What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

By Patricia Belyea

SEATTLE WA  As we move into a new decade, memories of the past and resolutions for the future filter into our brain bandwidth. Just as importantly, I want to think about what makes me happy. Selfish as it seems, it’s easier to spread happiness when I’m happy myself!

In no particular order, here’s my list of Things I Love:

1. homemade cinnamon rolls
2. peonies
3. early morning walks on warm spring days
4. fireworks
5. healthy popcorn
6. strolling along a long beach
7. a nice glass of red wine
8. gathering with my family
9. lemon bread with icing on top ...

Photo impression from an exhibit with Thierry Mugler haute couture in the Rotterdam Kunsthal. Continue reading →

By Patricia Belyea

This month Okan Arts is giving away a Sashiko 2 Sewing Machine by Baby Lock, a Clear Extension Table by Sew Steady, and 12 Large Spools of 12wt. Cotton Thread by Aurifil. There is one grand giveaway valued at $4,268.

The Sashiko 2 Sewing Machine does only one thing—it makes a dashed stitch that looks like hand stitching on your quilting projects! The Sashiko 2 can be adjusted to four stitch lengths and four stitch gaps. On the back side, the stitching is a locked chain stitch.

The Sashiko 2 is remarkably easy to use ...

By Patricia Belyea

SEATTLE WA  When I met Joe Cunningham, I didn’t know who he was. Joe was in town for a teaching gig at the annual festival for our quilt museum. I was volunteering at the event, taking entry fees at one of the three venues brimming with quilts.

I certainly noticed the tall man who entered the hall, all on his own. Joe noticed me as I was wearing a big button that said: Ask Me Anything. Joe asked me about the location of a scheduled talk that evening which I knew nothing about. All the same ...

By Patricia Belyea

UNION WA  Earlier this month, 18 quilters joined Joe Cunningham and me for the last session of The Joe Retreat. Most of the participants were alumnae, coming back for one final week of learning and laughing.

The first day Joe assigned a warm-up exercise. The small project included improv piecing with a feeling of flow.
The last three days concentrated on the Retreat theme: The Big Picture. Each student referenced a favorite piece of art and noted three attributes of the artwork. Using one or two of these descriptors, the students proceeded to make a personal project ...

A screen recording of how to draw an Apple Core block in EQ8 Continue reading →

Showing you some apple core quilt designs by me, from 2011 and 2010! You can make them with 3inch Inklingo Apple Core shapes now! XXX Annika Continue reading →

By Patricia Belyea

This month Okan Arts is giving away a 14 FQ collection of Peaceful Petals by Sarah J Maxwell for Marcus Fabrics and a big spool of coordinating 50 wt Cotton Thread from Aurifil. There are four giveaways, each valued at $68.

Author and fabric designer Sarah J Maxwell has shifted from color progression to neutrals in her latest collection. “I wanted this collection to convey a calm and soothing vibe. Because I always find peace in nature, I focused on design motifs I would find in a favorite garden—a bed of daisies, a graceful vine, individual ...

By Patricia Belyea

LA CONNER WA  What was I thinking when I scheduled two back-to-back, weeklong Curves Workshops? Happily, the experience was a wonderful marathon—with incredible women, non-stop creativity, and lots of shared meals.

inserted curves workshop

Here are pics of the first project of the workshop. Note how the center of each composition includes nine blocks intersected with curved piecing. And the nine-patch does not jog when the curved pieces are inserted.

Also check out the micro inner borders—and one improv project!

creativity, curves & compositions workshop

The first project of the week was the Quadrant Quilt created ...

This month Okan Arts is giving away a collection of Turtle Hand fabrics and the book Visioning Human Rights in the New Millennium: Quilting the World’s Conscience by Dr. Carolyn L. Mazlooni. There are four giveaways, each valued at $65.

Tina Hilton is the founder and leader of Turtle Hand, a fabric company that works with artisans in Malaysia to produce a full array of patterned cottons—using batik, marbling, painting, hand-dying and wax-crack processes.

Tina takes pride in her company’s ethical trade practices as Turtle Hand keeps Malaysian Heritage Crafts alive by supporting individual artisan producers and ...

Save the date for JaponTex—a wonderful pre-holiday event for the quilting community. All your favorite La Conner venues will deliver delight and inspiration, as well as great deals!

JAPONTEX 2019
Quilt Exhibit, Talk & Sale
Saturday, November 23, 2019
La Conner Civic Garden Club
11am to 4pm

It’s the Saturday BEFORE Thanksgiving!

622 Second St, La Conner WA
(Kitty-corner to the quilt museum)

Talk by Patricia Belyea at 1:30pm

patricia belyea—at the garden club

For over two years, Patricia Belyea has been creating a unique series of quilts with her new curved-piecing technique—Inserted Curves. JaponTex will ...

***This post can be found at www.geekquilter.com***