Lots of Questions..

..are being asked about the One Block Wonder.

To start "yes" when I teach this class everyone has to buy their own book it is only fair to the developer of the technique. Plus I am sure once you have started with this technique you will not be able to make just one and you will need the book to refresh yourself when making your next one. Honestly most have made a second or third after taking the course. I would ask if they completed theirs and the reply would be "oh I am on my second one now!!" LOL.

Fabric selection is important. If you want print this page and bring to your store for assistance when buying your fabric. You should get a fabric that has movement in the back ground as well as some movement with the motifs. I find the orientals are a little difficult for the OBW technique there is to much color.. you are looking for fabric that has 5 colors or less that would mean your background as well. When you get your book you will see some of the fabrics that Max and Joy had used.

How much fabric?? if your fabric is a 24in repeat you will get a double size quilt this will include your boarders as well. Remember if you want a larger quilt you will need to get 2x the amount of repeats. If you are making the hexagon that means 6repeats of fabric. You are making a kalidescope and you need to stack 6repeats to make that kalidescope. DO NOT THINK IN METERS/YARDS!! think in how many repeats. So if you want a larger quilt you will need to by 12 24in repeats. I really hope this helps...if you are short repeats your fabric will end up being a 4patch posey instead.

Since talking about repeats if your repeat is only a 6in to 8in measurement I suggest you double the count of repeats. Your material will be easier to work with. So that would be 6in repeats x 12.

If you are going to do the octagon block you will need to buy 8 repeats of fabric to make a block you can see one of the octagon quilts to the left and I had posted another one earlier.

I know that most stores in Toronto are carrying the book and they will gladly order it for you. I am sure you can call them and ask if they will have it at the Creative festival as well.

I have quilts hanging in The Sewing Machine Factory, Cockadoodle Quilts, and Cozy Quilts (in Cobourg) if you want to take a look at them up close and in person.

The most important thing is this will be fun! bring a sharp blade and your design wall. Oh the design wall that was another question.

I used a piece of insulation board cut in half, used some clear duck tape to put together both pieces so it opens like a book and then put batting (cotton) all around again attaching with duck tape (clear). You can also use an off white quilters flannel as well. I am not sure if we can just tape our design wall (batting) to the walls but will find out.

As they say "don't worry.. be happy" this will be mega fun!! Can't wait to see what everyone pics!!

Deb

One Block Wonder News!!

I have been accepted to teach at our Creative Sewing Festival on Oct 17 http://www.creativfestival.ca/ . It will be the One Block Wonder (OBW). I have taught this many times at our local and not so local quilt stores such as.... http://www.thequiltingpatch.ca/

http://pictonfabricworld.com/ and a couple of stores that have now changed hands. Every student that has taken this course have been so amazed at the outcome of their creation.

I am posting a couple that I have done. I hope to see everyone at the Creative Sewing Festival for 2008.

This one was with penguin fabric very simple.. you are looking for fabrics with no more than 5 colors this would also include your background color... it is also advisable to use fabric that has great background movement. You can see the fabric used on my webshots photos.

I had to laugh when Encore came out they had used the same fabric on one of their quilts!!


This is the type of quilt that you can be creative even as a beginner. You learn more about how your color values work for you to create your own personal work of art... remember it is only one fabric, one block how can you go wrong??

This beauty below is with a wonderful sunflower fabric... this fabric is for more the intermediate that knows their design will be on the wall for a couple of weeks before a clear decision can be made. The pic on the right is the fabric that is used as you can see there are more colors so there is more thought into the placement of your values when designing your quilt.

After effects of cutting and designing.. this is so much fun but better in a workshop so that you can see what others do with their fabrics.

Another Before...

Below is the after.. this is using the 8 wedges rather than the six wedges in previous... I would advise using the 6 wedge to start... you have 3 sides to choose from when piecing your blocks to take advantage of your fabric.

Well as you can see I am very excited by this technique and am glad to share it.. I would advise you to get the Encore book if you are going to make it... it has all the information required so that you can make the cubes as well that are displayed... they didn't put the cube pattern in the first book...
Off to work to dream of quilting....

