Peer pressure

When I first received Tula Pink's new book 100 Modern Quilt Blocks, I carefully studied every page just like I do all my quilting books. I had seen her sampler at the MQG show in Austin and loved it before I even knew it was from her book. In fact, I photographed it thinking I would like to do something similar one day. One day. Not tomorrow or the next day. One day.

At least that's what I thought.

I put the book on the shelf and forgot about it. Until I got a text from a friend asking if I had the book. She thought we should make it and use peer pressure to keep each other accountable. There are 100 blocks so we decided to make 2 a day and send each other pictures when we had completed each day. Two little blocks a day didn't sound that bad so I agreed. We started our little challenge in August. I decided to mimic Tula Pink's colors in each block to achieve the same rainbow effect and my friend decided on a group of Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

We started off really well. I even made blocks up ahead of time for the week we spent at Disney and our camping weekends. I faithfully sent pics every day while at Disney because I knew if I didn't, JLew would stop and I might lose her for good. This was her idea after all!

50 days of commitment is a lot but even if we missed a day, we made it up the next day. Until the end when we were both dragging and we let a few slip. Our challenge is over and while I think JLew has a few blocks left to complete, over all we did really well! I have to say peer pressure works!

Some days were easy and some days had way too many pieces, but I think we both learned a lot. I know I learned a whole lot about color combinations. I used all scraps and I started just grabbing whatever came up next. It made for some interested pairings that I wouldn't have planned.

Now we just have to get together to put these monsters together over a few bottles of wine and totally inappropriate commentary.......

(There is a block missing in the very center. Somehow I missed it, pretend you don't notice!)

Improv makes me nervous

I've been holding onto these fabrics for a while, not wanting to cut into them for fear that I would do the wrong thing. Something about cutting into a perfectly whole piece of fabric (especially when I know it's out of print) just seems wrong. And scary.

I really like the whole modern, improv movement in the quilting world. In theory, it's incredibly freeing and the epitome of creativity. For me it's kind of like spilling a whole tin of double fifteen dominoes on a wood floor. In a room full of screaming kids and barking dogs. Crazy chaotic mess.

But I want to create freely and peacefully the way I see the women in the books! So I calmly cut out some strips and pieces.

Well now I have to think! Nobody said anything about thinking! Just creating! But I'm determined so I start sewing and after a little while you actually do work out your own rhythm.

Actually, I kind of like it. But it is definitely a exercise in stress management for me. And it is kind of freeing when you let go of your control freak tendencies and let it just become. I may have to start doing more of this. It is so much faster than following a pattern and I really love the uniqueness that it produces. I might have to change the title of this post to " improv makes me happy"!