Photos Online of Fashion Using Tie Dye Fabrics

This is an interesting site that has twelve photos of the new fashions.  The photos shown are of tie dye fabrics.  What do you think?

http://tinyurl.com/yjp23tr

“Form, Not Function” Quilt Art at the Carnegie, New Albany, Indiana, January 8 – March 6, 2010

“Form, not Function” Quilt Art at the Carnegie will be exhibited in New Albany, Indiana, at the Carnegie Center, from January 8 – March 6, 2010.

Further info is at:

http://www.carnegiecenter.org/exhibit_form.html

Amulets
Terry Jarrard-Dimond

Pink Glove Dance for Breast Cancer Awareness on You Tube

This You Tube video  was presented by employees at the Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, for breast cancer awareness.

Worth seeing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw

The daughter-in-law of  Caryl Hancock, who is  a quilt artist friend, Emily MacInnes Somers, created, directed and choreographed this  last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.

Medline wanted to  promote their new pink gloves; the idea came about, and   many employees wanted to participate including  doctors and patients, all having fun doing it.

When the video  got to  one million hits,  Medline was to make a huge contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community.  When I checked the You Tube video today, they have more than four million hits already!

New Bonnie McCaffery Vidcast of Quilts in 2009 International Quilt Festival, Houston

Bonnie McCaffery has a new vidcast, which is of the 2009 International Quilt Festival in Houston last month.       She shows some quilts that I haven’t seen posted online anywhere else at:   http://www.bonniemccaffery.com/vidcasts/041.html

The creativity of the quilt artists amazes me!

“Transformations ‘09: Reflections” Exhibit at Guilford Art Gallery in Guilford, Connecticut, Through January 3, 2010

The Guilford Art Center presents the latest exhibition of the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), Transformations ‘09: Reflections, on view now through January 3, 2010. The art center’s site is: http://guilfordartcenter.org/

“Fiberistic Journeys” at Anderson Art Center, Kenosha, Wisconsin, January 24 – March 21, 2010

FIBERISTIC JOURNEYS, a quilt  exhibit, will be held at the Anderson Art Center, 121 66^th St., Kenosha, WI on January 24 through March 21, 2010.

The Opening Reception will be on Jan. 24, 2010 from 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM. Exhibitors will be Robbi Joy Eklow, Ann Fahl, Beth Gilbert, Denise Havlan, Annette M. Hendricks and Rachel Wetzler.

The center’s site is: http://www.andersonartscenter.com/

Sandhill Crane Migration Through Jasper-Pulaski in Northern Indiana

We are going to the Jasper-Pulaski Wildlife Refuge in northwest Indiana later this week to see the thousands of sandhill cranes on their migration through the area.   As they continue their southern migration, many fly right over our place.

They constantly chatter back and forth, so they are noisy.   We always know when they are overhead.   They fly very high and look small because of the altitude at which they fly, but the chatter alerts us to their flight.

Listen to the Sandhill Cranes during their fall migration (.wav file)

This is a You Tube video of the migration taken at dusk on November 28, 2009 at Jasper-Pulaski.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMQDBupn-Q

The sandhills    come in from all directions to rest for the night.  The crane count was approximately 22,000.   A nature spectacle that is well worth experiencing,  I’ve been told.

The migration  is one of Indiana’s greatest wildlife spectacles at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area.  Each fall, tens of thousands of sandhill cranes visit Jasper-Pulaski’s  marshes.  Two observation towers provide great viewing points to see thousands of sandhill cranes in fall migration.

• Jasper-Pulaski Map

Artful Bras Being Auctioned on Ebay

The Quilters of South Carolina Quilters Guild is located in Columbia.  They did the “Artful Bras” project.   To raise awareness of breast cancer, 41 members of Quilters of South Carolina artfully decorated 50 bras, which became the ARTFUL BRA exhibit.  After traveling the state of South Carolina for the past year, a book was published.

