Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Kaleidoscopes and Classes

Fun! I had a LOT of fun on Monday - I took off work and went to a guild sponsored class taught by Marti Michell. It was a great class. I ended up buying her Kaleido-ruler and a set of little mirrors that you can test the pattern of kaleidoscope blocks with.

The kaleido-ruler will let me make a whole range of kaleidoscope blocks, from 6 to 16 inches, AND when you rotate the ruler, you can easily cut the triangular bits to go at the end of the kaleidoscope wedges, too. I made 9 little six inch ones in class, using scraps of fabric left over from my big blue and khaki quilt. I plan to make a pillow with it. Here it is hanging on the library shelves next to the quilt:


It's 18 inches square now, so I'll probably use more of that khaki and blue ferny fabric on the outer border of the quilt to border the pillow, and also use those fabrics for the pillow back, if I have enough.

If you ever get a chance to take a class from Marti, don't hesitate. ;) She's got an excellent sense of humor, knows what she's teaching, and I learned a LOT. I really wish I'd known some of the tricks she taught before I made all the kaleidoscope blocks between the depression blocks in the king size quilt. Even though the blocks I made can't be made with her ruler (the depression block is a 16 patch, her ruler makes blocks divisible by three, for use next to each other or with nine patches) there were still some tips that would have worked on my blocks.

Speaking of which, I also finished that, and got the borders on, then got a picture of it before I send it off to get quilted. NO way am I trying to quilt a king size on my machine at home! It's so big, it even draped too long when I hung it on the tallest shelving unit:



Now I need to make pillow shams for this quilt, and get the backing ready... then what should I work on next? :)

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blue and cream quilts never fail do they? Wonderful quilts.

Vicki W said...

That is a stunning quilt! Can't wait to see it quilted.

Gail said...

Beuatiful quilt - and thanks for the recommendation on the Marti class.

Helen in the UK said...

The quilt is BEAUTIFUL. Glad to hear you enjoyed the class :)

Lily Mulholland said...

Love what you've done with the alternating blocks - it's very effective. And big!

dot said...

I have the ruler and just love it. Your quilts are beautiful.

Susan said...

Both of the quilts are wonderful - I always love that combination of colors.

I took this class from Marti (and I agree on her sense of humor!) quite a few years ago at Quilt Camp in the Pines, and just loved it! I have both sizes of the ruler, but only brought one with me. I should make another one for AmHero. They go together pretty fast.

Kairle Oaks said...

What a fun class that must have been!!!

Your quilt is remarkable...a real treasure!

Finn said...

Hi jane, what gorgeous quilts you have been working on!! I am soooo very impressed at all that you are doing these days!!
Love the Delectable Mountains ala Bonnie and your Kaleidoscope is just gorgeous. I have an early ruler for making them, but Marti's sounds like a better one.
Great job on that backing for the pinwheels quilt...love it and the pink plaid! Keep those stitches running, Hugs, Finn

Quilts And Pieces said...

Wow, it is beautiful! I have to look at this version harder. I have that ruler and am making a scrappy kaleido quilt, but I don't think I've ever seen this layout version. It is wonderful. I should get mine out and start working on it again!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Forgot to mention I took a class once from Marti making stars and loved it. Since I loved her star class so much I bought the kaleido ruler!

Susan said...

Hi, I didn't have your e-mail address, so I'm leaving a comment to let you know that I've given you the Nice Matters award. Check my quilting blog on livejournal for details.

Hanne said...

Your kaleido blocks are lovely. I am planning a kaleido quilt this autumn / winter and I do have the MM ruler too - and have used it many times.
Your quilt top is a true eye catcher :-)

Carol E. said...

Gorgeous king size quilt! Wow!!

Willeke de la Chambre said...

What a lovely design!!!!

Much quilting fun from a quilter in the Netherlands (and a nurse working a nightshift at the moment)

Bye,

www.qwilleke.web-log.nl

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