On My Design Wall.... 3-25-2013

I took two classes at Mountain Quiltfest which, of course, means I started two new projects :*D

When I walked up to my first class, I saw this sign on the wall over the ironing stations.... 

.... what in the world?  Do people really try to iron on walls???  Apparently the wall paper was some sort of plastic, and someone really had melted it with an iron in the past.  Go figure!!!

My first class was with Klaudeen Hansen, AQS author and editor of the ever popular Quilt Art Engagement Calendar.  As her picture may suggest, she was very bubbly and happy and a joy to meet.  Her half-day class was a quilt project called "Fall Strip Stacks" - this was her quilt sample:

Quilt sample made by Klaudeen Hansen

One of the reasons I chose her class was because it seemed like a simple design that I could finish up pretty quickly - I have enough UFO's already!!!  (I know none of you have that problem, right?)

Another reason to take this class was that I didn't have to purchase any fabric for it - NOT EVEN A FAT QUARTER!!!  I had a lot of this cool blue batik that I had purchased for another project several years ago which did not work out...

And then I had a lot of 2-1/2" strip pieces in warm oranges, yellows, and reds left over from my Runaway to Bali.  Here is a closeup of some of these yummy batiks.....

I managed to get 3 blocks completed in class and then left a little early.  

This is a really fun quilt that I will enjoy playing with :*)

My second class was all day Saturday, the last day we were there.  I was lucky enough to find a cancellation for one of Paula Nadelstern's classes a few days before the show.  Paula is queen of the kaleidoscope block!  I will share more about her and the class in another post, but for today, let me just show you the fabulous fabric Paula designed and the amazing block I made from it that is currently on my Design Wall.

Dragon Feathers - Orange & Turquoise colorway

This amazing fabric comes in several colorways, but this particular colorway is the fabric she used for her quilt, so she brought some of it with her for us to purchase.  I signed up so late that I had no chance to look for other colorways online beforehand, so even though these colors were not my first choice I was happy to have some of it.  After playing with it for a while, I found that the colors really grew on me.  However, I must confess - I did go to the Cotton Club site and bought some of the green/blue colorway after I got home *sheepish grin*  One girl was working with the olive/pink colorway - oh my, you should see that fabric in person!!!  I would have bought some of that too but it was sold out! :*D

At first I wasn't crazy about this border fabric either, but wait until you see what it does for the block .... at the end of class I grabbed this up in the blue and hot pink colorways as well.

Scribbles - Black & White

For my class block, I focused on just this particular section of the Dragon Feathers fabric to cut my kaleidoscope sections ....

And here is my block....

Wow!!!  I love it!!!

And yes, I only finished one block in class :*)

Do you see how that border fabric echoes the lines of the inner designs?  What movement and interest!!!  Of course, each block will be different.  Paula's quilt has 12 blocks, but I may only do 6 for a smaller wall hanging.  I really haven't decided for sure yet.  This is a very intricate block, and very time consuming, but it was so much fun playing with the templates to see how to get the most exciting designs from the kaleidoscope effect.  I am going to enjoy working on this one!!!

As I said, look for a more detailed post on Paula, the class, and her fabrics later in the week =^..^=

Be sure to go to Patchwork Times to see all the amazing Design Walls!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=