Modern Quilts–I Finally GET IT!

The “NEW” buzz word in quilting seems to be MODERN quilts.

What makes a quilt modern? Design? Color? Originality? Quilting?

It has taken me a long time to get it, but I finally do.

As I was studying the quilts on a modern quilting blog  I finally saw the light.

I have made a modern quilt and want to share it with you here.

Maybe Mondrian     In the collection of Marianne Lerner

Yes, I even hand quilted this one.

Yes, I made this modern quilt in 1981 – 33 years ago.

Which just goes to prove there is nothing new under the sun!

Sea Of Red Returned on Saturday

Saturday evening was our annual community Wisconsin picnic.

The food was delicious (brats and pot luck) and the company superb!

Even the cars were Wisconsin red and white.

There is such a variety of Wisconsin apparel at the party. I chose Mary Lou Fare’s shirt as the best Wisconsin garment!

Do you know the relationship between these two ladies? Sisters? Cousins? Friends? Classmates?

We fool a lot of people!

There was music and dancing and everyone had a good time.

The party was over in time for everyone to go home and watch Wisconsin play in the Elite 8 and advance to the Final Four.

That was the icing on the cake for all of us.

A Puzzle For You Puzzle Fans

I thought this picture of my scissors would make a great puzzle for you today.

My Newest Fabric Designs Available On Spoonflower

I have added two new designs that you can purchase on Spoonflower.

Each is an original designer fabric I created.

Vivacious Violet is an image of a quilt I pieced and quilted. It is a larger than life image of the quilt. This is another one of my designs that could be used as a whole cloth quilt or wall hanging. Maybe you want to try and use it for a One Block Wonder, or just cut it up into blocks and piece them with alternating plain or print blocks? If you choose to quilt it you can follow the lines I created when I quilted this.

Red & White and Black All Under began as a shibori resist fabric I hand dyed. You can get the look of a one of a kind hand dye at a fraction of the price you’d pay for the original. Think of all the possibilities of ways you could use this. How many designs can you create that radiate out from a circle in the center?

You no longer have to create quilts, wall hangings, accessories and decorative items with Ho Hum fabrics. These limited edition Designer fabrics are available for you today on your choice of fabric from Spoonflower.

Many of my designs are also available as wallpaper, gift wrap and decals.

http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/kaydesignsfabric

This link will take you to all the fabrics I currently have available for you to purchase. Many are limited editions so don’t wait as they might be gone soon.

Sewing Related Collections

This group of old scissors were all either given or bequeathed to me. I love the designs, finishes and embossing on them.

None of them are really usable any more, but that is not why I enjoy them.

Almost every one of these buttons are one’s I either purchased or were given to me. None are antique or vintage. At least I don’t consider myself vintage so how could the buttons be?

Almost all this selection of buttons are vintage or antique.

These bookcases contain most of my fiber and art related books in my studio.

This bed and the trolleys under it store many quilts. Some are antique, some made by me and there are also some works in progress.

I was fortunate to find this antique thread cabinet at a local antique dealers shop. It holds old thread on wooden spools which are for decorative use only. It also holds almost all my thread.

And my largest collection of all – my fabric palette arranged in color order on these shelves.

Alstromerias–Full And Gorgeous

If you have followed my blog for some time you know I always have a bouquet of alstromerias in this vase.

This is one of the fullest and prettiest I’ve ever had here.

Even the close up is gorgeous.

Yellow is not necessarily my favorite color but these yellow flowers are wonderful with the lime greens and purples.

I never tire of them and since they come in so many different colors I have an ever changing vase of color.

Fabrics I Have Created For You On Spoonflower

I have added several new fabrics to my Spoonflower store.

This one is called Playing Plaid. Like most of the fabrics I design it is suitable for a whole cloth quilt, a border on a quilt, and it will also create mirror images.
The fabrics I design are not like anything you can buy in commercial fabrics. They are special artist designed fabrics.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes is a large full width print suitable for use as whole cloth, borders, kaleidoscope cut up or just about anything you'd like. It is an original hand dyed fabric.
For those of you who are not quilters or sewers you can order one of these in one or more yards and hang it from a rod on the wall or in a door opening.
Can you image what a gorgeous whole cloth quilt this would make? The pattern also lends itself to fabrics they offer that make wonderful clothing.

