Beth/Lyric Project--Week 4 (Shape: Active vs. Stationary)

As a reminder to those of you that don’t normally keep up with my blog (if you do, skip to the next paragraph), I have started a project that I’m calling the Beth/Lyric Project. In the spirit of the movie “Julie/Julia,” (i.e. Julie working through Julia Child’s cookbook) I have decided to work through the exercises in Lyric Kinard’s “Art + Quilt, Design Principles and Creativity Exercises” book. My goal is to get at least one of the exercises done each week. I’ll be posting my progress on Sundays. I’d love for you to work along with me. If you decide to do that, please post and let me know how you’re doing—send pictures too! If you have trouble leaving a comment on my blog, email me at bschnellenberger@gmail.com.

This is the fourth exercise in the Beth/Lyric Project. The topic is “Shape: Active vs Stationary.” For this exercise I was instructed to cut several shapes from a dark, solid fabric and arrange them on a base to create a very active composition. Next, I was instructed to use the same instructions to create a still and calm composition. This is my “active” piece.

Some of the things that help portray movement are the repetition of the curved shapes and the quilting lines. I think they help to “pull” your eye around the piece.

This is my “stationary” piece.

It feels “stationary” to me because the triangles, even though they are repeated, are positioned equal distance apart and the orientation for all the triangles is the same. The quilting lines seem to be “holding” them down.

Before this exercise, I really hadn't given much thought to active vs. stationary objects. This really made me think about what was needed to portray each state.

Next week's exercises is on "Line Weight" and "Line as Texture." I have already started work on these. I'm heading up to Bloomington, Indiana, to the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show (see my sidebar), and I wasn't sure if I'd get done on time since I'd be up there.

Come on...it's not too late to join me in doing these projects. Just "jump" in. Also, if you are in the area, come on over to the quilt show. You'll enjoy it.

Pic of My Little Lori Smith Quilt from Retreat

....just so you don't think I didn't do any sewing at the retreat last weekend...I took a picture of the little Lori Smith quilt top I made.

It is the Kansas Troubles design. (I think.) It is one of the quilts in her series of Fat Quarter Quilts. I'm hoping to get it quilted soon. I also sewed the first step in our guild mystery quilt; I didn't figure there was any need to take a picture of a bunch of half-square triangles.

I also finished my two pieces for my Beth/Lyric exercise that will be posted this Sunday. The topic for Sunday's pieces is Active vs. Stationary. One piece shows movement, and the other piece shows stationary objects (or at least I hope they each portray what they are supposed to). Check back on Sunday to see what you think.

Quilt Extravaganza at "The New Gallery" in Evansville

This is the first picture I took when I attended the "Quilt Extravaganza" exhibit at The New Gallery at U of E in Evansville, IN. Information about the exhibit is on my "Local Events" sidebar. Six quilt artists have items on display ranging from silk dyed fabric to art quilts to dolls. It is well worth the trip to see this exhibit. I have just a few of the items shown here. Hopefully, it is enough to entice you to check out the exhibit for yourself. This quilt was made by Dawn Murtaugh and is titled "Dawning."

The next three pictures are of work done by Terry Mominee. The first two are quilted, hand-painted fabric. The third piece is made from pieced dye magnets.

"Novia Minuta Magnetica"

"Nova Supra Magnetica"

"Residual Geology"

Julia Sermersheim's pieces include quilts and fabric dolls.

"Unspecified Squares" is the top quilt, and the bottom three pieces are called "Spiders."

She has "Standing Dolls"...

and "Sitting Dolls."

The bottom quilt, made by Dawn Murtaugh, is titled "Swirling Sunrise." The top fiber piece was made by Lisa Condi and is titled "Progress."

This is Karen Hampton's whole cloth Shibori, snow-dyed silk and is titled "Symmetry."

Dena Baurer's piece is called "Wall Climber."

More Pics from the Patoka Valley Quilt Guild Spring Mill Retreat

Here are some more pictures from the retreat the guild had this past weekend at Spring Mill. There were many different kinds of quilts.
There were "modern" quilts...

"traditional" quilts...

quilts for teachers...

quilts for babies...

...and quilts that reminded us that spring might be just around the corner.

A Few Pics from the Patoka Valley Quilt Guild Winter Retreat

Here are a few more pictures of projects from the Patoka Valley Quilt Guild Winter Retreat at the inn at Spring Mill State Park. I'll post more tomorrow.

This is a picture of the left side of the room. The room is huge with a great view of the outdoors. We each had a table to ourselves. There also was room for a separate ironing station and for basting full-sized quilts.This is the right side of the room. Twenty-four quilters attended our weekend retreat.We worked on all kinds of projects...from lap-sized quilt tops...

to purses...

to basting and quilting full-sized quilts.

Check back to see more pictures.

.

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge--First Pictures of the Patoka Valley Quilt Guild Spring Mill Retreat

The Winter Retreat of the Patoka Valley Quilt Guild was held February 19, 20, 21, at the Spring Mill State Park Inn in Mitchell, IN. This year, members participated in a charity project during the retreat called the "APQ-1 Million Pillowcase Challenge." APQ has challenged all quilters, sewers, and crafters to join American Patchwork & Quilting to "Make a Pillowcase, Make a Difference. Every pillowcase can make a difference in your community. A pillowcase can provide comfort for a cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing home resident." Retreat participants completed 35 pillowcases during the retreat. Guild members that did not attend the retreat will be bringing their completed pillowcases to the guild meeting on March 2. Join the cause and report the number of pillowcases donated at http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/index.html.

Everyone was busy making pillowcases. Here are a couple of pictures of a few of them.
I'll be posting more pictures of individual projects from the retreat in the next few days. Stay tuned.

Beth/Lyric Project--Week 3 (Shape and Meaning)

As a reminder to those of you that don’t normally keep up with my blog (if you do, skip to the next paragraph), I have started a project that I’m calling the Beth/Lyric Project. In the spirit of the movie “Julie/Julia,” (i.e. Julie working through Julia Child’s cookbook) I have decided to work through the exercises in Lyric Kinard’s “Art + Quilt, Design Principles and Creativity Exercises” book. My goal is to get at least one of the exercises done each week. I’ll be posting my progress on Sundays. I’d love for you to work along with me. If you decide to do that, please post and let me know how you’re doing—send pictures too! If you have trouble leaving a comment on my blog, email me at bschnellenberger@gmail.com.

First, let me say that I realize that every exercise will not (and has not) produced “keeper” pieces. I take this “project” for what it is…a learning experience. I can honestly say that I have learned a lot from each piece regardless of the success/failure of the piece itself. I know I will be using what I have learned through doing these exercises in my more “serious” art pieces.

This exercise of the Beth/Lyric Project deals with “Shape and Meaning.” I drew a few simple, familiar shapes as instructed. I ended up drawing a piece of watermelon. (I had just visited my Mom, in the nursing home, and they were eating chunks of watermelon. I guess that was on my mind.) The next instruction was to cut out the shapes and arrange them into a pleasing composition and trace them. Then we were to bend, stretch and change the shapes a bit and create an abstract composition based on the tracings.

I used several solid fabrics as instructed and made this composition. I machine quilted the piece emphasizing the shape of the “watermelon” chunk and the “seeds.” I added the gradated orange rectangle to break the background into separate areas with the intent of lending interest and creating better positive/negative integration. (I’ve been reading up on design…can you tell?) I would like to have done another composition using the same shapes but different colors. Time just didn’t permit!
We were to ask ourselves—“Can you create a composition where the shape of the background has equal importance to the foreground? Well, I wasn’t sure, but I gave it a shot. It was suggested that we gather inspiration from the things around us. "Find a picture of a landscape in a book or magazine” and trace the major shapes concentrating on those shapes and their placement. I used that suggestion; this first composition is from the actual tracing. The second composition uses the same shapes, but spreads them out a bit. The topic of next week’s exercise is “Shape: Active vs Stationary.” Stay tuned for the Sunday posting of the next Beth/Lyric Project exercise. Come on…work with me…you have a whole week to get this done!

