Posts Tagged ‘creative solutions’

Just Hanging Around…Quilts from Books, by Staff

Friday, July 19th, 2013

 To celebrate mid-Summer (what’s a Dog-Day, anyway?) here are snapshots of three amazing quilts that are hanging in the Store — right now. We secretly think they might be even nicer than the original quilts on which they are based… but come see and let us know what you think. Apologies for the quality of the photos, taken with an iPhone today.

1.

“Fire Drill,” by Leah Brown

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  This pattern appears in Modern Patch Work, by Elizabeth Hartman.

(Quilting by Kathy Ritter)

 

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(Detail)

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2.

“Tic Tac Wall Quilt,” by Kathy Ritter

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 from a pattern in Cozy Modern Quilts, by Kim Schaefer.

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(The Magic is in the Details)

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3.

“Riverbank,” by Kathy Ritter

From a pattern in Modern Blocks,

by Susanne Woods.

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Thank you for letting us share with you all!

 

New Pieces for New Pieces Blog

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013
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Good things come in pieces!

The blog is back after a few months away!

A lot is happening at New Pieces * and in the local quilting world. We’d like to use the blog as another way to reinforce the New Pieces Quilt community. I will be looking for items to post about gadgets and techniques, to alternate with  stories about the quilts and quilters in our midst, and other stuff of interest to you all. You are invited to send  your ideas for blog entries to New Pieces, or to write something yourself and send it to me. Pictures are welcome too!

*Many of you will notice that this amazing 360 degree picture of the store is filled with quilts by staff emeritae. We are rebuilding our teaching program as you read this. Please ask about the changes underway, and feel free to suggest great teachers and classes to us!

December 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge – “Star”

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013

December marks the end of the 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge (for 2012). The theme was “Star” and the entries were delightful. For those who asked, we WILL  do a challenge like this again, but not in 2013. The consensus is that folks were getting worn out by the end of the year.

Please feel free to send your suggestions for new challenges to Heather (rags1927@gmail.com) or post them on the Facebook Page for the 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge.

Now, the quiltlets for December were:

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“Christmas Cheer”, by Jane Voytek

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“Star Quilt”, by Lissa Miner

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“The Starry Room”, by Judith Schon

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(The back of Judith’s quiltlet – irresistible!)

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“Fresh Starred”, by Heather Jacobsen

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“Solstice Star Heralds Return of the Sun”, by Judith Baker

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“Dancing with Stars”, by Kathy Ritter

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“Our Shining Star: The Sun”, by Kristen Takakuwa

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“Stars!”, by Sharona Fischrup

And the winner is: (Drum Roll, Please!)

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“Starry Sky on New Year’s Eve”, by Pat Dicker

Congratulations Pat Dicker, and congratulations to Everyone who played with us this month, or any month this year. What a lot of fun we’ve had!

November 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge – “Bounty”

Friday, December 21st, 2012

I thought we’d gone too far on this one. The theme was “Bounty”, perhaps in reference to Autumn or Thanksgiving, perhaps to the recent loss of the HMS Bounty amid Hurricane Sandy. The fabric was a tricky to use in such a small piece… or so I thought. We received 7 delightful interpretations — lo

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“Bountiful Transition”, by Lizzie Leininger

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“Mr. Bown T. Full”, by Fern Royce

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“Dogs and Bounty Hunters”, by Heather Marshall Jacobsen

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“No Bounty $”, by Kathy Ritter

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“A Big Dipper Full-o-Wishes”, by Joyce Schon

And for the first time we ended up with a tie for “favorite”quiltlet among those voting. Jane Voytek and Lissa Miner share the limelight, with two very different interpretations of the theme. Jane handled the produce, and Lissa contributed a turkey:

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Quilter’s Bounty”, by Jane Voytek

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For the turkey this is the question: “To be or not to be, …whether ’tis nobler to be pardoned or to be Thanksgiving’s Bounty?”, by Lissa Miner

Thanks to all who played in November. We have one more challenge to come – December – the theme is “Star”.  Stay tuned for more amazing, bite-sized beauties from our quilt community! The deadline for entries is 6:00pm, January 2nd, 2013, (delayed by the holidays!).  Additional information is available on the 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge page on Facebook!

