Block Printing Webinar

Last month, I was lucky enough to notice that there was a webinar through the Modern Quilt Guild about block printing, specifically Block Printing Repeat Patterns. I've done block printing, but haven't really tried to do repeat patterns. So, I signed up and I *gasp* actually remembered to watch it. The seminar was awesome, the presenter was very clear and thorough as well as entertaining. Pantera Saint-Montaigne has a retail textiles business in Brooklyn called Brooklyn Mojo. I loved the step by step videos she shared and all of the resources that she provided. 

Based on her recommendation, I bought a baren to help in getting good, even contact with the entire block. That's always been one of my bugaboos, so I'm hoping this tool will help with that issue.

I also bought a couple things from the Brooklyn Mojo store for holiday presents this year. They are very high quality and the printing on them is very well done.

Pantera mentioned she'd learned a lot of her printing techniques from Jen Hewett, who also teaches online, I've just signed up for her block printing class on Craftsy.  There's a big sale on Craftsy classes right now so go check it out if you're at all interested. 

Jen Hewett's blog has all kinds of cool info, including a weekly print series called 52 Weeks of Printness, very fun and inspiring to scroll through and get ideas. 

I really love carving blocks and I'm looking forward to carving some more. I'll share my progress as I go through the Craftsy class.

Final Hearts

Luckily for me, the basting supervisor approved of my technique yesterday. Thanks, Meg. She was really just making sure there was no food related activities happening on the kitchen table that she needed to monitor.

I can't remember the last time I pieced, quilted and bound an entire quilt within six days. I'm exhausted but pleased that I followed through and got it done in time for the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild's collection.

 It was fun getting to use so many of my crazy rainbow-hued fabrics, saved up from quilts I made my children (and others) over the years.

 This quilt has something for everyone on it, trucks, bugs, angels, cats, ladybugs, zebras, alligators, lizards, butterflies, frogs, dragons and rainbows.

I truly hope this quilt makes it into the hands of someone (some kid maybe?) and that it makes them smile and know that someone all the way across the country loves them.

Fabric Surprise

I received a mysterious package from Michael Miller Fabrics recently. No paper with information inside the package, just two pieces of fabric tied up in a bow. I was completely mystified until I went to post about it on Instagram and saw something about the Michael Miller Challenge for the Modern Quilt Guild. I'd signed up for it and completely forgotten!

So now I have this really nice fabric, (seriously the hand of it is lovely) to design a quilt around. It has to all be made with Michael Miller fabrics, even the back and binding, so I'll probably have to find some more to make a big enough quilt. I really do like the colors that I was gifted with, so that's a good starting point. The print is a very nice and I can already imagine a lot of possibilities to utilize the lines and shading in the design.