Proud As A Peacock is another one that would make a spectacular whole cloth quilt or wall hanging. It runs the full width of the fabric.
Half the width could also make a stunning border on a bed quilt.

This version of Proud As A Peacock runs across the width of the fabric.
Think of the possibilities using this fabric. Perfect for Kaleidoscope quilts and exciting in a One Block Wonder.
Most of these designs can be ordered on any of the 15 different fabrics they offer.
Some of them can also be ordered on wall paper, gift wrap or decals.
To see all of the designs I currently have available go to:
http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/kaydesignsfabric
You can also find the link to my fabrics on my blog:
http://quiltspluscolor.blogspot.com/
These fabrics allow you to make a designer quality quilt or garment in a very short time. Great for gifts, baby quilts, wall quilts, throw size quilts, full size quilts and wearable art.
If you keep several lengths on hand, you’ll be able to make a last minute gift that the recipients think you spent hours slaving over.
You can order a swatch, a fat quarter or any amount of yardage.
Many of these would be prefect designs for drapes or other home decorating items.
Because of the time it takes me to create each design I introduce fabrics on a limited basis.
I’d love to see a picture of what you create from these fabrics.

One More Time–Another Quilt For Sale

LUCKY STARS   45 inches wide x 56 inches high

Price $1150

Price does not include shipping and insurance. Payment by PayPal or check.

This quilt is an original design and my original technique to create a 6 point star

The Jinny Beyer fabric border is perfectly mitered with identical miters on each corner.

This beautiful rose print is used to back the quilt. There is a fabric casing at the top to insert a slat or rod to hang the quilt.

Awesome quilting that compliments the quilt design. This close up of the back shows some of the quilting that was hardly visible on the photos of the front.

This is a generous size wall quilt that could also be used as a throw or napping quilt.

Prove Me Wrong!

I got an email from a friend this morning. She told me how she had taken a beginning quilting class. The teacher said you could NOT get perfect points by sewing a block together on the machine.
My friend, a talented professional costume stitcher sewed hers on the machine and they were PERFECT. The teacher said she was lucky…..NO, she was skillful and the teacher was a poor teacher in my opinion.
I had sewn for years before I began serious quilting. I had sewn almost any kind of clothing from the skin out. I had sewn drapes, bedspreads, slipcovers and just about anything you could imagine.
I have sewn almost all my work on the machine. Some things are easy to machine piece and some are challenging. I want to share a few of the more challenging ones with you today.

I didn’t expect all 16 points in the center of this quilt to come together without a hole in the center and knew I could just applique a circle over the center.

There is absolutely NO hole in the center and everything came out perfectly.

I pieced this Mariner’s Compass point with pieces I cut from a border print. It’s hard to tell where the seam is.

When I look at this quilt it is hard to tell where the seams are on the circular border. 

Yes, I can see them on the closeup, but when looking at the entire circle it is hard to find them.
It all depends on where one’s skills are as to whether it is better to hand or machine piece. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.
I try not to say there is only one right way to do something when teaching.
Yes, I share the way I prefer and think will be easiest for my students.
Whether it is piecing skills, quilting methods and designs, or use of color and design I demonstrate what I think works best.
When students question my ways, I always tell them to “Prove me wrong”!
I think that is a good way to challenge them to think for themselves.

National Quilting Day

I have decided my contribution to National Quilting Day will be sharing some of my favorite traditional quilts I have made through the years.

This is a miniature Amish Bars quilt I made. It is about 8 inches square. I hand quilted it.

This is a very simple 9 patch with stars quilt that was part of my Historic Concepts series.

This basket quilt was made in the 30’s style with a muslin background and what I call mattress pad style quilting. I photographed it before I removed the markings so the motifs between the blocks would show up better.

This pattern is called Lady Of The Lake. I titled this particular one Gardens of the Grand Hotel as it reminded me of the way the flower beds were laid out at The Grand Hotel in Mackinac, Michigan.

This is an original block I designed for a 15th anniversary. Although it is original, it has the feeling of a very traditional design.

