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Allison Harris at CluckCluckSew.com has created an adorable mini Valentine quilt. For a wall or table, this would make a great gift for the "sweet hearts" in your life.
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Having "Quilter's Block?" Heather Thomas shows you how looking outside the quilting genre can jumpstart your creativity by examining the masters in other areas of the arts.
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Check out 35 clever projects you can make from your old denim jeans. You'll never throw out another pair again.
Click on the picture to see the projects.
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Wondering how Melissa Sobotka created her Best of Show quilt at Road to California, "Silk Road Sampler?" Here she gives just a hint as she talks about her other Best of Show quilt at Houston, "Chihuly's Gondola.
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This week's workout is to sort through the fabric that you are keeping. This should ideally be a LOT LESS than before, which will enable you to more easily find and use pieces when working on a project. Typically one might sort by sizes such as:
But, before you start sorting, here are some things to think about regarding the type of quilter you are. With each of our questions, we have a solution based on an artist who works in this particular manner. Maybe you have a suggestion you might want to share with others.
(photo from Susan Carlson)
1. Susan Carlson's (Show 801) work requires thousands of tiny scraps. In fact, she has even admitted to raiding the trash cans of her students after a class. Because she works with so many tiny bits of fabric, she finds it useful to store them in antique suitcases. (See them lined up under the shelving!) When the case is shut, they look nice, and no on is the wiser.
She also sorts by color and size. For smaller bits that aren't relegated to the suitcases, she uses those plastic salad containers you get at the grocery stores. Brilliant! They are cheap, see-through, and you most likely have a few in your fridge right now.
New shelving, which lines the walls in her studio keeps things arranged for easy access.
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2.Libby Lehman's (Show 112, 513) studio is a wealth of ideas for organizing in a small space. We love her method of storing (and showcasing) medium pieces of fabric by using foam core cut to accomodate her below table height bookcase shelving.
3.Sue Garman (Show 304) studio includes a walk-in closet dedicated to her larger fabric pieces. They are sorted by color family for easy access.
(Photo by Gregory Case Photography)
4. Bonnie Hunter (Show 1410) loves scrap quilts and sorts to streamline her work productivity. Once a quilt is completed, all the remaining fabric is cut into strips 12" or longer. Shorter pieces of fabric become bricks. Here is her preferred sorting system:
Sort strips in sizes of:
1-1⁄2”, 2”, 2-1⁄2”, 3-1⁄2”
The 1-1⁄2”, 2”, and 2-1⁄2” can be combined in different combinations and can then play with the 3-1⁄2”.
Cut squares into these sizes:
1-1⁄2”, 2”, 2-1⁄2”, 3-1⁄2”
Cut bricks in these sizes:
2” x 3-1⁄2”, 2-1⁄2” x 4-1⁄2
- A brick is the height of one square, with the width of two squares, plus seam allowance, (twice as wide as it is tall, plus seam allowance).
- Bricks can be used for flying geese and star point units, as well as on their own.
- You can make any number of traditional blocks through combinations of these sizes since they work together with each other.
- Store strips in drawers by strip width and color families.
- Stack strips on top of each other, and fold them over and over into a long jelly roll, so that they fit in a gallon zip lock (which I leave unclosed for air circulation).
- It is really easy this way to grab the sizes of strips I need for any block or project, unroll the stack, choose what I need, roll it back up and put it away.
(Photos from Jacquie Gering)
5. Jacquie Gering (Show 1202) works in lareger pieces of fabric that are grouped by color family. After sorting through the box filled with scraps that get tossed under her sewing table, the fabrics are grouped by color into small white laundry baskets. Each basket receives a tag that identifies the basket of fabrics.
Now that you have seen several ideas, it's time to fire up the crock pot with your favorite recipe and get started sorting your fabrics. Looking for a new easy meal idea? We have two of Lilo's family favorites for cold weather days: Lentil Soup or Beef and Barley Soup. Both take very little prep work and will simmer along in the crock pot while you work away. Then, when it's time for dinner, all you need is to set the table.
If you have a suggestion of what works for you, we encourage you to share them.
Both Soups Combined Into One Document
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It's always fascinating to watch an artist at work, and watching textile artist Louise Gardiner is no exception.
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The childhood home of Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur, is the premier museum of American decorative arts. It has an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America between about 1640 and 1860. The collection is displayed in the magnificent 175-room house, much as it was when the du Pont family lived there, as well as in permanent and changing exhibition galleries. Now this collection is available for viewing online.
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Lori Kennedy at TheInBoxJaunt.com has come up with 12 essential skills that every quilter must know. Do you agree with her list? Can you think of more?
Click on the picture to see the list. See the List below the picture for now.
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Becky Goldsmith of Piece O' Cake Designs teaches you how to make an adorable travel pincushion in a tin using strips of wool.
Star Members can watch Becky in Show 1704: Color Challenges and a Quickie Quilt.
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The quilts are amazing and the work is beautiful. Take a look at the
$5000 and up winners at Road To California this year.
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