Stitchin' Post in Sisters

Freddy Moran is coming to Sisters!

Jean was recently teaching in California.  While there, she had the pleasure of spending some time with Freddy Moran.  Jean was very taken with Freddy's new "collage quilts".

 

Now Freddy will be joining us at the Stitchin' Post during Art Quilt Symposium week!  Freddy will be teaching a three-day workshop called "Patchwork Collage~Freddy Moran Style!"  Freddy begins with a patchwork of black & white large-scale prints and then builds her collage from the background toward the foreground in bright, bold color.  Click here for more details about the workshop!   

Here are more photos taken by Jean while visiting Freddy's House~

 

A self-portrait...?

A peek at Freddy's stash...

and scrap bins (remember...let nothing go to waste!)

What fun to sneak a peek into a working studio that isn't "airbrushed" for a studio magazine.  I like to see where REAL women create! 

(We'll stop there, as you DO NOT want to see where this real woman creates!) ~Tamra

 

Photos from Barbara Shapel workshops

Barabara Shapel was teaching in our classroom last week!  She taught a one-day workshop on "The Art of Machine Quilting" and a three-day workshop called "Waterdance."  I had the privilege of attending the three-day workshop, and all I can say is...you missed a good one!  Barbara is a fantastic teacher as well as an incredible machine quilter.

Here are photos of some of the quilts she shared in class:

The owl quilt is solid black fabric on the back but appears to be two-sided because of the "thread-painting" method Barbara uses for quilting.  REALLY amazing!

 

Here's Barbara with the teaching sample she made during the Waterdance workshop: 

Click here to see a Facebook photo album of student work!

In addition to learning how to make the beautiful Waterdance quilt, Barbara taught us how to make our quilts reversible with simple piecing of the backing fabric, and then how to add thread-painted details in the quilting.

 

Simple straight-line quilting across the moon, using invisible thread on top and in the bobbin.  Barbara says, "Keep it consistently inconsistent."

 

 

Wave quilting is made using long sweeping lines along the pieced waves on the front on the quilt, and then filled in with "bubbles."  Barbara uses a wide variety of threads including polyester, rayon, variegated, and metalics on the top and in the bobbin to create the two-sided quilting.

I loved the workshop and Barbara's teaching style.  I accomplished more work than I usually get done in a classroom setting, I learned new piecing techniques in class, and I can't wait to try the quilting techniques at home.  The next time Barbara Shapel comes to Sisters to teach, do something special for yourself and take a workshop with her...you'll thank me for it!   ~Tamra

From a different perspective...

Jean was teaching in Colorado week before last.  Here is a link to pictures from the workshop, and a little background story written by Denise Starck (Graphic Designer at Quiltmaker Magazine) who attended the workshop.  Its like being a fly on the wall...

 

Jean has a workshop, "Of The Earth," coming up May 7th-11th here at the Stitchin' Post. There are just four spaces left.  Click here for more information.

 

Snow quilts?

A friend sent pictures of Simon Beck's "Snow Art" which resembles quilting blocks and medallions.  Jean wanted to share some images with you, as they are so incredible and truly beautiful!  Anyone want to meet up at HooDoo and try making some of these? 
Enjoy! 

 

Here is a link with a little bit of story about Simon Beck.

You can see even more of Simon's work on his facebook page.

A little "road trip" project...

 

 

Jean has recently been doing a bit of teaching on the road, but travel time doesn't keep her from being productive!  She made this sweet little pincushion on an airplane trip last week.

 

 

The project uses very few materials and is extremely portable!

Use Fabric Basting Glue by Sewline (shown above) to tack down wool pieces until the stitching is complete...no pins required!

Come into the Stitchin' Post to pick up a free pattern for this project.  (Sorry, not available for download!)  For our long distance customers, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

The Stitchin' Post
Attn: Pretty Pinkeeper
PO Box 280
Sisters, OR  97759

Sharing work from Jean's Intuitive Color and Design 2 Workshop

Last fall, Terri attended Jean's "Intuitive Color and Design 2" workshop.  Today, she sent in a photo of her completed project which she refers to as her "Greece project."  She said that other than the color, it is completely different than what she had started in class.  I think it is just beautiful and very calming to look at.  Great job Terri!

