November 20, 2014

I added some borders to my current project.  I tried out a few "orphan" semicircles but decided they were over the top.

I pulled the extras off and basted down the basics.

 I've cut out a bunch of embellishments from lutradur and fused fabric but that will have to wait til I have time.

November 18, 2014

I've been working on more circles. Inspired by my class with Jenny Rayment? In part. Thinking of old celestial maps...

Fun with a 9 degree wedge ruler

Background fabric is a gorgeous hand dye by Carol Eaton.

I ended up cutting the main circle down in size considerably.

I added some dimensional sun rays in the center.

I added an outside ring for the circle (curved piecing is fun!). I used the ring I cut off the original circle as a template for fitting purposes.

Now playing around with lutradur and other embellishments. I think this piece will change dramatically before it is done.

November 13, 2014

In Houston, I took three classes. I was very impressed with their overall quality.

Thursday afternoon, I took a class with Wendy Butler Berns called "Thumbnail to Grand Scale."

In this photos, Wendy is holding one of her designs that has been englarged to a grand scale.

Friday, I took a wonderful class with Jenny Rayment, called "Tucked and Embellished Circles."  I just adore Jenny's quilts and have admired them at shows for years. She is a great teacher with a wicked sense of humor.

 We learned how to make tucks, and embellish the edges with couched yard, or satin stitches.

We had an option for making a second example, using different techniques.

 Jenny's examples

 sewing machines were provided. this is a necchi machine, very nice!

 some people used batiks

 I just used muslin.

I really enjoyed this all day, hands on class.

One day, when I grow up....

 Aren't they gorgeous~

Lastly on Sunday morning, I took a three hour class with Rita Lynne, making 3-D flower embellishments.

One of the good things about Sunday classes, is teachers don't want to haul home class supplies and they give you extras! We got double kits on each of these flowers.

November 12, 2014

While at IQF, I filmed a three minute video for Quilt Alliance.  I spoke about my quilt It's Not the House, specifically how it was designed and constructed, and the story behind its design. I was nervous but it was really fun!

Speaking of fun, Amalia and I dressed up for Halloween and headed to dinner with new friends.

We might have had a few drinkies at Pete's Piano Bar.

Saturday, several friends and some family came to see the show with me!

My niece Charlotte led the way through the show most of the time. When she wasn't molesting the potted plants!

We bravely explored the food truck park after walking around the show. So many choices and the food was sooooooo good.

Speaking of good food, Julie took us to Fadi's on Sunday. Amazing!

It's always hard to let this darling go home with Lorna and Chris, and not with me!

November 11, 2014

My quilt It's Not the House was part of the Festival Gallery of Quilt Art: Home exhibit. It was really an honor to have my quilt hang among so many other gorgeous quilts.

When I arrived, I checked to see if it had been hung according to my instructions, but it wasn't. So I found a white glover and fixed it.

I think it hangs better with those doors pulled back and attached with the magnets.

I found the What's for Dinner? exhibit next.

My quilt was placed next to Jamie Fingal's Thai Chicken (made from neckties).

Amalia's Fruitful Art, Fruit for Art was also on the table. 

Some more of my favorites from What's for Dinner?

The exhibit had a nice "menu" with our artists' statements for perusal.

November 10, 2014

I'll be doing a five day review of my trip to Houston. It's taken me a week to recover, mull over all the ideas I was exposed to, all the new people I met, download  a gajillion photos, and get my everyday life back on track.

Here are a few of my favorite quilts. There were seriously too many to photograph.

This gorgeous quilt was pieced out of apple core shapes, and sprinkled with delicate cherry blossom appliqued flowers.

I love the combination of drawn and stitched lines on this quilt.

Kelp by Sheila Frampton-Cooper

Another by Sheila Frampton-Cooper, called Metamorphosis.

Cheryl Sleboda's awesome quilt with a long German name that means "Speed."

The quilt I stood in front of the longest (outside of my own, ha ha) was this reproduction of a 14th century quilt. It took 40+ women over 7000 hours to complete. It is made with a technique called "boutis."

The display was backlit so you could really  see how each little area was stuffed.