Freddy and Gwen Quilts

I know that a lot of you have seen Gwen and Freddy's collaborative quilts but I thought I would post some of the ones they showed at the retreat. I love seeing them in the book but seeing them in person is fantastic. You see a lot of details that you don't see in the book.



















This one above is one of my favorites and shows a truly collaborative effort. Gwen sends Freddy big boxes of squares she has made and when Gwen comes to Freddy's they put them together. Here they use the technique of putting them in columns.




















I loved this one in the book and loved it in person. They each started in a corner and worked toward the middle. Notice the pieced border.




















Here they used the serpentine border. I didn't try it but several did and they say it is easier than they thought.



















Here is a detail of this quilt, again they arranged the squares in columns. If the strip was too long they cut it off or two short they added a piece of fabric.


















It is a very interesting use of 16 patch. What a good way to use up scraps.



















They did quite a few quilts with this panel, I think it is Lady of Guadalupe.




















Here is the House in the Wood. The little house in the middle represents Gwens house on Beaver Island.

Here they are all together, what a riot of color!!

Texas Quilt

Here are Gwen and Freddy at the retreat. I keep saying it but they are so much fun to work with.


















This is the quilt top I made. I thought I would start with mine and show you some of the others later. I made a lot of the "parts" before I came. They like to use lots and lots of black and white sawtooth. Notice how it frames the central part of the quilt.





























This is the center, made up of broken dishes in blues and oranges. I really like the way other patterns are created when you put the broken dishes squares together. Freddy emphasizes value, she likes to use darks, and lights rather than colors with the same value. She says if you use the same value of colors they look "mushy".






























On one of the design boards that was across from me someone had done a lot of 4 patches and put them on point. The more I looked the more I fell in love with that technique. They have a really neat way of putting squares on point. Don't you just love the little star in the corner.



















I asked Freddy for advice on which fabric to use and she said use them all!!! So I did.




























When I put my squares up on my design board there were some gaps. Gwen loves to use sawtooth to fill in the gaps. Look at what she suggested I do in this corner. It looks like it was planned but it wasn't.

























Gwen also likes to use strips of fabric for gaps. If you will notice here the strip of fabric flows into the other squares and provides interest and surprise.

















I put the four square on point on three sides. I had made some spiky sawtooth and I really wanted to use it so they suggested I use it on the bottom. I had a liberated log cabin that Freddy and Gwen both liked and wanted me to use. My spiky sawtooth was not the same height as the log cabin square so I inserted the strip of red.






















Here is another strip and some sawtooth inserted to fill in a gap. Notice how the purple triangles of the sawtooth and the purple of the square provide a little surprise.


















Freddy and Gwen like surprises in their quilts. They like for their quilts to be interesting to look at, so that every time you look at them you see something new. They taught me so much. I wanted share some of their ideas and tips.

Home from Texas

I got back last night from my week in Texas with Gwen and Freddy. It was an amazing week. I have over 100 pictures to share but I could not wait another minute to show you this one. This is Gwen Marston at MY featherweight!!!!
























I learned so much and I had so much fun but I am really tired. I have so much to tell and show.

Ankle Drama pt. 3

No sewing lately, nothing but sitting with my leg up. The good news is my ankle is not broken and the bad news is my ankle is not broken. I understand from the doctor that it would heal faster if it was broken. I have a severe sprain. At least I have a walking cast now and can do some moving around. I am not running any marathons but at least I am walking.


















My husband has been very good but was getting tired of waiting on me. Have you ever noticed how many things you see that need doing when you can't do them! It drives me crazy. I got a lot of reading done. I read a really good book Roses by Leila Meacham. I also read Caravans by James Michener, it is about Afghanistan and very interesting.


















These are some Broken Dishes squares I made before my fall. I am still off to my retreat on Sunday. There was no way I was going to miss that!

Thanks for all the great thoughts.

Ankle Drama pt. 2

I went to the orthopedist today expecting to get one of those walking boots with velcro straps and this is what I came home with. Not what I was expecting at all.

I am to put no weight on my right foot for a week and then I will get a walking cast. I am to keep it elevated higher than my heart as much as possible. How in the world do you do that? Does that mean you lay on the couch all day? That is not my style. My bedroom and my sewing room are upstairs. I am not happy at all!!

My husband got me this rolling cart that you prop your knee on and roll around. Anyone that is so clumsy that they fall taking the dog out certainly isn't adept with this thing.

If anyone has any suggestions or advice please let me know.