Anita Shackelford
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Our Undoing

3/10/2021

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Ripping, taking out, undoing...what ever we call it, taking apart work that we have done and doing it over again is never a pleasing prospect. Most of us have agonized over this idea at one time or another. Several questions may help provide an answer to this question.
 
How much does it bother you? If you are of the free-wheeling temperament that is rarely concerned by little problems, then you may just decide to keep on working. But, if it bothers you enough to stop and consider redoing it, then chances are it will bother you later. In the balance of things, I find that the time it takes to re-do a small area is insignificant in comparison to the time that I will have to look at a piece that I know is not right.
 
Can you do better? If the mistake is made because the technique is one that you are just learning, then chances are that doing it over may not produce noticeably better results. Since I regularly like to try new approaches or styles of work, I am always a “beginner” at something and my technique is not perfect. When things go really wrong I take them out and do them over, but if the problems are minor I tend to leave them. Small problems left in place can be considered just another milestone as we measure our progress.
 
How important is it? If the piece is not intended to be an heirloom, will never be judged, or will be given to a non-quilter who will not notice, then leaving minor problems may be the right choice. Getting it finished may be the focus. If the quilt is meant to be a show or competition piece, then it is important to make sure that every step along the way is the best that we can do. I have an important piece in which I took out hand stipple quilting because it was not giving me the texture that I wanted. Not an easy task! But I am much happier with the change that the new quilting made. It was the right decision. And, in a most extreme case, my advice to a good friend who was not happy with a quilt that was three-quarters quilted was to take it out and do it over. She had spent a long time in creating an original applique quilt that she intended to show on the national level. The quilting that was already in the piece had problems both technically and visually, making the quilt less than it could be. It took my friend a while to make such a big decision, but in the end, she did take the quilt apart. The new quilting she added is spectacular in both design and workmanship and the quilt won several major awards.
 
In the end it comes down to your own temperament, where you are in your quilting journey, and where the quilt is going. Satisfaction in our work comes in many different ways. Here’s hoping that we all make quilts that make us happy.

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Cropped Blocks

3/9/2021

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Francine asked me today if my Cropped Blocks could be used in combination, making the quilt center with one pattern and border with another. I was sure that would work, but I still had to play with them, just to see what I could create. Here's the result.

The blocks I used were Cropped Star and Jen's Marble. The blocks in the center were rotated and flipped. The border blocks not changed very much, but could be played with as much as you want.
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Thanks for the push, Francine! That was fun!
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Cropped Star
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Jen's Marble
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The blocks are designed as squares and will rotate and fit together with no problem. Allowing the software to size them for total quilt dimensions may adjust length and/or width and cause them not to fit together when rotated. See the pdf below for full instructions on setting up a quilt like this.
Patterns are available here
www.anitashackelford.net/cropped-blocks.html
Patterns are in .csq format for CS v6 or v7 only
pdf to show how to use Creative Studio to set up a Cropped Block Wholecloth quilt.
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Show and Tell - Modern Quilts

3/5/2021

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Modern Quilts are inspired by mid 20th century modern art and architecture. Often made in bold, solid colors, they might have angular, open spaces, inspired by the Modern abstract, curved shapes in furniture and art of the time.
 
The Modern style in quilting might embrace Minimalism, with use of large pieces and overall simplicity of design.
 
While Repetition is one of the principles in Traditional quilting, Modern quilts are often designed with a balanced asymmetry and a focus on the interaction of quilt blocks in a non-traditional way. 

A change in grid work (sashes) or lack of visible block structure are often a part of modern quilt compositions. 

Are you working in a Modern style? I started exploring the Modern style about 10 years ago, both in piecing and quilting patterns and have enjoyed making the pieces shown here. Enjoy the show.
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Modern Boxes and Ribbons, quilted with Modern Serpentine
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 Floating Patches, Quilted with Modern Chain and P2P inserts
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Framed Squares
​Quilted with Modern Orb 
 Boxes, quilted with Modern String of Pearls
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Vintage Tulip, quilted with Modern Wonky Square
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Stained Glass, Quilted with Modern Undulations
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State Flower Embroidery, quilted with Modern Curves
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Batik Abstract, Quilted with Modern Spiral Triangles

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Circle Sampler, quilted with a variety of background and circular patterns
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Curved Two Patch blocks, original layout, custom quilted with Modern Two Patch patterns.

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String Quilt, quilted with Modern Waves
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​Crossed Leaves, pieced in Two Patch style and quilted with Modern Two Patch
​patterns.

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Small wall quilt, Quilted with Modern Snails

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Small sample block, Quilted with Modern Concentric Squares
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 Wall quilt, pieced in Trip Around the World style, Quilted with P2P Mod Pod pattern
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Small wall quilt, Quilted with Modern Logs Quad
See more Modern quilt patterns here:
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New Spring Patterns!

3/4/2021

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Bunnies and Baskets 21" x 21"
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We are just a month away from Easter, so we've added my Bunnies and Baskets pattern to the Books and Patterns page. This is in pdf form, with instructions for folding paper and cutting the symmetrical design. My quilt was appliqued by machine, hand and machine quilted. Choose techniques you enjoy and get this finished quick as a bunny :) 

Four Seasons Cutwork 29" x 29" 
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Spring also seemed a good time to offer my Four Seasons cutwork quilt. Iris will be blooming soon, butterflies represent summer, grapes for autumn, holly and berries for winter.
Pdf instructions include all four patterns, paper folding to create the templates, full yardage cutting dimensions and diagram, plus the added embellishments of ruched iris beard, embroidered butterfly anntennae, and dimensional holly berries.
My quilt is hand appliqued and hand quilted. Use your favorite techniques to create your own.
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The Four Seasons quilt was used on the cover of my Applique with Folded Cutwork book, published by AQS. You can order books and patterns, using the link below.
​Books and Patterns
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    Author

    Anita has a long background rooted in traditional handwork and quiltmaking, which she still enjoys.

    Often, these days, you'll find her digitizing patterns for the Statler Stitcher and other computerized longarm quilting machines. 
     
    Her summer days are spent in the garden and she loves finding new ways to prepare good veggie-based meals.


    She's always in search of a way to balance all of those activities and find time to share with others who are passionate about the same things.

    This page is a sneak peek into what's happening in her world right now.

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