Material Obsession

Organic Applique

Hello!  Its been so long since I did a blog post that I forgot my password!  However, I am back and really excited to be talking about my new book, Organic Applique.  I wrote this book elated at having found methods and technique that made being creative with applique easy!  I was one of those quilters that struggled with applique and never got the results I wanted.  Because I was always concentrating on how to get good results I couldn't relax into my creative side. If we are struggling with how we do things the why we do them disappears...right?  After decades of exploring the different applique techniques I found a few methods that make the process easy and in the doing also make the composing more interesting.

Seeking Interest is the first chapter.  I get excited when I see quilts that are interesting...that make me wonder what the quilter was thinking.  Making a statement, expressing my voice, showing my creative choices is what defines me as a dedicated quilter and that is important!  I want to spread the news that all of us are creative and valid and it just takes a bit of courage to show how we really feel in all aspects of life but expecially with our textile projects.  There are nine projects in Organic Applique that explore needle turn, broderie perse and Boro Style applique.  I used these techniques to make quilts that tell my story and open the door for you to explore yours!  

Make it happen is the second chapter: Then I went back and wrote all about how I select fabrics for my work, how to manage the process and even how to quilt it!  It was a light bulb moment for me as I was just about finished with what I thought was a beefy book with inspiring projects when a common question kept popping into my head, "how do you pick your fabrics?"  I suddenly realised that If I wanted this book to be what it needed to be I had to go back and add in fabric selection content.  So I did.  The first 40 pages of the book reinforce everything I teach in my workshops and the ideas I focus on when making a quilt.  I am proud that this is a book that has content that will enable quilters to take control of their own creative process.  How do I know it worked? So many people that have read the book have made the effort to contact me to say so!

I could show you all the projects in the book but lets be honest, I want you to find a copy, have a look at it and buy it.  It might sound like self promotion and it is but the self is YOU!  Allow yourself to work creatively and to enjoy it.  In the words of my good friend Brandon Mably, "Don't ask your neighbor what she things, she might have bad taste!"  You know its true...we let others tell us what to think all the time.   Take the reigns.  If you follow me on Instagram, @matobsgirl, you will see how the people in my classes have all been working through the projects in the book and the results have been a song!

So...today is the first day of a social media tour of the book.  I have selected some of my favourite quilty friends to accompany me on this tour so that if you don't know them already you will now and you'll love them!! Over the next week the following people will go through the book and pick a project that appeals to them personally.  They'll then do pull fabric and show how they might personalise the projects in the book! I selected these people because I equally admire and love them all!  Here they are:

Monday August 26: Wendy Williams @flyingfishkits

Tuesday August 27: Natalie Barnes @beyondthereefpatterns

Wednesday August 28: Becky Goldsmith @beckygoldsmith

Thursday August 29: Rachael Daisy @bluemountaindaisy

Friday August 30: Scott Hansen @bluenickelstudios

Saturday August 31: Maria Shell @talesofastitcher

Sunday September 1: Anna Maria Horner @annamariahorner

 

Wendy Williams is my constant source of support and fun at Material Obsession and I depend on her most days as a friend in all the best ways.  We have worked together for almost 11 years and I admire her endless source of talent in all areas.  Her work has a whimsical style and a real dedication to design.  Although a master with all things textile, she is most known for her work with wool felt applique.  If you know me you probably know her but if you don't you are in for a real treat!  Find her here:  Flying Fish Kits

Natalie Barnes and I met teaching together at The Quilters Affair in Sisters, Oregon.  We share a love of piecing, color and a happy heart quilting spirit.  Natalie is the kind of friend you always turn to when you want to feel the common bond of friendship in the world.  She is the first to offer a kind word in times of trouble and a constant reminder of what is good in the world.  Natalie designs fabric for Wyndham Fabrics and has a pattern business that explores shapes and patterns with a modern slant steeped in tradition called Beyond the Reef

Becky Goldsmith is the wizard of applique. Best known for her creative applique style and technique, Becky is one half of the Piece O Cake Series of books that we all know and love.  Many years ago she visited Material Obsession and  taught us all how to needle turn.  She is a true needlewoman and rarely do I pick up a needle to do hand work without thinking of her tips.  She is creative, energetic and dedicated to perfection.  Becky has made a fantastic video for her blog to support her creative process with the book.  Check it out here:  Becky's Video

Rachael Daisy is another Aussie local you will love.  Her artistic nature shines through in all she does...and everything she does is smothered in smiles.  Her happy nature and bright colours make everyone else smile as well.  Rachael, a former florist brings a love of exuberant colour and an artful consideration to all she does. Rachael takes something familiar and turns it into something amazing!  You can learn more about her voice here: Rachael's blog

Scott Hansen is another artist I met while teaching at The Quitlers Affair.  You may know him by his white handlebar mustache but his quilts are equally as stunning!  He has a quirky take on shapes that has been demonstrated time and again. Trees, flags, hashags...you name it he's stamped it with his style.  He has a range of patterns and also designs fabric!  I often find myself thinking, "Oh, I love that quilt!" only to learn that Scott made it.    You can learn more about him here: Scott's website

Maria Shell, another artist I met while teaching at Quilting by the Lake and became instant friends. She is a fascinating person that makes quilts combining both modern and art techniques.  Maria is full of the drive it takes to be truely original in her creative endeavours.  Known for making prints with solids, Maria explores shapes and colour in a manner that draws all in to further understand the source.  Maria is visitng Material Obsession from her home in Alaska the weekend of September 1, 2019 and we can't wait to  share the weekend with her creative spirit and to dig into her process together!!  Learn more about Maria here: Maria's Website

And last but not least is another woman I admire on many levels, Anna Maria Horner.  Anna Maria is bursting with a creative spirit that she uses in both her language and her artistic endeavours to draw us all into her world.  When we read her words we are taken directly to her heart and the same thing happens with her quilts.  I have appreciated with pleasure her fabrics since the first collection, Garden Party and from there has grown a friendship I treasure.  Check out her patterns, fabrics here at her shop: Craft South

 

So...I can't wait to see how they all embrace the ideas in the book!  Check out all these beautiful artists over the next week on their instagram or blog pages.  I hope you enjoy the tour and if you have any comments or questions feel free to contact me.  I love the feedback and hope to continue to find ways to build dedication to our craft...consider yourself encouraged to get busy being creative!  Enjoy! k

The Quilt Show!!