The Winning "Visual Texture" Composition is Chosen

As a reminder to those of you that don’t normally keep up with my blog (if you do, skip to the next paragraph), I have started a project that I’m calling the Beth/Lyric Project. In the spirit of the movie “Julie/Julia,” (i.e. Julie working through Julia Child’s cookbook) I have decided to work through the exercises in Lyric Kinard’s “Art + Quilt, Design Principles and Creativity Exercises” book. My goal is to get at least one of the exercises done each week. I’ll be posting my progress on Sundays. I’d love for you to work along with me. If you decide to do that, please post and let me know how you’re doing—send pictures too! If you have trouble leaving a comment on my blog, email me at bschnellenberger@gmail.com.

The composition that received the most votes in the "Visual Texture" exercise was Composition 1. The rest of the votes were pretty evenly distributed, but "poor" Composition 2 was the big loser! I loved reading the comments both in the comment section and via direct email. I learn something from every single comment; keep them coming! In case you haven't been following along and wonder what in the world I'm talking about, check out this blog post--http://quilterbeth.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-quilt-bethlyric-project.html.

Here is Composition 1 in case you forgot what it looked like. I'll be heading to a LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists) meeting tomorrow, and then it is on to our guild retreat at Spring Mill afterwards. I'm hoping to get lots of piecing done during the retreat. I am in the process of packing several small Lori Smith projects, one of my Beth/Lyric Project pieces, and some pieces for a table topper I'm working on for my daughter. I'll throw in some handwork just in case I get tired of machine stitching. I'll try to get some pictures taken at the retreat and have them posted soon after I return home.

Be sure to visit again on Sunday to check out the new post for the Beth/Lyric Project and to see some retreat pictures (if I have time to get them up).

Have a creative week!

Helen's Table Topper

This is a picture of the table topper I finished quilting and binding this past week. I made it for my step-mother. I wanted to make her a spring table topper and drew this up with her in mind. She is also getting the “matching” table runner. I finally used the Clover Quick Yo-Yo Maker I bought. Actually, I bought every size yoyo maker. (They were gadgets I just “had” to have!) I have found I REALLY like making yoyos now. I’m trying to think of ways to incorporate them into more contemporary quilts.

Here is a closeup of the quilting. I am hoping the quilting makes it look a little more like each quarter-block is a flower petal. Here is the "matching" table runner.
It has been snowing all day--beautiful, beautiful snow. I hadn't really planned on having this day to work around the house. (I had originally planned on going to a quilt exhibit at the University of Evansville.) Anyway, I got some things done that really needed to be done...I put together two 10-drawer units for my "studio," I put together a chair to take to the upcoming guild quilting retreat, I finished quilting my next Beth/Lyric Project exercise, and I shoveled 7-inch deep snow out of the driveway. I'm heading down to the "studio" to get some things together to take to the retreat. There is just SO much to choose from...

Beth/Lyric Project--Actual Texture Exercise

This is the second entry of my Beth/Lyric Project exercises. (I am working through the exercises in Lyric Kinard's book, "Art + Quilt," in the style of Julie/Julia.) See Entry 1 here. http://quilterbeth.blogspot.com/2010/02/decisions-decisions.html

The first of the exercises (Visual Texture) is here http://quilterbeth.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-quilt-bethlyric-project.html

I'd love for you to do the exercises with me. Let me know if you decide to jump in! I really appreciate comments. Please let me know what you think.

For this exercise, neutral fabrics were to be used to create actual texture. Embellishments could be added if desired. I found using only neutrals to be a challenge; I kept wanting to use something colorful. In the end, I really like each of the pieces. I tried to use as many different textures as I could in one piece. Since the pieces are only 8" X 10", that meant that there wasn't a lot of space. I enjoyed the hand stitching I did on each of the pieces.

This is Composition 1. I used upholstery fabric samples for the background and added two squares (the top of a smooth cotton; the bottom of a soft, woven fabric). The top circle is made of rubber shelf liner. (I had to keep reminding myself not to iron it!) More upholstery fabric is used for the rectangles. I used ravelled pieces of linen to embellish two of the rectangles. That's a yoyo in the middle sitting on ravelled linen piece.Composition 2 is based on a vase shape. The vertical line is the rubber material. The diagonal torn strip is smooth cotton. Various upholstery fabric samples and batting have been used for the background. I made yoyos and used 6 strands of embroidery thread to make french knots and decorative stitches to hold each of them down. I hand stitched the top left fabric with 6 strands of embroidery thread. Linen thread was used to stitch the middle yoyo.

