Resting Bitch Face

Bet you are a little surprised to see that title in your feed today, eh? ;) This is the story about one of my QuiltCon workshops. Not long before leaving for QuiltCon, I read a news item that researchers had found that resting bitch face was real.  I found the concept interesting and it really just raised more questions for me. Is there a resting asshole face? What does it mean if you have a resting bitch face? Do I have a resting bitch face? These disturbing questions kept me up at night.

Anyway, my first workshop of QuiltCon was Making Faces with Melissa Averinos. I adore her work and wanted to learn more about her techniques. We were thrilled to be interrupted shortly into the start of the class to be told that Melissa's My Brother's Jeans won Best of Show! She was ecstatic, we were ecstatic for her. What an amazing moment!

The class was a lot of fun. I learned a lot about facial proportions and fabric combinations. Here are some photos of my project taking shape.

Here is where I finished for the day. See, resting bitch face, eh? Is it the pouty lips? The eyes?

Here are some of the faces from other members of the class. Love the variety!

I did remember to ask for a photo with Melissa and she was super gracious about it. Only one resting bitch face in this photo! :D

Thank you Melissa for a fabulous class!

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Weight of Love/Weight of 70s Love - A Work in Progress

Hi all, back in crazy November, I took a class with Libs Elliott. I'm so intrigued by her Processing work! The Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild invited her to come and give her Weight of Love workshop. Very cool.

Pre-work to the workshop included figuring out our colour palette. I wanted something with these colours.

I first coloured the numbered version, which would have allowed me to use the measurements that Libs had mapped out:

I also tried out the Colour Your Own version and posted them on Instagram to help me decide which one to do. 

The Colour Your Own version won hands down. Even Libs weighed in. :D

During the class, I cut out the pieces and put together the first two columns. While I was really happy with my Y-seams, the colours felt very 70s.

The class with Libs -- great variety of fabric choices, eh? 

When I got home, I laid out all of the pieces on the design wall. Meh. Not working for me. 

I replaced some of the yellows and oranges with some lighter purples. A bit better.

Then I replaced all of the yellows and oranges with more values of purples and magentas.

 Definitely better, but not quite there. Any recommendations?

What's Up, Buttercup?

Have you heard Craftsy's BIG Fall Course Sale is happening now? 50% off ALL online classes until September 22, 2014 at 11:59 PM MT. Once you enroll you can watch your classes anytime, anywhere, forever. Have you checked out Craftsy's latest class additions? I've got my eye on Patsy Thompson's Ultimate Free Motion Quilting course as my next course. FYI, I am an affiliate.

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I've had a number of local quilters ask me if I was teaching my Modern Free Motion Quilting Sampler on a weekend and I'm happy to say that I am! I'll be teaching it at The Country Quilter, Richmond, Ontario on Saturday, September 27th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. There are a few spots left so if you are interested, contact The Country Quilter. 

I'm out and about quite a bit this Fall. Here are some other upcoming speaking and teaching events:

Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Let's Talk Modern Quilting Lecture and Trunk Show 
Common Thread Quilt Guild, Ottawa, Ontario

Saturday, October 25, 2014
Modern Free Motion Quilting Sampler
Montreal Modern Quilt Guild, Montreal, Quebec

Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Let's Talk Modern Quilting Lecture and Trunk Show
Arnprior District Quilters Guild, Arnprior, Ontario

Monday, November 10, 2014
Let's Talk Modern Quilting Lecture and Trunk Show
Kemptville Quilters' Guild, Ottawa, Ontario

Saturday, November 29, 2014
Modern Totems Workshop
Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild, Ottawa, Ontario

Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Let's Talk Modern Quilting Lecture and Trunk Show
Limestone Quilters' Guild, Kingston, Ontario

Fun! Fun! Fun!

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We went to an Ottawa Fury soccer game recently. The new Landsdowne stadium just opened and they only seated people on one side, which gave us a great view of the seats on the other side. Doesn't the seat arrangement look like it could be a cool quilt? You find inspiration in the most unlikely places sometimes...

Have a great Thursday, folks!

That's So Random

If you are in the Ottawa area this Saturday, The Country Quilter is having their annual Outdoor Quilt Show in Richmond this Saturday, June 21st from 9:30 a.m - 4:00 p.m. Admission is Free! Yes, that's right. Free! The Annual Outdoor Quilt show takes place in the garden at The Country Quilter and will feature the work of Beth Cameron, the Artist In Residence, and fibre artist Susan Curtis. Yay! Love their work! There will also be a used book sale and scissor and rotary blade sharpening (and other cutting tool sharpening) available. That part is probably not free though. ;)

Speaking of The Country Quilter, I will be teaching my Modern Totems class there on Saturday, July 26th, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Come join us!

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Craftsy's having a Flash Sale! Save up to 65% off with Craftsy's Supplies Flash Sale until Friday, June 20 at 11:59 p.m. MT. FYI, I am an affiliate.

 

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From http://www.chicagonow.com/quilting-sewing-creating/2014/03/more-quilt-e-cards/#image/6

For more random, check out Really Random Thursday with the lovely Cindy at Live a Colorful Life.

TGIFF! - Modern Totems

Happy first day of Spring! You'd never know it around here though; Old Man Winter is holding on for dear life! I'm determined to welcome Spring though, hence today's finish, which has Spring-like colours.

I started out with a Hello Luscious Charm Pack and a 1/2 yard of the blue and cream fabric from the line. I wanted something with clean lines, modern and fresh feel and straightforward piecing. I added in the soft white of Kona Snow -- so a Snow convert now!

If you'll remember, I was kind of stuck for a name. Luscious Columns/Modern Columns was what was brewing. However, when I took the kids to the Museum of History last week during March Break and saw my favourite totems again, it hit me -- Modern Totems.

The quilting was done with white 50wt. Aurifil #2021. Wishbones in the totem columns. Alternating double loopy loos and single loopy loos in the background. Flowers in the squares.

Modern Totems - Front

Simple pieced back:

Modern Totems - Back

I'll be teaching Modern Totems in a workshop with the Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild in November. 

Finished Size: 52" by 59".

Linking up to TGIFF!, which is over at Sew Fresh Fabrics this week. Check it out and come link up your recent finish!