If you follow along with me at @matobsgirl or @materialobsession you might have noticed a few things keeping me busy this year!!  The most common question people ask me is, "How do you do it all?"  Answer...not sure but there isn't anything I don't want to do (except clean the house!) so I just do it all and enjoy as much as possible!  In truth, one tip is that I use my alert thinking time to plan for the times when I am brain dead and can only do the making part.  It helps to have projects in different states of progress to fit every mood or making time.  Travel projects, tv time projects...design wall or sewing all have different aspects that make them doable if prepped properly.

I have been teaching in the USA a lot this year which has been fantastic fun.  I love bringing the spirit of Australian quilters into the workshops where ever I go.  What is that?  Well, its a sense of being resourceful and creative without loosing touch with the traditions that make quilting so exciting today.  We have all the gadgets, fabric collections and social media outlets to keep us engaged but the most important thing is our imagination!  

To that end I have been working on the premise of Organic Applique....which is...use simple techniques to bring unique ideas to life!  I have always admired applique artists but never dreamed I would one day have the skills to call myself one.  When I first tried it there were lots of comments about my clunky fingers and weird stitches from teachers and friends.  So...I gave it up but after years I have returned after learning a few tricks that make it easy and good results achievable.  

One of the fun things that I did earlier this year was to visit Denver to film two episodes for The Quilt Show with Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson.  It was an experience like no other.  Firstly, the production people are top notch.  It went without a hitch from first introductions to final wrap and that always makes things fun.  It was great working with two experience quilting professionals.  It was a bit daunting for someone so far down under to plan for such an opportunity.  I was wondering what to do when my son Noah said in no uncertain terms, "MOM!  My quilt is too small and I need you to make me a bigger one!"  I had a long list of things to do and at first his comment (read demand) sent me into a tail spin of anxiety...WHATt should I make that is quick and fun and appropriate for a young man's home?  WHEN can I find the time to make him something? HOW could I not do it?

Then BINGO!  I realised I could combine two projects into one if I made a cool block for The Quilt Show and for Noah's quilt as well!  That was the start of Magpie Dreaming.  This is a quilt that I made using the Dreamy colourway of my collection Horizons for FreeSpirit.  I used a wedge ruler to make the portal blocks and you can see how on the Modern Wedge episode of The Quilt Show.  This is Magpie Dreaming in Dreamy colourway.

 

One of the things I like about designing quilts is using a variety of styles, colours and values in fabrics.  Most of the time when I am teaching this is the thing people want to know from me...how do I combine the fabrics.  Working on a project like this was the perfect opportunity to go through my stash and find all the fabrics that I think work to bring out the best of my collection.  When I was finished with Noah's quilt I liked it so much I made it twice this time in the Moody colourway.

I enjoyed seeing how the pattern worked well in both a subtle manly colorway as well as a vibrant more feminine palette.  Using Tula Pink Stripes and Anna Maria Sweet Dreams in the portal ring was really effective.  I also like how the Blowin Away print works as decorative sashing against the Chain Link Plaid.  I like a lot of visual activity in my quilts!  

These quilts will be on display this month at The Hunters Hill Quilt Show at the Hunters Hill Town Hall 10-12 August.  Its a great show if you are local...come to see the quilts and enjoy the special sandwiches and scones as well!  Nothing like a local show!!

 

In addition to the Magpie Dreaming block I did a demonstration of the theme for my new book due out early 2019!  Its called, you guessed it...Organic Applique!  I have learned some great tips for making applique easy and unique as well...part of it is not worrying so much about being exact but actually having a play with shapes and placement to make every project a bit of my own...or yours if you choose to make it!  To bring that idea to life (and not spoil the projects coming up in the book!) I designed a pot of flowers for The Quilt Show.

It started with the idea that plaids make great backgrounds...we had just gotten our hands on some fun plaids in a job lot and so I got busy!  This was super fun to make!

I'd love to hear what you think about the show and if you have any questions just shoot me an email!  Thanks for visiting the blog! 

Go on over and check out The Quilt Show. Enjoy! k

Life lessons

Every once in a while we encounter people in places and our minds expand.  Material Obsession just hosted one of these experiences and I am stuck in a moment of digesting what just occurred. We have hosted Kaffe and Brandon six times now.  I admit I wondered if there was anything left to learn.  The answer was clear from the minute they arrived...of course there is!!  It is never too late to open our minds to those around us with honesty and truth...and what happens with the open door of the mind?  We find ourselves!

They arrived a week ago bringing with them their acute awareness of not just color and pattern but also simple beauty.  There is something magical about being aware of our surroundings and being slightly off kilter makes us more aware of the things we might otherwise pass by.  No matter where we went it seemed as if the world was on hyper mode.  The beach was a shimmering aqua surrounded by rippled sand and patterned bathing suits.  The galleries were full of ideas for knitting, quilting or tapestries.  The streets were alive with funny signs like "Like her Here" or outlandish outfits on strangers. Brandon is the kind of guy that brings a smile to the face of those around him.  He is a spontaneous delight to have around...always joking and completely uninhibited.

