Patchwork induced Insanity...

STOP!  Focus.  Try hard. Finish that thought.  But running past a table of quilters while on a mission I am sometimes (OFTEN) stopped in my tracks.  This repeated experience has brought me to the conclusion that I have an attention deficit disorder, combined with a tendancy to be a control freak, this situation could be criminal.   If I was being convicted in court for this offence I would defend myself on the basis that there are so many wonderful things before my eyes in any given moment that my poor brain has lost the ability to focus on any one thing for long...just as the imagination becomes engaged...another equally wonderful object, idea, person, discussion, or vision appears out of the corner of my eye and...well...I AM OFF!  The control freak part comes into play as I try to capture the energy of what is happening and package it up.  As the calendar year progresses this condition revs up into a state of complete mental break down.  I have worn myself out...and yet...the excitement of seeing wonderful things keeps me going like a wound up toy that can't stop repeating a motion. 

This condition is most often evidenced on Fridays when Cath and I attempt to bring the working week to a wrap.  Inevitably, we get ourselves into a muddle of half finished sentences due to projects like this...

Just try to walk by without getting involved.  It is Kelly's project in Marg's class. Believe it or not, this quilt is the result of left over hexagon blocks.  Last time they were forged into this layout.  Then Kelly set about making strips of hexagon strips.  Upon review on the design wall it needed a bit of adjustment.  Many options were considered which is of course part of the fun.

Then this gorgeous fabric arrived and Kelly took the brave step of using it as  sashing strips.  The lively colour adds just the right amount of quirk to the quilt.  Unpredictable is what it is and perfect.
In another minute this is on the wall, made by Deidre.  Each lozenge of hexagons is like a magnet to the eye.  How is one supposed to concentrate?  I ask you.

This distraction is not limitied to the shop.  I get up in the morning and open my computer.  First off I get photos of quilt projects from all over the world from our block of the month program or the Material Obsession books.  This is always fascinating to me.

Meg used to grace the shop with her enthusiastic attitude on a regular basis before moving to Switzerland. The other day she sent me this photo of her Twisted Tradition bom.  Meg opted out of the applique center and then set her blocks on point making this her own quilt, thinking through what she wanted to achieve.  This is the pretty version of Twisted Tradition with the strip setting blocks making up for the lost block.   It is proof that persistence pays off as this quilt is like a gelato dream. 

Then Ann sent me this photo of her Now & Then from book two.  Ann captured the feeling of the quilt in her version.  We originally met via email when she discovered there is a mistake in this pattern.  Undaunted, she contacted me for the correct setting triangle measurements and continued on to make it perfectly.  If Anne's quilt inspires you to make this quilt contact me and I'll send you the correct measurements.

My condition is contagious.  Wendy also has a problem with it but hers is attached to an uncontrollable urge to produce.  She makes samples like some of us have daily showers.  Honestly, we marvel at our Wendy and how she does what she does.  For example her bags. 

The Palm Beach bag is the latest and we now have it in about four different colours.  This is my favorite, because of course I love the fabric!  She even got her husband in the act as he makes the handles.  Then we all got fascinated with the raw edge applique and this is only the first of four projects Wendy has done in the last week or so...

It used to scare me but now I just love it.  See.  Think. Make. Pattern.  That is her MO.  How freaking fantastic is this cushion!  It gets ahead of us having so many new things but FINALLY, we got the kits made up for this gorgeous quilt.  This kind of achievement can't be taken lightly.

Last week I had a few classes which is always stimulating to see how everyone is progressing.  This quilt started with a stash of pinks and greens but had lots of Susan used a simple Kaffe pattern to explore contrast and print impact for a friend.  She liked it so much we will soon see this in another quilt but with blues and purples. 

Jessica is new to MO.  It was her first design class.   This one she has made for her son.  It is a great example of old and new in one breath.  There is peace in this quilt but there is also fun.  The wonky stars are very Gwen Marston aren't they!

Jessica has a lot of wonderfully textured fabrics from having worked in the fashion industry.  As she unpacked her back we were all drooling. 
The bits are Japanese silks and random remnants from Paris...each one more beautiful than the last.  She came to me having said she had a few projects that had hit the wall.  She had dresden plates, random squares and the red lanterns that are pictured which Jessica had made at home from From Little Things by Sarah Fielke.   

 This is a situation we can all relate to...start an idea...it grows...another idea occurrs...it grows...then maybe yet another idea until we have lots of elements we want to combine.  At this point a project can be somewhat overwhelming as our enthusiasm for the wonderful materials and ideas grows out of our reach.  Been there.  Done THAT.  I related to Jessica's pile more than she can imagine.  Anyway, the class all turned their eyes to the design wall as we put up her blocks so she could see how they worked together creating pattern. 

It will be interesting to see how this quilt progresses.  On a completely different direction, Robyn brought in a project she is making...shhhhhhh! for her grandson.  It is a FABULOUS table cover cubby house.  Now why didn't we think of that!  The differnent bits fit over a table and the flaps have stable doors, windows and decorative bits that invite the youngster inside!

 

It is a great idea constructed out of home dec fabric.  It made me want to make one for the shop so that I had a place to hide away until the confusion subsides. 

Now, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that we are all concentrating...yes...CONCENTRATING...on the classes for 2012.  We have come up with some exciting ideas that I can't wait to share at SWAP Day which is just one week from Saturday!!!  I hope you have it on your calendar because it just keeps growing! wait, what was I talking about? k

 

 

Comments

[Belinda Shreeve]

Wow! I absolutely love the colours Jessica has used in her dresdens and the hanging lanterns! Quilting From Little Things is such and amazing book.
Belinda

[Bev Longford]

Love Wendy Williams Growing Up, went to the website but it is not in the store yet. Will it be, can the pattern be purchased or only the kit?
Bev

[Patsy from Cali]

Kathy, such eye candy - I'm mesmerized! So much joy and magic in the designs. Clearly you provide a space/place where creativity can run amuck.

[Annie]

OMG, I'm blown away by every one of those projects and pics on your blog today. Thank you so much for your blog, definitely one of my favorites!

[Barbara Craxton]

There are times when you blog and I can't get the blog read fast enough then I get a cup of tea go back to the beginning and just enjoy, this is one of those times Hmn! I feel a bag coming on and I will need the new sizes for the set in triangles and perhaps I'll start something hexie.....it's a disease and highly contagious

[402300572]

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