Juxtapose?

Definition of juxtapose
juxtaposed
;

juxtaposing

1. transitive verb

2. :  to place (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect) juxtapose unexpected combinations of colors, shapes and ideas — J. F. T. Bugental

Let us just suppose that I needed a quilt back and didn't have enough of one fabric.....just suppose nothing in my stash seemed perfect.....then what is one to do?  Juxtapose what is on the fabric shelf!

For example, I had about one yard of this big geometric....and keep in mind that I needed 68" x 68" for my quilt back. 

and a small strip of this Cotton and Steel that I had been hoarding -

and several fat quarters of this floral in different colorways

After hemming and hawing about the major differences in design scale and color, I decided to go for broke and laid all my fabric out on the floor.  It worked, doggone it, it worked - the large scale geometric with the small scale floral and just a hint of stripe and a few odd pieces here and there and the juxtaposition worked beautifully (to my eye).  

I seldom purchase large quantities of fabric so must piece and patch many of my quilt backs.  It is just as much fun as putting together the quilt top - Juxtapose to the finish line. 

Now, reader, it's your turn to share how your quilt backs come together.  Are you one to purchase the 108" wide so there's no piecing.  Do you buy 6 yards and split it down the middle?  Do you piece and patch as I do? 

 

Triangle Math ~

Whoever said math had to be hard! 


While working on all those orphan blocks Christie gifted me the other day, I found almost enough to get this little floor pallet/quilt done.  I say almost, because I had to make two more blocks and they don't even begin to match the other 18.....but do you think that toddler cares?  No, I don't either.

When I finished, I realized that this plain Jane didn't make my heart go pitter-patter so had to come up with a plan.  In the Pat Sloan quilt workshop I was a party to a couple of months ago, I learned to take ordinary quilt tops and applique something profound on top......so, this quilt top became background on which to applique a kid-pleasing pattern.


I first put the pink elephants on the 9-patch blocks and the little dears just got lost.  After adding the black with white dots, they came alive again.

Pink elephants took away a whole lot of plain out of this toddler meant-to-be-used-everyday quilt.



But, back to the point of this post - doing the math for those side, top,  bottom and corner triangles when the quilt blocks are set on point.  Sure, you can do the math and Generations Quilt Patterns has an entire blog post on the topic and how simply the math is done.  BUT, there is also a downloadable, printable chart with the cutting dimensions for those common block sizes.  Keep it  handy and your math is done.
Triangle math....that sounds a lot like geometry to me but I love it. 

What is gingham, anyway?

Encyclopedia Britannica says this about that: 

Gingham, plain-woven fabric, originally made completely of cotton fibres but later also of man-made fibres, which derives its colour and pattern effects from carded or combed yarns. The name comes from the Malay word genggang, meaning “striped,” and thence from the French guingan, used by the Bretons to signify cloth made from striped colouring. Medium or fine yarns of varying quality are used to obtain the plain, checked, or striped effects. The warp and the weft, or filling, may be the same, even-sided and balanced.

Gingham is strong, substantial, and serviceable. It launders easily and well, but lower-textured fabric may shrink considerably unless preshrunk. Prices of gingham have a wide range; designs or patterns run from the conservative to the gaudy. Uses include dress goods, shirting, trimming, kerchiefs, aprons, children’s wear, and beachwear.

And if that isn't enough information, here are just a sampling of fabric companies that have a line of gingham fabric in yardage, or bundles and yes, even rolls in cotton and laminated cotton or flannel,  ticking or oil cloth:

Art Gallery Fabrics, Penny Rose Fabrics, Lecien Fabrics, Riley Blake Designs, Stof for Blank Quilting, Windham Fabrics, Marcus Brothers, Henry Glass, Studio E,  Wilmington Prints, Free Spirit, Moda, Cotton and Steel, Robert Kaufman, Michael Miller, Timeless Treasures, Northcutt Fabrics.

I found all these while checking out this free pattern - A 3-hour baby gingham quilt.

from The Jolly Jabber - the news feed from The Fat Quarter Shop.  But, here's a heads up....there's a video too and if you watch it, you won't need to download the free pattern.  

 No, this isn't an advertisement.....just thought you'd want to know! 

What's old is new again

and forever timeless.....

Gingham Fabric

***********I amend this post to include my version of this baby gingham - but rather than gingham, I used The Rifle Paper Co. fabric off the shelf.  I also added amended the pattern to add a row of light to one end of the light/medium strip set and a medium to one end of the medium/dark strip set.  I like the balance around the quilt.  My quilt has 11 blocks across and 13 blocks down for a finished size of 55" x 65". 

