Whose house? The Wise House!

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Plaid Portico

I found out about The Wise House since they carry the Lilly Loray line of kitchen textiles that I was involved in the design work for, and then I fell in love with their site and their products. They have a number of items they have custom made for their store that are simple and stylish that I find infinitely appealing, including lavender heart trios, funky peg bags, and superduper door stops, and my favorite –the hipster handbag! Love!

The Wise House has three styles of the reversible bag, the Hampton Hipster Handbag for the stylish woman on the go, the Midi Hipster and the Girl’s Hipster. The fabrics are sourced in the UK and the bags are made by hand by a local seamstress, Carla, who formerly owned a shop on Portobello Road. There are also future plans for seasonal collection using corduroy, wool and tartan.

The Hampton Hipster Handbag from The Wise House

Midi Hipster Bag from The Wise House

Girl’s Hipster Bag from The Wise House

The Wise House is a shop selling cheerful, original and mostly practical things for people and their homes. It is owned and run by Lucy, who is passionate about finding, designing and making things that are not found on every street (or web) corner.

SuperDuper Door Stops from The Wise House

Funky Peg Bags from The Wise House

Lavender Heart Trios by The Wise House

The Wise House launched this ‘Bless This Home’ limited edition unframed Giclée art print, taken from an original pen and ink drawing by Kent artist Lydia Bevan, who made the design exclusively for The Wise House. Each art print is one of just 220 prints, hand signed and numbered by the artist.

Bless This Home art print from The Wise House

“Pi” Circle Quilt and Connections

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Plaid Portico

Well there is a pleasant bi product of having your art and design in the commercial marketplace–people who you used to know might see it and look you up!

My next door neighbor from childhood, Jeanne Gorton, contacted me after seeing my fabric through Andover Fabrics. What fun!! She has been a “hard core quilter for the last twenty years and is obsessed with fabric, fabric design and modern quilting design”. She belongs to the Genesee Valley Quilt Club which was founded in 1936!!

I sent her some Licorice Fizz to play with and LOVE what she came up with. This quilt was shown at the Genesee Valley Quilt Club’s “Magical Threads–Inspired Stitches” Biennial Quilt show in June at the RIT field house. There were 400 members involved in the show and 600 quilts on display. It was a three day show organized totally by volunteers. Yay Rochesterians! If you can make it through the winters, you can do anything.

She also sent me some photos of a couple of her other quilts. Love love. Take a look at Jeanne’s great quilts…

“Pi” Quilt Designed by Jeanne Gorton

“Pi” quilt top designed by Jeanne Gorton

Quilt by Jeanne Gorton

baby quilt by Jeanne Gorton

Improvisational quilting with Sherri Lynn Wood

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Plaid Portico

As part of the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild‘s show, Stitch Modern, they had a number of special events. One was a panel discussion on fabric design which I got to participate in which I enjoyed thoroughly, particularly meeting the other designers and sharing notes. But I have to say the highlight of the whole show, AFTER seeing all the great quilts, was the talk I went to by Sherri Lynn Wood.

As you may know, I am now dipping my hand into quilting, just for the fun and art of it, and I really connect with many of the modern quilts I am seeing out there, and I really like the improvisational quilting style in particular. I don’t really want to make quilts that look like someone else’s or follow a specific tradition or direction. In my work, I design all the time for the commercial market, so when I sew I want to sew what I want to sew. Period. So hearing Sherri Lynn Woods speak about the improvisational process was just what I needed to really dig into the improv quilt I had started and make it happen. And I did finish it shortly after. ….Ahem…. except the binding, but I will post when it is all finished.

Another very cool thing that Sherri talked about was Passage Quilts. She works with people ” through collaboration, consultation and commission to make improvised quilts from the clothing and materials from everyday life”. Love this concept. Hits me right in that spot. And she showed us one she made for her mother, Linda Susan Wood (1943-2003) which she describes as a “passage, bereavement, memorial quilt made from my mother’s casual clothes, Sunday dresses, bathing suit, robes and the dress she wore to my wedding”

Sherri is SUCH a good speaker, highly recommend if you get a chance. With a long resume of exhibitions, artist residencies and workshops, and with masters in both fine art and theology, she has a lot to share. Here are a few shots of the quilts she shared that day, but you might want to check out her site, daintytime.net for more!

Linda Susan Wood (1943-2003) Passage Quilt by Sherri Lynn Wood, 2006, 73″ W X 75″ L

Color Study 305 by Sherri Lynn Wood, 2008

RGB Modern by Sherri Lynn Wood

detail of RGB Modern by Sherri Lynn Wood

Negative Space by Sherri Lynn Wood 2012

Modern Improv Wool Log Cabin, By Sherri Lynn Wood, 2011, 90″x84″

Stitch Modern…Part 4, More quilts!

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Plaid Portico

Well here are the final set of quilts from the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild‘s second annual exhibition Stitch Modern at the Piedmont Center for the Arts. (Thru Feb 24th, open Fri, Sat, Sun 12-3)

Check it out!

