wildlife quilting patterns
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A lot of great ideas happen when two or more other ideas collide to form something completely new.
Think of this like those old chemistry movies we used to watch in school. You had all of those atoms floating around and when two collided -- bam! A chemical reaction. Maybe something new was created. Maybe something exploded. Or maybe it all fizzled out and nothing happened.
Well, a similar reaction is going on inside your brain or muse. Except instead of atoms floating around they're pieces of information or other ideas. As they drift about, they occasionally bump into each other. When that happens, you may get a new, third idea. Or a big explosion. Or absolutely nothing at all.
Now, if you have lots of atoms, or information and ideas, you're going to get lots of reactions. Some will fail. Some will be so-so. And some will be hot -- so hot, so full of energy, they'll have the power to change the trajectory of a business. Or even a life.
The problem occurs when you don't have lots of random information and ideas. Fewer atoms mean fewer reactions. On top of that, you still have to weed through the invariable duds. So the odds of landing that one amazing idea drop considerably.
But not to worry -- there's good news. You can increase your odds of getting those great ideas. Better yet, it's fairly easy and painless. Below are three ways to get started.
1. Read, read and read some more. I know, I know, I can hear the groans already. "But I already have too much to read. How can I fit more reading in?" Never fear, there are ways to do this. (Remember I did say this was painless.)
The key is to keep it wide and shallow. What does that mean? Well, read lots and lots of different things, but keep it general. Read about sheep farming, finances, yoga, cooking, traveling, dog training, etc. But keep it general -- don't read deeply. You can even skim if that's all you have time for.
Start by subscribing to a couple of different magazines and e-zines. General interest magazines are really good for this -- Walt Disney used to read Reader's Digest. Scatter them around the house -- by the bed, the couch, even the bathroom. I'd put a few in your car as well for those times when you have to wait for an appointment.
When you have a few moments, flip through them. Skim a few paragraphs. See what catches your eye.
You can also buy or rent audio books and CDs and listen while you exercise, drive, do the dishes, etc.
Whatever you do, DON'T read publications related to your industry. That's for another time. This is brain-feeding time, not keeping up in your profession time.
2. Travel the world. Traveling has so many fabulous benefits for your creative soul I could write an article just about that, but for now I'll limit my comments to brain food.
When you travel, you open yourself up to lots of new and exciting experiences. New sights, new sounds, new smells, new tastes, new textures. And they all have the ability to form a reaction with something else.
Don't have time to hop on a plane to India? Take a day trip to a town you've never visited. Or, if you can only spare a few hours, seek out a park you've never been to or a museum you've been meaning to see or even that new cute little shop that just opened. You can always find somewhere new to visit no matter how long you've lived in the same city. And if you're truly desperate, try walking around your neighborhood on the opposite side of the street in the opposite direction you normally walk. (It can help jolt you out of rut.)
3. Open yourself up to new things. Of all of these, this one is probably the scariest. But, it also has the potential to be the most powerful.
Take the time to try new things. Meet people outside your normal circle of friends. Attend associations, nonprofits, hobby groups outside of the ones you usually go to. Listen to speakers on topics you know nothing about. Take a class at a community college about something outside your scope of knowledge. Or even have dinner at an ethnic restaurant you've never tried.
Now I'm not just talking about "typical" creative things, like taking an art class or learning to belly dance. If you're a creative professional, take a class on doing your own taxes or budgeting your finances or repairing your car. (Oooh, I bet all you creative folk felt a chill when I mentioned that.) The point is to really stretch yourself past your comfort zone. Make yourself uncomfortable. It's not only a great way to grow, but it's a fabulous way to keep your muse fat and happy.
And that helps keep the ideas flowing.
Creativity Exercises -- Prepare the banquet
Over the next month, I want you do to at least one tactic from each of the above three techniques.
1. Read something you know nothing about. Even if you only spend five minutes skimming an article about quilting when the last time you tried to ...
