*NEW* Article in Simply Moderne Magazine

I have so many news to share but I cannot do it in one post. I will write several entries in the coming days.

My latest article has been released! This is my sixth consecutive year writing for the French magazine Simply Moderne Magazine.

My article shows how to paint quilt blocks with a technique I've called *Speckle Paint*. And believe me when I tell you that you need a cheese grater for this technique.

It is a very complete article, with detailed pictures of every step. It is 8 pages long! I created this technique because *Speckling* has always intrigued me. I tried many different ways through the years and finally I discovered how to do it. Each block is different and yet the end result is a cohesive quilt top since the same design is repeated several times.

You can create your own screens OR you can get a set of two, the same designs I used on my quilt at My Store. 

Also inside this issue there is an article about Quilt National. To promote this event a group of quilts was chosen and to my surprise they included a photograph of my winning quilt as well. That makes me very happy. An unexpected surprise.

And here are some details:

My final quilt ( 50" x 74"):

I hope you will try this new way of painting. It's lots of fun :)

Stay safe!

*LIVE* VIRTUAL Workshops and Lectures

I have been very busy the past weeks setting up my *LIVE* ONLINE classes. You'll be able to watch my videos and follow me during *live* workshops.This will  be a hybrid, the best of both worlds. You can ask all the questions you want. We'll share our experiences and have FUN doing what we love.

Filming and editing the videos with clear steps took a lot of effort to make this work - each class is loaded with information.

I am excited about the new virtual platform and I hope it will bring us together.

Painted Quilt *Finished*

 

It's Autumn in my part of the world so I decided to challenge myself to create a painted quilt to cover my legs while I am sitting reading a book (my other favorite activity- I am currently reading The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens-).

The finished quilt measures 45 inches by 36 inches. Let me share with you my quilt-making process.

I knew I wanted a painted quilt so I started experimenting with different type of paints and soon I discovered a *new* way of printing which I called *surprise printing*.
The name says it all: it is a serendipity process where you get different color design with each print. Perfect technique for making a pieced quilt top.

Well, if you have been reading my blog you must know by now that I usually make art quilts to be hanged on the wall which are heavily stitched by hand and machine with different kind of threads. For a utility quilt, I learned that you must take a different approach: less dense stitching!! And did I also mention a pieced quilt top???

  

After all the blocks were printed, washed and trimmed I started to play with them on my design wall. I was stuck so I decided to dye the backing fabric.

 



I used the ice dyeing method. The dye colors I chose: midnight blue and bronze from  HERE

Observing this fabric where the two colors meld in some areas and they stay separate in another creating an harmonious design with lines I knew what to do next!

 

I painted a stripe fabric with the same technique and with the same colors used on the blocks. Oh, I like that.

Cut also narrow strips to add movement and balance.

 

Once the pieced top was finished, I stitched in the ditch around each seam.

I am offering this as a workshop. Check details under the workshops category in my blog.

 

And here I am using my quilt and reading a new book. Exciting news about this book in my next post!

Working on a *NEW* Paper and Fabric Quilt

 

I am working on a *new* paper and fabric quilt...

 

 

Part of the image has been infused with old newsprint, in this case I used *Japanese* papers my daughter brought from her trip, and part of the image has been painted.

 



Afterwards, bold simple stitches has been hand-embroidered before putting the three layers together. 

 

 

This is another example using the blue color. Before quilting.

 

 

After quilting.

 

More paint has been mixed to continue with this project. It is a slow process and I am enjoying every step.

Interview with *Quilt Alliance*

 

You can watch my interview  made by the Quilt Alliance in here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCfVXVJgyaU Is in there where I explained how I made this quilt *Teapots*.

Quilt Alliance is a wonderful organization whose mission is to document, preserve and share stories of the quilts and their makers. I am honored to be included in their archives. Thank you Emma and Amy for your help!