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I’ve been working on changing some of my lectures and classes to be offered online to guilds and shows. We’ve even set-up a studio in my studio area, it looks like a mini TV studio!
I’m also working on offering online classes for individuals, that will be coming soon. Sign up for my newsletter here to be the first to know when we go live with them.
Below are the new Virtual Lectures and classes I will be offering.
Guild Program Chairs: If you would like me to visit your guild virtually, please click here and complete the online contact form and I will send you a complete information packet.
Virtual Lectures
QUILTS OF ILLUSIONS
Explore the world of optical illusions with Karen as she shows you some of the wonderful quilts that she has created and shares tricks and tips how to make them. This virtual lecture is a beautiful and inspiring trunk show. There will be time for questions after the lecture.
YOU BOUGHT THAT WHERE?!?
A fun and information lecture! Let Karen take you around her little town, searching for the best quilting supplies found in some unexpected places. It’s amazing what you can find at the local “feed” store! As a bonus, Karen will take you into her studio to show you how she uses many of her finds.
Virtual Classes
Chip out of Every Bock (3 or 6 hour class)
Greetings to everyone!
Just like many of you, for the past few week, I’ve been making masks for our local hospital as well as doctor’s offices and many other locations.
Our hospital requested masks with ties to go over their N-95 masks, to help extend the life of the masks they have. I’ve made several dozen of those masks. The other masks I’ve made using elastic. . . which is in short supply. I’ve managed to use hair ties which as worked well. Using what I can find and making it work. 😊
As I’ve been working on these masks, I’ve discovered some little thread snips that I forgot I had. Interesting what you can find once you start digging about. I love them and have been using them constantly to clip threads.
The links to both mask patterns can be found here, on my Favorite Things webpage.
I’ve also been working on some new patterns. Just finished the mini version of my SUMMER STAR – SPRIAL, which is part of my “no diamonds” Lone Star Illusions pattern line.
I love this little star, done in one color, gradated from light to dark. Believe it or not, this little quilt really does not have any diamonds in its design . Click here for more information about the pattern.
The little tea pot and cups with my quilt were purchased on one of our Quilt Seminars at Seas cruise to Bali several years ago. Many fond memories from that trip! I love picking up little things when I travel. When I use them at home, I remember the fun I had on that trip.
In January, we had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand with Quilt Seminars at Sea. We had a wonderful group traveling with us and we saw such beautiful sights! It was a blast. Here is a link to a few photos from our trip
I’m looking forward to several up-coming cruises. April 2021 is our Paris to Normandy river cruise. Such lovely sights to see and who won’t love to be in Paris in the Spring?
I know we are going through a difficult time right now. Thinking of all those who are ill and praying for their quick recovery. As my grandmother would always say to us, “This isn’t forever and this too will pass.” She also always reminded us to always wash our hands.
I enjoyed creating my Celtic Pieced Illusions technique and writing the book. It is beautiful book, filled with many drawings, quilts and patterns.
Here’s a little more information about it:
Piecework enthusiasts rejoice! Now great Celtic designs can be created with only two simple blocks. Quilters traditionally use appliqué to create Celtic designs. Instead, Karen has translated knot work into pieced patterns. She found she can create many Celtic designs with two, three, or more blocks, so the possibilities are unlimited.
Famous for her use of color and color illusion, the author shows how to use color, texture, and value to add excitement to Celtic quilts. She shares her simple design concepts for those who want to design their own Celtic quilts, while providing piecing tips, pressing options, and quilting ideas. Even beginning quiltmakers can tackle these colorful quilt patterns.
It remained in print for over 10 years. Sadly, as happens with most quilt books, it is no longer in print or readily available. . . until now!
I’m so happy to announce Celtic Pieced Illusions is now available as an ebook!
You can see more information by clicking here.
I’ve been working on this for quite some time and can finally share the news about my new booklet, Lone Star Illusions!
The Lone Star quilt is something quilters aspire to make. However, many don’t want to tackle diamonds.
I’ve created a way to make a Lone Star design with the simple shapes of squares, rectangles and triangles. When they are sewn together, they look just like a Lone Star made with diamonds. . . . it’s a wonderful illusion and so fun to create!
Lone Star Illusions contains patterns for 3 beautiful Lone Star designs and each Lone Star design has two sizes.
I’m so excited to share this book with you and can’t wait to see your own Lone Star Illusion quilts!
I’m so pleased to be a Guest Designer with Banyan Batiks (division of Northcott) and I’m very excited to share my new fabric line. It’s been hard to keep it a secret, but I can finally share all the details!
As you know, I love designing gradated fabrics and I love designing batiks. COLORFALL combines both in a very special way.
COLORFALL shades from light to medium to dark, from selvage to selvage, approximately 14″ per value. However, COLORFALL does something that is new . . . . we’ve been able to achieve an actual cut-line on the batik! Now you will know exactly where to cut it apart to work with each value.
Not only that, we’ve been able to add a texture to the gradation!!!!! This is something never done on a gradated batik. I’m so excited we’ve been able to achieve this.
The texture of broken dots in a soft undulating line add a bit of interest and movement to the fabric. It looks fabulous in a quilt!
I’ve been having a blast creating quilts with this new line and will share more in the future.
Here’s my Magic Cubes pattern created in COLORFALL. The three values on one piece of fabric made piecing this a breeze.
COLORFALL will debut at Spring Quilt Market. I will be there at Market, as well as holding a Schoolhouse and teaching a COLORFALL Take and Teach.
COLORFALL will be shipping to shops in December. You can see all the colors on the Banyan Batiks webpage by clicking here.
So excited to share this news! Will share my newest collection as soon as I can.
You can see Banyan Batiks beautiful batiks here!
I’ve recently designed a new 3-D quilt using EPP ( or English Paper Piecing), called Modern Attic Windows.
WHAT IS EPP OR ENGLISH PAPER PIECING?
English paper piecing is a classic technique that continues to thrill modern day quilters. It is a beloved quilting technique that can be used in so many different kinds of projects.
English paper piecing (commonly called EPP) is the technique of wrapping fabric around a paper piece to stabilize and form a specific shape.
The fabric is basted around pre-cut paper shapes and then sewn together by hand, usually with a whipstitch or a ladder stitch. After the pieces are all sewn together, the foundation papers and basting stitches are removed. This is a fun and simple way to create complex blocks
I really enjoy this slow stitching process, it’s my go-to hand work when I travel. Thought you’d enjoy seeing the step by step process. Let’s get started picking fabric. Need a light, a dark and some colorful fabrics .
Cutting out the pieces, paper pieces are the ready, loving the look of this quilt already!
Pieces are basted, getting ready to stitch!
Stitching away, this is so much fun!
Blocks are coming together, can’t believe how fast they are to make.
Putting the blocks into rows. . .
Here it is, all finished!!! My new EPP pattern – Modern Attic Windows! I adored creating this pattern and making this quilt, it was so much fun!
Pattern, papers and optional cutting templates available at Paper Pieces: https://www.paperpieces.com/modern-attic-windows .
Can’t wait to see what you do with yours. To share your creations, be sure to use the #modernatticwindows
Karen Combs Studio Blog 