sewing – Lana Russel

June 18, 2024

Scrappy Wonky Quilt Block Extravaganza by Shannon Roudhan and Jason Bowlsby

Book Review by Lana Russel

I was given a copy of this 143 page soft cover book by C&T Publishing for review. And to be totally honest, I was super impressed. It starts at the very beginning with needles, thread, and tools, and wraps up with tips on how to quilt on a home sewing machine, which makes it totally accessible for beginning quilters. Following the instructions are 13 projects, most not even needing a pattern because they are wonky and therefore forgiving, so it’s very appropriate for someone just starting out learning about all things sewing and quilting.

The thirteen projects begin simply and gain momentum slowly throughout. Each project builds on the experience gained from the previous project. The gentle succession of projects begins with a mug rug, placemat, pillow, tote bag, wall hanging, 6 quilts, and finally an open front jacket and vest.

If you are a more experienced quilter, perhaps you are growing tired of following a pattern, and wish to explore more artsy endeavors and don’t know where to begin. The blocks and projects within this book would be a great start towards that goal.

Here’s a bit about the authors…

Shannon Roudhán and Jason Bowlsby are the dynamic DIY duo from Seattle, Washington.Their award-winning designs have been featured in and on the covers of domestic and international publications and their craft, portrait, and fashion photography has appeared in books and magazines around the globe. Shannon & Jason have published 12 books including Complete Crochet Course – the Ultimate Reference Guide, Designer Crochet, Boro & Sashiko: Harmonious Imperfection and Contemporary Kogin-zashi: Modern Sashiko Beyond Filling in the Gaps. Their NEWEST book, Scrappy Wonky Quilt Block Extravaganza is available June 2024.

The duo has been married for 29 years and have been teaching adults for 20+ years. They have a mastery of subjects from boro & sashiko, crochet and knitting, sewing, quilting, photography, and embroidery. Their enthusiasm, quirky sense of humor, and relatable teaching style have made them sought after teachers in virtual, local, and national venues. Be sure to check out their selection of online classes on Craftsy, Creative Spark and through their own website at shannonandjason.com. The “edu-tainment” experience of a class with Shannon & Jason will leave you informed, empowered, and in stitches (see what we did there?).

Here’s where you can get your own copy of this just released book.

https://www.ctpub.com/scrappy-wonky-quilt-block-extravaganza/

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

December 2, 2023

Covering the World: One Quilt at a Time

by Accuquilt

Beginning in June 2023, AccuQuilt is partnering up with Island Batik and Baby Lock in a pay-it-forward campaign called “Covering the World: One Quilt at a Time.” As an Island Batik Ambassador, I chose to participate by donating one of my quilts to my local guild to donate locally as needed.

Earlier this year I participated in one of GE Designs Quilt Alongs, Strip Twist. My Island Batik Stash Builders were perfect for this quilt. Stash Builders are 5″ strips by width of fabric that come 4 strips to a roll, 5 rolls per package. That’s nearly 3 yards of fabric and perfect for cutting 5″ squares or 2 1/2″ strips. I whipped this up at my annual quilt retreat using Schmetz needles and Aurifil thread.

Added borders and scrappy binding using more of my Island Batik Stash Builders, Hobbs 80/20 batting, and Pro-Stitcher on my Handiquilter Forte

Donated to our guild’s charity chairperson, Darlen,e at our November meeting

I know someone will appreciate this one as it is delivered this month.

Thank you Island Batik for the fabric and GE Designs for the inspiration!

May 18, 2023

April Quilt Retreat

Nashville, IN

The last week of April, I flew back to Indiana for a quilt retreat I began when I lived there. It was just wonderful visiting with golden friends!! I missed them so much! It highlighted the difficulties of moving across the country during a pandemic. Meeting people and making friends has been challenging here in Washington state due to masking and meetings being via ZOOM. SO being with friends I’ve known for several years was very comforting and enjoyable.

We (eleven friends) have been meeting annually in the same place for 7 years. Nashville, IN is a great locale for our retreat because we don’t have to drive anywhere once we move in. Many places to shop and eat within walking distance. Fabulous sharing and good times!!

