Guest Blog Post- Susan Ache

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Today’s post is a guest post from the uber-talented Susan Ache.  Susan is one of the contributing artists in my new book Sisterhood of Scraps. Susan shares with us all about hibernation and what she does in THE cold month in Florida. ( one little hiccup- that I am posting this in February but I think you will get the gist and enjoy Susan’s process.)

Susan’s quilt from Sisterhood of Scraps, Scrap Diving.

It’s not something I get to say often, but, I am a “guest blogger”.  Thank you, Lissa, for inviting me to your space.  Let’s get some introductions started.  Happy New Year to everybody, I’m Susan Ache (pronounced like hockey without the H) and, I play just about every day on Instagram @yardgrl60.  I live in Florida, sewing by day and stitching by night.

Now that you know all about me, let’s talk hibernation.  I am not about to spend my fun blogging time talking about new year resolutions cleaning and organizing my sewing room with tips and hints.  I am going to talk about how I turn my air down really low, throw food in the crockpot and hibernate in my sewing room for the month of January and sometimes February.  Florida gets a few cold days in February while the rest of the country is bundled up and snowed in during January.   Well, I like to be a part of that fun, so, let’s talk about what I like to spend my time doing.

Hibernating January is such a quiet month to plot and plan new quilt projects from my inspirations I have saved over the year.  Let’s not even begin to think that I write it down or count the number of things I want to get done, I just like visuals to let me know that it’s all there for me when I want to start.  You know those tabs you put in books to mark your favorites, or if you are like me, those patterns you put in a file, so you will never forget you want to make them.  January is my time to sit and re-evaluate what I really want to get done and what I really have in my stash to accomplish that.  I do love playing in my scraps, so most of the time, I am lucky enough not to have to cut into the “real” fabric, but, I do like to know that when there is something special I do want to make, I have the materials on hand.  The best part about my process is that I don’t actually “kit” my projects.  I get everything together, make little notes, and take a quick snapshot of it.  I keep that little “kit” photo in an album in my camera phone and will always have exactly what I pulled that day right at my fingertips.

 

Here’s the thing, I love, and I can’t even begin to say how much I just love to sit down at the machine and make a quilt block.  Hibernating January is my time to do this from all of my “kits” that I have pulled.  There are three main reasons why I make a practice block.  The first reason is that I like to see if I like the construction of the block and if there is possibly an easier way for me to construct it.  The second reason, how many times have you started a quilt and realized halfway through that you don’t really even enjoy making the block.  Well, by making just one or two blocks, I can pretty much tell if it is something I will enjoy making lots of.  And, finally, my favorite reason of all,  I have an extra block to throw in my “orphan” basket of quilt blocks, which always come in handy when I want to make a sampler quilt.

Having Hibernating January is also my time to play with all of the templates and rulers that I have randomly picked up at shops, shows, or online.  Taking the time to see what those things can do certainly helps me have more fun during the year when I finally learn how to use them.  Years ago, I found an entire little box in the back of my cutting table filled with all sizes of drunkards path templates.  I spent Hibernating January figuring out how to make curved piecing more comfortable for me, and to this day, it is one of my very favorite features of a quilt or a quilt block, and I feel confident making them because I carved out some quiet non-stressful time to practice.

Susan’s quilt from another one of her books, All About Color.

So, you may not have time in January to hibernate and plot your year, but take some time that isn’t for just cleaning and organizing to play with the things that make you happy.

 

Thank you Susan for sharing your January with us.

 

Enjoy,

-modalissa

BlockHeads- Zen Chic- 2-12

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Today’s Block Heads post is all about LOVE.

LOVE block by Zen Chic

Love from Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic pictured with some of my pins that are a word and pic combo. No, I am not a train wreck or a drama queen but I am a Lucky Duck to be a part of the Moda Blockheads.

You can find the pattern here.

Last week was applique. This week is paper foundation piecing. Both are a challenge to think outside the box and do something a bit different.
I have become obsessed about this block and will be making it in all sizes, the 4″ block for a pincushion all the way up to the 12″ block for a pillow.

