Why I Love Mosaics

I am in love with making fabric mosaics.  As I was working on my newest project, I was thinking about why I like them so much. After 2 years of making mosaic after mosaic, why haven't  I gotten bored with them?
I find them calming and I find them forgiving.  If I miscut a piece, I set it aside and cut a new piece.  I get to use lots and lots of batik fabrics.  I have quite a collection! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the things that need to get done for my business.  In the midst of the stress, I may get an idea for a new Mini Mosaic pattern.  (Oh who am I kidding, I have a ton of ideas floating around in my head!)  I'll take a few days to design a new one and by focusing on that design, everything else in my brain disappears - work problems, family problems, world problems.

These are a few of my newest ones:

 "Key West Sunrise"

"Rooster"

"Tropical Hideaway"

Can you tell that these were inspired by my time in Key West? (Which I plan on returning to next Winter.)

The Minis measure 11"x14" finished.  The one on my worktable today will measure 28" square.  It's unusual to use a mini for inspiration for a larger piece, but I loved that Key West Sunrise so much, that I wanted a larger quilt.

I do know why I love making these fabric mosaic quilts. They are puzzles.  They are puzzles made up of 3/8" squares.  Squares that I cut and trim to fit my line drawing pattern.  Where do I start?  What direction do I follow? How do I cut the squares to fit? The challenge in making a Mini Mosaic quilt appeals to me.  It appeals to both the creative and logical side of my brain.

There is something about making quilts that appeals to all of us.  Whether it is logically oriented or a creative outlet, we make them because we love to and often we make them because we have to.  Sometimes the origin of a quilt comes from our heart.  Each stitch is made we love.  We think about who we are making them for.  Can they feel the love?  We hope so, don't we?

If you want to see more of my Mini Mosaic patterns/kits, visit my Etsy shop by clicking HERE

One more thing.  If you live in the Glen Mills, PA area and are free this Saturday (3/24), I am giving a second Mini Mosaic quilts wotkshop with The Brandywine Valley Quilt Guild.  I know there are some spaces left, so email me if you're interested. oyveyquilts@yahoo.com

An Amazing Trip To Denver and The Quilt Show

I know it has been  a while since I have blogged.  It has been crazy busy and I was hurriedly trying to finish a quilt for my trip. I wanted it to be my centerpiece.

There is so much to share about my trip to Denver.  It is way too much for one post and because it is all about my quilty life, I want to share it all.  Fair warning - lots and lots of photos.

Post #1 - My visit to The Quilt Show

Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims have one of the longest running quilt related shows.  It's an Internet subscription show.  I was a guest on the show in 2011, when my  first book was published.  I was thrilled when they heard about my Mini Mosaics and invited me back.  They video in Centennial, Colorado which is right outside of Boulder.  

I packed most of my quilts and step outs into my carry on bag. I wanted to make sure they arrived with me.  In case you are wondering, they are checking the size of your carry on.  If it doesn't fit that template near the boarding gate.  they make you check it.  I was happy that I listened to the warnings.  My checked bag had my lesser important quilts and my clothes. Fortunately, everything arrived with me. Oh, and I had a quilt with me in my personal bag that I finished binding on the flight.

I rented a car and drove to the studio and was welcomed as if I was a long lost friend.  It was the day before I was scheduled and got organized. Maria Shell and her amazing quilts were being videoed.

I was able to watch from the control room.

The next day I arrived at the studio to see all of my quilts hung on the set.  WOW! What a feeling! It took my breath away and I tried not to cry.  How did I get here?

Each segment was taped individually.  Before each segment we planned in general what we would talk about or demo.  it was very easy going, with no memorization.  First they had to"mike" me.

We started in the conversation area and talked about what I had done since the last time I visited and where I had travelled.

Then Ricky and I went over to the demo area and with the producer and others, planned the next segment on Mini Mosaics.

It worked out very well.  I showed them all the step outs I brought for the demonstration and  they chose what to share to fit within the time allotment.

My last segment was with Alex about how to use Curvalicious 

to create a quick and adorable baby quilt.  

Here they are hanging on the set.

Here are a couple of photos of what you won't see when you watch the show.

 Lots of lighting and cameras.

 The audience

 Lighting my quilts

The audience can watch the show on the screen.

They taped 10 shows in 5 days.  Now the shows head to the editors.  These shows will be available in 2018.  I think mine will be available in March.  They will provide me with a link for free access to my show.  I will be sure to share.  I will also share some video that I shot in my upcoming newsletter.  If you want to see more, sign up HERE.