Now the bras are up for auction on Ebay at:  http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=34978

The Guild’s web site is www.quiltersofsc.org

Videos of European Quilt Association’s 2009 Festival of Quilts

Here is the main video of the European Quilt Association’s 20th Anniversary at the 2009 Festival of Quilts.   The quilts are from seventeen countries. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=145238694362

There are several videos about the Festival: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Festival-of-Quilts/114469513421?v=app_2392950137&viewas=0

“Triple Play” the 2009 Journal Quilt Project Online

“Triple Play” the 2009 Journal Quilts are now online:

http://www.quiltart.com/triple_play/works_tn.html

You’ll have to copy and paste this one to get the site to come up.

The page you get is the thumbnail.

The main index page is:  http://www.quiltart.com/triple_play/index.html

I can’t read the wording, white lettering on black page.  Hopefully, you will be able to on your computer.

A New Web Log!

I finally am starting a blog!

I’ll talk about dyeing fabric, art quilts, photography, my pets, and flower garden, as well as appraising quilts and other quilted textiles, and other subjects textile-related.

The quilt above is Dancing Lilies. It was juried into the International Quilt Festival’s exhibit of “In Full Bloom” and will be shown in that exhibit at the show in Houston the end of October. Then it will travel with the exhibit for a year before it is shipped back to me.

Here’s a detail of it…….

International Quilt Festival

The Dancing Lilies is in the “In Full Bloom” exhibit. A photo of Dancing Lilies is on the IQF postcard that was sent to all the vendors for Quilt Market. You can see it on the IQF site at http://quilts.com/fqm08/info/postcard.pdf

My piece that is in “The Sky’s the Limit” is Buzzards Bay. The digitals for it are on my desk top computer, which is at home. I’ll put it up when I return home in a couple of weeks.

Buzzards Bay is a disperse dye depiction of a sunset on Buzzards Bay in Southcoast, Massachusetts. For years now I have taken photos of the magnificent sunsets here.

Here are a few:

More Massachusetts’ Sunsets

A Day to Think About Color and Quilts

Today it is raining heavily due to two storms coming north along the Atlantic coast.
It's dark and glum outside.
BUT, we can always think about color and quilts.

Some of my work can be seen on the INfiber website at:
 http://indyfiber.com/artists/schuetz.html
Looking at the photos and the colors makes me smile.
INfiber is a group of twenty-one fiber artists who
meet at the Indianapolis Art Center in Indianapolis
on the first Sunday monthly.  Great group!

These two quilted pieces were completed and then hand stitched onto Fabric stretched
over canvas on stretcher frames.  



Above is Virginia Bluebells, which is of dupioni silk that I had
hand dyed using MX procion dyes.



Above is Queen Ann's Lace by the Sea, which is cotton.  What you see is
a photo transfer that is machine quilted.  The background on the stretcher
frame is one of my hand dyed cottons.

Magnolias in May

Magnolias in May was shown at the IQF in Chicago April

2007 in the “In Full Bloom” exhibit, as well as in Houston the

previous Fall.

A quilt disaster that turned out well

“Flower Garden” by Caryl Schuetz

Flower Garden was in a regional show where it won the first place award in

the machine quilting category. It was long arm machine quilted by Cathy Franks.

I later entered it into a national show. The quilt was returned over the

Fourth of July weekend (a week earlier than what the show had said they

would return quilts). We were away that weekend. There was a terrible rain

storm that came through our area, where it rained quantities for days.

We returned home to find the box with the quilt in it in the middle of the

front yard.

The box was so soaked that it was caved in on the top. I assumed that the

package was out in the rain since the Friday before the Fourth. Needless to

say, I was stunned! Then I thought, well the quilt would be fine as it was

in its plastic bag inside the box. I took the package inside and opened it

to find that my quilt was on top of the plastic bag….not in it, and that

my quilt was soaked!

I opened the quilt and saw that, along the main fold lines, the dyes had run.

“Ruined” was my first thought. The quilt was insured and I called UPS.

UPS would have paid me for the value of the piece, but I might have to give

them the quilt.

I thought about that for a few days and decided that I would not collect on

the insurance as I would keep the quilt.

