Daily Blog

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Mel Beach is something of the Queen of Quilt Challenges, more than 18 this year alone, and she often gets asked where she finds those challenges. She has a list of 5 places where opportunities abound. Click on Learn More to read Mel's latest blog for more information regarding each item on her list.

• Quilt Guilds
• Magazines
• Online
• Fabric Companies
• Friends and Fellow Guild Members

Star Members can learn more about Mel and quilt challenges in Show 2112: Creating Improvisational Patchwork and Modern Molas & A New Spin on an Antique Quilt.

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Name: Michele Sanandajian and Laura Wasilowski Mini Quilt with Unusual Edge
Designer: Ann Myhre

Show 2109: Inventive Products & Binding Unusually Shaped Quilts
Begins: December 5, 2017
Price: Free to Star Members
Description: Practice Michele Sanandajian's and Laura Wasilowski's techinques for creating a fabric collage mini quilt with an unusual edge.

You must be logged in as a Star member to download the patterns. If you are not logged in, you will have to login and then return to the TQS Show Techniques page.

Star Members click here to get the pattern.

Become a Star member.

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Understanding the Principles of Design which include balance, contrast, movement, rhythm, emphasis, pattern/repetition as well as unity/variety is fundamental when it comes to presenting your work. As the last lesson of this major unit, we want to focus on contrast and the important role it plays in tying all of your elements together for maximum appeal. Força Barça by Rosa Rojas and Olga Gonzales Angulo (Show 1912) is an example of a quilt with maximum visual impact and would stop any quilter in their tracks.

Do you remember at the beginning of our Principles section where we used the example of a very involved cake for a special occasion as a way to illustrate the important roles that each of the various parts played in making the cake remarkable?

It is with contrast that you as the quilter can bring life to your work. It is the last element in the cake assembly process. Contrast is the difference between all of the elements within the entire design. Each part of the cake (e.g. blueberry sauce, lemon curd, marscapone filling, the layers of cake) is unique and interesting, but when combined, helps to bring the finished cake to a whole new level of enjoyment for those who receive a slice at the party.

Creating contrast can be achieved in a number of ways including:
Light vs. Dark
Warm vs. Cool
Black vs. White
Soft vs. Detailed
Large vs. Small
Texture
Shape
Text Size / Font

Let's say you want to design a quilt featuring blue circles.
But find that the design is not that interesting in and of itself.

How about using just two circles, with one being considerably larger than the other?

How about a bit of texture (with quilting or fabric choice) to make the circles stand out from the background?

Color can certainly make a huge difference. But if the colors are of the same value and, as in this example, direct opposites on the color wheel, the combination can be jarring to the eyes. This might not be the direction you want to go, unless you want to create that bit of unease for the viewer.

Colors that are farther apart on the value scale within a design present a calm and quiet message.

 
If both elements (background and circles) are in the same color family and closely located on the value scale, there is still contrast. But the message, again, is of a quiet and calm nature.

Let's look at some examples of quilts featuring various forms of contrast:

Size:

Value:

Texture:

Text / Font:

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There are triangles galore in this block by Jinny. Do you know what it is called? Play the game and find out.

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Using his Innova, Jamie Wallen shares three different background "fillers."

Star Members can learn more about Jamie in Show 1708: Jamie Wallen's Playground.

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A new exhibit was unveiled at the Houston Quilt Festival this year highlighting "Rising Stars" in quilting. Alex caught up with one of those stars, Karlyn Bue Lohrenz, and learned from her what it was like to be chosen. They walked through the exhibit and talked about her quilts.

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Gail writes about Climate Change, "A study in extremes: warm versus cool and gently curving versus jagged edginess. Climate change is neither gradual or calm, but can be quite violent as evidenced by the hurricanes and wildfires of 2017, four years following the completion of the quilt. Freezer paper foundation and curved seam piecing as well as hand embroidery. Longarm machine quilting by Kris Vierra."

Star Members can learn how to create quilts like Gail in Show 2111: Working with Curved Flying Geese and Foundation Paper Piecing & Creating a Contemporary Antique Quilt.

ClimateChangebyGailGarber - 35 Pieces Non-Rotating

ClimateChangebyGailGarber - 100 Pieces Non-Rotating

ClimateChangebyGailGarber - 300 Pieces Non-Rotating

ClimateChangebyGailGarber - 35 Pieces Rotating

ClimateChangebyGailGarber - 100 Pieces Rotating

ClimateChangebyGailGarber - 300 Pieces Rotating

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis