Applique workshop with Carolyn Friedlander

A few weeks ago, I got the chance to participate in another great workshop opportunity, this time with Carolyn Friedlander, another one of my favorite designers. There was a meet and greet on Friday to kick off the weekend, but unfortunately, I sprained my ankle pretty badly earlier in the day and had to spend the night on the couch reading Carolyn's book instead.

Luckily, I was able to hobble to the workshop the next afternoon, which was for a hand sewing project, so that worked out well. I propped up my foot and started taking it all in.

I was so glad to see that Carolyn had also brought all of her quilts to the workshop space, so I was still able to see and touch them up close. Her workmanship and use of color are simply amazing. I think "Aerial Grove" (just below) may be my fave.

 

I had signed up for the Catenary workshop because it was all about learning needle-turn applique. I rarely hand sew and have no real confidence in my ability to do so, so I figured if I was ever going to learn, this was my chance. And I'm so glad I did!

Carolyn was a wonderful teacher and such a sweet person. She patiently showed each of us (sometimes multiple times) just what to do and then circulated, making sure to touch base with everyone to check in and provide encouragement. For perhaps the first time ever, I actually enjoyed hand sewing and can't wait to keep working on this project, which I plan to make into a mini quilt. And I couldn't resist picking up a few more of her paper-piecing projects while I was at it. Austin House was too fun to not try another one. Look at those shirts!

A fox and a hedgehog

I'm so excited to finally share my fox and hedgehog mini quilt, which I started at the workshop I took with Elizabeth Hartman a few weeks back!

The workshop was designed to teach the pillow version of these blocks, but I decided to turn it into a mini for my sewing wall instead. The main switch was just the direction. The blocks run horizontally in the pillow, and I switched them to vertical to fit the space I had on my wall. The blocks are made using Elizabeth's Fancy Fox and Hazel Hedgehog patterns, and I used her free applique to add glasses to one of the foxes because, yes.

I used a variety of Kona solids for the animals and Essex yarn-dyed in steel for the background. The backing is a hexie print that's been in my stash a long time, and the binding is a fun teal crosshatch. I quilted it in a simple diagonal spaced about 3/8" apart using white thread.

It's already found a happy home on my reorganized sewing wall. Hmmm, looks like I need to find space for some more.

The summer that was

When I come to the end of a season, I always lament all the pics and stories I didn't have time to show and tell in this space, so here's a (mostly) wordless look back at summer 2015 (or at least the summer that wasn't captured on the blog).