Block shots for Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild

So I joined a quilt guild a few months ago and am trying to do some different things. I thought it would be nice to join a group that would help me challenge myself and encourage me to try new things. I sat in on a meeting of the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild (or mmqg, for short...) and I loved it! We do this fun block lotto each month where we all try to make a few blocks of a specific pattern or color palette and then a lucky participant wins the whole stack to do what they wish with. It is really great for me to make blocks I wouldn't normally think of trying and push my boundaries when it comes to color and fabric choices. 

This fractured star block had the wildest chartreuse green. To be honest, I really had some reservations about the bright color so, of course, I won the whole stack and had to make a quilt with them!!! { More on that later.}

This block was from a Madrona Road fabric line challenge. Again, colors I would not normally choose but really enjoyed working with. It is destined for a group quilt.

This one was a block lotto using free pieced wonky geese blocks and a color palette from a website called design seeds.

We also have done a 'cookie exchange' style block swap where all the participants make a number(18) of blocks and then swap them so we each go home with 18 different ones. Lots of fun to see what each person will make with their completed block sets.

These last two were a classic Kansas City Star block called Letha's Electric Fan and I was really excited to make them. The design is  so fresh and summery. The personal challenge for me with these was to use solid white ( I was surprised I even had any...) but I am pleased with how crisp and clean they came out. I won these as well and am trying to think of what to make with them. 

Scrap/string quilt with shot cotton

For a New Year's challenge I am trying to incorporate more solid colored fabric into my quilts. I picked up some shot cottons a while back at Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul and I figured they are as close to solid as I am likely to get. (Shot cottons are made with a yarn dyed technique where the warp and the weft are different colors giving them a depth and subtlety not found in regular printed fabrics.)  Since I have always enjoyed string quilts and am drowning in scraps this was just the project to start the year off right. It is really freeing to just sit down and sew bits together since I usually do paper piecing, which can be a little fussy. After I had thought of doing something like this I found a book called 15 Minutes of Play  by Victoria Findlay Wolfe which goes in depth into creating modern string/ scrap fabric and quilts. Although this isn't a quilt from that book, it is definitely inspired by the technique and philosophy outlined in it. 

 The best part of sewing this is seeing all the precious little scraps and remembering where they came from and whom I was sewing them together for originally.

End of the World's Fair Quilt

I spent the second half of August on the side of a mountain in North Carolina at an event called the End of The World's Fair. I set up a quilting tent with fabric, thread, scissors, books, and other sewing supplies. Everyone was encouraged to try their hand at stitching and anyone that wanted to leave a piece or block with me could contribute to a group quilt. A few people took fabric and inspiration back home across the country with them and mailed the blocks in later. Here are a few pics of the top so far. As you can see a lot of people incorporated embroidery and applique as well as commemorating specific days and events at the Fair. I used a few neutrals and a hand printed linen for borders as well as a bright poppy print. This one will be hand quilted and mailed back to the hosts of the Fair at the Last Resort. {Hopefully before the world ends...}

Tall Bike Quilt for Sheena

I designed and stitched this quilt for my good friends' first baby, Sheena. The smaller piece is a receiving blanket that converts to a standard pillow sham later on. I machine quilted this one in a star meander that loops back onto itself. It was finished right before Halloween 2012.

Levi's Quilt

This is a quilt I finished 2 years ago for my nephew Levi. I recently got to visit it and get a few snapshots. It was designed by me with inspiration from fields, sunflowers, and dandelions. I machine quilted it with a rambling design of curls, butterflies, and stars.

http://artvscraftmke.blogspot.com/
This is this weekend! Please come and see me ( and a gazillion other awesome crafters!) at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee!

Green Gift Fair Link

http://www.doitgreen.org/gifts-fair