Tag Archives: quilting

Wonky Star Swap

Let me give you 10 reasons why wonky stars are the best:

They’re fabulously quirky and adorable
They are quick to sew
They are forgiving – don’t like matching points? No problem!
They are economical (say scrap buster!)
They are flexible (size up, size down, on the fly, easy math, all at the same time)
They play nice with others
They’re cheerful (look at one without smiling, I dare you!)
They’re jazzy with just enough individual personality and a touch of structure
They great for beginners and seasoned quilters – keep them simple or take them up a notch!
They’re just amazing. That is all.

Wonky star samples courtesy of @Gus.Rocco…aren’t they great?!

I love wonky stars. I have since forever and I’m not alone so I’m excited to open up a wonky star swap! Instagram is where it’s happening, it’s worth signing up for the quilty community if you’re not already active, so hop on over and check out #wonkystars2018, a few people signed up and got right to work making stars!

If you’re already a fan, just sign up here. If not, read on so I can convince you that this wonky star swap is the best. thing. ever!

I’ll send all the necessary details via email once the signup form closes and I’ve divided up the swap groups, but here’s the basic 411:

If you’ve never done a block swap, trust me, this is a great one to start with! If you’re not already a converted wonky star lover you should check out my dedicated Pinterest board, Quilts: Wonky Stars

I’m aiming for groups of 12-15 swappers so it won’t be too many to make and we’ll still receive a fun variety of blocks to start up a wonky quilt. If you’re up for a double dose (making and receiving two sets) I’ll have a spot on the form for you to indicate.

Wonky star quilt from @WombatQuilts & PMQG…love!

Like I mentioned above, wonky stars have the perfect blend of individual personality and common structure to create the ultimate jazzy perfection. So here are the parameters we’ll be working with in our swap:

Background fabric: white or print that reads white
Star fabric: bright colors or prints that read as a color (the star does not have to be all one color)
Block size: any size block will do! This will add to the wonkiness of your finished quilt, you’ll get to be creative with sashing and such to piece the stars together.
Pattern: basic sawtooth star with wonky points, here’s a great tutorial & finished example from @wombatquilts and another tutorial from @sstaum with great variations…I want to try them all! If you want to get creative and nest 2-3 together, or arrange more than one star in a block that’s great – the wonkier the better!!!

You must have a public Instagram profile with some signs of quilty activity and you must be following me @ByLanceR for important updates and such. Please watch #wonkystars2018 and join the conversation – it’s part of the swap experience! Instagram swaps changed my quilting journey they’re addictive and such an amazing way to expand your creative and friendly horizons. I’ve written before about how every quilt has a story. there are already people from seven countries signed up to swap blocks – think of the stories your quilt could tell with blocks from all over the world!

Of course we know life happens, if it looks like you won’t be able to fulfill the commitment, please communicate with me so I can let your swap friends know – nobody wants to end up short in the end. And it goes without saying, once you’ve received your blocks, please be sure to post pics and thank your swap-mates!

Important dates

There are just a few dates to note. Don’t be intimidated by the check-ins, they’re standard for a swap and they’re how our community really comes together. Just follow the hashtag #wonkystars2018 (and be sure to add it to all your pictures). It’s like a wonky star party up in there, so jump in and make some new friends!

December 1, 2017: Signup closes – quick, get on over there and sign up, it’s EASY….you know you want to! Also, INVITE ALL YOUR QUILTY FRIENDS!!!
December 4, 2017: Swap details sent to participants. You will receive the names and shipping information for 12-15 swap friends and you will send your stars directly to them. In return you will receive #happymail for days as your swap friends each send you a star!
December 15, 2017: Fabric pull. This is a simple photo to show the fabric you’ll be working with on this swap – this particular swap is great for scraps – pull out those bins & bust a few scraps!
January 15, 2018: Sewing progress – at least one completed block shown. But really, we want to see all that wonky goodness, so keep those pictures rolling!
January 29-30, 2018: Shipping (pleeeeease don’t be late!). Again, we all know life happens, if something comes up and you can’t ship on time, just let me know. Whatever you do, DON’T FLAKE!

Look at this fussy cut block from @HardKnocksArts …adorbs!

I *think* one block should only require one stamp (stock up on stamps before they increase on January 21!). Flakers are no fun so please proceed only if you can commit to making and shipping 12-15 blocks by the end of January.

If you have more questions about Instagram swapping, here’s a great post on etiquette and such. Or leave a comment here and we can chat about it. Or just jump in & sign up! The quilty community is waiting for you!

