"Spare Parts"

"Spare Parts"  87" x 87"

I finished this quilt top recently.  It's all made from "orphan" blocks,

(meaning parts that didn't make it into other quilts.) 

It was on my design wall for three solid months, finding it's way to completion.

It all started out as an attempt to use all my orphan blocks that fit into 

 this color range.  

The baskets are from Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran's book,

Collaborate Again.

They seemed to need a border, so I pulled out some sawtooth strips from

a block exchange I participated in years ago.  

What next?  I had some words I'd made from Tonya Ricucci's book,

Word Play Quilts.  

"Moderation" fit the color scheme, but I saved it for another day.  

Besides, the word "moderation" in this mess seemed a little TOO ironic!

I loved those green and white fans all lined up, and the Freddy chickens. 

But something wasn't right.

The fans are extras from my "Eyelashes" quilt. 

So I took them out, and added more spools and simple log cabin blocks.

You can find the spools and basket quilts here.

Better, but...

Still, something was not quite right.

At least I found a home for some of the fans.

I realized it needed a little calming down, so I added solid red.

I had lots of string pieced leaves, cut out years ago, 

and some extra basket handles for the vines.

A couple of weekend road trips, and the leaves were appliqued on.

Now, if I just made it a little bigger, it would fit nicely on a queen size bed.

Ah-hah!  I had lots of leftover blocks from the

"Organized Chaos" quilt.

Ta da!

And I still have plenty of spare parts leftover for a rainy day.

Good thing.  We're having lots of rainy days around here.  

"Housetop" is Finished!

"Housetop," 60" x 60"

I finished hand-quilting this just in time for picnic season!

The top was made in a class with Gwen Marston back in February.

It's called "Housetop" because its inspiration came from the  

Gee's Bend quilt designs that go by the same name.

I quilted it with Barb's big fan stencil and #12 perle cotton.

It includes an old linen napkin and a scrap of polka dots from a friend in New York.

A lovely floral dress,

An old skirt,

An apron from the 60's or 70's,

And two tablecloths from the same era. 

Both were round and had 4" white fringe.  

Remember those out on the patio table?  

This wonderful Jane Sassaman print was perfect for the back. 

I made a wide back to front binding, like the Gee's Bend gals do.

(If anyone wants a tutorial on this, let me know.)

And it's already been launched with the first picnic of summer!

Happy summer--or winter--to you!

New Gwen Marston Online Classes!

"Red Square VI" by Gwen Marston, 2008

I was asked to review Gwen Marston's new "Abstract Quilts in Solids" class on iquilt.com. 

It's great!  

By Gwen Marston

This is one of two classes taught by Gwen on iquilt.com.  The other one is "Liberated Quiltmaking."

As many of you know, Gwen will retire from teaching next year.  

But we can take these classes forever!

So, if you've always wanted to take a class from Gwen and you've never had the opportunity, here it is!  

Click here to sign up!

Here is my review of the "Abstract Quilts in Solids" class.

Wonderful! It's almost like Gwen is working with you personally in your own sewing room. In her characteristic warm, clear and sometimes humorous style, Gwen shows you many of her tricks to making lively and beautiful improvisational quilts. Beginners and advanced quilt makers will learn how to make their quilts more artistic, exciting and playful with "little experiments" that Gwen shows you how to do. She demonstrates how to "liberate" traditional blocks, add odd angles, and create curves with ease. She also talks about choosing colors and designing as you go. Excellent class! Thank you!

 Here's an abstract quilt in solids that I made in 2011,
totally inspired by Gwen and her methods.

"Ode to Anna Williams" by LeeAnn Decker, 2011

Three Days with Gwen

"Housetop"  59" x 59"

I've just returned from a lovely three-day retreat on medallion quilts with Gwen Marston. 

While preparing for the retreat, I thought I'd take all my spare blocks 

and work them around this Gee's Bend inspired log cabin.

It might have worked, but I decided to expand on the original design instead.

One old dress, two tablecloths, an apron and a friend's scrap later, 

it began to take shape.  

The corners are one log cabin block that I quartered--

one of Gwen's many brilliant suggestions.

The retreat was in beautiful Port Gamble, Washington, 

offered by the Quilted Strait quit shop.  

This sewing room was right across the street from the quilt shop.

This is the view from my sewing table.  

It's a miracle anyone got anything done!

Some of us ate lunch outside and enjoyed the quiet surroundings.

I caught the sunset on the ferry ride home.

A perfect weekend!

A windy photo shoot.  Good thing Mr. Nifty can perform Photo Shop magic!

Gwen Marston Workshop

I got to take another workshop from my favorite teacher, Gwen Marston!

I've taken several workshops with Gwen, and I've learned something new each time.

Her message is always this, "Make YOUR OWN quilts."

When she pulled out this quilt, I was thrilled!

I saw it in one of her books years ago, and decided it's my favorite she's made.

She explained how she got the idea from an old quilt.  

Look at that quilting! All by hand, of course. 

The label shows she was making abstract quilts over 20 years ago.

Here are some students' work, all made in the two day workshop.

This one is mine.  It's the start of a background for a folk art appliqué.

I used Sujata's technique for making the broken dishes blocks.

The light ones are 2".  I've never worked so small.  

Crazy?  Maybe, but each one is so dang cute!

I feel very fortunate and grateful for the opportunities to be around Gwen Marston.  

She, more than anyone, has shaped my ideas about quilt-making.

Carnival at Night Fini!

Carnival at Night, 75" x 75"

This quilt began in a class with Freddy Moran over a year ago.

It all started with my large print fabrics that had black backgrounds.  

I wanted them to mush together with sparks of color.

Eventually, it needed a little lightening up, 

so I added a few prints that didn't have black in them.  

It was fun to finally use those little comical faces.

Besides picking the fabrics for this quilt, 

the most fun I had was doodling around the dots!

The Lone Star pattern comes from Freddy and Gwen Collaborate Again, 

by Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran.