Fabricworm

Just a quick post to share an awesome fabric store that has a ton of modern options. They are in Paso Robles and I would love to take a field trip down there one of these days to check them out in person...anyone want to join me? (and then possibly drive just a half-hour more to pick up a tri-tip sandwich or two from Firestone Grill in SLO.) In the mean time, it looks like much if not all of their fabrics are available online. Check them out.

September: "making it up as you go" quilt

Just a quick reminder in case any of you are panicking...even though we were able to get addresses firmed up and Maryanne sent all the supplies out a little ahead of time our first quilt blocks are officially for the month of September. So don't panic, you have until September 30th to get them sewn and mailed back to Maryanne. I am sure she would love to get them back before that. :) Happy sewing everyone.

p.s. for those of you who I know have been working on your blocks (and may have already finished them) please be sure to post a picture to the blog before you stick it/them in the mail back to Maryanne.

Your first challenge: The Making it up as you go quilt!

For our first quilt I've chosen one of the quilts from Block Party- the Confetti Quilt. At least that's what you'll want to look up if you want to see it in the book. I've renamed it the "Making it up as you go" quilt, because that's what I found myself doing as I worked on the sample blocks.

The idea of the Confetti Quilt is this- you take squares of fabric (varying in size), frame each one in a background fabric, and then put all of the little "windows" (as my daughter dubbed them this morning) together like a puzzle, adding in strips of background fabric where needed, to make an approximately 13x13 inch square. (I will be photocopying and sending the instructions out with the fabric, so if this doesn't make sense, don't panic. Just go with the directions that were clear enough to print in a book. :) ) The end result is supposed to resemble confetti that's landed on the background.




The reason I've named it the "Making it up" quilt, is because while you could plan it all out (and you're welcome to), I kept finding myself having to improvise and go in different directions than I'd planned. So go with that, if you find yourself in the same situation. And while I don't usually love wonkiness (at least in quilts), this quilt lends itself to it quite well, so go ahead and embrace that too.

Without any further rambling, here are my fabric selections:


and two sample blocks:



Feel free to make your squares as big, little, varied, as you want. Use as many or as few of the fabrics as you want- I'm really looking for variety in the finished blocks, so just go to town. :)

I'll be sending everyone a fat quarter of the background material (Kona cotton in Snow) and one 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 square of each of the other fabrics. That's enough fabric to make 1 or 2 squares, depending on how big your confetti pieces are (if they're bigger then you use less of the background material, so you could plausibly make 2.) If you're in the position to make 2 and want to, go for it. If not, just send me back the unused fabric. The finished squares should be approximately 13x13 (using this technique you can get a little stuck and not be quite at 13x13), not smaller than 12.75x12.75. I'll be putting sashing in between them, so I can work around different sizes. I'll just make it up, right? :)

As soon as I have everyone's addresses I'll be mailing things out, so keep an eye on your mailbox! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Hi, I'm Jennie and I'm a wanna be quilter

I feel really out of my element after reading over everyone's introduction posts. I feel like I must admit that I have only made three quilts: the first when I was 16. It has purple-ish calico cows appliqued all over it. It permanently resides in my parents' house with all my other embarrassing forays into the world of crafting; the next was a white on white wedding quilt for my older sister (I used to be afraid of color); the third was a wedding quilt for my younger sister using a set pattern, white space and rich colors. I liked the way this quilt turned out. I then began having children and haven't quilted since.

I still owe my brother and my other sister a wedding quilt. As well as myself.

I am thrilled to participate in this modern quilting bee. Making a few quilt blocks each month seems actually plausible in my currently busy life with three little kids. I paint, sew, make mosaics, dabble in woodworking and dream of doing everything else as well. I thought I was fairly well-versed in the world of crafting until I met Heidi. She put me to shame. And inspired me. I also feel inspired reading about all of your quilting experiences. I feel like my time to do some excellent quilting has finally arrived.

Terry..... I love, love, love to Quilt!

Hi, my name is Terry! I am so excited to join this group! My husband and I moved to Santa Clara from Longmont, CO about 4 months ago. I am still struggling with finding my place and 'my people'! I had a great quilting group in Colorado and really miss my groupies.

I have been quilting since 2000, when I went to a big Quilt Show and was inspired, overwhelmed, and I knew I had to make some quilts. I started right away by taking as many classes as I could! For me, that was the way I learned to be precise, learned the rotary cutting techniques and started machine quilting. My Mother always quilted as far back as I can remember--only she did it the old fashioned way, piecing and quilting by hand. I did a few projects when I was much younger but it was way to slow for me. I pretty much need some instant gratification!