Stay at home while you visit the Road To California ~

Straight out of a magazine....Spring, 2017 issue of Quilts (simple, fresh and fun) and more ~


Page 10......shares One Block, 3 ways:  Road to California combines half-square triangles and squares to make this block.

It's the fabric selection and block placement that totally changes the block appearance.  Do you want a very traditional block using your red, blue, brown and cream scraps?  Then here's the look for you. 

Or, do you want to go oh, so contemporary?.....then choose shades of gray for that monochromatic look. 

Got a kid in you or in your family? Get a very whimsical, juvenile look just by changing up the fabric.  Now, if this doesn't make you smile!!

All People Quilt makes it even easier to get this quilt block done.  Here's their step-by-step Road To California quilt block instruction.

I love it.....getting on The Road to California without even starting the engine. 

Val found the best tutorial ~

Thank you Val for sharing this video on your Facebook....I saw it and think Jenny Doan's technique to put a 9-patch on point is a video worth sharing and keeping on file. 

May your day be filled with sunshine and smiles and a bunch of quilt blocks~

Get Ready: International Quilt Festival....here we come ~

It's the biggest party of the year for those of us who love quilts.  We just call it "Quilt Festival" and know that we are talking the same language..... The International Quilt Festival, Houston.  2017:   

What's new?  Registration for classes is open and you can do it online this year. 
The three of us who travel to Houston together from Monroe each year put our heads together yesterday and made those important class decisions.  I would love to participate in Katie Pasquini Masopust's  two-day class #101 Artful Log Cabins.  But lo, time won't let me.


If I were a longarm quilter, I would certainly covet being a participant in class #103 Mystical Illusions....Jamie Wallen describes his all day class as learning to breathe new life into your surface quilting. If his workshop schedule is any indication, Jamie is one talented teacher! 


Oh, and the cutest little Santa....a Laura Heine collage quilt "Nick Santa."    It's a pricey class but includes the pattern and all the materials needed to complete this work of art. 


So many talented teachers:  Frieda Anderson, Charlotte Angotti,  Karen Kay Buckley, Ana Buzzalino, Cindy Grisdela, Noriko Endo, Gyleen X. Fitzgerald, Philippa Naylor, Jane Sassaman.  The teacher list is almost endless. And classes by category starting with applique and ending with wearables.....now that's a lot of classes. Want it, find it, sign up for it. 


 Oh, yes, there are so many great ones this year but the three of us finally decided on an all-day class #318 with Ginny Eckley, "Paint, Print and Enhance" described as learning how to create using layers of paint with both brush techniques and printing.


I don't even have to mention to anyone that shopping starts November 1, a Wednesday night, and continues through Sunday, November 4.   Don't have time for a class:  In addition to the hundreds of juried quilts on display, I counted 40 special exhibits for our viewing pleasure starting with "Traditional Talent Extraordinaire, Sue Garman" and lastly listed "Windchimes",  featuring art by ten members of Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends. 
When your feet need a break and your tummy needs a fill, then there's the luncheon lectures from noon to 2 p.m. each day. 


Also on the show floor is the Meet the Teachers stage and Open Studios where four artists are working simultaneously in real time in four studio settings. 


Excitement is surely in the air as we anticipate Festival, 2017.  Hope to see you there.

How to Fold A Quilt?

How to fold a quilt?  I've been seeing this idea floating around in the past few days and decided it was time to curb my curiosity so went searching and found this free video by National Quilters Circle.  Kelly Hanson's "How to fold a quilt to prevent damage"   caught my eye. 

And, while there, just click on the video button and see how many free ones there are.  Of course, you have the option to buy into for even more.  Choices, oh, my~

Who Has Talent?

QGA's own Connie Soileau certainly has quite a bit of talent and expresses it beautifully in her Bible Awareness Quilts.   Connie says she got started many years ago when her young friends began to marry.   She would gift each newly wedded couple a quilt she made that embraced marriage scriptures. 

Connie started quilting 42 years ago but took a 20 year leave-of-absence while her children were young.   Connie, who is a member of Krotz Springs Quilt Guild, joined Quilters' Guild Acadienne in 2016 and is a very prolific quilter, having recently completed one Bible Awareness Quilt - but Holy Moses....she's completed 200 or more quilt blocks.  Connie says her goal is to complete one block a day in the upcoming year. 


It's been interesting trying to figure out which bible verse Connie is interpreting in her quilt blocks and enjoyable reading The Bible verses shown to wonder at her interpretation of each biblical legend. 

Connie admits to  being a modern quilt maker and says "I prefer modern quilts because I don't like to make the same square over and over." 


Congratulations, Connie.  You have talent! 

