3 Reasons To Push Yourself In Quilting & Studio Updates

The Step Into Your Art 2019 challenge that I am hosting is into its second month! It got me thinking today about why we should want to push ourselves in quilting.

Wait, isn’t it supposed to be a fun hobby?

Why make myself crazy trying new techniques when the same block in different colors works great?

My grandmother did it this way.

These might be some of the thoughts running through your head about now. And yes, all of those points are valid BUT you might want to rethink your quilting strategy a bit and I’ll give you three good reasons why!

#1  I believe we are born with an innate sense of curiosity and wonder. Since we all could walk and talk, we’ve been asking questions and exploring our world. Why not push that hunger for knowledge into every area of our lives, including quilting! Every book, magazine, and website in the quilting industry is bursting with new ideas, fresh colors, and exciting techniques to explore! Jump on board and expand your quilting horizons. Find a local teacher like myself and up your quilting game!

#2  Science! Article after article has been written about how engaging our brains on the daily helps fight dementia. Whether it be a game of soduko, Words With Friends, knitting, crocheting, or quilting it’s all good brain food. Keeping our minds active is the name of the game! Quilting challenges us to explore patterns, color, and even do some math.

#3  Beat the boredom! Find connection! I can’t imagine a day without quilting or talking or writing about this wonderful hobby. I have connected with the most wonderful human beings on the planet through a shared love of fabric and thread. Whether it be joining a guild, taking a class, joining an online quilting group, chatting about the craft with family and friends via text or phone or in person, there’s so much to be shared! I encourage you with all my heart to take that first step and introduce yourself to fellow quilters. Start here by leaving a comment and telling me about yourself and what your favorite quilting technique is.

There are so many more reasons to push yourself in quilting but those are my top three. The Step Into Your Art 2019 challenge has been one way several of us are pushing our boundaries and connecting with new people. We’ve seen beautiful work over on the Facebook Group. We welcome anyone who would like to join in! This month’s challenge theme was ‘connection’. As a deeper dive, we were also invited to explore how elements of design were incorporated into our pieces. Including an artist statement also helps the observer to understand the inspiration and process behind the design.

My piece was a fabric collage of hibiscus flowers that I photographed in Kauai, Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The artist statement below describes the process but here is a detail photo of the tulle layered over the quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this was an in process photo which shows the texture…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the original photo…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artist Statement for February Step Into Your Art Challenge
Theme – Connection

My February challenge art quilt is a fabric collage made from a photo of Hibiscus flowers that I took in Kauai, Hawaii in 2015. I have always loved the photo. I had it printed onto cotton fabric through Spoonflower then used little bits of fabric glued to that background to create the collage. I placed white tulle over the piece and free motion quilted through all the layers.

The challenge theme is ‘connection’ with an additional challenge to tie in elements of design as they applied. The element that I focused on here was texture. The fabric pieces sort of stick up making for a fun texture that you don’t get with traditional quilting.

My family and I have traveled to different islands in Hawaii several times since our daughters were very young. We have always felt a strong connection to the beauty and the people in Hawaii. We have explored, photographed, and learned so much about the culture and it keeps us longing to be there again and again. We are at our most peaceful and fulfilled selves when we are there.

Last Week’s Jelly Roll Race Workshop

This past Tuesday we had workshop in my home that featured jelly roll race quilts! There was a whole lotta stitching going on and a fair amount of quilt trivia as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My lovely students were busy all morning stitching up the 2.5″ strips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had lots of laughs and snacks too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gail won the jelly roll race and finished this beauty first…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharyn completed hers at home and sent me a photo…doesn’t it look amazing in homespun fabrics?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next month our workshop is a skill builder on learning how to foundation paper piece.

I can’t wait!

If you are local to East Bridgewater and looking to join in on the fun, leave me a comment or send me an email at colwellsg@comcast.net

I’ll be posting an update soon with information on the March art challenge and hopefully a new podcast episode!

Sandi