October 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge — “Fall”

Thursday, November 15th, 2012

Another amazing month, another collection of 12″ x 12″ quiltlets on the wall at New Pieces. October’s theme was “Fall”, which could have been pretty straight forward for a lesser group of quilters.  The theme fabric was a yellow with a wood-grain pattern (sort of).  The results follow – the description is below each picture.

“The Fall”, by j. schon

This piece, based on Milton’s “Paradise Lost”, illustrates Satan being thrown out of Heaven, and falling into the depths of Hell. The Angels are screen-printed on an appliqued background.

“Fall”, by Judith Baker

Judith used fused applique and pieced borders to catch fall leaves in mid-air.

“Autumn”, by Candy Simonen

“Autumn” is log-cabin pieced, with machine quilting that accentuates the single-point perspective.

“Five Second Rule”, by Heather Jacobsen

Heather used the theme fabric in over-sized candy corn, which is displayed as if it has fallen on the damp pavement, but hasn’t been on the ground long enough to collect germs — it’s still good!

“Rain”, by Jane Voytek

“Rain” combines piecing and machine stitching to make a dynamic, almost visceral piece.

“New Englander Fall”, by Kathy Ritter

Kathy presents leaves familiar to many of us who started on the East Coast. Oak, Maple, Tulip Poplar….

“Yellow Falls”, by Lissa Miner

Lissa’s piece has a third dimension made from stones and “fog”, and a llama, on a pieced and heavily hand-embroidered representation of  a fantasy waterfall.

And the Winner is:

“Fall – Or Summer Takes a Trip”, by Pat Mitchnick

Log-cabin piecing, with a three-dimensional “Summer” tumbling down the stairs. Delightful and whimsical. Congratulations Pat, and thank you all for Playing!

The November Challenge has now begun. The theme is “Bounty”, and the fabric can be seen on our Facebook Page and “kits” are available at New Pieces. Deadline for November is 6:00pm on Friday, November 30, 2012. Have Fun!

September 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge: Totem

Monday, October 8th, 2012

Another month, another amazing set of 12 x 12s.  The theme was “totem” and we received a wide range of images reflecting personal imagery and iconography. Enjoy! There were remembrances, commemorations, a play on words or two, and an ironic comparison. Every single piece was thoughtfully designed and well executed. It was blissful to be at New Pieces as this group of quiltlets arrived one or two at a time towards the end of September.

“Kipling and the Moon”, by Judith Baker

 

“Goodbye, Kitty”, by Kathy Ritter

 

“crow totem”, by j.shon

 

“Penguin Chic”, by Heather Marshall Jacobsen

 

“Cross of St. Brigid”, by Margaret Bridge

 

“Bears in the Woods”, by Lois Helmbold

 

“Family Totems: Trillium and Jack-in-the-Pulpit”, by Lissa Miner

 

“Fish”, by Sharona Fischrup

This month’s “Favorite” totem was Jane Voytek’s “Owl”.  It is a very powerful image, and a brilliant use of the theme fabric. Jane’s piece will be displayed at New Pieces throughout the month of October, and she wins a $10 New Pieces Gift Certificate, and an authentic homemade ribbon. This is the second time Jane as had a 12 x 12″ “Favorite”.  Congratulations, Jane, and thank you everyone who played in the September challenge, or cast a vote in early October!

“Owl”, by Jane Voytek

 

The October theme is “Fall”. Additional information on the Challenge is available on our Facebook page. Come play with us!

 

August “Night” – 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

The August Challenge Theme was “Night”. We received fewer  quiltlets than in earlier months, but the creativity was everything we could have wanted, and more. Take a look!

“A Cornish Prayer”, By Kathy Ritter

“From Ghoulies and Ghosties, and long-leggety Beasties, and things that go BUMP in the night… Good Lord Deliver Us!”

“The Bunny in the Moon”, by Roxanne Fiscella

“30 years ago my best friend nicknamed me “Bunny” and told me there was a bunny in the moon. We subsequently found an artist in Provincetown who did this interpretation. I have imitated it in fabric.”

