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Tag: inspiration
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Welcome to My Beautiful Studio Tour 2025
It’s been a while coming. I know. I planned to create video content of what my studio looks like for a long time. Like so many other things, life happened. Or maybe I just wasn’t ready. Whichever it is or was, I’ve gotten over it. If you click on this link, it will take you to YouTube for the video.
marymarcotte.com Studio Tour ’25
So here you are. I could write an entire post on how awful it is, but I’m guessing you can figure it out for yourselves. It’s not like I tried to be perfect or anything close to that. I decided to be myself and see how it worked. It’s not bad. Okay, it’s not great, but I’m a critic to the worst degree when I see myself on camera.
Not one to take chances, here’s a copy of the link. You can copy, then paste it on youtube: https://youtu.be/NcGHnhJ9a0Y
One thing I will not apologize for is the pride I have for both my studio and for my boys for their hard work and fabulous skills. Richard and Adam really gave me everything I asked for and made suggestions that only improved my vision for the space. Adam painted the cubbies, every single one, without complaint. (Though it cost me lots of Coke.) I might have painted two if they’d insisted I help. Thank goodness, they didn’t. In fact, I abandoned them and played in the old studio. Mostly I quilted, but eventually I had to start packing up and moving. Of course, everyone pitched in to get that done in no time. I have a wonderful family.
Anyway, here you are! I hope you enjoy the studio tour! Please follow, like, and share if you did.
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And Now a GSQA Photo Drop
I attended the Gulf States Quilt Association (GSQA) meeting in Long Beach, MS., so I’ll show you the few pics I took there. After all, a couple of weekend ago, I posted photos of the CQG Show and Share.
This beauty is the opportunity quilt. Below is a closeup of the center block. Hopefully you can see the quilting. I always enjoy visiting with the many acquaintances I’ve made over the years. Some of them, though I don’t see very often, I still consider friends. I wish I could have stayed for the Show and Share–it’s such inspiration to see other people’s work. However, the drive was almost four hours. Richard insisted that he come along, and his back was in so much pain from the movement of the car, which is not a smooth ride.
I didn’t get any information about the opportunity quilt. People wouldn’t move and I try to be kind and wait my turn. Anyway, I’m betting there’s something about this gorgeous quilt on the GSQA website.
GSQA has a great way to raise money. They love to hire well-known quilters from around the nation for classes and lectures. This so that we all have opportunities to learn from quilters who our individual guilds can’t afford. Education is one of their biggest reason for creating the association.
Every year, a committee chooses a quilt and its size, colors, etc. They then purchase the fabrics and create kits for each of the blocks. The kits are bagged up and sold for $5 each. At the spring meeting, members buy a kit, put it together and return the kit to the committee. Of course, the best blocks are chosen, the top sewn, and quilting completed. This means that the opportunity quilt brings in money two ways: by selling the blocks and, later, selling the tickets.
Every tiny color is actually a prairie point block, com!pletely hand piece and quilted at the same time. So much work! Why so many extra block kits you ask? Mais, they make money on every block that they sell. And, the blocks sell out. Plus, the extras mean that there are some to choose from. (Not everyone can sew a perfect 1/4″ seam.) There’s a lottery for the extra blocks: every one returned, earns a ticket for the lottery, so you’re buying a chance for pre-sewn blocks! Now, isn’t GSQA onto a brillant idea?
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A Finished Flimsy Ready for Next Steps–the Longarm
Last week, I told you about this flimsy, my current project. It is based on Sandra Dallas’ novel, The Quilt Walk. In the story, Emmy Blue’s hand stitches a log cabin quilt as she travels west with her family in a wagon train. She sews the blocks, most reluctantly at first, as she walks alongside the wagon. In Dallas’ novel, Emmy Blue’s log cabin blocks are sewn in blue and white strips with a red center, and I followed her plans. Still, several differences found their way into my quilts: they are machine sewn, the fabrics are modern and playful, and I added blocks to make the quilt big enough for a pre-teen. Thus, Emmy Blue has nine blocks, but I have 16. My flimsy is about 52″ square.
I played with a couple of different settings. Log cabin lends itself to so many settings that choosing can be difficult. This variety is likely one of the reasons the log cabin is such a popular block. These three settings are my favorite:
1st option: Richard’s favorite, but I wasn’t real crazy about how it looks like I just threw four baby quilts together. 
2nd option: one of my favs, I called it “Flowing Water.”
3rd 0ption: another favorite, called “Center of Attention.” Which flimsy won in the end? Ta-da! This one!
