diary

Mon 16th Sept 2024

I’ve never shared this quilt publicly before, but on the 13, 14, and 15 Sept, it had its debut at the Whangarei Patchworkers and Quilters Show.

It’s 102” wide x 87” high, was started in 2020, completed in 2023. The wee squares are 1.5” finished, the pattern is by Lissa Alexander, and I named it for the original pattern, Rainbow Rows.

The quilting design is by the great mother of longarm quilting, Linda V. Taylor, and goes by the slightly unwieldy name of “LT 2212 Swirl and Feathers_ 18234”. The fabrics came mostly from my stash, the batting is silk, and I did the longarming on my Statler.

Always a compulsive note taker when I make a quilt, I wanted it bigger than the pattern. My weird maths scribbles reflect this. Yes, that jotting does say 1089 x 2.5” squares…

I was nervous about putting it in a show because I’ve been using it on my bed. Of course I washed it first. I love that it’s beautiful and a utility quilt. Although this pic has a shadow, I’m very glad to have a photo of it, the one I took immediately after finishing it was not hung as well.

It’s probably the “favouritist” quilt I’ve ever made. (Yep, now it’s a word.)

Would you persevere with that many tiny squares? I’m awfully glad I did!

5 September 2023

Long overdue news… My piece called “Calm and Chaos” was exhibited at the Great New Zealand Quilt Show in May 2023.

IT WON A RIBBON!!! (Which means, I won a ribbon!!!)

Thank you Aotearoa Quilters, New Zealand’s national quilting body, for giving me a context to exhibit within. And Tis the Season for the awesome prize.

This event was also an opportunity to share my Improv Piecing knowledge in the classroom. I was touched and delighted that folk wanted to come and spend the day making Improv with me.

The class is called

“Freeform Improv Piecing – No Rules, No Rulers, No Quilt Police”.

It was offered as a one day class. It has a big sister “Deep Dive into Freeform Improv Piecing” which is 2 days of creative freedom!

24 March 2023

On the topic of improv piecing…

It’s not only a game for solid fabrics. One quarter of this quilt is made by me. In 2020 a group of friends chose the colours to make one corner each. Then we interpreted according to our stash. I don’t seem to have many pictures!

The pattern is “Modern Boxwood” by Broadcloth Studio.

23 March 2023

This piece, which I’ve called

“Calm and Chaos”,

is FINISHED! Yay!!! I love the feeling of completing something.

It’s 52 x 45 cm of wild piecing and I am waiting to see if it’s accepted into the Great New Zealand Quilt Show. It’s a deliberately bleached photo, which is the only finished pic I’m posting anywhere, until after May.

There will be lots of tasty quilts there so go and see the amazing creations we make here in Aotearoa.

This piece will be for sale at the show, provided they let it in the door.

My next plan is to add something on this site to have work categorised by pieces, rather that dated blog posts. Then you’ll be able to see workflows and progression of individual quilts or artworks.

19 March 2023

It was the Great NZ Lockdown of 2020. Aotearoa Quilters offered a 100 day project to help us navigate un charted waters of the pandemic. I chose 100 days of Improv, never imagining it would evolve into a class. If you’ve ever felt out of place and want a way to express that, come and play with me in Rotorua, NZ, May 2023.

Freeform Improv Piecing

No Rulers, No Rules, No Quilt Police.

4 March 2023

Caught on camera!

I’m highly camera phobic, but wanted to show a little about the process as I create these wonky, improvisational artworks.

The music is “Come here Boy” by Imogen Heap. Youtube assured me it was ok to use but I’ve requested permission anyway.

This improv project is coming together nicely and I hope to show it at the Great New Zealand Quilt Show in May this year.

24 Feb 2023

Do you play with scale when you sew? What about texture or value?

These are on the agenda in my class “Freeform Improv Piecing” at the Great New Zealand Quilt Show in May 23.

Come and try a beginner friendly Improv class for a day! Go to the Aotearoa Quilters Website

to sign up.

23 March 2023

This piece, which I’ve called

“Calm and Chaos”,

is FINISHED! Yay!!! I love the feeling of completing something.

There will be lots of tasty quilts there so go and see the amazing creations we make here in Aotearoa.

This piece will be for sale at the show, provided they let it in the door.

2 Feb 2023

SILK RIBBONS

Purely abstract and a pleasure to make!

Most of the time calls for entries sail right by me and I’m fine with that.

This week, I was inspired to make and submit this piece into the

SAQA Spotlight Auction.

It’s small, about the size of a postcard. Made with hand coloured silk organza, cotton backing, and finished with some luscious Au Ver a Soie single ply silk embroidery threads.

This art, and lots more, can be seen in person in Toronto

at the end of April 2023.

If (like me) you can’t go there, browse or bid online. Follow one of the links for details.

30 Jan 23

Though I’m still struggling with videos, formatting, and making it look right, I’m having such fun making them! If you have tips or resources to share, please share them using the contact page.

Music credit:

“Rise” by Nightmares on Wax

25 Jan 23

Here’s an example of “Value does all the work but colour gets all the glory”. Do you take colour value into account when selecting fabrics?

Do you have a process?

14 Jan 23

I’ve decided I rather like the sawtooth look. The work is progressing nicely and though I have no idea how it will finish, I’m happy to find out as I go.

Because that’s the essence of improv.

This super amateur video documented the process and making more of these might be in my future.

30 Dec 2022

Do you ever get grumpy at this time of year?

I do, sometimes. That day, I thought up these aggressive, bitey little triangles, though now that they’re made they look pretty cheerful! The block is because I like playing with fine lines.

I hope you’re having a relaxing, delightful holiday season, 2023 is just around the corner….

22 Dec 2022

There’s a new improv work brewing, with colours picked from my stash. All solids, plain ones, not fancy thread dyes. It’s pretty hard to stay away from them, but I want to use what I have. I’ve chosen a muted colour scheme, enhanced by a few brights.

I may have to add in a dark later. One thing that helps lots of creatives assess colour value is comparing a colour and black and white photo of your choices.