Folk Art Fun

Today I'm sharing quilts that I have made using my original folk art patterns.  Free form folk art applique' is one of my greatest passions.

Defining Folk Art:
noun.
Art originating among the common people of a nation or region and usually reflecting their traditional culture, especially everyday or festive items produced or decorated by unschooled artists.

Here is one of my earliest folk art quilts.  I made this to celebrate Hanna's 6th Birthday.

In this one I used my grandmother's hanky.

Here are two that I designed in a Gwen Marston workshop in 2012.

 I really need to stitch these up.

I made all the patterns for Mothers Garden, finished in 2011.

Here is my version of Susan's pineapple design.  I'm not sure about that stem.

Thank goodness coco protected it for me.  What is it about laying on quilt pieces?

Finally, here are the two Alice Payne blocks that I'm working on.

 

I have decided to make a pattern for this quilt and will probably have it available in the Fall.

Have a great week!

Ready or Not

Here I come....

I've been busy the last couple of weeks getting ready for a lecture and workshop at my Guild in New Jersey, The Brownstone Quilters.  I'll be there this Thursday, April 9th, meeting time is 7pm.

I'm bringing 22 quits and 2 tops for my trunk show:  Quilting - the Story of My Life.  I'm doing a workshop on Saturday on EPP from my Hex Vex Quilt.  You can see the information here.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you about my schedule, just on the off chance you can (or want) to join me.

April 21st - 23rd - AQS QuiltWeek in Paducah, KY.  If you see me, say Hello!

May 17th - Teaching Hand Applique' at Sew Inspired Quilt Shop, in Simsbury, CT.  I'm team teaching with Susan and we are using her original folk art Pineapple quilt to teach basic hand applique'.  (class details will be on their website soon).

September 26th - I am visiting the North River Appliquers (NRA) in the Boston area to teach my workshop: Folk Art Applique' Your Way.

October 19th & 20th - I will be presenting my trunk show lecture for the Garden State Quilters, in NJ and a workshop on my Hex Vex Quilt.

October 28th - I am visiting the Pieced Together Quilters in NJ to present my trunk show.

November 6th & 7th -  I will be exhibiting quilts in the Brownstone Quilt Show.  It is one of the finest guild quilt shows in the area.  You can find all the information at their website here.

I've added a new item to my etsy shop.  It's my Fun Folk Art Patterns - 32 original designs from my folk art quilts.  **NOTE  many of the patterns in the photo are from Kaffee Fassett's book, Museum Quilts.

You can find more details on Etsy by clicking the photo on my side bar.

Well I'm sick of me - I hope that wasn't too much self promotion for one post.  I'm planning to get back to more everyday sewing and quilting and sharing inspiration soon.  I have 3 quilt tops that desperately need to be quilted~

Under the Starry Sky

Last Saturday Susan and I went to NYC to the Empire Quilt Show.  Here is what I bought:

Here is what I won (lucky me)!

Here is what I saw (my favorite at the show):

Congratulations Betsy, great modern twist on a traditional pattern!

Before going back to CT, we had a cocktail under the Starry Sky at Grand Central Station.

I've had a couple of inquiries about how I'm making my 4 inch Stars for the Stars in a Time Warp sew along. 

Judy sent me a smilebox video of how she makes her flying geese units for her stars.  You can see it by clicking here.

Angie did a great post on her method with a link to a flying geese tutorial.

I've decided to make little 4 inch stars.  I am making only 1 a week, so I'm doing it this way.   It is only taking me about 15 minutes a week (after I pick fabrics).

From the background I cut 4 pieces 1-1/2" x  2-1/2" and 4 squares 1-1/2".

For the stars I cut:  8 1-1/2" squares and 1 2-1/2" square.

I'm "eye balling" the short seam from corner to corner.  Of course you can mark it with a pencil.  If it varies a little on my stars all the better for me.

After pressing I can see if I'm a little off.  I trim that away.  Then I trim the back two layers (sorry forgot to photo).

Then I stitch the block together.

Here you can see where I've cut away the extra layers and how I press it.

I like using a hot DRY iron and starch.  The starch really helps keep these little blocks straight.   I also use the pressing stick.   You can see how to use it here.

I press the last 2 seams open to keep the block nice and flat.

and there you have it!

And here are my little stars so far.

Speaking of stars I'm listen to this book, Under the Wide and Starry Sky.  It is the story of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife.  I recommend it highly.

Well that's all the time have for stars today - See you next time!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

This week I finished my house quilt top - Domestic Bliss

This was a swap with Kelly, Susan and Robyn.  I first posted about it here.  What fun it was.  I am looking forward to quilting it soon.

I have a UFO from 2009 that I don't know what to do with.  Here is the post where it all started with the cupcake group.

Here is the Hat Box quilt:

Why am I not making this??  I have all the fabric in a tub and photos and still nadda, nuttin, zilch - for 6 years now!

I made these two blocks in 2009 and now I can't EVEN find them :(

I think I'm going to go through the fabric and shelve it and move on.....do you ever do this?

Speaking of moving on, I keep running across this in the sewing room.  It is my homemade stencil of the large baptist fan.  I think I can let go now that I have the real thing.

Thank you, Sheila for these super fun clothes pins.  Sparrows?  How fun are these?  Super Fun I think!  Thanks for thinking of me.

Saturday Susan and I are taking the train to NYC for the Empire Quilters Show.  Barbara Brackman is giving a lecture in the afternoon and I'm really looking forward to a quilty day in the Big Apple.

I guess that's it for now - Hope you are having a great week.

FFF - March - Supporting the Arts

Happy Friday!  Here's my Fun For Friday For March.

In Key West, FL I saw:

A painters stand on the beach

A street artist.  He made everything out of paper.  For $1.00 I got to see him turn the TV on and move his slice of paper pizza.

Chewbacca - just chillin' (ha ha in a fur costume) and having a drink from a sippy cup.

   

A fun bar where patrons sign dollar bills and tack them up.  How cool that no one takes them - hooray for fun people in Key West.  Nearly every bar has live music doing covers of Jimmy Buffet and Beach Boys :)

We visited Ernest's Home and the 6 toed Cats. Where I got this awesome pressed penny.  Is this art?  I think so.

Art I bought to take home:  A Christmas Ornament with real shells.

A sweet wren house I bought from the artist on the street.  I plan to hang this soon, maybe after the snow storm expected for today -

While missing coco on the cruise, I got this cute towel of a dog :)

My son, Andrew gave my husband (the coffee king) a Dunkin' gift card.  Can you believe his generosity!?!

Happy Spring - if you are lucky enough to be having one already!