Kristin Shields Quiltmaker

Stitching a Raven

My Night Circus quilt is coming right along (previously blogged here).  I have never had such an easy time with a book quilt.  I will have this done over 6 months ahead of time!  I think it's because I decided not to obsess about it and add a million details. It's actually pretty simple, and except for the hand applique, is all done by machine.  I am posting these photos to show my hand applique technique.  The raven is done with black silk.  It's a fairly substantial silk, so it's pretty stable, but it is slippery.  I didn't use any kind of stabilizer here.  Most of the time with cotton I don't bother with thread basting unless the pieces are unusually large.  The raven is large and also has those annoying points and is slippery.  

I draw the design out onto freezer paper.  Then iron the freezer paper to the applique fabric right side up.  I draw around the pattern on the fabric with a Sewline pencil (my favorite for white and black lines).  I cut out the applique (adding a scant 1/4" for the seam allowance) and remove the freezer paper.  The applique is laid on the quilt top in place and pinned in a few places. I then thread baste about 1/2" in from the line that I drew.  I use a blind applique stitch with lightweight thread and clip corners as I go. I use a combination of hand and needle turning. and usually just do a bit at a time.  I like to turn a few inches or a small section and pin in place, then stitch.  

I spent the weekend working on the raven and was so happy when it was done.  I also remembered that I needed some tent flags, so I did those.  I got the quilt layers basted on Sunday night and started machine quilting yesterday.  

Yesterday I started with the big tent, then did the background around it.  I followed up with the smaller tents this morning and just did the raven.  One thing I hate is marking.  I don't mark when I hand quilt and I sure don't want to mark when I'm machine quilting.  I think there would be no way I could stick to the line and the thought of having to later remove the lines gives me the willies!  So, with the raven I did one section at a time, deciding how I wanted the long wing feathers to look, then deciding what to do with the top part of the wing, etc.

I am so pleased with how it came out!  Do I sound surprised?  I am, I really, really am.  For many years I struggled to machine quilt and thought that I'd never be pleased with my own effort, but I think I've improved a lot in the past few years.

In other news,tomorrow night, Wednesday, January 28, I will be doing the program at the Sisters quilt guild (aka East of the Cascades Quilters).  It takes place at the Stitchin' Post in the classroom at 6:30 pm.  I will be doing a Trunk Show (aka glorified show and tell) with some of the quilts from the last few years.  I'll also have my newest pieces, including this one!  Hope to see some locals there.

Studio buddies

Scrappy Times at Home

Whew!  It's been an other whirlwind few days with lots of quilty goings on.  We had the SOQS Volunteer Appreciation Party, which is always fun.  I got a very nice thank you package with wine, a gift certificate and a stack of fabric.  Sarah gave me some of the coffee in her package, so I got that too.  On Thursday was the SAQA meeting, my knitting group and my book club in the evening.

At the same time, I managed to finish the piecing and get this scrappy quilt machine quilted.  Below are some close ups.  This quilt includes all sorts of scraps from older novelty prints to Kaffe Fassett.  This will be donated to my guild's community quilt program.

I am still working to clean up the studio so that I can start fresh in September.  It'll be like going back to school and I'll be concentrating in some areas that I'll share later.  Even as I finished this one, I knew I had enough scraps for a bunch more of these community quilts.  I also knew that it was really starting to drain my energy to work on things that aren't furthering me as an artist.  I have only so much time in the next 6 weeks to get things under control and I have some trips coming up and so forth.  

So, even though I love scraps I just realized last night that I can actually sell/giveaway some scraps and life will go on.  Why is it that it took me so long to accept that?  Anyway, three bins later and I'm making progress.  I decided that it would be better to sort them.  Some scraps are not usable except for those dedicated to small pieces and skinny strips.  The rest was sorted into color piles.  I will be selling these at the Mt. Bachelor Quilters' Guild show on August 16.  I have also raided my magazine piles and book shelves, cleaned out several drawers of ancient projects and old notions, etc.  Things are looking up!

