Blogger's Quilt Festival: my Old Italian Block "OIB"

While everyone is off having the time of their lives at Fall Market and I'm here coming down from the natural high of Sewing Summit, thank goodness for Blogger's Quilt Festival. Amy from Amy's Creative Side is nice enough to distract those who can't attend market with this fun event twice a year. October 26 – 31 Linky open, Nov 1 – 4 Nominations are made, Nov 5 -8 Vote for your favorites, Nov 9 Winners announced.

My entry was an easy choice: The Old Italian Block wedding quilt that I made as a surprise wedding gift. To be honest, I was tickled to have more than one finished quilt to choose from since Spring!

Show and Tell at SBAMQG, the front

Show and Tell at SBAMQG, the back

Here I am talking with my hands at our MQG meeting - relieved to be finished.   There are many blog posts about the creation of this quilt (seen here, here, here and here) because I knew I wanted to chronicle the steps and sharing the story made the very long process a shorter journey.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats

Finished quilt measures : 66"x72″ FMQ with Bamboo Silk batting

Special techniques used : Rotary Cutting Revolution: New One-Step Cutting

Pieced and Quilted by : Me at home

Best Categories : Favorite Scrap Quilt, ROYGBIV Quilt, Bed Quilt 

Pulling the fabrics took - um like forever! Value was key and although not your traditional rainbow pattern, I wanted it to cover the entire color wheel and am please to say it does.

A rainbow of fabric

Organization was also key - and not necessarily my strong point. I couldn't take a wing it/improv approach to this one and needed 132 units in specific combinations. The stack, slice and shuffle method was fun to do.

slicing and dicing

The pizza box was a great tip and in the end I did have a few extra parts because I'm just not that decisive and calculating in my creative process.

 Rotary Cutting Revolution

I'd like a small to go - hold the pizza

Working with so much bias was challenging.  I'm please with how flat the finished quilt lays despite the variety of fabrics used. My motto: Scrappy Rocks!

chain piecing - love the automatic foot lift

A traditional block with modern designer fabrics like Kaffe Fassett, Martha Negley, Philip Jacobs, Amy Butler, Liberty Art and Monica Solorio-Snow embraces one of my favorite elements of the Modern Quilting aesthetics as well as use of negative space on the back.

stacked in order ready pieced

At times it was tedious I will admit.  But I do think that there is something especially gratifying when you finally get to the finish line.

In the future, I want to move towards creating my own pattern design rather than replicate a quilt already in existence.  It's not the same as the one by Anita Grossman Soloman on the books cover but it's indistinguishably similar.

close up and colorful

A shot of it on our Queen Size bed

From a distance there is a definite rainbow effect which I adore. Close up it's really shocking how many different fabrics actually get along.

SBAMQG and my OIB in our Quilt Show

When it was hanging at our MQG show I had more than one person comment about how puzzled they were that one fabric could actually look good next to another and be cohesive.  If you saw them on a bolt, you'd never dream of mixing them in the same quilt - but I did!

Last Spring I entered Quilter's Festival for the first time with the Mod Mosaic aka Catalyst and reading that post from May brings me full circle.

I got to meet them in person!

Small world: here it is a year and a half later and two of the ladies I got to hang out with were from the 3x6 bee I made these two Mod Mosaic blocks for: Nydia and Shawn. I never would have guessed that twist.

I mention in the Spring post wanting to take Amy's class at Sewing Summit - and indeed I did! She even sat next to me in Amber's class and let me browse the spiral bound version of Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe. (totally want that book) Amy really is the sweetest person - so be sure to check out all the link ups and say hello on her blog (that is, after you say hello on mine!)

HAPPY QUILTING! Karen

WIP a bit WIP-less SS'12

WIP-less Wednesday - I can get on board for that.

foundation piecing class

Here are a few of my Sewing Summit projects fresh from the suitcase.  I will be posting an official recap for the link upbut here's a few pictures from my trip until then.
edit: SS recap post the Pictorial Novel here and Blast & a Blur here

Don't you love how all the colors go together? I used the pallete builder at Play Crafts - it was fun to hear the buzz about them last weekend. Check out their flickr group.

I don't know how it's been an entire week since I posted the WIP from the airport waiting to board the plane with my newly finished tote in hand.