A few tips:

-Print on lightweight paper and tighten your stitch length making the paper easy to tear off. When tearing off the paper make sure you hold on to the seam allowance around the outside edge so the seam does not come apart.

– Lightly color in where you want the colors for the letters to be. It is very easy to get these transposed and end up having a letter E without a middle bar.

-Be sure and adjust your printing of the pattern pages as actual size. Quite often the default setting is fit to print and will make your blocks a tad smaller.

-Oversize all your fabrics. When paper piecing it is crucial to have a bigger piece and trim down instead of coming up short on an angle.

-If you have not paper foundation pieced, print extra pages of the size you need. I messed up on both of the letters V and E and needed to redo them.

-Have fun and experiment.

I was playing around with Brigitte’s newest fabric line, JUST RED to create a LOVE pillow. I was going for negative-positive color placement but was not happy with how it turned out so I will keep playing with color options. Remember when I said print multiple copies of the pages?

Thanks for being adventurous and learning new things!

I can’t wait to see what you create.

Visit each of the designers listed below for their take on the LOVE  block:

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the Block Heads Facebook Group and look for Block Heads 3 on Instagram – #modablockheads and #modablockheads3.

Sisterhood of Scraps- Barbara Brackman

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Hello all,

I want to Welcome Barbara Brackman today as she does a guest post about her quilt in my new book, Sisterhood of Scraps.

“When Using Stripes and Plaids Buy Extra Fabric to Match.”

Someone ignored that good old HomeEc advice to make the Orange Zig-Zag. Lucky for us.

The quilt top came from a Topeka, Kansas thrift store in the 1970s. I asked church ladies in Garnett, Kansas to hand quilt it in the ‘80s. I’d guess the quilt dates to about 1920 due to two fabric style characteristics. The oranges are all cut from the same solid and it looks like a 20th-century dye, not chrome orange, a 19th-century dye. It’s not really lightfast. I hung it too long one winter in Seattle where there’s not much sun; yet the orange faded a bit.

The light fabrics are shirting stripes and plaids, which were quite popular for everybody’s clothing in the teens. Even the giant black and white stripes were probably meant for a snappy men’s shirt, worn with a celluloid collar.

Ad from 1910

I’ve enjoyed hanging it over the years to the envy of my friends who decided to make their own. You might want to use Lissa’s pattern beyond the advice I gave them:

“Get a bunch of orange prints & solids and white stripes & plaids. Make a 60-degree diamond template. Piece rows. When you get bored piece some half diamonds along two sides.”

That’s how I do things, but my friends bought a 60-degree ruler and counted.

We had an orange-fest at our quilt show a few years ago. The quilt on the left is by Kathe Dougherty, a faithful copy. Karla Menaugh’s on the right was done in a Kaffe Fassett workshop.

Kathe was really able to match the look of a century ago.

Orange Zig-Zag by Carol Gilham Jones (Not Orange)

Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your quilt in the Sisterhood of Scraps.

Here is my version that primarily uses the Lollies fabrics by Jen Kingwell. I want to make a quilt exactly like Barbara’s and probably still will.

Please share your version by using the hashtags #sisterhoodofscraps.

Enjoy,

Modalisa

BlockHeads- Betsy Chutchian

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Week 3

SO many great variations and color placements on everyone’s blocks. I have learned so much from watching the progress. Each week is a different kind of challenge to not only what fabrics am I going to use but how my sewing skills are going to be challenged. Today’s block is from Betsy Chutchian. I have known Betsy almost forever. I can’t really remember when we first met but we were both involved with local quilt shops and would run into each other at guild meetings and various quilt shows. I get to see her more now that we are both moda peeps.

I knew Betsy’s block was going to be a challenge for me but in a good way.

I’m not scared!

The half-square triangles are cut at 1 7/8″ so they finish 1″. I rounded up all my cutting to 2″. I was able to then trim or square up each of the units. This definitely took more time but well worth it. Each week I am concentrating on improving my piecing skills. Some weeks I am trying out different rulers but most weeks I will be using triangle papers.