We started the week by going through the shop and finding exciting fabrics to play with in the workshops.  I like this part...they have the extensive experience based on what has happened before in the workshop.  The result was a carefully curated collection of fabrics that provide the best results.  It means that the quilts made on the day have a great chance of being a success as the trial and error of so many before have helped to narrow down the choices.  

Its fun to see such busy artists relax and enjoy a bit of down time.  They find joy in simple things.  Leafing through my rather extensive collection of quilting books commenting on designs, color combinations and the like.  I am proud of my collection of books so it is gratifying to share the pages with those that appreciate the contents.  Most of the people in our house just walk by them without a care or thought to how much love has gone into making it diverse and comprehensive.  I also appreciated having four quilts bound by the time they left!!!

 

Every time we host these guys we do a lecture which is an opportunity to see the vast array of designs created.  Kaffe waxes lyrically about the events and influences of his life which are most unusual.  Although I have heard him speak many times it is always exciting to pick up on something new, see new slides and generally to treat the mind to things not seen in the normal steps of life.  I particularly like how trends work from the knitting to the fabric designs and into the tapestries.  The pages of the books reveal the attention to detail in the settings chosen and how they enhance the work.  As is often the case with good design they make it look so easy!  We take for granted that each book is filled with beautiful quilts in perfect settings without really considering the experience needed to see with such clarity.

It is always a great pleasure to share the experience with the people of my life.  I love this photo of my Taking Shapes class as we all soaked up the excitement while enjoying the quilt that Lynn Stevenson had made in a previous workshop with Kaffe and Brandon.  Someday I'd like to gather all the quilts made in all the workshops and do an exhibition so we can all see how much we have grown and developed thanks to their efforts.

I decided to actually participate in the workshop this time and here is the result of my day with Kaffe and Brandon!  I wanted to work with coral and selected a range of prints from my stash to use on the day.  Unlike the rest of the participants I was lucky to have a bit of help selecting the choices by my house guests!

 

The rest of the room was alight with wonderful examples of exploring colour, hue, value and saturation.  What may not be obvious is that the work done on the day is really inside everyone at the start of the day. It is carefully coaxed out of each maker. It is with the careful observations, encouraging comments and objective decisions made by Kaffe and Brandon that each quilt becomes the masterpiece of the participant.  I very much enjoyed watching the fear turn to confidence on the day.  It was not an easy assignment but it was, as is any challenge, rewarding in the end.  Every quilt was a masterpiece.

At the end Kaffe and Brandon go around and tell the romantic story of each quilt.  The subtle nuances or the bold statements that make it a winning performance.You could hear a pin drop at this stage as we all soaked up the illustrative story of the composition learning to see with our minds what our hands had done.

So much personality comes out in a workshop like this.  What I noticed was a slow growing of communal acceptance of each other.  We walked around the room looking at the work from near and far discovering the details and broad strokes that are as individual as each person.  We helped each other with cutting and pressing but left the color choices to the maker and the encouraging leaders.  I liked that there was a bit of respect for each makers choices and little interference.  We were encouraged to work independently and to let the music set our minds free to move from choice to choice.

When we think of these workshops we automatically consider projects made with Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics but the opposite was true.  There were of course many designs from their ranges but also from many others.  From black and white to explosions of yellow we worked the full schematic of possibilities each one a lesson in iteself.

Friends from near and far joined us.  We had guests from Darwin, Victoria, New Zealand and even as far away as Bill Stearman from Toronto!

We had many repeat customers for Kaffe's workshop.  Gary Butler has done this before and his work showed a depth of understanding right from the start.

We ended the week last night with lively conversations with a few friends, drinks and dinner.  As they drove off today it felt as though a big hole appeared in the world.  One that was filled with lively chat about things I love to talk about. Observations, dreams, stories and the rest are all what make up the compositions of our minds.  Relationships built over creativity are the best. 

 

There was so much to digest from all the visual clues and conversations but one thing is for sure, it is always a good thing to be exposed to the masters.  There are few among us that have such single minded creative focus. It was clear that the vision was strong.  We all have our strengths and weakness.  Some we use to make us strong and some we let deter us.  I am on a mission in life to always let the experiences brings something positive to my day.  I like that I am pensive now and wondering how what has just been experienced will transform in future creative decisions I make.  If you are wondering if you should take a class or workshop with Kaffe and Brandon do it...for that matter, grab every learning experience you can.  The result is a better you!  Enjoy. k

Whats on the Horizon?

I love this time of year.  The slate has been wiped clean by the tick of the clock to a new day, new month, new year and all the hope and promises that come with fresh starts.  Although I have experienced the click over of time many many times before into a new year I still maintain the hope that all things new will be good.  Being a Pisces...yes, I do believe, means that although I have hope I also have doubt.  Swimming up and down stream at the same time has always been my thing.  However, if you want change, and I always do, you have to bring it. 

So what will this year bring?  More crazy weather and politics aside but lets face it, I am a quilter so that is my focus.  It keeps me from diving too deeply into the woes of the world and in some instances makes me feel productive and community minded.  This year I am committed to lots of teaching.  Teaching what?  I often wonder what I have to teach but then (the Pisces thing again) I am reminded that I have a unique perspective based on my experiences at Material Obsession since 2003.  Yes, that amounts to a lot of interaction with quilters, products, teachers, events, fabrics, styles and techniques.  Although I haven't seen it all I have seen a lot and the repetitive nature of the experience has helped me to fine tune how I translate for new and old quilters alike.  

