Japanese Meshwork - Made on Marion

Its very rewarding when your students get excited about their creations at the end of a class.  Here are some of the blocks made in today's class at Made on Marion.

Note the effect created by using two colour ways for the top of the block.

Happy meshing....

Japanese Meshwork - Student samples

I get excited when I see students work after they have attended my classes.  Quite often they show me something I haven't tried before and I just love their enthusiasm. 

These are Christine's class samples (Cherry Pie class).  The visual effect she has made by using black and white stripped fabric is awesome and really creates interest.

Looks like her friends and family will be getting meshwork gifts for Christmas.

Its not just the technique - its your choice of fabrics that can generate the Wow factor.
Happy meshing.

kaleidoscope classes - Cherry Pie

The Hope Center in Levin was the venue for my two classes for Bernina Cherry Pie over the weekend so we had plenty of space.  We were really spoilt with Lynette making us lunch - bonus..
Saturday was Kaleidoscope day two class which was laying out the sewn blocks.  These photos don't do these quilts justice.  The two bottom quilts (above) have been made from the same fabric and they did really look different.  I'm looking forward to seeing these quilts completed on the 2nd December.

Sunday was a Kaleidoscope Day One class which the staff from Cherry Pie & clients attended.  Lots of laughter and again Lynette made us lunch.
The pictures below show student's fabrics and their blocks forming.  Lots of spinning and wow factor appearing here.  I'm looking forward to day two in December when we will be laying out these quilts.

 And of course Lunch :)

Sewing these spinning blocks is really exciting.  If you haven't tried it - then put this quilt on your to do list.

I'm delighted that my "Shibori Kimono" and "Kalos" quilts have been accepted to hang in the Aotearoa Quilters Exhibition 2012 during the Craft & Quilt fair 6 - 9th September at Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.



Shibori Kimono





Kalos




Happy quilting

kaleidoscope tips

Last weekend I attended a quilting retreat with my girlfriends - the Kwilting Katz.  Eleven of us set up our sewing machines on Friday night and sew through to Sunday afternoon before packing up to go home.  We book Standford Retreat (Levin) three times a year.  We are served stunning meals, eat lots of nibbles, sip our glasses of wine, laugh a lot and of course work on our quilts (some more productive than others - overachievers LOL).
One of my friends, Lee, has caught my addiction for Kaleidoscopes - this is her third kaleidoscope quilt (underconstruction).   I just love the fabric she has used - makes you want to say Yeah Baby!!.  Its pretty wild and after spending quite a bit of time testing out various layouts, this is her final result.  I did sew a couple of her rows, but wasn't sure if I was suffering from a hard night or motion sickness from the spinning blocks!
Sometimes to prevent your kaleidoscope quilt from becoming overwhelming you need to add another fabric(s) to get the "wow" factor.  Lee has divided her blocks into to colourways and accented them with bold fabrics. I'm looking forward to seeing this quilt completed.





Japanese Meshwork - Student Sample from Krazy Cow Class

Couple of class samples made by Robyn who attended my class at Krazy Cow last weekend.  These have the wow factor and the weaving stands out because of her fabric selection.  When choosing fabrics to weave make sure they are really contrasting.  Notice how the Batik (sample on the right) variegation in colour gives more visual texture.  Don't forget to check out your "uglys" from within your stash.  A reminder - to stitch arround the edges once the block is complete to keep it secure until you use it.