I’m still quilting, although coming through a long, slow, slow, slow period of “maker's-block”. Life got in the way a bit and I lost the momentum of frequent studio time, which is one surefire way to drain your creative mojo quickly. Since moving to San Francisco a year ago, I’ve made a much better effort to give myself room to work on projects without too many expectations. I’ve also tried to rebuild some type of creative routine and practice. I’ve been chipping a few long-idled projects off my list, This beautiful custom quilt for Carey is one of them. Read more about Carey’s Custom Quilt. This quilt was created especially to feature vintage bed linens that belonged to Carey’s grandmother. It was such a pleasure to work with such personal materials and ensure their continued use and presence in Carey’s life. Hand quilting is still my favorite part of the process, and I continue to be obsessed with adding little wool ties that will eventually felt into bitty, wonky pom-poms.
All month long the blogosphere has been celebrating thirty years of Robert Kauffman Fabrics' incredible Kona Cotton with their blog hop, 30 Quilts for 30 years. 30 incredible designers—well 29 plus me—have come together to create an inventive and inspiring collection of quilts with Kona Cotton. The accompanying look-book is kick-ass, so be sure to get your inspiration fix.
Inspired by the endless palette of Kona's color card, it felt appropriate to pay homage to Bauhaus textile master Gunta Stölzl's modernist works created while working in Dessau. I'm not going to get too much into Gunta's life: I'll leave it to you to explore the site maintained by her family, and to read more about her. This quilt is like a letter to her filled with the questions and eagerness of a student learning from a master:
5 Chöre, 1928
Jacquard wall hanging
courtesy guntastolzl.org
Dear Gunta—
It's been more than 75 years since you wove 5 Chöre, and it feels as fresh as if you had designed it yesterday. I study your works: the transparency, motion, value and I know your practice was a commitment day after day. In a world filled with technology that provides so many things instantaneously, I seek to be a master like you working tirelessly over many years. Your works tell me the story of the true work—not just the time at the loom—and I long to have studied with you in Dessau to learn the visual language you employ. Each pattern means something, and I wonder too what they meant to the loom and the techniques at work. Most of all, I look at 5 Chöre, and I feel sure you saw the future when you made it. As the data streams in the air around us between cell phones and satelittes, I imagine it must look like this weaving swirling all around us. Here I am, from the future and I want you to know I'm grateful for your work, and what I learn each time I look at it.
—Carrie Strine
Thanks to the Robert Kauffman crew, you can grab the FREE pattern for my contribution Dear Gunta. So get stitching and celebrate the incredible Bauhaus textile master Gunta Stölzl and Kona Cotton! Check out the rest of the blog-hoppers below for all kinds of inspiration and insight into their design process. My favorite is absolutely the incredible Rock Jetties by Dorie of Tumbling Blocks.
EVEN MORE GOODIES THANKS TO THE RK TEAM: COMMENT BELOW IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THIS AWESOME CHARM PACK OF THE NEWEST KONA COLORS!
Week 1:
Saturday, 11/1: Johanna Masko
Sunday, 11/2: Alyssa of Aria Lane
Monday, 11/3: Dorie of Tumblingblocks
Tuesday, 11/4: Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations
Wednesday, 11/5: Daniela of Cozy Quilt Designs
Thursday, 11/6: Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts
Friday, 11/7: Anita Grossman Solomon
Saturday, 11/8: Debbie of Esch House Quilts
Week 2:
Sunday, 11/9: Alex of Teaginny
Monday, 11/10: Darlene Zimmerman
Tuesday, 11/11: Nichole Ramirez
Weds, 11/12: Rita Hodge of Red Pepper Quilts
Thursday, 11/13: Lee of Freshly Pieced
Friday, 11/14: Julie of Jaybird Quilts
Saturday, 11/15: Latifah of The Quilt Engineer
Week 3:
Sunday. 11/16: Elizabeth Hartman
Monday, 11/17: Erica of Kitchen Table Quilting
Tuesday, 11/18: Karrie of Freckled Whimsy
Week 3 ctnd:
Wednesday, 11/19: Valori Wells
Thursday, 11/20: Marilyn of Quilt Moments
Friday, 11/21: Cortney Heimerl
Sat, 11/22: Shayla and Kristy of Sassafras Lane Designs
Week 4:
Sunday, 11/23: Shea of Empty Bobbin Sewing
Monday, 11/24: Carrie Strine
Tuesday, 11/25: Rachel of Stitched in Color
Wednesday, 11/26: Liz of Lady Harvatine
Saturday, 11/29: Carolyn Friedlander
Week 5:
Sunday, 11/30: Elizabeth of Don’t Call Me Betsy
Monday, 12/1: Emily of Carolina Patchworks
Tuesday, 12/2: Ken Kaufman
Wednesday, 12/3: Grand Finale!
