Material Obsession

Storing quilts

 

The quilts are taking over! Last night I actually filled a book case with quilts that have been lying around all winter. Now that I am home for a while I can stop and pick up a few things that I have been running past all year. This is good. The clutter of life confuses me to a point of utter frustration. After a busy period I like nothing more than a day rearranging my studio and "making space"... As if that is possible.

So this is a start. Quilts should always be stored folded on the bias. To do this fold in half on the diagonal like a half square triangle. Then fold in the corners until it looks a bit like an envelope. I have been doing this for years but was recently shown a tidy method at the Quilt NSW judging meeting. I refolded all my quilts like the pros and amazingly, they fit on the shelf beautifully.

There is nothing like living with quilts. I love Uzbeck Patches for the undulating tactile sensation of the quilting and the silky voile on the back. The texture is beautiful with my leather lounge and my home made cushion as well.

 

There are some in fact quilts stacked everywhere around here!

This is another one on a different lounge. It is one of my favourites made collectively by the Cut Loose quilters in days gone by but fondly remembered.

This is a version of Gypsy Kisses being made with care and a sense of abandoned that is not obvious to the maker. She is making daring choices and forming a quilt that will be the envy of many. I wondered as she was examining her work where it would live in her house....used or stored.

Chantelle is making this cot quilt for someone so we know how it will end up...first in a cot then dragged around until love tears it to bits! There are several of these up on my attic...too beautifully worn out by use to be discarded...at least while I am alive!

 

I am enjoying the sounds of family life at the moment. Noah practices for his band everyday. I have to sneak photos of him through the window and I the dark as if he is a wild creature. What I love, aside from the sound of his creativity which is incredible, is his passion. I recognise that focus and relate to the drive. He is off to San Diego State for a semester I the new year... I dread the silence that I know my neighbours will love! All this practice is for Soundscape this weekend and the number 3 son was asked to do the banner which also decorates our house at the moment...

Spring is definitely in the air and making way for the blue skies of summer. It is nice to take a mental break and stop to see the surrounds of home life....having said that we are in the throws of planning 2016 so stay tuned for more thrills at MO! K

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If you were at AQM this past weekend you may have seen this booth full of great programs from Lynn Wilson a http://hqw.com.au/. Lynn was really working the ideas for this market.

The head is full of ideas this morning as I sip my morning coffee in my studio space...going a bit slow. There is nothing like idea grabbing at the Australian Quilt Market #AQM. The pattern makers and distributors and designers go to a lot of trouble to present what is new, trending and working in shops. It is exciting to gather with other shop owners and talk about what is working!

Many of the ideas and hot properties from the recent Houston market were on display like this from http://vfwquilts.com/ I spent most of my time talking to shops about Flock Together but ran around at intervals making mental notes about what to catch up to on later. Fabrics, tools, patterns....so much to do!

I don't really sleep well in hotels with and particularly when there is so much stimulation in the daylight. I like my windows the windows open for fresh air at night but that isn't possible in a hotel.

So as

I lay awake waiting for the day I watched the sun rise. In a daze of sorts I chanced upon this view as the sun warmed the buildings of Melbourne.

The pilots and passengers must have risen very early to be so high by dawn!

The booth was full of our samples including this beauty made by Wendy Williams and available as a pattern soon.

Thank you to all the shop owners that attended our seminar hosted by XLN Fabrics and HQW. It felt at first like The Life of Pie but soon eased into a happy gathering of people that share the same hopes and goals. It was a great way to start the weekend which was full of sharing and positive thoughts.

Thank you to everyone that visited the booth for a look at my range, Flock Together! I can't wait for it to hit the shops in February and to see what everyone does with it!!!

 

But now it is Monday and the duty of routine beckons...I have had my morning coffee and will turn my mind to all the emails, unpacking and plans for 2016...my suitcase is going away for a while!!!!

Stay tuned for info on Kaffe Fassett's visit with Brandon Mablyn to MO in February and also for our class and workshop program for 2016 which is shaping up to be jam packed! As always...more to come!

