My Blog

When I look at all the things I’ve created, it’s pretty obvious I like heart shaped blocks mixed with a little improvisational technique.

I’ve been putting my heart shaped projects up on Instagram, but thought it might be fun to share here too.

The Crusted Heart pillow and the BIG Tossed Hearts quilt above are two of my favorites. These crazy pieced blocks are a little addictive to make. I combine them with half square triangles and an improv triangle to come up with their shape.

I know most of you are probably running out of fabric, but if you aren’t cut a square from all your yardage and make a Value Quilt. I’ve got a new layout in my head for my Value Quilt workshop that creates light and dark hearts. That will have to wait until retreat, but I’ve got my squares all cut.

I think it’s safe to say that strip piecing is my go-to technique. My friend Sandie at Sleepy Owl Studio and I put together the tutorial for the Heart Strings quilt a few years ago.

I’ve made this Fractured Heart quilt twice over now, and of course matching pillows. They’re all made with blocks created in the workshop Double-Trouble. I’ve gotten way more comfortable teaching the heart shape thanks to students requesting it as a specific workshop.

The colors in these pillows work so awesome with some of my other non heart ones. That could be a whole blog post in itself.

This one’s a work in progress. I’ve taken it apart twice and am still not thrilled so it’s marinating somewhere.

I know the heart shape isn’t for everyone, so we can dream up other designs in Crushed It and Double Trouble. Both workshops are on the studio’s March schedule along with a couple Modern Quilting 101 workshops. My Coin Quilt workshop teaches beginner improv piecing and design, while Improvisational Triangles angles a bit more towards building technical skills like cutting and precise piecing with an improv technique thrown in. I can’t help myself that way;)

As always, if you see something on the workshops page that you’d like to schedule just contact me and we’ll schedule.

Since it’s entirely possible I might now make it here until April I thought I’d share what 2020-21 is shaping up to look like. Maybe you’ll be in the neighborhood;)

xoxo

::  Upcoming Events for 2020  ::

February 20-23rd 2020| Austin, TX | Quiltcon

February 25th 2020 | Puyallup, WA | Comforter Quilt Guild | Lecture

April 9th, 10th and 11th 2020 | Vancouver, WA | Clark County Quilt Guild | Featured Artist, Quilt Walks and Workshops

May 11th 2020 | Northwest Quilters | Portland, OR | Lecture and Workshops

June 2nd 2020 | Omaha, Nebraska | Omaha Modern Quilt Guild | Workshop and Lecture

::  Upcoming Events for 2021  ::

January 13th-17th  | Craft Napa | More information to come

June 4th and 5th | Soldotna, AK | Kenai Peninsula Quilting Guild | Lecture and Workshops

August 12th-14th 2021 | Mission Viejo, CA |Beach Cities Quilters Guild | Lecture and Workshops

xoxo

I know I’ve dropped the ball on my blog posting lately and there’s a long list of excuses that I’d rather not bore you with, but I do want to share where I’ll be teaching nationally in the upcoming year.

::  Upcoming Events  for 2019  ::

October 15th | Mukitleo, WA | Mukilteo Lighthouse Quilters | Lecture

October 27th- 29th 2019: Chicago, IL | Prairie Star Quilters Guild | Lectures and Workshop

::  Upcoming Events for 2020  ::

January 16th-17th 2020 | Craft Napa | More information to come

February 20-23rd 2020| Austin, TX | Quiltcon

February 25th 2020 | Puyallup, WA | Comforter Quilt Guild | Lecture

April 9th, 10th and 11th 2020 | Vancouver, WA | Clark County Quilt Guild | Featured Artist, Quilt Walks and Workshops

May 11th 2020 | Northwest Quilters | Portland, OR | Lecture and Workshops

June 2nd 2020 | Omaha, Nebraska | Omaha Modern Quilt Guild | Workshop and Lecture

::  Upcoming Events for 2021  ::

June 4th and 5th | Soldotna, AK | Kenai Peninsula Quilting Guild | Lecture and Workshops

August 12th-14th 2021 | Mission Viejo, CA |Beach Cities Quilters Guild | Lecture and Workshops

I launched a new quilting workshop called Modern Quilting 101, but have some of the standards listed before the holiday. If you’re thinking of jump starting on your gifts, now’s the time for classes and open studios. Open studios are a good time for napkins, bags and invisible zipper pillows or to finish up projects in a social atmosphere. I’ll help ya;)

I’ve got the zip pouches, box pouches and straight line quilting workshops up. I find the buckets we make with our straight line quilting samples perfect for hostess gifts like napkins or cookies.