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE.

 Generally, I do not press my seams open. I must confess that I am a bit lazy when it comes to pressing. So to keep it real and make me accountable I decided to show the back of my block. Where the seams got bulky I did press open. There is still some bulk where the tip of the flying geese blocks was but that is okay with me. I will deal with that.

One thing I am going to work harder on is starching my fabrics. Lisa Bongean did a great post on the Blockheads FB group about starching. If you didn’t see it, here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/253867175058745/permalink/825040994608024/

Now visit each of the designers listed below to see their version of this week’s block.

Thanks for stopping by.

Be sure to check out the Block Heads Facebook Group and look for Block Heads 3 on Instagram – #modablockheads and #modablockheads3.

Blockheads3- Sherri McConnell

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SUNSHINE STAR

Welcome to block 2 in the Blockheads 3 series.
( that sounds weird)
This week’s block is designed by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life and she is one of the sweetest people I know. I will probably be saying that a lot on my Blockheads posts because I do think these gals are the best!

I am not sure what my layout is going to be so I am making some of the simpler blocks in a variety of sizes. If I don’t use the 4″ blocks they can always be used as quilt labels, pincushions or parts of zipper bags.

My tip for this week is to sew the blocks in quarters.

Many of the blocks can be done this way and it helps with making sure the shapes are faced in the correct direction. It is also easier to chain piece the sections and then press the sections nicely and then join the 4 quarters together.

The flannel board is one of my makeshift boards using the cardboard from a layer-cake package, a piece of batting and some cloth duct tape around the edges. The cloth duck tape is available at many craft stores, hobby, and hardware stores. It is not available in the greatest colors but when in a bind and want to make a bunch of these boards quickly it works.

I am still playing with my fabric combinations by making a variety of sizes of blocks.

I hope you are having fun.

This week’s pattern available at Sherri’s blog.

I’d love to see your version of the blocks so be sure and tag your posts using

#modablockheads and #modablockheads3.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the Block Heads Facebook Group and look for Block Heads 3 on Instagram – #modablockheads and #modablockheads3.

I will be at the Road to California show this weekend in The Moda booth along with Robin Pickens. Some of the other blockheads will be there also, Jen Kingwell, Lisa Bongean, so If you are coming to the show be sure and stop by.

I will also be doing a Sisterhood of Scraps book signing. Hope to see you there.

Enjoy,

-modalissa

Block Heads 3 – Corey Yoder

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Welcome, Welcome to day 1 of the Block Heads 3.
My friendship group from several years ago was called the Blockheads, so when the idea of this type of project came up, we knew the name Block Heads was perfect for a group of like-minded people who are passionate about learning, making and sharing.

I am excited and nervous about being a part of Block Heads 3. I hope to keep up!

Each designer has supplied their block in an assortment of sizes.

Which size do I choose?

How do I know what blocks I am going to use?

How do I know how much fabric I am going to need for a year-long sew-along?

These and many other questions I am going to answer along the way but the most important thing is to have fun, be creative and enjoy the experience. But first, I have assembled a few of the “really would be great if you have” notions to make the process flow.

   + Oil up your machine, change the machine needle and thread using a neutral color of thread. I lean towards a light tan, light blue, silver or pink as my neutrals. The thread just disappears in both light and dark fabrics. Using high-quality threads does make a big difference in your project.

   + A small iron to keep handy by your sewing machine helps speed up the work no matter whether you press your seam allowance opened or closed. Even the larger blocks are made up of many small pieces so pressing is important.

+ A rotary cutter and small mat to square up sections as you go. Generally, when a 1 7/8″ square is called for, I round it up to 2″, then cut and sew into half-square triangles, press and square the blocks. This is also where the 1  1/2″ and 2″ bloc-loc rulers come in handy.

+ When more than a few half square triangles are needed for a block I use Primitive Gatherings triangle papers. The papers are fast and accurate. NO additional trimming is needed because they finish at the exact size needed. Give them a try!

 + Simple Folded Corners ruler by Antler Quilt Designs is also one of my must-have rulers.

