15 minutes of play, DWR and more

VThe workshop with Victoria Findlay Wolf was excellent.  We spent some time "making fabrics" in our 15 minutes of play.  Then we spent some time better understanding her "process."  She showed us how she uses the templates and why.  She showed us how looking at a traditional block in a new way gives you even more ideas.  She showed us how you could add a little here and there and come up with something totally new. It was inspiring. 

 

The lesson was to really look at what was right in front of you.  It's amazing what you'll see that you never saw before.  She was right, I never really looked at the fabrics I was using or the block designs I was using.  I'm a pattern follower so I was always looking towards the end product.  VFW looks at what she has and let's it determine the end product.  Instead of forcing the fabric to go where she wants how she wants, she lets it tell her where it wants to go.  It's a unique perspective.  We got to try out some of her templates and for someone like me who has a hard time cutting straight, they really help. I also realized how valuable my design wall was and realized I really need MORE design wall. (Won't my hubby be happy.)  But to let the fabrics tell you where to go, you need to look at them often. 

 

We also got to learn some unexpected things, but they were necessary if you plan to use some of the templates.  In addition to giving us different ideas using the templates and different combinations to use them, we also got to learn about the "dreaded" y-seams.  And you know what, they're not so bad. It's all about the process, and for a pattern follower like me, process is everything.  I love step by step instructions, and now I have them (for hexagons, stretched hexies, and Lemoyne stars). I personally have always loved Lemoyne stars, but have always paper pieced them, which really limits the size.  But using Victoria's templates and process, the sky is the limit.  I can't wait.  I already have some cut out just waiting for me.  We also learned about curves and how to put them together.  I've done it many times, as I love NY beauties, but it's always been a challenge.  Now I know the process. And I'm going to go through all those 12" square orphan blocks I have and see which one of them might look better as a hexagon.  If you go to the next retreat, you'll see me cutting them up. And trying to figure out what they're telling me they want to be. Because I'm pretty sure they're tired of spending years in a pizza box.

 

Leslie Jennison also brought in her Sizzix so if you had never tried any of Victoria's dies, you could.  She had the templates there but you can buy the dies on line if you prefer cutting that way. I already have some myself and I have to say I love them.  Again, I'm someone who doesn't cut straight no matter how hard I try so the Sizzix is definitely great for me.  I can even screw up a template (because I'm not always careful) but I haven't yet screwed up anything I've tried on the Sizzis and how cool to make fabric and then cut it up not knowing exactly how it'll come out. Once that would give me hives, but now I'm feeling better about it.  And I surprised myself when I said I needed smaller pieces in my made fabric.  I have never kept scraps, but now I will.

 

I always thought of Victoria Findlay Wolfe as just another improv quilter.  I loved her work, but since I tend to get the hives whenever I attempt improv piecing, I wasn't sure this workshop was for me.  But my resolution this year was to cultivate an adventurous spirit, so I gave it a shot.  I really think VFW is for everyone.  For those who like scrappy and those who like planned quilts.  For those who love vintage and those who like modern.  For those who want to freely flow and those who need a step-by-step process.  For anyone who has 15 minutes at any one time.  Victoria Findlay Wolfe has exactly what you need.

 

In the pictures below you'll get to see our guild members "making" fabric and then using it in a number of ways.  Some using templates, some using paper piecing, and some just flowing freely.  No one finished their projects but I think everyone left there ready to get things done, and no one seemed upset they didn't finish, just upset the time was over so quickly.  The day flew by. Many got half finished and I can't wait to see their finished projects.  Hopefully, at a future sew-n-tell, we'll get to view the eye candy created under Victoria Findlay Wolfe's tutelage.

 

A Color Party

I just had the best time ever and couldn’t wait to tell you all about it.  First off, let me just say the thought of sewing without a plan makes me nauseous.  Using busy prints all together in one place gives me hives.  But I just spent the day doing both and not only am I not sick, I feel great.  I really want to keep sewing but I needed to take just a little break to share the excitement with you.  Today I went to the perfect workshop.

First, Edna’s sewing cottage is amazing.  Everywhere you look you find creative inspiration.  Second, Edna herself must be the best hostess on this planet.  And third, Jessica Darling is simply awesome.  Our small group were mostly new to the improv world (except Edna, who is a pro IMHO).  So most of us were at a loss on where and how to start.  (We had missed out on Christine’s Improv workshop.)

Jessica helped us plan the party.  She made sure we had the right hostess and then showed us how to figure out who to invite.  Not too many and not too few.  One of us had an eclectic group.  Another only invited relatives.  And some had both family and friends there. We made sure our hostess had some supporting cast.  We provided entertainment and snacks for our parties.  We even invited some girls in ugly dresses to make our hostess look even better.  We made sure we invited some who weren’t the life of the party but still liked to have fun.  Our aim was to make our hostess stand out, but still let her friends show themselves, and be happy about where they were and how they looked.  Color parties are quite an adventure.  And those of us who participated couldn’t wait to go home and use our design walls to watch our party continue to happen.

I admit, for a while my shoulders were tight, my knuckles were a little bit white, and I did feel a little queasy.  But Jessica was so encouraging, the others so enthusiastic, and the whole process so forgiving that it became fun for me.  I didn’t need to cut accurately or even sew a perfect scant quarter inch.  It didn’t provide the immediate gratification I get from paper piecing, but it did get me excited.  And that excitement is staying with me.  And that means this quilt won’t become another project shoved in a drawer because it was too hard, taking too long, or no longer interested me.  This party will happen.  And it will be awesome.