Hello September! I welcome your shorter days, your chill, your quiet.
I know I have been largely absent for the last two weeks, but I have not be procrastiknitting. Really, I have not. I have been having the best time in my studio making new work.
If you miss me though, you can follow me on Instagram. Yep. Tales of a Stitcher has an Instagram account.
I have a small solo show coming up in September. The opening is on September 18th at the Gary L. Freeburg Gallery in Soldotna, Alaska. The gallery space is associated with the Kenai Peninsula College and is small and intimate, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to work little.
I’ve had this idea for a while, but this is the first excuse I’ve had to follow through with it. Here is how the story goes.
It starts with Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. (LOVE)
Pattern Category 10 is the Unequal Nine Patch with Small Center Square. Each category has a very clearly defined name–it is kind of scientific.
The strange thing is there is no simple version like this.
Why is that? There is a simple version of the traditional nine-patch, but not of the UNEQUAL nine patch. I won’t let that stop me though. There are 215 different versions of the unequal nine patch.
Some of my favorites are Squares and Square, Stone Mason’s Puzzle, City Streets, and my current favorite Crossed Square.
My friend Nancy Cook was over last week helping me clean for house guests, and we were discussing what to call the show I was working on. I wanted to reference one of the quilt block names, but I also wanted it to be clever and catchy. She suggested Hot Crossed Squares. I like it.
Many years ago, I played around with this block as a single unit. That’s were Treasure Map
and Way to Grace’s came from.
But I quickly moved on to repeating the block and the Color Grid Series took over my life.
For this show, I want to go back to that single block and push it around.
Here is a selection of what I’ve got going on.
And there is more growing on these design walls too.
Of course, while I am at it, I might as well start some BIG quilts too.
My bit bins are out and in action.
I’ve got a bobbin countdown in the works. One bobbin a day tells me I am ON TRACK.
My studio, well, it looks like I’m working hard but not cleaning up.
This is a problem when I lose my seam ripper. For some reason I have only ONE seam ripper right now. I think I left the rest of them in McCarthy.
I hope you are having good times with your sewing machine too.
Love these!!! Should be a great show!
Amazing Maria working hard and producing like the goddess you are! In Awe!
Thank you Nancy! It was great to meet you at the last SAQA coffee talk.
Thank you Nysha! That is very nice of you to say that.
Wonderful to hear you are able to focus on bringing your ideas to life
Thank you Lesley. It feels great to be focused and in the studio!
Maria, I see you are as creative as always, and your talent shines through on every majestic piece you sew! Keep doing what you love!
Thank you Gail. Although I still want to call you Mrs. Naylor!
I just plain LOVE your colours.
Thank you Barb! Your new mug shot is so brilliantly you.
Oooh, I like your new work. Congratulations on the show!
Thank you Carrie!
Perfect Monday (holiday) morning blog post where I can sit with a cup of coffee and enjoy your color and design. Your work is a continuing source of inspiration and I can’t wait to see some of theses finished.
Thank you Penny! Things are moving along. I am almost ready to stitch these babies.
love all the work on the walls. would be so fun to mix everything up. I’d love to learn more about the treasures in your bit bins. oh, and the new big quilt is gonna be awesome.
Tonya- Thank you! Yes. I should do a blog post on my bit bins. They are an important part of my practice and worthy of sharing.