Challenging Ourselves: The Michiana Modern Quilt Guild

Last night we had the Michiana Modern Quilt Guild meeting at Threadbenders. We always love it when these ladies come in. They have some much energy and creativity.

They had done a challenge for the group. They'd picked a group of fabrics to work with and then went for it.

Diane's Quilt

Of course the quilts were awesome! 

Wanda's Quilt

It was a contest, and we did vote for several winners.

Linda's Quilt

But the real prize was what happens when you stretch yourself with your art.  I think there was at least one "I don't want to use that " fabric for everyone who made a quilt. But they did it. And the quilts were great.

Kim's Quilt

After we step over that border, there are so many things we can do we haven't thought of before. It's the best prize you can win. And it's something only you can give to yourself.

Joan's Quilt

Part of what is so cool about the Modern Quilt movement is the clean lines and unexpected design choices. And these ladies had excelled at that.

Peg's Quilt

The Michiana Modern Quilt Guild is taking a break for the summer. They'll be back in fall with new programs, new quilts, new ideas, all astonishments.

Cabin Fever: Log Cabin Quilts Gone Wild

Found on Ebay

We've been looking at the log cabin block for a couple of posts now. What we've learned is that even though it's made with rectangles and straight seams, it functions visually as a half square triangle. But what happens when you walk past that?

Good Gracious is it Monday Already by Pamela Thiele

You get some very wild geometric quilts that are modern as can be.

Modern Log Cabin Showed by Christina  Quilts Blog

Part of that comes from the willingness to be wonky and unexpected.

by Cath Hall at Wombat Quilts

To use really different colors in  different ways,

by Amanda at Three and Three Quarters

to Fussy Cut,

Pattern From Fons and Porter

Or really thinking differently about your placement,

You'll find the log cabin block is as wild as your imagination.

Black and White and Red All Over: Modern Quilts with Snap

Black, red and white heart quilt

Color makes the quilt. We choose our patterns and we execute our stitchery, but what we take in first is the color. And it's great when your colors say"Wow". Particularly when they say it backwards.

Modern Red, white and black qult

Modern quilting celebrates streamed down patterns and bold statements. And nothing is as bold as red, black and white.
Why? Because it's the most dramatic color combination out there. It's the diva of  color combinations.Black and white are direct opposites  and red is as bold as courage or hearts.
One of the fun things about fabric line  collections is that they'll print the same fabric in different ways.
Here's a great run of red, white and black fabric.

It doesn't hurt that its a great print. But the contrast between the black and white is really exciting.

Another print of a different size gives it a different kind of contrast.

And add something with red in it...

You see what I mean.

Of course a great combination is something that's timeless. This quilt called Heart and Hat is over a hundred years old. And still fabulous!

Pick some white, black and red fabric and make a statement that is bold as you are. We've got a shelf of it waiting for you at Threadbenders

Here are some amazing fabrics that