+ Small portable design boards. Layout your fabrics as you cut them to audition your fabric choices or to keep the fabrics in order when it is time to sew. You can make these yourself by using any size of the cardboard, batting scraps, and fabric binding or fabric duck tape works nicely also. I often use the cardboard piece that comes with layer cakes. Fat Quarter Shop has a variety of sizes already made also.

+ Thread cutter by Sunflower Quilts is perfect to have to quickly cut apart all the chain piecing.

What fabrics am I going to use? When doing a mystery project like this, you want to make sure you have quite a bit of each fabric or a large variety of fabrics. I opted for a large variety. Picking fabrics is one of the hardest things to do. Trying to decide on the perfect 18- 24 fabric is a tough one, so I wanted to share my trick. I like to pull all the fabrics that I think may even be close to what I am looking for. Lay the fabrics out in color order and start eliminating. It is much easier to take fabrics out of the stack than to build only the perfect stack with no rejects. This frees you up to choose some fabrics that may add a pop of color, a little clash fact, or or a variety of scale. Also, keep in mind how many colors you want. Odd numbers work best. Shown above is the beginning of my first fabric pull. I added the medium blue as my 3rd color, so I would have the option of creating a medium. I also choose lots of different lights for my background, keeping in mind that I would need small scale prints.

Once I started sewing, I added many different fabrics and took away some that would not work. Don’t be afraid to change along the way. The quilt is a work in progress.

Star Crossed by Corey Yoder

For the instructions to Corey’s Star Crossed block – Coriander Quilts.

Corey’s block was tons of fun to make. I choose to make the 8″ size.

Many of the blocks are available in a range of sizes from 4″ to 12″ so I am planning on making all 8″ but playing around with a few 4″ and throw in a 12″ from time to time.

One of my favorite things to collect is quilt block patterns, whether they are in books or online. Each week I will also share a few of the other trinkets that I collect. This week I am sharing a few cards of vintage buttons in greens and blues.

Be sure and visit each of the other blockheads each week for their blocks, tips, tricks, and additional info. Some of the designers already have given layout options, so that should help guide you in what size blocks you want to make. Moda will also be supplying a few possibilities of layouts for mixed sizes of blocks.

There are fourteen different designers:

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the Block Heads Facebook Group and look for Block Heads 3 on Instagram – #modablockheads and #modablockheads3.

Enjoy,

Modalissa

Sisterhood of Scraps

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Today is my mom’s birthday or as we all called her, Gammy, you know like the Grammy’s. We all won the biggest award by having her in our lives. She was so creative and taught us all to work with our hands. In honor of my mom’s birthday, January 6th is the best day to announce the debut of Sisterhood of Scraps.

Sisterhood of Scraps is a follow-up book to Oh Scrap, but this one is bigger and better because some of my friends have come along for the journey.  Laurie Simpson, Susan Ache, Barbara Brackman, Sandy Klop, Kim Brackett and Sheryl Johnson all helped make this book happen.  Each of these talented women said YES when I asked them if they wanted to take on the challenge.

They weren’t scared!!
I paired with each person to make a quilt incorporating a certain shape. I would do the same shape but neither of us knew anything else. No other rules or limitations and I hope these quilts inspire you to join the Sisterhood of Scraps.

First up is Laurie Simpson of Minick & SImpson.  Laurie has a very classic and timeless style and this quilt did not disappoint. The challenge for Laurie was 4 patches and 9 patches. Remember that was the only rule.  There are so many secondary patterns in this quilt that I can look at it over and over and see different patterns created by the lights and darks throughout. The stacked brick border sends your eye back into the quilt. The quilting pattern is what I call a baptist fan. The curved shape of the quilting compliments the linear piecing.

This is my version of 4 patches and 9 patches.  I don’t know how most people go about making a scrap quilt but most of the time I just start sewing shapes. It is my therapy, mindless sewing at the end of the day while binge-watching my favorite show.

