So You've Been Publicly Shamed (Weekend Reads)

Brilliant. This is a bloody brilliant book.

I had high expectations for it because I really like Jon Ronson. He has the best TED talk ever. He is a funny and engaging writer. This book is both. And kind of scary at the same time.

To be perfectly honest, I picked it up because I live in this here online world. I've chosen to share parts of my life, of myself, online. As a published author myself I know I live in the public realm. (Although, I write quilt books and my audience is small compared to most in that realm.) While I am very thankful to have not been the subject of any online shaming nor really had any awful experiences with trolls so far, I also know that it could happen at any time. I thought this book might provide some insight into the mentality that goes into those behaviours.

It strikes a number of chords. From the mob mentality of Twitter take downs, to the consequences of brutal honesty. It also touches on whether people feel shame or not and how that can have an impact on perceived shame.  At the same time he tells the stories of people who've experienced some awful shaming, and others who weathered what should have been awful shaming but came out relatively unscathed. What's different? (Hint: it often has to do with consensual sex.)

One of the storytelling elements he uses, quite successfully, is to be a part of the story. He opens with his own experience of having a parody Twitter account started in his name. This gets him thinking, interviewing, researching, and exploring the act of public shaming. It is always him in the story, talking to the players (all sides, where possible), trying to understand what the heck is going on. I got the sense that it was all very confusing and frustrating at times. Sometimes the subjects of the shaming did not necessarily see fault in what they did, other times the response far outweighed the inappropriate action that started it all. Both are frustrating. And he really is genuinely trying to find understanding.

It is very clear, no matter what, that we all have a role to play in managing ourselves online. Not only is it remembering that you are in a public forum that never forgets, therefore watch what you say. But also, watch how you respond. Think before you react. You see this all this time on Twitter or Facebook. Endless forwarding of things people have never actually read, gut level responses to public events, and the general forgetfulness that the rest of the online world consists of REAL people with feelings.

You don't necessarily need So You've Been Publicly Shamed to get that. And most likely the people who are going to be that shaming mob are not going to read the book. But it is a well told story of exploration into a fluid world that we are still only beginning to understand.

Bonus: Ronson has another TED talk on one of the stories from this book.

Hand Stitched Home (Weekend Reads)

A year ago the lovely Susan Beal asked me if I wanted to review a copy of her latest book, Hand Stitched Home and I never did it. I felt awful, especially after I'd agreed to do it. I pulled that book out this last week, as the weather turned decidedly to fall, and decided now was the time. Why now? Because I forgot how lovely a book this is and you need to know about it.

Hand Stitched Home is all about sewing with wool. It takes its lead from the famous Oregon Pendleton wool, but that doesn't mean you have to use Pendleton wool in the projects. It does, however, provide a short history of Pendleton that fans of the wool and more will like. Then it provides tips and tricks for working with wool. As a quilter who lives in the land of cotton, this section is very much appreciated.

Projects range from coasters to quilts, from home decor to garments. There is, quite literally, something for everyone. I'm quite smitten with two particular projects: The Jacquard Cube Ottoman and the Winter Cape. The bags look nice too, but I don't really make bags (yet).

Seriously, do you think I can pull off this cape? I'm not sure I am young or old enough for it, but I love it so.

Susan provides clear instructions, illustrations, and templates for everything in the book. Some templates will have to be enlarged, so you will have to make a new friend at the local copy shop. In all honesty, I've not sewn anything from the book, but in carefully reading a number of the instructions it seems that things are quite clear and easy to follow, especially with the amount of illustrations including in each project. Each project also comes with a difficulty rating, measured in number of sheep. So cute.

There is even an index, something we don't see enough of in craft books.

And, as we are visual people, can I mention the photography? You can practically smell the campfire and hear the crunch of leaves. Because, of course, we think of fall when we think of wool. The photography provides us with that sense of place, but it also highlights the patterns and texture of the Pendleton wool.

West Coast Crafty is the online home of Susan Beal. Hand Stitched Home is her sixth book! She knows what she is doing is crafting a book that tells the story of her chosen material and subject. Personally, I love that her books are all unique and the crafty subjects vary. If you were at QuiltCon this year then you also know that she is currently keen on encouraging us all to label our quilts. I totally get this girl!

It may still be summer where you are, but as the cooler/cold months approach I recommend curling up with this book. And with school back in session I'm excited to be heading back to the books myself and relaunching the Weekend Reads series.

Circle Lattice Update

Wow, three blocks done. I'm pretty wowed myself. Even more amazing, I'm not bored with this block yet. Not at all. Considering the intensity of my time with it I find that surprising.

When I started with this particular block - from Carolyn Friedlander's amazing book Savor Each Stitch - I thought I would make one block. It was the one pattern from the book I was desperate to make right away. It was like Carolyn saw into my brain for the exact appliqué pattern I'd always wanted to make. One block was great, but I knew I couldn't stop there, the finished quilt would be far too small.

...
I should clarify that one of the reasons I always make larger quilts is that my husband really doesn't like quilts on a wall. I would rather have the opportunity to cuddle with a quilt then make a small one that languishes in a pile.
...