Deb

Patience...

is a virtue. I am having problems with uploading pics with my camera and trying to resolve these issues. I will try to continue with great patience... but it is wearing thin...uuuuugh

I am known as the Stack & Whack (S&W)queen in these parts I love all aspects of S&W and thought I would show you some of my works.. these are old but they are still fun. I still teach this class at a couple of stores as you saw earlier with the tree skirt. I also teach One Block Wonder (OBW) another favorite and very addictive.

This one is called "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" The pattern was from the Stack and Whackier Book pattern "Sarah's Roses" . The fabric I used was the Hydrangea fabric by Lakehouse that was so popular it was perfect for the roses and rosettes and so much fun to do. Many students took this one.




This one is made with halloween fabric that I just fell in love with the fabric was called the "Unhappy Hour" with ghouls and gobblins drinking and celebrating halloween. It was also a perfect name for this quilt. The background fabric is with cats eyes that glow in the dark very, very cool

This one here is outside my color spectrum I am not a pink/purple kinda gal.. but I just love these Kaffee fabs and it was perfect for the wonderful florals... it is currently hanging (and finished) at the http://www.cockadoodlequilts.com/ soon it will be down and ready for fall classes... I think it only took me 3 days to put this together.

Oh the title of this one is " Glad to Be Mine"

Well I will continue to work out my camera problem and hope I can post my Aunt Millie Blocks soon.. I have 4 done and they are looking pretty good. Plus I want to show you how I do my centers... Piece of Cake did post on their blog how to.. but I have done mine differently cause I had started it before they posted. http://pieceocakeblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-applique-circles-in-center-of.html

May piece be with you... Deb

catch up time!

Well I have been busy gettting things ready for the fall. I will be teaching the Christmas tree skirt which I finally have it how I wanted it with the scallop edging.
The class will be at Cockadoodle quilts you will see the link at the side.



Secondly I am trying to get my sample ready for January for the Piece of Cake Aunt Millie' Garden. They didn't put in the instructions how they do the center part with the circle so I pieced it together by hand and then hand appliqued it to the middle then I visited their blog and sure enough they had the process they had used.
http://pieceocakeblog.blogspot.com. You can click on the title and the link will come up... their method was to applique every other wedge onto a 6" piece then applique to the block. I will have to try that way so that I can give the students that option.

I still have to put a few leaves on and also the very center little circle but I had to show you.. of course. I have started the second block and have all the stems done and will be appliquing tulips soon.

My advise is try a little applique if you haven't already you would be amazed on how relaxing it is.. take a class so that you can learn the basic's and just practice a little. It will open a whole new world... I love to piece as well but an applique boarder really dresses up a pieced quilt!!

Deb

I can't wait to show you

Well I couln't wait I am so excited!! I have to show you my progress in just a couple of days...my days are work are so pleasant cause all I can think of is what I am going to do when I get home. This is the start of my Aunt Millie's garden. My choice of the pieced background still excites me and the colors of trying to go primitive is still what I am going for.


I have to put the dark circles in the middle of the flowers but I have them all cut and ready to put on my block.. there are still a few leaves as well as the pieced center.. I was not going to piece the center like they had but I have changed my mind and thought that it would really add to the quilt..

New Face

Well it was time to change the face of my blog. Black was great for the winter but summer sunshine is in and all things around is so much brighter.
I think I am in this frame due to a wonderful new project that I am working on for a class sample it is "Aunt Millie's Garden" by Piece of Cake designs (BTW one of my favorite designers. I am not going to use the reds background but continue in their fashion they use with the pieced background...to come in a later date.

I have also finished 2 blocks for Elly Sienkiewicz's new book for 2010 on Friendship Baltimore albums. Blocks are being made from all over the world and each country will represent itself... this is a very exciting opportunity and I am just so honoured to be apart of it - due to publications infringments I had to remove the pics of Elly's blocks her book will be coming out in 2010.. sorry for the inconvenience.

What's going on??

Well another 2weeks of business. I have been appliqu'n blocks and getting ready for another Round Robin...they are so addictive!! This one I have the theme of "Ole' Country Lady" she is made up of my least favorite color.. purple.. so the challenge for my round robineers is to disquise the purple as much as possible and to make it as country as possible. I live in a big city and want some country brought back to me and my home.. I will post as I see the progression.. this is through an on line quild that I belong to and it is great fun.
You can see I didn't embroider anything yet I will once she is returned to me that way the thread is not handled to much when they do their work.