August 30, 2017

My Kingdom for a Design Wall


In my life, a Design Wall is not a luxury, it is a necessity! Yes, I’ve been known to write that a design wall can be as simple as pinning a piece of batting to some foam-core and leaning it against the wall. At the same time, I have to admit that I can’t remember when I didn’t have an 8' x 10' design wall covered in black batting.  In fact most of the last 20 years I have had two!  Call me “spoiled!”

Well, in the last few weeks we have moved! I won’t go into the gory details of trying to reduce our stuff, including my big sewing studio, to fit our new space! I’ll just say that in the process of moving, the plans for my new 8' x 10' wall have been stalled!

Last week, I worked on something small and that piece of foam-core was just great. But this week I’m working on a Queen Size Scrappy Hexagon quilt. The moment I started to pick fabrics, I realized my little batting-covered piece of foam-core was not going to be adequate. I was looking for 25 or 30 fabrics that “play well together” and also complement the beautiful multicolor floral border.

Then, with a self-defined “stroke of genius,” I looked at the door to my new office and saw a new design wall. I grabbed one of the pieces of black batting I had rescued from my old studio, folded it in half and threw it over the top of the door.  Then on one side I pinned the batting edges together so it would not slide off the door. Because I’m eliminating the “Y” seams in my quilt by using the From Marti Michell multi-size half-Hexagon, the door was a great size for approving fabrics to actually be included!


However, when I wanted to arrange the cut pieces into vertical rows before sewing, the door seemed very small! Then I realized there is another door across the hall and I have a second black batt!


Things went really well until I wanted one last look before sewing all of the vertical rows together. Then we realized we could pin the strips to the top of the door frame next to the first door and see all of the pieces together.


A Giveaway - Updated

Ann Dunn, your comment was selected!

Please send us your mailing info so we can send you a Scrappy Hexagon pattern!  If you know Ann, please share the news with her.  If we don't have mailing info by September 19, we'll pick another comment to win.
Happy hex'ing!

Quilt Show Atlanta Sept 7-9, 2017


We just got a flyer from Dana and Quilt Connect USA about next week’s quilt show at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, GA. It's a great facility and close to the airport.  I'm looking forward to meeting “local” quilters and 1-to-3-daytrippers!

I'll be doing a few lectures and teaching several classes. This show has everything -- quilts! and about 45 classes being taught by over a dozen teachers. And the vendor area will have about 50 booths! Go, Georgia!

The schedule of dates and times for classes is available here - http://www.quiltconnectusa.com/quilt-connect-usa-2017-atlanta-quilt-show-class-schedule.htm.

Class descriptions and costs are available here -- http://www.quiltconnectusa.com/classes.htm

Maybe I'll see you at the show!

http://www.quiltconnectusa.com/