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November 22, 2024
On My Mind, Nancy Crow on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre



You wouldn't think that living outside of Erie, Pennsylvania would be a center of culture. And it kinda isn't.  But it kinda is.  Really, we're within an hour or two of Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.  Plus 3 hrs out of Toronto. As well as 2.5 hrs out of central Ohio.  Yes, you read that right ....central Ohio.   Central Ohio, for you not in the know, is a hot bed of quilting.  Not only is there a plethora of quilt stores, quilt groups, retreat spots but also there is The Dairy Barn Art Center (home to Quilt ...

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November 15, 2024
Value is My Thing on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

Peppermint Reindeer by Laura Heini

 This week in my spare time, I started thinking about decorating for Christmas.  To tell you the truth, I'm not all that much into decorating, mostly because it takes so much time.  What I do like is designing the composition of the decoration scheme.  Yes, you read that right.  Your decorating has a composition just like your quilts.  One thing I've learned, is that all the elements of design I've been studying over the years can be used in a myriad of ways....like planning your Christmas decorations. 

But this post is ...

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October 11, 2024
Summoning the Wind on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre



 I really think it's important to feed your inner creative soul.  I know that sounds "artsy", but it's true.  I think after preaching this so much at home, my husband has finally gotten it.  That's why I wasn't shocked when he dragged me out to the Erie Museum to see the latest exhibit, Summoning the Wind, by Qian Li.  


The Erie Art Museum was never this powerhouse in the art world.  Lately, though, I can see that it's upping its game bringing in some really nice exhibits as well as developing its own.  Qian ...

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August 23, 2024
Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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April 12, 2024
Let's Talk Improvisational Piecing on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

 

Curves II,  Nina-Marie Sayre
Improved pieced to a planned pattern

Improv Surface Design with a little bit 
of Improv Piecing, 


Taking a class in improvisational piecing, got me thinking of how many uses there are for the technique.  For that matter, how much a non-technique, improvisational piecing actually is.  The reason I say that is improvisational piecing's only rule is that there are NO RULES.  So, it can basically do whatever you want, whenever you want, letting your fabric, your vision or even your intuition be in
the driver seat. 

That can be very freeing or a little scary ...

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March 29, 2024
Improv Piecing on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

Hard at Work

You know sometimes all you want to do is sew and boy, have I done that.  Taking Improvisational


Piecing with Veronica Hofman-Ortega
at John C. Campbell's Folk School was one of my better ideas.  I love a class that starts with design exercises that will lead into bigger and better ideas.  Not to mention the ladies in my class were great!  There was a full range of quilters in the class  - from the very experienced to the beginner.  All were traditional, so this was pushing pretty much everyone out of their comfort zone.  But let me ...

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July 21, 2023
When Your Big Idea Changes on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

Our Classroom at Marc Adams School of Woodworking and Time Honor Crafts

Okay, let me start by saying, this is not this clown's first rodeo.  When I get ready for a 5-day design class, I normally have a plan in mind of how it's going to go.  This week with Timna Tarr's Stitched Mosaic was no different.  Since I took this exact same class last year, I thought no problem.  You pick a pretty picture - you edit - you place fabrics - you sew - you get your pretty picture in fabric.  Right?

Well, apparently not.

It started off pretty ...

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July 1, 2022
Exploring the Abstract on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

Walking Through Time, Sue Benner

Flora 6, Anna Brown
Okay, am I the only one that just looked up today and realized it was July 1st?  How did that happen?  I mean it's half the year!  I was cleaning my studio and noticed the little pile of Christmas gifts I got that I never really dug into.  One of them is this amazing book, Exploring the Abstract: an Instructional journey by Joan Blackburn. Although it's explorations using paint, it could easily translate to surface
design on fabric.  It landed on my wish list because this book is loaded ...

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January 28, 2022
Back in the Studio on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

 


As you know, I've been struggling mentally over the last few months.  It's amazing how much a little anxiety and lack of sleep will upend your life.  If anything, I have a new appreciation for people who suffer from them chronically.  Luckily with each passing week, I'm feeling better.  That said, I promised my critique partner, Barbara that I would get back into the studio and ya know actually get something done.  Soooooo I pulled out the easiest WIP I had to finish.  My sister told me to start with baby steps and since she's a ...

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April 23, 2021
A New Master Bath on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

 


The longest Spring Rush continues at my house.  Contrary to what most people would think, Spring Rush is the busiest time of the year for selling women's clothing.  Apparently, ladies have places to go and "doings" planned for 2021.  As most things this year, Spring Rush is unprecedented.  What normally is a 2 week buying frenzy of everything short sleeved and coral has turned into 6 weeks with really no end in sight.  It's exhausting.  

This is the empty wall
As I spend my day talking to ladies about what size tank tops they need and if they ...

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January 29, 2021
The Mid Century Aesthetic on Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

 


Every person over the age of 50 knows that if you wait long enough everything will come back in fashion.  This wisdom came to me as I saw all  the same mid century furniture my mom got rid of in the

1970's popping back onto design shows on HGTV.  I mean  you can't watch a show without the words "Mid Century" popping up.  In fact, it's everywhere from furniture design to Christmas wrapping paper.  

So for those not in the know, mid century is a style of design that roughly spans from the 1930's to 1960 ...

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December 20, 2020
Never underestimate the inspiration caused by a group project from Art and Quilting in Camden

Art should be like a holiday: something to give a man the opportunity to see things differently and to change his point of view. -Paul Klee, painter (18 Dec 1879-1940) 

So I’m part of Mt. Battie Modern Quilt Guild, one of two local groups. This chapter, part of the MQG (Modern Quilt Guild) is the smaller of the two and is almost completely comprised of members of Coastal Quilters (the other group) which is part of the statewide Pine Tree Quilt Guild (Maine is the Pine Tree state). For once, I decided to participate in a round robin sort ...

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September 2, 2020
Pin It Weekly # 330 from Fleur de Lis Quilts and Accessories

CHRISTIAN  HETZEL

The weather has been quite blue/blah and gray/icky since the hurricane. We absolutely can't trust the sky. However, the temperatures make up for that. We absolutely CAN trust the temps. 

Hand Painted Oil Painting Abstract Indigo Wall with Stretched Frame 7 Wall Arts® – CAD $ 119.53

So I've been feeling a little gray and blah. I did load a quilt top on the long-arm and I've gotten in the groove. I had forgotten I had this top. It was in the bin waiting a turn. Apparently, there's no rhyme or reason to taking turns in my world. This is neither the oldest or the newest in the bin. So... 

ANA ELISA BENAVENT   Green Rust

But ...

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June 5, 2020
Considerations on Abstraction for Off the Wall Friday from Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre

The feeling of Joy in Worship


Recently, I had a reader email me a question on abstract quilting.  She wanted to know how I made the jump from my traditional roots and figurative working more in abstraction.  My answer was not easily.  It seemed to me, looking back, that I took the long way around.  At first I admired abstract work greatly.  It all seemed random chaos to me....but a chaos that was  pleasing and interesting. The more I learned about abstract design, the more I realized that there really wasn't anything random or chaotic about it.  Really ...

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  • abstract
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