So now I am on to the 4th block. The fabrics for all the other blocks were easy decisions. I loved the contrast of the NYC print with the colours and patterns of the others. But I really hemmed and hawed on what to do here. Yellow seemed like a good choice, but I didn't have enough of any one print that I loved to use. Then I remembered some Stendig calendar fabric I picked up at QuiltCon. Just a little pop of yellow and much more subtle contrast. It is perfect. The calendar fabric, by Kokka, is a slightly heavier weight so it had to be the background, but that's totally fine.

Summer evenings, the rest of Le Tour, and car rides ahead of me. I will definitely be savouring each stitch as this last block comes together.

You Inspire Me To Quilt - Introduction (Part 2)

Welcome to the second look at You Inspire Me To Quilt. Today I want to let you in on the rest of the quilts and contributors. If you missed the first instalment, you can find it here.

Have you ever had someone in your life - not a quilter - who suggests some crazy idea for a quilt to you? An idea that you initially dismiss as ridiculous, difficult, or even impossible to translate into a quilt? Have you struggled to work out a design for an idea you wanted to try, for an inspiration that stopped you in your tracks? Well, you aren't alone. You Inspire Me To Quilt is all about that process - from inspiration to finished quilt, from Spark to Binding.

Each contributor to the book shared their process of design and making. That's on top of the pattern itself. We've also included insight from each quilter on a wide range of topics from teaching quilting, finding time for creativity, inspiration, and family. It was such a privilege for me to work with these amazing women, I am thrilled.

Dino Patch is a fun quilt, perfect for collaboration with the favourite littles in your life. You need to see what Carolyn Friedlander did when working with her nephew. Her process is fun for all parties involved and makes for this great quilt. By breaking out the process you can take it and completely make it your own.

Kisses was a labour of love for me. In response to a need for a large enough quilt for a king size bed - with us in it - I made this. Sometimes the inspiration is more functional than funny, but it is still there.

This quilt is a simple, stunning beauty. Straightforward in its construction, yet full of so much love and detail. Jen Carlton-Bailly did an incredible job capturing the phases of the moon and a mother's love for her daughter in one quilt. (I couldn't help but use two amazing mothers in the photo, from Shop Blest, and my dearest friend. Those are their boys/grandsons in the Dino Patch photo too.)

You never know when the SPARK is going to hit you. In Heather Jones' case it was when she and her husband, Jeffrey Cortland Jones, were leaving a parking lot.  In shooting the book I hemmed and hawed about the best way to shoot this quilt. In the end, a stark moment captured interestingly won out over literal interpretations with other signs.

It is totally appropriate that Blair Stocker made a quilt with her husband's request to tackle ski parkas. They are quilted already, after all! Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea for those of us with a surfeit of kids' parkas left with stains and ripped elbows from an active winter. Not to mention cold rinks to sit in and ski lunches to be had.

This was truly an incredible experience, from start to finish, from spark to binding, from first notes to book in hand.

Pick up You Inspire Me to Quilt on Amazon or request it at your local quilt store.

You Inspire Me To Quilt - Introductions (Part 1)

You Inspire Me to Quilt is out in the world! Such an exciting moment and it never gets old. I can finally tell you all about the book, my amazing contributors, and where to get it.

Have you ever had someone in your life - not a quilter - who suggests some crazy idea for a quilt to you? An idea that you initially dismiss as ridiculous, difficult, or even impossible to translate into a quilt? Have you struggled to work out a design for an idea you wanted to try, for an inspiration that stopped you in your tracks? Well, you aren't alone. You Inspire Me To Quilt is all about that process - from inspiration to finished quilt, from Spark to Binding.

Each contributor to the book shared their process of design and making. That's on top of the pattern itself. We've also included insight from each quilter on a wide range of topics from teaching quilting, finding time for creativity, inspiration, and family. It was such a privilege for me to work with these amazing women, I am thrilled.

Amanda Jean Nyberg's quilt is all about honouring a special date. The inspiration was a clock radio and it took family movie night for her to get the idea from her husband into a way that got her excited. And lucky for readers, you don't have to share her husband's birthdate, she provided the pattern for all the numbers.

This is the quilt that my husband requested - for years. In fact, it was incessant asking for this quilt that inspired the book as a whole.

Never once in a million years could I imagine a quilt inspired by bacon, but here it is. It is so true to the inspiration, yet creates a really cool, modern design. Not to mention that Cynthia Frenette walks you through making a not quite improvised background for this quilt. I've already seen what her pattern tester did by changing up the colours and it makes it completely different.

Like bacon, I never would have gone to role-playing games as a source of inspiration. It isn't my world, but the notion of a story telling map based on hexagons makes perfect sense to a quilter. Rossie Hutchinson designed this quilt for her husband, a man with a passion for role-playing games. I adore the concept of using the quilt to tell a story - perfect for a family history, a wedding present, or bedtime creation. With so much sweet, novelty and graphic fabric available now this would be so much fun to do.

