Amish influence

I realized looking at some of my older quilts that I have been heavily influenced by Amish quilts.
I have always loved their simplicity of design and the striking contrast of solid colors that older traditional Amish Quilts use.

It may be one of the reasons that I started hand dying my own fabrics to emulate the rich and saturated colors that some of those quilts use.

This little miniature quilt was made with some of my early hand dyed fabrics and accented with two wonderful old Marimekko fabrics. I remember I barely had enough to do the squares and the binding with the black fabric.

This little quilt was constructed on 1/4” graph paper and paper pieced. It measures 12” x 12”. and has hand quilting in the border.


Amish Squares


Several years ago there was a wonderful exhibit at the Illinois State Museum in southern IL, entitled Illinois Amish Quilts. Laura and I drove down to view it. I was inspired by one of the crib quilts in that show to piece this wall quilt.



Again this was constructed with some of my early hand dyed fabrics.

For my book Fabric to Dye For, I created this quilt

Amish Leaves



This is an all fused quilt made with one set of 12 blackened gradation squares. It was challenging and fun to make.


Looking at these quilts make me what to work this way again. I guess it is good to revisit things from time to time.

Bargain shopping

I found these great bargains at a resale shop recently.
I just love a bargain.

They were each 50cents. WoW

The Paula Nadlestern book alone was worth the whole trip.

I worked with Paula this summer at the NQA show in Columbus OH, she is really fabulous. We found out we both love coffee ice cream. Quilters are just so great. Have a great fall weekend!!

Post Cards for Pets

I was just reading on the Quilt Art list a post by my friend Pokey Bolton.
This is what she posted.

For this fall’s International Quilt Festival/Houston, we are launching our
first of three Festival Pet Projects, and we are inviting YOU for this
fall’s show to make fabric postcards that will sell for $20 each to
benefit Friends for Life.

Would you be willing to make and donate a one-of-a-kind fabric postcard?
I am hoping we get at least 500 fabric postcards, and if they all sell, that
is $10,000! (And wouldn’t it be fantastic if we got even more?)
We encourage ALL types of fabric postcards: animal-themed, abstract
imagery, landscapes, floral pieces, etc. The point is to raise as much
funds as we can!
If you are interested in making a fabric postcard (or two or three or
more), here are the requirements:
Each fabric postcard must be 4? x 6? and can have either a horizontal or
vertical orientation. They should be stitched (hand or machine) and
consist of a front, batting (or interfacing), and a back. As these
postcards will not be going through the mail, it is OK if they are in
excess of 1/8? in thickness. So if you want to heavily embellish your
postcard(s), go for it!


You are not limited to making just one fabric postcard. Create as many
fabric postcards as you like!
On the back side of the fabric postcard, please sign your name and title
your postcard. (Contact information is optional.)

These fabric postcards are due at the Quilts, Inc. office no later than
Tuesday, October 23rd. Please note: this is a received-by date.
You can mail as many fabric postcards as you would like, but please
place them in a padded envelope. This way they will stay in pristine
condition to be displayed at Festival. Please mail them to:

Festival Pet Project
Attn: Pokey Bolton
7660 Woodway
Suite 550
Houston, TX 77063

I personally plan on making at least one in honor of my dear friend George. I might even make one for my old friend Socks.

Here are some I made a few years ago that were not animal themed.

If you are in Houston I hope you will buy one.

AND


Be sure to visit Laura and I in our Booth #839 ARTFABRIK and FRIESTYLE Designs. See you there.

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!