Hunter Star Pattern Play

When I was getting ready for the Studio 180 Design Teacher Certification retreat we had to have a sample made from every tool. I had not used the Hunter Star tool yet, so I chose to make the companion pattern “Star Cross love” designed by Deb Tucker for Marie Bostwick. It only required 25 fat quarters for the blocks and made a 74″ by 92″ quilt. I had a fat quarter bundle of reproduction fabrics I used for mine. I named it “Adirondack Nights”.
Hunter star pattern play
We were also asked to bring to class 16 light hunter square triangles and 16 dark hunter square triangles.
Hunter Star Triangles
By not sewing the triangles together before we go to the design wall we were able to have some pattern play! If you go the Studio 180 Design website (there is a link on my home page). Un der the Gallery tab there is a link to “Basic Recipe Razzle Dazzle”. There you will find many options for 2, 3 and 4 color pattern play. This is so much fun!
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The possibilities are almost limitless.
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Drum Roll Please…….

I am a newly minted Studio 180 Design Certified Teacher. I got home Yesterday from spending a week in beautiful Williamsport, PA. I and 23 other extraordinary women and one exceptional man received teacher certification. Deb Tucker worked our butts off.
Teacher Certification
I am now trained to teach classes for Studio 180 Design tools: Tucker trimmer, Wing Clipper, Square/Squared, Corner Beam, Split Rects and the newest Diamond Rects.
02 Rapid Fire 2
lets not forget the Rapid Fire Tools: Hunter Star and Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star. I cant wait to share what you can make with these tools!
03 Application Overkill
Because I am such a panic, I also got an award for “Application Overkill”. We were asked to provide 2 written references. I asked many people just in case no one answered the call. I ended up with 7 references. Oh well!
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Here I am with Deb Tucker and Virtual Deb aka Sue Tucker. What a team. This was a life changing experience, and I can’t wait to share everything I have learned.

The Packing Has Begun

I think the air has stopped moving! Only 2 more days till I leave for Williamsport, PA for the Studio 180 Designs Teacher Certification Retreat! I have about worn myself out getting ready for this. The packing has begun. This is no small task.

Packing for Deb Tucker
I have finished all my projects for class. They are quilted, bound, labeled and photographed!

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I’m bringing 3 tubs of fabric! After all, you can never have too much fabric! Irons, tables, chair, rulers!!!!!!!!!!!

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I have 2 sewing machines! One for the classroom and one for the hotel room. I have my plunger (don’t ask)!

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I never leave home without my mini Keurig coffee maker!

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I didn’t bring the teacher an apple…I made her a tote bag! And I haven’t even begun getting the clothes packed!

Homework for Deb Tucker 6 – Large Hunter Star

This assignment started with acceptance to Deb Tucker Teacher Certification starting September 16th. There are 9 rulers. I had only used 2. We were asked to bring completed projects or at least blocks made with each ruler. I decided to make a project with the 6 rulers I had not used so I would feel comfortable with each one and then I would also have a class sample for each ruler. In the last 3 weeks I have completed 6 projects finishing up with the hunter star ruler.

I used Deb Tucker’s pattern called “Star Crossed Love” measuring 74″ by 92″ and required 25 fat quarters. I really loved this pattern. It was so well done, great detail and pictures for every step! Deb used a variety of brights in her quilt.

I had a fat quarter bundle called Sturbridge Village Calico. It had 25 fat quarters in it, I took it as a sign! I hoped it wasn’t too dark. It sure is scrappy, but I like it!

Large Hunter Star
I am naming my quilt “Adirondack Nights”.

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Deb gives wonderful direction on how to cut up the fat quarters to obtain the trapezoids, diamonds and triangles.
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Sew the trapezoids to the strips to make diamonds
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Press toward the trapezoids.
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Trim into diamond using the hunter star ruler.
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Sew trapezoids to the second strip.
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Press toward the strip.
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Trim into diamonds.
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Trim off the excess fabric.
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Sort strips by trapezoid color.
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Match trapezoid to same color triangle.
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Sew trapezoids to triangles.
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Press toward the triangle.
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Choose two completed triangles, sew together, press center seam open.
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Square up the block using the hunter star ruler.
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Finished block.