 

Jean is currently in a transition phase with her workshops.  Her new book "Journey to Inspired Art Quilting" will be out this summer.  She is, of course, designing a new series of workshops based on the new book.  The first workshop (at the Stitchin' Post) will be November 16, 17 & 18, 2012.  Reserve your space today!

 

2012 "Small Wonders" quilts are arriving!

The "Small Wonders" Challenge Quilts are starting to arrive...and they are wonderful!

"Tango Garden" by Jean Wells

This is the second year for the Small Wonders Challenge.  The project is a fundraiser for Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) and Sisters Parks & Recreation District (SPRD).  SPRD provides much needed art, athletics and other activities for the youth of Sisters.  Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is thrilled to be able to help support SPRD! 

Here's how the challenge works:

• Make & donate a small quilt (perimeter up to 100" maximum)
• SOQS will sell it and share the proceeds with SPRD

There is also a contest aspect to the challenge, where participants have a chance to win one of six $100 prizes.  Thank you Michael Miller Fabrics for sponsoring the Small Wonders Challenge!  Click here for details about contest entry and prize categories.

Here's a peek at some of the Small Wonders that have already arrived~

                                Barb M.

Deb S.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                            Kathleen D.

Keep an eye on SOQS Facebook page~ photos will be posted as entries arrive and you can follow along.  In June, e-voting will be available for the Viewer's Choice Award and our friends from out of the area get a chance to participate, too!

Don't forget, to join us at the Stitchin' Post May 31st (5-7 pm) for a reception.  All Small Wonders quilts will be on display at the Stitchin' Post throughout the month of June.

Inspiration for your Studio Space...

Have you seen this fantastic new book?

 

Better Homes and Gardens Studio Spaces
projects, inspiration, & ideas for your creative place

This book is filled with tips & organizing ideas that can help you turn your creative space into the functional studio of your dreams.  Take a peek into the studios of six amazing designers (including our very own Jean and Valori Wells!) as they share the secrets of their inspirational studios. This book is filled with tons of ideas for creating attractive storage solutions for creative style ranging from vintage to modern.  Don't miss this one!

Here's a peek inside:

 

 

Jean's studio (shown left)

 

 

Val's studio (shown below.)

 

 

 

 

Quilt for Two Rivers: A Metolius Meander

Fiber artists
contributing to the Quilt for Two Rivers are blogging about
their quilt panels for the single, 40-foot quilt which honors Sisters, Oregon’s Treasured
Landscape. Featured this week:

A METOLIUS MEANDER by Tonye Belinda Phillips

Section
#11 of the Quilt for Two Rivers
25”x30”

My heart and my soul belong to the Metolius basin. 
There was never any question that my focus would be on this beautiful
and magical river valley. I fell in love
with Camp Sherman
and the Metolius River when I was a young girl. And since 1972 I have been a permanent
resident of Camp Sherman. 

My piece, “A Metolius Meander,” showcases a rustic cabin nestled in among the towering ponderosa,
larch, fir and aspen trees that grow so majestically along the Metolius River. 
The color of the dirt, pine needles, lichen and cinders come alive to
add even more interest and texture. This
piece has been “painted” using commercial fabrics. It also includes both
raw-edge and hand appliqué as well as machine and hand quilting.

- Tonye Belinda Phillips

Suzy likes red!

Meet Suzy!  Here she is with her recently quilted Log Cabin In The Round~ It's so beautiful! 

Since September, Suzy has been diligently working in what she affectionately calls "Suzy's Sweat Shop."  Although this quilt has red in it, this is not typical of most of Suzy's quilts!  Most of her quilts have ALOT of red!  (If you could peek at the backing you would see that it is of course RED!) 

Our very own talented Cindy Y. did the long-arm quilting.  Great job to both ladies!