Color Theory

Contemplating your preferences...

As a quilter, I am always thinking about color and it's never-ending combinations. I found a great website called Worqx (dedicated to web design, actually) which has an interesting tutorial on Color Theory. Even though this tutorial contains references to html, the ideas are applicable to our art! I found that am attracted to split complementary color combinations. Take your time with the tutorial to discover your preferences and what other possibilities you may be missing! And..don't forget to try out Peter Piper's Pallet Picker!

Happy quilting! -Kris

Day 21 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

You made it! Twenty one days! Here is your last exercise:

This one is fun - write, then echo! Have fun with this last exercise and keep in mind that you are better at free motion than you were 21 days ago (OK give or take a few days!!).

I will continue to post fun free motion exercises for you - please send me links or pics of your successes! I'd love to post them!

Have a great weekend and happy quilting! -Kris

Day 20 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

There may be a song in there, but I can't find it! I wanted to demonstrate my practice piece. I started with a staff and added notes, I didn't like that. So I changed to a heavier thread - again I wasn't comfortable with the result. How about adding loops and words, without the staff? OK - that looks better but I still feel its not quite there! Time to walk away and let the idea simmer. If you want to, make some music and email me a pic!

Take it easy and keep quilting! -Kris

Day 19 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, Quilters! This morning we have a very practical exercise for you. Can you believe it is Day 19? Remember our loop-de-loops that we did on day 6? We are going to expand on that idea. This is a great stipple that I saw in Dawn Ramirez’s Pajama Quilter Workbook. She has many ideas and I particularly love that she uses a white board to draw out her designs first – genius! You may want to check out her DVD!

So – let’s get to it! Start with a small loop and don’t stop there! Go around once more and add another larger loop! Have fun and hope you are feeling loopy!

-Kris

Day 18 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, Quilters!

Wow - is it really Day 18 of this exercise? This morning we are deep sea diving and creating a seascape with shells, stars and swirls. This takes some control, but you have it! I think it would be a good idea to draw this one out on a piece of paper first. For the shell – I created the outline of the shell first, then came back and added the ridges. For the star, I created the outer then the inner star. Wouldn’t this be great on a summer placemat?

Happy Quilting-

-Kris

Tidal Totes by the Sea

I heard from Kathy Stanley of Sew Maine yesterday. She owns two lovely shops in Maine, one in Portland (Sew Portland) and Trenton (Sewing by the Sea). We chatted for a few minutes about the Tidal Totes pattern; she and a group of 8 other women ventured to Lily's Cafe in Stonington, Maine and enjoyed a day of sewing and eating. (Now that's a perfect day!)

Click here to read Kathy's blog and see her beautiful embroidered Tidal Tote. You will also be inspired by all of the color choices. Check it out!

Keep quilting!
-Kris

Day 17 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, Quilters!

We are almost done with our 21 day experiment – I hope you are having fun with this! Our next exercise is my take on a hibiscus – but it can be any flower you’d like to draw! I started with a petal, then added the center, then added the subsequent petals. After that, I just kept echoing. Echo quilting requires that you pick a thickness that you’ll “keep” when stitching around a shape. I used the relative distance between the edge of my darning foot and outermost row of stitching. You can determine the distance you’d like and just be consistent and have fun!

Happy Quilting-

-Kris

Day 16 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, Quilters!
I’d like to take a walk with you down the street with your sewing machine. You are going to take it slow making (approximately 1”) houses and trees. There is no perfect house or tree. You are smiling, enjoying the sunshine, and walking along at an even pace. Also remember, this is not a race – this is a perfect lazy summer day free motion exercise – keep it even and consistent. Are you getting the hang of this now? (Go easy on yourself - this is fun!)
Email me a pic of your houses!

Happy Quilting-

-Kris

Sewing Macine Maintenance

I am interrupting this program for a brief annual maintenance of my sewing machine!

This morning, I brought my machine to Portsmouth Fabric Company for its annual tune-up. If you’re in the Seacoast area of NH – don’t miss it! It’s a great place for color inspiration and art quilt fabrics. Here is a great article on the store.

Clipart from:

©2000 Denise Van Patten - Doll Collecting at About.com

Happy quilting!

-Kris

Happy 4th of July to all!!

Happy 4th of July!

Here's a patriotic Tidal Tote, done by my mother, Jean Johnson! Isn't it cute?

Have a great day!

-Kris

Day 15 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning Quilters!

Here in the Granite State, we have rocks. So we have many rock walls. This is ours!(OK - an old pic!)

Today, let's make them on our machines! We are practicing circles today. This exercise forces you to slow down and take control of your quilting. You will start with one "rock" and carefully fit other rocks around it - you may want to fill in row by row or more randomly. I find that I sometimes have to go around the rocks more than once to achieve the shape that I want - go ahead and have fun with this!

Keep practicing!

-Kris

Day 14 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good afternoon Quilters! I apologize for yesterday's absence - rainy days are getting me down! Here we are again with our quilt sandwiches and I needed sunshine and flowers on this July 2nd! So here we go! I decided on a flower. I came "in "on the left hand side and made the center, giving myself room to come "out" between the previous stitching lines. I added petals around the final flower center. You can go on and add more petals.

I'd like to share this morning's experience with you regarding quilting - I did not have the correct needle/thread combination in my machine this morning and started skipping stitches. I changed things - first tension, then needle, then finally thread and once I changed to a different spool of thread, I fixed the problem. Try to remember to systematically change things and test your changes one at a time, so that you know what the problem is. Needless to say, I threw away the thread!

Happy Quilting! -Kris