Diamond Life by Kim Andersson

detail of Diamond Life by Kim Andersson

back side of Diamond Life by Kim Andersson

Wonky Ladder Quilt by Ellen Heck

detail of Wonky Ladder Quilt by Ellen Heck

Mah Na Mah Na by Birgit Hottenrott

detail of Mah Na Mah Na by Birgit Hottenrott

Slightly Sober Path by Claire Sherman

detail of Slightly Sober Path by Claire Sherman

Happy Stars by Michelle Sullivan

detail of Happy Stars by Michelle Sullivan

French Braid #3 by Pati Fried

V’achalta V’savata: And You Shall Eat and Be Satisfied by Claire Sherman

Urban Homes by Claudia Comay

detail of Urban Homes by Claudia Comay

Stitch Modern Part 3

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Plaid Portico

Ok, we’re almost 3/4 of the way through here…at least as far as the quilts go. There is more to share beyond the quilts themselves and we’ll see how much I can muster together for you this month.

For those just tuning in, these are quilts showing at Stitch Modern, the second annual exhibition of the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild at the Piedmont Center for the Arts. On through February 24th, Fri, Sat, Sun 12-3, plus during Stitch Modern Special Events…

Voila! More quilt gorgeousness…

Geos by Joel Ignacio of Joey’s Planting

detail of Geos by Joel Ignacio of Joey’s Planting

Usable Squares by Terri Carpenter of The Fox’s Den

detail of Usable Squares by Terri Carpenter

quilt by Tara Faughnan

quilt by Tara Faughnan

Antique Butterfly Kisses by Pati Fried

detail of Antique Butterfly Kisses by Pati Fried

Engulfed in Flames by Cathy Roha

The Spaces Between by Amelia Terry

detail of The Spaces Between by Amelia Terry

Not Your Granny’s Granny Squares by Margaret Glendening

detail of Not Your Granny’s Granny Squares by Margaret Glendening

Stitch Modern part 2

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Plaid Portico

And more gorgeous quilts from Stitch Modern. Two more days to go and we will have covered them all! If you’re just tuning in, Stitch Modern is the second annual show of the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild. Open through Feb 24th at The Piedmont Center of the Arts, Fri, Sat and Sun 12-3.

And without further ado, more quilts from the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild:

Throwing Sparks by Daniel Rouse of Piece and Press

detail of Throwing Sparks by Daniel Rouse

Rebel Amish by Adrianne Ove of little bluebell

detail of Rebel Amish by Adrianne Ove of little bluebell

Small Things That Have No Words by Amelia Terry

detail of Small Things That Have No Words by Amelia Terry

Gum Drops Lollipops by Claudia Comay

Gum Drops Lollipops by Claudia Comay

Midnight Dancer By Valerie Gibbins

Midnight Dancer By Valerie Gibbins

Lovebug by Maxi French & Cyn Coulouthros of xoxo Quilts

Lovebug by Maxi French & Cyn Coulouthros

Stitch Modern

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Plaid Portico

Stitch Modern. Love that title. Its the second annual exhibition of the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild. Beautiful quilts!

In case you are in the San Francisco Bay area, it is absolutely worth checking out in person. Through February 24th at the Piedmont Center for the Arts. Gallery Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12-3. Plus of course its open during Stitch Modern Special Events.

Too many photos to sort through for one post so this will be divided into 4 entries over the next week, so stay tuned…

Happiness by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Happiness by Stacey Sharman of Peppermint Pinwheels

Finding Your Way by Lauren Hungler of “I Want To Cut You”, quilted by Dawn Schwab

detail of Finding Your Way by Lauren Hungler of “I Want To Cut You”, quilted by Dawn Schwab

Cosmos by Kristen Takakuwa

Cosmos by Kristen Takakuwa

back side of Cosmos by Kristen Takakuwa

Linked In by Danielle Collins

detail of Linked In by Danielle Collins

Diamonds by Tara Faughnan

detail of Diamonds by Tara Faughnan

Garden Poiesis by Sharona Fishrup

Garden Poiesis by Sharona Fishrup

Untitled by Shannon Ward Storms

Untitled by Sharon Ward Storms

The Sew Steady table story

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Plaid Portico

Well, now that the boot is off my sewing foot, its all coming together as my Sew Steady insert for our home made sewing table arrived. And after Jack finished his workbench, (story on that below) this was his first project. Very cool, he cut out the insert, installed a shelf below to hold the sewing machine, and put it all together. We are psyched! Plus Daas’ dress form arrived this week. We’re ready to go!

Then there is the tale of Jack’s workbench. The workbench originally came from Jack’s Uncle Ed by way of a high school IA department liquidating its IA program (for those who never had the pleasure, schools used to offer Industrial Arts and Home Economics). Well, this workbench has been in storage for thirteen years, and after finally getting it here in the workshop (its heavy!) Jack became bothered by it not being level. Whether it was level thirteen years ago or not is a mystery, but he spent a massive amount of hours planing it and produced a massive amount of wood shavings doing it. Then he refinished it and voila! Can you see how beautiful it is!

Chevron Baby Quilt from Blackberry Quilts

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Plaid Portico

Stef from Blackberry Quilts has been working on a couple projects using Licorice Fizz. The first one, which I am in love with (like most everything else she does) is this chevron quilt, which I got to hold in my hot little hands this weekend. And check out her other patterns too–tons of baby quilts and simple patterns for beginners. And we are selling a kit for it on Etsy here.