 

 

 

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Ahhhh....Saturday morning! We recently decorated our living room. I find myself in here more and more often avoiding the loud clutter of my studio in the peace of a "living" room. It is the time of year when my brain says look for relief from discipline and routine...find a place to rest. So here I am, away from the computer, the piles,of projects, the gapping suitcase and just doing a bit of go slow hexagons.

Last night I was in the same spot with my project on my lap. These hexagons are so easy to pick up and progress. Just when the mind says quit the fingers say go. Thoughts of the day run past the back of my mind and all is good.

Recently the work of the last year has been revealed. It feels as though the work should be done but in fact it is just beginning. Next on the agenda is the next range...I have my ideas but am now l looking for that moment of concentration. As the years of being a shop owner mount up there is so much to look back at and smile. Yes, I am buried in quilts but also surrounded by great people.

Sue Cody's Harriot bom is coming along and looking fantastic. Helena is working her fingers to the bone to make the sample... So much fussy cutting hand sewing!

How about this for travel inspiration? Snapped while driving from Houston to Dallas I think it might be a good summer project with great lines and colors to play with.

 

Speaking of Houston, we popped into Kaffe and Brandon's class for a peek of what is to come at Material Obesession in February. If you have signed up we'll be getting all the details out soon. If you haven't, I think we might have 3 or 4 places left on the Sunday and there is always the Friday night lecture.

And just befor I head out of yoga this morning, here is a taste of what can be done with Marg George in one short year. Endless ideas, suggestions and encouragement. If you are looking to explore hand work and a relationship with your quilt that is beyond personal...talk to me about thins monthly class for 2016.

Sadly, we have decided not to do SWAP Day this year. I throw my hands up and say in defeat that I am human and have reached my limit this year. We will however be announcing our new classes and workshops soon so stay tuned for some inspiration!

Enjoy the weekend!

 

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Flock Together...

 

Thoughts are starting to stick in my head after the whirlwind trip that was 2015 Quilt Market. It seems as though every minute something was happening from dawn until well into the night. Friends were made, friendships strengthened and so much learned. I called this range Flock Together in reference to how much the gathering of quilting friends means to me and the real roll out of the idea has surpassed my expectations. So here I am now in my on home, sleeping in my own bed and loving it after a whirlwind week. As the head clears I remember all the people that helped me to prepare for market by sewing samples.

Just out of the suitcase is the skirt made by my good friend Bronwyn Ugonotti. Bronwyn is always making clothes and I am not so I loved it when she offered to make up this pattern by Amy Butler in my new range, Flock Together. It is a perfect fit in so many ways. One thing we like to do with this pattern is to line it with voile so that it has a butt n slip. Thanks Bronwyn...really good job!

Then there is our Cath that made Culture Blend in the range. This looks beautiful set on one of Kaffe's new prints. It reminds me of an outback sunset. Cath made it and Grace Widders did the quilting which is perfect!

 

Megan Manwaring applied her Mini Mandala pattern to the range and did some great fussy cutting before appliquéd onto Kaffe's shot cotton solids with a stripe from the range for a border. Looks really beautiful on my table!!!! And shows off the potential of the fabric as well.

Grace stepped in and did the quilting on my You did Say Diamonds! The spotty sashing is by Denyse Schmidt whose fabrics work really well with the range. I made this with Julie Herman's Super Side Kick ruler which I LOVE!

Carolyn Davis made a snappy version of our oldy but goody Avalon from Material Obsession 1 using the decorative stripe as the sashing. Again, the simple quilting lines by Grace work really well with the design.

Helena also offered some machine quilting skills. Here she picked up a bit of the fabric design in stitches which is fun.

 

 

Last but not least is Come into My Parlour by Wendy Williams. Here we can see how the range can be used for Applique. Easy but dynamic shapes set on shot cotton and worked with Jane Sassaman's next range made this an enticing project...said the spider to the fly!

I made a few things too and their were ores that helped as well. Jan Foster of Red Shed Quilting did a beautiful job on my big quilt...too big to shoot this morning!

This guy helps heaps every day. He holds me together through every step and that is not an easy task!

 

So, over the next few weeks we will be finalising patterns to make available for wholesale and retail...stay tuned for more opportunities to share Flock Together!

 

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