Mosaic Quilt Progress Shots

I have been working on this Mosaic Quilt since last  October, sometimes spending days on it and sometimes it languished on my design wall for weeks. I even took it to Key West last winter rolled up in a tube and it never saw the light of day for 2 months.  Now I have the motivation to finish.  I received an e-mail a few weeks ago inviting me to be a guest on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims!!!! Wow!!! I had been a guest on the show back in 2010 or was it 2011 - Episode 811 after my first book was published.  (Quilt Fiesta - if anyone can remember.)  My Mini Mosaic Quilts is to be the topic of this episode.  I thought this quilt from a trip to Avignon, France needed to be on the set.  It became my 24/7 project to finish it.  I spent hours and hours cutting up the 3/8" pieces, finding the right color fabrics to get the contrast and depth that I needed, trimming and placing them - sometimes removing them to replace them!

I've taken some photos along the way that I thought would be fun to share.  I am heading to Smith Mountain Lake, VA this morning for a lecture and workshop.  The quilt top is finished, bordered, quilted and the binding will be  sewn on during the trip.  I return late Tuesday and then head to Denver for the taping on Friday.  Since I have limited time, here is a photo over view.  I took a little artistic license and changed the bicycle and added a door on the right for some interest.  I'm still searching for a name.  If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

A Day With Quilters

Yesterday I spent the day with The Newtown Quilters Guild in Pennsylvania and a great group of quilters. Some came from as far away as Cape May. The day began with my Mini Mosaics workshop with practically a full house.

The participants are given a choice of 5 different patterns. A break for lunch revealed the most popular choice.

Great progress was made.

At night, my presentation was Turning Travel Into Treasures. I shared my quilts and folding fiber books that have been inspired by my travels throughout the years. I shared some crazy stories about trips to Mexico, Israel and Barcelona.

And then Show & Tell:

Thanks ladies for a great day.

 

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Mini Mosaics Magic

It's quite an amazing day when there is a room full of 23 quilters that love my new technique for making mini mosaics. I'm always a little skeptical about the reception for a technique that uses tweezers and 3/8" squares of fabric.

But this was a group of my peeps! My fellow guild members. Even one who made a comment that I was crazy, a few months ago when I wrote about my Mini Mosaics on my blog. I knew they would be honest with me. So I was over the moon when the comments ranged from "it's addicting" to "this was the best workshop I've ever taken" to " this would be so much fun to do with my grandkids".

Here are some photos:

I was working on a psychedelic Bailey before the workshop. Thanks to the energy of my fellow quilters, I couldn't wait to go home and finish it. It looks just like her except it's in technicolor.

Show & Tell next month at our guild meeting is going to be so exciting. I think there will be lots of finished projects. Woo Hoo!

And even more good news is that everyone will be able to learn about it in a future issue of Quilting Arts, coming out this summer. I'll keep you posted. But of course I'm always available to teach you in person at your quilt guild.

 

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What Happened???

I made my first mini fiber mosaic after returning from a trip to Israel in 2012. The mosaics there were inspirational, both the ancient ones and the modern day ones. My first view of a mosaic was leaving the airport. I was smitten.

I was told to visit the town of Acco to see a synagogue, Or Torah. It was an Amazing Race adventure. (If you ever meet me, I'll be happy to share the story. )  The entire inside of the building is covered in mosaics, inspired by biblical stories and Jewish history. 

I met the wonderful man that was responsible for these mosaics. Although he only spoke Hebrew and French, he gave me a tour of this building that was his inspiration from a Tunisian synagogue - his home. Some how we communicated. What was obvious was the pride he had taken during this 50 year project. 

This was the first one I made when I returned home. It measures 5" x 7". 

I have continued working on these over the years. They are made from tiny pieces of fabric, about 3/8" square. I love the mixture of all the different patterns in the fabric. It gives it such depth and interest. I have been working on a very large piece for several years that I'm not ready to share yet. 

Since I am teaching this technique at the Daytona AQS show, it has rekindled my interest and I've created a few new ones. (Click HERE for class info. )

Here's some of my newer mini mosaics and they are mini. I use a tweezer to place the fabric pieces!

For me, it's a relaxing project that I can work on while watching tv or a movie or chatting with friends. 

Recently, I thought I hurt my hip, but it turned out to be sciatica plus other assorted ailments. I was sidelined and started another mini mosaic. I decided to use Bailey as my subject. 

Everything was going quite well. It really was starting to look like her, but somewhere in the process, I lost my way. I abandoned my "map", lost the look of her and lost her hair sprigs on the top of her hair. To me, that's what makes it look like her. 

I also used a different stabilizer. I tried rinsing it out. The batting shrunk, squares of fabric floated away, and now not only did I have a dog that didn't look like my girlfriend, it wasn't flat anymore and not the look I wanted. I do still love the pattern varieties in the fabric. 

The experimenting is good for teaching. It's not always what you should do, but sometimes it's what you shouldn't do.