FLIMSY WINNER! “The Center of Attention” Honestly, this flimsy came together quite easily, and I’m surprised it didn’t take longer, especially since I added three blocks to the original nine, then another four blocks to create another row. Even when I make a traditional quilt, I end up making improv decisions!
I hope your week is moving along nicely and that you are taking time for yourself by enjoying some stitching or crafting. Whatever it is that helps you to slow down and enjoy life. Don’t forget to get some sunshine (even if it’s cloudy) and to exercise. Care for yourself, and you can love those around you.
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The End of the Improv BOM — Until Next Time
I sort of hate to see the Block of the Month go. I loved creating and writing, but the stress of having everything ready in time was a bit much, and let’s remember there was no pay. I simply wanted to see if I could do it and succeeded in not just seeing it through but also making two quilts.
I also had a wonderful time meeting new friends. To those of you who have requested that I do this again, I think I might. I’ll take a little break. Two big quilts on a deadline requires a little downtime, after all. After Christmas I’ll get back to it and make a quilt for the last grandchild who has yet to get hers. It’s well on the way, but Christmas is close and there are cooking and baking packages lined up on the countertops.
I want sit back and analyze the process. To figure out what went well, what needs improvement, and what we enjoyed. That also, will take time. Finally, I need to consider how I can turn this idea into mini-classes and offer them here on marymarcotte.com. If you have ideas that might help with any of these plans, please let me know! I’d love your feedback. You can email me at info@marymarcotte.com or mary.marcotte@gmail.com. Thank you, again for joining the fun!
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And the Improv BoM is a Wrap!
It’s been fun and educational and sometimes a little wild, but I am officially finished with the Block of the Month event. Both of my quilts are complete. They even have labels! Not that this is the last I’ll write about it: I still want to write about the quilting on each quilt.
This first one is the autumn-colored, hot mess. However, I think I saved it at the last moment. It’s not quite so hideous as I thought before. Fall colors must remind me of Halloween, and I’m not a fan of creepy, ghastly, gory anything. At least there are no skulls or weapons or blood. (Not even my own, ha! I often accidentally find needles and pins.)
The second quilt is definitely my favorite of the two. The colors and lightness appeal to my sense of youth and playfulness. However, don’t let that fool you. Hand-stitching the binding was a beast. I hurt both wrists and my left thumb when I took a patio spill about a month ago. Healing is slow, and it’s amazing how much a little sprain can hurt.
Plus, I’m slow when I slow-stitch anything. Of course, the best fabric for the binding had to be this heavy, green linen. Even little sharps needles required a good thimble to push the needle in, a pair of pliers to pull the needle through, and lots of patience.
When the other quilt told me it wanted the same heavy green linen, I decided that hand-stitching wasn’t going to happen. So, it’s machine bound on both front and back, but I now have a new trick which I’ll share with you, of course.
If you joined us in the BoM, let me know. I’m dying to see what everyone has made! Just leave a comment.
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Cotton Quilters Raise the Bar
It’s the first Monday! That almost always means a Cotton Quilters Meeting. Whew! What a workout! Sure, I’m president, so there’s that, but today Pam and I were in charge of lunch. She decided to have her husband, Derek, make a pot of spaghetti. Now, for most of us that means enough for perhaps ten people. However, we were 20 quilters, so that means double the meat. Except, Derek likes to cook big. Meaning, of course, he starts with a big pot. In this case, a gumbo pot. Seriously. A gumbo pot. Thanks, Derek! Richard and I enjoyed the leftovers.
Ah, but I digress. That happens when my belly is full of spaghetti. Here are some of the many items that we had for show and share. Wow! These ladies amaze me. Every month. You’d think I would expect it, but no. I’m surprised every time.
An infant coat and a smocked dress block 
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Imagine how awesome we’d be if almost half of us were up and running. It’s the season of surgeries–knees, hips, and hands were all under the knife this past month. Plus, someone lost a spouse and two more were diagnosed with cancer. So there are lots of prayer requests. You are invited to join in the prayer circle. We surely need them.
In other news, we’ve added about five new members to our illustrious little group. Two ladies came in for the first time today, but the last few months have seen other newbies to our little group. Hmm, I don’t know how people find out about the Cotton Quilters, but it’s always good to make new friends!
Interestingly, all of these quilts are approximately lap size. Two quilts are not included because they are from the Improv BOM event, and I am preparing a post just for those. Hopefully, you are enjoying the photos of our Cotton Quilters makes. By all means, leave a comment if you do.