Here I am with Lee - in person - yeah!  She was sweet enough to pose for a picture before class and even posted an instagram of my Supernova Bag.

Embroidery Basics in the Lobby

Rachael at Imagine Gnats brought together a wonderful group and lots of great supplies - embroidery in  the lobby of Little America.  I made my pin cushion an orange pumpkin instead of the traditional red tomato.

Rebecca, Karen, Me = Seger Success

Using Frippery by Thomas Knauer purchased at Material Girl during the shop hop, my metal frame is a favorite. I didn't make it into his lecture but he was able to meet him anyway because he was in several of my classes. Not only did Kelly of Kelbysews create an extra metal frame class on her own time, she set up during open sew to help us all finish - thank you - I love mine.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations.

Finished:2

Metal frame Frippery
Serger Washi case
Progress:1
Retreat Goodies

New Projects:1

Embroidery project
Create with my SS Swag

No Progress:

Everything Else

Happy Quilting, Karen

WIP - On My Way

At the airport - waiting to board

Just HAD to make a Travel Handmade

I'm here at the airport waiting to board with my new Travel Handmade - now that's better!  It just didn't seem right to arrive at Sewing Summit with just my luggage. Besides, my hubby hooked me up with his computer so that I can stay in touch and post on my blog like this - thanks honey :) Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.  Another finish for FAL Q4, yippy!

I agonized over what fabrics to bring from my stash. Although we'll be shop hopping,  there's so much in my buckets that I truly love. After way too much thought and time I'm pleased with my choices.

Pre-cuts for class

Still typing without my index finger but it has healed enough to participate fully in all of my classes which was my goal.  

Traffic was a hassle over Hwy 17 but he got me here safe and sound.  Quick post to link up with WIP and I'll try to add more pictures later from the hotel when I can plug in the camera. 

Last night I got together for another sewing session to prepare for our MQG Retreat. At first it felt like one too many things to commit to but it was so much fun and just what I needed.  We made the most adorable Swag Bags and got them all done- they will remain secret until after the event.  Trust me, they're better than what I had pictured in my head.

Finished: 3

Double Bar Supernova Tote

Swag Bags for Quilt Retreat

Black/White Swap

New Projects: 4

Sewing Summit Class Prep

No Progress:

Everything Else

Happy Quilting, Karen

   

WIP - New Projects tip the tally scale

OK, so last week I was patting myself on the back for not having a single item in the NEW Projects category of my WIP tally - this week it's got the largest number!

Lee at Freshly Pieced is back -yeah- and has set up an amazing schedule of WIP  Guest Bloggers for the linky starting October with my friend Debbie at A Quilters Table.  I'm thrilled at the prospect of meeting them both in person at Sewing Summit very soon.

Luminaria

Move aside old projects, a new one's caught my eye. Don't you love it when a quilt takes on a life of it's own?  The morphing or unforeseen spin offs that occurs for me during the creative process is one of the my favorite elements of quilting.

Luminaria 48x60 center

Last post I showed you some prep and progress pictures from the workshop with Christine Barnes. This one I will call mid-way because the variation of a border that I'm tossing around to give it my own take is going to take about as much time as the center has.

close up - a very scrappy Batik collection

Who knows, I may just audition one fabric to go around it like the pattern and call it a day. But, for now I'm so inspired and want to run with the idea that's lurking - despite the other projects that I should be working on instead.

Sewing Summit

clutch for sewing tools

As I envision packing for Sewing Summit, I realize I really want to whip up a few more items for putting my stuff in.  This little clutch I made with a friend during a sew day and I had thought it would be a stash gift - well, I'm gifting it to myself to put my sewing tools in!  Now I need a needle book and maybe a larger project bag to go along.  In a just a month I'll be in SLC - So Excited!

