• No products in the cart.
Cart Total:$0.00
May 8, 2017

Wise Craft Quilts Contributor Lari Washburn

Lari Washburn 9

Photo by Erin Little

One of my favorite sections in Wise Craft Quilts, is the one about quilt labels. To me, this was a section that had to be included in the book- sewing a label on to the back of a quilt is such a huge part of the storytelling process. In the book are full sized labels in the book that can be printed out at home (I use these ink jet printable fabric sheets) and filled in. (They will soon be available, preprinted and ready to use, from my shop.) While writing the book, I reached out to some of my favorite artists and asked them to design a quilt label. I was over the moon with what they sent back! Each label speaks to the style of the artist who made it, and interprets the idea of labelling a quilt in their own unique way.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting interviews with each of these very inspiring women! First up is ceramicist, painter, and maker of all kinds of beautiful dots and lines, Lari Washburn.
READ MORE

March 23, 2017

#myquiltcouldlivehere- Value, a scrap quilt story


I have so much to share with you! Now that my book is officially out on the shelves, I want to talk a little about each of the quilts in it and share some background of how they came to be and the meaning behind each one. I thought I’d start with one of my favorites, a quilt called Value. READ MORE

February 7, 2017

Upcoming Quilting Workshops, Sewing Classes, and Lectures

Along with the launch of my newest book, I am excited to be teaching some new sewing/quilting classes and lectures this season! My workshops are designed with the beginning quilter in mind, as well as a more experienced quilter who is interested in learning more about how I upcycle fabrics in my work. I have such a good time teaching others to love quilting as much as I do!

1- Upcycle Your Quiltmaking

READ MORE

December 9, 2015

Final #wisecraftquiltsbook Photos

pinboard
Spent time in Portland last weekend with SCB, the West coast part of 3191. We shot a full list of how-to’s and other photos for my book (Stephanie’s view of the pinboard above is here). Stephanie and I have known each other from the early days of our online journey, and I’m so grateful for her expertise and beautiful photography, its been such a fun collaboration. I can’t wait for you to see!
See all the peeks posted along the way by following the #wisecraftquiltsbook hashtag.

August 10, 2015

That Summer

You Cannot Make Everyone Happy

You guys, writing this book is no joke. Seriously. I’m either making quilts, creating quilt layouts, researching quilts, shipping quilts, dreaming about quilts, stress-eating while avoiding making quilts, or otherwise consumed by quilts. My manuscript deadline is looming and if I break a finger, bust a sewing machine, or have one single hiccup, everything could topple.
But on the other hand, I am so gloriously excited about this project! Part of the reason I’m thinking about quilts when I’m not actually making them is because I am TRULY in love with this book! I wake up every morning and am excited to get to the studio and HAVE to make quilts! I have had amazing emails from readers telling me their quilt stories, ones that have encouraged me and cheered me on. I want to produce something that will inspire you all as much as you have inspired me.
The other night I rewatched the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. The first time I saw it I cried like a baby because I’m super sappy. He pulled himself out of what seemed an impossible life situation to accomplish what he’s done, it was unbelievable to me that this actually happened. I wanted to watch it again, to remind myself that everything can seem impossible until it’s done. The actual act of doing it can seem monumental, but once it’s done, it was worth it. And this book, my friends, will be done.
My family has been incredibly supportive of me and what I’m doing this summer. I thanked them on the Wise Craft Facebook page the other day, when I was feeling incredibly lucky to be able to have them. Without them, I couldn’t do this. Some days I feel like I’m in my vacuum, trudging along with my ideas, and then I see images like this one on Instagram, by my photographer, and I am reminded that there are people in my life who are helping me every step of the way.
I could not be luckier.
I imagine looking back on this summer will make me incredibly nostalgic one day. There was not a lot of travel, fun day trips around the city, or movie marathons this summer. It has been a simple summer. That summer I wrote a book I was in love with. That summer I would skip showering in the morning if it wasted too much time that could otherwise be better spent in the studio (I actually can’t believe I just typed that). That summer that I constantly carried around a thick notebook filled with illegible scribbles and scratched drawings, important pages marked with tiny torn post-it notes. That summer my kids learned more to be more self-sufficient than every before, out of necessity (for I am not pizza). That summer that I felt a kinship with quilt makers who made out of necessity, with little or nothing, yet still took the time to make it beautiful.
There are big things on my list, I can’t wait to share more. Thank you all for supporting me on this journey. I feel giddy and grateful.
But first, I will take today to celebrate my son, Ian’s 14th birthday. I can’t believe this kid is 14 (this photo is from 2006, it’s the way he still is to me).
Ian- 2006

That summer my kid suddenly wasn’t a kid so much anymore…
xo,
Blair

Follow Wise Craft Handmade