Monday, January 12, 2009

Inspiration from Gwen Marston

Part of the reason I'm having such a hard time with this upcoming move is that I won't have all my books and fabric once I'm in Florida. There's only so much I can take with me and shipping costs do add up. I know in some ways it will be a good exercise for me - only quilting with the stash I have on hand will force me to be more creative.

I am taking some of my solids with me. I still really want to do a quilt combining my letters with Gwen Marston's book Ideas and Inspiration (available from her website, which has recently been updated with news from Beaver Island).

I have Gwen's permission (in a roundabout way) to share this quilt with you. It's Strippy, made in 2007 and measuring 39 x 49

I love everything about this quilt. The colors and different sizes of blocks. Yummy. I can envision adding a word here or there in a large block. My quilt wouldn't end up looking like this one, but hopefully have some of the same elements.

Can you see how this is constructed? There are eleven vertical rows. Those are the longest seams, so you know they were sewn last, not counting the borders. Still can't quite figure it out? Print out a copy of this picture. Then take paper scissors to it. Cut along the long seams separating the rows. You can cut keep cutting along seams, always starting with the longest ones available.

One of these days, when I'm settled and have some fabric, I really do want to have a class/get together where we work with my letters and Gwen's book. Should be lots of fun and I hope you'll join me. You will need to have a copy of Gwen's book though - that will be a class requirement.

I'm still not sure if I'm going to pack Gwen's Liberated Quiltmaking in my backpack. There's going to be lots of other stuff in there like my nice camera and the external hard drive... Ack.

Changing the topic, but still thinking about the move, Howler and Habibi are going via a pet transport company. They're getting picked up this morning at 11:00am. I think we've come up with a good plan to get them into their cages. It would be so much easier if we could do it how we've done it before, but now they're too smart to fall for that again. We'll be taking Lily and Pokey with us tomorrow as carry-ons.

I expect this will be my last post from Paris. Not quite sure when I'll be up and running in Florida, but I'll see you then.

42 comments:

Marit said...

Wish you a safe and troublefree journey to Florida. I love the quilt you shared with us from GM lates book. I just recieved it as a late christmas gift. Doing a class based on the book and adding letters sound very tempting....
; )

Jude said...

Take care, safe journey and hope to hear from you (from warmer climes)very soon

Susan said...

Hope you have a safe and easy trip, and am looking forward to reading posts from your new home.
BTW, I will miss the fact that you were in almost the same time zone as me--have enjoyed reading your posts in the mornings, when you and I were the only quilters already awake!

Sandy's Quilter's Block said...

Love Gwen's quilt! I am sure you would make it even better with some wording. Good luck to you and your kiddies.

Clare said...

Oh goodness me - jumping up and down and yelling like mad. Great great news on Gwen's site.

Ok, right - can you do a deal please. Don't start the class until May. I've got the book on order, but it's coming via WA and Paris!

Safe journey.

xxx

Quiltycat said...

Wow! the solid colors match great each other...I'm looking forward to see yours quilt and I will try to do one too. Have a good trip and "see soon"!
nichi

Joyce said...

I find Gwen's book totally inspiring. I like the idea of combining with letters.

Millie said...

Good luck with the trip and the move. Actually, with you in Florida, I might actually get a chance to meet you! Now you'll be "just" a thousand miles away or so!

jovaliquilts said...

Have a safe, comfortable trip. Looking forward to hearing from you again when you're settled in Florida, and to seeing what you do with Gwen's quilt as inspiration. It is a marvelous piece.

Twisted Quilts said...

When I look at Gwen's quilts I just want to sew sew sew. I also love this one. The colors are great together and every time you look at it you see something different. Have a safe trip and good luck. Gwen is going to be in Florida in February.

QuiltingFitzy said...

So why don't you get to have "all your stuff"? When you move..you don't really move?

Have a safe and uneventful travel. We'll be waiting for your "all's clear" arrival.

Hugs~

jude said...

have a safe trip. carry-on kitties. a plus.

Millie said...

Beautiful quilt. Wishing you a safe trip back to Florida!

Brenda said...

You have to part with fabrics and books!?! leave the furniture, take the quilting stuff! and yes, take LQ in your backpack, since it is irreplaceable. I "got" Gwen's new book for Christmas, but it still hasn't arrived. I'm waiting to play with my solids until it does, and if you're having a word class with solids, I'll just wait a little longer. Fly safely.

Sarah said...

have a safe trip! look forward to you posting in florida. since, i live in florida, i'm curious as to what part of florida you will be.

Browndirtcottage said...

Oh Tonya...I'm excited and nervous as well....just think...another chapter for you...another adventure....sun and sun and sun....and more sun is coming your way....AND...just think...you'll be in the same country as 'Gwen'!!!! My heart sank when you mentioned your kitties being picked up today, and I have thought several times how you were going to do without all your sewing 'stuff and things'...but you'll make do...who knows, you might do your best work ever with what you have on hand...I'm just glad you are coming closer! Have a safe and speedy trip and I can't wait until you are up and blogging again!!

antique quilter said...

safe trip and we welcome you back to the USA!
do you know where you will be moving to eventually?
OH i think I would pack that book with me
I would never want to lose my copy .
Kathie

Sylvie said...