A good Canadian loves hockey. Okay, so that is a stereotype which I know isn't true. Personally, I love hockey. That's what got me so excited for Andrea Harris' quilt. Her husband requested a quilt to transport him back to Saturday night watching the Habs on Hockey Night in Canada. She filled the request with a quilt that mimics the colour and graphics of the hockey ice, but pixelated. In the centre she included a large maple leaf, but you could easily add your own design. I have a few nephews who would love this quilt so much, but I don't think Andrea's husband will give it up! Oh, and you should see the quilting!

Stay tuned for peaks from the other five quilts in the book.

Pick up You Inspire Me to Quilt on Amazon or request it at your local quilt shop.

Playing With Circles in Quilting - For the Love of the Half Circle

This design has been stuck in my head for months and months. I had grand plans of making this quilt for Valentine's Day - for obvious reasons - but work deadlines got in the way of quilting for fun. I found myself with few immediate deadlines this week and a free morning. Et voila!

Beyond the design itself, I also wanted to make this quilt for another reason. I wanted to showcase some half circles in a design. So often I see two quarter circles used when the quilter could have easily made a single block. The construction is exactly the same, so why shy away from half circles? Is it fear? The unknown? Pure comfort with a quarter circle? I know that the final result is the same, but if you can avoid a seam, why wouldn't you?

There were some insanely gorgeous and creative quilts at QuiltCon, for example, that used quarter circles when half circles could have been used easily.  It might just be me, because of my circular predilection, but I think we need to bring the half circle the attention it deserves.

That focus is going to start with a pair of lips. Or hearts, depending on your viewing angle. That was kind of the point with this design. One big smackaroonie. And all the love for a half circle block too.

This quilt is scheduled to be in a quilt show in a month so I better get it off the rocks and under my machine. I see some free motion text in my future.

If you want more details on making a half circle block you can check out my Craftsy class on Inset and Applique Circles by Machine or pick up Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking.

Quilting With Low Volume Fabrics - on CreativeLive

Let's talk Low-Volume. (You can whisper if you want to, I am.)

Low volume fabrics remain trendy. You see them popping up in fabric collections, shop bundles, and in quilts. When I pitched A Month of Sundays nearly 4 years ago the term and the fabrics were just starting to emerge into quilters' consciousness. Now, you can hardly look anywhere without seeing these gorgeous fabric options.

There are so many people, however, who stop me to ask questions about just how to use them. Some people think low volume can only means black and whites, or only tone on tones, or only colours. Some people only think you can use low volume prints as backgrounds as a completely scrappy look. Some still believe that low volume only means light fabrics or that there is no contrast in a quilt made from low volume fabrics.

In both A Month of Sundays and my CreativeLive class, Quilting With Low Volume Fabrics, you can learn that all of these things are small little pigeonholes in the possibility of using low volume fabrics. By following along we learn that the principles of colour, value, scale, and texture still apply with low volume fabrics. We learn that while there are no wrong ways to use these fabrics, there are better ways to use them in order to enhance your quilt design.

In the class you can also sew along with us. I chose the famous X-Plus block as our exercise. We go through different fabric combinations to illustrate all the lessons of the class. The studio audience is learning right along with you. That means you get their insight and A Ha! moments too. It truly is a learning by doing exercise.

At the end of the class you will be very comfortable using low volume fabrics effectively in your quilts. You really can't go wrong with these fabrics. They are a great alternative to white, cream, or grey backgrounds, but they are so much more. Knowing how to pick and use them means that your options for fabrics opens up tremendously.

This was my goal in A Month of Sundays as well. But for those of you who learn by doing or watching, grab the class. Then you can hit the book for some inspiring quilt designs.

Oh, and all the Craft and Maker classes are on sale at CreativeLive until March 15. That means you can grab any of my classes for just $19.

Playing With Circles in Quilting - Part 2

Ride the Waves

50'' x70''

Improv curves are fun. In a fit one day last year I pulled out a playful and lovely combination of fabrics and made a whole bunch of blocks. It was just one of those quilts that came to be with no rhyme or reason. I'm pretty sure I had it done in just a couple of days. Then it sat. The moment passed and there was little motivation to finish it.

Then you realize that someone needs a pick me up, a hug as much as possible. And in your head you kind of realize that these fabrics are so her. So her, in fact, that you may have picked them with her in mind. You may have stuck with this size of quilt because it is the perfect size for her.

And then you finish it with big lines of loops because they are fun and everyone deserves a bit of fun. And she deserves a finished quilt so the loops make that happen too. So does binding it among a stack of quilts you feel you just have to get done for Christmas. That way you can give it to her when she most needs it.

Then she texts you that night to say how much it is helping in the dark and lonely moments and you realize that this is indeed why we work hard to make quilts for people we love. This way, love is all around them.

Even her dog approves. Then again, there is no accounting for taste.

The improv curves are easy to do and totally take any mystery out of curved piecing. There really are no mistakes with this technique. You can see that sometimes I doubled up the curves and other times they are just simple. All together they echo quarter circles. Which means you can use them like you would any other Drunkard Path block. I chose a setting that creates diagonal lines of movement across the quilt. Simple, fun, and effective.

Overall, that's what the quilt is - simple, fun, and effective. Design wise, yes. but also in spirit.