The first big learning event this year will be with Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably.  For the fifth time we are presenting workshops with Kaffe and Brandon in Sydeny.    Two days os workshops and a lecture will start our quilting season at Material Obsession.  What better way to start the season off than working with the best.  I consider color my specialty.  Its kind of scary to think of making quilts under the expert eye of the supreme colorist in the world.  When we are talking about color we are talking about a lifetime of learning to see more deeply, efficiently, engagingly...diving deeper.  Kaffe's focus is so clear that it always takes us further than we would go ourselves.  

These are the two quilts he is teaching.  What I love about the first one is the mix of colors using a simple shape so that we can concentrate on the flow of the color and the secondary patterns created...plus I love a big border.  Picking the border is often one of my favourite parts.

This next one is also using a the simple diamond shape but the movement created by the placement is magic.  I also love the pulled back impact of the color with special highlights that fit in without disturbing the overall flow of the pattern.

These two workshops are on Thursday 8 Feb for the first quilt and Saturday the 10 Feb at St Anne's at Top Ryde....particularly handy with lots of free all day parking.  Sad that a good space for an event is first about the parking but so be it in Sydney!  Here is the link if you are interested in signing up..Kaffe and Brandon workshops

What new perspective might that bring?  One thing I know for sure is that following Kaffe and equally Brandon around is always an experience in learning to feel color.  It isn't color theory, it is color practice and like with my yoga, practice adds insight and confidence.  So, this time, for the first time, I am going to do the workshop myself.  UGH.  There, make it honest by saying it publicly.  I am going to do one of the workshops and put myself out there under the eye of the person whose opinion I respect the most.  I want to hear and learn about my choices.  I want to be strong and courageous about who I am and to be confident enough to hear suggestions.  

Another great colorist is Sue Ross.  Sue is returning to Material Obsession to teach one Saturday a month.  Sue is a teacher that I relate to in process and design.  As a former quilt shop owner, Sue Ross has the same kind of learning experience that I have had.  She worked with fabric and customers in a beautiful shop in the Southern Highlands fine tuning and honing her skills become a very original designer.  Her quilts have structure and intrigue but are not technically difficult to produce.  Making quilts based on the fabric itself is always a joyful experience and produces results that are unique to the maker.  Each decision, each seam says something about the maker.  Here, see what I mean!

These plaid backgrounds will be fantastic for creating a funky landscape with organic direction.  Use spare blocks or design them on the spot exercising a variety of techniques in one project.

Play with structure adding elements of decoration with paper piecing or fussy cutting.  Use up those bits of fabric that you collected knowing you loved it and would use it one day!  This is your chance!!

Working with scale is also an option and one of my own personal favourites.  

Join Sue Ross at Material Obsession in 2018 on the second Saturday of the month if you are looking for something to keep your mind and fingers entertained this year!  Sue Ross sign ups here.

 

of course the other big thing on the horizon is just that...my new fabric range, Horizons! It will be arriving soon so...just saying...Hope to see you all soon getting busy being creative!  So much good stuff!! Enjoy. k

 

 

Improv Patchwork at its best

 Here is something I am excited about...

Its a new release book by Maria Shell.  If you don't know Maria sit back and have a read as she is an artist full of ideas, integrity and original thought.  Have a look at this cover!

                                             

 

For starters, lets consider the meaning of Improvisation which is spontaneous creation sometimes without preparation from whatever tools or materials are available at the time.  Hmmm, there's a lot of meaning in those words.  First of all spontaneous creation without preparation does not necessarily mean without intent. Intent is a valuable part of improvisation. We may not be doing a lot of drafting, crunching numbers or designing layout to get where we want to go but the destination has implied direction.  Going in a direction with no meaning can leave us wondering why.  Secondly, random selection of fabrics can leave us feeling a bit disconnected. A thoughtful gathering of materials considering value, hue, tint, shade and pattern adds to the integrity of the finished result.  This book lays out a path of cookie crumb delights toward successful quilts that engage the viewer and leave us wanting more!

When Maria Shell turns her hand to improv  something amazing happens.  The lines and shapes created define intent, direction, shape and content just be the intensity of pattern created.  Improv at its best engages us as the spectator of a quilted creation and leaves us begging for more.  Improv that creates a pattern is way more than meaningless meandering.

For example, lets make dots...

 

 

Imagine my excitement when I found this Big Rad Plaid.....as the believer that plaid is the new black this one really sent me into orbit. 

Or as a lover of stripes this one appeals to me!

 

As a shop owner I am drawn to subjects that offer more than simple patterns and this book is rich in content.In a world inundated with product, it is nice to find something to sink the mind into and this book delivers everything it promises from first glance through last word. 

There is so much to explore that my first inclination is to plan classes using this book as a guide to creative assembly.  Like minded quilters looking to explore creatively together will enjoy working through the exercises and discussing the variety of ideas presented. In a group we could watch the spontaneous development of palettes and patterns and learn in groups at warp speed.

 

Maria Shell has great focus, long lasting attention to detail and a superb color sense which is evident on every page of this book. 

 

Last July I met Maria when we were room mates at Quilting by the Lake.  To be honest, although I had heard her name she wasn't on my radar despite her 2015  Quilt National win.  It didn't take me long to feel a kindred spirit with a self taught quilter that forged a creative life with a young family isolated from all things familiar.  My experience was in Australia and Maria's in Alaska.  Maria's perfected the art of working with color and is evidence that working with Nancy Crow helps to clarify and define one's own true instincts.

