Let's do a little Scrap Slapping, Shall We?

I have a new favorite lecture, and its name is "Give it a Scrap Slap." Kudos to Kelli Fannin, who helped come up with the name; it's both edgy and fitting for what I would loosely describe as a rollicking romp through my scrap bins over a year. Read on for a tighter description of the fun!

I've been planning this lecture since the moment in December 2013 when I found out I was on the Quiltmaker magazine 2014 Scrap Squad. Scrap Squad, for those who aren't aware and have clearly not been reading this blog over the past year, is a group of Quiltmaker readers selected each year to scrap up one assigned project per QM issue, and the projects are then highlighted on the Quilty Pleasures blog. Since I am not a huge fan of "fabric line" quilts (again, hello to anyone who finds this news!) and when I see a magazine project I immediately think "How can I scrap this thing up?", it was really like Scrap Squad was created just for me and it would have been a crying shame had I not been chosen. Thankfully QM realized this, right?

I spent much of 2014 and early 2015 creating quilts to show off to the hoards and masses that I sincerely hoped would flock to this lecture. I started advertising it on this blog and in my newsletters last fall for bookings May 2015 and beyond. As April 1, my first practice lecture date, approached, I was in a total tizz of planning, excitement, and that fabulous mix of ego trip and self doubt known intimately by artsy people the world over. Could I pull this off? Was it going to be as amazing as it was in my head? Would the actual people in the audience enjoy the talk as much as my dining room chairs seemed to when I practiced? As seen in this photo, we can at least surmise they paid attention as the woman in read is staring transfixed straight ahead.

We can also surmise that my hands never stop moving. Ever.

 "Give it a Scrap Slap" is a delightful (if I do say) presentation of not only why I really love a quilt made from as many fabrics as possible, but how a quilt transforms from a pattern in a magazine to a masterpiece, or at least a quilt with some more vim, vigor, and velocity when a quilter takes the bones of the project, adds their scraps and flair, and runs with it. It also shows how each project inspired me to create other quilt projects or designs of my own, based on either the colors I had chosen for the scrap versions or some element of the design taking on a new life and begging to show off. Observe the premise of the lecture:

Start with this, "Pup Tents" by Janice Averill, one of our assigned projects.

Definitely my most challenging assignment. Find out why by seeing me in person!

 Scrap it up and do a little "block rotation and switcheroo-ing." It's a thing. Haven't you heard of it?

Eva does have a head. Really she does.

 Put the whole project away for months because you are so sick to death of flying geese you could swear them off for all time, but eventually become inspired by the basic idea of them, do a little more block rotation and switcheroo-ing (See, told you. A thing.) and voila! A new design entirely.

I call it Harlequin Shake. Again, welcome to the newbies who haven't seen it yet!

April 1 arrived, and with it my Squanicook Colonial Quilt Guild meeting. This group of close to 150 members had graciously agreed to the first humans to hear my thoughts on how I had taken the assigned Scrap Squad projects up a notch. Even though I was brutally honest as I walked to the front of the room, warning them that I had "no idea what is about to happen, so brace yourselves," we could not have had a better time. They were so open and accepting not only of my often brazen disregard for proper staid and upright lecture conduct (actually, I'm kind of known for that disregard and it works, so consider yourselves warned) but they were also seriously fascinated by my thoughts on the whole process of being given a project and told to change it, and how I went about each project and made them my own. Not to brag, but what the heck I'm half way there already, members used words like "hilarious, down to earth, authentic and so creative" (actually one member used all of them, so there you go.), "very talented", and "super entertaining." I was blown away, considering I didn't even have to pay them to say these things.

What I was not expecting, but what I absolutely loved about this dry run and I hope it continues for other groups, was all the give and take from the audience. They were not afraid to ask questions along the way, offer what they might have done differently, or suggest names for some of the projects that are still nameless. In all honesty, if I had to describe them as an audience, I'd call them "delightfully rapt" and I hope all audiences will be so! I'll find out soon enough - this lecture is heading to a couple of local guilds in the next two months, as well as flinging itself off to Wisconsin Quilt Expo and Tucson Quilt Fiesta with me in tow over the next 10 months. I seriously cannot wait to start sharing it with audiences everywhere as one booking in, I can already declare this to be my favorite lecture and finest offering and I'm really proud of it. Can you tell?