All year I am going to be posting more and more circle techniques. This is some time to play with circles and there are so many things to do beyond the basics. Join me for the monthly series, Playing with Circles in Quilting.

If you want more details on making circles or any of the techniques I introduce here, check out my Craftsy class: Inset and Applique Circles by Machine or my workshop in the book, Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking.

Playing with Circles in Quilting - Part 1

What happens when you use pieced blocks for your circles?

I've experimented with improv blocks, for both the circle and the background, with good success. This time I wanted to try some precision pieced blocks, to see if there is any difference. I was also interested in testing out the new machine with my trustworthy technique.

These were orphan blocks I found in my closet. I didn't make any of them and, to be honest, I'm not sure where they came from. Perhaps extra donations from the Just One Slab charity quilts? They seemed perfectly appropriate to experiment with.

The small circles were regular appliqué circles. I had some old templates out and they were just the right size. The technique works great, but next time I would just make new templates. My guess is that I set these templates aside because something about them wasn't quite round. Not to mention that freezer paper loses its crispness after a while. As a result, my circles aren't terribly round. But, the idea of this with the pieced blocks works great.

The big blocks were made with the Reverse Circle technique I teach. I thought it best to try this with the big ones for a couple of reasons. One, new freezer paper. And two, I suspected these would end up looking better. The seam allowances of a pieced block don't make the edges of the circle bulky. My suspicions were confirmed. I kind of love these blocks.

If you do use pieced blocks for circles keep in mind that part of your piecing will be cut off. You can lose points of a star, or entire sections of a rail fence. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is a design consideration. I actually think it could look cool if you had a quilt of chopped off blocks, but each block was chopped off differently. Or maybe you take an entire quilt top that you don't like, and make circles out of it. Then piece the circle blocks together in the order of where they were cut. It would be like portholes into another quilt. Whatever you cut off are generally useful scraps too, so don't be afraid of wasting fabric.

All year I am going to be posting more and more circle techniques. This is some time to play with circles and there are so many things to do beyond the basics. Join me for the monthly series, Playing with Circles in Quilting.

If you want more details on making circles or any of the techniques I introduce here, check out my Craftsy class: Inset and Applique Circles by Machine or my workshop in the book, Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking.

School of Sewing (Weekend Reads)

A zipper pouch. People, I made a zipper pouch. I'd set a goal to learn how to install a zipper this year and thanks to the encouragement of Jen and the instructions from Shea Henderson in her book, School of Sewing, I did it. I did it!

And honestly, it wasn't that hard. I was a fraidy cat for nothing.

It really helps that Shea's directions in the book were so clear. The step by step photography (by Lauren Hunt) was perfect. I'm not the kind of person to enjoy following directions, but when I am going to do it I am religious about going along. And it was so easy doing so for this project.

This book is kind of amazing. It is set up to lead sewers through a series of basic projects that, at the end, culminates in their first quilt. Along the way they pick up skills that will allow them to sew nearly anything. And it is all broken down in clear instructions with a lot of encouragement and humour.

Shea started writing the book after gathering a group of friends and neighbours to teach sewing. While people were always asking her how to sew she never taught them, preferring to send out a standard email full of resources and encouragement to do it on their own. But when enough people at the same time asked she decided to invite them all into her kitchen to learn. Many hadn't met before either. One of my favourite things about this book is that it also tells the students' stories. We learn who each of them are, we get commentary from them along the way, and the photographs include them and their journey. So this isn't a random book of instructions, it really is a school of sewing.

Initially I got the book in my hands for an article. For good research I read it cover to cover. Trust me, that was not a sacrifice. Shea has filled it with so much useful information - from shopping for fabric to sewing machine basics. Even an old quilter like me learned a few things. Plus, her voice is there throughout the writing. I know Shea in person (she has turned me on to the best milk ever) and I could hear her speak as I read the book. Her humour and enthusiasm come through so well. I couldn't help but want to try something new.

A zipper pouch it was. I have a collection of old zippers from a box. I have loads of beautiful fabric. I had a quiet afternoon to myself. I went for it. And in less than an hour I had a little zip pouch. No swearing, only a few mistakes made (easily recoverable), and a whole lot of pride in my new skill. I want to put zippers in everything!

With all the other projects in the book from bags to ruffled key fobs to endless layouts for a half square triangle quilt there is no shortage of directions and inspiration. This book is a must have for any beginner sewer. And a perfect tool for a teacher. If home ec were still around then School of Sewing should be the textbook.

The Little Spark (Weekend Reads)

What a fun, fantastic book!

Carrie Bloomston has written a book that will appeal to everyone from the dedicated quilter (who will know her from her fabric designs and Such Designs) to your neighbourhood mom. And the baker down the street and the barista and the grandfather mowing his lawn. That's because, as Bloomston reminds us, everyone is creative.

This book is an excellent resource and reminder for all of us. It needs to sit next to the teapot or on the bedside table. Grabbed when you are feeling both a bit rundown and totally inspired. That's because its premise provides focus, optimism, and the opportunity for reflection.