Threads Through Time is a log cabin block that is a tribute to my ancestors. It is hand quilted around each individual log.

Through The Years is an original design using 3 different traditional blocks. It is the only quilt I am showing you that is machine quilted.

This Trip Around The World quilt was made entirely with silks. It just glows and works well in a dark spot.

Silk takes color so beautifully.

Since I started as a traditional quilter these are just a small portion of the traditional quilts I made.

I had no idea when I started that there were any other types of quilts.

A Reunion With A Long Lost Friend!

I spent a great afternoon with my first college room mate today, Donna Dempsey Lee.

She hasn’t changed a bit and I would have recognized her anywhere. It has been close to 50 years since we have seen each other.

I really enjoyed hearing about what she has done, about her family and where she has lived.

The most exciting thing is she lives about 10 miles from me so we will have more chances to get together.

I still remember the first time I walked into our dorm room and she was sitting there on the lower bunk.

I also remember her sewing skills…..I had never seen anyone who could do such small beautiful even hand stitches as she did on her award winning chartreuse skirt!

Yes, it is true…everyone moves to Florida eventually!

Knowing My Own Artistic Style

I’ve always loved quilts.

When I started quilting my goal was to make one of every block there was!

I had NO idea there were so many, but at the time there was so little information that I thought I could do it.

I also had no idea we could design our own blocks.

Along the way my interest in quilting took many different directions and paths leading to where I currently am.

Without those paths I could not be where I am today.

I am going to share some of my somewhat recent work with you so you can see where I am along that path today.

FAST FORWARD TO 2013-2014………………..

You’ve seen this one recently and it was the first time I’ve made blocks with freeform curved piecing.

I was never going to dye my own fabric…I thought it took too much time and I could buy it from others and save my valuable time for creating.

There is no way anyone else could have dyed this piece I recently dyed!

I know I am much more comfortable with my own original designs. 

I love designs that don’t repeat in a regular format and are asymmetrical and somewhat intuitive.

This doesn’t mean these are the only types of designs I create, but they are those I am generally most satisfied with.

I also have learned not to rush a piece to complete it. I know that like fine wine, some take a long time….even years and that’s OK with me.

Where do I go from here?

Wherever the path leads me!

Quilt For Sale At Special Price For Limited Time-SOLD

I will be offering some of my quilts for sale at very low prices from time to time.

Of course they will be on a first come basis.

If they do not sell within one week they will again go back to their regular price and be listed on my Quilts For Sale page.

http://kaysorensenshop.blogspot.com/

SERENITY is the first quilt I am offering.

I hope the Zen like design will create serenity in you life.

It is made with fabrics I have shibori dyed. The fabrics are 100% cottons along with a piece of special cotton linen damask.

The quilt was intuitively pieced. The quilting compliments the shapes of the patchwork.

It measures 15 inches wide by 25 inches high. It has a rod pocket on the back to facilitate hanging and displaying it.

Regular price: $520   Special price through March 16, 2014 11:59 p.m. $295.

SOLD

Prices do not include shipping.

I will accept PayPal or check.

If you would like more information about this  or would like to purchase it  please contact me at: kay@kaysorensen.com

STRATA–It’s Not Something You Eat

At least to a quilter it’s not!

I am currently working on a secret project that I can not share until sometime in April.

I’m in the process of making the strata for it and I am loving it. Once the strata is complete it will be “sliced and/or diced”!

This is a strata pieced to possibly use for the quilt I am going to show you.

This piece of strata was pieced diagonally and I sliced off one end to make it even. It could be used for binding or in the design process of a piece.

This is a small quilt I started years ago and haven’t yet finished. The thing that has been holding me up is that I ran out of the background fabric and need to create more.

This quilt will go on the back burner a while longer as I have other work with higher priorities.

This was made from a “form” of strata.

I used a striped fabric and just sliced it to create a Trip Around The World design.

I give the Seminole Indians credit for this technique as they have used it in their patchwork clothing since around 1920. this beautiful skirt is an example of Seminole patchwork.

 

We use our rotary cutters to cut the fabric and slice and dice the resulting strata.

Their method is to tear the strips. I know they used treadle machines to make their clothing at one time.

I’m not sure  what tools they use today.