Vintage Kitchen Socks

I love the names Emily Parson chooses for her hand dyed sock yarns.

This coloration would suggest a Vintage Kitchen to anyone who sees it in person.

My colors are as accurate as I could get.

This was a fun one to knit and I think the name had something to do with it. I’m not a vintage kitchen person but I love when others do a vintage kitchen.

I’m more a Scandinavian clean lines person with antiques thrown in for interest.

I’m glad to have another pair of completed socks finished as out weather has changed to sock wearing temperatures.

Simply Joyful

This is the most recent quilt I have designed for Robert Kaufman fabrics. It is 56 inches square.

It uses fabrics from the Harlequin collection designed by Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka.

When I get a collection of fabrics I let them tell me what they want me to do.

This is a simple quilt to construct but the fabric arrangement is what makes it work. I did try some other arrangements and the quilt just died.

The fabrics will be available sometime after quilt market in your local quilt shops.

The pattern will be available from Robert Kaufman.

This would be easy enough for a beginning quilter and also fun for a more experienced quilter.

Some of you may wonder why I am creating quilts with commercial fabrics. When they ask me to create a quilt I will only do it if I am inspired by the fabric.

The fabrics Michael and Debra create are the most exciting fabrics I have seen in a long long time. They WORK!

What Is A Journal Quilt - Rerun

When I was looking at the statistics for the number of views various posts I have done in the past received this was today’s most popular. So I revisited it and enjoyed it as well as all the great comments.

I thought maybe those of you who hadn’t seen this blog post from  April 13, 2009 might enjoy this post too.

What is a journal quilt?

There are many answers to this question.
None are wrong.
All are right.

For me making a journal quilt is a way to make a quilt on a regular basis with certain guidelines. Generally those guidelines include a consistent size. It is a chance for me to experiment.
When I made journal quilts for 9 months I used them as a way to make me do the work. It was also as a way to create something that was related to either something I was doing in my other quilts, classes I attended or taught or to try something new.
This Tutti Fruitti journal quilt used every little scrap of the fabrics I had left from the big quilt. I had to bind it with a fabric not in the quilt.
I used it to test a quilting design I was considering using. I didn't use it but used a similar quilting design on the larger quilt.

The quilting style I created on this shibori quilt shows up on many later shibori quilts. The fringed dot also shows up on other quilts.

This quilt started with the piece of giraffe fabric. My goal was to use good proportion in the piecing of the quilt top and have it come out the size it had to be. I also used this quilt to try out some new quilting designs. These quilting designs have also shown up in later quilts.
Please click on each one of these quilts to see the quilting designs more clearly.
What do YOU use as a definition of a journal quilt? I'd appreciate any of you with thoughts about this to post them in the comment section. By doing that others can also benefit from what you contribute to this discussion.

When I made this journal quilt I started with the piece of black and white shibori fabric. I selected two other fabrics that would be the supporting cast. The quilting echoes the shibori design as it spills over to the other fabrics. To add a little spice to this quilt I reversed the colors on the binding so they would not match the edge of the quilt.  Posted by Kay Koeper Sorensen at 7:55 PM Labels: hand dyed fabric, Hand painted fabric, journal quilts, My original design, My original technique

9 comments:

JYA said...

What is a Journal Quilt? A slice of inspiration; a manageable piece of art; an experiment; an idea that goes from your mind out through your hands and lodges in the mind of the person who views the art and interprets the piece, so that it has meaning to you and to them. The sharing of an idea that inspires you both.
Judy Anderson

April 13, 2009 at 9:04 PM

Antonija said...

I agree that journal quilts can be used as a means to try new techniques and experiment with different media, but I always thought they were to represent a personal thought/emotion/happening, much like a page in a written journal. That it expresses whatever is going on in your life and in your head at the moment. Or at least be inspired by such.
That's what a journal quilt means to me...
--Toni Mitt

April 13, 2009 at 9:09 PM

marion said...

How strange, someone asked me what a journal quilt was yesterday on my Facebook page. I said then that usually they are the size of a piece of printer paper, and that you make one per month, often 'about' a theme or 'about' daily life. I think myself that the term 'journal quilt' has come to mean a small quilt of a specific size, and doesn't necessarily have any bounds on content.

April 14, 2009 at 4:18 AM

Diane said...

The journal quilts at festival that excited me to start quilting were the ones that were about the artists' lives, thoughts, or memories. A page from their dairy. The techniques are incidental. I was not as inspired by the explanations of how something was done if there was no "why." An experiment in technique doesn't need to be completed with a binding to function as a sample. The journal quilts that combine both "journal" and "sample" are the ones that stand out from the black drape.

April 14, 2009 at 7:30 AM

Leslie said...

