A Modern Twist - Natalie Barnes book tour + giveaway!!

My quilty friend, Natalie Barnes, of beyond the reef, has a new book out with Angela Walters of quiltingismytherapy.com called A Modern Twist. It's a great collaboration by 2 people who have made their mark in my approached to quilting and sewing, and it has some extra elements of content to it about design and a variety of projects that you don't find in just any quilting book.

The book cover:

Photo by Brent Kane

One of the aspects of this book that I came to love quickly, is that it includes some fun, approachable projects and not just quilts.
The Picnic Casual:

Photo by Brent Kane

Hexagon Scramble, designed and pieced by Natalie Barnes, quilted by Angela Walters.

Photo by Brent Kane

Throughout the book, Natalie offers some great pointers on the elements that lend toward good quilt composition, like colors in the fabric selection, scale of the prints and use of solids.

For me, when it comes to composition, I follow a few quick + easy rules of thumb: 1) using a complete fabric collection is a safe bet for a balance of focal prints, blenders and background fabric OR 2) using a mix of fabrics from the same designer is a safe bet for a balance of focal prints, blenders and background fabric.


The Picnic Tote:

Photo by Brent Kane

If you want to break out of the same "composition comfort zones" that I have, then this book is a great one to consider adding to the quilting library. She also gives you some great pointers on stash busting when it comes to your sewing + quilting projects.

Ranch String table runner, designed and pieced by Natalie Barnes, quilted by Angela Walters.

Photo by Brent Kane

Circle Shuffle, designed and pieced by Natalie Barnes, quilted by Angela Walters.

Photo by Brent Kane

--

A quick note for you on me + Natalie & how we met. Before I moved to California, even before I started my pattern company, back when I was just a quilter + a huge fan of fabric, I met Natalie at the Long Beach Quilt Festival when I was visiting my brother in LA. Natalie and her crew in the beyond the reef booth spotted me after I had spent all of my money had a budgeted for the day and I almost couldn't carry all that I had purchased. They took pity on me and let me store a bag or two in the booth, and then she took me back to her place for a bbq. You can learn more about my friendship with Natalie here.


--
Take a spin through the tour to see what a few other quilt bloggers have to offer on the topics of Color + Contrast + Composition:

01 March - Natalie Barnes +WELCOME
beyond the reef


02 March - Victoria Findlay Wolfe + CONTRAST Victoria Findlay Wolfe 03 March - Teri Lucas + COLOR Generation Q Magazine 04 March - Julie Herman + COMPOSITION Jaybird Quilts 05 March - Jenny Wilding Cardon + COLOR Martingale    06 March - Rose Hughes + COLOR Rose Hughes 07 March - Amy Smart  + CONTRAST Amy Smart 08 March - Carolyn Friedlander + COLOR Carolyn Friedlander 09 March - Latifah Saafir + COMPOSITION Latifah Saafir Studios 10 March - Amy Ellis  + CONTRAST Amy's Creative Side 11 March - Angela Walters + COMPOSITION Quilting is my Therapy -- Ready for the giveaway? You can win your own copy of A Modern Twist! (International entries will be eligible to win a copy of the eBook, US entries will be eligible to win a copy of the book. 1 entry will win.)

The Rules

1. Leave ONE comment to enter. Make sure your contact info is in your profile or that you leave it in the comment.

2. In your comment tell us which A Modern Twist project you're inspired to make from the book.

3. Comment entries must be left on this blog, www.jaybirdquilts.com, to be valid. Comments sent via E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other social media will not be counted.

4. Simple as that!!

You have till 9PM PST on Sunday, March 15th to enter. 

Giveaway Now Closed

Winner will be selected by 

True Random Number Generator.

Good luck!
--
And the winner is...

© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

A Little Birdie Told Me... It's not a quilt until it's quilted

my new post for the swatch and stitch is up!

post inspired by natalie

sisterhood of the traveling quilt

Last October I went to California to join Natalie & friends as a part of the Beyond the Reef team for PIQF.

 Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts was there too

and her booth was right across from beyond the reef

On day 2 somehow we all got into a discussion on appliqué. Jane & Natalie were explaining to Joanna how the night before they had taught me needle turn appliqué. Joanna said I should try the freezer paper method. The conversation continued on and off & by the end of the day a challenge was born. With the Madeline pattern from Joanna, shown above, and fabric from beyond the reef.... I had homework!

Here I am that very night... taking a short break to blog & check a few e-mails

With help from Natalie & Jane I learned more about applique. Come morning we had a quilt top! A "mini madeline" that we named LeiLani.. our hula girl.

details

fabric is assorted beyond the reef

pattern - Madeline

designed by Joanna Figueroa

piecing & appliqué by Jane & Julie & Natalie

quilted by Jane

started on 10/16/09

top done on 10/17/09
finished on ?? {i have to ask jane!}

quilt measures - 19.5" x 27" 

we went with aloha in place of handmade for our hula girl

and Jane decided to add a rubber ducky necklace

since many fans of beyond the reef know Natalie for her rubber duckies

after the show Jane took it home to quilt it

and she did an amazing job!

I asked Jane who would keep the quilt...

and she said it would travel... and spend time with Natalie... with Jane.. and with me.

so today it's headed back to california... i've enjoyed having it for a while now.

& that is how it became the sisterhood of the traveling quilt

2010 PIQF is coming up...

Pacific International Quilt Festival XIX

October 14 - 17, 2010

Santa Clara Convention Center in California

Unfortunately I won't be there this year.

but you can visit my circle around quilt & i'll be there in spirit

sunday stash..wk33

i've been working on getting my studio in order... it was organized once..
but then got out of hand over the last few weeks.
because of that it's been hard to sew!!

well i can gladly say i'm 90% done getting it back in order
so i spent most of yesterday sewing again.
i missed it!


IN

nothing.
nada. zip.
{ crazy i know! }

OUT

 3.47 yards so far on some late night sewing

i should have it done & ready to show you in a few days!

fabric is...

Fresh Cottons by Fig Tree for Moda

and is available in my shop!

.4 yards on some giant 3" hexagons and black kona crush background

i should have posted this yardage out a few weeks ago

since i started these at the long beach quilt festival... but i forgot!

i worked on these in natalie's booth

now i'm using perle cotton to do a decorative running stitch around the hexagons.

once i finish the stitching i plan on making it into a pillow.

fabrics are...

Delilah / Zanzabelle / Cameroun by Alexander Henry

and black kona crush by robert kaufman

i also finished sewing all the units for karrie lyne's charm pack quilt a long

{ no yardage out since i counted it all last week }

i still have trimming to do...

fabrics are...

Remix by Ann Kelle {available now}

and kona chartreuse

both from robert kaufman

so this week

zero in

3.87 out

YTD totals

purchased: 544.69 yds
busted: 358.6 yds
net: -186.09 yds


check out how everyone else did this week.
we are close to being 2/3 done with this year {crazy thought! }

oh and i apparently missed my 300th post.
if i can count right.
this one is 302.
happy belated 300!

spiderweb potholders tutorial

note:

if you are in the socal area.. come visit today at the long beach international quilt festival!

i'll be doing demos of circle around today... and hexagons & potholders tomorrow!

beyond the reef has booths 937 & 1036

hope to see you!!

supplies

1. ruler

60 Degree Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler {for hexagon potholders}

and or...

45 Degree Kaleidoscope Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler {for square potholders}

2. insulbright

3. batting

4. 4 fat quarters

5. 1/2 yard for binding
6. scraps for corners of square potholders

cutting directions to make 6 potholders from 4 fat quarters

1. cut six 1 1/2" strips WOF {aprx 21"} from each fat quarter.   