Author: Michele Pariza Wacek
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Timely help for wildlife quilting patterns
About Quilting Dutchman's Puzzle is an all-time favorite traditional quilt block. I'm showing an example of a quilt here, rather than the block itself, because this pattern's color value arrangement is split vertically, and deviates from the norm, with a dark background in one half of the block and a light background in the other. The pattern walks you through the construction of two quilt blocks, and although they have the same components, they're sewn together in different ways. Make 35 blocks to assemble a strippy-set quilt like this example (the pattern includes yardages). It's also a very good pattern for scrappy blocks (and a heads-up to Forum Block Party participants -- you might see this again at some point). ©Janet Wickell Dutchman's Puzzle Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 16:28:05. Permalink | Comment | Email this Five Patch Chain Quilt Block Pattern Five Patch Chain is another block that can be used to create dramatic diagonal movement on the face of your quilt. All pieces are cut along the straight grain -- no stretchy bias edges means it's super easy to assemble. The quilt block finishes at 10" square, and I've included a layout example showing 18 Five Patch Chains alternated with Snowballs. ©Janet Wickell Five Patch Chain Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 18:05:31. Permalink | Comment | Email this Double Nine Patch Quilt Block Pattern This colorful version of the Double Nine Patch quilt block is assembled using a slightly different color value layout in the small corner nine patches than is typical of the traditional design. The block finishes at 11-1/4" square, and can be assembled quickly by strip piecing (most) rows. © Janet Wickell Double Nine Patch Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 20:17:40. Permalink | Comment | Email this Lincoln's Platform Quilt Block Pattern Lincoln's Platform is a traditional patchwork quilt block with a central area surrounded by continuous squares -- sort of a block with its own built-in border. This version of the quilt block finishes at 14" x 14", and can be assembled with quick piecing techniques. I've included a layout suggestion, with blocks sewn together in horizontal rows. © Janet Wickell Lincoln's Platform Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 19:36:33. Permalink | Comment | Email this Double Four Patch Blocks in Pink and Orange This Double Four Patch design is the second quilt block pattern for March. Stitched in focal fabrics of pink, rose and orange, it's sure to be an attention-getter. The block finishes at 8" square, and is simple to assemble. It's also the design we're using for this month's Block Party event in the Quilting Forum. Double Four Patch Pattern © Janet Wickell Double Four Patch Blocks in Pink and Orange originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 11:16:29. Permalink | Comment | Email this Kicking Off Block-a-Day March I introduced a new block pattern each day last March, and plan to try it again this year. Now, there might be days I get behind, but I'll end the month with 31 new patterns. Day 1's quilt block is a variation of the design that's often referred to as Broken Dishes. Its center, made from four half square triangles, is the layout that typically comes to mind when we hear that name (although the color value layout shown here differs a bit). The block finishes at 15" square, and would make a fantastic scrap quilt. Kicking Off Block-a-Day March originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 15:07:02. Permalink | Comment | Email this Book Review: The Tsunami Quilt In 1946, coastlines throughout Hawaii were hit by a tsunami generated by a massive earthquake in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Less than 5 hours later, waves as tall as 55 feet came onshore in Hilo and other parts of Hawaii, killing 159 people and devastating shoreline areas. Hopefully, residents will have plenty of warning to evacuate the coasts ahead of the tsunami expected from the earthquake in Chile. In Laupahoehoe, the focal point of The Tsunami Quilt, schoolchildren ran towards the ocean to pick up fish after one of the waves retreated, unaware that another would follow, and pull them into the ocean. Focusing on the losses at Laupahoehoe, Anthony Fredericks uses a family's history and tradition to explain the events of 1946 to children. Colorful illustration by Tammy Yee tell the story in pictures. Monument at Laupahhoehoe Book Review: The Tsunami Quilt originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 11:16:35. Permalink | Comment | Email this 5" Fool's Square Quilt Block Pattern Are you ready to go smaller? At 5" square, perhaps this doesn't fit into most definitions of a miniature quilt, but it is half the size of the traditional Fool's Square block. The smaller size is perfect for a wallhanging and also makes a nicely-scaled baby quilt. Sew an alternate block between Fool's Square (a plain square, a Snowball, any five-patch) or sew them side-by-side. You'll find that color-play is best when side-by-side blocks are not identical -- make them scrappy or sew them in a couple of themes for best results. Janet Wickell 5" Fool's Square Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 06:10:03. Permalink | Comment | Email this Make An Easy Pillow Cover I'm not big on sewing zippers -- I've had a mental block about them since about 1963. So I've avoided making pillow covers, because I like covers that can be removed when it's time to wash them, something that's critical when you have a house full of felines like we do. This quick and easy pillow cover method solves the problem by eliminating the zippers and replacing them with a simple, fold-over back. Start looking through your UFO bins for quilt blocks, and then grab some backing fabric. You'll finish this easy throw pillow cover in no time. Photo © Janet Wickell Make An Easy Pillow Cover originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 06:00:45. Permalink | Comment | Email this Thread Tips for Quilters Thread Tips is one of the many references inspired by readers when I asked what type of information everyone would like to see covered on About.com Quilting. Entire books can be written about threads, their content and their uses and the techniques required to sew with them, so treat this as a simple introduction. I hope it will help beginners become more familiar with the massive selection of threads available to quilters. Thread Tips for Quilters originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 17:58:54. Permalink | Comment | Email this Newsfeed display by CaRP |
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