February Challenge
So, continuing with the theme of curves and the Places You’ll Go! (See December/January posting below), I have decided not to let my misadventure with the Modern New York Beauty block “take the wind out of my sails!” The blocks have been freed and will be re-imagined. I realized that this setback is not “The end of the World!” and I was inspired to find a new pattern that would provide “Smooth sailings!”
The
designer piloting my course this month is Libs Elliott . Personally, I’m looking
forward to Smooth Sailing and La Fin du Monde for my next quilts. I have linked for pattern information.
These would be perfect for using up stash and leftover
pieces.
Anybody interested in sewing along with me?
Hashtag suggestions #ottmqg #curvedpiecing #moderncurves #ottmqgchallenge #ottmqgshowandtell #igaveitatry
December/January Challenge
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
What does this have to do with the Curve challenge? Well, the places I have been this month… I started off very excited and enthusiastic. I completed my first blocks and as Seuss puts it, “You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.” The Show and Tell quilts that our members present each month inspire me to go down new roads. There are a lot of talented people in this guild!
So, looking for inspiration I went down those online paths. You can spend hours ogling so many gorgeous quilts that are out there. “You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across wierdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place…”(Seuss) Yes, that about summed it up! I was stumped and frustrated. What do I do now? I’ve gone down this path that seemed to hit a wall!
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
have been working on, so we don’t feel alone?
President/VP Challenge 2021-2022
Do you have a quilt block that is on your bucket list to try?
Mine is the New York Beauty! I went down the rabbit hole (officially known as YouTube) and came across a modern version of this block. I pulled out some stash fabric and another WIP is born!!!
I was not too daring on this block. But I have ordered some more fabric and I’m planning to distort the curves a little more, add variety to the point sizes and practice some applique. Who knows where this will go!!!
Nancy from OnPoint TV has a series of four videos. The first shows some inspiring quilts in her trunk show of Freestyle New York Beauty
The second video helps you draw a pattern free hand. Two more videos show you how to paper piece the points and sew the curved pieces.
How much fun would it be to make a road trip photo shoot of improv NY Beauty quilts in New York?
In the meantime, let’s share some of our exploration in curved piecing… Hashtag suggestions #ottmqg #curvedpiecing #moderncurves #ottmqgchallenge #ottmqgshowandtell #igaveitatry
This year we thought we would throw a curve into the President’s Challenge and slice it over to the VP!
Last year was my first year with the OMQG and I truly enjoyed the experience. I was inspired by the guest speakers like Peter Byrne, Sherri Cifaldi and Cindy Grisdela. I tried new techniques like improv piecing, Big Stitch hand binding and exaggerated scale. Some of those Block of the Month challenges ended up in full size quilts! I’m told the in-person meetings are even better, so I’m looking forward to those!!! I learned so much that I felt I should reciprocate when Cheryl put out the call for someone to fill volunteer positions. Hopefully, I can help lighten her responsibilities and contribute challenging and enjoyable ideas for all the guild members. I also enjoy golfing and knitting, so pardon the puns!
This quilt was the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild submission to the Modern Quilt Guild Community Outreach for 2021. A guild group effort headed by Jenn McMillan. Obviously, we have a lot of talented people in our guild who are willing to share their expertise. And I bet they realized there is always more to learn when they were putting this quilt together.
So…
This will be a challenge to explore or expand your curved improv piecing skills. Results from the survey sent out last year indicated this was a technique of interest. Each month, I will suggest a link to encourage you. It may be a designer that includes curves in their compositions, a video for curved techniques or a project that incorporates curves. You can use these creative pieces to make placemats, wall hangings, larger size quilts or get really daring and make a quilted jacket!
The goal is to have fun, be creative, learn some new skills and just give it a try! Please share online so we can inspire each other. It will be great when we can do it in person.
Let’s get started with some basics …. Leslie Jenison has an introductory curved improv video on the Modern Quilt Guild website. For the quilters who are comfortable with curves, share your makes and some cheer to the postings!
Hashtag suggestions #ottmqg #curvedpiecing #moderncurves #ottmqgchallenge #ottmqgshowandtell #igaveitatry
Karen Mahoney
Vice President, Ottawa MQG
This is awesome, I love the random feel for the challenge. Looking forward to a great meeting.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing everyone's take on this.
DeleteThis looks like fun. Is there a # tag to use to nudge us along on social media? Thanks, karen.
ReplyDeleteGood idea. Some hashtags are now listed at the bottom of the article.
Delete