Pastel Perfection ~

Good morning quilters. 

What's better with coffee than fabric eye candy. 

A simple design, but what a beauty with bold, geometric fabric from the Kaffe Fassett  Artisan collection for Free Spirit.  Pastel Perfection,  designed by Linda Barrett is ready at this

 Inspiration Download Link. 

From the Free Spirit writer: 

 "A fun, fast quilt to showcase favorite fabrics with a bold, geometric background. 

 A perfect pattern for almost any feature print!" 

Louisiana ~ Quilt Guild Activity

Sharing Quilt Guild Love

Found on Facebook

It's never too early to save the date 

So put this event on your calendar 

Fall Arts Jubilee

hosted by Remember Me Quilt Guild

Baton Rouge

Krotz Springs Quilters' Guild 12th Annual Quilt Show

Krotz Springs is a small community with lots of hospitality, great eats AND a quilt show.  Yes, the Krotz Springs Quilters' Guild is presenting their 12th annual quilt show this Saturday, July 8 10:00 AM until  2:00 PM and  admission is FREE. 

They promise a beautiful display of quilts, quilts for sale, boutique with great buys, a needlework demonstration and more.  Hope to see you there.

Simple half-square triangles

A quilt block as simple as a half-square triangle can make a dramatic impact....


I smiled this morning when I stumbled upon the Southern Fabric (so fab) Blog.  And smiled even more as I scrolled through all the free quilt patterns and tutorials provided by the Southern Fabric team. Aubrey Marshall started her company in 2004 and continues to delight her followers with an array of free patterns she has assembled from quilt designers across the web. 
Here's one that really put a smile on my face and got me energized with its vibrant use of fabric.   The Victoria Quilt.  It's so simple....it's simply half-square triangles arranged in a herringbone design. 

Don't have much time, but need to get that baby quilt made before the baby gets here!  I'm smiling at yet another half-square triangle idea - A star that can be completed in no time.  This one designed by Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter. 

But, oh boy, did I laugh out loud when I clicked on this Magic 8 Trick - 8 HST's just by stitching around the square. And they've even done the math!

 Need a lot in a hurry....it's magic. 

It's not always what you know, but who you know and follow. 

Take a minute or two to enjoy all those free quilt patterns,

 then go pick your fabric and get it done. 

The Best Shop Hop in Louisiana

The Best Weekends in August 3-5 and 11-12..... for The Best Shop Hop in Louisiana

Ten of The Best Quilt Shops in South Louisiana have teamed up for another year of Shop Hopping.  Gather up,  shopping partners and put this event on your August calendar. 

• A & A Sewing Center in Broussard, Louisiana, is alphabetically first on the list....then
• All Stitched Up in Slidell
• Cottage Creations & Quilts located in Saint Gabriel
• Emily's Closet is in New Iberia
• Mama's Quilt Shop, Independence
• Mes Amis Quilt Shop in New Orleans
• Sew This located in Abita Springs
• The Quilt Corner, Baton Rouge
• The Quilt Cupboard in Berwick and
• The Quilting Niche located in Houma

Happy Independence Day

Let's celebrate, remembering ~ an excerpt from The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,

 that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

I've been busily searching all week for patriotic quilts to share ~
A salute to the red, white and blue flags and quilts.



Free Pattern Found at APQS



Streaks of Light quilt pattern found
at Pleasant Valley Creations





Patriotic Points  ~ Free download
at All People Quilt



Patriotic Prairie Points free download at
All People Quilt



Fireworks at
All People Quilt

Fireworks Flag
Quilter's Newsletter
Free Pattern Download

Patriotic Wave Table Runner
Quilt Fabrications Pattern

Scrap Jar Stars
A Little Bit Biased blog tutorial
Gigi's Thimble pattern



Are table runners just for tables?  A blog post by Gerri Robinson 2/2017 @ Planted Seed Designs
In her book, Casual Classic Quilts

Cluck, Cluck, Sew
Patriotic Quilt Tutorial



Tumbler Flag ~

What a great way to use your scrap reds and blues with a hint of white to make this Americana-style flag quilted wall hanging.   All made from 5" tumbler blocks. 

Thank you,  Missouri Star, for this quick and easy ode to patriotic.

Your Piece was NOT Selected ~

Wise words from quilter extraordinaire, author and teacher,  Sue Bleiweiss on the subject of rejection. 

Christa Watson  of Christa Quilts also has a very informative post on her latest experience judging the Vermont Quilt Festival and has advice on how and where we can get started.  She's given us a jumpstart with a list of quilt shows that we should consider entering quilts.   Both Sue and Christa have lots of good information and hints on how to be the winner.