I pieced my improv bird house and then pivoted to people houses for my improv piecing demo at Northern California Quilt Council this past week. Here's what my design wall looked like last weekend.
I cut out nine more houses during my demos that are stacked up waiting to be sewn. I'm excited to get those together and watch the neighborhood on my design wall grow. I finished my bird house into a mini quilt by adding a fused appliqué circle and free motion quilting.
My quilt is approximately 9" x 8" and is finished with a faced binding. Since I didn't have a bird on the front I chose an Alison Glass print with birds and bees for the back.
Thanks for visiting! I'm linking up on Kim's blog for the Project QUILTING Bird House challenge. Congratulations to everyone else who participated in the challenge this week. Next challenge drops on January 21st.
I am so excited to share my newest class offerings for quilters of all levels, whether you've done improv piecing before or not! Quilts from the Toolbox is a series of project-based improv piecing classes. In each class I'll be demonstrating the improv piecing skills featured in my improv block then giving step-by-step directions for making improv blocks or units just like mine. There will be tips and tricks along the way and I'll discuss options for making your blocks a little different than mine if you'd like.
Registration is open for these new classes. The live class will be recorded and available for a limited time, so if you are unable to join us live you won't have to miss out on the fun!
March 13 is our first live class, Quilts from the Toolbox 1. This is the quilt we'll be making. All the details can be found here. I hope you will join us!
In 2023 I added two new workshops to my guild offerings, How Do I Spell That? Improv Pieced Letters and Improv Triangles 4 Ways. And I taught at my first quilt show, Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, CA. (I'll be back in 2024!) My biggest and shiniest goal of 2023 was to purchase a longarm. And I did! At PIQF I purchased an Innova longarm that will be delivered to me in early 2024, as soon as I have the space ready for it (read on for more details). The other new thing for me in 2023 was hosting open-enrollment live virtual classes for individuals to sign up for. Thanks to everyone who joined me for the three workshops I self-hosted in 2023.
So 2024... Goals? Plans? Whatever you call them. Here's what's on my plate for 2024.
Lots of teaching. I am teaching for guilds and events on Zoom and in-person, in addition to self-hosted events on Zoom. I already have sixteen guild and quilt show events on my calendar and I'm booking into 2025. If you're interested in having me visit your guild or group, check out my teaching page or send the link to your program chair.
More time for creativity. 2023 has been a lot of non-artistic progress around here. Many household and family projects and events culminated this year. It was all good, but it did take my focus away from time creating, both with fabric and in other mediums. I found pockets of time to create when I could and embraced the fact that this year was mostly an ebb in the ebb and flow of creative time. With far fewer big things on those household and family lists, I will get more time in my studio and with my art supplies.
New studio. In January, construction starts on my new studio space. Part of moving into the new studio once it is finished means touching everything that is in my current studio. I'll be using the moving process to take a serious look at what I own, what I think I'll use, and what can be re-homed to be used by someone else.
New longarm. Once the space is ready, my Innova M20 will be delivered. I'm excited about free-hand free motion quilting and dabbling with ruler work so I opted not to add the computer for pantographs. At this point I'll be quilting just for me.
New classes. My most popular and absolute favorite workshop to teach (shhh... don't tell the other workshops) is Building an Improv Toolbox. In that technique-based workshop I teach a wide variety of improv piecing skills that can be used individually or combined with other techniques for infinite possibilities. Students have been asking for more information on how I put these techniques together, so in 2024 I'll be offering a new series of project-based classes called Quilts from the Toolbox in which I will teach a specific formula using a combination of those improv techniques. These classes are suitable for quilters of all levels, whether or not they have taken Building an Improv Toolbox. And no prior improv quilting experience is needed. The format will be a little different than my previous workshops, and for the first time I'll be offering a recording for a limited time so folks who can't join us live can still participate. These bi-monthly classes will start in March. Newsletter subscribers will get the first chance to signup when registration opens in January. Be sure you're on my newsletter list.
Finishing quilts. So that longarm that I mentioned... It is going to help me kick some quilts into the finished column. For the last year or so I've been setting aside most sizable quilt tops "for when I get the longarm." That time is coming, so these quilts may finally see the light of day!
Sewing with community. I'll continue sewing with my improv bee, Quilts Unscripted. And I always include quilt challenges in my projects for the year. I love to see what everyone does with the same prompt and enjoy connecting with other participants. Project QUILTING, the Pantone Quilt Challenge, and the Challenge categories of QuiltCon are already on my radar. We'll see what else pops up.
January 7 is the kickoff to the 15th season of Project QUILTING. I've been participating since season 8. And this will be my second season as a sponsor as well! If you haven't joined the series of one-week challenges I hope you'll check it out. The community is wonderful (and there are prizes!). Be sure to ping me with a link to check out your projects or tag me if you share on social. I'd love to see what you create!
I hope your 2024 is invigorating and wish you creative inspiration from the world around you.
