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I have a very simple motto-“just go forward”. It means that instead of fixing less-than-perfect work, I’ll “go forward” and fix that on the next piece. I don’t think I learn a lot from ripping out work. My Poppies quilt really challenged that motto. I was up against a seemingly impossible deadline. At several points I had to decide whether to even try to make the deadline. At one point the entire quilt came into question. I did “just go forward” and it worked out well. I know that is not always the case so I was happy to take…
I’ve been busy during my “break” from teaching! I needed to finish two new class samples as well as complete a Modern-ish quilting sample that should have done before I taught in Houston last October. It was nice to be able to catch up with my To-Do List. I noticed that class sample photos that were posted on shop and show sites were not very clear. They were beautiful samples that were usually done on a light pastel cotton sateen with various threads. The problem was that the color washed out in on-line postings. I decided I needed to do…
My interests seem to be bouncing back and forth between traditional, modern and art quilts lately. After my quilt was published in 500 Traditional Quilts, my love of exquisite traditional quilts was reignited. In an alternative universe, I’ve been smitten by some of the modern quilts I’ve been seeing. And then there are the art quilts that I’ve been loving, making and studying for the last 5 years or so. Of course they all have much in common. When I saw that the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles was having an exhibit of Ohio Amish quilts, as well…
I am both thrilled and sad that my year-long on-line Design Master Class with Elizabeth Barton is over. I worked really hard in class and actually completed 9 of the 11 projects, purposefully chose not to complete one month because I was not enjoying my piece, and then just flat missed October’s piece. I am proud of my work, how HARD I worked, and that I completed all but 2 months’ projects. I have been rewarded richly for my efforts and I’m pleased with how my skills have improved. I had no clue when I began the class that we…
As a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates, I knew I could ask the Yahoo group if there would be any textile art exhibits during the time of my visit to Tucson. Lucky me-SAQA-Arizona was hosting its first ever juried exhibition during the time of my visit, so I was able to view it while Hubby was golfing. “JOURNEYS” included 30 pieces from 28 members. It was a high quality show with a great variety of styles. The Tucson Jewish Community Center hosted the show and the display area was open, pleasant and well lighted. One take-away for me, once…
My husband and I each recently celebrated a major birthday as well as our 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to Tucson, Arizona. After considering at a 14 day cruise around the tip of South America, and renting a gorgeous home with its own pool on Kauai, we chose Tucson. I know, weird, huh? We realized that the one thing we really wanted was SUN (and golf for him). The other choices carried a significant chance of rain. I think we made the right choice-this was one of our best vacations ever! As an added bonus we were able to…
Sometimes you just need to let go and have some fun! I have had a wonderful/stressful/successful/wild and crazy busy year. You too? I “fell over the finish line” of teaching at Houston and when I returned, I was aching to quilt. I had a zillion ideas percolating in my head, but none of those ideas were well formed. It was one of those moments when I knew I NEEDED something fun to quilt. So I got out my charity quilt kits from my local guild, the Folsom Quilt and Fiber Guild, and started quilting a few tops. I wish I…
The River City Quilters’ Guild show is usually the last one I get to each year. This year’s show seemed smaller but I thought it was one of their best. There seemed to be a lot more art quilts this year and yet still there were lots of great appliqued, pieced and bed quilts. Toni wrote that she enjoyed the challenge of the 96 y-seams and matching all those stripes. The stripes and her color selections sure made for a bold graphic impact. I also liked the simple, modern quilting by Annette. I really like Jaime’s use of color for…
And it’s not about me! One of my students, Luanne Chittenden, won an Honorable Mention ribbon in the Traditional category on her very first entry into Pacific International Quilt Festival-I’m so happy for her! PIQF has only 3 quilt categories so it’s a big deal to get any kind of a ribbon. Her quilt is pictured on their site here. Luanne took a feathers class from me awhile ago-I don’t remember exactly when. Her quilt, Not Entirely Modern, is a beautiful quilt with gorgeous quilting. Luanne had never entered a major show before. When I saw her quilt, I knew…
I’m including all my quilt photos in one post-I only had 40 minutes on the quilt floor! So I ran around like crazy snapping photos that I figured I’d look at later. I hope you have friends that went to Festival and took better photos than I! How do you approach your visit if you know you only have 40 minutes? I haphazardly wandered random aisles. As a result there are entire categories I did not see. There are still some fabulous quilts though: It was the Ruby Jubilee (40th) year and they celebrated with this over-the-top display of red…