Enjoy viewing some quilts that were completed or projects that were worked on during the 4 1/2 days together.

The two Lindas. One quilts, the other knits.

Elaine’s quilt – made from her late sister’s fabric collection for her sister’s sons

Each panel of Kathy’s tree skirt is detailed and amazing!

Three Posh Santa’s – two of Bev’s, one of Lynn’s

Bev also worked on these blocks for a Christmas quilt

Lore’s beautiful quilt for a special charity. She makes and quilts around 20 quilts for charity every year!!

Lore’s work on this Christmas Tree quilt from Missouri Star Quilts

My Strip Twist pieces for GE Designs’ Sew A Long

These are what the Strip Twist blocks look like

Our last breakfast. We failed to get a picture of everyone. A few had to leave early.

March 20, 2023March 30, 2023

March Island Batik Ambassador Challenge

Our March Challenge was our choice – choice of one of the fabric collections Island Batik provided and also choice of project. I needed a table runner for our new sofa table, so I browsed my patterns.

I have had this book for awhile, love the table runners in it, but have never made any. I decided on the one in the middle, second from the top. I love the movement in it.

Remember those rolls of fabric from my unboxing video? Each roll has 4 5″ wide strips by width of fabric. I had a nice assortment to choose from, so I choose some of my favs and began pairing them up in pleasing sets of 3. Then I cut 2″ strips.

I made 2″ wide strip sets from each group of 3, then cut them as directed in the instructions and laid out the triangles to make partial hexies which appear to overlap. I’m glad I caught those mistakes in my layout before they were sewn!

It’s loaded on my Handi Quilter Forte ready for quilting,

I sewed leftover 2″ strips for the backing.

I chose the digital design Malachite from Urban Elements.

And here it is on my sofa table. I love it!

Check out the other Island Batik Ambassador’s blogs to see what they did for their It’s All Up to You Challenge.

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ M ania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

September 1, 2021July 14, 2021

Modern Double Wedding Ring

I’m more modern than traditional, so when it came to making a Double Wedding Ring quilt, I had to swerve. Sew Kind of Wonderful has a great pattern that fit the bill – Metro Rings.

I have a healthy stash, and I was able to find the perfect combo within it – Jelly Roll, background, binding, and backing. I’ve always thought scrappy binding was cute, and this would give me an opportunity to use the leftover strips from the Jelly Roll for that.

Metro Rings uses Jelly Roll strips and the Curve ruler to cut the pieces = less curved piecing.

Also used the sold lime green and solid navy from my stash for the triangle inset pieces.

Quiltable.com has a specific digital quilting design intended for Metro Rings! Score! Quilted on my Handi Quilter Forte with Pro-Stitcher and Superior Threads So Fine!

All finished except for the binding.

Enjoyed the ruler work on the triangle insets. Curved cross hatch!

Hanging at Handi Quilter Academy 2021.

May 26, 2016

New Class added

Beginning next week is a class featuring the Dancing Stars Cotton Theory quilt.

This is a beginner Cotton Theory quilt and uses both of the two main joining methods – the Highway and the One Way. It’s 52″ x 52″ so it would make a nice baby quilt, lap, or throw. If you live locally, and would like to join us, please email me (lanarussel@gmail.com) for current openings and project materials list. Classes are on the first Monday and Wednesday of every month in my home studio. I have room for 6 in each session. Dates for this project are June 1 and 6, July 6 and 11, August 1 and 3, and September 7 and 12. Mondays are 1:00 pm – 4 pm, Wednesdays are either 9:00 am – noon or 1:30 pm- 4:30 pm. Cost is $10 per 3 hour session. Pattern is $12.

This is an easy one to cut out; I was able to get all pieces cut out, labeled, sandwiched, and pressed in one day. Lots of same sized pieces makes it super easy. I’m ready to sew!

If you come in June with all pieces cut and labeled, we can get right to the quilting because you piece and quilt at the same time!! If you are unable to get it cut out before then, please bring a mat and rotary cutter, so you won’t have to wait for the cutting table.

