A Must Have

Amazing quilt...I love the use of color here and how the colors almost obscure the block structure. This is one of the quilts in the most recent addition to my quilt book collection, Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown.

Lattice (crib quilt) ca. 1930 Haven, Kansas

I received Amish Abstractions from the publisher, Pomegranate Communications, in exchange for a review from a modern quilter’s perspective. Why would a modern quilter be interested in a book about Amish quilts? Could it be the quilts simplicity, dynamic use of color, superb craftsmanship, clean lines, and inventive uses of traditional blocks and patterns? I think so.
This book is a must have for any quilter looking to understand an important part of the history of quilting as well as those looking for inspiration for modern quilts. Amish Abstractions presents more than 75 quilts made in Amish communities in Pennsylvania and in the Midwest from the 1880’s to the 1940’s. While the quilts are spectacular on their own, the book, through essays written by noted quilt experts, also explores how Amish quilt making emerged and evolved within a deeply religious and highly structured community.

Double Wedding Ring ca. 1930 Ohio or Indiana

Though Amish quilts have a characteristic look, I was surprised to see the diversity and creativity that flourished within the confines of a community that values conformity over individualism. Joe Cunningham observed that quilt making could bring out “surprising eccentricity” and “a bold improvisational streak.” Those aren’t phrases that I would typically associate with Amish quilts, yet looking at the quilts in the book and reading about the community in which they were created allowed me to see the quilts with a fresh eye and better appreciate the artistry behind them.

Bars ca. 1910 Rebecca Zook, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

I especially enjoyed the third essay by Joe Cunningham, 'All in the Details: The Making of Amish Quilts'. Mr. Cunningham looks at the quilts in a unique way, comparing similar quilts in an attempt to reveal the “quirks and talents of their individual makers.” I felt in a small way that I was looking into the minds of these quilters, understanding their design choices and empathizing with their struggles.

I understand that the some of the quilts in the Brown’s collection are currently on exhibit in San Francisco until June. I would love to see these quilts in person and the book would be a perfect accompaniment to the exhibit. If you’re not close to the SF area, get the book anyway. You’ll learn, but more importantly, you’ll be inspired.

could it be?

...a change in habits...making a quilt from start to finish? i kept going on this quilt...made the back...basted it and even started the quilting.



...when i get home this weekend maybe i'll keep going on it through the finish. could i be turning over a new leaf?

push and flow

I don't have as much time to read blogs these days, (slow internet...arrrg), but finding posts like Cheryl's that make me think are the reason I do. Two words that came to mind for me (as an answer to her question) were push and flow and this weekend's quilting was a perfect example. Quilting challenges me, pushes my creative envelope. Flow comes when everything is clicking, ideas...construction. It's sort of like being in a groove.

This weekend I did a little individual scrap challenge. I pulled a bunch of random scraps from my orange/green/brown scrap baskets. I grabbed a handful from each. I told myself I had to make something from what I pulled. The colors were earthy and I started thinking about land and how farm fields look from the window of a plane. I grabbed some natural osnaburg (it has that nubby earthy feeling too) and started piecing.
Most farmers would probably cringe at my planting style, it's sort of abstract and random. Very me...well, not really. It's how I would like to be. I constantly fight that urge to make things even...line things up, make everything symmetrical. (I alphabetize my spice rack...and compulsive stuff like that.)

This piece gave me another opportunity to play with the concept of negative space. I'm sort of into that lately.
I have 7 blocks done so far. I think I'm liking how this is coming together. I'm just about out of the scraps I pulled. I may grab a few more handfuls.

Sometimes that 'push' thing gets a bit out of control. I got a little 'rotary cutter happy' this weekend. I felt a bit like the villain in a slasher movie. I took the rotary cutter to this top. I kept looking at it and the framed scraps were so static and boring. I was getting ready to baste it and then decided it could be something so much better. Now it's a stack of different sized pieces. I started playing with those too.
May have been a mistake, but isn't that what push is all about, taking a risk and possibly experiencing failure? It's only fabric, right?

'red hearts'

Sometimes I wonder why I let quilt tops hang in the closet for so long. I start to feel like I don't like them any longer, and then I finish them and they come to life.

I ripped out the quilting that I started with...it was a bad choice. I love how the scalloped quilting echoes the shape of the top of the hearts. It gives the quilt a vintage feel. It's not really modern, not really my aesthetic and I don't really like hearts, but for some reason I love this quilt. Go figure.

You can see the full quilt better here and its companion. Oh, and by the way, you can see how Em used my tutorial to make some more cute hearty things.

Have a Seat

Two years ago my mom gave me money for Christmas to get chairs for my dining room table. I've been looking ever since. The table is my great grandmother's, a family heirloom. It needed just the right chairs. I wanted them unique and me, but I wanted them to fit the 'feeling' of the table too. When I saw these I knew they were perfect.
They're galvanized metal with wonderful details. The metal gives them a modern feel, but they also look like they've always been with the table.

Comfy too.

Still quilting on the 'red hearts' quilt...I think I'm on the right track now.

Inspector #5

Do you make things for other people? Do you worry about them being perfect? I do. Though I love working freely without the encumbrances of other people's rules, I'm pretty strict with myself. If I didn't work on it every day I'd be paralyzed by perfection.

As I was packaging my neighborhood quilts to send to their new owners I noticed a flaw in one of the quilts. It was a roofing problem, shoddy construction, and definitely a lax general contractor. I would have been mortified if that quilt had arrived at its destination with a leaky roof. The future owner was gracious as could be, but I was still beside myself. My brain jumped to dark places about other quilts.

I think I've said this before that there is a fine line between wonky and wacked out. I want my quilts, if they are wonky to be that way purposefully. Does that make any sense at all? Cutting with scissors or without a ruler creates wavier seams, but they shouldn't fall apart.

