Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Seeing Red

Brenda — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:47:57 +0000

I dyed several metres of fabric yesterday. Alas most of it is useless to me due to a severe case of RED-SPECK-ITIS:

Lisa, Annie and others have previously shared helpful tips for combating RED-SPECK-ITIS and I have been a faithful whisker and pantyhose filterer ever since. However, these dye solutions seemed to separate AFTER the whisking adn double-filtering.

I believe that pre-mixed dye powders are the cause of my problems. Normally I only use pure single-hue Procion dye powders but recently I was seduced by some yummy mixed colours. Never again! the results are just too unreliable.

The Power of Twelve

Brenda — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:56:16 +0000

The Twelve by Twelve website gallery pages have been updated to showcase our latest challenge quilts - MATHEMATICS.

Once again, the interpretations are diverse, compelling and often surprising. At this scale at least, I am struck by a square motif that can be discerned in over half the pieces - how theme appropriate!

Have a look for yourself and don’t forget to leave a comment on the Twelve by Twelve blog.

The Evolution of Simple String Theory

Brenda — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:26:20 +0000

Whether or not you like how a quilt turned out, it is often instructive to review the design decisions that you made along the way. In the case of Simple String Theory, the following steps were involved:

the spark of an idea - colourful strings hanging down;
audition of colour - these fabrics were from the same batch of hand dyes;
consideration of scale - I was aiming to make a 12×12in work and was conscious that seam allowances will reduce the width of the lines;
line marking - although many of my designs involve entirely improvisational free cutting, here each line and curve was quite intentional;
eight strings were not enough; and
the fluid quilting lines complement the piecing.

This piece started out as a contender for the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt project but I decided it was too abstract and slightly off-theme (string theory, while relying heavily on mathematical formulae, is more physics-oriented). Pop over to the Twelve by Twelve blog to see what I finally selected and all the other imaginative interpretations of the mathematics theme.

Wonderful Weekend

Brenda — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:33:42 +0000

I travelled interstate for a wonderful family weekend where this little angel was the centre of attention:

Festive Fare

Brenda — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:30:38 +0000

It’s a bit late for Thanksgiving 2008 but I have just posted my Holiday Ambrosia recipe. This concoction works well with turkey so, depending upon your menu, you could make it for Christmas too.

I’m on the lookout for tried and true recipes for festive fare. Not so much dinner table food but snacks and nibbles that can be pulled out when visitors come by or distributed to friends and neighbours. I’ll certainly be making Rooruu’s Lime Shortbread again but do leave a link for your favourite holiday fare. (By the way, I have temporarily enabled comment moderation but will be reviewing comments soon.)

Rosalie Dace Workshop at AQC 2009

Brenda — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:00:43 +0000

I have never done a workshop with Rosalie Dace, but I have heard her speak (twice!) about contemporary quiltmaking in South Africa and have been utterly captivated. I see that a space in Rosalie’s four day workshop at AQC 2009 has become available. Here is the class description for Branching Out:

Nature has created trees to be the largest life forms that have ever existed on our planet. They have given shelter, shade, food and inspiration for centuries to artists, poets and storytellers. Celebrate their beauty and diversity by using them as a basis for composition and design. In this class discover the different shapes, patterns, lines, textures, colours and symbolism of trees while experimenting with design and using various piecing and appliqué techniques to make a beautiful quilt top. These will include foundation piecing, block making and appliqué (hand, machine and reverse). Enjoy a feast of visual inspiration as well as discussions on embroidery, quilting and finishing. So branch out and try something new by making a stunning, well-designed quilt top based on trees.

Some lucky person will snap up this opportunity. If it’s not you, you can still be inspired by South African quiltmakers by viewing the gallery of South African quilts on the MY PLACE website or viewing the quilts in person at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne in February 2009.

Newsletter Software

Brenda — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:11:51 +0000

As part of my teaching and quilt design business, I send out an occasional newsletter once or twice a year. So far, this has been done with very simple tools - an Excel database, regular e-mail and a pdf attachment. I’d like to move to an html e-mail format with more sophisticated, streamlined subscriber administration.

Aweber comes highly recommended by ProBlogger Darren Rowse and I’ve heard good reports about Constant Contact. However, with monthly fees, these programs seem less suitable for my low-frequency, low volume requirements. My web hosting service Bluehost supports scripts for the following free newsletter software programs:

If you have any practical experience with any of these programs, I would be grateful for your insights.

Maths Lesson

Brenda — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:19:57 +0000

I have finished quilting my latest mathematics-themed piece as the most likely contender for the next Twelve by Twelve challenge which is due to be unveiled next week. I managed to break four needles in the process. I am quilting just two layers - the top and the batting with a view to using Mrs Mel’s Escape Hatch Finish and hiding the quilting with the backing fabric. This two-layer approach worked well with Simple String Theory where I was quilting in long lines. However, with today’s quilt, there are seams involved and my machine was protesting. Live and learn. I won’t do that again.

Maths Lesson (now called The Power of Three) is also a fabulous quilt designed and made by Lisa Walton and quilted by Nicole Bridges.

Another Kind of String Theory

Brenda — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:58:39 +0000

As part of exploration of the mathematics theme, I considered a pipe and string shibori piece and got this far [same panel: B&W; True Colour; Enhanced - thanks to Photoshop]:
I’d love to be like Gloria Hansen and have the opportunity to do a shibori workshop with Jan Myers-Newbury.

Anticipation

Brenda — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:13:26 +0000

Quilters Companion No 34 is due to go on sale this week. Inside you will find an article about the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt Project. I can hardly wait!

I am also looking forward to my very first cuddles with my new niece Sasha this weekend.