A journal quilt to me is a commitment to do a piece of work a month. It is also a great way to try a process I am not sure I want to invest a lot of time, effort or funds in if I am not going to like it. It is also a great record of progress as an artiste. I have 7 years worth of JQs and I love looking back at them as a reminder of where I was and what was on my mind at that particular time.

April 14, 2009 at 10:36 AM

Johnni Schell said...

"A record of experiences, ideas or reflections kept for private use" - that is how Webster (in 1965) defined the word journal. Happily, journal quilts are not being kept private. Testing ideas on techniques certainly fit the definition along with using them as a diary. I have found that most people do respond to art with a story or symbolism behind it. My question for journal quilts is this - when you have committed to making one each month or each week - what do you do with them all?

April 14, 2009 at 10:43 AM

Carole said...

Thank you for asking...to me a Journal Quilt is about size AND content... size first, then I like to document thoughts, statements, even some trial and error, in various media. I have learned big is not necessary to be beautiful. Your own pieces prove that!
What I have appreciated is the looking back... I go to some of my early ones that I thought were not so great and see things I hadn't noticed before. I view them as a documentary of my growth and development.

April 14, 2009 at 10:46 AM

Elizabeth said...

Re Johnni's comment about what do you do with them all. I have framed some of mine and exhibited them in a textile exhibition I had with a friend, an open exhibition of an Art Club I belong to and, best of all, had three selected for a mixed media art exhibition, i.e. they moved outside the 'quilt' world. I would like to sell some but have still to do my marketing for this.

April 14, 2009 at 12:28 PM

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your journal quilts. To me, they represent an expression of what is going on in my life and mind today. I am struggling with a change within me in how I wish to express myself through my quilts and creating journal quilts for a while will help me work through this issue. It is a very personal one, not so much related to materials and technique as it is to the content of my self expression. I plan a series of journal quilts, each of which will reveal something about me.

April 14, 2009 at 2:17 PM

Am I Or Was I A Painter?

While digging through some things I found this piece I painted over 30 years ago.
It’s always fun to look back and see one’s work with new eyes!
It looks like it could have been done yesterday and I can see it reproduced as fabric.
It was painted on a canvas/linen textured paper.
I am going to play with it and see what I can do with it.

Here’s a quick little version of it times 4.

Quilt Number 400–Old Florida

This is the 400th quilt I have finished. My goal was to reach this number this summer and it’s still summer!

The quilt is hand painted on raw silk. The shibori fabrics used for the borders are both silk and cotton.

If you think of Florida as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, the theme parks, the ocean, the Golf and the interstates you may not understand this quilt.

If that is your view of Florida you have missed the best part.

One of the greatest parts of Florida is between the coasts, and a little less than half way down the state.

There is a part of Florida that is disappearing as northerners build out some of the most wonderful parts of the state.

Have you been to the horse country around Ocala where some of the best race horses in the country come from?

Have you been to some of the little towns like Micanopy, Eviston, Mt. Dora, Eustis, Lake City or any of the nearby towns?

Have you driven the back roads and seen the moss hanging from the trees?

Have you taken a boat ride on the back waters?

Have you seen the birds, creatures and vegetation native to Florida?

Have you see the old buildings, some in shambles and some kept up beautifully?

Have you met the people who have been born and raised in Florida and are proud of their state?

It can be a softer more gentle Florida without the hurry up and wait mentality.

If you can’t answer YES to most of these questions it’s time you took time to really see Old Florida before it disappears.

This quilt pays homage to that special part of Florida – it is not one particular place, it is my vision of OLD FLORIDA!

Can A Blog Post Go Viral?

It has been almost a week since I last did a blog post.

So what have I been up to?

I have  been watching my most recent post explode around the country and around the world.

Seeing how many have shared this and how the shares have also created shares I am guesstimating that there have been tens of thousands of views of it.

In case you missed it this is the quilt I posted.

Two  of the most frequently asked questions was is their a pattern or a kit for this?

NO, it is an original design copyright quilt that can not be reproduced in any medium.

Yes, it is for sale. It has taken me a while to be willing to part with this. The price is $4999.00.

Email me if you are interested. I do have a layaway plan for any quilt over $500.

I like to respond to all comments when I post something, but unfortunately I have not been able to keep up with this one.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS LIKED, COMMENTED OR SHARED.

In Living Color For Your Enjoyment

This is one of my original design quilts I never tire of seeing. I won 1st prize Professional in the Jinny Beyer Patchwork Palette competition with it several years ago.

When I saw her first palette of 100 fabrics I got so excited I had to start a quilt with them. I worked on it over a period of years and finished it when the contest was announced.

It is pieced and hand appliqued. It is one of the last quilts I hand quilted.

Getting It Ready To Quilt

This is another quilt top I made many years ago. I am getting it ready to quilt.

The fabric I used for the 9 patches was one of my ugliest hand dyes ever.

Isn’t it amazing what happens when you cut up uglies and use them in small pieces?

The other fabrics are also hand dyed.