The International Quilt Association was having a new exhibit, “In Full

Bloom I”. I figured that, after gently attempting to get out the bleeding

spots, which did not come out, I would add beading over all the damaged

areas in the piece as well as put beads in the flower centers and other areas…

so the beads would look like they always were part of the design.

I was thrilled..it worked!

The quilt was juried in for the Houston International Quilt Festival, traveled

for one year. It was on exhibit in Chicago and at The Hague in the Netherlands, too!

What could have become a total loss became a work that was on exhibit for a year,

and who would have thought that could happen! ;-D

Rejection Letters

Rejection letters have been received by many fiber artists just recently, I noticed as I read the QuiltartList.

I sure have had my share of rejections. At first I tend to take it personally, but I shouldn’t and I know I shouldn’t. Easier said than done!

In discussing this with fiber artist friends, I have found out that they, too, take the rejection of their work personally. One of my friends saves all her rejection letters. I do not.

I first read the letter and silently think, “How could they not want my quilt?” I begin to chill out; the next day I pitch the letter and go on. I begin thinking about where I will enter that piece next. And I am over it.

Some years back I wrote to all the known quilt-related publishers, as I tried to get a publishing company to take my manuscript for my first book. Every one rejected my proposal! I was told and I had read that this would more likely happen than not.

I worked on writing my second book, which was about Indiana’s Amish Quilts at the Indiana State Museum. The book would have photos and info about the David Pottinger Collection of Amish quilts from Indiana, as well as instructions to make 18 of those quilts.

I was already an American Quilter’s Society certified appraiser of quilted textiles, so I wrote to AQS about their publishing my book. The manuscript was rejected, as they already were doing a book on Amish quilts that year. I didn’t approach any other publishers, because……

that fall I met an editor, who was with a publishing company, at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. She and I talked and she loved the idea of a book about making tee shirt quilts. There was no book out there on the subject.

We met a few months later and she and the publisher (her husband) took the manuscript. The book was published! Fabulous Tee Shirt Quilts was finally realized. That was my third book; the others do not have a publisher. And much time passed before the book was published. Now there are several other books on the subject.

But talk about rejection and not taking it personally……it is not easy. We live and learn from our experiences. All of it has made me a stronger person.

I noticed an interesting and timely article on Christine Kane’s blog. It’s about not taking things personally. You might like to read it. This is the site:

http://www.christinekane.com/blog/how-to-not-take-things-personally-a-practical-guide

Go out there and choose where you want your work to be exhibited next, if it is not accepted into the first one you entered. Keep trying!

You Are Worth the Time

I think you’ll get something out of seeing this You Tube video. It is titled:

You Are Worth the Time.
It is also, WORTH the time to to see the video. The message is
pertinent to artists of all mediums and beautifully explains why artists DO make
art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EaUb4zk0Ow

Another Glorious Sunset

I love the way Mother Nature chooses her colors.   I am going to have to dye

some fabric after seeing this glorious sunset!  I can see this one as inspiration

for a piece.

Buzzards Bay

This is my newest work which will be shown in the “Sky’s the Limit” exhibit at the International Quilt Festival in Houston later this month. Then it will be at the IQF shows in Chicago and Longbeach next year; it will travel for three years before coming home.

It is of a sunset in Southcoast, Massachusetts, in Fairhaven at Wilburs Point.  The piece is disperse dyed onto  satin.  It was long arm quilted by Cathy Franks of Carmel, Indiana.

Here is a detail.

A Walk in the Woods

We went walking in the woods Sunday, such a beautiful day, actually a perfect day.  Obie and Sunny, my long coat shepherds, accompanied us.  The only thing better in their minds than riding in a car, is walking around outside.

Obidiah and Sunny

 

 

 

 

 

Color was tops.  I think the height of fall color in the Indianapolis area is the time right in the middle of October.  We veered off the paths and hiked up the hills through the woods where Maury found cock-in-the- woods fungi at the base of a tree.  I took digitals of the fungi, which I will include in my next post.

Cock-in-the-Woods Fungi

Here are the photos of the uncommon fungi, cock-in-the-woods, that we found in the woods last week.

The dogs and I hiked through the woods again yesterday.  Such a colorful time of year!