A Walk In Frida’s Garden, Part II

Well, I finally finished my hexagon quilt based on artist Frida Kahlo (born July 6, 1907 -died July 13, 1954 in Coyoacan, Mexico), fabric by Alexander Henry. I think I like it. I can’t stop looking at it. I used the original fabric on the left side only. I love the 2002 movie based on Frida’s life. Frida was played by Selma Hayek.
A Walk in Fridas Garden

Printed on the fabric are two quotes made by Frida Kahlo & printed on the fabric in spanish. I machine embroidered them on the borders in english. On the top border, embroidered is “Feet, what do I need them for when I have wings to fly”. She survived a terrible bus accident where she was impaled by a steel post, but was in pain most of her life.
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The second quote I embroidered along the bottom border: “I Desire to Live, I have already begun to paint”.
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In the top right corner I added a skull with a butterfly super imposed over it. (Design by http://www.urbanthreads.com)
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I wanted to play with cubes on this hexagon quilt.
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I had left over blocks, so I reduced their size and appliqued them in several place on the quilt’s edge as if they were spinning off onto the border.
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The Backing is also by Alexander Henry, called “Contigo”.
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Let me know what you think.

A Walk in Frida’s Garden, Part I

I’m working on my 52nd Hexagon Quilt. This one is cut from Alexander Henry’s fabric “Frida’s Garden” for Frida Kahlo, a Mexican Artist born July 6, 1907, died July 13, 1954. Below is one repeat of the fabric.
Fridas Garden

Fabric cut into equilateral triangles.
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Frida Block
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Another Frida block, fun!
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I decided to incorporate cubes into this hexagon quilt. You choose 3 colors for your cubes. A light, intermediate and a dark fabric. I chose these three colors taken from the block fabric.
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We make two kinds of triangles, striped and V triangles. For the striped triangles sew the strips into 6 sets of 3 fabrics each. Cut 14 strips of each shade – light, intermediate, and dark. All the strips are 1 ½” x the width of the fabric. Press all seams open! (Confession, I forgot and pressed to the side the side, I had to go back and press my seams open).

Striped Triangles – Sew the strips into 6 sets of 3 fabrics each as follows:
Light – dark – light
Light – intermediate – light
Intermediate – light – intermediate
Intermediate – dark – intermediate
Dark – light – dark
Dark – intermediate – dark
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Using a Clearview Triangle ruler, align the 3 ¾” line of the ruler along the bottom edge of the light-dark-light assembled strip, and cut along both sides.
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Note: the point is missing on the cut triangle. This is not a mistake. That missing point
will be absorbed in the seam

To cut the second triangle, flip the fabric over and cut from the wrong Side again using the 3 ¾: line.
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V Triangles: Sew 4 of each value of the remaining strips together in pairs as follows:
Light – intermediate
Intermediate – light
Light – dark
Dark – light
Intermediate – dark
Dark – intermediate
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You will have 6 strip sets – 2 each of 3 color combinations. Press seams open.

Align the 2 ¾” line on the Clearview rule along the bottom edge of the assembled strip, and cut along both sides. Note again that the point is missing.
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Flip to the wrong side and continue cutting as before. The 2nd triangle is a reverse of the 1st one cut, no problem, we will need both.
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From the 4 remaining strips of each color, cut 3 ¾” trapezoids using the Clearview Triangle ruler
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Sew a trapezoid to every 2 ¾” triangle, matching the color of the trapezoid to create a V triangle.
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You can quickly chain sew triangles to trapezoids.
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All seams are pressed open
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From the Striped Triangles, V Triangles and trapezoids you can make these five different cubes:
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I placed Frida’s Garden on the design wall. When I had a design I was satisfied with I started to play with the cubes. I simply replaced hexagons with cubes.
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This is part one. I want to use some machine embroidery and broderie perse in the borders. First I need to sew blocks into rows and then join the rows so I can audition my ideas.

Getting Hexed in Harrisonburg

I attended a “Meet the Artist” function at the Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, Virginia this past Saturday. It was great fun. The exhibit consisted of quilts made from hexagons, both old and new. The museum is in a wonderful old house in downtown Harrisonburg. There is a lot of great antique shops there. The exhibit even has a quilt made by former President Woodrow Wilson’s wife (it was started by the first wife and finished by the second wife). Getting Hexed will be on exhibit through August 24, 2013, so don’t miss it.

Getting Hexed in Harrisonburg
This is Neva Hart, Quilt Appraiser and Mary Kerr, quilter, teacher and author.

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Mary Kerr, curator of the exhibit Vintage Revisited and many of the artists were here autographing copies of the exhibit’s book.

03 I dropped my Basket
My attempt at taking a vintage block and re-imagining it. It was a basket block that I gave a twisting falling down appearance, and then machine embroidered around the border the saying “I dropped my basket yesterday! That’s a polite southern term for, I went bat shit crazy for no, apparent nor discernible reason.”

