I just finished the first block for the #LouisianaTravelingQuilt.  My first block was for a person who requested a "I Spy" quilt that she could use with her clients (she is a speech therapist).  I wasn't sure how to design "modern" and "I Spy" together.  

I add some juvenile prints to my design that included lots of negative space.

I spy a WHALE

I spy a BIRD

I spy a CAR

I spy a YELLOW TRIANGLE

 

#LouisianaTravelingQuilt

#mqgfabricchallenge Michael Miller Challenge

I am participating in the Modern Quilt Guild Michael Miller Fabric challenge.  Since it is a “challenge,” I decided to challenge myself.  I am using curves and “quilt as you go” to make this quilt.  I have completed four blocks.

#LouisianaTravelingQuilt

I am participating in the Louisiana Traveling Quilt.  There are 10 quilters (eight from Louisiana and two from Virginia) who are participating.

We all started with an idea and concept for our quilts.  Every quilter begins on a quilt, sends it to the next quilter who adds on to the quilt, keeping with the theme but has total freedom to create whatever he/she wishes.  At the end of 10 months, we all have our own collaborative quilt.

You can follow our progress on social media.  Search #LouisianaTravelingQuilt or http://nelamodernquiltguild.wordpress.com/louisiana-traveling-quilt.

I big thank you to Ramona from the Northeast Louisiana Modern Quilt Guild for being our “Quilt Czar.”  

I participated in the Modern Quilt Guild webinar, “ Heather Grant's "Design Fundamentals of Modern Quilting.”  She did a great job on defining modern quilting as a salad bar with the following items:

Negative Space

No Boarders

Minimal

Bright/Graphic Color

Improvisational Piecing

Grid Work

Asymmetry

Modern Traditional

Exaggerated Scale

Pixelization

Texture

Like a salad bar, you wouldn’t have a quilt with all of these concepts or techniques.  You could just one concept of technique. 

Of course in Modern Quilting there are always rules that can be broken. The above list served as a guide not a rule book.

Neo Plasticism/Geo Neo Artwork

I have really started to look at artwork for inspirations for my quilts.  I never took an art history class.  Learning about neoplasticism and Neo-Geo, short for "Neo-Geometric Conceptualism has really spurred my thought for new designs. 

Here are some of my favorites.  I can see these as great quilts.

Peter Halley

Bart van der Leek

Clint Jukkala

Forrest Bess

 

Charmion van Wiegand 

I can’t believe that it’s been a year since I posted anything on this blog.  I guess that means I have been busy; that is a good thing. 

Of course lots of things have happened in a year.  An exciting development is that Baton Rouge has formed a Modern Quilt Guild, called Not Your Mamma Modern Quilt Guild.  Our Guild President, JoPaula, has been acting as my un-official booking agent.  Through her contacts I have shown my quilts at RememberMe Quilters Guild (Baton Rouge) and the Gulf States Quilting Association Regional Show in Slidell, LA.

Let me tell you about my latest completed quilts:

Fabric From Austin

While in Austin last year for Quilt Con, I discover a wonderful store, WalkerHall Designs and bought some gray fabrics.  I decided to organically create blocks.  Once I made my first four blocks, I quickly decided to repeat those block patterns for the quilt.  I add the punch of blue and acid green colors.   

      

Up-Cycle Quilt as You Go

I purchased several stripes shirts from Goodwill.  I cut them into rectangles.  I sewed the rectangles into long strips and then sewed the strips onto the quilt sandwich (back of the quilt and batting).  I laid the next strip down (right side down), sewed and ironed it opened (repeat).  The front doesn’t look like it is quilted, but you can see the quilting /sew lines on the back.

Gee’s Bend Type

This is a great video about Quilt Makers of Gee’s Bend Quilting http://vimeo.com/50174695  This quilt was inspired by their work. 

Spanish Tile

I saw Spanish Tile design by Heather Mulder Peterson, “Living Large 2” online and thought it was a great design.  I didn’t buy a pattern, I just created one.  I quilted this myself.

Anita’s Arrowhead

I took a Craftsy online class with Anita Grossman Soloman and created this Anita’s Arrowhead Quilt.  I really love the fabric.  I wish I would have made the quilt a little bigger.

Jelly Roll Cut Up

I purchased this 2wenty-thr3e jellyroll fabric by Moda fabric online thinking it would be great baby quilts for my grand nieces.  I didn’t know what to do with the fabric.  I decided to “jellyroll race” the fabric.  I cut the fabric into blocks and then improvisational pieced them into the quilt.  I liked it so much I kept the quilts.

David Butler

When I saw the David Butler Fabric on line I knew I had to purchase the whole collection (got to support men in the business).  This simple block/door design really showcased the great fabric.

Cross Quilt

My wife wanted a turquoise and white quilt.  We decided on this large cross and block pattern.

Paper Piecing

I wanted to try my hand at paper piecing.  I drew a block in excel and make several copies.  I sewed the fabric to one corner not wanting a sharp point in the corner.  Joined four blocks together and repeated.  Use lot of scraps from the stash.

Shot Cotton

I really love this shot cotton fabric; although it really frays once its cut.  I design a pattern with lot of intersection on Excel.   

Joe Cunningham

I learned about Joe Cunningham online.  I really like his use of fusible bias tape on quilts.  This is my version.  It is also the first quilt that I machined quilted (random lines).

QuiltCon

I have returned from Quilt Con in Austin.  The Quilt Show was inspiring.  The designs of the piecing of the tops were fine, but the quilting itself was outstanding.  It really highlighted the importance of the quilting.

I never know how to distinguish quilting as the 'sewing together of pieces of fabric' and quilting as the 'sewing together the quilt sandwich'.  I sew together fabric pieces.  At QuiltCon, I was told that I quilt by check because I send my quilt tops out to be quilted.  I believe that there is some artistry in sewing together fabric pieces, but sewing the quilt sandwich together is the real gift.  The quilting (of the quilt sandwich) makes the quilt.

DL Quilts has posted 194 photos from QuitCon. 

Great Store In Austin

While in Austin, I discover a wonderful store, WalkerHall Designs.  They were having a great sale on fat quarters and some yardage.  I haven’t decided what to do with this fabric, but this is what I purchased.

UFO's Flying Around My Head

Quilters have tagged a unique meaning onto the term UFO. They're not objects flying around in the sky (unless we toss them around because they're so ugly). A UFO is an Unfinished Object--the remnants of those quilts we start to make but never seem to finish.

I started counting and I have six unfinished quilts.  Most of the tops are complete.  I need to design the quilt backs and have them “quilted by check.”

Flying Geese

Intersection

Big Star

Modified Bleachers

Otomi Inspired

Inprov Modern

New Ideas for Quilts

I currently have two ideas for quilts. The fabrics are on the left and the patterns that inspire me are on the right.

Sun Kissed by Michele D'Amore Fabrics

Anita's Arrowhead

Cotton Chevron by Riley Blake Designs

 Modern Asterisk