Our gorgeous photos thanks to Carey MacArthur
On October 4th, before our nearest family and friends, Tim and I were married by our dear friend Eli. We've spent 10 years together, and have created a wonderful community of people to support us in our life together. With only 24 guests, we were able to make every part of our wedding weekend truly special and handmade. It was impossible, considering the joy I've had creating wedding quilts for others, not to make a special wedding quilt for Tim and I to celebrate the occasion.
There is a long legacy of album and friendship signature quilts that has inspired me since my pre-quilting days. Also, there is no shortage of wedding guest book signature quilts in this wedding-crazed pinterest world. I wanted ours to be something special, reminiscent of the beautifully embroidered sampler type friendship quilts from 100 years ago. Of course, the very best examples were made by quilters—each offering their own signed and embroidered block. I wanted ours to have that feeling, but instead of just collecting signatures to apply myself I made sure our guests were able to sign the block of their choice.
Using tear away stabilizer cut to size and pinned to blocks, we asked guests to pick their favorite block and sign the stabilizer. Following the wedding, I spent evenings carefully embroidering each signature or note onto the block. The most pleasant surprise was experiencing the love of that weekend each time I picked up a block to embroider. Most of all I will cherish for years to come the notes from my mother, grandmother and oldest friends stitched in their own hand. Its my hope these stitches will outlast us all, passed down to future generations of our new family.
#DearGunta Giveaway!
'Tis the season for quilters near and far to descend on Houston for Quilt Market. Back here at home we are preparing for a weekend stalking attendee posts wondering "who has the freshest booth this year?" or "W.W.D.S.D? (What will Denyse Schmidt do?)"
This year is my turn to finally have a quilt on display. My brand new design, Dear Gunta, will be on display in the Robert Kaufman booth with 29 other incredible quilts celebrating Kona's 30th anniversary! But, I'll still be stuck in NYC along with all the other #wishiwerethere losers. Yup. Bummer.
So—I'm asking you to send me a digital postcard, and enter to win a kit to make a Dear Gunta of your own! That's right...post a shot of my quilt (or OMG A SELFIE) tagged #DearGunta to show a little #wishyouwerehere love. Better yet, be one of the first 10 to play along and you'll get a free pin cushion made by yours truly along with your entry in the drawing.
I know, I know... No fair to those of you stuck at home right? Just find my quilt or pattern on the Robert Kaufman site, post a picture tagged #DearGunta and you can play too!
- Enter by posting on Instagram or Twitter only.
- Posts must be tagged #DearGunta
- Post before 12p midnight EST, Tuesday October 28th.
- Winners will be contacted Wednesday, October 29th
- By posting you acknowledge that Instagram and Twitter in no way endorse this promotion, and have no involvement.
- By posting you also release Robert Kaufman, Instagram and Twitter from any liability.
- Live on planet earth? You're eligible to enter!
*** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOT SPONSORED BY ROBERT KAUFMAN ***
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us this past Friday for the opening of my show Handwork. There's still plenty of time to visit Art in the Age to check it out if you're in Philly. Handwork will be on display until March 31st.