Motion Of The Ocean

The past couple days I have been making waves!  Not trouble...beautiful blue waves!  It has been a little sporadic with a moment here and an hour there, but its coming along!

I was asked if I was going to make another one any time soon and it just so happens I had that on the dreaded list of projects.  This time I decided to make two.  It made sense since all the fabric will be right there at my fingertips!

First thing was bring all the blues together in one spot.  I cut strips from 25 + different shades of blue and arranged them on the design wall.  Once I was happy with the 'flow', I began the piecing.

I start from the top and work my way down to the deep dark depths.  Cut, sew, press.  

A calm peaceful feeling always takes over during this process.  I love seeing where it goes, how it all comes together.

The pieces slowly come together bit by bit and my version, or my vision of the deep blue sea eventually emerges.  

The waves wash over each other, a playful splash here and there.  The sound, the mist spraying with each crash...can you tell it's been a long winter?!  I need me some beach life!

I keep building until it becomes close to the size I have in mind.  Which is about 13 x 17 when all is said and done.  

Both are finished and very soon will be ready for the quilting part.  Many, many waves of thread!

Another thing I love about my ocean, each one is different and unique. 

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TGIFF

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop

Curves Class Under My Belt

Last Saturday at our local Guild meeting I taught my first class on curve piecing.  Now, I will tell you that I was scared to death!  It is so out of my comfort zone.  I wasn't sure I would be able to explain, demonstrate or talk a good game.  I have a hard time putting my thoughts together where it makes sense to others!  I gained even more respect for those who teach!   

I was just happy that I got to spend the day with a group of wonderfully funny, talented and sweet ladies!

Set up and ready to roll!  Our plan for this meeting was to make a finished Mini and then have Stefanie (amazing talent) show us how to machine sew on the binding.

Everyone was hard at work...cutting and sewing.  No rulers allowed (until the end), no cutting mats with the grids showing!  All free hand cutting.

There were some intense moments!  Here is Jenny concentrating and hard at work.  

Fun fact:  Every time I used the iron I left it laying with the soleplate down. Luckily Jenny was right there to catch me!  I'm a little too comfortable with my Oliso i-Touch!

Success!  Debby showing her first curve!  

Katie, Vickey, Linda and Stefanie talking shop!

Callie kicked the curves butt!  She was so focused!  I also loved that she decided to use her hand dyed fabric!!  Jane has it going on too!

There was a huge variety of fabric getting curved to pieces! From hand dyed to batiks!

I didn't want to influence any ones creativity.  I love doing curved piecing and know first hand that anything can happen!  If you don't like where it's going...change it up!  Cut it up and keep going!

I'm happy that I have that class under my belt.  It feels good to share what I know in the quilting field and hope that at the very least, someone learned a little something! 

If you are interested in learning about curves, I have a basic tutorial here:  Curves Tutorial 

Mini Quilt With Prints

I'm getting ready to 'share my technique' of curved piecing at our next Guild meeting.  I'm not a comfortable speaker or teacher or anything like that...but I also know these ladies are supportive and won't throw rotten tomatoes at me either! (or pin cushions!)

With that in mind I thought I should make a couple curved pieces for sharing and examples. Plus it was also an opportunity to make a basic tutorial too!  You can find that here:  Curves Tutorial. 

Except for woven stripes, I don't think I have ever used prints in any of my curved piecing. What better time than now?  I'll tell you...it was a challenge!  I grabbed some Kate Spain Daydream, coordinating solids and was ready to roll!

I usually cut the strips before I start.  Once I decide on fabric, what I plan to make in the end ~ I cut random widths varying from 1" to 3".  Length is always a few inches longer than what the finished size of the piece will be.  For me, how curvy I want the curves determines the width as well.

I overlap my first two pieces by an inch or so and gently free hand a curve with my rotary cutter.  Think of your cutter as your drawing pen!

You can mark, pin and then sew your pieces or you can go rogue and just go for it.  Once you become confident and comfortable with curves, you'll most likely skip this step!

The most import thing to remember is you want to have nice, smooth seams.  Use small stitches, needle down and take your time.

Press your seam to one side.  

And begin again...over and over and over!  Overlap, cut, mark, pin, sew, press!

Before you know it you will have something like this.  Row after row of wonderful curves!

I decided to make a mini quilt/wall hanging with this piece.  At first I was unsure this would work for me.  Me and prints have a love hate relationship.  

I straightened up the edges, looked at it again and again...

...and promptly whacked it in to four 3" sections!

I decided to add a 1" white sashing and border, plus extended the Kona Honeysuckle wave. That took a couple times to line up correctly!

1 1/4" coordinating print.

And finish it off with a 2" white frame.  

18" x 13"

I have to admit...I was not sure I was going to like this at all when I started it.  It wasn't until I cut the 4 sections that I was sure I could make it work.  

It ended up being a sweet little mini quilt!  I machine quilted organic wavy lines and used Kona Honeysuckle for the binding.

If anyone has any tips on curves, I would love to hear them!  

LINKING:

Crazy Mom Quilts

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Curves ~ Tutorial

Curves.  Grab your pen (rotary cutter) and give it a try!  There isn't a right way or wrong way in my opinion.  What works for one, may not for another.  I have been getting my 'curve on' for a long while now, but you can bet there was a lot of trial and error in between!

This tutorial is the first time I have used fabric other than solids!  I'm telling you...that was a challenge!  

I like to start with strips.  The width of the strips will depend on how curved you want your curves.  I picked an assortment of fabric in prints and solids.  They vary in width, but the length is approximately 12" long.  

I picked two strips and overlapped one on top of the other about an inch.  

With the fabric lined up on the top (and over lapping), I take my drawing tool (rotary cutter) and cut a gentle curve from the bottom to the top.   Discard the scraps.   

If you have never tried curves before, I suggest marking several spots on your strips.  

Pin with right sides together matching your marking lines together.  This will help keep your curves lined up when its time to sew them together.

Sew the two pieces together using a 1/4" seam.  Go slowly, use a small stitch length and have your needle in the down position. You will be adjusting the fabric as you go, being careful not to stretch or pull the fabric.  You really want to have smooth, gentle curves.

Press your seam to one side and bring on the next piece!  

Again, over lap, free hand your curve, mark, pin, sew and press!  

Once you become comfortable with curves, it becomes easier and easier.  Your curves will have more motion, the strips will become smaller and eventually marking and pins will be unnecessary.  It's like taking the training wheels off your bike!

Keep cutting!  I cannot tell you how many times I was half way in to a curved project and just hated it!  I was ready to toss it in the trash!  I decided I was going to finish it regardless of all the wasted time and fabric!  You know what?  They ended up being amazing when finished! Keep going...you just never know!

I hope this was helpful in some way!  Curves are a lot of fun, the possibilities are endless!

I almost always flip my cutting mat over when cutting curves or pieces that don't need to be squared.  It gives a little extra life to the front with the grid for serious cutting!