Category: Podcasts

Download this episode (right click and save)

 

Ghost chair! Boo!

This is a picture of me, the Man and Jack about five minutes before we left Jack at Davidson. Jack looks happy. The Man and I look gobsmacked. As it should be!

Latest read: The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs. Highly Recommend (though it will break your heart).

See you next time!

It’s just so dang long!

Download this episode (right click and save)

Quilting “Sit-In” and wondering why I’m getting those humpy areas.

Playing around with geese:

See you soon!

Download this episode (right click and save)

Sit-In is under the needle! How many times will it be unquilted? Sigh … let’s not go there yet. Below: the view from the back:

Another quilt in the making–Stellar Jr. (will be given an actual name at some point in the near future):

 

A screen-shot of my “Items on Hold” list:

Can’t wait to get reading!

Remember, leave a comment and you might win a gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop!

Download this episode (right click and save)

May marked seven years of The Off-Kilter Quilt podcast! To celebrate I’ll be giving away a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop OR your favorite local quilt shop (if we can make arrangements to do so). Enter by Friday, June 23rd by leaving a comment and telling me how long you’ve been listening.

I finished the “Sit-In” top! Hope to start quilting early next week.

Jack Dowell, Boy Graduate:

“Wing” won third place in the Riley Blake/MQG challenge–woo hoo!

I just finished reading I Am Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout and loved it! Have just started Strout’s new book, Anything is Possible. She’s one of my favorite fiction writers at work today.

I really enjoyed Wise Craft Quilts: A Guide to Turning Beloved Fabrics into Meaningful Patchwork by Blair Stocker. Definitely worth a read if you’re into repurposing fabrics.

Got this book for Mother’s Day–so happy to see my girl Allison Rosen in its pages: The Applique Book: Traditional Techniques, Modern Style by Casey York.

Read “A Quilt for Dr. Wallace” over on www.quiltfiction.com

 See you in a couple of weeks! Happy quilting!

Download this episode (right click and save)

 

At last, I’m done with my Riley Blake Challenge quilt!

If you want to read more about my process on this quilt, go here:

Process Post–Riley Blake/MQG Challenge, Part 1

 

Process Post: Riley Blake/MQG Challenge Quilt, Part 2

 

This is an excellent, very thorough tutorial on blocking a quilt:

Oh the Joys of Blocking a Quilt!

Hope this finds you well!

Download this episode (right click and save)

 

Projects, projects, I’ve got projects! Besides the two quilts waiting around to get quilted, I’ve got a ton of chairs hanging out my design wall:

And I’m learning how to English Paper Piece!

Can’t wait to see how my Riley Blake Quilt Challenge turns out (don’t have a clue yet about what it might look like).

Books I’m Reading:

All Points Patchwork: English Paper Piecing Beyond the Hexagon by Diane Gilleland

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

Two blogs I’m enjoying right now:

Elm Street Quilts

Simple.Handmade.Everyday.

Hope you have a great week!

Download this episode (right click and save)

 

This episode is early, but I needed to get my QuiltCon experience on tape while it was still fresh! I’ve got a few pix to show you from the show, but if you want to see the vast array of quilts (other than mine), I recommend doing a search on Instagram for #QuiltCon2017. Believe me, you’ll see a lot of quilts! Okay, so first here’s me and Bauhaus Birds in the Air.

And here’s me with Modern Birds in the Air.

Here’s me and my old friend (and longtime listener) Ellen from Scotland!

And me with Andra from East Tennessee, who I also know through this podcast!

I had a great experience at QuiltCon and can’t wait to go again!

Here are two great QuitCon round-ups:

1. Quiltin’ Jenny’s: http://quiltinjenny.blogspot.com/2017/02/6-things-i-saw-at-quiltcon.html
2. HollyAnne’s: http://www.stringandstory.com/blog/2017/2/27/quiltcon2017

Interested in making quilts for kids with cancer? Check this out: https://quiltsforcure.org

Download this episode (right click and save)

Possible layout for the new quilt:

 

Took this picture on a recent walk. I think it would make a nice quilt!

I really enjoyed this Gwen Marston lecture:

 

Interesting article on why we like abstract art:

http://www.salon.com/2016/12/18/this-is-your-brain-on-art-a-neuroscientists-lessons-on-why-abstract-art-makes-our-brains-hurt-so-good/

Download this episode (right click and save)

So I’m working on some wonky stars right now. I used a filter with this photo, just to make my design wall less bland.

 

This is the abstract house quilt I’m working on. Very preliminary. Who knows what it will end up like?

 

Hey, I was on Pat Sloan’s podcast this week! Listen here.

New post up at the Quiltfiction site–go take a look at Patricia Polacco’s for real Keeping Quilt!

Here’s the tutorial I used for the wonky stars I’m making: http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.com/2009/02/wonky-star-tutorial.html

Just signed up for a new quilty newsletter–are you familiar with Elm Street Quilts? Turns out Kathy is in my local MQG, and I’m really enjoying her blog. Check it out!

I mention A Chef’s Life; are you familiar with it? Big fun! http://www.pbs.org/food/shows/a-chefs-life/  On the podcast I refer to Vivian Howard’s restaurant as the Chef and the Table, but it’s actually The Farmer and the Table.

That’s it for now. See you next time!

Download this episode (right click and save)

Please note that in spite of what I say in the intro, this is not Episode 2003. It is, however, the year 2017.