PS. Thank you to those who commented on the previous blog post.  There is still time to get in on the giveaway!  If you want to be in on it, please see the end of the previous post and comment there:  SOQS 2014 :: SCRAPS (AKA ODDS AND ENDS)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Look who's joined the studio owl team?  Isn't he adorable?  This is Willy Hootle, a spun cotton owl made by Vintage by Crystal on Etsy.  I had never heard of this technique before, but it's a traditional German craft. 

These photos were taken on Monday, when we still had some snow.  Today is grey and rainy, but my owls are still watching over me and making me smile!

Hola and Happy New Year!

I'm baaaaack!  You know it's bad when your husband mentions the lack of blog posts for over a month!  Okay, getting back in the swing of things always takes longer than I think it will.  We got back on New Year's Eve, unpacked, did laundry, and repacked to take Chloe to college again.  Got back and it still took a week to feel like I had the house under control.  Then I didn't feel well for a while.  

Well, just now, I was sewing and realized this is the exact light that makes sewing a real joy.  That midwinter sun is low enough to come right in my studio window.  Perfect!  

On the machine now is a project for the Riley Blake Challenge for the Modern Quilt Guild.  I decided to do an improv/liberated log cabin variation called Housetop.  This is also doing double duty for my Mt Bachelor Quilters' Guild challenge (Log Cabin Variations).  I just started this last night, my first sewing in over a month.  Feels good to be back.

Our trip was absolutely fantastic!  I will have more to say about that soon.  I also have thousands of photos from our trip to go through and will be compiling a slideshow at some point.  I'll post here when I do, just in case you're interested.  I did get an awful lot of great animal shots.  

The new year is shaping up to be busy.  I've got lots of projects with deadlines already, works in progress that I'd like to finish, contests, challenges, etc, etc, etc!  What's on your plate for the new year?  New ideas and projects?  My word for the year is REST.  I want to get plenty of it.  Last year was pretty busy and exhausting.  It was a big one for us all.  This year, I hope to recoup some energy and refill my tank.  

I still have openings in my teaching calendar so if you have a group, guild, or shop that would like me to come speak and teach check out the links in the header.  Thanks and have a wonderful 2014!

A Visit with Salley Mavor

Sorry for taking so long to finally post this!  I guess I lost my blogging mojo for a bit, but I was also taken down with a bout of vertigo which lasted about a week and then had so many projects I was behind on, it took a while to catch up.  

Anyway, I was so thrilled to be invited to Salley Mavor's studio while we were in Massachusetts in July.  I was excited to be able to see the last days of a very special exhibit at Highfield Hall in Falmouth, MA.  The Fairy Houses of Beebe Woods was such a lovely way to experience this historic mansion.  Chloe and I went for a visit to see the fairy houses and were really enchanted by the whole thing.  Afterwards I sent Salley a message that I was so happy to have seen it and she asked if we would be able to come visit her studio!  Wow, what a treat!

Salley is the author of Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects.  She has also illustrated many children books with her amazing fabric relief pictures.  Be sure to check out Salley's Etsy shop if you would like to see more.  She has a way with felt that is incredibly charming.  Come along with us as we check out the creative space of this fabulous artist!

Salley's studio is in a second floor space over her garage.  It's a large space, filled with creativity and inspiration and many of her older projects.  We spent about an hour, chatting, looking around at her work tables, current projects and her objects of inspiration.  Be sure to click the photos to see the details.

This is a detail of a the fairy house that Salley contributed to the exhibit at Highfield Hall.  That's a milkweed pod swing.

This is one of Salley's creations depicting herself and her husband at their wedding.

The bird display is a family heirloom.  She still has the trolls she played with as a child!

There are many lovely vignettes in her studio.

These are some of the dolls heads she is working on as she prepares to update and expand her Felt Wee Folk book.  The word is the updated edition will be published in 2015.