Have a safe trip. I hope the kitties don't spazz out too much. I'm looking forward to your next post.

rondiquilts said...

You and cats are with me in my thoughts. Safe travels. Your blog and creativity are an inspiration to me. Be glad when you are back up and running.
I have Gwens book, have used it in the pantry challenge. (That I need to get back on but BONNIE side-lined me with her mystery! Ha-Ha!)Take care, be anxious till hear from you again.
Blessings,
Rondi

dee said...

Safe travels to you and your furry friends. That's some quilt and you're right, words here and there would be wonderful.

Cher said...

safe travels Ton-and of course a class/get together combining your words with Gwen's latest book would be too much fun! glad you found a way to get two of the cats home so you only have two with you to worry about. You probably will worry about the other two anyway. So very hard to move cats any distance. see you once you are up and running from Florida!

LauraJ said...

have a safe trip!!

comicbooklady said...

good luck with the move and the transportation of the kitties!

Laura said...

Safe travels my friend!

jacquie said...

love this quilt! i tried something in this vein this weekend, but in black and white only...wanted to really play with shapes. it's in the trash...i'll try it again. hope you have a safe trip!

Kristin L said...

Good luck with the boys and with your move. I know how unsettling and stressful it can be! My experience with kitties is that they are actually pretty flexible and once you get settled, they should get back to their normal selves quickly. Our kitty has moved 9 times in his 14 years, two different countries (in three different states in one, four in the other), spent a month in quarantine, and still seems to get comfy in the new surroundings before the people in our family do. :-)
Bon Voyage to all of you!

YankeeQuilter said...

Have a good flight...can't wait to hear you and the entourage are here in the states safe and sound! Love the strippy solid idea...

Dianne said...

Gorgeous quilt, Ton. Good luck with the two carry-on cats. We could never do that with ours. They are just TOO fearful. When we have to take them out of the cages for the inspectors that would be the end of that. They'd never be seen again!

Lucky girl to be back in the US of A...we'll be watching for that first post!

Kelli said...

Safest of travels. See you (online) stateside. ~ksp

Anonymous said...

I wish you and especially the kitties, a very safe fun trip to the new abode.
Happy new home comming.
Let us know what we can send you until your goodies arrive.
It is not too bad $$ to mail here in the USA.
Nancy in California

Rosalyn Manesse said...

Didn't realize that the move was so immediate. Best wishes on your big move. Don't worry about having to ship the fabric--they have stores in Florida! And you'll be so busy getting situated. I moved twice in '04 and I know. There's so many details. I have a daughter in Palm Harbor, and she assures me that you won't need to know any French, but some Spanish couldn't hurt. Welcome to the USA, and as they say in Paris, "Bon Voyage."

Susan said...

L-i-b-r-a-r-y!
Don't pack books at all. Pack fabric.
The library in Flordia will get you all the books you want. If they get more requests for quilt books, they'll buy more quilt books. And that benefits us all.
Have a great trip,

sharon b said...

We have lots of neat quilt fabric shops in Florida.. Let us know your general location and I'll give you the tour.. There are some neat quilt shows coming up here, too. You cats will love the warm weather and sunshine here.. May you be inspired to quilt something tropical.

Kristin Shields said...

All the best in your move, Ton! I hope the kitties make it there without too much trauma. That quilt really is stunning isn't it. I just love my solids now and every time I work on something else I'm looking longingly at them from the corner of my eye. I have several quilts in mind with solids now, but so much to finish up! I for one am looking forward to having a little closer in time! A three hour difference will be nicer than whatever it is between Paris and the west coast.

Unknown said...

I'm coming to this kind of late, but with no less heartfelt wish for a safe trip for AL of you. And may you cram as much stuff in that backpack to keep you content till everything else arrives.

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

Poor Habibi and Howler....as baggage! :c) I can see the sweet girls in my mind in carriers under the seats where you sit. I just thought of something.....what if the people who's seats they are under are allergic to cats? has that ever happened?

Travel safe...and talk to you stateside soon!

Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Tell the pilot to fly safely. I hope the kitties travel well. I guess they flew to get there, so I'm sure they'll be fine. How did you choose which to go with you and which to travel on their own? I'll look forward to seeing you again in your usual blog spot.

Lois, NJ

Sharon said...

You're probably already in Florida as I write this...I hope everyone survives the flight and the travel. Poor kitties! I hope they don't howl for the whole flight - mine would!
Wishing you a quick settle in FL and hoping everything gets back to "normal" ASAP. Enjoy the sunshine!! and I'm looking forward to "seeing" you on the blog soon.

sewprimitive karen said...

Bon Voyage, all you darling kittys, and be safe.

Hedgehog said...

Hope you all had a safe trip and good luck with the settling in! Enjoy the sunshine!

Anonymous said...

That quilt is really beautiful. The variety of colors is what gets me.

Dionne said...

I'm so glad your kitties made the transition well and survived the trip with only minor inconveniences! 55 degrees sounds like heaven about now. Also, if you ever do a class ~ I will be first in line!!
Cheers,
Dionne