Note: It’s not really crooked…….it’s my photography!

Design Wall Experiments

Even though I am still committed to finishing quilts I am enjoying taking time to pin fabrics to the design wall to see how they play together.

These are some of the first fabrics I put up on the wall.

This is what I currently have on the design wall. I like all of these together but I certainly will have to work on the composition to make it work.

Of course I may not use all of them and may use others.

I want to make a decent size piece with these fabrics.

Still Another Pair Of Socks Finished

This is another pair of socks that just needed minor finishing. I knit several pair in lighter colors to wear when I am in Florida.

Of course the yarn is Sophie’s Toes from Emily Parson.

NO, I don’t work for her or receive a commission. I just love her yarn and the colorations. I probably have enough yarn for 20 more pair. I just couldn’t help myself. She also has the cleverest names for her colors.

Another Pair Of Socks Finished

 

I seem to be on a lime green journey recently.

As with all my socks they are Sophie’s Toes from Emily Parsons.

These were started months ago and finally finished.

I love wool socks all year around if and when I wear socks!

Still Working On My Design Wall With Shibori Fabrics

Since my priorities currently do NOT include creating new quilts, I can still experiment with arrangements on the design wall.

Possibly by the time I am free to create new work something will tell me it’s time to sew it together.

Here are some combinations and fabrics that are calling to me.

A possible group that might work together.

If you are a regular reader of my blog you may realize that these are just the beginning and the end results may or may not include one or more of these!

Circle Quilts Installation

I am sharing the installation photos of the final two quilts in the guest room

Secret Circles – How many circles and you find?

………And Then The Centers Fell Out

These have been hung on the opposite sides of the bed!

Quilt Installation: Mystic Spirit 1 & 2

We recently hung these two quilts in a guest room. They are between the door where you enter the room and the closet.

They are visible to anyone who is either in bed or sitting in the red chair.

Simply Sparkly Kit Now Available

I have just been notified that a kit for the quilt I designed for Kaufman Fabrics is now available from Keepsake Quilting.

Here is the information from their catalog as well as a link to it:

SIMPLY SPARKLY QUILT KIT

  Speckled prints with color shading make this quilt special.
Kit has piecing directions, binding fabric and precut 2 1/2" strips.
• Quilt Size: 70" x 70"
• Project: Pieced
• Project rating: Intermediate

Price:
$ 89.99

Part Number:
5251

Status:
In Stock

http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/5251.htm#

What a reasonable price for a large quilt that is already cut for you. It’s not to soon to start making gifts for your favorite people!

This is the quilt I designed with the Pointillist Palette fabrics from Lunn Fabrics. I know many of you have been waiting for it.

I GET NO COMMISSION OR FINANCIAL REWARD FROM YOUR PURCHASE OF THIS KIT FROM ANY PLACE. I JUST GET THE JOY OF KNOWING PEOPLE ARE MAKING A BEAUTIFUL QUILT WITH AN EXCITING GROUP OF FABRICS.

Glory Aura Installation

When I finished this I didn’t think I had any place to show it. I said that same thing to my friend Shelly.

After she left I thought it might work over the TV cabinet. I measured it and it would fit.

When Greg was visiting last weekend he hung it for me as well as 4 others in the guest room.

I had taken the glass pieces off the cabinet as I didn’t think they’d fit with it.

Because it was hung so high they worked perfectly.

Now anyone who is in the sunroom can enjoy this.

Family Fun Night!

It’s a rare occurrence that both sons are in town at the same time.

We had an impromptu pizza dinner and get together this week.

Left to right: Jeff, Kierstin, Jeff Jr., Julie, Greg, Nicholas and Jared.

When the grandkids get this old it is next to impossible to get them all here at once so this is less than half of them.

I think I have somewhere between 5 and 10 million things in this house. Jeff needed a punch to punch another hole in his belt.

Amazing that I was able to find it right away. It was Grandma Sorensen’s. I sent it home with him and I told him to put it somewhere so in case I ever need it again I can borrow it.

Shortly after that Kierstin was surprised to find out her Grandpa Jerry got his masters degree from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. That is the school she will be starting her freshman year at this fall. I was able to find the picture of him in his robe and the graduation program for her in a short time too. Love the fact that I still have my memory!

After dinner several of us had our phones out and the grandkids gave me some cell phone lessons!

It’s always a good time when the family gets together.

Just Playing!

My current priority is finishing some of my works in progress.

That does not mean I can’t play with my hand dyed fabrics between working on the quilts, company and other things.

These are a few fabrics I though might work in a composition.

This is one of my very favorite fabrics I’ve shibori dyed. It is only about 5 inches by 42 inches. I started another quilt with this fabric but it didn’t make the cut for the final composition.

Trying something else.

And one more!

Nothing is speaking to me yet, but I am only playing while I do other things. It’s all part of my process.