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CQG April Show and Share
Cotton Quilters met last Monday, but we had a class before the meeting. Normally, this time (10-1) is used for free sewing and visiting, but last month Sheila shared with us a small bag she had made and offered to walk us through the steps. Of course, we jumped on the offer! Everyone made a little bag with the all-inclusive kits that Sheila provided.
After the workshop and the meeting, we spent a bit of time sharing our works from this month. Enjoy the show! I hope some of these inspire you. If so, you may want to see last month’s show and share.
You can find more information about the Cotton Quilters’ Guild on their Facebook group.
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Improv Block of the Month ~~ Something New!
How much do you enjoy improv piecing? Here’s a new opportunity to LOVE it. I speak to people and groups all over this region and have found that traditional quilters who don’t like improv quilts just don’t “get it” and either hate them or are afraid of them. So I decided to offer this improv block of the month (IBM).
Are you now thinking “maybe I’ll do it” or “no thanks” to giving this new concept a try? Before you go, let’s count down a couple of reasons to say “YES.”
5. At the very least, you’ll learn something new.
Pieces of blocks that didn’t fit the quilt I was working on at the time. I can create a huge pile of these when I have to math. 4. If we’re successful, you’ll love improv piecing.
I’ll break it down into smaller pieces with only one concept. You’ll practice by making several in a month’s time. (You decide how many.) 3. We will learn using improvisational concepts that lean heavily on traditional blocks. So if you’re already a quilter, you’ll be able envision what we’re shooting for as we build each part of the quilt.
In frustration, I cut a couple of blocks apart (literally). Later I sewed them back together and discovered something…different. 2. We will learn employing the no-rules quilting. This means that you can’t make a mistake. EVERYTHING you sew can go into your quilt. I’ll show you how. In fact, pull out some of those blocks that didn’t make it into another quilt and throw them in!
I’ll show you how to finish the quilt. (Even if we haven’t made it to the end.) 
1. We’ll have fun! I know that walking into a classroom for the first time can give a student the jitters. (I should, I taught students from middle school to college classes.) I’ll explain it all as we go along. We’ll have a separate, private, social media page where you can ask questions, show your work, and make friends. So, there’s also that social connection.
Grab this button to put in your social media. I appreciate ya! Will these reasons do? Because I have more. I will do my very best to write clear instructions and guide you along the way. You know you want to, right? Are you in? Grab a friend or two and laugh about this crazy improv stuff together. That will make it doubly fun!
Are you in a group or guild? Tell them about this IBM! Invite them! In charge of BOMs or monthly presentations? Again, invite your guild. We begin in January!
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Sweet Friends with Sweet Ideas and Sweet Fabrics
A while back my friends with the Cotton Quilter’s Guild went on a road trip to Mangham, La. They apparently spent quite some time at the local quilt shop, called Stitched in Faith. We’ve been before and I would have raced to get on that van but, alas, I was teaching middle schoolers. They’re less fun than my quilty friends, but still entertaining.
Anyway, one friend in particular shopped until she just couldn’t think of anything else she could possibly need. Then she thought of me. And shopped for me. And bought a fat-quarter bundle for me!
How sweet is this 1930’s feedsack reproduction? I mean really! My brain has been stumped about what to do with these pretties. Until today. My idea is to use these with some coordinating solids to make the quilt blocks that the guild has been working on. I am so far behind that I can’t even tell you. I can’t tell you because I can’t find the packet (yes, packet) of papers telling me what to make! Grrrugh. But (assuming I can find the pattern copies) I have a brilliant idea and time to work on the blocks.
Now to search (for the nth time for those copies) or shamefacedly beg for another set. I’d really rather find the papers.
Best friends Ingrid and Toby (with his new sunglasses) Special shoutout to my sweet friends Ingrid and Toby for thinking of me!
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Pin It Weekly #365 Red and White
‘Nearly Insane’ Quilt – August 2015 Welcome to PIW, the week of red and white quilts! I have over 60 quilts on the “red and white” section
“Red December” by Gail Smith quilted by Angela McCorkle of my “heart, quilts” board. This is just a small taste.
Gwen Marsden quilt 
Pieced by Audrey Hill Quilted by Jessica’s Quilting Studio 
Harrison Rose 
Das Muster für diesen Quilt stammt aus einem Buch von Judy Martin und heißt dort ‘Shakespeare in the park’. 
Lisa Martin “1906” Red and White Blue Ribbon WA State Fair Traditional quilt. 
sotakhandmade.blogspot.com 
Apologies, I was not able to find information on these last two, but they are too pretty to not include. Of course, choosing is always so very difficult! Here’s a link to the last Pin It Weekly.