Crisp Mornings = Urge to Make a Hearty Soup

These last few mornings have been cold and the air  crisp.

There are few things that I like about cold weather and winter, but hearty soup with salad and a grainy bread …the best!

The other good things about winter (in my mind) are:

2. No bugs

3. No road and highway construction

4. Staying home and working in the studio, when the weather is horrid

The list is short.

The soup that I will make  is  Fairhaven’s Manhattan Clam Chowder.  Yum…..

Here is the recipe.

Crockpot: Fairhaven’s Manhattan Clam Chowder

7 generous servings

½ lb. Chopped bacon: Cook and break up. Keep a little bacon drippings to add later.

Finely chop: 4 medium onions, 3 large carrots, 2 celery stalks, 2 Tbsp. parsley

3 finely diced medium potatoes

1 1lb.13oz. can tomatoes

2 10oz. Cans chopped clams in liquor (or a combination to equal approximately 20 oz. clams)

2 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1 ½ tsp. thyme

1 can Campbell’s Manhattan clam chowder (Optional) plus 2 soup cans hot water, (which is 2 ¾ cups).

Crockpot on high for about 3 – 4 hours, or on medium for 6 – 8 hours.

Note: You can use 3 cans if you like lots of clams. We use Snow’s brand.

If you don’t include the Campbell’s soup, still add 2 ¾ cups hot water.

Enjoy……

Blue

This is Nova, our California cat, who loves to get into things. The duffel bag sure brings out her blue eyes.

Vote!

Be sure to get out and vote today!

“I Dream About Houses” on You Tube

I just came across this on a You Tube site:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7XaLKx77rk

Check it out.

Kimono Exhibit In Florida

Here’s an exhibit to see if you’re in Sarasota, Florida.  It’s a kimono exhibit at the Ringling Museum that is on until February 8th.  Fashioning Kimono:  Art Deco and Modernism in Japan

Most of the printing and weaving in the 100 kimonos are examples of the 1920’s – 30’s era.  There are also some traditional shibori designs; some of the colors in these, though, are purple, orange, and red.  Others are from the late 19th century.  Displayed are formal, semi-formal, and casual kimono, haori jackets, and undergarments worn by men, women, and children.  These kimono are from the Montgomery Collection in Lugano, Switzerland.

Visit this site to see photos of the kimonos. http://www.ringling.org/Exhibitions_Kimono.aspx?id=274

“You Tube” Videos from International Quilt Festival

If you want to see some videos from the Houston’s International Quilt Festival in October, Go to:

http://equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/videos.html

The second “You Tube” down has some of the beautiful garments from the Bernina Fashion Show.

The fourth down is from SAQA’s “A Sense if Time” exhibit in Houston.

The fifth down are the International Quilt Festival’s awards from October 2008’s Houston show.

These “You Tube” videos are on the Equilter.com site.

Eye Candy Videocast of IQF Quilts

Bonnie McCaffery presents a quilt-related videocast monthly.  This month her subject is Houston’s International Quilt Festival, where she shows many quilts exhibited in the show.   Great eye candy!  Go to:

http://bonniemccaffery.com/vidcasts/029.html

Thoughts on Displaying Small Quilts

Check out Laura Cater-Woods’ blog to see what she is doing with her small works.

http://www.cater-woods.com/weblog/?page_id=444&preview=true

You have seen a few of my pieces that are similarly done.    I do think that people “out there” can relate to art presented in this way.  They know that they would hang it on a wall.  With our “soft works”,   I have heard many non-textile people at exhibits and galleries ask “What would I do with that?”

Virginia Bluebells is my hand dyed dupioni silk that I applied to a stretcher frame.  I printed a photo transfer of my bluebells onto Jacquard brand  soft feel silk that is pretreated to be washable using my Epson Photo R1800 printer.  I machine quilted around the designs of the flowers and leaves, completed the piece and then, to secure it to the dupioni,  hand stitched along the top edge and at the two bottom corners.  A hanging wire is on the back of the frame.