Hope you can join us to learn this fun way to quilt!

April 8, 2016December 8, 2022

Hexies on the move

My project of choice during road trips (and there have been many lately!) is English paper pieced hexies. My bag is always full of a ready supply of precut card stock backings and precut hexie shapes from my scrap bag using my Accuquilt GO BIG. I use my cutting/ironing board for stability on my lap, my Sewline Glue Stick, Superior Bottom Line thread, and my sewing snips. Everything is small and portable and easy to keep by me in the front seat.

I love creating these little lovelies from pieces of scraps.

I really wish I could read in the car, but I am prone to car sickness, so that’s not an option for me. This suits me just fine.

October 18, 2015October 13, 2015

Quilter in Residence!

This summer the Indiana State Museum had a quilt exhibit entitled 19 Stars. Here’s their description of the exhibit:

“Indiana is the 19th state to join the Union; the state flag depicts nineteen stars. In anticipation of the state’s Bicentennial, this exhibit presents 19 historic star-patterned quilts selected from the Indiana State Museum’s collection along with 19 contemporary star-themed quilts created by some of Indiana’s outstanding quilters.

Stars were favored patterns in the 19th and 20th centuries and appear in many variations. The historic quilts in this exhibit span a hundred and fifty years of Indiana quilt-making, from the 1830s to the 1980s. In contrast, most of the contemporary works were created specifically for this exhibit, and incorporate the star theme in any number of ways, from overt to illusory. The artists’ techniques vary widely, from traditional piecework and appliqué to improvisational collage, layering, or richly textural thread painting.”

The Quilt Guild of Indianapolis, of which I am a member, thought it would be nice to have some members sit outside the exhibit quilting and available to answer any questions visitors might have about quilting or our guild. My friend, Bev, and I enjoyed this so much the first time we did this that we signed up for double duty. Here I am working on a Cotton Theory Charity Quilt.

I really enjoyed the experience!

Take Care,

Lana

September 19, 2015October 31, 2015

Time for TWIST

{Sorry to keep you waiting, but I’ve had some major technical difficulties which required a full backup, restore, and reload. Hopefully, I’m back up and running again. This post is from the week of August 14. I’ll get you caught up asap. Thanks, Lana.}

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

I completed Step 2 of my current Cotton Theory project, the piecing.

August 2, 2015July 19, 2015

Healthy Families

When I retired, I decided 20% of my sewing time would be spent on charity quilting. I just needed to decide on the organization or cause I wanted to support. I have a heavy heart for those who suffer from domestic violence, even though I don’t know anyone personally. I guess I’ve just experienced enough of the male dominated society I’ve grown up in that it touches me in that way. We don’t have a women’s shelter in our county, but there are plans for a 30 bed unit to open in 3 years. I thought I could make 10 simple twin size quilts a year and have 30 ready in 3 years. I knew it was a lofty goal, but I set forth. However, retiring allowed me the freedom to travel quite a bit and I fell farther and farther behind in that goal. But, I retired, so we could travel. I needed to reassess.

I had a friend who had mentioned she had organized a sewing group that supports Healthy Families and invited me to sew with them. They make items that support members can take with them on home visits and leave them at the home as a gift. I researched Healthy Families and liked what I found.

“Healthy Families Indiana is a voluntary home visitation program designed to promote healthy families and healthy children through a variety of services, including child development, access to health care and parent education.

By working closely with hospital maternity wards, prenatal clinics and other local agencies, Healthy Families Indiana systematically identifies families that could benefit from education and support services either before or immediately after birth. The program is designed to strengthen families by reducing child abuse and neglect, childhood health problems and juvenile delinquency.”

I ran it by my friend, who is in social worker, to give me a personal account of Healthy Families and she gave it a two thumbs up.

Mary Alice’s group is very well organized (they’ve been at this for 12 years!) and each person has their station, be it, cutting out, ironing, sewing, quilting, sandwiching batting, etc.

Quilts, receiving blankets, and burp cloths ready for pick up

receiving blankets, burp cloths, and bibs