This quilt is bits and pieces from a couple of other quilts I have made. I call it Friendship Starter because it reminded me of the Amish Friendship bread recipe. Friendship bread you create the starter,  keep adding to it and wait patiently until it is time to make bread all the while the starter is shared with others to cultivate their recipe.

SIDE NOTE: I did pass along all the little four patch starters.

Susan Ache of @yardgrl60 Has created just the perfect pop of color using a red background for her LeMoyne stars surrounded by Log Cabins. The quilt is brand new but has that wonderful soft vintage feel as if it had been around for decades. A red binding finished it off beautifully.

Log Cabin was our shape in common. I made a log cabin on point with different centers, half dark and half light to create a woven pattern. If you have followed me you know I love using a combination of different Moda fabric designers’ fabrics. It just makes me happy and I think of each of them as I touch each piece. I love the quilting on this quilt. A floral design was quilted on the light section and simple straight lines in the dark. This also helps create an optical illusion on how the blocks were even pieced. All I need now is an actual log cabin house to go with the quilt. This is a great scrap buster for sure!!

I will give you a minute or two to catch your breath from this quilt.

Ok, got it?

Do you need to scroll up to see the picture again?

This quilt is even more spectacular in person.

Sandy Klop of American Jane is the creator of this quilt. Forever Friends is Sandy’s quilt. I look at this quilt and think about how each fabric tells a story and what was Sandy thinking about as she worked on this. The shape that Sandy and I both went with was a 1 patch square.

When I made my quilt and knew that my sister on the project was Sandy I knew I had to use reds and that my quilt had to be bright and vibrant just like Sandy’s personality and friendship is to me.
One main difference is her squares are uber small and mine and big and funky.

My quilt is named Ketchup and Mustard and is perfect for a picnic quilt.

( thank you Tammy Vonderschmitt for the quilt name.)

It is hard to have just one favorite quilt from the book,
just like it would be hard to have a favorite child but this quilt Half Square Hashtags from Sheryl Johnson will be the first one I reproduce.
I have always been a fan of Sheryl and her shop Temecula Quilts but had not met her in person until we started working on this book. The challenge I gave Sheryl was make something with half-square triangles, yes that was all I said and she created this beauty.

Part friendship quilt and part signatures from people that have influenced my life is the inspiration for my sister quilt to Sheryl’s, INFLUENCERS. I was able to get signatures some of my teachers, designers, friends, family even the president of Quilts, inc and Moda fabrics. I got signatures from new friends at quilting events and hope to travel some with this quilt, so if I see you I will most likely pull out a pen and ask you for your signature. Thanks for your influence.

Kim Brackett hit it out of the part with her DIVERGENCE quilt. So much pattern,

color and movement throughout the quilt without a single set in-seam.

My kind of quilt looks hard but it is easy.

The quilt just makes me happy!

Remember we did not see each other’s quilts until far along in the process. Trapezoid shapes. Geez, what did I do to myself?

You can never have to many holiday quilt so I went with classic Christmas colors, but wanted to create a spinning effect by making the backgrounds between the stars half darks and half lights. Then I thought it would be a super cool bed quilt with

the star set on point so filled it with background fabrics to float.

Barbara Brackman, the queen of quilting has graciously included one of her antique quilts in this book.  Barbara and I did sisterhood quilts a little different. She sent me pictures of several antique quilts and I knew the Orange one was it.  To tell you what a small world it is, I had saved a picture of this quilt and it was on my “to make in sometime life” list of quilts and had no idea

it was Barbara’s quilt.

Barbara reproduced her own quilt as a mini and yes the pattern is also in the book.

This quilt was probably the hardest to decide upon. Since I had seen Barbara’s quilt and it was on my must-make list, how could I think of anything else but the wonderfully faded orange and the black and white stripes and tickings? Seriously how can you mess with perfection? So I started with the graphic black and whites but went with dots instead of stripes, added tickings and vintage-inspired lights. Okay, half the fabric was decided upon. The other half of the quilt is Jen Kingwell’s Lollies fabrics. These fabrics are 8 fabrics in one so it was a breeze to get a scrappy look with a limited amount of fabrics. While not messing with the greatness of Barbara’s quilt, I think my Pot of Gold quilt gives lots of options when looking at color and fabric differently. I will still be making the Orange version. ( thanks to Sarah Huecthmann for piecing the top for me)

I am going to have some guest posts from some of the contributors over the next 2 weeks, and there will be prizes!!   Books are in stores now.  #sisterhoodofscraps

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAMMY

I get my laugh, my humor,

my snark, my patience

and so much more from my mom.

