Go with the Flow
&
Go Confidently in the
Direction of your Dreams
Quilters are
in the dream-making business. They inspire themselves to create quilts for
beds, walls, art, furniture, window-treatments, and clothing. Quilters set
trends, follow trends, and skip trends with their quilts. They invent tools for
creating quilts to relieve stress, streamline techniques, and heighten their
passion. Meetings and workshops, retreats and solidary events have quilters
creating and making quilts in all shapes and sizes.
President Lisa
Mollenhauer mentioned her goal is to go with the flow. Go with the Flow is an
excellent anthem to remind ourselves to not take things seriously because one
quilter’s way of doing something may spring an idea for you to enhance your own
quilting experiences. And vice versa. Don’t be shy to share your knowledge and
struggles. Because you know CKQ will do something to take the spotlight off of
you and onto that huge quilting
stitch on her quilt. So what if it’s on the back? Some tiny finger will wiggle
under it and grin with drool gushing from his mouth as if he’s discovered that
greatest find of all times.
Oh yeah,
there are times to be serious; but most times, it’s time to giggle and share.
Quilters are the Dream Team.
Quilters
also makes - no, forces - others to dream too. Quilters make quilts for people
so they can drift off and dream their own dreams. People stroke quilts and
memories erupt from their brains like dream-lifeboats of past events bringing a
glow of happiness from their thoughts.
When people
see quilted art hanging on the walls or in a 3D form, their creative juices are
triggered and solutions to a nagging problem come to surface. Ideas form,
expanding their passions and turn their dreams into concrete goals.
2015 LUV Quilt: Scrappity-Do-Dah
2015 will
have a scrappy thread weaving through the Pueblo West Quilters meetings and
events. Lisa loves scrappy quilts and has a flare for color combos in her
quilts. She isn’t the only scrappy quilter on the Board. The PWQ Board selected
the Scrappity-Do-Dah quilt as 2015’s LUV quilt pattern. Can you imagine what
great dreams these LUV quilts will produce? Why, the future president of USA
might be snuggling under one of these quilts.
Check out
these websites for inspiration:
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/Free_Throw_Quilting_Pattern_Scrappity_do_dah
Basically,
take a square fabric and cut on one diagonal. Insert a strip of fabric, trim
the edges true and that’s the Lattice Block. Tips: Whatever the width of the
strip, add that amount to the diagonal measurement to get the length
measurement of the strip. For assembly of the block, finger-press each triangle
in half along the diagonal to find the midpoint. Fold the strip lengthwise to
find the midpoint and match press marks for stitching. This way you’ll have
enough of the strip hanging out at each end to square up your block. Oh and put
the triangle piece on the bottom when stitching so the feed-dogs can ease in
the “bias stretching” without too much distortion.
Bias siding…
Speaking of
distortion, remember those 2015 Resolutions (Challenges in CKQ’s case) you made
about having a healthier lifestyle? Have you considered rearranging your studio
so you can take a few extra steps to your iron? What about using your iron to
pump up your arms? Overhead? Off to your side? In front? Back? I recommend
using a cold iron just in case your muscles haven’t warmed up and your iron
slides through your fingers and presses into the floor. Or worse … creases your big toe!
Have a pin
spillage? Grab a magnet between your toes and pick up the pins while standing still.
Raise the magnet with your foot and grab it with your opposite hand. Empty the
magnet and repeat with your other foot. Great for your balance and toning your
core. And yes, holding onto to the furniture is a must. Can you imagine the
pain you’d experience if you lost your balance in mid-progress and you dropped
the magnet, your bare foot goes to the nearest rebalance point - the floor –
and you step on pins!!! Oy!
Exercise is
a must to keep us limber so use what you have as equipment. Don’t forget to
bend your knees and life with your legs when it comes to the heavy stuff like
your sewing machine. Two reasons: one, you don’t want to throw your back out
because you have a lot of quilting fun lined up to do. Two, your equipment is
expensive so maintain it. Speaking of which, when was the last time your
equipment had its tune-up?
January’s Block of the Month:
Friendship Star Block
January’s
Block of the Month is the Friendship Star Block and you have to autograph your
block!!! I mean, what’s a Friendship quilt empty of the well-wishes from your
friends?
Here’s a
website for construction:
Colors are
green and white with a twist: the center square is white, the star tips are
green, and the background is a different green. It’s your choice whether the
background is darker than the star tips or lighter than the star tips. A modern
twist to this traditional block. Unfinished block size is 12.5” x 12.5”.
The Wounded
Warrior Blocks are red and white, or blue and white; and if you want, add an
uplifting message to the center block square. (Ironing a piece of freezer paper
to the back will give the square stability when you use a fine point, permanent
marker.)
Quilters are in the
dream-making business.
Dream Big.
Go with the Flow and Make Quilts.
Cactus Kilter
Quilter
