and now... for something completely different...

 Last night we watched the documentary"Exit Through the Gift Shop".
It was a very interesting inside look at  the work of "Street Artists"  and what was once called "Graffiti".
Nowdays "Street Artists" go by one word names (Banksy) and or "Alter Egos" (Mr Brainwash).
My thoughts were  conflicted regarding the "Street Art" and my opinion  seemed to decline towards the end.
I would love to be able to have an open discussion on the documentary  just to hear all the varied opinions.

Some of my most recent freehand machine quilting has been reminding me of graffiti (months  before I watched the documentary). I know it is mainly a rebellion against what is considered "pretty" or "desireable" in the world of quilting today. For some reason I have had a very strong need to go  against the norm or mainstream ( hence this blog) and it feels truly authentic... like I have finally found my voice.( which is  LOUD ,but mostly incoherent!)

Ugly Vintage Nine Patches: Indigos, Plaids and Chambray

                           
                          

  As promised.. I wanted to get going on getting re-aquainted with my stash of  vintage blocks ,pieces and parts with the intention of putting them together into tops this year.

Right on top, in one of the tubs were 3 sets of 9 patches. A set of 45, a set of 42 and a set of 20.  They were all within the 8-8.5 ish  inches square category .
I say "Ish" because they are all hand pieced and pretty wonky. When I use vintage blocks I always want to add to them , rather than cut them down.
So I'm not ruling out adding some fabric to the smaller ones. But who knows... it could get even uglier... if that's even possible!

  This is the first set of 20. I did some sketching and some math trying to make everything work out all nice and even like.  But who was I kidding? I knew I just had to start getting them up on the design wall and start messing around.
Fun is the objective here, not math!

  Here is the first 20 with the gold block removed.Then the next set of 45 in  a single go around plus another column on the right side. Since we were wonky anyway the last set of 42 gets placed in 2 vertical columns on the left side and a

 single row on top and bottom. None from this last group is on the right side.
I wasnt loving the warm tones with all of this blue  and grey so I yanked em!

  These are the offending warm blocks

  then I put the original gold back in

 and finished up  with the remaining  blue and grey blocks.
So now ....I just  have to figure out how to get these all to play together nicely.(!?)Yeah.
Some measure as small as 7.5 and some are as large as 8.5.
I'm thinkin about adding a shirting or a light value plaid  to the center group of 20.. and maybe a lighter chambray to the others because that  is what I know I have.  But then it  might be fun to add something really high contrast like a RED!  I know I have  yardage of both a red chambray and a nice red solid...
Hmmmmm..
Looks like more some more excavation into my stash is called for!

Happy New Year 2011 :It aint Pretty

  WELCOME  to QUILT ANARCHY!!
This IS the place for : old, dark, odd ,strange, disturbing, ugly and sad.. QUILT pieces, parts,fabrics, tops and...... of course finished quilts.
I WONT be showing anything  that might be considered ..."pretty"... by  todays standards. I think there are already  plenty of places for that all over blogland and the internet.
Quite frankly my dear, "ugly" is what I prefer!
I would also like to invite anyone with anything that might  fit this criteria to "like" us on Facebook. Feel free to post a photo of anything you own( we dont want to offend anyone who feels "ugly" is an insult! so no pics of that customer quilt you may be binding.. unless they are lovin the ugly too!)

                                     Full view quilt top

  Details  of some of the great ugly fabrics

 Did I mention I snagged this for Ten dollars???  I'll take 17 yards of this green and black please!

 Yeah, I'd  PROBABLY  hate me too! mwaahahahahahaha
I bought this from a dealer at an Antique Fair who was selling mostly furniture. There was no price tag on it.When she looked it over  for a half a second and then named her price, I couldnt get the cash out of my pocket fast enough.. my heart was really racing! I had to get out of there before she changed her mind, and I wondered seriously how long I could maintain my "poker face" before I ran off screaming to no one I knew within earshot..."START THE CAR!!! START THE CAR!!!
By the time I caught up with my friends I was squirmy all over with adrenaline and burst upon them with my new "ugly beauty" and such a DEAL!!
I knew I had scored the "Find of the Day" no way could that be beat!
Yeah ... jealous much? (smirking!)
Later when we returned from the antique fair, I had a chance to spread it out and really examine it. I found some holes and unsewn seams but it didnt matter one bit!

Another great ugly green and black!!

This year I'm going to be digging DEEP into my stash of old ugly pieces parts   and blocks and putting together one (or  probably more) top(s). This has been on my "bucket list" for way too long and promises to be a fun way to start the new year.

Anybody want to join me?

Lets get ugly in 2011!!!