Also, because I love you and don’t want you to miss a good quilty thing, be sure to check out this amazing bundle of patterns & tutorials from my friends at Ultimate Bundles (yes, I’ve worked with them in the past and I’m an affiliate now, but only because I’m a huuuuge fan of what they do!). This is over 200 patterns, tutorials, and ebooks on all manner of handicrafts: QUILTING(!), sewing, applique, embroidery, knitting, crochet, and weaving. And we’re talking top name designers – Alison Glass, Yvonne Fuchs…be still my heart! Also, you get a six month subscription to Make Modern Magazine and if you order by midnight on November30 you get a free Craftsy class to boot! Awesome! Check out the Handmade with Love Bundle & get creative with me in 2018!

Creating a Beautiful Life

53 Replies

I’ve been a quilt maker since I was fairly young, all the ladies I knew at that time were quilters. I think I was 15 when I joined the ranks and made my first quilt. I was young enough to not be intimidated by the 1″ postage stamp pattern that I insisted upon making. My mom, in all her wisdom, convinced me to start with one block and go from there. Wise indeed. That quilt ended up as a charming, quirky, sampler lovingly hand-quilted by the sewing bee of my grandfather’s childhood church. It’s not what many would call fabulous but it’s an important part of my journey.

My first quilt, circa 1993, age 15.

Because I began quilting in my formative years and grew into it as I grew into adulthood, I never learned to appreciate what a creative force it has been for me. It was always there and I was always making at some level. And all was good…until it wasn’t.

When we needed my quilting room for a nursery, when it was necessary to pack up all my supplies and relocate them into nooks and closets, that thing which both facilitates and fuels my own unique expression was shoved away as well. If maintaining a creative practice is like tending a garden: pulling the weeds and pruning the plants for optimum beauty, then I had let my garden grow fallow. While it led to a low point in my own journey, it also enlightened the path for the rest of my journey. I can no longer deny the importance of a creative practice. And not just any creative practice – I’ve tried lettering, painting, pottery, crochet…none of which make my heart sing. When I returned to quilting after a five-year hiatus, I knew I was home.

So, what is it to “create a beautiful life” and what does this have to do with quilting? It’s about the obligation we have to feed our souls with that creative expression that makes us come alive. That thing that you could gladly stay up all night to do, make, practice? That’s the thing. You must do it. We are created in the image of a creative God which means we are wired to create. It is our job to pursue that thing we’re meant to create and get on it. Find a way to practice it daily. Do away with the notion that being creative takes a great amount of time, dollars, space, or talent. Stop making excuses and make something beautiful.

A beautiful life is one lived slowly, in pursuit of creating rather than consuming. I make my family’s bread and other staples because by slowing down and taking the time to make these things by hand, we are given the gift of knowing the ingredients, feeling the textures, smelling the smells, tasting the freshness, and anticipating the goodness. I make quilts for the same reason – it’s slow, it touches so many senses, it nourishes the soul and cares for the body. It goes deep.

A beautiful life is one spent observing the small, beautiful things that occur naturally all around us. Where I live, this often means building a muscle of shutting out the noise and clutter, ignoring the constant hustle, slowing and making space to go deeper. When you make something you are forced to go deeper, whether it’s brief or ongoing. But to be deep is to savor and appreciate, to focus on finer details and force the weight of a daily grind to take a back seat. That is a beautiful life.

It’s not about physical surroundings. Or the aesthetics of the thing being made. But the intentional act of making. The daily practice of honoring the creative aspect that makes our heart sing. This doesn’t come naturally and it isn’t taught in school. It’s a practice. What is your thing? What can you be more intentional to practice, even just moments at time, every day? I dare you to start. Dive in. Don’t hesitate. And definitely don’t compare yourself to what’s found on Pinterest. Close the computer. Put away the devices. Take up your fabric, your paint, your pieces, your ingredients, and make something.

Pause. Breathe. Sit in the gratitude that’s to be found in the making. And then set your hands to work and your mind to rest.

Ponder that thing you create. Dream up a way that you can practice this thing every day. Is it a page? A piece? A few moments at an instrument? A new recipe? The same recipe pursued to perfection? As you begin the practice, be sure to note the difference it makes. Is there a new lightness to your step? A clarity you hadn’t felt before? A new joy? Progress? The simple act of reflecting on your practice is bound to bring you deeper.

So let’s do this, shall we? Make a beautiful life with me. What’s your creative thing? I’d love to hear about it!

