Liberation!

It is getting warm in Ohio!  I think our Spring lasted about 5 hours!

But no matter how steamy the temps, the quilting continues :)

sorry for the pictures...not sure if it was the light or my camera

 

 I love revisiting liberated quilting....Gwen Marston is the woman behind this process.  If you have not heard of Gwen or read any of her books....I highly recommend them.  I began quilting long before the days of blogs and you-tube videos.  I read every quilting book I could get my hands on.  It is wonderful to have the internet for quick research, but I think books are so much more comprehensive.     

How fun are these 'sails' in pops of solid color! Liberated Quiltmaking is a very forgiving process.  No need obsess over seam allowance or accurate cutting.  

I have posted a tutorial on the process for making this block...but it is worth a refresher...

Begin with your foundation piece of fabric.  I have used Kona Snow for my foundation fabric...the piece in my example is 4" X 6"...therefore my block will be 4 X 6.

     

 for the 'sail' you can use scraps of fabric...the smaller the scrap the smaller the sail....and vice versa.  

I have cut a solid red piece a little larger because I want it to extend from the lower left corner to the upper right corner.

Next I place my red fabric on top of the snow foundation fabric.  Place it so the corner you want covered is exposed.  This can seem awkward, but as soon as it is stitched you will flip it into place.

  

  

stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance and flip the 'sail' piece open and press.

   

now turn the entire block over so you are looking at the wrong side of the block.  Using your ruler and rotary trim the 'sail' even with the edges of the foundation piece.

You can see my red fabric is much larger than I needed....

Next, trim away the excess foundation fabric to reduce bulk.

There you go!  Now you can set your own sails!  Make your own summer sailing quilt!

xo mary

Way Down Yonder in the Paw-Paw Patch....

When I was a young college student studying to be an Elementary School teacher....I applied to be a part of a select group of students that would learn and teach Education Through the Arts...

The idea was simple...take a concept and develop lessons to teach that concept using all forms of art.  So we were dancing, singing, drawing, painting and acting our way through the multiplication tables!

It made so much sense to me - in fact, my own children didn't realize it, but I taught them {before sending them off to kindergarten} using the same techniques.  

I think I approach quilting much the same way....

I have baskets on my mind this week - partly to blame on Molly {love the name} and her sweet little quilt....

So I have been making baskets....

Baskets with Rik-Rak....and baskets from Dresdens....

This basket idea has been floating around in my brain...so I used a bit of my Birch fabric, part of an old vintage table cloth and dress it up with some lace, ball fringe and of course, Rik-Rak!!!  Maybe a bit too fussy....

But my real purpose for working with baskets is to develop a quilt for my living room.  I have a large wall space that has always had a quilt hanging.  Right now I have my Cheery Dresden Plate, but my children complain that it is just too cheery.  So I have been thinking about what would suit this space and my tastes, but for goodness sake not be too cheery!

When I stumbled upon Molly's {Country Hill} quilt I thought that just may be the ticket...

  

So I gathered some off whites and linens.  I do love a pieced background...it gives a quilt texture and depth....

And I began piecing baskets....

I am fighting the urge to use dots and bright colors....it is a struggle...LOL!

But I do love subdued tones...and the whimsy of these liberated baskets....

Oh, and the Paw-Paw.....that was a song my mom sang to us when we were little.  In the song you would put them in your pocket, but I suppose you could put them in a basket :)

Happy Tuesday....I just felt the earth shake a bit ago...a 5.9 earthquake in D.C. area....wow!

mary      

SHAZAM!!!

As I work on my Critter Community / Log Cabin On Point Quilt.....I have accumulated quite a stack of corners!  The extra parts of the block once I have trimmed....

So to be resourceful and not wasteful...I took a couple of corners....

Stitched them together on the long edge....squared it up....and SHAZAM!  A new block...using my cast-offs!

I am just imagining the possibilities....framing these blocks with a solid kona....or sashing them all in white....a mass of colorful blocks swimming in a sea of white!  How pretty and fresh!

Yesterday I need a little retail therapy so I hopped on over to my favorite little shoppe....and bagged my kill  made my purchase!!!

YAY!  A bunch of Happy Mochi Yum Yum!!!  This bright bunch of fun is perfect for my next project.....thank you Monica for designing such a great fabric line!!!

Then I set my sights on some Flower Sugar.....again perfect for my next project!

This fabric is just so sweet!

Happy Friday!!!

mary

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul Improv.....

Wow!  Had an epiphany this morning so worked up what may be a very fun quilt on my list....

One of my all-time favorite blocks is Robbing Peter to Pay Paul...my only problem is the large expanse of space in the center for just one fabric....

So the answer may just be to "liberate" this block....

Then of course add some fantastic perle cotton stitches...

Yep...definitely kicks RPTPP up a notch....

Excuse the wrinkles....you can't imagine what this little block went through this morning ;)

The template for this block came from Marti Michell.

Happy Hump Day!

Mary

A Tisket, A Tasket...

Taking a break from the "must do" projects...and working on a liberated basket quilt....

This is such a fun way to design a quilt...no templates...little measuring and the freedom to just go with the flow...I am working with a variety of yellow spots for my background.

Adding some pieced sashing should spice up these little beauties...I love making my own jiggy sashing!  

And in my humble opinion, nothing goes together better than dots and gingham....well maybe argyle and dots!

 

Have a great weekend!

Mary

Free Range Quilting

I was explaining to my sister the idea of creating quilts with a relaxed attitude...such as the wonky block, liberated quilting, modern quilt making / Denyse Schmidt style.  Add some chunky stitches with perle cotton and what could be better?  So she says to me, " You mean like Free Range Quilting?"  I love it!  How clever and perfect to call this style - Free Range - thanks Shawn!

So I have been working on a few Free Range blocks....searching through my Electric Quilt program - finding traditional blocks to switch up.
Shoo-Fly....

Eight- Pointed Stars....

Baskets......too cute!

Friendship Star....

Pinwheel....

 

I think my fun is done for today....off to Drs. appointments. 

Mary