I haven’t sewn a lot this winter, I made some attempts that didn’t work out. I like summer dresses, skirts and tops, so since winter has effectively left us – time to sew a summer dress.
I bought this lovely Japanese fabric at Momen+, I can’t believe this amazing store doesn’t have a website.
At first I thought I’d make a shirt, but I had enough fabric for this dress
I need to style myself better from the back when I take pictures. It does have a pocket which is very nice.
I like the fact that these days I can insert a collar professionally.
As well as insert a sleeve. For years I didn’t understand that easing fabric wasn’t gathering fabric. I had to take a private lesson to learn that.
Aren’t these buttons adorable??? I don’t remember where I bought them, but they are so perfect for this dress.
Yes, I can sit comfortably – which is very important in a dress.
You may have noticed that I wore this on my birthday, wore it all day and night and it was a delight. I have more fabrics and patterns, I need to get to work.
It was a fun day, lunch with one group of friends, with homemade cupcakes! Yum.
And dinner with another group. Also yum and fun.
And finally, a romantic dinner with Joel with some incredible bread pudding and creme fraiche icecream. Now that was a lovely evening.
Back at Quiltcon a week ago, I got this cute dress from Natalie Barnes of 
And here it is on the 
I even bought some Origami paper and started making my own.
I made thank you cards for all the lovely gifts!
I wasn’t going to wear it after the show, so I set Yoch down to untie the knows and rip the seam.
That is a very nice piece of fabric that will get used! I’m a quilter, we don’t waste fabric!
You can see why I wanted this yarn! Of course she sent it to me, I will have to knit form blue to green, which will be just as beautiful. Crazy thing is, she made this as a possible gift since these aren’t her colors.
Did I mention she only works with really good quality yarns?
Love the colors!
There I go with all kinds of jewel tones.
Most of these fabrics are from mini charm packs, which is a slight problem, 2.5″ is different with each manufacturer. Despite that I think I got the squares to match nicely.
And of course, I didn’t forget my label. I’ll need to order more soon, will probably go with a completely different look.
I have been knitting away, this is what we call potato chip knitting, relatively easy and very addictive. I always want to see what will happen with the next scallop.
I took a class with Luke Haynes, called Log Condo. Btw, he designed that fabric, I think I might need some when it is available for purchase in April.
Here is mine. I learned a lot in this class, people love this block. I’m not so sure. I grabbed colors not because I love them but just because. I may finish this, as in practice some of my FMQ, although with all the crazy seams it won’t be easy. So it might just be walking foot quilting instead.
Speaking of color, this brightness I really like! Maybe because it is contained within a pattern. Sort of like my solid challenge quilt, I think the bright colors and the improvisational nature of my block are just a little too much for me.
There is a formula for creating these slabs of fabric, one I may use again with much subtler fabrics.
I am attracted to color as well as bold graphics.
Two designs that are monochromatic.
Others that go for high contrast.
Or a lot of bold bright clean colors.
And then there are the optical illusions. The more I look at this the more I like it. Not something I would ever make, but the joy of being a modern quilter is the joy of being exposed to so many different styles. Quilting truly is a way of sharing one’s personal creative expression.
I love how Yoch calls this: A Leah sandwich. But which one of us is just Leah and which one is the other Leah?
I collected a lot of buttons this year, I need to go through and see if I have any duplicates from last year. Handing out buttons is quite a thing. This year it seemed like the merchants were doing more of it than the attendees.
Some of the swag. I also bought some fabric and tools. I really enjoyed just talking to people. Some were local friends, some were friends from last quilt con, some were new people. Like Monica Raven from Australia. I go to knitting and quilting shows whenever I can. Quiltcon is the friendliest, I think this has to do with social media. We follow one another on different platforms and are very excited to meet in real life. I don’t think I will be going to Savannah next year, but when Quiltcon is on the west coast, or even if it were to go back to Texas, I’m there!
The big fabric companies can’t sell fabric, they would be taking business away from the shops that are there. So they offer all kinds of other activities. At the
And here are my finished blocks!
It is a quilt show, so sometimes the quilting is the star. This was the Albuquerque MQG banner. The quilting is exquisite, using variegated thread helps make the balloon pop out from the background.