Organized around 30 Sparks, or activities, that you can do to bring your creative life into focus. Do them in order, do them randomly, or pick and choose. It doesn't really matter. Some, for example, are in the spiritual realm where I simply don't work. I'm a more literal person and it didn't bother me at all. But that's me. I found so many exercises to be a good opportunity to be introspective, to look inside and examine some long held beliefs or discover a truth I wasn't facing. I've read the book twice. And I know I will go back to it again, and again.

Yes, this book is kind of like therapy. But fun therapy where you are creating along the way and encouraged to keep going. It is also tremendously inspirational. Filled with quotes, stories, and examples of people living a creative life - from a juice bar owner to a modern dance studio where the women are all over 40. It doesn't matter your craft or activity, you will find inspiration in here.

One of my favourite Sparks was "Have a Secret". In this section Bloomston encourages us to create something and not tell anyone about it. Don't show it to anyone, don't share it on social media, don't even tell anyone you are doing it. Quite poignant in this day and age, don't you think? (And totally contradictory of me who lives an online life and has published books filled with my work and family.) But it is a telling lesson, to create for yourself and only yourself. To not worry or feel prying eyes. To not look for validation.

I'm pretty impressed with Stash for having published this book. You know how I feel about quilting books with more writing in them (Yay!) so to have published a book with no sewing at all, that's impressive for the publisher. I think it was a calculate drisk that will pay off because this book has a big life outside of quilting. Of course quilters will love it, but so will anyone else with a creative spirit. It goes without saying, of course, that the book is a visual cornucopia too.

"Creativity takes courage. It takes courage to be who you are. It takes courage to step into the unknown, to dig around in your soul and see what you find, to follow your passion, to start something new." 

Stash and Bloomston are giving away copies of the book. You need to go to Carrie's blog to enter. Even if you have your own copy I would enter so you can get a copy to give to your best friend! Go here to enter.

Disclosure: I was provided a review copy of the book and asked to write about it. But I'd already read it in preparation for a class I am doing in the New Year and will be recommending it as part of that too.

You Inspire Me to Quilt Announcement

Announcing the next book: You Inspire Me to Quilt!

I'm thrilled to share with you today the cover of my next book. The book itself isn't out until spring of next year, but with the cover popping up on Amazon and the book available for pre-order I wanted to share the news. I promise I won't talk about it incessantly between now and then.

In this book there are 10 quilts with patterns, each with a story about who inspired the quilt and following the process of the designer as they made it. (I have two of my own in the book.) The quilts are all so unique. Such a range of styles, techniques, and colours. I want to make each and every one myself. And the stories are so inspiring, it makes the challenges and joys of making a quilt so very real. Here are all the designers who contributed to the book.

Amanda Jean Nyberg
Andrea Harris
Blair Stocker
Carolyn Friedlander
Cynthia Frenette
Heather Jones
Jen Carlton Bailly
Rossie Hutchinson

Photography is again by Kate Inglis. It was a great collaboration, again. If you haven't seen the teeny tiny sneak peaks and behind the scenes shots, look here. And for her take, here. We filled the book with images stolen and made from the world around me. With great thanks to my friends, their kids and homes, the forest and her setting sun, graffiti artists, late season snow, and a food truck.

Savor Each Stitch (Weekend Reads)

It's been a while since I posted about a book. I've been reading, that's for sure, but so busy that I haven't had a chance to stop and post about any of them! But I HAVE to tell you about this book. 

Savor Each Stitch is the recent publication by Carolyn Friedlander. It is a beautiful book and full of so much information. The book is a glimpse into Carolyn's life and the way her brain works as she makes quilts. That doesn't mean it is only a book about Carolyn though. At its core it is a quilting book, a resource.

When we write quilt books one of the first questions asked during the proposal process is who the audience is for your book. Of course we want to say that the book is for everyone! I wonder what Carolyn said when it came to her book? My read is that her fans will love it, the new or beginner quilter will be inspired, and the established quilter will look at the design and process with new eyes. I can say that the latter happened to me.

Instead of running through techniques or colour theory in a standard way, Carolyn talks about different aspects of design. She explains the concepts, then uses quilts to demonstrate what she is saying. All the projects have multiple iterations to further illustrate the concepts. 

While the book is clearly a reflection of Carolyn, her aesthetic, her process, and the quilts reflect that, it is more than that. I found it tremendously inspiring and informative. It got me thinking about fabric in some new ways, about combinations I never would have thought of. It also has me looking at my older quilts and the ones I'm working on for my intentions. Have I articulated what I wanted to with my choices, my seams, my process? This is precisely why Carolyn speaks of Mindful Design.

It isn't about tearing into a new project like a bag of potato chips - hands in, crumbs everywhere, and pure enjoyment without consequence. If we take a moment to evaluate, internally, our selections and intentions we can savour the process as much as the result, maybe even more so.

You know already that I love Carolyn's work and find it inspiring enough to work with both her patterns and fabric frequently. So it should be no surprise that I jumped at a project from Savor Each Stitch.

Having finished my Alturas top I was searching for another appliqué project. I was going to try and design my own little graphic block, but I couldn't ignore how completely awesome Circle Lattice is. This project is from Savor Each Stitch and Carolyn uses it to demonstrate the concept of Scale in the book.