04 Jackie and Meegan Carr Directer
This is Meegan Carr, Executive Director of the Virginia Quilt Museum.

04 Star Struck by Cheryl See
Award-winning quilt artist Cheryl See was on hand discussing her quilt, Star Struck, that won Best Hand Workmanship at the 2012 AQS Paducah Quilt Show. This quilt is a stunner, you must see it up close. It took Cheryl over 2 years to make this quilt.

05 Jackie and Wilma Gerald Board Members
Jackie and Wilma Gerald and board member.

06 Jackie explaing OBW
Here I am giving a demo on how to make a Hexagon Quilt.

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I gave donated this quilt to the Virginia Quilt Museum. They will be raffling or auctioning it later this year.

A Tote For My Featherweight

I’m getting ready to go to the NC Quilt Symposium, May 23rd thru the 26th. I decided to take my Singer 1939 Featherweight sewing machine. It is lightweight and won’t take up too much room. So I cleaned, oiled, and lubricated her, changed the needle. I have the original carry case, but it smells musty, it adds weight and takes up room. So I decided to make her a padded carry tote. I made it the same way I make all my totes. I have a tote making lesson plan under “Class Descriptions, Supply Lists & Stuff.

I cut a canvas outer fabric and lining fabric 20″ by 40”. I cut a 20″ by 40″ piece of Quilters Dream Fusible Batting.

The 1940’s style Lady embroidery design is from Embroidery Library. I embroidered the design, fused the batting to the back of the outer fabric, sewed up the sides and then made an 8″ gusset by measuring down 4″ to make my sewing line (see lesson plan for details).

Now I feel my Featherweight is protected. She will be placed in a roller cart with other items but won’t get scratched up.

Featherwright Tote

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Hexed at the Virginia Quilt Museum

I’m thrilled my hexagon quilt “Inside the Twister” has been selected to be in an exhibit at the Virginia Quilt Museum that is called “Hexed” presenting quilts made from hexagons from May 21 – August 24, 2013. There is a link to the Virginia Quilt Museum on the right side of my blog.

 

Inside the Twister 3

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One Block Wonder Fabric Selections

What fabric makes a good Hexagon Quilt? Some say a 24″ repeat is key, but I do not necessarily agree. I made a hexagon quilt from a fabric that had a 24″ repeat, but the print was not that large. Although it was still a pretty quilt, I thought the colors were a little muddy (Natures Chorus). So I say get as big a print as you can find with colors that you like. Keep in mind that once the repeats are layered you will be cutting them into 3 3/4″ strips. If your print is flowers that are only 3″ across, you will not be taking them apart very much and your blocks will end up looking a lot like the original fabric. Whereas if the print is 6″ you will have a better chance of your blocks looking nothing like the original fabric.

I ignore the print itself and go for something large with colors I like, then I know I will have fun. When I made “Inside the Twister” from the Wizard of Oz fabric in sepia tones, it was only a 12″ repeat. I could have cut 6 repeats of a fabric 12″ each, but because the print was big enough, I chose a design element that was easily identifiable and when it came up again at 12″ – I skipped it and went to the next one. Now I had a 24″ repeat. When you do this you may have blocks that repeat themselves, but remember you have 3 design choices with each block.

To make a good lap-size, twin, or full size quilt, 4 1/4 yards for your blocks. 6 repeats of fabric at 24” each, is exactly 4 yards (24 x 6 = 144; 144/36 = 4). I ALWAYS BUY at least 6 Yards so I have the option of a 9 OR 10 inch outer border with the original fabric.) It is fun to see a slice of the original fabric along with the quilt. DO NOT PRE-WASH THE FABRIC!!!!

Below are some of my hexagon quilts waiting to be born. I still have another 20 or so 6 yard pieces I didn’t show you.

OBW Fabric
Just Lion Around by Alexander Henry

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New York City at Night

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Red Sunflowers

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Route 66

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Ocean Fish

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UPS Men

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Construction Hunks (I love cutting up people)

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New York, New York

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Under the Rainbow, I used this fabric for “Inside the Twister” it had a 12″ repeat

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Over the Rainbow

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Paris Pin Ups

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Frida’s Garden

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Georgia O’Keefe

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Large Leaves by Alexander Henry

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Parrots in the Jungle

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Kaffe Fasset same fabric 3 color ways

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English country Side by Sue Beevers