I hope you enjoyed that glimpse into Salley's studio.  She is just a warm and funloving as you'd imagine from looking at her work.  Thanks for the tour Salley!

Blue and Orange

Blue and orange seem to be taking over the studio.  I was just standing in my studio, looking at my table and realized that this is quite a coincidence.

First there was the liberated cat quilt that I got out and started making more blocks for over the weekend.  

Then there were the piles of fabric I just pulled for a liberated star quilt for Ryan.  You see, his graduation is coming up and I just realized that he'd be due a quilt!  Hurray, another quilt to add to the growing list.  Fortunately, I know I will love to make this one and I think it will do double duty and be in the show this July too.

For the past two days I've been obsessed with trying to make a plan for my next Novel Idea piece.  This year the book that has been chosen is The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.  If you haven't read it, you must!  It is a marvelous book, universally liked by everyone I've talked to and very quilt friendly.  After two days of poring over books, illustrations and re-reading passages in the book, I've chosen a simple folk arty design with a fox, some trees, and a hand dyed moon.  Nearly all the fabrics are ones that I hand dyed and they also include several vintage linens, including the marvelous background piece with the attached lace.  I'm looking forward to this one!

So, I guess I'm all about the blue and orange.  I just looked back at some older posts and realized this is not a first for me.  Both of my quilts in the Sisters Quilt Show flyer are blue and orange and that January AAQI quilt, Dandy Lion, is blue and orange.  Hmmmmm..  Wonder what that says about me?

Freshening Up & Looking Ahead

Well, after a good two weeks of near total sloth, I am ready to start the new year!  I spent my holiday reading, drinking tea (and occasionally wine, beer and spirits too!), going to the movies, skiing (a little), enjoying a beautiful white Christmas, spinning, knitting and generally staying far from the studio and my computer.  It was really nice to take time away.  

Now, I have lots of new plans and projects, new ideas and a fresh perspective.  That all starts with a new look to the blog.  Below are some glimpses of new projects in the works.

A little something for the Inauguration.  Do I have time to finish it?

A project for the Modern Quilt Guild's 2013 challenge.

A brand new idea for the Novel Idea Quilt challenge for 2013, based on the book, The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

Finally, the most amazing thing arrived in the mail- the brochure for the 2013 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  Even though I knew it was coming, it was still a surprise to turn the page and see me there!  I've got a lot to do in the next 6 months and I'll be sharing the behind the scenes here as I go along.  Wow- what a year this will be!

Neat and Tidy

I got my studio all neat and organized and boy it feels nice!  I'm also up to Ryan at 9 months in the baby book.  Now that I can easily find what I need, the rest should go much faster.  

In case you are wondering why I'm not showing the rest of the studio, take my word that it's also neat and tidy.  I actually have two super secret projects on the design walls.  I am looking forward to some winter sewing time!

We got some snowflakes today and there is talk of more.  The leaves are fading fast and the trees are going bare, but I do love my studio view.  Here's to a creative weekend!

Oh the Cuteness!

Scrabble and I had a marvelous morning walk today.  The weather has been spectacular these last few days.  I managed to get a lot of household chores done over the weekend, including rearranging furniture and planting 200 bulbs.  Today I began to tackly my studio.  I've still got lots to do, but it feels so good to get organized doesn't it?  

Still Green

I took this photo the other day and just had to share.  We still have some green nearby, though our street has mostly gone to gold.  We had a nice Halloween, though not too many trick-or-treaters.  Now that we're into November, it's really time to think about the holidays.  I've got some knitted goodies that I'm working on.  I'm also finally (seriously!) doing Ryan's' baby book.  Yes- he's an adult now, yes- he just voted for the first time, and yes- I think it's really time to get the thing done.  

My studio is a disaster with piles from where I've dumped stuff after the classes I had in October.  I now have scrapbooking supplies spread all over.  I have so much to do, but this has to take priority.  I think I'll be catching up after the whirlwind October I've had for a while longer!