It happens to come together quite neatly, like a paper snowflake. This makes it even cooler.

I chose two completely disparate fabrics. My background is a drawn illustration by Samarra Khaja, made by Timeless Treasures. There are so many little details in the fabric that it is rather fun to discover things as I stitch. I did nothing to prepare the fabric in terms of fussy cutting, so little treasures like Lady Liberty shining through here are a treat.

For my appliqué I chose one of the Charley Harper fabrics from Birch Organics. I've been hoarding it, frankly, so it was good to pull it out. As much as I love the fabric and its birds, I love that elements come and go in the empty spaces. And sometimes the birds are exactly where they need to be.

This one block will be a labour of love. It took me about 6 hours just to hand baste the thing. I thought about glueing and/or machine basting. But it seemed more cumbersome. Something about the hand stitching called to me. So I loaded up Anne of Green Gables, and the sequel, and basted away. I'm on to the needle turn and it seems faster than the basting. It's certainly more enjoyable. I'm glad I followed Carolyn's directions for basting too. It seemed redundant to go on both sides of the appliqué as opposed to down the middle, but it is making the appliqué a breeze. See, even an old pro like me has a lot to learn. And I'm glad I've let Carolyn be my teacher in Savor Each Stitch.

Now, about that missing U...

This and That For Your Weekend

It's a quiet, sunny Sunday here in Calgary. Hubby and I both have a weekend off from work and volunteer obligations. It's been fantastic! I do hope you are also having a great weekend.

Just a few things I wanted to share with you. Maybe they will brighten your weekend with a little treat, or keep you entertained during some precious sewing time.

Craftsy Sale

This weekend is a big Craftsy sale! I know I've posted about these before, but if you've never checked it out I suggest you browse the classes. I have a collection of quilting and cooking classes myself. If you've been inspired by my appliqué work I strongly recommend Big Techniques from Little Scraps with Sarah Fielke and Hand Applique Made Easy with Mimi Dietrich. I've learned a lot through these classes that I think will really take my appliqué enjoyment and skills to a new level.

To access the sale click on this link and check out all the options. You don't have to be a quilter either. Personally, I'm intrigued by the drawing classes. In all my free time, right? But, you can get them this weekend and have lifetime access... Good deal, no?

C&T Publications Sale

If, like me, you have an addiction to books then this is the sale for you. So many good deals here. The new C&T Publishing site is easier to navigate and you can find all sorts of deals in this warehouse sale. I may have picked up a few titles myself, even though I don't really need more books - I'm too busy sewing to read much these days! But, oh, the cuteness...

And if you are a fan of my work specifically, I would be remiss in not pointing out that a few books I'm in are for sale. Like Datekeeper - Modern Quilts, 99 Modern Blocks, and an amazing deal on A Month of Sundays! And so many other great titles and products.

Modern Sewciety

This is a fun podcast hosted weekly by Stephanie Kendron. I had the pleasure of joining her and Carolyn Friedlander for a chat about QuiltCon. It brought back memories and got me very excited for February. Even if you aren't going to QuiltCon it is full of tips for anyone attended classes, workshops, festivals, and retreats. Plus, Jo Packham is also on this episode and I really enjoyed her conversation with Stephanie.

Have a great weekend everyone!

More Circles! This time for Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking

Do you know what these are? Just some of my favourite tools in an arsenal of circle making things. Front and centre is my compass and elementary school geometry set. School supply nerds take note! You can find out about these and how I use them in the new book from Lucky Spool, The Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking.

This great book is like taking a workshop from each of your dream teachers - Jacquie Gering, Denyse Schmidt, Penny Layman, Angela Walters, and more. If you can't be in the classroom with us, this might be the next best thing! Each teacher has a chapter devoted to a specific concept or technique. You get the benefit of their experience and all their Quilter to Quilter tips. And then you get a pattern that uses those techniques.

At the end of the book is a phenomenal gallery of modern quilts. Some serious eye candy there.

My quilt in the book might be a new top favourite of mine. It comes with my chapter on Circles and Curves. You could probably call it a sampler of the techniques, but it is more than that. Inspired by two favourite fabrics it takes geometric block design to a really fun place. You could make the pattern as is or you could change up the layout to suit your own preference. Or maybe make repeats of your favourite blocks for a completely different look.

I debated long and hard about the colour selection for this quilt. It needs high contrast and I really wanted to keep it to two colours. But it is me and where one fabric will do I will pick 10! You could say this is a pretty masculine colour combo with just navy and gray, but I call it calming. Despite the bold geometry of the quilt, it has a very serene quality. Keeping the background fabric to a single choice really helps with that. 

To check out the other contributors and see what they are saying about the quilt, you can follow along with them.

Kari Vojtechovsky teaches on The Principles of Color
Alissa Haight Carlton teaches on Working with Solids
Dan Rouse teaches on Working with Prints
Denyse Schmidt teaches on Improvisational Patchwork
Jacquie Gering teaches on The Alternate Grid
Penny Layman, of course, teaches on Paper Piecing
Heather Jones teaches Large Scale Piecing
Angela Walters teaches Modern Machine Quilting
Heather Grant then takes us on a Study of Modern Quilts.

