Wedding Quilt Done -- Tada!

Lauren and Doug's wedding quilt is DONE!!!


I started the quilt this summer in a class with Susan Beal at PNCA. I decided to make a version of her Anniversary Quilt from her book Modern Log Cabin Quilting.

Lauren and I picked out some fabrics together - many of them are from Kate Spain's Central Park collection -- I got those from Hip Fabric, which is owned by a fellow PMQG member, some are from Purl Soho and the back fabric Lauren & I bought at Mood in NYC. And I can't leave out that it is sashed in Kona Bay Creme, my favorite sashing cotton that I buy obsessively at Cool Cottons.





Now that that is off my plate here is what is on my to-do list today: finish the gift for my sister Pam, finish the gift for my secret Santa at Pendleton, start the gift for my in-laws, mail out the January Design Camp [think outside the block] packets, and write thank you notes for all the wonderful handmade gifts I have been given in the past few days. Oh, and work on that outerwear project for that company in Vermont -- if I get the green light. Shew!

PS I should mention that my sister Pam sewed a few squares and she and my mom picked the quilt pattern, which was done by the most-talented Nancy Stoval of Just Quilting.

Classes, Classes, Classes!

Have I mentioned how much I love my new gig at Pendleton? Well, if not, I LOVE MY NEW GIG AT PENDLETON! I get to invent projects and then teach those projects in classes and then invent more projects for future classes... So come join me for some holiday-inspired fun. Here are the projects I will be teaching over at the Pendleton Woolen Mills store in December:


Western Boot Holiday Stocking
Saturday, December 3 10am - 12pm


Plaid Penguin
Sunday, December 11 11am - 1pm


Wool Quilted Nesting Boxes
Sunday, December 11 2-4 pm

Plus when you take a class there you get a 15% off craft supplies good for 30 days. There are a ton of fun classes (in addition to mine --) including Susan Beal's Quilted Cross Pillows and Wool Baby Blanket as well as felting, crocheting and crafts. And don't forget about the free tree poncho pattern
Use your class discount to buy supplies for that!

And while I have your attention, how about a little give-away? Okay, twist my arm. Comment below with a clever name for the Penguin and I will draw a winner at random on Thanksgiving and give-away 1/2 yard of Pendleton Ivory/Jade Check (ooh it is soooooo pretty!)

Pendleton Tree Poncho

A few days ago I got to participate in unpacking the holiday decorations for the Pendleton Woolen Mills Store. One of my tasks was to set up the large Christmas Tree at the front of the store. After we decorated it I asked where they kept the tree skirt and I was met with blank stares. "Okay, I'll make one!" I offered. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I had recently seen a great pattern by Monica of Happy Zombie for Christmas Tree Pants on the Sew Mama Sew holiday sew-along. Using that as inspiration I decided this tree needed a Poncho!
One of the benefits of working with the Woolen Mills Store is that I get to make samples for the store and for classes. I choose my fabric: 1/2 of a 1/2 a yard of Red Four Directions Jacquard, grabbed 5 yards of black felt binding, and four silver buttons.

I've decided to offer it as a free pattern, since I was inspired by Monica's design and she gave her instructions away for free as well. Here is a link to a downloadable pattern. Enjoy!

Jay McCarroll Habitat Challenge

A few months ago the Portland Modern Quilt Guild challenged each of the guild members to create a 12" finished block using fabrics from the Jay McCarroll Habitat collection. We were given fat eights of six different fabrics and we had a month to create our blocks. The president of our chapter then put out a second call: would anyone be interested in putting these quilts together. My hand went up immediately: I was excited to work on sampler compositions and really challenge myself to come up with something that reflected the vibe of our guild: modern, fun and fresh.

I lived with the blocks for a while before I came up with the sampler designs. They fell into two distinct camps: the first I decided was the 'motif' camp, blocks that used solids with the prints to create a dynamic design. The second camp were blocks that used the prints together and didn't use solids (or didn't use high contrast solids.) I decided to approach the 'motif' blocks using more of a traditional sashing/frame idea, and the print blocks I went for a more risky composition that I called the 'scrappy film strip.' Luckily Linda Nussbalm, a fellow guild member and blogger stepped in and offered to help. We both sewed our hearts out at the PMQG sew-day at Fabric depot and I finished the last parts of the project todayI am sending them off to Rachel, of Second Ave Studio (and also a guild member) to quilt.

Pendleton Woolen Mills Store

I have embarked on a new adventure working part time at the Pendleton Woolen Mills Store! I am training as an embroidery tech on their Melco embroidery machines. It is a funny story how it all came about: I was helping Susan Beal with a Pendleton Blanket class she was teaching at the NW Quilt expo. She introduced me to the gals who run the store and a job was born!

It is such a pleasure to work with the team there. Everyone is creative and fun and who can resist spending the day with such gorgeous blankets and fabrics! I embroidered my first catalog orders last week. I have bruises on the palms of my hands from the pressure it takes to hoop the heavy wools but I can tell you there will be at least a dozen happy customers because of these bruises!

One of my favorite things about my new job is that I get to invent projects and eventually teach classes. This pillow was from a scrap I pulled out of the $5 a lb bin. I had the pillow form from a trip to Ikea last week (they are $3 there). I am excited to bring it to work tomorrow!

Cat's Game

I just got a preview copy of Fat Quarterly's Fall Inspired Issue (due out October 7th) with my quilt design Cat's Game! I can't begin to say how over the moon I am about this! My first quilt pattern published! This is so cool! The issue will be available soon (and you know I will be posting, tweeting and all that good stuff the moment it is out) but here is a sneak peak of my project. I will be teaching this quilt over at SewPo starting Tuesday the 18th. Register for the class here.

Hey there! You have come to the right place, but for now I blog over at weebly. To visit my design camp blog, please click over to

http://designcamppdx.weebly.com

Have Machine, Will Travel
Michelle