I know she would love all the quilts and brag to everyone she met.

Happy Birthday Mom and thanks for nurturing and encouraging all things creative in me.

 

Enjoy,

 

Lissa

The New Hexagon 2

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One of the greatest things about my job is that I get the pleasure of meeting all kinds of talented people. I work with designers, writers, creators, publishers, and shop owners from all over the world. Impressive, right?

Very few people are able to successfully wear all of those hats at one time. In walks Katja Marek of Katja’s Quilt Shoppe. Ltd located in Kamloops, BC, Canada and blows my socks off with her 5th book from Martingale Publishing.

Katja invited me to take part in her Instagram book tour and Thursday, Nov. 14th is my day. I am writing about it here but you have got to visit @modalissa to be able to enter to win a copy of the book.  You can see my block on my IG feed also.

Visit @Katja_marek  each day to find out a little more about the book and the blocks and then follow each of the following people on their scheduled day for more chances to win!!

 @karenburns1

@martingaletpp

@paperpiecesepp

@modalissa That’s me!

@kim_brackett

@robinpickens

@alisonglass

@la_casetta_nel_bosco

@allie.and.me.design

@quilterpatsloan

@lynetteandersondesigns

@gailpandesigns

@sewmorequiltsmom

@poppyprint

@stitchpublications

@stashlabquilts

@meghawkey1

Thanks for stopping by and see you on IG tomorrow.

-Modalissa

Mix it Up blog hop and Giveaways

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Today starts the Moda All Star’s Mix it up blog hop. The listing of great quilts from talented designers will sure to inspire you. Each designer was given their choice of Cake Mix papers or Cupcake papers to design with. They could use any combination of papers and fabrics.

There are many chances to win and lots of places to hop to, including blogs, facebook pages, and even Instagram.
Follow the links below for each day.

Monday- 11.4:
Susan Ache –
Betsy Chutchian
Martingale

Tuesday – 11.5:
Zen Chic-Brigitte
Laurie Simpson – @minickandsimpson /
Moda – or  here

Wednesday – 11.6:
Kansas Troubles-Lynne
Brenda Riddle – @brengr
Corey Yoder – @corianderquilts

Thursday – 11.7:
Bunny Hill-Anne
Lisa Bongean

Me & My Sister
Sherri McConnell

Friday – 11.8:
Janet Clare
Pretty by Hand-Kristyne Czepuryk – @prettybyhand
Sweetwater – @sweetwaterfabrics
American Jane-Sandy

If you have never used a Cake Mix paper, take a look at this how to video.

I will be giving away 4 copies of the MIX IT UP book.

Please leave a comment and let me know what is your favorite cake or cupcake and

I will announce the winners Friday morning.

moda’s Stitch Pink

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Hello all,

I had the opportunity to make a quilt block for the month-long series, Stitch Pink. My mom was a breast cancer survivor, so this cause is very near and dear to my heart. Anything that we can do to raise awareness. I am a big believer in positive thinking, and I am so addicted to any quilt block that is a plus sign. I couldn’t think of anything better when it came to making my block than to take my inspiration from my quilt in American Patchwork and Quilting’s June Issue.

All of our Stitch Pink blocks are 12″ so I improvised and made my plus signs a little different and smaller.

I used a variety of Bella Solids and an essential dot, but the options are endless!

9- 4″ units make a 12″ finished block.

Here are the instructions to make my Stitch Pink version.

If you would like to download the bigger blocks and a color option from American Patchwork and Quilting, click here.

Thanks for following along.

Share with me if you make these projects, @modalissa. I’d love to see your work.

Make sure you get your mammogram,

Modalissa