be choosers.

Ok.  So what else has been happing? 
We got new signs!  Very exciting news.  I particularly like the WELCOME bit.  If I get back to where I started this challenge it was last Thursday after an early but leisurely start to the day when the phone rang as I got out of the shower.  Much to my shock horror I had forgotten that I needed to open the shop!  Ugh.  Mad dashing ensued.  Despite the rather abrupt way the day started it was really fun to be in the shop on my own.  Anyway, what I was wanting to say here was this.  Last week while talking with customers there was a bit of a theme happening.  It came up several times that people were afraid.  Afraid of putting fabrics together, afraid of joining in a class, afraid of quilting in a certain manner.  I was fascinated by this theme.  Was it new or did I just not notice it before?  The thing is that in our shop the theme is get creative in any way you want.  If you think of doing something a bit different or exactly the same we celebrate that concept and try to facilitate the experience.  Browse around on your own or be hounded by us auditioning fabrics, helping with the "math" or guided sewing sessions.  Trying new things is the next step after learning the basics and the best thing about quilting is that there is always more to learn.  So...WELCOME...one and all regardless of what kind of quilts you make.  No need to fear.

I had a lovely time during the school holidays talking with quilters from near and far.  One was Deb King from needles, sticks and hooks .  Deb is doing our Fly Away with Me BOM and it was great fun to meet her and have a chat about her about quilting in Victoria with the Secret Sewing Sisterhood.  I have met a few of these quilters now and I admit a bit of quilt group envy as they seem to aim and achieve high with their quilts.

Since we are about to send out the October packs Liesel has made up our checking sample for the Twist Again block which is a beauty.  Our Kaffe Beginner Sampler blocks are also made up using some of the latest collections in fun ways.

Fly Away with Me is flying over the hexagon rainbow this month...

I am making up these blocks myself and I have to admit that I had a bit of fear of flying here.  That scallop border...well...it freaked me out just quietly.  (just a bit of fear on my part...overcome now) However, the instructions were easy and the method not has hard as I had thought so now I have a whole new level of experience and only three more of these blocks to go!

Speaking of our BOM's... BIG NEWS is that we have been working with a new shipping company and MUCH CHEAPER international shipping rates!  We are still in baby steps reading the fine print with this so it will take a few days but it should reduce our shipping costs overseas for BOM's and packages considerably so we are VERY excited about this.

Now I fear I will be late again so off to work.  Whenever I think about being afraid I always remember the Dr Seuss story "What was I afraid of"  Don't encourage me or I'll recite the entire story.  Suffice to say that sometimes different scares us but realising that difference is the same for all of us is one way to overcome the fear.  If you don't have The Sneetches and Other Stories to read to your kids or grandkids I recommend it highly.  Take care & enjoy! k

 

 

 

 

Trust the Universe

One of the things I love the most about our new location is how many out of towners can find us easily!  Yesterday we had a treat of a visit with Sarah and Peter.  They have been on a working holiday in Australia for nearly two years.   Stories of mango and avocado packing, forest work and surprising road events kept us entertained while Sarah filled a bag for her quilting sister back in Canada.  Liesel and I thought it would be a good idea to get them working in the shop.

Ok.  Obviously not quilters but a few quick lessons and they were hard at it!

See!  Sewing and cutting away!  There was so much to enjoy about this couple.  The free spirit with which they approached their travel and future intrigued me.  How wonderful it must be to trust the universe and go forth knowing that everything will work out.  I spent a night wondering who would buy their van at the end of the journey in Brisbane next week but to them it would just happen.

If you too worry about outcomes of the quilting variety we are about to start a new term of classes.  From Beginner to workshop to design sessions we have an opening or two.  For starters, Wendy's Wednesday workshop has a spot for any project you want to progress. 

For example, there is a lot of interest in this Hooterville pattern and/or kit.  If you want to jump start this project with a bit of help from Wendy it is a great opportunity to do so.  Wendy can teach you anything from squares to applique and is always eager to help everyone...including me with technique.

We also have a spot in Liberated Quilting.  At this time of year who doesn't have a few bits that are left over and can be combined into a quilt...besides we have a baker in this class. Yum!

 If you don't have the time for the whole term check in with us for one day opportunities.

Want to play with a stack of your fabric using the design wall and some guided design discussion?  We do this in Design classes and it is a lot of fun.  From reproduction fabrics with exciting borders to Cloth...all areas are an option and sometimes it is just the jump start you need to activate that project in a pile...come on...look at it...look at it!  Let's go!

Yesterday we did lots of fun things including skirts!

Marina had a nice combination of voiles which will make a great swishy spring skirt.  Deidre chose Cloth and in the other area we had all kinds of things going on from a technique discussion on inset seams to borders.

