Reclaim your Sewjo - Clear your space and your mind!

There is something in the air!  In my community of quilters there are a number of us, that haven't ventured into their studios to sew and create.  What has been the source of inspiration, creativity and calm is missing. 

I've been there,  so I'd like to share what has helped me out of this state in the past.  For those who have seen my studio is is a mass of color and projects everywhere.  I am a bit of a squirrel - a new project or design captures my attention with intensity while I am designing.  It is not uncommon for me to have a number of projects spread out all over my studio.  I find inspiration in the chaos until I reach a tipping point - be-it too many projects on the go or project deadlines coming way too fast and I hit a wall.  

The chaos clutters my mind and I am paralyzed - I just don't want to sew.

My analytical accountant side of my brain comes to the rescue.  For me it is about taking a few small steps every day.  

Take a step back and clear the clutter - both physically and mentally. 

This notebook called out to me on my last trip to Staples in the US.  It is a gentle reminder to step back and take small steps forward and before you know it the task which seemed insurmountable is done!  

Physical clutter - I start with the studio space.  I take the projects which are not inspiring me at the moment and put all the fabric, sketches, and partially completed blocks for each project into a tote or project box.  

Give yourself permission to say it is okay not to finish a project and put it out of sight.  

Often it is simply a matter of finding a clear space to work.  It doesn't happen overnight.  For me it takes a couple of days to sort and store all those projects.  Start slow - even 30 minutes a day will make a a difference.

Mental clutter - I clear my mind.  For me it is taking time to just be and not be driven to produce a project and just relax.  I grab a couple of quilting books off my shelf and just flip through the pages and enjoy the images with a cup of tea or glass of water.  Sleep in your favourite chair! 

Clearing/calming  your mind is a an accomplishment in itself!

Dipping my toes in being retired to Quilt!

I'm excited beyond imagination!  

I have the entire month of August to "test" the waters on being "retired to quilt".  I finally can take the time to learn new techniques, test some designs and just have fun!  If my new occupation meets expectations, I'll be sure to make this a permanent occupation.

I started the month playing with color using Josef Albers plates and commentary for my monthly demo content for the next year.  

Josef Albers was a designer, artist and Yale professor.  His book the "Interaction of Color" was published in 1963 which presented his theory of color.  In the Introduction of this book, Josef described the book as a "a record of an experimental way of studying color and teaching color".  The book is now available as an iPad app.  The interaction of the book content with current technology is fascinating.  I have spent many an hour working in the app.   

Using my fabric selections, I completed selected exercises from the plates. The resulting blocks on the left are my experiments in color.  I just love the blocks.    

The three coloured blocks are destined for my Circles and More Sampler for my monthly demo at Addies Creative Fabrics in Cochrane.  

Stay tuned for my progress on this new project and my new occupation!

Fabric Selection can Entirely Change a Pattern

007 - Slice It Up Placemats

In preparing for a recent demo, I needed to show the various steps to make these placemats.  The pattern cover showed the placemats in Christmas prints.  To show every step, I also made a set of the above placemats in modern brights.  What a contrast to the original pattern.

So when we are looking at a pattern, think beyond the colors on the pattern cover.  The results can be very striking.  I'm thinking I should change my pattern cover photo!

From the Classroom

Spent what would have been an otherwise dreary Saturday in Calgary sewing with a great group of ladies st the Calgary Threaducation Centre for my Rail in a Rail class.  Everyone's quilt turned out great and they were all so different.  

The pattern has two sizes - a 42" square quilt top with a border or a 72" large lap quilt.  With the larger quilt, it is simply 4 repeats of the smaller quilt top.  The smaller quilt to is a great size for a baby quilt or table topper.  

Take a look for yourself:

Here is Jackie's stunner.  The bright colors just make me smile.  Jackie is debating on adding the borders as this is destined for a table topper. 

Judy worked like a beaver to get her quilt done by the early afternoon.  The colors are very caliming.  I can't wait to see how she will quilt this one.

Sharon agonized for hours on her fabric choices.  She was bound and determined to make this one from her stash.  Sharon had oh so many choices!

Pat took a more formal view for her color choices.  Another great finish.

To the ladies, it was a pleasure spending the day with you.

Dragons Heart Quilt Shop - Delightful Quilt Shop in Pincher Creek Alberta

Dragons Heart Quilt Shop

I can't believe we have been back for over a week now. Our annual Social Stitcher's Retreat was in Cowley, Alberta on June 9th to 12th.  We have been gathering together for over 10 years in a converted old Catholic church to sew, eat, share and laugh.

On our travels we always manage to visit a couple of quilt shops on our way down.  This year we visited a new shop in Pincher Creek - Dragons Heart Quilt Shop.  The shop opened in October of last year and has a wonderful selection of fabrics and patterns.  Our guild certainly did our best to reduce some of their inventory.  The shop has a classroom in the back and has three APQS machines.

The shop is participating in Row by Row this year and has a great die cut windmill on their row.  It is a must stop for quilters collecting the rows.

Lynn the owner is great and very welcoming.  We did enjoy our stop this year and will be sure to come back.  And if that isn't enough, they have decorated their bathroom in a rustic sewing theme.  Just take a look!

A Quilter's Bathroom

Saturday's with Susan - Come Join me June 25th at Addie's

"Just the Essentials" Bag

Come join me at Addie's Creative Fabrics in Cochrane on June 25th from 11 to 12:15 pm for some tips and tricks for working with zippers and for the demo of this great little bag.  Just for attending this free demo, you will receive a complementary pattern for this bag.   

I have called it "Just the Essentials" as the bag will hold your phone, a credit card and some cash secure in the zipper pocket and your keys will be safe on the hidden inside key ring.  With two quilted pockets on the front and reverse of the bag, you will have room for all your essentials for Stampeding here in Calgary.  

Zippers, zippers zippers.  They really don't have to be that scary.  On Saturday I will demo a couple of tricks to getting you on your way to be a real pro!  

Again, the demo is free, so take that quick 15 minute trip from the city and join me at Addie's.  I look forward to seeing you.

Celebration of Quilts - our Entries into Heritage Park May 28 & 29, 2016

My Rail in a Rail

What a celebration! I spent 1 1/2 days surrounded by wonderful quilts.  In the morning Armiel, my pattern tester extraordinaire, and I volunteered at the Calgary Modern Quilt Guild booth, lunched with my parents and Social Stitchers guild and then a bit of touring around in the afternoon.

Couldn't temper the excitement and we were the first ones through the gates again on Sunday.  

I was really proud to have a Social Stitchers Group display of my Strip and Flip Pattern.  As an added surprise was two more Strip and Flip quilts as well!  It is amazing to see how different one pattern can be.  Lets take a look.

My Rail in a Rail

Social Stitchers' - Cityscapes, Almost Amish and a Traditional Blend

Social Stitchers' - Cozy Cabin, Orange Makes Me Smile and Spring Has Sprung

 Barb from one of my classes - Scrappy Stitch and Flip

Mary, one of my long armer's - Read All Over