Five Little Things

In anticipation of Quilt Con - which is only 3 weeks away folks! - The Modern Quilt Guild asked folks to share 5 little facts about them. This is so when you see me on the show floor or are taking my class you can accost me with these random facts and I'll wonder how the hell you know these things about me.

I'm fairly open here and if you've been reading for a while you'll know plenty about me, including these tidbits from almost 5 years ago (I can now make rice krispie squares). That's why I had to dig deep for these five things.

1. I never wanted kids
Hubby married me knowing this. The moment I changed my mind came after a few too many beers and watching Adam Sandler's movie Big Daddy. Sad, but true. Look at me now.

2. I have a third nipple
So do other members of my family, our lovely genetic quirk. So when Friends was on and Chandler was teased about his, we knew what he was talking about.

3. I swear like a trucker
Having kids has tempered that tendency, a little. But it is a daily challenge to keep my language in check around other people.

4. There are at least 7 more books brewing in my head
I could work full-time on writing books and be deliriously happy, but I do need to pay attention to those kids I decided to have.

5.Seventies music rocks
Being born in the mid-70s, I was too young to remember the music specifically, but I have a weird obsession with having 70s music on whatever music channels are available. Even the soft rock stuff.

Quick Question

If you are taking a class on technique, would you rather have the teacher run through multiple ways of doing the same thing or focus on the way he/she thinks works best?

New Leaf Block and Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the New Leaf Blog Hop. What is New Leaf, you ask? This is the fantastic new line from Jan DiCintio at Daisy Janie. Bright, warm, saturated colours printed on 100% certified GOTS Organic certified fabric. All gorgeous.

I've been blown away by Jan and the rest of the organic fabric designers. Not only are they committed to sourcing and then supplying us quilters and sewists with a product that is more sustainable, they are showcasing beautiful fabric. It is rather like the organic food movement - it isn't just about hemp hearts and granola, but now a colourful array of vegetables and fruits that are readily available.

My previous professional life was focused on environmental issues, climate change and energy efficiency specifically. That background is a part of me and the lessons learned then do translate to what I do now. One of those ways is with the choice for organic fabric. Do I exclusively buy organic fabric? Not yet, but I've been blown away by the designs coming from the organic manufacturers so that day may not be far off.

I believe that every time you make the committed choice for certified organic you are doing a good thing. For the manufacturer, for yourself, for the people working with the fabric, for the recipient of the quilt. It may not be every time you buy fabric, but all movements start with one step. Besides, the fabric is gorgeous!

For this block Jan asked us to be inspired by the concept of Renewal, of Turning Over a New Leaf. Here are my back of the envelope sketches. Like many others on the blog hop, I really wanted to showcase that one large scale print. I had an image of the world unfurling in my head, writ more graphic.

So, I fussy cut from both the large-scale prints and cut the rest into strips. I also made myself the oh-so-fancy paper templates. First I measured how large the center square needed to be, based on the fabric itself. Then I drew the corner templates to get up to a finished size of 12'' by 12''. 

At this point I could have done this by paper piecing, or using a muslin foundation. Both would work quite well. I chose to minimize the amount of materials used and stuck with sewing then trimming to my scrap paper template.

Four corner blocks and a fussy cut center ready to go. Yes, there are Y-seams ahead.

I sewed each side to the center square, making sure to mark and stop at the 1/4'' mark. Then I removed the block from the machine and rejigged the block to sew the short seam from the center out. Scary, on paper, but not that difficult if you slow down.

You can see the finished block is a combination of improv with the random strip piecing and precision with that inset block. The fabric soft and no different to work with than the quilting cottons you may be used to. I do hope it works well with the rest of the blocks Jan receives.

Speaking of the other blocks, this is a blog hop, so make sure you check out all the other stops. So many great ideas for showcasing this gorgeous fabric.

New Leaf Bee Block Blog Hop Schedule

Mon, 1/14 - Becky Moyer, My Fabric Obsession
Tues, 1/15 - Lynn Harris, The Little Red Hen
Wed, 1/16 - Candy Glendening, Candied Fabrics
Thurs, 1/17 - Holly DeGroot, Bijou Lovely
Fri, 1/18 - Melanie Thornton, Melanie Dramatic

Mon, 1/21 - Emily Cier, Carolina Patchworks
Tues, 1/22 - Rachael Gander, Imagine Gnats
Wed, 1/23 - Maureen Cracknell, Maureen Cracknell Handmade
Thurs, 1/24 - Leanne, She Can Quilt
Fri, 1/25 - Cindy Wiens, Live a Colorful Life

Mon 1/28 - Cheryl Arkison, Dining Room Empire
Tues, 1/29 - Jacquie Gering, Tallgrass Prairie Studio
Wed, 1/30 - Shanna Bailey, Fiber of All Sorts
Thurs, 1/31 - Katy Jones, Monkey Do

At each stop on the tour there is a secret letter. Gather all your secret letters For a chance to win a Fat Quarter bundle of New Leaf.

The secret letter today is O.

Visit all the stops on the blog hop, gather the letters, then unscramble the letters to make a word that relates to the inspirational theme of the tour. Email your answer to info {at} daisyjanie {dot} com  for a chance to win.

Thanks for coming by. I do hope you will be inspired.

Creative Thursday (Weekend Reads)

A book with with pretty and cute, as well as some gentle kicks in the butt and encouragement for living a creative life. A short and sweet summary of Creative Thursday: Everyday Inspiration to Grow Your Creative Practice by Marisa Anne.

It's no secret that I've been a big fan of Marisa's for years. I've taken her on-line classes, participated in a creative community she led, and even created works inspired by her own. She's also been a big supporter of mine, sending me fabric treats and lovely prints when I order other ones. I'll be honest, I'm surprised I like her work so much. I don't generally go for cute and sweet, it just isn't my thing. But Marisa, and her work, radiate happiness. Positivity isn't something I instinctively grasp, but it is impossible not to smile when you see her work. I imagine it is the same thing when you meet her in person.

This is gushing, I realize that. but I do have to give Marisa credit for reminding me that happiness is sometimes a choice. It really is and choosing happiness makes a world of difference in getting through life.

Marisa's book is also about choosing creativity, about the active decision to live with creativity as a daily part of your day. Personally, this isn't a problem for me these days. I know that I thrive when I get the chance to write, sew, doodle, play with fabric, colour, and daydream. But it took me a long time to realize that I needed it as much as I did, longer yet to make the time for it. For people just beginning that journey Marisa walks them through it. No, she walks beside you, as if she's got a lollipop in hand and having the conversation right with you. All the way from intentions, resistance, to habit formation.

For people like me who feel very comfortable in their creative existence the book is still full of ideas for enhancing your practice as well as good notes on the doubts and conflicts we come across. The discussions about resistance we create and face, as well as the ever present comparison and competition issues are great. For me they are great starts to a discussion I know I could dig into with many a colleague and friend.

My biggest complaint about the book is her publisher's insistence on putting their website on nearly page. It's rather distracting.

This is Marisa's book, so the artwork is all hers and it truly is a reflection of her creativity practice. Don't expect a more general outlook on creativity. If you aren't already a fan of her work, you will be. It's hard not to get captured by her energy.

Note: I purchased this book myself.