I also know that part of the beauty of the handmade is its imperfection, the touch of the hand.

Where am I going with this?

I don't want to subject myself to the quilt police, maybe a kindly, inspector #5 is what i need?


On a happier note. The first meeting of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild took place on Saturday morning. These are my MQG peeps. 34 of us and growing. It's a good thing! If you'd like to see if there is a group in your city, go here. If not, why not start one.

One more thing for your Monday. Beth, my friend at Modern Jax is auctioning some gorgeous quilts and tree skirts to benefit Haiti. The need in Haiti will be long term. My hope is that this disaster may be the catalyst to development and stability for the people of Haiti. With the help of my blog friends, I donated $1,100 to the American Red Cross today. I know it's just a drop in the bucket, but a bunch of drops adds up to a flood of help.

I forgot to say, thanks for all the kind words about 'feeling blue' and my sew connected quilt. I appreciate each and every comment.

Inspiration to Exhilaration

The inspiration...a drawing done by my youngest son when he was in 6th grade. (it hangs in my living room)

The process...the inspiration was given to my sew connected buddies and they made the blocks for me. Aren't they fabulous!! The process was excruciating, crazy, frustrating and believe it or not, fun. I've never made a quilt this difficult...many, many set in seams. All of the blocks were different sizes (which is what I asked for!) I pressed/starched these blocks within an inch of their lives. It was more like sewing with blocks of wood than fabric, but they stayed straight. Thank goodness, because the seam ripper got LOTS of use in this one. You'll notice that the layout is different in the final top. My design wall was my saving grace for this quilt. I can't even tell you how many layouts I went through to achieve this. This is what a virtual quilting bee is all about for me...pushing me farther than I would go on my own. I can't thank my bee peeps enough. I learned so much.

Exhilaration...I'm so proud of this, I can't even tell you. It almost makes me cry and I only made one of the blocks. I LOVE the negative space that is created by the blocks. The chocolate brown and aqua is my favorite color combination (I've been using so much brown lately). I love that Jon's drawing was the inspiration.

I have one more block that will be the centerpiece of the back...the back is going to be soo cool...if I can pull it off. (Audrey, that's your block).
I will tell you that I almost wimped out, sashed all the blocks the same size so I could easily put them together. I'm so glad, I struggled with this to make it like I had envisioned it. I'm wondering now how quilting will transform it.

Remember, the neighborhood quilt auction for Haiti ends at 8 am tomorrow. Last chance to get your bid in...

With a Little Help from My Friends and Family

I had a little extra help this weekend and so I was able to hunker down in the studio and get some sewing done.

The 'Feeling Blue' blocks are now a queen sized quilt top. You can see I ran out of space on my design wall. I'd love to know your thoughts on this one. My hand is itching to grab my snarky seam ripper and start again. That block in the center is bothering me.

I made a simple pieced back for the back of this pinwheel quilt. It's on the floor ready to baste.

'Red Hearts' is basted and ready to quilt. I'm having a little trouble deciding how to quilt it, but then I always struggle with the 'how to quilt' decision. Again, the snarky seam ripper is at hand in case I make the wrong decision.
The Neighborhood to Help a Neighborhood auction for Haiti is going great. Thanks to each of you who have put in a bid or helped publicize the auction! You're the best! At post time the bids were:

Pink - $200

Blue - $200

Green - $150

That's $1100 for the American Red Cross and the auction doesn't end until Friday. You can check it out here.

The Craft Hope etsy shop is exceeding all expectations. So many of my crafty friends have donated or bought items. My 'Hot Spots' quilt found a new home too. Doesn't it warm your heart to see how folks rally in a time of need?

A Neighborhood to Help a Neighborhood

It's difficult to watch television these days. The devastation and suffering in Haiti is hard to imagine and the amount of help and support that is needed to make a difference is staggering.

I read on the Craft Hope site about their etsy store to help earthquake victims in Haiti by raising money for Doctors Without Borders. I planned to donate items for the store. My husband suggested instead that I could raise more money by auctioning the quilts on my blog. However you choose to help, please help in your own small way.

Here's what I would like to do. I'm auctioning my neighborhood quilts and the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross. I WILL MATCH WHATEVER IS EARNED FROM THE AUCTION. The auction will begin with this post and end on Friday at 8 a.m. central time.

So here's how it works. Leave a comment with
1. the color of the quilt your bidding on (blue, pink, green)
2. the amount of your bid
3. your email address


If you have the top bid, I will send you a paypal invoice for your quilt. When all the payments are received I will send out the quilts, and make a donation to the American Red Cross for double the amount raised.

blue neighborhood 27.5" x 40.5"

pink neighborhood 29" x 29"

green neighborhood 27.5" x 40.5"
Thanks for helping. If you'd like to post about it on your blog to spread the word, that would be great. Let's see what kind of a difference we can make together.

I decided to donate a quilt to the Craft Hope Etsy store as well. Remember the Hot Spots quilt I didn't know what to do with? Now it has a purpose...hopefully it will find a home. (Sold 15 minutes after the listing went up. Yippee!!)

Chipping Away

I didn't do very well in my own challenge. I wanted to start the new year with a clean slate, but since that didn't happen I made a list. Well, a couple of lists. Tops that need to be quilted (they also need backs made), and projects that are in the construction phase. I'm hanging all the tops in my studio so they're right there in front of my face reminding me to finish them.

I wonder if I could have all those tops finished in 6 weeks, by the end of February? That's what I'm aiming for. I've gotta have a goal, or I simply spin my wheels and start new projects. I have a sketchbook brimming with ideas....

Proposal Moon has been added to the list of tops. I'm so happy with it! The moons seem to glow in the night sky.