Quilting...for the Rest of Us

Episode 009: In Which We Get Creative

In this episode, I talk about creativity. I offer a couple of definitions of creativity and then suggest a few ways you can grow your own creative nature. Then, I issue a challenge!
Creativity Challenge: Use the photo below for inspiration for a project, and send me photos of the results by June 7, 2010 (at midnight Eastern Time). It doesn't matter what the project is, and it doesn't matter how you use the photo for inspiration. You might print the photo on fabric and then do something funky with it; you might be inspired by the colors, the subject matter, the feel/mood...it doesn't matter. You can combine this project with other projects--allow this photo to inspire how you approach some other project that you're doing. Doesn't matter! Just be inspired. Post a comment below if you think you want to join the challenge. Then send me a photo (or a link to your blog where you've posted the photo) by midnight on June 7. Anyone who completes the challenge will have their name put in a drawing for a fun gift!  Here's the photo:

(Remember, if you want to print this on fabric, you'll need to email me and I'll provide a high res version without my name on it. Just please give photographer's credit if you post pictures of your finished project anywhere. Thanks!)
Other notes from the episode
Leah Day of DayStyle Designs' blog: http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/
A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative, and A Kick in the Seat of the Pants: Using Your Explorer, Artist, Judge, & Warrior to Be More Creative, both by Roger VonOech (I've used these for years to help inspire me in developing creativity workshops for my job)
Get Creative! With M'Liss Rae Hawley: A Beginner's Guide to Color and Design for Quilters, by M'Liss Rae Hawley (I haven't worked my way through her exercises but I consistently pull this book out for inspiration and reference. This book is one of the first on my list of "things to do" in 2011 when I'm done with all my UFOs!)
Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises, by Lyric Kinard (I just got this book this week and have already begun working my way through the exercises. I'll do as many as I can fit between UFOs. Just reading through the first couple of chapters--where she's laying the groundwork for future exercises--has already been very helpful.)
Keeping track of your inspirations 
http://www.forevergreenquilts.com/inspiration-journal.html (ideas about having a paper journal)
Microsoft OneNote software--excellent "freeform" software for keeping track of notes, images, websites, and so forth. I use this for work, for my volunteer life, and for quilting.

Episode 008: In Which We Revisit Scraps

Welcome to the second episode on scraps! In this episode, we get right down to business and I talk about specialty rulers for scraps, and share a lot of ideas about how to use scraps, including some books.
Referenced in this episode:
Judy Hopkin's ScrapMaster ruler (just google "ScrapMaster ruler" for a variety of sources)
"Ugly Little Star Quilt"

Episode 007: In Which We Get Scrappy

I really want to get better at using my scraps, so I decided to do some research on scraps and scrap quilts. I found so much, though, that I'm having to use two episodes to cover it! So, in this first episode, after doing some catching up with listener comments and contributions, I share with you my experience, my research, and some listener suggestions, as we talk about a glossary of scrap-related terms, a little history of scrap quilting, how to collect scraps, getting yourself used to doing scrap quilts, what the best sizes are to cut your scraps into, and a little bit about storing and organizing scraps. (In episode 8, I'll share ideas for using your scraps!)
Links to things I reference in this episode:
Silly Chick Designs podcast and blog: http://sillychickdesigns.blogspot.com (and iTunes)
Bonnie Hunter's Scrapusers system
Scrap Therapy
(See http://quiltingfortherestofus.blogspot.com for more information and additional links.)

Episode 006:In Which I Quilt Virtually, or Virtually Quilt

I just spent a weekend on the road and the only quilting I could do was "virtual." In this episode, I talk about ways we can get our quilty on through online sources.
Referenced in this podcast:
Village Comforts Quilt Shop (now listed in the "Shops I've Visited" page of this blog)
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/38311/ (Article about teaching quilting in Middle School)
Sew, Stitch, Create podcast by Brye Lynn at http://www.sewstitchcreate.com (or iTunes)
Quilt Cabana Corner podcast by Sandi at http://quiltcabanacorner.podbean.com (or iTunes)
Quilted Cupcake podcast by Jean at http://quiltedcupcake.libsyn.com (or iTunes)
About.com's quilting section and newsletter: http://quilting.about.com
Quilt University at www.quiltuniversity.com.

Episode 005: In Which We Get Organized

I spent a lot of years in a completely disorganized, completely dysfunctional quilting space. When I moved into the new house a few years ago, I took advantage of the opportunity to overhaul my organizational methods or...rather...get some organizational methods. In this episode I share with you a few of the things I think I did right. But there's always room for improvement--so definitely share your own organizational tips, and favorite organizational tools, with me and the rest of the gang! Post pictures in the BigTent group "Quilting...for the Rest of Us," a subgroup of "Quiltcast Supergroup." (See the widget for signing up for the Supergroup in the menu at the right--once you're in the Quiltcast Supergroup, look for the subgroup for this podcast and join!
By the way: Everyone who is a member of the "Quilting...for the Rest of Us" BigTent group by May 15 will automatically have their name entered for a drawing to win the cutest little charm pack!
Here are my rulers, as described in the podcast.
 
 
 
 
 
My two drawers, the top holding my fat quarter collection, and the bottom holding jelly rolls, strips, charm packs, layer cakes, etc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here's the pull-out tie rack for sorting strips.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And then, just to make sure you don't get the wrong impression of me...here's my other ruler storage! Not quite so well organized. But this is where I've stashed all the specialty rulers and others that I inherited from Mom, until I have time to try to use them and decide what I'm going to keep and what will be given away. No 3M strips can fix this!

Episode 004: In Which I Evaluate My Stash

Our stashes can be a point of pride or a point of contention--depending on who's looking at it and how well they understand the compelling need quilters have for fabric! My husband, for example, thinks my stash is huge. I've told him he should visit a few other quilters' stashes before casting judgment. The stories I've heard...
In any case, I did recently upsize my stash. This episode talks about what I've learned about my stash and what I need to improve. Perhaps it'll give you some things to think about as you look at your own stash.
Here's a picture of my stash--show us yours! ("I'll show you mine if you show me yours....")

Episode 003: In Which I Face a Few Fundamental Truths

I had a long weekend last weekend, with nothing much scheduled other than church and a family dinner on Easter Sunday, so I planned to spend as much of it as possible at my sewing machine, catching up on some UFOs--one of Mom's, the rest mine. Through the weekend, I came face-to-face with some fundamental truths about quilting.
What are your own fundamental truths? Leave comments!
Also notice the new page on this blog listing quilt shops I've visited. Use the comments section to recommend your own. And see the link to the right for my quilting-related blog "Tessellations."

Quilting for the Rest of Us--Episode 002, In Which I Attend a Class (Machine Quilting)

It's been awhile, but I was finally able to attend another class at my local quilt shop. This one was a five-hour extravaganza in machine quilting, taught by a very popular local teacher, Janet Root. In this episode, I share a few tips that I've picked up about machine quilting in the years I've been trying to get good at it.

Quilting for the Rest of Us--Episode 001

Welcome to "Quilting for the Rest of Us"--a podcast for anyone who loves quilting and loves to talk about it. I am not an expert, have never published, or competed in a show--but I've picked up a lot of knowledge along the way, if not the skills to match. I was raised by a quilter, picked up the habit in my 30s, and finally got consistent about it a few years ago. (No telling how old that makes me!)
Join me as we all talk about about quilting...for the rest of us!
In this first episode, I share with you a little of my history and what my Mom taught me about quilting.