DS Challenge - Results are In!

Amazing ladies! You have all out-done yourselves! I am going to start compiling the Denyse Schmidt Florence challenge projects here so the world can admire them. Make sure to send me a copy of your file along with the work's title. I will add them here as they arrive and forward them to Denyse. You can also see more photos of all the project on our Denyse Schmidt Florence Challenge Flicker Group.  Now on to the show!

Becky Morlier, Grassfire

Pam Biwas, Duomo Steps

Becca Bryan, Tribute Star

Becca Bryan, QAYG Traveling in Circles

Dea Larson, Fire Flocks

Dea Larson, Birdhouse

Deirdre Rozowski, Summer

Ila Zimmer, Shanti=Peace (yoga mat)

Mona Keegan, DS Florence Quilt

Frieda Zuerner, pattern - State Fair by Jen Kingwell

Sally Keller, Today I am Thankful

Anna Veach

Patty Sloniger, Are We There Yet?

Liz Pawlik

Tammy Blackburn, Florence Star

Make it, Modern Series {Introduction}

Modern quilting is multifaceted. Come to a modern quilting exhibit or a modern quilt meeting and you will see a wide variety of quilts. The variety is so wide that it is difficult to box modern quilting in with a definition but there are a few defining characteristics of modern quilting. The Modern Quilt Guild provides an noninclusive list of possible characteristics of modern quilting including:

"the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work. "Modern traditionalism" or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting." (The Modern Quilt Guild)

And like my mama always said, there's more than one way to skin a cat. I'm not really sure there is, but there are numerous techniques modern quilters employ when making a quilt. And each quilter has a preferred method.

One commonality in modern quilting is the usage of social media as an online quilting bee. To highlight the diversity of modern quilting both in design and techniques, we introduce the Make it, Modern series. And we invite you to sew along with us in a unique quilt along. 

The Make it, Modern series is designed to be a "how to make a quilt" series with an added challenge of make it your own. We encourage participants to create their own design based on a traditional block: the shoo-fly block. While the series will feature a specific quilt design that you are welcome to follow, it would be so cool if participants would each make a quilt from their own unique design and inspiration.

Here's the anticipated schedule of posts:
Introduction
Basic & Favorite Notions
Block design & fabric selection
Cutting
Block Piecing
Quilt top assembly
Making the Quilt Back
Basting your quilt
Quilting
Making the Binding
Binding
Show off your Quilt Party

At each post, participants will be given an opportunity to link up and share photos of their progress and their thoughts on each quilt making component (Do you prefer to press your seams open?)

Aurifil Thread Giveaway at July Meeting

Aurifil has sent us several spools of thread in lots of yummy colors. Everyone gets their choice! The only request is that you blog, tweet, instagram, Facebook, about what you made and that it was with thread from Aurifil.  See you at the July 20th meeting!

Denyse Schmidt Challenge WIP

DS Florence Challenge Group

With the challenge deadline looming there are more and more photos being posted to our Flickr group for the Denyse Schmidt Florence Challenge.  Please check them out!  I know Denyse liked some because she used them at her School House slide show in Portland! More dirt on this honor in a later post.  For now, enjoy the fire...

Becky's GrassFire