Many years later I found that I could actually piece on my machine and quilt on my machine. Those two things changed my life. During the last 11 years I have sewn lots and lots of quilts. Some of my family members have been known to say 'enough already with the quilts' (they don't get anymore quilts!) I love cutting the fabric into little pieces and then sewing them all back together! It is a form of therapy for me! Before I moved I had over 100 quilting books! Sorry to say I had to get rid of most of them.... I love Batiks, Reproductions, Brights especially Amy Butler and Kaffe Fassett. I have made many traditional patterns as well as modern patterns. I love the results and can't part with some of my finished quilts for many months or sometimes even years. My love for quilting has really grown over the years because of the other quilters that I'vemet and been inspired by, through classes and groups. Quilting groups really are the best way to enhance your love of quilting and find friends that share your love and passion!

I can't wait to get started and love hearing about all of you! Hopefully, we can all meet in the near future!

when you are the host of the month...

When you are the host for the month your goal should be to send off your supplies so everyone can receive them and be ready to begin working on their blocks on the 1st of the month.

About the time you stick your fabric in the mail it would be great if you could post the following info and images to the blog:

- an image of the fabrics you have selected

- limitations on group members usage of additional or alternate fabrics (i.e. using something from their own stash to augment the fabrics you send)

- a sample (or samples) of the "block" you would like everyone to make

- how many blocks you expect from each person

- what the finished block size should be

For the quilters:

The finished blocks are then put back in the mail (being sent to the host) no later than the last day of the month.

Aynsley...

Hello ladies I'm Aynsley Parker soon to be Campbell I grew up in Venice Beach with spending more time at the Anderson's house then my own. Right now I live in Huntington Beach, I work two jobs...one pays the bills and one gets me experience in the field so I can have a field job that pays the bills, and I'm getting married in Nov on a very strict budget which means very DIY. So needless to say I am a very busy girl. When Heidi emailed me and asked if I would join this I jumped at it. I love being busy, and having things/projects to do all the time. But most of all about this is the idea to get outside myself, creating something else for someone else. Someone I Love or someone I've never met. I do have a confession to make I have two blogs and I would love to say setting goals to write on those has worked...it hasn't...I have sat down to write this three times maybe four which I hope will not be the norm for me, but I'm planning a wedding so for the next 3months don't hate me if I suck at blogging I promise I wont suck at quilting...

The back of my iPad says "there are things I don't know how to do, but nothing I can't do" I said it during a conversation I was having at church when someone said they loved my skirt to which I replied " THANKS!!! I made it!" I was so proud to which she said "is there anything you can't do?"......Ever since I can remember people have been calling me a "Martha". I was one of those kids who was raised by the village and in that I learned how to do most everything from those around me. My mom was an art major and my dad was a machine shop owner and my first paid job was for a shirt maker. I learned very early on that I loved to learn new things. Even now I have a thirst for the things that I don't know to do, last week I bought a Letterpress machine to make my own wedding invitations. So unlike Amy I didn't fight it I welcomed it! Heidi, Amy, and Betty didn't know it at the time but they created a monster crafter in this lady. Confession number #2 there is a crafting table in my bedroom and my roommates probably get annoyed at all my crafts in the living room. tee hee

Cheryse

well, Im Cheryse. I've lived here in Santa Curz, Ca since December 2010 and love the area. I moved from Spokane, WA with my husband, Jaron and then 6 month old daughter, Jayden for my husbands job in San Jose. I was working in Wa but decided to be a stay at home mom once we moved. We are now expecting our second on Sept 12. So I've been the uncomfortable pregnant mommy for the last few weeks but the end is in sight and Im getting excited. Life is already crazy with our active little girl and I know it will be even more once the next one comes but ready or not here it comes....so bring it on!

I wouldn't exactly call me an overly crafty person. Yes, I can do some things and attempt to do many things that are out of my range of talent but I usually lose interest and/or let it sit for a few years before attempting it again. When Heidi told me about this quilt group I was excited because I am pretty sure I could throw together a few pieces of material each month and with a two small children it wouldn't be too overwhelming to do. Plus I love the idea of a group quilt. Heidi has started showing me the correct way to sew (I've always just "made it work" getting an idea and doing whatever I could to get the outcome I was hoping for, not always getting... which is probably why I've let some projects sit for so long) Its great to learn from those who really know what there doing. Hopefully by being part of this group i'll learn even more.