F+F=MSB First Herringbone

WIP Weekly Status Update:

Finished = 3
Modern Scrappy Bits swap (partner got it and loved it)
Not your Granny's Bee (mailed and safety delivered)
Sewing Summit Schedule completed (It's going to be awesome)

Progress = 2
Secret Partner MQG pillow swap (working on-I promise)
Sewing Summit Black/White swap (fabric purchased, pics posted)

New Projects =7
F+F=AMSB 2 Herringbone (one finished)
Luminaria (center complete)
Project Bag or Needle book for ME @ Sewing Summit
ModPop QAL
Super Secret Square
Quilt Retreat Goodies and Bags
Help a friend make Coffee Cozies

No Progress = 5+
HTABQ's Japanese Charm Swap (fabric purchased, pic posted)
Sewing Summit zipper pouch swap
Make a "They Eloped" Quilt
Make A Baby Boy Quilt
Alpaca Pillow 
...and endless others....

WIP - some done some not

I've cut the strips for September's F+F=AMSB herringbone blocks for Petra and am auditioning placement without trying to impose too much control on the scrappiness and creative process. We're using this tutorial.

The much blogged about Old Italian Block OIB wedding quilt (seen here and here) had an audience when I brought it for show and tell at our SBAMQG meeting.  It is quilted and bound with a sleeve attached for hanging in our Quilt Show.  This is my second item crossed off the Quilter in the Gap FAL Q3 list.

OIB 66"x 72" Bamboo/silk Batting

Making a traditional block with modern designer fabrics like Kaffe Fassett, Martha Negley, Philip Jacobs, Liberty Art, Monica Solorio-Snow embraces one of my favorite elements of the Modern Quilting aesthetics. I think it turned out very similar to the one on the cover of Anita Grossman Soloman's book Rotary Cutting Revolution. 

OIB Back - floating blocks

Such a super talented bunch of guild members we have.  Check out some pictures I posted to our group.  If you're local, please stop by Sue Dee's during the month of September and check out the quilts in person. We're having a reception next Friday evening as well.

Just a few of the Granny Swap Blocks

The pin cushion and scrap catcher for Modern Scrappy Bits and my Granny blocks are both ready to mail off for swapping. The chevron cat quilt now has a kitty snuggled on it. I forgot to shoot a finished picture of it -oops.

Facebook and Pinterest

After years of holding out - I finally joined the rest of the world on facebook.  I wanted to use my same flickr buddy icon picture but couldn't find the original on my computer so I used this picture taken in Kauai (a few trips ago).

Now that I have a FB account I was able to make a pinterest account and am really excited about that. All I need is more time in the day to play and to learn what the heck I'm doing.

MSB pin cushion and scrap catcher

I referred to this tutorial for the Pin Cushion-Scrap Catcher but changed the sizes to better fit the fussy cut fabric and weighted it with pinto beans.

On the design wall before stuffing

Tula Pink Prince Charming

After the MQG meeting I picked up a yard of this wonderful fabric for my swap.

Japanese fabric charm swap

WIP Weekly Status Update:

Finished = 3
Wedding Quilt - Old Italian block
Cat Chevron Quilt
Chevron Pouch
Progress = 3
Not your Granny's Bee (all done, just need to mail)
Modern Scrappy Bits swap (all done, just need to mail)
HTABQ's Japanese Charm Swap (fabric purchased and posted pic)
New Projects = 0
none (big pat on the back)
No Progress = 7+
Sewing Summit zipper pouch swap
Sewing Summit Black & White swap
Quilt for 100 Quilts for Kids (most parts done)
Make a "We Eloped" Quilt
Make A Baby Boy Quilt
Secret Partner MQG pillow swap
Alpaca Pillow

Linking up to WIP Wednesday with guest host Emily from Mommy's Nap Time.

Completion Pics as Promised

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Here are the photographs - aren't they great?!

She's a natural quilter - can't wait for our next project

Round placemats compliment all those circles

 I finish the Zakka Style tote made using My Precious Echino and lined it with Kaffe kite tails adding a second phone sized pocket.  This was one of my projects for FALQ2. It was hard to cut into the fabric but I'm happy for the push to do so. Check out the other May Link Up and Giveaway projects - fingers crossed - maybe I'm on a winning streak! Since the zig zag was New to me and quite a stretch of ability in Linen, I'm also linking up for Melissa's TNT (try new things). Also Linking Up for Ellison Lane Quilts summer sewing contest Bags entry.

Now I have something handmade to take to Sewing Summit. 

Seems a shame to be on the bottom...

Linky Party at Manic Monday