One more correction: the book I refer to is Hillbilly Elegy not Hillbilly Nation. Check it out here.

The baby quilt, finished at last!

Some fun and useful links:

One way to block a quilt–a tutorial by quiltingjetgirl:

Blocking a Quilt {Photo Tutorial}

In the last episode I talked about Uppercase Magazine and the wooden quilts of Laura Cheney. To see her work, go here:

http://www.lauracheney.com/GalleryMain.asp?GalleryID=121225&AKey=R457VCH7

Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr discuss entering shows:

https://www.facebook.com/modernquiltstudio/videos/1291341637598257/

Making 30-Day Resolutions:

Mini Resolutions – 30 Day Commitments for Year-Long Success

Books I referred to in this episode:

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson

 

What I’m Reading

Walk by Jacquie Gering

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

 

Download this episode (right click and save)

These quilts are going to QuiltCon 2017!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Quiltfiction.com newsletter (first issue out in January) and get a free short story!

I love Uppercase Magazine! Check it out!

If you’re interested in Amish Quilts, here’s a site you’re going to love:
http://worldquilts.quiltstudy.org/amishstory/

Love Alida’s post on how she’s using the Quilter’s Journal!
http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com/2016/12/bullet-journal-november-review-quilters.html

Angela Walter has a YouTube show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RALAoECvKPA

Block@quiltblock.studio site a new–or new to me–site about quilts. Very interesting!

Hope your holidays are merry and bright!

Download this episode (right click and save)

The Modern Flying Geese are basted and ready to be quilted! Finally!

I’ve been posting quilt stories lately …

 

A sadly out of focus picture of my applique house:

Another house:

This is a chair sketch from Beverly Buchanan, the artist I’m currently obsessed with:

Beverly Buchanan video

And here’s my version, in cloth:

Want to build your own house? Go here (thanks, Nicole!):

http://thecalicohouse.blogspot.com/2016/09/building-permit-number-1.html

How to photograph textile art

 

I love me some good quilt talk! This is the UK’s version of the Quilt Alliance: http://www.talkingquilts.org.uk/

See you next time!

Download this episode (right click and save)

Don’t forget to leave a comment by December 1st, to win a copy of Birds in the Air (or one of my other books)! We’re celebrating 200 episodes, baby!

Here’s the central unit of the flying geese baby quilt:

And here’s the first part of the first element of a house quilt that lives in my imagination:

 

Some interesting quilt/textile sites I’ve found poking around recently …

http://threadandthrift.blogspot.com/

http://www.michaelcummings.com/

Not about quilting, but about interior decorating–an older piece by Michael Pollan in the NY Times.

The book I’m reading by Michael Pollan: A Place of My Own: The Architecture of Daydreams.

An article about vernacular architecture artist, Beverly Buchanan.

I like this little essay on “It wasn’t for me,” a great way to respond to works of art and literature that don’t really capture you even though you recognize their value. It’s from Austin Kleon’s newsletter, which has lots of great links about creativity and other interesting things.

Do you listen to the “On Being” podcast? It’s one of my favorites. On the most recent episode, Krista Tippett interviews David Brooks and E.J. Dionne, who you might be familiar with from NPR’s All Things Considered (and of course Brooks is an NY Times’ columnist). I was particularly moved by Brooks’ comments about politics, religion and grace. Really beautiful stuff.

Just finished Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. I really enjoyed it, but it might not be for you if you don’t like stories that jump around in time and are told from the perspectives of several different characters.

Oh, the Chagall guy: Simms Taback

And this is Chagall:

Thanks for listening!

Download this episode (right click and save)

 

Atlanta pix! To your right, me and “Meeting of the Geese,” and below is me and the most amazing Quiltin’ Jenny! Isn’t she gorgeous?

 

 

 

 

To your right, a gathering of Twilters: me, HollyAnne, Quiltin’ Jenny and HollyAnne’s amazing baby, Ian.

And below, signing books. That marvelous creature directly to my right is Miss Adelle, who drove up from FLA! To her right is Marie, one of the amazing Chattahoochie Evening Star quilters. What a great guild!

 

 

 

What newsletters do you subscribe to? I just signed up for Quilting Rainbow’s newsletter, which is quite fabulous (and not just because the current issue has a nice mention of Birds in the Air!).

Other newsletters I enjoy:

Meg Cox’s Quilt Journalist Tells All

Abby Glassenberg’s While She Naps

Jessica Skultety’s The Wonky Press (a modern quilting newsletter)

What am I missing? Let me know!

Seems like we’re hearing more from people who are leaving the quilt and crafting industry. Here’s a post about one quilter’s reasons why: http://kristawithersquilting.blogspot.com/2016/10/what-happened.html

There’s also a recent Crafty Planner podcast in which Sandi interviews a former craft business pro and podcaster Diane Gilleland (Crafty Pod) that’s worth a listen. It seems like a lot of folks are rethinking their decision to monetize their creative passions.

Thanks to Jane for sending me this link to a Leah Day tutorial on burying threads!

Reading:

Just finished Harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst, which I liked except for the last ten pages.

I recently read a really quirky and fun nonfiction book by Amy Krous Rosenthal called Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life.

And I finally finished (after a second try) Truly, Madly, Guilty. If you like Liane Moriarty, particularly her characters, you’ll enjoy this, perhaps with a reservation or two. The critics, it should be noted, have not been uniformly kind.

Have a great week!