2. cut six backings from remaining fat quarters   { 10" x 11" for hexagon potholders } or { 10" x 10" for square potholders }
3. cut six pieces of batting to match your six backings.
4. cut six pieces of insulbright to match your six backings.
5. cut six binding strips WOF {most people cut at 2.5" but I cut at 2.25"} more info in my binding tutorial

Hexagon Spiderweb Potholders

1. sew one of each color strip as cut above and sew together with 1/4" seam allowance.  Press all seams in one direction.  To maximize the amount of units you can cut from your strip I suggest sewing them as shown like stairs.  {My offset is only about 1/2" each time}

2. Cut 6 triangles from your strip with the 60 Degree Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler.  More detailed photos shown here.

3. In step one I told you to press the seams towards the dark fabric.  This is where that comes in handy.  You'll be able to "nest" your seams together to match points.  Put two triangles together and sew a 1/4" seam.
press this seam open.  Repeat to add one more triangle.  You'll have half a hexagon together.  Repeat for the other half.  This should be your result.

4. Put your two halves together and pin at each seam.  {I don't pin often but it really helps with this project.}

5. This will be your result.

6. Layer backing wrong side up, insulbright, batting, and finished hexagon or square.  Pin layers together and quilt.

7. Trim excess batting, insulbright and backing.... and bind!

Square Spiderweb Potholders

1.  Sew strips as shown above in step one.  Cut 8 triangles with 45 Degree Kaleidoscope Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler.

2.  Using your scrap cut a 3 1/4" strip.  The ruler has a 3 1/4" mark on it so that you can make this kaleidoscope block with just one ruler!

3.  Sub cut into 2 squares that are 3 1/4"

4. Cut both on the diagonal to yield four triangles.

5. Take your eight triangles and put them in two piles of four with all of the same color in each pile.

6. Sew together into four pairs.  Press seams open.

7. Then sew the pairs together into halves... and then sew the halves together to put all eight pieces together.  {see photo in step 8}

8.  Arrange triangles from step 4 around your spiderweb.

9. Flip the triangles onto the spiderweb RST and pin in place.

10.  Sew in place with a 1/4" seam.  I press towards the triangles unless they are light.. like in this case and then I press in towards the spiderweb

then follow steps 6 & 7 from hexagon directions to finish your potholder!

four fat quarters... plus binding fabric {and scrap for corners}

easily makes 6 potholders... in either style!

--

want to link to this tutorial?

grab a button!

{144 x 144}

{250x250}

enjoy!!

© 2010-2022 Julie R. Herman. All rights reserved.

No part of this tutorial or pattern may be reproduced without written consent of Jaybird Quilts. 

Items from this pattern may not be produced for commercial resale.

find your tribe

months ago i posted about breakdowns..and breakthroughs

since that post i bought kelly's book... read it
& a lot of it has stuck with me

especially the part about "finding your tribe"

 If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You

i'm am very lucky to have an amazingly supportive family

karin, aliyah, mom, elijah, brad & dad

in addition to my family..

i have a growing "tribe" in my life

and today i'm headed to LA...

to see karin, aliyah, elijah & brad

and..

natalie

when i think about the fact that i only met natalie last year... it's a bit crazy.

because i feel like i've known her forever.

natalie is one of those incredibly rare people...

she has a beautiful spirit

always knows the right thing to say

is incredible creative

fabulously generous

welcoming

and i could go on and on

the last time i was at natalie's house...

she made me run to the beach... take my sneakers off...

and stick my toes in the sand..

{ at around 10pm at night... }

this trip i'm coming prepared... with my flip flops...

and plan on spending some quality time with the sand...

and besides the beach...
we will be busy getting ready for the international quilt festival in long beach!

 if you are in the area.. come visit!
we have booths 937 & 1036

i'll be doing demos of circle around

and my hexagons from the hexagon quilt a long!

and in true beyond the reef fashion...
natalie has lots of yummy hawaiian & beautiful prints!
some of which she just added to her new online shop

i'll try to take lots of photos of the show to share!
{ and do my best to not buy a ton of fabric... eek!!! }

but back to my tribe.
i have a great tribe.
rachael is in my tribe
as well as many others.

and nat...

natalie has been a great addition to " my tribe"
:-)