Well hopefully that isn’t it for blogging for me this year. Talk soon Peeps;)

A few students have enjoyed using the studio’s pressing stations so much that they followed my tutorial to build their own to use at home.  We spent Monday’s Open Studio making covers for the pressing stations and since I was cutting and directing I thought it was time for the studio to have a new one of its own.  Nothing like a demo that creates something new.

Last trip to IKEA this grey improv looking stripe caught my eye.  I always seem to be jumping back and forth on whether I want neutral or I want bold color in my decor so I guess I’m going back to neutral on the pressing station.  If you’re in the market for a fabric that washes up super soft I was really impressed with the drape on this and with my leftovers I’ll be mitering some new dishtowels.

Watch out IKEA PLUGGIS bins, I’m looking out for you on the thrift trail to match my new style.  After years of my Target Oral Kiely bins I’m moving on;)

I get comments on how great my irons are in the studio all the time.  If you’re a lover of steam (or not), flat seams and BOO at drippy irons than the T-Fal is for you.

I love that my design wall (tutorial here) allows me to audition fabric backgrounds without committing.  Simply pin up your fabric picks, take a photo of each and scroll to see how the values of the colors are getting along.  I’ve been playing with the Free-Wheeling Girl and other curve rulers like wedding rings in the studio and find my foundation construction and improv techniques way easier than a pattern.  If you’re interested in learning my construction I’ll be available in any Open Studio to show you how to get started.  I’ve got the Next Stitch and other curved templates available and tips galore to share.

Monday’s Open Studio has turned into a quilting session with two students finishing up with the quilting on their Psychedelic Baby quilts.  If you’d like to quilt or just have some company sewing there’s one slot left.

Wishing you all a lazy & maybe productive long weekend Peeps;)

 

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post contains affiliate links;)

The time has come to move out some of my most coveted stash.  So listen up, here’s how it works.  My friend @crftychikdestash will be handling the destash over on Instagram.  Follow her to see what goodies you can add to your stash like out of print Heather Ross, Alexander Henry, Denyse Schmidt, Tula Pink, Echino…

Some of the listings expire tonight at 7pm and others will continue.

Happy Hunting!

Happy New Year Peeps!

Have you had your fill of green smoothies yet?

Students and I kicked off the new year in the studio Saturday by flexing our creative muscles with an Embrace Our Curves workshop. Confidence in mastering improvisational curves grew and unique designs started to grown on the design walls rather organically.

It was so inspiring I had to restrain myself from starting a new curved project as I cleaned up, well ok, maybe I started one;)

 This no pins required technique can be rather liberating.  Come join me in the next round of this inspiring workshop, including a Presidents’ Day session for my 9-5er peeps.  FULL  Saturday, March 24th Available.

Don’t know if you’ve seen them on my Instagram or Facebook feed, but just in time for Valentine’s Day I’ve added some new heart shaped quilt samples to My Double-Trouble Quilt block class.  You might all have had enough of my hearts over the past year.  According it Jefe it’s looking like an epidemic around here.  I’ll take it;)

Not into hearts?  No worries I still heart you and we’ll play with all types of geometric shapes of design layouts.  Bonus, learn some shortcuts for making multiple half-square triangle blocks.

 

Wanna have some hand binding ready for quality couch time this winter?  Or maybe try your hand at box or zip pouches? Open Studios for the month of January are up and might be your calling.  Please come pick my brain, learn something new and finish up while using the studio’s tools and Berninas. Sometimes we just need to make the time and have the space (or huge design wall) available to get things done!

All other available workshops are listed and can be schedule by contacting me😉

There will be plenty of traveling this season.  If you’re in the neighborhood I’d love to see you.  Please spread the word!