Rebecca the Unwilling Quilter

Okay, Heidi didn't believe me when I told her I didn't have time to quilt. Neither did her sister, Amy. In fact, they signed me up before I even said yes! However, two Giant Dipper rides at the Boardwalk, and a corn dog later, I agreed. Rattled by the roller coaster and satisfied with deep fried goodness, I remembered that I really DO love quilts. I've even made one (with Heidi's help :0) but I just don't know how I'm going to find the time. However, persistent as they are, they convinced me that I'm quite capable of making one or two squares a month. Now I'm kind of excited about the whole idea! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's ideas and waking up from this creative coma I've been in. Right now, my life revolves around my school work (in a weak moment I decided to finish my degree online) and this is just the project to inspire me! Okay, back to protein synthesis. What was I thinking...

I am Amy

Hi, I'm Amy and I hate making quilts. But I love having quilts. I am easily distracted you see. (As I have been typing this sentence I got side tracked for a whole 3 minutes trying to remove a piece of lint from my computer keyboard. It's still there taunting me, hiding sneakily under the "w".) It's hard for me to commit myself to big projects. I get bored and want to move on to something newer and shinier. This only doing one block at a time thing really appeals to me and my ADD. I love the idea of having something new and different to get excited about every month!

I have been sewing since I was 6 (the same 9-patch project as Heidi). I was a mini perfectionist and I hated learning to sew. (Let's recap, on this quilting/sewing blog I have admitted to hating quilting and sewing. I'm about to redeem myself...) Everything changed when I was about 13--I made my first bag. The effort it took to refine my sewing skills was worth it because I found an end result that I loved. Since then, I have made a lot of bags--some more awesome than others. I would describe my style as vintage modern. I like old things but in simple and understated ways. I like color gradients, repetition and tonal patterns. I don't like purple. I'm not sure why. I just don't. This week I can't decide which is better, the vintage riding boots I just scored in a local shop or the shiny white high-top sneakers that are on their way to me via snail mail.

When I'm not doodling new bag designs or waiting by my mailbox for my new issue of Lucky magazine to arrive, I am probably daydreaming about extravagant holidays to far off destinations with my friends, stalking some pretty cotton summer dress on Anthropologie's website or cuddling on my couch with my dog Noe.

Nicki :)

Hello, I'm Nicki, and I'm scared! Haha, only joking. But honestly, I have never quilted before, so this will be a new experience for me, but fear not! I'm a quick learner and a very crafty lady. (also, Maryanne said she will help me :) ) I love to craft all sorts of different ways - paper craft, scrapbooking, sewing, I love to do it all. Our apartment is full of little things here and there that I've crafted (and even more have been given to friends and family.) I love to be creative and create, even if I'm not quite sure what I'm doing, or how to do it. Jump in with both feet, right?

I live in San Jose with my husband Jonathan, and we are currently expecting our first child, a baby girl! We are very excitedly awaiting her arrival, which is mid October.

Tara

Hi, My name is Tara. I live in Santa Clara, Ca with my husband and my five year old princess. I come from a long line of quilters on my mothers side. My grandmother created over 100 quilts in her lifetime (most of which were hand quilted). My mother and her only sister both run the quilt guild in their hometown. I created my first quilt block over seven years ago when I joined my first quilt guild. There is not a bed in our home that is not covered with a handmade quilt that has been stitched with love by the women in my life. The thing I love about quilting is the little bit of my soul that goes into every stitch. When I give away a quilt, I give away a little piece of myself that will hopefully bring comfort and warmth to the recipient. As to style, I like things clean and simple and usually linear (I am working on the whole outside the box thing). I look forward to getting to share in your lives through the beauty that you create!

Hi, I'm Maryanne

And I'm really excited about being a part of this quilting bee. Like Heidi, I have way too many hobbies, but I love quilting and have been looking for a way to be involved with a group of quilters.

I started quilting about 5 years ago, and am self and book taught. I like order in my quilts, but am slowly warming to "wonkiness". (Slowly.) I'm loving log cabin quilts right now, but I fall in love with and want to make almost every quilt I see. My current favorites are by Elizabeth Hartman, and my favorite fabrics are 1930's reproduction fabrics. (So pretty!) I collect quilting books, and wish there were more hours in the day and more fabric in my closet.

I live in Santa Clara with my husband, two daughters, and my aqua and teal Hello Kitty sewing machine.