a new book! 14 quilts celebrating friends & family of all ages
Banded Geese My Way Banded geese is my way of giving a new twist to the traditional Flying Geese block. I did see another version on the internet and tried the method suggested. Having made a lot of FG blocks in the traditional way I …
Texas Treasure I designed a quilt that is featured in the Texas Shop Hop 2025 magazine. I titled it Texas Treasure after one of the two blocks used in the quilt. Texas Treasure quilt block that I chose to use was identified by Nancy …
I set out to make a simple pinwheel quilt so grabbed the specialty ruler and began cutting triangles from the colorful fabric I had selected. I sewed block after block to make the triangle into a square to be pieced. Ready to piece some sample blocks I made a dozen before realizing I had rectangles rather than the intended square blocks. Where did I go wrong?? Oh, grabbed the wrong triangle ruler. Since I was at a retreat I switched to another project (don’t we all have more than one project in our retreat packing). A day went by and it was really bothering me that I couldn’t work on the pinwheel type project. I hate it when a plan doesn’t work but I also know that there is always another solution. The light bulb came on. Cut it up, what could I lose? Rather than cut into halves or quarters I decided to try thirds. An interesting block emerged and it was square when finished. I like rectangle blocks but I had square blocks in my mind.
I moved forward with sewing the rest of the triangles into the rectangle blocks and am ready to start cutting and sewing again. A new block means thinking of a new arrangement and there are so many possibilities. Until I get all the blocks cut and sewn into the new block I’ll continue to reflect on the possibilities.
Quilting mistakes, a challenge and an opportunity.
In May I posted my quilt Patio Pots, but am adding to it for those who may like a little more info. For many years I collected shot cotton stripes with most from the Kaffe Fasset Collective. One rainy spring day when I couldn’t plant …
One of my all-time favorite quotes is by Louisa May Alcott. When I was learning calligraphy in a college class I practiced my skills on this quote, “Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can …
And consider learning more to change those “languishing linens” into a modern day useful item–in a quilt or on your table.
Step 1 treated linens with soda ash fixative
Step 2 cover with ice
Step 3 sprinkle dye powder in colors of choice. Step 4 let set and ice melt for at least 12 hours
Step 5 rinse, wash and dry
For many years I have collected shot cotton stripes with many from the Kaffe Fasset Collective. One rainy spring day when I couldn’t plant my outside flower pots an idea came to me. Actually, I was cleaning and rearranging my stash of striped fabrics. The …
There are still openings for the Friday, June 7 Fabric Dyeing Workshop, Color By Design. Grab a friend and plan to have a fun time dyeing your own fabric in addition to the fabric provided. Check out the information below. FABRIC DYEING WORKSHOP COLOR …
Join me June 6 or 7, 2024 in a hands-on fabric dyeing workshop at my home. Learn to use fiber reactive dyes on cotton fabric using two different methods with separate results. Use “recipes” as well as your own color choices to dye 2 yards of prepared for dyeing fabric (provided). Color fast and wash fast finished fabric is uniquely yours ready to be used in your next quilting project.
Participants will go home with 2 total yards of cotton fabric plus an additional equivalent yard of their own (vintage linens, “ugly” fabric to overdye, etc). They will have a written outline of the processes and resources necessary for personal use and a happy smile!!
Six student maximum on either June 6 or June 7 from 9:30-3:30, cost $75.
For more details and to register contact me at: sharonwasteney@gmail.com
The birds are so happy. They are singing such a happy song and have been since before dawn. A sure sign of spring along with the fact that we are sleeping with our windows open the last few nights (in our south Teas winter home). …