• January 11th, 12th and 13th 2018: Vancouver, WA Clark County Quilters Guild | Lecture and Workshops
• February 13th-15th 2018: Frasier Valley BC Frasier Valley Quilters Guild  Lectures and Workshop
• February 22nd-25th 2018: Pasadena, CA  Quiltcon Workshops
• March 2nd-4th 2018: Boca Raton, FL  South Florida MQG  Lectures and Workshops
• March 2018 (dates to be announced): Vashon Island
• June 2018 (dates to be announced) Friday Harbor, WA | Workshops in collaboration with San Juan Island Museum of Art’s contemporary response to the Gee’s Bend quilts.

Embrace Your Curves | Mastering Improvisational Curves Workshop-

No pins required for this wonderfully liberated technique!  Curves aren’t complicated when you create them improvisationally, even for beginners.  We’ll go beyond mastering a curve and cover how to make your blocks unique by creating strip pieced rings and adding straight strips.  Learn design and construction techniques to create blocks that back into the sizes you need to finish a project like a quilt, pillow or box pouch.

Let’s embrace our curves and add this fun technique to your quilting arsenal.  If you enjoy my other classes that focus on technique within a finished block and freedom from matching seams than this is the next class on your list;)

Double-Trouble Triangles Workshop-

A modern quilt block that is really no trouble at all!

Double-Trouble is a fun quilt block and design workshop that merges a traditional half-square triangle block with an improvisational stitch and flip triangle technique. We’lll explore and inspire each other on the design walls with the unlimited controlled and chaotic quilt design potential this block has to offer.  One block = endless designs!

I’ll will have multiple examples made with prints and solids to show for inspiration.

P.S.  I wanted to share a little game changer for sewing.  These LED light strips stick to the inside harp of your sewing machine.  I can’t rave enough about how much they improve sewing on long dark rainy days or make my ailing eye sight seem drastically improved.  Treat Yourself!

 

 

I’ve got four quilts bound and am ready for Winter/Couch Olympics.  Hope to see you and that your season’s start is creative.  xo Katie

This post has had over three names.  The one named ‘shortest day of the year’ might be an indication of how many times I tried to make it here.  Life has taken control and I’ve gone with it, but it’s time to hit the ‘post’ button.

I love the reflection that the new year brings.  I’ve been thinking lately about the comfortable pace at which my teaching, lecturing and working with students in the studio has grown over the past few years and nestled itself happily into my life.  I’m truly thankful to hang out with a bunch of people that share the same delight in cutting fabric apart and sew it back together.  A big thanks for your support and spreading the word about the studio and my teaching.

My season of travel is coming up and I’ve had the opportunity to travel to places I’ve never been for teaching and lectures.  I’ve also spread my wings a bit and accepted an invite to teach at a private retreat.  What a fun treat to have several days to work on one quilt technique.

Here’s 2018’s workshops and lectures:

• January | Maple Valley Washington
• January | Vancouver Washington
• February | Frasier Valley BC and Quiltcon
• March | Private Retreat in Leavenworth WA
• March | Boca Raton Florida
• June | Friday Harbor Washington

I’m pretty thrilled with my workshop offerings now.  They have really tightened up in the past year and the feedback on my style of teaching has been wonderful.

As a teacher I’ve found that improvisational techniques are fun, but without a block structure most students were going to leave a workshop with another UFO regardless of showing them how to build out a quilt design.  Sure, it would be great to create whatever I want, but as I’m designing I have to ask myself, “How could I teach this?”  That question alone brings me back to block construction.  Combining an improvisational technique with block structure has led my workshops onto a path that everyone seems to feel they can successfully finish a quilt that’s unique to them.  Win-Win.

Winter will be a tight wrap for the studio with all the travel, but I’ve got a few workshops and Open Studios lined up and I’ll get a few more up in the next week or so.  Embrace your Curves is this Saturday and I have had a last minute cancelation if anyone is interested in making blocks using this improv technique.  No pin curves, I promise!

We’ll also be making some zip pouches on Friday January 19th, one slot left.

I’m not much of a resolutions person, but I am a creature of habit and like to think about things that create happiness.  I generally pick something small and if I’m going to deprive myself of some indulgence I always pick the month of February since it’s the shortest;) Last year I made my bed every day and this year I was toying with 15 burpees a day, but haven’t done it yet.  Got any similar plans?

We’ll see what happens for 2018 Peeps.  Have a great holiday.