“Night Sky in Summer”, by Claire Adams

“The constellations are Cygnus, Pisces, Hercules, Viego, Bootes and Cassiopiea”

“Night and Day”, by Lissa Miner

“Between two worlds life hovers like a star, twixt night and morn, upon the horizon’s verge” – Lord Byron

“Night into Day”, by Heather Jacobsen

“Day reveals Night, which then reveals Day again”

“Good Night, Moon”, by Jane Voytek

 

A twist on a favorite children’s story

“Space Owl Will Eat Your Soul”, by Margaret Bridge

Beware!

And this month’s Viewer’s Favorite, “Fire at Midnight”, by Gail Hynes Shea.

Sometimes a Picture Really is Worth a Thousand Words!

Stay tuned here for results of the September challenge – The September’s theme is “Totem”.

To participate in any month’s challenge, come pick up a $3.00 theme “kit” (word & fat 1/8 of theme fabric) on or after the first day of the month (not before!)  The deadline for each month is close of business on the last day of the month (4:00pm on September 30th — a Sunday — 6:00pm on the last day of October, November and December).  Voting for the “favorite” takes place through the 5th of the following month — we ask everyone who comes into the Store to vote. The winner receives a $10 New Pieces Gift Certificate and a handsome, homemade ribbon, and we display that quiltlet in the Store for the following month.  If you have been looking for a fun, low-stakes competition to help spark your creativity, come play with us!

You can also follow the 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge on Facebook, and check out every piece from every month this year. Enjoy!

July 12 x 12″ x 12″ Challenge: Fire!

Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

The July Challenge theme was “Fire” and the response from our challengers was delightfully creative and diverse.  Inspiration ran the gamut from phoenix and firebird to fireworks and bonfires, wildfires and forces of nature.

“Ring of Fire”, by Lissa Miner

“Bonfire Night”, by Heather Jacobsen

“Phoenix”, by Gwen Wallace

by Sharona Fischrup

“Fireworks”, by Jane Voytek

“Campfire Fireworks”, by Claire Adams

“Ode to Colorado”, by Mary Risard Burnett

“The Four Elements”, by Kathy Ritter

“Firebird”, by Roxanne Fiscella

This month’s “favorite” (by vote of whoever came into New Pieces in early August) is Roxanne Fiscella’s “Firebird”, about which Roxanne tells us the following: “Firebird: In Slavic folklore a magical glowing bird from a faraway land which is a blessing and a bringer of doom to its captor. The Firebird feather if found provokes the hero onto a quest that entails a difficult journey and lights the way back to the bird.”

Thank you Roxanne, and thank to to everyone who “played” this month. August’s theme is “Night”. Come join us!

 

May 12″ x 12″ Quiltlets

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

The theme was “May __________” and the responses were delightful!

“May’s Green Grass Turns to Gold,” Pat Dicker

“May the Force be With You,” Mary Risard Burnett

“Ant Bivalence,” by Lolly Schiffman

“May-Nays,” by Annalisa Tay

“A Bike RIde in May,” by Roxanne Fiscella

“May All Beings Live in Peace,” by Jane Voytek

“May I Eat with You?” by Claire Adams

“Mother May I?” by Sharona Fischrup

“After the Picnic’s Over,” by Kathy Ritter

“May Day Picnic,” by Nancy Sumner

“May Apple,” by Heather Jacobsen

“Mayan Galactic Butterfly: Hunab Ku,” by Lissa Miner

And the Official “Favorite” for May, 2012 is:

“Mae Has Ants in Her Pants,” Fern Royce

Join us for June (the June theme is “Out” and the deadline is always the last day of the month)

Voting for each month’s “Favorite” takes place the first five days of the following month (June voting, for May, etc.) at New Pieces Quilt Store.

Quilt Patis – A New Take on an Old Skill

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

 

Confession: I didn’t expect to like these as much as I do.

Quilt Patis are little templates for English piecing — but made of flexible plastic instead of paper, so they can be used over and over again. The best part may be that they’re portable — you can stick a little kit (some  Patis, fabric scraps, two pins and a needle and thread) in your bag and play with them when you’re waiting out one of life’s little delays.

New Pieces currently has diamond and hexagon-shaped Patis, in two sizes each. The pincushion above was made by Mary Risard Burnett, from the smaller diamond Patis, and there are a few of the larger ones under it. Using the cutting board for scale, you can see how small they are. You can’t see that they’re easy to use. Look for them the next time you come in!