Composition 3 took the longest. Again, I used different upholstery fabric samples. I added a portion of a straw hat. I used the rubber shelf liner again in the bottom right corner. I added a torn strip held down with linen thread french knots to the hat "fabric." The bottom left lightest fabric is a washed Clorox disinfecting wipe. You can't really tell in the picture, but it has little hexagons all over it. I added french knots to a portion of that fabric using linen thread. The hole in this piece was already in the upholstery sample; I stitched around it using 6 strands of embroidery floss. I machine quilted the top right fabric and added hand stitching to the top left.

Since I come from a traditional quilting background, I have seldom used fabrics other than smooth cottons in my pieces. I found myself really enjoying the feel of these various textures. I also liked "pushing" myself to come up with ways to add texture through embellishments. I think the multiple textures (and the play of light off these textures) make the pieces much more interesting.

The next exercise is on "Shape and Meaning" and begins on Page 32 of "Art + Quilt." Come join me! I'm shooting for having the exercise finished and posted next Sunday, but I'll be gone most of the week, so it might be a bit later. Stay tuned...

Quilting Studio/Sewing Room Update—Finally

Okay, I’ve decided that maybe I had better not use the term quilting “studio.” I’ve decided there might be too much pressure to actually produce some “real” art if I call it a “studio.” ...and how scary is that? I think I’m going back to calling it a quilting room. Maybe I need a name for it…like the Quilting Den or the Lion’s Den (since I’m a Leo). I’m sure there are better names out there. Help me out. Submit some great names for my sewing room (notice I said “sewing room”). If you have trouble submitting a name in the “Comment” section, drop me an email at bschnellenberger@gmail.com. I’d really LOVE to hear from you.

As for the Beth/Lyric Project (a project I'm doing with the book "Art + Quilt" by Lyric Kinard)...(see http://quilterbeth.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-quilt-bethlyric-project.html), so far...Composition 1 has one more "vote" than the rest. I'd love it if you would weigh in. Leave a comment (or email me at bschnellenberger@gmail.com) and let me know which composition you like best. If you are doing the project with me, be gathering your neutral materials for Exercise 2. I'm working on mine today. I'm hoping I can get it finished in time to post on Sunday.

Now...on to the "quilting room"....The furniture has finally been moved down. YEAH!!!!!!! (I hired a young football player and two of his cousins to do the heavy lifting after my husband strained his back helping my son-in-law move the cabinet for the “coffee area” downstairs.) Keep in mind that I don't have anything on the walls yet. I think I need to "live" in the space a little before I decide what "feels" right.

Below is a picture of my “coffee area.” I have my Keurig coffee pot ready and the cabinets above it stocked with five different kinds of coffees and countless mugs. The counter top itself can be used for work space. Notice I have some of my thread stored in the large glass container. It is pretty and I can see the threads. The problem comes when the thread I want out of the container is one of those on the bottom! I also have stored some quilt tops above the cabinets.
This is a picture of my actual working space. My sewing machine (in its Horn cabinet) is on the left. My ironing station is under the window. (See the next picture for a closer look.) In the corner, you can see my small TV on a “microwave” cart that I'm using to store UFOs. To the right of that are the cabinets that hold my fabric. I’m busy refolding all my fabric so that it is easy to see and looks nice on the shelves. (We’ll see how long that lasts!) Once I get that done, I’ll take a picture of it. I want to document (probably) the one and only time it looks really nice. In front, with the stool, you can see my cutting/work table. My dad made this for me. It can easily be taken down as the top just “sits” on the hinged “legs.” (I leave it up all the time.)

I have a Big Board on top of a Container Store “table” that I put together. I have metal grids on either end where I use “S” hooks to hang various quilting items. You can see I have hung some rulers and such on the front using shower curtain hooks.
This area is to the left of my “coffee area.” The shelves hold clear shoe boxes that contain scraps separated by color and strips separated by width. I know this is silly, but I LOVE my wastebasket. It is a Simple Human wastebasket purchased from Target. On the right is my dehumidifier (since this is a basement). The little colored shelves in the middle hold things like small tools, stamps, charm packs, and other “necessities.”
This is a picture of what you would see if you were sitting in one of my “sitting area” chairs. I put a magazine rack under the big TV, used my “coffee table” to display a quilt and quilt art book, and put a glass jar on the floor to the right of the TV to store buttons.
I have to tell you, I am thrilled to have this sewing space. I can’t wait to get down there every day.