A look at the back of the quilt – as neat and beautiful as the front, can’t say the same about all the quilts there. We had a white glove volunteer turn some over, and they resembled mine, a little messy on the back.
Speaking of group quilts, this was also made by a group, or a Bee. One of the members, Diane belongs to our guild. It isn’t easy making a group quilt that actually flows together well. This one does, love both the color and the mid century modern motifs.
An interesting graphic, bold colors, simple shapes.
And a wonderful use of the quilting thread to enhance the design.
Here is another example, this quilt had some very bright colorful areas on what looked like a stripped fabric.
Turns out the background is a medium grey, the stripes are achieved with color thread and the direction of the quilting. I really love it when the quilting completes the object, isn’t just an afterthought.
My friend Lindsey made this beauty. It all started as a block of the month for the guild. She built and expanded on the original and look at this beauty. One of the things I love is how the design ‘continues’ off the edge. Of course the colors and shapes are wonderful as well.
Very simple design, interesting use of ‘transparency’ as well as the quilting lines.
Instagram was full of this image, how could we not all take a picture of the Quiltcon banners out on the streets of Pasadena. I will be writing a number of posts, because talk about sensory overload!!
I went in on Wednesday afternoon and helped out with some of the set up. I have previously volunteered in the office, so I got a tiny glimpse of how much work goes into putting on this kind of event. Michele and I are starting a carpet laying company, or at least one that covers carpets with plastic so they stay clean. Yeah, real workout on the back and knees, but we sure did have fun!
First day out and about and I bump into 
I should start mentioning quilts. There was a special show of quilts by a woman named Molly Upton, she only quilted for 3 years in the early 70’s then tragically took her own life. Her quilts are AMAZING! Using whatever fabric she could find, she created incredible art quilts. Just looking again at this one quilt I am seeing so many things that are inspiring me.
Most of the images I took were not of the whole quilt, there are pictures galore all over the internet. This is one of the few, complete quilts. It is a circle, I love the organic square shapes within a circle. 
This time I went for close-ups, sections of quilts. Of course they were lovely overall, but I want to concentrate on details. 
Like the use of both machine quilting for the texture and heavy sashiko for the rope connecting the beads. Also, this close up I’m seeing that my quilting stitches are as good as anyone. We aren’t industrial machines, and the stitches aren’t all perfect. To be honest, I prefer it that way.
I don’t remember if the quilt was hand pieced. It certainly is hand quilted!
There is a lot of improvisational work as well as negative space – not really my style. I am much more attracted to fine detail and impeccable piecing.
What attracted me to this one wasn’t the colors or the design.
It was the use of batik fabric. The modern quilt movement is growing up. There was a time where no corners matched and if you used batik fabric that immediately disqualified the quilt from being called modern. Since this is such a young growing movement within the larger quilting world, things change all the time. Workmanship matters, and seeing that this quilt was accepted in the show, I’d say, that it’s the over esthetic. People can make any fabric work with the modern.
I shared my solid challenge with the Valley MQG this month. The top was finished and spray basted. 
I spray basted these two at the same time. Because of the intricate piecing and slightly larger size, the New York Beauty is heavy!!! Really really heavy. I know I mentioned that before, but working two quilts at a time really emphasized the heaviness.
I quilted in a way that I won’t be repeating, using a ruler I quilted inside every patch. The ruler part isn’t a problem, I really like the ruler and want to do more ruler work. The problem is the stopping and starting every few seconds.
The backing is also a solid, I don’t know if is had to be. Funny thing about this fabric, the other side has an all over tiny floral print which would have been so much better for hiding all the sins on the back here. Notice the birds nests as well as all the tiny ends? When your machine cuts the thread for you, it is a very nice feature, but leaves more of a mess.
I used more threads than I’m showing here. I even tried a monofilament, (it’s the one in the sleeve). Didn’t like it, even though it’s low sheen, it still shines in a way cotton or poly thread doesn’t. You may have noticed that I switched threads on the back as well. This is because no matter how much you play with tension, if the two threads don’t match – you can see it when you look very closely. So I sort of tried to match darks and lights. No one will be looking that closely that I felt the need to really match each thread.