This is one of those projects that has been in a pile a while.  No names will be mentioned to protect the innocent offender but it is full of fun bits that really need to be brought together to justify their existence!  You know who you are, I know where you live...prioritise.  Some people might be intimidated by my need to progress your projects but you know it is for your own good...don't you!  

Other people don't need any help.  they just keep pulling things out of their bag.  Here Marina has worked to combine several of her old blocks into one quilt.  She has some early blocks from many years ago as well as most recently made blocks and combined lots of different directions into one composite piece.  It's like a time warp contained in a top and maybe has some room to grow some more.

Jackie's Tessellations are now set on dots.  The time has come for corners and borders so we spent a while examining options.

Sometimes you have to experiment with size and colour a few times to get it right and it is helpful to get a bit of input.

Carefully made descisions are made eventually.  I don't have a photo of the final outcome but it was decided to reduce the cornerstone to a square on point and then use the triangles in the border...the continued use of the 60 degree triangle looked fabulous in the border.  

Kate is really trying new things with these wool bits she got recently.  There are lots of things going on but each month we see a bit of progress as she decides which things will be keepers and which things will be changed.  

Number one son is standing here waiting for a ride to the airport.  Look out New Zealand, he is on the way to the world cup to see a few of the games and a bit of countryside.  For those of us that stay behind, it is always exciting in the Material Obsession classroom so if you need some input, give us a call and we'll find a spot just for you!  Happy Travels. k

Lets Quilt It

A quilt has to start somewhere.  One of the things that slows me down during the day in the shop is the distraction of finding things that I like together.  For example, Uzbek Patches calls out for an Ikat stripe in the border mixed with the joyful colours of the shot cotton.  The possibility of these fabrics together makes my mind wander from tasks at hand. I could start a project every hour.  However, there are some projects that are nearing completion and that makes me think about quilting.

There are many ways to go about this end of the project and quilting is not discussed as often as it should be.  " Quilt as desired" is often the last line in a pattern but if we really have a good look at what we might desire the options are varied.  At the moment I am loving looking at traditional patterns and blowing them up into big, graphic patterns and using perle 8 to bring the pattern to life.  These flowers are as traditional as they get but done in this manner they have a wonderful contemporary look.
Cable patterns are great for sashing and borders.  These are drawn on using a Bohin Chalk pencil and a cardboard template.  I first draw the outside line, then use two smaller templates to make the inside curved lines.  They are not very fussy and are easy to quilt running a few needles at a time down the length of the block.  The thing is that this quilt has a lot of large open areas as it has big blocks with screen printed images in some but not all of the open spaces.

Th
The feather patterns are often seen in traditional hand quilting as well as continuous or even custom machine quilting patterns.  However, I have to say they were really fun to draw freehand and then quilt and filled the space rather quickly.  I admit that this quilt is taking me a long time to finish but that is more because I have turned my hand to applique and hexagons a bit lately.  More on that another time (see how easy it is to get distracted?!)

It is of course possible to get a great result with a continuous machine quilting pattern.  Particularly when using large colourful prints in big blocks.  This style really suits this quilt as it lets the pattern of the fabrics come foward from the even surface pattern of the quilting.  Hand quilting this quilt although rewarding may not add much in the way of embellishing the simple structure of the quilt.

An then, on the other hand, there are quilts with heaps of applique designs like the Lollypop Trees.

Here we have a completely different story.  Vicki has finished her Lollypop Trees from our bom program.  After a year of dedicated hand applique she was ready to get the quilt finished.  In this case, custom quilting was the answer.  Recently  Adri Van Zel offered up her custom quilting skills to Material Obsession.  I had seen her work at the Eastwood Quilters show earlier this year on Jill's Twisted Tradition quilt (also from our bom program).  Jill had worked hard to get teh blocks perfect and then Adri had quilted it in such a manner that all of Jill's hard work was really showcased beautifully.
  Adri has a great respect for the process which fits in with our philosphy at the shop nicely.  It is our belief that machine quilting should compliment the quilt without overwhelming it and should be consistent throughout the quilt without making it rigid.  The brief was to keep it fluid and soft while stabilising the quilt.

The sashing treatment is simple but effective with criss crossing lines that add just the right amount of stability.  It is easy to forget when quilting that it is actually decorative function.  The quilting is there to keep the quilt layers together.

The quilting she has done delicately enhances the leaf and flower shapes while just filling the background with a bit of echo lines that don't distract from the applique but rather enhance the lines of the blocks.  The quilt is still huggable and looks fantastic and that's all folks.

And here is the best part, Ardi has just cleared all of her custom quilt jobs and the turn around time is very quick.  If you have been hanging onto a quilt that you want custom quilted or you need one done for Christmas the time is now to act so just let us know... time to hit the road. k