"Art + Quilt"--Beth/Lyric Project

FYI--JoAnn has the Tutto luggage for transporting your sewing machine on sale right now. Check it out on line at http://www.joann.com/ if you are interested in the luggage. Also, be sure to pick up an accessory/serger bag. You will love it. Check out my review at http://quilterbeth.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-review-tutto-luggage-for.html.

As a reminder to those of you that don’t normally keep up with my blog (if you do, skip to the next paragraph), I have started a project that I’m calling the Beth/Lyric Project. In the spirit of the movie “Julie/Julia,” (i.e. Julie working through Julia Child’s cookbook) I have decided to work through the exercises in Lyric Kinard’s “Art + Quilt, Design Principles and Creativity Exercises” book. My goal is to get at least one of the exercises done each week. I’ll be posting my progress on Sundays. I’d love for you to work along with me. If you decide to do that, please post and let me know how you’re doing—send pictures too! If you have trouble leaving a comment on my blog, email me at bschnellenberger@gmail.com.

I have completed my first exercise in the “Art + Quilt” book by Lyric Kinard. If you want to do this project with me, this is the Visual Texture Exercise in the “Art + Quilt” book. I needed something that would “push” me to think and work out of my “comfort zone.” I’m thinking the exercises in this book will definitely do that. I already found the first exercise to be challenging.

I took five fabrics (as instructed in the book) to my local Staples and made two black and white copies of each of the fabrics. I got a lot of strange stares from people there, and one woman actually came over and said, “What in the world are you doing?” Anyway…after that, I went home and cut shapes from the paper copies. Then, I made four 8” X 10” “compositions” and answered the questions from the book. I then put the compositions in the quilting journal I’m using for this project. These are the compositions.

Composition 1


Composition 2Composition 3Composition 4

Which of the compositions do you find most interesting? Please leave a comment and let me know. If you have trouble leaving a comment (as some people do), drop me an email at bschnellenberger@gmail.com. I’d really enjoy hearing your feedback.

The questions from the book are in bold print. My answers (at least the way I look at things) follow each question. Everyone sees things differently; there is no “right” answer. The exercises are just to make us think about texture.

What happens if you exchange a large print for a small-scale pattern?
The large print draws your eye and dominates the design.

How would the composition change with a patterned background?
Some of the designs would “get lost” in the background. The simpler designs might look more complex.

From a distance, how do the patterns read and affect each other?
The darker prints read like solids, and the design elements in the light prints “pop” out.

Which is the dominant texture and how could you make a different texture dominant?
My eye is drawn to the dark print. Adding a dark embellishment around some of the lighter fabrics might make them more dominant. I found myself wanting to add some stitching to the designs. The dominant texture varies depending on what each of the fabrics is used with. In Composition 4, I find my eye drawn by the light striped fabric and the zebra print.

I’m going to try to post the exercises every Sunday if you would like to check back. (We’ll see how that goes.) Please let me know how you are doing.

Tri-Star Table Runner Class

We all woke up to snow this morning. There was a question as to whether we could have the class because of the road conditions; but the class participants were troopers...we had the class!

The class was designed to show the participants how to use the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers. Everyone got their twelve-inch star blocks completed, most got their six-inch star blocks completed, some finished the main portion of their table runner, and some completed the entire table runner (including borders). We sure had a lot of fun. Here are some pictures...

My completed sample is the blue table runner. The large and small blue stars are my samples, as are the partial pieces of the blocks. The rest of the blocks are from the class participants. We had a wide variety of lovely fabrics.

This is Mary Lou with her completed table runner.This is Marty with her completed center. This is Joyce with her completed table runner.

This is Geri with her table runner. She's ready to put her outer border on. This is Darlene (on the left) with her completed table runner (although, she has said she may make a large bolster pillow out of hers) and Sharon with her first two borders strips added.