Lucky Spool is a new publisher on the book scene for quilting. Led by Susanne Woods (formerly of Stash Books and Craftsy) they are bringing a number of exciting books to the market. Their Essential Guide for Modern Quiltmaking looks like it is going to leave its mark for quilters everywhere.

Right now you can get the book on a great discount from Taunton Press (Lucky Spool's distributor). If you buy it from them get a 20% discount between now and July 21.

Click here. Use the discount code EGMQ20
UPDATE: the correct code is EGQM20. My apologies for the typo.

Floral Wraps from A Month of Sundays

With no offence to my awesome kids, the best present for me is a day of no-obligation sewing. Just me and the chance to play. So when Hubby offered that up one afternoon on Mother's Day weekend I took advantage. Sure, it was tempting to sip tea and read but I decided I needed to flex my muscles and take something off the very long want-to-do list: Floral Wraps.

In one long afternoon I got five of them cut and nearly all sewn to completion. I was an assembly line machine. Barely took a washroom break. And it was so worth it. Not only was it satisfying, but now I have these great gifts.

The pattern comes from my book, A Month of Sundays. These days we have reusable totes, shopping bags, and even snack bags. But I'd never seen a reusable floral wrap. Sure, the flowers are gorgeous, but the paper and plastic they come wrapped in, not so much. Now you can buy your own flowers and bring them home safely and in style. Or, you can make a wrap and give it as part of the gift!

The floral wrap uses laminated cottons. There are so many available these days. You could, if you preferred, make your own by laminating vinyl to your favourite material. I am lucky, though, in having a few local shops with a good stash of laminated cottons. (In fact, I may need to stock up a bit more now.) Oil cloth works too, but it is a bit stiffer to work with. If you can't source them locally, make sure to check out your favourite online retailers.

Each wrap contains a pocket to hold the stems and ties to keep it all together. By using the laminated cottons your wrap can be simply wiped dry when you load the flowers into a vase, not to mention the ability to keep them moist as you transport.

These are what my girls' teachers are getting this year as gifts. And perhaps a few other people in our lives. Think of these for Mother's Day, birthdays, hostess gifts, just because...

The Curve of Time (Weekend Reads)

Our summer last year started with a road trip. An epic family road trip that saw us meander through the interior of British Columbia, spend a few days with me quilting (teaching) with the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Modern Quilt Guilds, and then hopping on the ferry for a week of camping on Vancouver Island. It was a magical family vacation for us.

Thank goodness our kids are adventurous travellers and don't get car sick.

We did the trip with the modern conveniences of hotels when we didn't want to camp, grocery stores to stock our bins of food at the campsite, and Goretex. So it was both inspiring and deflating when I started reading The Curve of Time while we were on the Island.

M. Wylie Blanchet wrote The Curve of Time, documenting the summers spent on a boat with her five children. The would leave from the coastal home that looked like a fairy's log cabin to board The Caprice as summer began. Up the water ways of the BC coast, both Island side and coast side they would explore. Just her and the kids, and usually the dog. And this was in the 20s and 30s!

Here I was thinking we were brave for a 2 week road trip in our German engineered station wagon.

The stories in the book are haunting at times, light hearted at times. They tell of the growth that happened among the children, of the joys of discovery, of the tension of travel by sea. Mostly they tell of the challenge of motherhood. Because even when you are battling current, ghosts, and storms you are still raising your children. It is a most definitely enlightening tale of mothering, amongst all the scenery, sailing, and adventure.

On that same trip we were on my husband coined the now often used family quote: It's only an adventure when not everyone who left returns, otherwise it's an excursion. The Curve of Time is certainly a book to inspire exploration and install an adventurous spirit in any woman. And to encourage this mama herself to find a few more excursions for her family.

Being Present

It must be said, I cannot do it all.

Writing books and articles, quilting, patterns, and teaching. Mothering, being a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Cooking and cleaning. Being here. I cannot do it all. Something, somewhere, always falls to the side in a heap of lack of time or enthusiasm. 

Thankfully I have kids who don't see the mess that I do, who beg to go out for steak even when I do want to cook, and who patiently model for me. Thankfully I have a babysitter willing to put in extra hours and friends who will pour me tea when they see my shoulders hovering somewhere over my ears. And family who send texts and understand why I haven't called. And dear readers here who send notes because I haven't blogged in weeks.

The last few weeks have been a blur of a photo shoot for the latest book, then finishing all the details for that book. There were family visits and trips to the ER, movie nights and snuggles, afternoons enjoying the sun then evenings watching the snow. I had to work and sneak in living my life. Laundry optional.

But the manuscript is in, the photo shoot done, the bathrooms cleaned, and some brisket in the oven. So I can sew for fun again and laugh with the kids over bad knock knock jokes. I can sit down with my husband at the end of the day instead of burrowing into the studio. I can catch up with the world.

Speaking of the photo shoot for the book...

