My Visit to PIQF 2012

Every year, just a ten minute drive from my house is "The Largest Quilt Festival on the West Coast", also known as Pacific International Quilt Festival.

This year I almost didn't go. I don't know if I'm getting quilt show fatigue or what, but the quilt shows that I've been going to are all starting to look the same. There are the same type of quilts, same vendors, same lame soda machines, same bad lighting and the same pushy show goers. I make it sound like so much fun, right? Why would I put myself through that? Well...

SUPPORT

I go to support my friends. More and more quilters from our local modern quilt guilds are submitting quilts. It is always exciting to see their quilts hanging in a show. I want to grab the stranger standing next to me and squeal, "my friend made that!" 

This was the first year that I saw lots of familiar faces walking the show floor. It was great to see their smiles while I was there! Usually I feel like I can't relate to the crowd. I can't shake the feeling like people think I'm there with my Mom or something. It's totally weird and probably my own hang up.

Here's a mosaic of my peep's quilts. These are all from the Bay Area MQG, East Bay MQG and South Bay MQG. Yahooie! Let's hear it for modern quilters!! Do you see that California sun shinning in almost every one? Coincidence?

1. PIQF 2012, 2. PIQF 2012, 3. PIQF 2012, 4. PIQF 2012, 5. PIQF 2012, 6. PIQF 2012, 7. PIQF 2012, 8. PIQF 2012, 9. PIQF 2012, 10. PIQF 2012, 11. PIQF 2012

INSPIRATION

While the collection as a whole doesn't stand out to me, there are always elements that get my attention. I'm not one to ponder every single quilt. I browse, and go in when something calls to me. I really love the International exhibit and I specifically look forward to the Japanese quilts. The gorgeous one below was mostly made up of log cabin blocks. So cool!

My Life by Yuki Fushiki, Japan

LOOT

Some vendors have show specials and I try wait to buy big ticket items until PIQF in October.  Last year I bought my Oliso for less than Amazon's list price. This year I was thinking about buying a Tutto rolling cart for my new machine, but decided not to.

I usually hit up the Olfa booth and buy blades. Did you know that your Olfa mats like taking a bath? It's true! Check out their tip section.

My PIQF Loot

Sometimes I find fabric treasures, but not very often. This year I went back again on Sunday to buy some Kokka and Echino. I had to have it. I also love to stop by and see what local designers Sandy Klop and Joanna Figueroa are up to.  

FAVORITE EXHIBIT
My favorite exhibit at the show is called New Quilts of California. This is where most of the modern quilts from the Bay Area end up. I haven't submitted anything myself, maybe next year?

In the end I'm glad I went. I'm curious, what are your local quilt shows like?

Aurifil Wholecloth Challenge

We just wrapped up another great challenge at Bay Area Modern. This one was sponsored by Aurifil thread and the challenge was to make a modern wholecloth quilt. Wow! I never imagined a whole cloth quilt being so hard to do. It wasn't the stitching that was difficult, that went ok (ya know, for an amateur), it was the possibilities. There were no blocks to guide me, no sashing to fill in, just a blank cloth and some thread. I was stalled by too many ideas.

I started with some pink Aurifil thread and a matching yard of Kona cotton.  

For the back I chose a beautiful soft grey from Michael Miller.  I liked the contrast of colors on the back. The grey and pink together felt like a modern baby girl color combo.

My design started with flowers in the corners and then I filled in with vertical lines. The flowers seemed a little to loose and empty so I went back in and added some more quilting in a few of the petals.  Just a touch.

It was such a bold, clean look that I wanted to soften it a little with rounded corners and a sweet little floral binding by Lecien.

It doesn't have a home yet. Maybe a baby doll blanket? She is already color coordinated!

Inch by Inch, Spinning Stars Quilt Along

Finding sewing time these days is tough. I'm learning to sew in bits and pieces, accepting that a few minutes is better than not at all.

1. Fabric for Spinning Stars Quilt, 2. Does it look like anything yet? #spinningstars, 3. Test block complete. Center points need a little work. : ( #spinningstars, 4. #2 loving this ring with the blue. Points still mushy... Might fix it at the end, might not. #spinningstars, 5. Prolly TMI but here is a close up of the center. I've tried one open and one nested. Anyone know another trick?, 6. Went on a cutting bender. Future #spinningstars blocks., 7. Block #4, 8. 4 of 12 Spinning Stars w/ Mosaicmaker, 9. Hubs offered to cook dinner so I could sew. Best! #spinningstars

• 6th - I dropped the kids off at school and picked up my fabric.
  
• 12th - The quilt along began, and I was so excited! After starting the laundry, I made a test block.
  
• 14th - A busy day, but I rode the wave of excitement and squeezed in another block.
  
• 15-16th - I took the family to the fair and had a date night with hubby. Fun, but no sewing.
  
• 17th - No time to sew, we needed clean clothes and dishes!
  
• 18th - After school, I set up crafts in the playroom for the kids, and I went on a cutting bender. I got most of my pieces cut out. Yay! Then I made dinner. We were starving.
  
• 19th - Super sour lime ring block done. Yes! Fist pump!!
  
• 20-23rd - Too busy to sew, but I'm still thinking about my blocks.
  
• 24th - Must-sew-now. I think I started twitching or something. Hubs offered to make dinner so I could sew. I happily accepted and started a few more blocks.

Inch by inch, I'm getting there.  Fourteen days and four blocks.  Progress is feeling so slow but I'll take it!

Popover Sundress by Oliver & S

I made this sundress for my daughter using a free pattern from Oliver + S. When I went to Quilt Market this spring I fell in love with the fabric line, Dress up Days by Doohikey Desgins. Shari had the cutest little dolls made from a panel she designed. I could just imagine my daughter, swinging and playing all summer with her new little buddy in a dress *I* made for her. Pretty dreamy, right?

Well the reality is, she refused to wear the dress and gave me the doll since I loved it so much.  What a stinker!!!

At least they were fun to make. All of the pieces for the doll are included in the panel. Just cut and sew. She comes with different outfits and her striped legs look adorable with all of them.

The sundress pattern was super easy. Liesl suggests adding some trim and I remembered I had some ric-rac in my stash. Oh yeah, there is nothing sweeter than a touch of ric-rac. This pattern is well written, easy to follow, and very straight forward. I especially recommend it if you want to try out garment sewing or if you need a quick and satisfying project.

Pattern: Popover Sundress pattern from Oliver + S 

Fabric: Dress Up Days by Doohikey Designs for Riley Blake

Meet my new fabric fairy... Dahlia.

Out of Hibernation with a Quilt Along

Apparently I hibernate in the Summer. Who knew?

Spinning Stars by Anna Maria Horner via ImAGingerMonkey on flickr

I am itching to start a new project!  Katy has a new quilt along starting tomorrow. Eee! We're going to make the Spinning Stars quilt pattern by Anna Maria Horner.

Spinning Stars in Chicopee

After much discussion, trial and futzing in EQ, I landed on a colored version that I loved. It's a little wild.  This is really more of a sketch. I wanted to see how the colors played together before I bought the fabric.  I'm planning on making mine one row longer to cover my feet.

Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt (plus a few others)

The fabric is Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt with a few more from my stash.

Now to make it. Wish me luck! I'm going to try paper piecing it using Ruth's template. It's only three pieces, why am I nervous?!?! You can read more about paper piecing this pattern in the Spinning Stars flickr group.