I've got spots.....

spotted squares quilt blocks,
originally uploaded by filminthefridge.

Ashley, over at FilmInTheFridge has put together my next project.  Sooo nice of her to design, test and create my next quilt for me.  I have been collecting polka dots for a while.  I have the white ....so am good to go before too long.  Click on the link go look at Ashley's creations both on her own site and fliker.  Don't forget about the links I put up here for you.....anytime you see underlined text just click on it.

There is this huge plastic tub in my sewing room full of scraps from my bag-making.  They are all funny and wonky shapes.  Not enough for another bag, but good enough for quilting.   Last year, I took a class from Freddy Moran,  the queen of off-the-wall fabric combinations and quilts that make you smile.  One of her essentials is what she calls "The Parts Department".......I have a plastic box so designated 4" squares and 2" inch strips.  When the mood hit me, I will grab some pieces and make a block.

The plan is to square them up and put them together into a quilt.  Talk about scrappy!  A little nostalgic too since the fabric was used to make a purse or bag that is either in my shop or sold long ago.  Please forgive the flagrant promotion for my shop, but if I don't sell bags....I can't buy fabric.  I have placed myself on fabric restriction after my Laura Gunn binge!  

Freddy Moran!

Yesterday was our Freddy Moran class. She was teaching the "Liberated Wedding Ring" technique. This is Freddy's quilt....Eighteen of us came at 10:00 am with our colorful scraps neatly folded and confined in their boxes and bags.....tidy workspaces.

A few hours later it looked like a technicolor fabric explosion.
The classroom was a fabulous mess!

Later, we had show and tell.....one of the gals had made a "Freddy's House" quilt with "Freddy's Garden" blocks....just look!! The quilt, the quilter with the lady herself. Some of us are still on a high from yesterday.







By the way, Freddy was talking about her visit to the Sisters, OR Outdoor Quilt Show
where she had an opportunity to connect with the quilters from Gee's Bend
who had quite an impact on her. This is a collection I truly crave to see. I am also trying to find a dvd of the documentary about these incredible women. Last month, Garth and I were driving through Ashland, OR in the late afternoon enroute to our B&B. We drove past the Southern Oregon University Museum and Library.....there was a banner on the wall that was advertising "The Quilts of Gee's Bend" exhibition. We had wi-fi where we were staying, so I went immediately online only to find that that very day was the last day of the show and it had closed. Someday!!

All Is Quiet

Grampa and the grandtwins, just pulled out of the driveway. Garth is taking the kiddos back home and will be visiting with his mother in the Bay Area. There was a lot of action around here for the last four days and the quiet is already seeping in. Time to get a grip on my sewing room and finish up three UFOs.

'This week I am taking Freddy Moran's "Liberated Wedding Ring" class. And,boy is it liberated! Not a digital maven, Freddy does not do email and has no website. To see Freddy's work, go to her photographer's website.

Here is a thumbnail photo of the pattern.

I will be spending the rest of the day pulling fabrics from my stash for the class. This qult is in Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston's second book, Freddy & Gwen Collaborate Again

I will report back on how fabulous the class was, so stay tuned.