If you like a book just to look at the pictures there are plenty of interesting ideas presented here.  If you like more than that, the instructions and ideas are well set out and easy to follow which always a bonus.  Like so many of the C&T Publishing books, this one has an easy to follow presentation that makes using the book as an individual or as a teaching tool super easy.  Full of great content this book is a must on the shelf in my shop and in my personal library.

Sometimes getting started is the hardest part.  Follow the guidelines for studio set up, thinking about color and necessary tools and it would be hard not to jump right in and get started with an improv project of your own!    One step at a time, the projects start simple and add intensity which means that beginner or experienced quilters will find joy in these pages.

 

I am not the first stop on Maria's blog hop tour so if you are joining in now and looking to follow along here are the other stops:

BLOG HOP CALENDAR
October 16—C&T Publishing <http://www.ctpub.com/blog/>

October 17—Terri Lucas at Generation Q Magazine <http://generationqmagazine.com/>

October 18—Yvonne Fuchs at Quilting JetGirl <https://quiltingjetgirl.com/>

October 19—Amy Ellis at Amy’s Creative Side <http://www.amyscreativeside.com/>

October 20—Deborah Boschert at Deborah’s Journal < http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/>>

October 21—Kathy Doughty at Material Obsession < http://profile.typepad.com/materialobsession>

October 22— Wendy Hill at Wendy Hill’s Blog—Fun Quilts Stuff & More < http://www.wendyhill.net/blog/>

October 23—Cindy Grisdela at Cindy Grisdela Art Quilts < https://cindygrisdela.com/blog/>

October 24—Heather Pregger at Heather <Heather’s Blog <http://heatherquilts.blogspot.com/>

October 25—Maria Shell at Tales of a Stitcher <https://talesofastitcher.com/>

 

If you are a shop you can purchase the book at C&T publishing < http://www.ctpub.com/improv-patchwork/> or for your personal use request it at your local quilt shop or find it on line.
If you are reading this now you can WIN WIN WIN a copy of the book (hard copy for USA, digital for all other countries) by posting a comment at the end of your blog post.  The winner will be selected by midnight Alaska Time on October 26.

 

Be in it to win it...I think I'll make the first comment!!  We are waiting for this book to arrive in our shop.  If you are interested in doing a class at Material Obsession next year let me know by commenting here and we'll see if we have a winner!

 

Looking forward to working Improv...k

 

contact

Thank you to all the kind people that have contacted me about the blog.  I feel missed which is nice.  To be honest, I have always loved talking to all of you here so I am determined to get back to sharing thoughts and hearing yours as well.  Instagram is great for instant satisfaction but in truth, words and ideas are more than just one simple photo so lets stay connected!

 

First up is a follow up from the Denyse Schmidt workshops.  Denyse joined us for a lecture and two days of working with her designs.  It was, as I expected, a weekend full of thoughtful process.  What I love about Denyse, (and in some ways this works with my curly hair/straight hair idea that we always want what we don't have!) is that she is so considered in what she does.  There is a mental map, a design esthetic and a method to her quilts and process which she easily shared with us.  The lecture revealed her path into quilting which didn't start in a sewing class but rather from the viewpoint that bedding was not being represented in the design world.  From that simple idea she started learning how to make design intensive quilts that would appeal outside the craft world and in that she succeeded.

Here is my offering which is a combination of prints and plaids.  I chose to do the Free Wheeling Single Girl project and was delighted with the choice.  Working with paper templates is new for me but I found it to be easy and rewarding.  I liked the balance of the active plaid prints as a background that allowed the lines of the quilt to show.  It has a scrappy, old fashioned appeal. 

Further about this quilt is that it is the second quilt I have quilted on my Simply 16.  Yes, I am branching into machine quilting.  I simply have to make too many quilts for the shop to be able to do them all with my first love which is hand quilting.  So, I splurged and got what I think is the perfect solution to my problem.  Its a stand up machine with a frame that fits perfectly in my sewing room and allows me to finish my quilts!  I tried hard to machine quilt on my Bernina but was never satisfied.  Here I was able to free motion a design that allows my hand to show through without worrying about moving the quilt around all the time.  It was just too messy.  What I am liking is selecting a line from the fabric design to use for the quilting.  I am finding that I like the line made from my hand whether or not it is perfect.

 

Aside from doing workshops I have also taught lots of workshops this year.  To be honest, I feel like I have hit my stride after suddenly learning exactly what it is that people want from me.  It is a strange and wonderful experience to stand before a room of quilters with the intention of teaching them something they might not know.  Color Works is a quilt from Mixing Quilt Elements that I have been teaching and it has been a blast.  The idea is working with large scale prints and also how to work more traditional fabrics with contemporary designer fabrics.  It is exciting to see everyone expanding their "individual comfort zones".  The results have been outstanding and I have loved teaching it.  You can try it at home with your stash if you have the book...go on, give it a try!

 

There have been some fun product development items this year.  Wendy Williams designed a series of small stitcheries Travel Threads that work independently or together as a whole.  The alternating blocks are pieced and its a whole lot of fun.  If you have never tried one of Wendy's patterns before, this is a fun take along project that could be fun for summer trips or holidays...thinking ahead.  I mean really, why do we have spring except to plan for the summer time off!!!  We just find there is no end to the fascination for Wendy's whimsy!  The wool felt and Eleganza makes everyone happy.

