Workshop Memories

A few days ago I conducted a Jelly Roll 1600 workshop. A jelly roll 1600 is a strip quilt made from 40 strips of fabric each measuring 40” long X 2 ½” wide. Each strip sewn together into one long strip, ends are brought back together and sewn side by side increasing the width and decreasing the length.  You can to heirloom creations on ‘you tube’ for further explanations and instruction.

17 ladies arrived in time for set up and on the dot of 10 a.m. I began to speak about the process when the electricity went off and we were in the dark. We were in a lower level room.  The building manager, a fellow quilter, made some phone calls. Apparently a utility transformer was at fault and the whole area was without electricity.  We were assured that it would be fixed soon.

Some of the ladies used the apps. on their cell phones for flashlights and we took our refreshments to an upstairs room with windows. As they proceeded to get to know each other, I was fighting back panic that I would have to cancel the workshop.

The electricity came back on in 30 minutes and we were able to continue the workshop. Everyone had a terrific time and made some beautiful quilt tops. It will be a workshop they will remember for a long time.  You know when a class/workshop is a success when the students ask when the next one will be.

Color wheel...ing

This morning’s agenda was to have a blog entry about my workshop a couple of days ago. But first I planned to color my hair. I do this 2/3 times a year, when I get bored looking at the gray. I have a favorite brand and color.  I went shopping a couple of weeks ago and the store was out of my brand color, oh well I did have a coupon for another brand. I choose my color and saved $2.00. I bet you can see where this is going already.

This morning I did the deed. Combed thru the wet hair and decided to let it air dry a bit and clean the kitchen or throw a load of laundry in the wash.  At noon I thought I better go in and curl my hair. I screamed when I looked in the mirror. Orange! Granted it wasn’t carrot orange but definitely orange tones. I have fair skin and yellows & oranges make me look like I have jaundice. 

I made a quick phone call to my local salon which lucky for me she had an opening in the afternoon. She did her magic and it is toned down and mellowed. It fact my husband rather likes the results.

The lesson here- if you know something works stick with it. In quilting a little yellow or arrange will show up very well. Use it sparely. Last, use a color wheel to determine what colors will complement each other and not clash.  Oh, and sometimes it pays to buy the best rather than trying to save a dollar.

No pictures for this entry.   The workshop entry will be written later this weekend.

Life is Good!

On Tuesday a friend of mine, Renelda Peldunas Harter, and I gave quilt demonstration. We both have blocks featured in "Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 5".

We drove about 45 minutes  to Windchester, Virginia to the "Scrappy Apple" quilt shop. We each had prepared a talk about our blocks and the piecing techniques and etc. I bought my laptop computer to show color options if someone wonder how the block would look in an another color. I had print outs of placement layouts. We were ready.

I must admit I hadn't heard anything from locals  as to their attendance. I feared that no one would come. Renelda admitted her own thoughts of maybe 4 or so showing up. We arrived a few minutes early to set up a felt board and unpack our visual aids. Image our surprise that there were 6 ladies seated and waiting for us! In all we had 15 ladies attend our talk and demonstration. Questions were evidence of serious interest. The morning was very successful for ourselves, the audience and the shop. Gleefully we treated ourselves to lunch afterward. On that day, life was good!

Blog Tour, Isn't This Fun

 http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/

Isn’t this fun! I too enjoy visiting the other blogs. So many talent people with wonderful block designs.

My block is called Crossroads of Life. Think of the many crossroads, roadblocks and detours to take. The nice element of this block is any choice of color or placement will make a terrific quilt. My philosophy on quilt blocks is that they should be versatile. One should be able to use one pattern and make it in any themed fabric and with a twist of the block have new quilt look.

I have several images of quilt layouts for you to view. I used the same color placement in each of the images so you might see the differences better in the layout.  Do notice the pastel quilt, its the same layout as the third but the eye focus changes to the seconary design - a star.

Possible color changes might include alternating corner ends to create an interesting look where four blocks meet, almost a checker board effect.

Try setting the blocks on point. The set in sides could have a ‘snow ball’ tip to integrate with the blocks, giving it an industrial look. I think the ‘X’ is fascinating. A young man would love that ‘X’ marks the spot design.

This block will be beautiful using batiks, traditional, or depression era theme fabrics. Depth of color is the key to this quilt block.