This post is a part of the 2017 Quilt Bloggers Hop. I’m excited to spend the next several months exchanging insights with a group of talented quilt makers and bloggers. For more quilty goodness, be sure to stop by and check out these others who are also sharing this week:

Leanne @shecanquilt : She Can Quilt

Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl : Quilting Jet Girl

Beth @CookingupQuilts : Cooking Up Quilts

Jess @SewJess: Sew Jess Handmade

Amanda @ Quiltologie : Quiltologie All Things Handmade

Abigail @CutandAlter: Cut and Alter

Rose @ SomethingRoseMade: Something Rose Made

Stop by and say hi (there’s prizes!), bloggers love to hear from you. And stay tuned for more great posts from the group over the next several months.

Saved by Art

3 Replies

creative

I spent many years building a foundation of quilting experience. In that process, I lost my touch with a true creative process and took my art for granted. In the end I wasn’t joyfully making and pouring my soul into something new, I was just producing an iteration of someone’s preconceived ideas.

So I quit.

I used my entry into motherhood as the excuse to walk away from my heart song. I had no idea how important it is to a soul to faithfully cultivate a creative practice. There is something within us, as created beings, that needs to create. The medium isn’t important, but what is important is to know which medium it is that makes your own soul sing. I’ve tried so many, from pottery to lettering, gardening to crochet, and more. I can confidently say I’m a quilter. Quilting just fits like a native language. That’s an important thing to discover for yourself.

I was blessed for many years to have a room of my own for making. Who doesn’t want to shut the door on an in-process creative mess?! But babies came along and that room as called to serve a different process. And so I thought the thing to do was to box up my tools and focus on other things. I had no idea that doing this also meant that I was shutting away a piece of essence. And at such an important place in my story.

How grateful am I, then, for a renewed connection. An undeniable, visceral connection.

There’s a reason that art is treasured. But I think we forget, while treasuring the pieces that are made, that we should also treasure the act of making art. Each of us. No matter what that art is. There’s a soul-filling mindfulness that encompasses all of the senses when we set out to bring life to an idea.

Find your thing. Dive deep, and gratefully listen for the heart strings. And then carefully cultivate a daily, intentional practice of making something beautiful.

The Art of Daily Practice

Building Creative Muscles

2 Replies

In order to grow and improve in skill and creative flow, practice is critical. This we know. But practice is hard, my friends. We’re all busy. Dang, the suburbs are crazy with the busy-ness they conjure. Life in the twenty-first century is a lot of things, and topping the list is busy. Can I get an amen?

There are a thousand things conspiring to keep us from practicing that thing which keeps our soul alight. Work. School. Family. Volunteering. Commuting. Sleeping. Being busy is exhausting.

So, then how do we practice?

Since my return to quilting a few months ago, I’ve loosely held a goal of sitting down just a few minutes every day. I used to think that quilting was something to be done in large blocks of time, a luxury not experienced in my new season of motherhood. My days of uninterrupted solitude had passed, and so I thought my quilting days were gone as well. But when I realized how important quilting and creating is to my soul, I also realized it only takes a few minutes to make an impact. “Just do something” I tell myself. You don’t have to finish anything, or even make any real progress. Just practice. This is tops for my list of new habits to embrace in 2017. #15minutesaday.

When we decided, rather spontaneously, to spend several weeks this fall, driving to Arizona and back, I worried about keeping up my creative practice. A sewing machine and stack of fabric isn’t exactly RV friendly. At least it didn’t fit well into our little RV with our two little kids.

So I improvised.

Quilting is a multi-faceted art form. It can be done quickly, with the main goal being simply to finish. That’s fine, I worked that way for a while when I started quilting. But that’s not where my heart has been this time around. This time, I can’t seem to leave a pattern well enough alone as I incorporate tweaks and edits to make the thing my own. Where I was once content to run a quick meander and call a project finished, now I’m much more interested in letting a top breathe and finding just the right motif to complement the piecing. But this motif-style quilting isn’t something I have much experience working in, so I’ve been reading and sketching and studying different styles. This is how I kept my flow going while we drove.

Across the plains, from sea to shining sea (just kidding, we didn’t actually make it to the ocean, but I’m pretty sure we saw all the plains), I sketched and traced and read tips from the pros. All in the name of muscle memory and training my eyes, hands, and brain to see and feel a new set of motions. I have visions of wildly quilting my future projects, but when it comes to laying thread to fabric…call me chicken.

Practice can take many forms.

My friends, it’s working! I have miles to go, I suppose I’ll never be an Angela Walters, but compared to the lazy stipple routine I had been comfortable with for so long, I’ve come a long way, baby! By hyper-focusing on the shapes and rhythms of this particular facet, I’ve gained new confidence and forward momentum. So there you go…just practice.

Rachel Lance

daily practice on the long, winding road of life