PIQF Santa Clara

I will be teaching at Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara -
October 11 - 14, 2012
Santa Clara Convention Center
Santa Clara, California

There are still a few openings in two of my classes -

Dancing Trees



And SunSet Pines

These are great classes and fun to do, I provide all the fabric you just show up with a cutting board, ruler, wonderunder, and rotary cutter.

I hope to see you there.

Quilts in public places

I love to see quilts displayed in public places.

I have a few of my works displayed in health centers. I like to think that is makes  people happy to view them.

Art made with fabric is often warm and inviting, as so many woman are.

When I was in NC recently, my two hostess took me to The First Citizens Bank in Hendersonville, NC. Hanging on the walls of this impressive building where quilts made by local quilt artists that had been commissioned by the Architect for this building . There were also several beautiful and striking antique quilts.

Each of the pieces of art was displayed behind Plexiglas and mounted on linen boards. The displays were stunning.

Here are just a few of the pieces.

“Golden Threads and Silver Needles made by Georgia Bonesteel, 1988


I saw Georgia at the quilt guild and we had a nice chat. I didn’t realize that she once lived in the Chicago land area, and worked at Marshall Fields, as did I.


“Stormy Sea” made by Barbara Swinea 1988. This is beautifully crafted and HAND quilted.



“Love Apple Variation” made by Linda Cantrell, 1988. This is a very different piece for Linda who makes fun and whimsical pieces that often tell a story. Notice Linda is talking, as she often is, as she is always telling a fun story.



Antique 1 1/2” squares





I believe this was made of wool. All of the quilts did not have their “name” tags with them as they had recently been rehung and moved.



This piece was behind the tellers at the bank. “Mirage” by Ellen Kochansky, 1988




Also by Ellen,”Form-Content”

What a great way to view quilts and what a wonderful setting for them. I hope the people of Hendersonville enjoy this great art.

The Dog rules

We have discovered the George is mostly deaf. This is sad news for our beloved friend.

However on the bright side it doesn’t really seem to bother him. He lip reads.

Old age sucks



George has been my loyal companion for over 13 years. 

Sure he was the boys dog first. But the boy moved out.


Erik looks so smarmy here, I think is was trying to look cute. George always looks cute.

Dogs rule in this house.

Birds and Flowers Part 2

Little Fused Art Quilts with Frieda and Laura – Birds and Flowers Part 2 starts today on the Quilt Show. Laura continues her lesson on making her little quilt, Birds and Flowers, follow along as she shows you how to build a nest for your birds. Even a bird brain can do this easy weaving technique.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to watch Laura and I make art quilts. It is just like taking a class with us, or being in our booth. We don’t hold back.

If you are not already a member I think you would really enjoy being one. The Quilt Show is a great resource for all kinds of quilting information. I watch all kinds of videos on this site and learn a lot from some great and very experienced quilters.

Press ON!

Mary Jo’s

I just returned from teaching in North Carolina.

I had a fabulous time. First I was with the group in Shelby. Fun Gals. I stayed with my new BFF Molly in her charming log home out next to a King’s Mountain state park. It was so pieceful there, ha ha.

Then the Asheville gals picked me up and we went to Mary Jo’s in Gastonia. OMG was it fabulous.

I have heard about Mary Jo’s for years, I mean YEARS. I even have a little post-it note on my bulletin board with the name of this store on it from years ago when someone told me about it. They have everything there.

I think there is every collection of quilt fabric in the store. And I love the way it is organized. By style not by designer.

So all the Christmas fabric was together, and then all the DOTS were together, then all the animal prints were together, then all the bark fabric was together. There were rows and rows of fabric.

There was also upholstery fabric, and trims and buttons, and glitter, and notions.

It is a great place to visit.

I added to my black and white collection, of which I will someday make a black and white quilt. Every quilter must make one black and white quilt before they die.

Here is the list of quilts I think every quilter needs to make.

A sampler quilt – didn’t we all start this way? I know I did.

A log cabin – one of my very first quilts.

A lone star – still need to make

A tree quilt – many, many of these

A black and white quilt – collecting for this

A mariner’s compass quilt – made a block once

A robbing peter to pay Paul quilt – made a block once

and a wedding ring quilt – have pieces cut out for this

I have done about half of these. So I still have several to do along with all my own original designs, which in my opinion are the most important of all of the ones listed.

BTW I stayed with my other new BFF Barbara in Asheville also out in the mountains. It was like being on vacation. Thanks Barb. All teaching trips should be this great.

This is what it looked like at Barb’s house. Loved it. Already missing it, but so glad to be home for a week.

Have a happy week.

Can’t help myself

George and went up to the woods today for our daily walk.
I haven’t been going there much this summer.
It is so much nicer to walk out by the man made lake.
I just can’t help myself. These were laying all along the path.
We must have had a good wind last night.
Don’t you just love the limey “Frieda” green of the Acorns themselves?
I sure do.


Fall is here today.
I do love the fall weather.
Happy Quilting everyone.

Splintering Light

I often ask people to send me images of their quilts if they use my hand dyed fabrics in the process of making them.

Recently I received this image from Carol.

Here is what she said about the quilt and the fabrics.

The quilt is made with small "chips" of the silks, fused onto a background, and the tree is cotton with cotton thread embellishment.  Throughout the piece, long slender "splinters" of holographic thread accent the background.
Your and Laura's silks are amazing.  I nicknamed them my stash of liquid color.
Your artistry is much admired.  I hope to meet you someday.
Best wishes,
Carol


It is truly a magnificent quilt.

Thanks for sharing Carol!

Sally Mavor

• September Special on my website. With every order over $30 receive a free copy of my pattern Holiday Moments.

One of the other exhibits that we saw at the Art Institute in Chicago recently was this very whimsical and charming children’s book illustration instillation.

May 12 – October 28, 2012 Told and Retold: Picture Book Artists from Studio Goodwin Sturges at the Ryan Education Center at the Art Institute of Chicago. Two of Salley Mavor’s original fabric relief illustrations from Pocketful of Posies will be displayed, along with artwork in a variety of mediums from 7 other illustrators who are all represented by the children’s book agency, Studio Goodwin Sturges.

All of us were thoroughly enchanted with Sally Mavor’s work.
The pictures I took of her pieces are not very good. So go to her website and see her wonderful hand stitched wool illustrations.



Aren’t these just fabulous?

Jenny Bowker

I meet Jenny Bowker many years ago while teaching in New Zealand. She is a fabulous quilter and lecturer and she was responsible for bringing the Stitch Like An Egyptian Exhibit to the US.

I only saw her briefly at the quilt show but here are a few of her quilts that she brought along for the show.




I just love the colors in this piece.






I love writing in quilts, and I think this is a beautiful example of script on a quilt.

The Egyptian Tent Makers

There was a wonderful exhibit at the AQS Grand Rapids quilt show. 

Stitch like an Egyptian.

I only got to see it the very last day of the show. I am very bummed out that I waited so long.

All of the pieces were for sale in the show and I know I would have bought at least one of the smaller pieces.

Enjoy







I DEFINITELY would have bought this piece. Sigh, maybe next time.






Or maybe this one. So beautiful. I love the Papyrus? and fish in this piece.