The "Art" of Quilting

The "Art" of Quilting-

 So, I am about to begin a T-Shirt Quilt-not a quilt I had generally envisioned as something I would ever do. But a precious niece has a boy(man) she is very taken with and he wants a memory quilt of all his fire station T shirts. Now, being the daughter of a lifelong volunteer fireman, this project has occupied a space near and dear to my heart. And then the questions came.....What ever will I do with these very large "panels" on the back of these t-shirts? And how will I create interest, rather than just squares sewn together, and what if I am not talented enough to pull this off?? And immediately after the onslaught of doubt, I stepped back and watched the swirling questions cloud everything I knew I could do. In the space of "watching" the questions swirl, clarity came. The t-shirts will show me what to do with them. Perhaps only those who cut large pieces of cloth into tiny ones only to put them back into large pieces will understand those words. Sometimes the answers are in the fabrics. Patterns will reveal themselves. In the moments of unclarity-if we can step back and look at the fog-we can see that the fog isn't all there is-nearby, where it has always been, is clarity. The unclarity temporarily blocked our view of the clarity. It's that way with life too..The clarity and the unclarity are always there. Occasionally, we forget that and think one is gone. When in reality, it is obscured for a moment and if we sit with the fog and allow it to pass gently, clarity is revealed. Now, rather than get caught in the "unknowing" of making a t-shirt quilt, I am going to trust that the shirts will show me the way and that the finished treasure will be that indeed-a treasure for someone to hold onto, perhaps even in moments of unclarity..... wishing you a quilty weekend, barb

For my treasured new Quilters (young and old)!

I thought I'd use today's blog to cover some basics for beginning quilters whether young or old.

All the different cuts of fabric can be confusing to  someone not accustomed to the "lingo".

The wide range of cuts can make putting together your first quilt much easier. So, for the beginners, here it goes.

Fat Quarters-18" X 22"
Fat Eighth-9" X 22"

Fabric Strips-2.5" x 44" (wof-width of fabric)
Skinny Strips-1.5" X 44"

Charm Squares-5" squares useful for many projects
layer cake squares-10" squares

1/8 yd = 4.5"
1/4 yd= 9"
1/2 yd=18"
3/4 yd=27"

I hope this tiny little primer on fabric cuts is helpful ;)

Happy Tuesday Morning!

It's been a creative past week here at Seaside-I went to the cutting table and began putting together fabric collections and quilt kits.
I used to do business on a site called QuiltersAuction (it is currently not up and running and not owned by me) and there I found many wonderful customers who loved the kits and collections we created here at Seaside.

For some "quilty"/ "sewy" types the fun is in pulling all the fabrics together. For others that part is a chore. They might just wanna have a gorgeous bundle of fabrics arrive and then pick a pattern, or have an entire kit arrive and begin sewing!

We love to put those things together here at the Shop. And while the previously mentioned site had the "auction" feel, most of my customers did the purchase now option so that they were certain they got the items they wanted.

And so as I began rebuilding my site on the new host, I was sure to include Fabric Collections and Quilt Kits as specialty sections. Also, I am busy building the "Beachy" fabrics section so that we become known as "the" online shop for beach fabrics.

So, if putting together the fabrics isn't your cup of tea, check out the gorgeous groupings we have at Seaside. And if you have a project in mind...say, a purple quilt, or a beach quilt, or a baby quilt~ just send us your thoughts and we'll pull together some ideas and send you some photos for your approval
. 
Many of our kits now include the amazing Quilters Dream Batting in them, as well as the pattern and all the fabrics for the top of the quilt.

We, of course, have backing options available at an additional cost.

Wishing you a joyful day and as always,

Happy Quilting/Sewing,

Barb





                                                      Dear Stella Kit

                                   

                                                  Satsuki Quilt Kit

                                               Satsuki Table Runner Kit

"This is my first quilt ever"

"This is my first quilt ever."

I thought she was kidding..you know, teasing me. 

 I had a customer order some fabric a few weeks ago and we had trouble making ourselves clear via the internet, so she gave me a call. What a story she had.

The quilt shown above was the first piece of quilting she ever did. Her name is Mary and she is a character! Mary had never quilted a day in her life. Her sister was a quilter though. And Mary saw a picture of a Paula Nadelstern quick and promptly called her sister to request one be made for her. Well, much to Mary's surprise, her sister was not much into those teeny tiny little kaleidescope pieces. 

So Mary set out to make this quilt herself. She did not even have a complete book. She had a class pamphlet she had found somewhere and when she neared the end of her project she realized there were pages missing. So, her husband, who was a surveyor by trade, took his vast knowledge of angles and together they figured  out how to finish her project!!!

She went into her local quilt shop to get something to complete the project and the ladies were having a guild meeting in the back. The cashier that waited on her engaged Mary in a conversation during which Mary said, " I am not a quilter". Now, she had that stunning piece of art with her. So the cashier yells back to the guild ladies.."hey, y'all come look-this gal says she's not a quilter!!"...

Below are some other photos of her "young" work. She clearly, in my opinion has a gift that is rare.

 These were quilted by the renowned Timna Tarr, who said she had to sit down when and breathe when she first began to work on Mary's quilts. 

I am not sure when I have ever been more inspired..To sit down with a book, well, sort of a book, and do work of this quality is just breath-taking! You go Mary! (She's only in her 60's-imagine what she'll do when she gets some experience lolol!!!)

What a pleasure it is to serve my wonderful customers! Especially when I get to know them a little!

Happy Quilting on this first day of Fall!

barb

My List of Quilts....

The list of Quilts I've Yet to do....

Do you have this list? Either written or just stored carefully in your mind..