Kate Inglis came out to shoot this book as well. It is an insane collaboration that I am proud to be a part of. She shot A Month of Sundays too. We hit the ground and five days later it feels like we surface into regular light and reality. And along the way we shoot. Well, she shoots the things I tell her too and she translates my obscure thoughts into gorgeous images, capturing the light and the quilts in a way I didn't imagine. In between we eat and drive and talk and fall into dreams.

Now she is home, celebrating her own book, Flight of the Griffons. The universe may explode from her creative powers. 

And I am home, here. Quietly being who I am.

                                                

Modern Quilt Perspectives (Almost Weekend Reads)

Well, you know I am a fan of quilt books that are more than a collection of patterns. So imagine my delight at one where the patterns, at first, feel like an afterthought! Then, after a careful read, they are not. Rather, they are part of an integral whole story. Not just of the specific quilt, but of the book.

Meta? Yes, I know I'm pushing it a little, but bear with me.

Modern Quilt Perspectives is a book about the practice of quilting more than the quilts. But in that discussion is the inherent story of a quilt. For every quilt has a story. Don't believe me? Wait for it, I will get to that.

This book tackles the many reasons and themes we make quilts. Conversations, Identity, Social Commentary, and the Quilting Tradition are all tackled. Through a brief discussion; the story of each quilt; running commentary of design, technique, and decision making in quilts; and the pattern itself. Thomas Knauer reveals so much of himself in the practice of making his quilts. Central to all of these discussions is that each quilt has a story.

Thomas introduces so much here. It is a structured bit of work for a guy who freely speaks his mind and isn't afraid of challenging norms. The book really is his, right down to his explanations of basic quilting tools. And the stories he tells of the quilts are emotional and vibrant. Not to mention inspiring.

When I first started the book I grumbled a little that patterns were included. The discussions Thomas presents are thoughtful, if not cerebral. They are a direct challenge for us to examine the way we think about quilts and our making of them. I believe every single quilter would benefit from taking the time to examine their making. So when I came to patterns for each quilt it frustrated me. If the goal is to get the reader to reflect on their own quilt stories, why would we be encouraged to simply recreate a quilt Thomas made? Then I read this:

"The pattern is only a map, a set of guideposts along the way to make a quilt. In many ways, a pattern is the quilt boiled down to its essentials, not just technically, but conceptually, and each remaking is an investigation of the ideas under consideration. I think of most of my patterns as a set of possibilities, the starting of a conversation about an issue, thought or world view. The specific materials you choose and the ways you might vary the pattern are responses and replies... I have come to really love the idea of quilt patterns, the idea of these quilts being made and remade in untold variations and the ways in which these quilts will become parts of people's lives."

It puts into a words a completely different perspective on patterns. It isn't about recreating the quilt on the cover or the page, it is about making that quilt yours and part of your story.

For sure, there are quilters who walk into a store and ask for the exact fabric on the pattern cover. Or they buy a kit. But you know what? That's their story. You don't know why they need it to be perfectly matched, they may not even know. But something in the fabric, in the pattern spoke to them and they want to join the conversation.

How many times have you been at a guild or retreat show and tell and someone stands up and just says, "I don't know why I chose these fabrics, I just liked them." Well, that's a story. Thomas, in Modern Quilt Perspectives, invites us to dig a little deeper into that story too. Why those fabrics? Why that pattern? What spoke to you? Find the story, even when you don't think it is there.

So, this book couldn't exist without the patterns because they are indeed part of the conversation. Twelve different tangents of a long, winding conversation. And who knows where they will go?

F&W, the publisher, is giving away a copy of this book to one of my readers. I was provided with a review copy for this post, part of Thomas' blog tour. Leave a comment here by midnight MST on Sunday, April 13. Tell me how often you work from patterns and kits.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Weekend Reads)

What a peculiarly fun book.

This was another beach read and what a perfect book is was. When it started I thought that I'd picked something a bit morose. And while it certainly has sadness and Nazi metaphors it is anything but morose. No, it is quite engaging and a fantastic bit of storytelling.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children straddles the wall of fantasy and reality, like the Harry Potter novels. It does this quite literally in the story, with the characters moving between present day and a loop of time where they exist in relative safety in all their weirdness. There is an invisible boy, a girl who constantly levitates, a teacher who understands them all, and a boy who is only discovering he is one of these peculiar kids.

The characters are built from a strange bit of photographs that the author, Ransom Riggs, curated. Searching through his own collected photos and those of other collectors he put together an assortment that inspired the story. Photos are included in the story, both illustrating it and becoming a part of it. They are creepy and surreal photos, to be honest. And instead of staring at them and wondering what they hell is going on in the photo, Riggs does that for you in the story.

It isn't just the characters, however, that make this book. It is well paced, with little hills and valleys that take you along on an adventure. There is a mystery to unravel and family dynamics to be explored.

I think, technically, the novel gets categorized as Young Adult/Teen. Get past that, or read it with a teen in your life. This is the kind of read that gets you antsy and excited, while also making you want to put the book down as if you were watching a scary movie. But you can't and you won't because it is also such a compelling story.

As a bonus, the sequel is already out.