So how to do you get me to come share the scrappy fun with your group? The best place to start is HERE, where you can read descriptions of all of my programs and workshops and see my current schedule. I'm hugely in favor of guild sharing, so if you have a guild or two in your area who might be interested in discounts or combining your meetings to host me, let's talk! I'll be the one using my hands while we do!

Needleworkers Rock My World

A year or so ago, I was approached by Essex County Needlecraft Guild about a lecture and  workshop combo. I'm always terribly giddy when I open happy email about a guild wanting to hire me to talk about myself and hopefully inspire quilters to try new things, and this was no different, but with one notable exception. ECNG (not to be confused with Energy Management Consulting Group in Canada, who apparently come first when one Googles "ECNG" despite the fact that their name should be EMCG and I am going to be confused about that for the rest of the day) was not a quilt guild, but a Needlework guild. It said it right there in their name.

What exactly was a Needlework guild? Would there actually be quilters? Should I bust out the crewel work teddy bear I made at age 9 to prove I was one of them? If only I hadn't sold it in my last yard sale. Now you are dying to see it, but sadly it is too late. Who knew I'd regret letting it go for a dollar?

Needlework in this guild is, unsurprisingly, defined by "anything done with a needle," and when I met them on Wednesday of this week I was greeted by a roomful of 100 knitters, embroiderers, tatters, crocheters, needlepointers, and yes, quilters. The only needle activity that seemed to be absent from the fray was "professional splinter removal." Although I would not put it past these ladies to let someone with that skill join in. It sure would make for some interesting show and tell, anyway.

ECNG was so many things beyond a room full of needle lovers. They were a hearty group who were completed unfazed by the snow that fell all.day.long. which I found unbelievably refreshing. They had the best show and tell ever, because there were so many different art forms represented. Those who weren't quilters were just as enthusiastic about the idea of "Perfection is Overrated" in whatever craft they preferred, proving we all just need a little more forgiveness in our own work no matter what our media. And last but not least, they were hands down the Best Dressed Guild I have ever met, possibly because many of them had made their own dresses, scarves, sweaters, etc and they had me wishing I had polished my boots the night before. Not to scare any future guilds I may speak to, but the bar is way high now, and if you are not dressed to the nines, you won't come close. It was delightful all around.

I wasn't sure how many members might be interested in a quilting workshop, so I had suggested to the program chick that maybe an Embellishment Sampler class might work well; members could learn some cool techniques to use on other projects, and maybe discover a new product or two.

I won't lie. There may have been Jewel-It involved.

My sample for the workshop. You may have seen this before. Humor me.

I structured the three hour workshop to include several of my favorite simple but elegant embellishment techniques: couching, gathered ribbons, iron on threads, beading using Jewel-it, and my favorite new invention, 3D petals and leaves. Everyone had to bring a simple quilted quilt sandwich to attach their pieces to; I will remain mute on whether all ten people did their homework, but nine of them were able to start the first embellishment technique right away.

We started with the 3D leaves, which I figured since I just came up with them by accident myself would probably be a new thing for everyone.  

We all worked well sharing the iron. I love how quilters are just so nice.

Might have been nice of me to move my suitcases so Barbara had more legroom, huh? Love her two-colored flower, though.

The 3D petal technique really is so much fun, and really quite easy to master as long as you aren't afraid of singeing your fingers with the iron. These ladies did a great job with it their first time out!

Look how great these look!

 The next technique I showed was the simplest one, but everyone was quite enthused by it as it just is one of those things that is so simple and yet awesome. The gathered ribbon technique was embraced by all, I am thrilled to report not one thread was broken in the actual gathering process, and Susan did a lovely job of sewing hers on first.

Someone has to be the winner.

This photo was snapped at the end of class to prove that even those who didn't arrive to class prepared (see, you never live it down, do you?) were able to finish most of the techniques. Here we can see how this quilt, which may have been my favorite for the fabrics, will eventually look when the beads are glued and the cord is couched.

It's very "Pond Lily Classy."

 I'm actually considering making my first video (!) and showing the 3D leaves and petals technique. What do you think? Would that intrigue you? Would that scare you? Would you watch it only to see if I am as wacked in person as I can be on here? Would you try such a thing in your own work if you could see it done? I'd love to know. This would be a larger venture for me than the average person sine I am such a complete moron when it comes to technology, so do help me decide if it is worth the trouble!

Thanks to ECNG for a lovely day of quilty, needly, and guildy fun!