alt_quilts Exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum

From the Folk Art Museum Website:

"This exhibition considers three contemporary artists who are inspired by the history and structure of American quilts but who are neither inhibited, constricted, nor defined by it. Sabrina Gschwandtner, Luke Haynes, and Stephen Sollins are keenly aware that a quilt’s very substance—its remnants, pieces, choices, geometries—is profoundly laden with meaning. They intentionally seek such emotional and retentive content in their work, oftentimes through ingenious techniques and by using unexpected materials such as 16mm film strips or used Tyvek envelopes. By purposefully reusing experiential elements with relevance to their own lives and times, they exploit the tension inherent in historical quilts between function and significance. The three artists are especially attracted to the rationality and precision of specific quilt patterns that often have illusive qualities—Tumbling Blocks, Log Cabin, Sunshine and Shadow, Double Wedding Ring—examples of which, from the museum’s collection, will also be on view."

Runs from October 1st (tomorrow!) to January 5th.

Quilting Lecture in Bronxville

Quilting Lecture by Jennie Rayment

 

October 23^rd at 7.15pm.  Copenhaven Room, Reformed Church, Bronxville.

 

Tickets are $25 - cash at the door is preferred.  Doors open at 7pm. (There is limited space – please reserve by e-mail to Rachael_dorr@yahoo.com )

 

Jennie Rayment is one of the best known names in quilting in the United Kingdom. She has taught all over America and the rest of the world– but this will be her first lecture in the state of New York!

 

Jennie has published numerous books, patterns & DVD’s and is a regular on British TV.

 

Come and meet the Mistress of Muslin and support the Reformed Church Quilting Group and Quilting a Memory.

 

After the lecture there will be an opportunity to meet Jennie – she will be happy to sign or personalize any books etc.

Bee Block for Maria

Maria asked us to choose fabrics that spoke to who we are as quilters, which for me meant using my orange fabric! Before making a quilt for my friend Jeff(back in 2011), I had zero orange fabric in my stash but since then it's become something of my signature colour with these three prints in particular cropping up time and time again.

I only shattered one needle while sewing this, all those pins on the curves were more than my machine could take! I put the block in the mail this morning. October is my Queen Bee month, I'll be posting instructions soon and will bring fabric with me to the October 5th meeting!

September 2013 Bee Block for Andrea - Fractured Triangles Block

Here's my September Bee Block for Andrea - Fractured Triangles:

 

  As always I've blogged about it on my blog made by ChrissieD :)

DWR Challenge

Hey Metro Mods!

I finished my DWR Challenge Ring this weekend.

Have you started yours yet?

Well, get crackin'!!

So many wonderful prizes.

AND, this was very easy and fun to make.

Really!

Ripples for Naomi

Using Naomi's beautiful hand-dyed fabric, her description of pebbles thrown into water and inspiration from a friend's recent quilt as you go project, I made a watery and wonky spiral block. I added in a few strips of Cherrywood fabrics from a previous guild challenge and a couple of solid scraps.

Sorry it's late Naomi, I'll get it in the mail asap!

Lucky 13 Bee - Block for Naomi

Here's my bee block for Noami.  I really loved the fabric and the freedom of this month's block.  I tried a couple, new-to-me techniques:  curved piecing, NY Beauty Block and mitered corners.  It was nice to try these things without committing to making an entire quilt and repeating them dozens of times. 

The theme was water, so I'd initially tried to create a sort of puddle/water drop in a pond look using the green center piece and some curved piecing.  Not highly successful, so I switched gears to this paper pieced pattern, which still conveys something of that idea to me.  I also used very "watery" fabrics, batiks with water movement and droplets picking up colors that appeared in the hand dyed fabrics we were given. 

Naomi - I am putting this in the mail today!

-- Andrea F.

Modern Quilt Block Sampler Class

There are still a few spots left in my new once-a-month Modern Quilt Blocks Sampler class starting Wednesday September 11 at the City Quilter!  We'll be working from the new Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.   I know some of you are already signed up, and it's definitely going to be a fun class.  I know I had fun making the sample, above.  The blocks are simple to sew, but have so much possibility.  Use one of the 5 layouts in the book, or I'll help you create your own to finish off your sampler.   

Wednesdays, 12-2 or 6-8
September 11, October 9, November 6, December 4
The City Quilter - call 212-807-0390 to sign up

ALSO - if anyone has ideas on how to quilt this, please let me know! 

Two Quilts from Bee 2

Finally completed hand finishing the binding on the first quilt made when I joined Bee 2.

And now the second one is pinned and  ready to be quilted.

Two quite different quilts but I am loving them both.

Thanks again, Bee 2 friends! 

Block Lotto for our Meeting October 5th

Our first meeting of the year is fast approaching!

October 5th . . . 

We will be having a Block Lotto at this first meeting.

For each block you enter, you will get a chance to win the whole lot.

The blocks are to be four patches, any way you want to build them.

Wonky, traditional, applique, etc.

Just four pieces of fabric to make a 6.5" unfinished block.

So let your imagination go wild.

The skies the limit, and even then, no limit! Hehe.

See you on the 5th.

15 Minutes Play workshop

Hi mods!
I'm having a one day 15 Minutes of play class in my home/studio on October 1st.
I have ONE spot left open if anyone wants it...  You do not need to bring anything! I have the machines, tools, fabric and food!
Just bring your Smiling Playful self!

(this is NOT the Sept 29th Class for QTM) 
Email me if your interested in this last spot, cost for the day workshop is $150. Everything you need is provided, (machines. materials, food) all you need to do is come.
contact me here:
http://www.bumblebeansinc.com/contact/

First to email, gets the last spot.

Help please...

Hello NYCMMQers,
I'm wondering if I can solicit a little advice here. I have been stuck lately trying to decide what to do about my hand piecing project. As you can see,

it has a little "drift" in it- somehow I got off on lining up the diamonds. I have at least two more rows to add on the bottom end in the photo, and right now I only see three options:

1) I could ignore this whole problem and figure it will give the quilt home-made "charm." Hmmmm...
2) I might cut a shorter template for the left column, and perhaps shorter ones for the middle two columns, which would hopefully bring them back in line. I am thinking of cutting the plastic lid to make these.
3) I should rip out the last 6-7 rows and re-sew them (ugh).

Does anyone have any additional and hopefully better suggestions? Thanks.... sigh.