So the other day I did a Spring Fling with the fabric in the shop and rearranged all the fabric.  This is something that I do regularly to organise my thoughts and the fabric at the same time.  I love putting all the fabrics together in some sort of order.  Firstly because it makes me crazy when they are complimenting each other in the bays but also because it is hard to work a shop when looking for something specific.  So, I gathered up all the "basics" and sorted them by color.  Amazing things happened.  I realised that I do practice what I preach...Each color category has lights, mediums and darks which is important. Some better than others!  For example, if you scan the blues you see a wide range of lights to darks and warms to cool tints.  The greens are also good as are the purples.  With the warmer colors there are more mediums and medium lights and hardly and darks!!!  This is a great piece of information for me and for you!  If the shop was my stash I'd immediately start looking for dark oranges, reds and yellows.  As I type this I am thinking they are most likely on the other wall so I will dash in there today and fix it up!!

This is a great exercise to do with your stash.  In Making Quilts I have a quilt called Soul Searching that explores color in this way.  It is a fantastic learning experience for any quilter at any stage.  Working through color groups considering value, tint and shade is the first step to making interesting quilts.  I am always happy to talk about this concept so if you are looking to expand your comfort zone, just ask and we'll help you out!  I know it is an area we must always search for growth.  It gets easy to do the same thing over and over again.  After all, we are human!

Another time filler is our block of the month program.  This year we put together a collection of favorites and got busy picking fabric and making samples.  Karen Johns has been making our samples for  Gelato Rose, a quilt design by Sue Cody that has always been popular.  Karen is doing a beautiful job of putting these sample blocks together.  Selections for the fabric comes from the best designers we have on the shelf and includes everyone from Anna Maria Horner to Kaffe Fassett...just for starters.

I am proud of the work done in our shop.  It is always with great pleasure that I find people from the shop featured in QuiltMania Magazine!  Sue Cody, Kim Siviour, Megan Manwaring, Wendy Williams and even me all got a presence in the most recent issues. Teachers, students and staff all work hard to exercise our belief in how color works, how design flows, how techniques can be applied.  We rejoice in the application of the creative spirit and love sharing what we know with you. 

On a personal note, we had a wonderful trip home for a family reunion in July.  It was a heart filling experience for me to share my family here with my family there and vice versa.  The gap between us all, for one week was full of love and laughter.  Then when we got home Noah, our middle son, got himself a job and as soon as he did he found a house and moved out with his best friends Pat and Dave.  It happened so fast that I am still noting with surprise the empty car spot in the drive...still missing him appearing in the morning for a rushed breakfast before uni or work....still wondering if he'll be home for dinner.   Then the other day he walked up the drive with a suitcase and I jokingly asked if he was moving back in.  The response, "NO WAY!"  sent me into shock.  Was it that bad living with us?  Of course not.  Its just that the thrill of taking the reigns and living his own life is such a thrill.  I am missing him in our house but I am so happy he has started to activate his own life.  What a moment in time.  We have been preparing for this since he was born.  Its such an abstract concept...the teaching, guiding, leading of our children becomes our existence.  I am reminded of the activities of childhood, the school day walks to the train, the Saturday sport, the parties while we are away, the girlfriends, friends and empty fridge...We take for granted the fullness of our lives with our kids and then, in a moment, the room is empty and the door although left open in truth is closed.  I miss the forced contact but realize it isn't at all about me.  Go forth and be yourself. sniff...

 

So, that's a start on an update.  Say hi if you are out there!  Feeling just a tad lonely...just kidding.  No I'm not...k

 

 

 

Mind Expanding

As a quilter, it never ceases to amaze me that there is so much to learn.  Each step from selecting fabric to setting seams has layers of understanding that enrich the process.  I am fascinated that even after 24 years of obsessed quilting I still feel like there is a lot I need to learn and that that fact is exciting!  How seams work, how colors interact, how pattern can be used, how line becomes shape and shape form all act together to create a process that is ever evolving. 

There are many ways to advance our skills.  For many years my main method of learning was to experiment.  I looked at photographs and tried to recreate what I could see....the important part of that is what I "could" see.  Each time I started on a recreation path I ended up someplace unfamiliar...some place new.   My work rarely, if ever looked like what I was modeling.  In my enthusiastic, fast paced, energetic making, I never stop to care if the origin resembles the result.  

When I think of the influences of my quilting life I immediately think of Gwen Marsden. Her twist on tradition opened a path of design discovery for me.  But even before her there was Denyse Schmidt.  Ever since I discovered her in the pages of Martha Steward I have kept a keen on for what she does.  I often refer to the straight hair/curly hair syndrome...you know it.  If you have curly hair you want it straight and vice versa. 

So, I am really excited about presenting Denyse Schmidt on her maiden voyage to Australia.  We have all waited a long time for this moment.  Others have come and gone but for me, this is a moment we have waited for with intent.

My straight hair issue is busy.  Literally and figuratively I am busy.  My quilts are busy...full of patterns, twists and turns, pattern on pattern.  What I want is to stream line them but it rarely happens.  When I look at the work of Denyse I see where I want to go.  I want to learn to be more straight forward in my line and simple in my path to a destination.  Don't get me wrong, I love what I do but there is always a niggling idea that I can be better.

Take this quilt, so simply beautiful...seen here in Anna Maria's house because she loved it so much she bought!  Jealous!

There are so many examples in her work that exemplify an innate sense of structure and purpose.

Take this one.  The scale,placement and soothing combination of bright colors says so much about destiny to me.  And really, where would modern quilting be without this style of pattern that she developed so long ago?  Those of us with a view to keeping tradition alive with contemporary fabrics and tools owe Denyse a lot for breaking ground for us.  Drunk Love and quilts made of this ilk really broke the mold.

Working in Improvisational flow is on offer on Sunday.  We will be providing bags of fabric for this intuitive process.