And now for the artful shots at the l
Being at the lake means a lot of birds, I only captured a few on film.
I’m not a rainbow person, I am pleased with how the colors flow here. Forcing myself to work with one charm pack from 
I also really like that the block, the Churn Dash is lost in the colors, this is what I was trying to achieve. Use on block but really let the color tell a story.
Side by side, the NY Beauty is much more ‘my style’, both in scrappy prints (I did adhere to a color theme) and in the FMQ. The Rainbow was a true challenge for me. One I loved doing, but I don’t see it changing my preferred style.
I didn’t put a sleeve on the rainbow, I’m not even thinking of a name. After I share this in both guilds, I intend to gift the rainbow to a dear friend. It makes a perfect lap quilt for cuddling up on the couch. It won’t be hung anywhere and she won’t care if it has a name.
I used up many of my grey prints for the back, the chevron and the green never even make an appearance in the front. I also put on a hanging sleeve. Who knows, I might decide to submit this to a show at some point.
I am thrilled with the quilting! With a light grey 
My feathers are finally looking like real feathers and not fat fingers. All I can say is practice, practice, practice. The background filler just makes them pop more.
I really like how the vines round the corner. I admit to loving feathers, I’m sure there will be many more. They do show up well on a solid background.
This quilt deserves to be displayed, not folded up on a couch, what better place than the railing in the living room.
I know, it clashes with the couch, but as far as I’m concered, the quilt wins. When I reupholster the couch one of these days, it will be solid, the vibrant colors of my quilts will shine better that way.
I ventured out to get some vanity shots at Lake Balboa, we do have water in LA, even if it is reclaimed in a manmade lake. I had to be very careful not to let the quilt drag on the ground. Dirt and a lot of ducks and geese leaving their poop everywhere.
Picnic tables make nice displays. Notice one duck in the background, there are tons others all around, I managed to avoid them.
I did find this tree, that has grown level with the ground, very nice prop!
It’s done in a round robin fashion, so I know who I’m knitting for but not who is knitting for me.
This year Mardi Gras was just a few days earlier, so Ellen made a faux King cake, and guess who found the baby?
So I guess next year it’s my turn to bring a King Cake. 
Natalie got a blue hat and gave Brenda a blue/purple cowl.
Then Brenda gave Yuki the pink hat.
Yuki got me!!!! Her specialty is knitting incredible lace with fine cobweb yarn. I am thrilled!!!
I will have to get a better detailed picture, but as you can see, very delicate. It’s alpaca, so it is warm without being suffocating – since it is such a fine lace. Yuki is brilliant, she put in beads instead of nupps. Anyone who knits knows nupps are a pain – they are an Estonian form of bobble – but awful to actually knit.
We always include sweets, what could be better than a heart shaped donut, which I shared with Joel once I got home.
My giftee was Ellen, of course I had to sew something, a wonderful little basket. Apparently her husband coveted it. Orange is her favorite color.
So how is this for a cowl!
Meri modeling her crochet cowl. Sometimes crochet is the way to go, what a lovely clamshell stitch! Of course I also love the color.
The girls who got hats!
With a view from the back. 
Nora got a cute monster. When we started it was only scarves and cowls, clearly we have moved on. Btw, this little fellow is made from glow in the dark yarn. It was too bright to check it out, but even as is, he is adorable.
A look at the central courtyard with it’s wonderful textures and shapes.
Another favorite, the exterior wall – otherwise known as the dragon wall.
An overwhelming display of shape, texture, line and design.
I don’t know what this says, I just know that I found this image pleasing.
More concrete work, once again, I didn’t see the details inside until I got a close look at my photo. I’m pretty sure this represents a cloud.
Looking down I see a quilt pattern, complete with the quilting lines in place.
A Pagoda with circular windows.From the opposite side, looking through those windows out to the lake.
The circle motif is repeated with the reflection.
A closer look.
In the neighboring Japanese garden the half circle here is called a drum bridge.Water is wonderful! Can’t get enough of it.
The ducks are right at home.
As are the geese. These aren’t Canada Geese, they banish those and they only let one pair live in the garden. The woke up shortly after this and squawked around the lake.