I'm back from my retreat up north with Gwen Marston. This year we used Gwen's 37 Sketches as inspiration for our liberated projects.
Gwen's self published book, 37 Sketches is beautiful and inspirational. Each quilt has a full page photo and a short description of the inspiration or idea for it. The text is like poetry. There are no how to's in this book just the 37 sketches. It is an elegant little book that is great for studying liberated piecing and inspiring you to try your own small sketches. Working on a small scale is a great way to try new techniques and work with different colors or fabrics. Since the book is self published there are a limited number and are only available directly from Gwen.
Order from Gwen Marston, Box 155, Beaver Island, MI 49782.
U.S. $29.95 plus 3.99 shipping
Canada shipping 6.00
International shipping 12.00
Checks payable to Beaver Island Quilts
You can read more about the book on her website.
Back to the retreat recap...
Gwen had her little works of art displayed so that we could study them up close.
I made these at the retreat:
Sketch 1:
10 x 13 inches
Sketch 2:
8 x 10 inches
These little quilts were fun to do and they are even finished!!
I also have an idea of what I want to do with these fabrics from Pink Castle Fabrics! I plan to make a quilt for P based on the idea of the sketches. I'll do blocks in a little bigger scale and fit them together for the full quilt. I plan to make them loosely based on the log cabin block.
I didn't get started on that quilt while on retreat because I got side tracked by another project inspired by a quilt someone brought for show and tell.
I have a weakness for little stars.
These stars will finish at two inches. They are smaller and not liberated like the ones I did last year.
I have no idea how I will set these. They may be a quilt of their own in a nine patch setting or maybe a border for a medallion style quilt. Right now I'm just having fun making them.
Quilt retreat is very "grounding" for me. All of the ladies who come every year really make it special and help me put things in perspective. I love coming home and feeling like I have a focus and direction. Thanks ladies, it was a great week.