Free Wheeling Single Girl our Saturday offering.  I love everything about this quilt.  I love that Single Girl has a new meaning in today's society.  I love how it transforms the traditional Wedding Ring pattern to be something we can all live with today.  It is in spirit and in textile a joy to be hold!

 

On Friday we are offering the Between the Lines quilt.  At first glance this may appear to be simple but it unfolds secondary patterns that are a delight.

Then what about palette?  How do we control a palette.  I have my ways but would they be better?

For many years, even over a decade, I have found that her fabric ranges have always connected me to a place of memory.  For example, my Sunburst quilt took me to my beautiful grandmother's home.  For some reason, when I looked at this range with it's perfect value and prints scales I was transported to my childhood where I would most likely be standing and watching people interact.  For some reason, when I look at this quilt I feel my grandmother standing over my shoulder with a confident graceful love for me. Without words she seemed to understand me.  Weird, isn't it?  That a textile can transport us to a place and a feeling of comfort?

Then there was Fairlawn, named for the street we lived on in Akron, Ohio while I was in high school.  The colors in this range, Hope Valley were a reminder of my mothers incredible decorating taste.  Our house in Ohio was filled with these colors and I felt as I made this quilt that I was channeling my mother into each stitch.  We moved a lot and each house was a challenge for her to decorate.  Over the years she developed a flair for combining colors, textures, print and accessories to make our home beautiful.  

So when Denyse comes to town in September I want to listen, absorb and really understand how her choices are made.  How we trim back and define the line in the project.  I want to connect to the soul of the process.  I want to study her consideration.  Having met Denyse in the past I am always surprised at her gentle nature for one with so much talent.

 

Denyse Schmidt details for the website are available here.  I'd also like to say we at Material Obsession are really excited to be holding these workshops at The Happenstore.  The space is magnetic.  Every time I go there I just want to stay.  In addition, we are excited to be having the event catered by rising star caterers Rukus.  Good food, good space, good teacher...what more could you want?

Enjoy! k

 

holiday weekend

Its exciting to have a four day weekend sprawling ahead and as the hours of this oasis slip away I find myself becoming more and more relaxed.  The sun rose through the window and although I was awake it was nice to stay still and contemplate the day.   It is in the still moments that we accomplish the most....plans formulate, ideas are born, the imagination has time to go into overload.  Eventually the stillness gives way to immediate action.  I head to the kitchen for my morning routine of brewing a BIG coffee.  I love every step of the process...the smell as I open the large jar of coffee, the pressing of the three scoops and then that heavenly smell of coffee brewing.  It looks so inviting as the fluffy milk is poured into dark brew and then...that glorious energizing first sip! 

 My mind has wandered over a variety of projects as I finished some of the less interesting tasks for some works in progress.  There isn't much fun in making or sewing on binding but there is satisfaction in having two quilts ready to hand sew to finish the binding now!

This is project started with a pattern called Potpourri by Laura Heine. We have a good collection of these patterns in the shop now and more on the way again as they are selling fast! I am currently playing with the backgrounds and having a lot of fun.  The giraffe is made with lots of flowers cut out and then I used Steam A Seam.   Steam a Seam is a double sticky sided adhesive that allows for shapes to be moved around until the perfect placement is achieved.  When I am happy with the giraffe and the background I'll just machine quilt all over it all!  FUN!!!
 

Since its Easter weekend here was a little bundle I was imagining for you!

Recently we have had a lot of visitors to the shop from out of our immediate area and a common request is for something with fabrics that I have curated for a kit.  If you like the way I put fabric together keep in mind that I live to put kits together!  I love making suitable substitutions for kits, particularly my patterns.  If there is something you have seen that you like and want it in currently available fabrics please just ask!  For example, we have had a requests for Color Works from Mixing Quilt Elements.
If you are interested in reaching out and playing with scale or a wider palette this is a good step.  Read all about it in American Patchwork and Quilting in this months issue. 

 

Or visit us at AQC in Melbourne this week!  We have packed up all the things that are making our fingers itch to be busy.

 

We'll have our favourite fabric ranges, bespoke quilt kits, Wendy Williams products with some fun new fabrics and of course lots of other things to show you.  So looking forward to seeing all our friends from south of the border at the show.  Its such a great venue for a quilt show!  I am loosing focus as my design wall has so many fun projects on it that I can hardly concentrate! 

Enjoy the holiday weekend and the restfulness of time to breath and gather with family! Enjoy!!!! k

Denyse Schmidt

I was standing at the grocery store check out with my mom.  Oscar was 18 months old and I was about to return to Sydney after a 3 month visit with my parents in Ohio and I saw it...this yellow dresser.  It caught my eye as we had a dresser with the same handles in our family home and I thought how beautiful it would be painted such a happy color.  I picked up the magazine and had a leaf through the pages with growing interest.  Back in those days I had just discovered quilting as a stay at home mom living in a new country, Australia.  I had never heard of Martha Stewart but immediately fell in love with the photographs and ideas in the magazine.  And then, I saw it...the story on Denyse Schmidt.  Call it a massive girl crush but I immediately thought she was just about the coolest gal I had ever seen.  There she stood with her bits of fabric, the iron and some funky off kilter blocks.  I was hypnotized by what I saw and I can say now that I was forever changed as an artist.   What she was doing made perfect sense to me even though I had no idea what it was...I just knew I connected with the crooked lines, I got that!  Hot contrasting colors...well that was way more interesting than blending pink roses!  Further images in the story revealed buckets of fabric scraps organized by color.   A simple dip into the bucket took the maker half way to the destination with surprise and discovery built into every step of the way.  This was new...it was interesting and it had to be devoured!