Of people who have touched your life so deeply  that you know there is a quilt in there just aching to be born for them. I do...

And I need more hours in the day-for to not make these quilts will break my heart. They simply must know that each stitch represents a moment or a memory or a thought of them that has touched me. A gift they have given me that without the quilt they may never know of their offerings to my heart.

Words often fail..Actions do not.  They reveal the hearts of those around us.

I have made quilts for people who, as it turned out, only wanted the quilt-figuratively speaking of course. But you get it-the "thing" was all they needed from me. Not the "stuff" behind the "thing". And those quilts, and those people have faded away now-not of my choosing. Of theirs. But the love I sewed into those quilts lives on. It waits for no welcoming door or offer of acceptance. It just rests there with love on it.

I have a quilt on the machine right now that i am struggling with. It is nearly ready for binding. But somehow, to finish it may signal the end of something I am not ready for. At least I tell myself I am not ready.

But I am determined it will be finished before the cool weather sets in here and it will go to the person I love and it will say the words I cannot find.

And then I will begin the next one, and then the next one, and then the one after that..

For in the end-all that matters is love. In whatever form you give it.

Happy Quilting,

barb

The "Rules" of Quilting.....

I had a young quilter contact me this week for a batting. And she needed it quickly so i sent it off straight away..

I just heard from her again this morning and she was so discouraged.

She had been into a local quilt shop where she was berated for her choices in thread, binding technique plan, and her decision to not pre-wash..

She was so discouraged, in fact, that she was contemplating whether she should continue to quilt or not...

I was appalled. As a craft, many of us desire to see quilting thrive. And it is seeing a resurgence in those trying to learn the art of quilting.

But, like all crafts, and forms of art, I do not believe there is "one right way" to quilt. And I do not think we will attract young quilters who may be able to learn some of the intricacies of quilting when we approach them with the "rules" from the past.

None of her choices were going to "ruin" her quilt, her machine, or most importantly, the gift of love she was offering to someone in this quilt.

To encourage the love of the art, perhaps as shop owners, we ought to embrace that our jobs are just that..to encourage "art" the way the creative person is envisioning. I am not saying we cannot offer helpful pointers about getting good cuts, or angles or strip piecing..But when we offer "our advice" without being asked, we are simply trying to assert our "right way" over someone else's idea..

I have no time for that. The world is already full of people who are discouraged at every turn. If you cannot lift someone up in their endeavor...well, maybe quiet is the answer..

Wishing you a happy quilting day,
barb

New Fabrics and Notions

Wow! It is September 2nd and 48 degrees this am in Virginia!! Feels like fall already.

And the fabrics for fall projects are gorgeous! We have new Halloween fabrics from Northcott as well as the gorgeous winter collection-Sherri Berry Holiday!

I sure got the sewing bug! We are working on turning some great Cherry House patterns into kits with the new fabrics.
Be sure and check the website for our new items.

And once again my mind wanders to the kits and patterns realm. Seems some quilters think that a quilt pattern must be done in the colorway on the pattern! What a limitation-changing the colorways or print scales on a pattern may completely rejuvenate a long loved pattern.

We love to take a pattern and turn it around with completely different fabrics. Quilting patterns are no different from sewing patterns in that-you wouldn't only make your skirt out of the one fabric shown on the pattern-the same is true with quilts! Open your mind and you'll find "new" patterns in your favorite pattern stash.

Fabric Trends

It is nearly Summer already and I find myself contemplating the never ending search for new fabrics. I have been drawn to more and more of the contemporary fabric designs of late and was beginning to think I had really grown weary of the "traditional". I was wrong.
I began to make some curtains for my soon to arrive first granddaughter's room and I had an epiphany.
Her curtains began with a modern print and something just didn't "feel" right. So I added a more traditional little flounce at the bottom and they were perfect!
I don't think I need to take the shop in just one direction with our fabric choices. We can blend the more modern and the traditional fabrics with great success. I knew that, but had somehow forgotten.
I am so grateful I was reminded!
So mix and match and create to your hearts content. Don't get caught up in just one mode!
Happy Quilting!

It's here!!! The Hoffman Challenge Fabrics for 2009! And they are stunning.
They also sold 35 yds in the first 12 hours! I wish I had doubled the order...
Be sure and check out the Challenge website: www.hoffmanchallenge.com
And visit us at: www.seasidequiltingsupplies.com to get yours before they are gone!

Happy Tuesday! I am excited about today...the possibilities are endless. New internet friends to meet, new experiences, a fresh day....

And we just got these darling some Beach Babe prints in from Hoffman Prints. They are so cute! This kit contains all the fabrics for the top of the quilt and the pattern.

We can change out the pink tonal and make the kit more blue for the special babe in your life!

I am personally working on a "beachy" blue, white, and cream throw for a gift for someone special. Will put up some pictures when it is ready. Must be ready by March 8th, so I better get to piecing. Write us to have us put together a special kit for you!

Happy Holidays!

The time has come! Our time to finish up is here. (I personally am still sewing rapidly..lol)

We love this time of year. Not because of the materialism of it (no pun intended as we sell material...), but for the chance it gives us to gather with those we love and share food, fun, and memories. I will not get to be with my mom, dad, and my siblings this year-and I will miss them terribly.

But we will have all of our children, Dh's mom and sister, and our friends nearby. And we will make memories and laugh-LOTS i hope!

I anxiously await the new year!

Of course, all of our other locations are still up and running:

www.seasidequiltingsupplies.com
http://stores.ebay.com/quiltbattingandfabricsupplies

www.fabricsbythesea.etsy.com

We look forward to serving you in the future! Remember we are always willing to cut fabric in any arrangement you 'd like.

Happy, Happy Holidays to you and your family!