Eventually I tore out the pages of the magazine and pinned them to my design wall.  All I knew was that some day I wanted to grow to be a quilter like the magic woman with so much vision I could see in the photo....move over Madonna...I had a new idol!  Back in those days I don't even think I had a computer.  The idea of google images was soon to come but I had to stare at the same photo for years before I could learn more about what I was seeing.  I kept the story on my wall for years to remind me to be brave...be different.

I have to ask myself if any of us would be where we are today without the vision of this artist?  The sophisticated designs allowed us to consider line in a new way void of light, medium and dark. The minimalist nature of the works allowed us to break free from structure and form into space all the while without loosing the sense of traditional style we all loved.  This contemporary approach to interpreting tradition resonated with me and so many others. We collectively fell in love with Denyse and all she did.

Her fabric ranges have been driving people wild year after year. 
The books bring the designs home and more.

Drunk Love wasn't just the name of a quilt...it was the beginning of a movement. 

 The quilt designs were one thing but as a shop owner I have grown to depend on Denyse to deliver fabric ranges that are useful as well as creative.  They speak to me on level that can't be denied.  My personal tendency is to go for a mix of designer fabrics when making quilts and am happiest starting with large scale poly chromatic prints and build a palette from there.  However, I always find that the sensible, emotive nature of Denyse Schmidt ranges means I am happy to work within the restrictions of a range. My mind always wanders when working with her fabrics to places I want to be.  For example, my Sunburst quilt from Making Quilts was a path to images of my grandmothers home.

So, fast forward a few decades and many quilts and ranges to now.  I am so happy to say that Denyse Schmidt will be coming to Australia!  This is a special event and one that we are thrilled to be able to share with The Creative Retreats in Canberra and Amitie Textiles in Melbourne.  Details will be released soon but we can say we will be hosting Denyse at Material Obsession 7-10 September 2017 and we have a special secret built in as well!  Stay tuned for more details.  We have set up a list of expressions of interest until we finalize the details but this is an event you won't want to miss! 

mental attitude

We looked at each other the other day and thought...two months of 2017 gone...poof!  What the heck!  There is always so much to do and so many things to talk about. 

 Where to start? First I am really excited to show this bag!!!  A few years ago I picked up a rose tapestry at our local op shop.  I drew the bird from my Wandering Mind fabric range over the roses and got busy doing my first ever tapestry.  It was soon buried under urgent projects but periodically I got it out and working on it until one day I realized it was almost finished.  At that point I powered on it until it was finished.  Of course it was all wonky and out of shape so...I had to learn how to stretch it to be square which was something I never thought I'd do!  Interestingly, learning to do something new takes concentration and I found myself avoiding the task.  Eventually I simply forced myself to do it NOW.  Learning new things is so easy now with all the on line videos and soon the tapestry was stretched and I was on to making the bag!

Again, I haven't made a lot of bags so I thought about it for a long time. (read procrastinated) Selecting the companion fabrics was easy but actually cutting into the pieces was really frightening!  What if I messed it up?  After years of work it would be a disaster to make a mistake but in the end, what good is it in a pile of things to do?  Happy to say a lot of decisions are behind me!  It was fun making the bag and I learned a lot at each step.

This year I am back teaching at Material Obsession.  In my Taking Shapes we are working with shapes and considering how to achieve personal color palettes.  We were so busy all day that I didn't take many photos!  The first class was on the Mariner's Compass block using the Fat Robin ruler...one I have fallen madly in love with.

I met the designer, Robin Ruth in Sisters at The Quilters Affair last year and she gave me one to play with.  Again, time gets in the way as I thought this would have a lot of concentrated learning involved.  Yes, I had to concentrate but the result was fantastic fun!  The ruler and instructions are easy to understand with both visual and written clues. 

I used several of my favorite stash fabrics in making the quilt.  Robin then made my design into a free pattern so we include it in the purchase of the rulers!  Of course you can make your own fabric choices!!

 

Sometimes it is fun not to make any choices.  You know the feeling, come home from work feeling drained and at the same time needing a bit of creative time.  I have fallen in love with our block of the month program for just those nights and over the last few years have made lots of other people's projects as samples. 

All my Paradise of Birds by Irene Blank are finished and it is time for the sashing.  I am a bit concerned at how many tiny squares there are.  I have already decided I am going to throw perfection out the window and aim solely to get it finished without stress.  In a few weeks time I am going away with Quilt NSW to the Country Meeting in Tamworth.  I figure a few hours on the bus and in the hotel and I can get a number of these strips done!  Its all about the mental attitude!

Sometime the best way to get something done is to get someone else to do it!  We picked up this Star Storm pattern by Victoria Findlay Wolfe last year at market with great intentions.  At last, after a quick pull from the glorious shelves of the shop we made up a sample.  This is a lot of fun and Helena did a wonderful job making it.  We have a few kits as seen if you love it as much as us!

This is birthday month at MO!  Last week Carolyn, Wendy and I all celebrated birthdays.  Sooo much cake but it is a nice ritual to share among friends.

As a family are just about to finish our third  yearly round of 21st birthday parties.  It has been fun watching all the theme costumes like this one, Retro Workout Gear!  Sam, usually quiet and somewhat reserved came out of his shell dressed in day glo tights and leg warmers!

 

There are many things to love about being a quilter.  Not the least is how it takes us out of our routine to a place where we can try new things.  It is said that one way to avoid feeling old is to keep learning and I think that is my goal in life.  It doesn't come naturally.  I'd really like to sit down and rest my weary brain some days.  I don't really want to always be brave and out there but the rewards are many and in truth, too tempting to ignore.  A challenge taken on always gives us something back win or loose.

Enjoy your process! k