Queen Ann's Lace by the Sea is cotton. What you see is a photo transfer
onto cotton that is machine quilted.  The background fabric is my hand
dyed cotton that I stretched over a stretcher frame and stapled on the
back with a heavy duty staple gun. I hand stitched the completed quilt
to the background across the top and at both of the bottom corners.
I then finished the back by applying a hanging wire and brown paper.
This is from a photo taken by Mary Fisher of the sea off shore from
the Newport, Rhode Island mansion, The Breakers. Mary gave me permission
to  use her photo, which I arranged and cropped.

Art Quilts XIII: Lucky Break Exhibit

Art Quilts Year XIII:Lucky Break

The juried exhibit of contemporary art quilts from the U.S., Canada, Belgium, and Israel  is on until the end of the year at the Chandler Center for the Arts at 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, Arizona.

http://chandlercenter.org/visual-arts/exhibition-hall.html

“Daily Visuals” – Inspiring & Worth Reading

Jane Dunnewold has recently started a blog with her photography.

She has committed to posting a daily photograph and a few thoughts when applicable – on color, design, spirit and making on “Daily Visuals.”

Her photography and her related notations are well worth your time.  This photo of hydrangeas is an excellent example of the caliber  of her work.

The spot is: http://dailyvisuals.blogspot.com/

Louisiana Creole Gumbo

We are all so busy this time of the year!  I will be making this creole gumbo recipe, an easy meal to make, and leftovers are the best.  Hubby and I will get a couple of dinners from half the recipe.  I can then spend most of the time this week readying for Christmas.  There are still presents to wrap and cookies to bake…….

Louisiana Creole Gumbo

Serves 6 (as an entré,  serves 8 otherwise)

1 medium onion, chopped finely

2 (10 ½ oz. cans condensed Manhattan style clam chowder (Campbell’s) -(one soup will work, if you don’t have two))

1 lb. canned tomatoes

1 lb. can stewed tomatoes

6 oz. crab meat (optional)

1 (15 oz.) can chili without beans

1 (10 oz.) frozen cut okra

¾ tsp. chili powder

1 lbs. frozen small shrimp I usually add the shrimp about an hour before dinner. ( If added at the beginning, the shrimp shrink up a lot.)

Put in a crockpot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

You can serve this with or without cooked rice. I use American brown Basmati rice.

Not all grocery stores carry this Campbell’s soup, so you might call groceries in you area to see who does.)

You can also prepare this on the stove, but I never have tried it that way, because the crockpot is so easy to use.

When I half the recipe, I use one can of stewed tomatoes and no canned tomatoes and do not put in crab meat.

This may sound like an odd recipe to you, but everyone loves this gumbo.

All you need to serve with this is a nice green salad.

Swiss Quilts at New England Quilt Museum

The New England Quilt Museum will  show Swiss art quilts.

A new exhibit of quilts made by “Fabric Connection” will be shown from January 22 to April 19, 2009, at the New England Quilt Museum.    Each of the seven members  has her own distinct style and developed her own innovative techniques.

Together, Maryline Collioud-Robert, Beatrice Lanter, Elisabeth Portmann, Ursula Kern, Ursula Koenig, Katherina Della Chiesa, and Sylvia Einstein have created the  exhibit.

For more information, visit: http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/Exhibitions_Upcoming.shtml

To view the artists’ work, go to http://www.fabric-connection.ch/

This photo is from the Museum.

by Elisabeth Portmann

Coos Museum’s Two Fiber Art Exhibits

The Coos Museum in Coos Bay,  Oregon, has a couple of fiber art works on exhibit now through February 21, 2009.

Check their web site at:  http://www.coosart.org/exhibitions_2008.html

For the the first exhibit with photos go to:  http://www.coosart.org/cloth/saqa/saqa_tour.html

This is an international competition of art quilts  from SAQA members that were shown at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England.

The second exhibit, “New Focus Art Quilts 2008,” is a traveling exhibition of 50 small format art quilts from five countries.

Go to:  http://www.coosart.org/cloth/focus/new_focus_tour.html for photos of pieces from this exhibit.   This photo is the Museum’s.

An Experience No to be Repeated

We are home!

Yesterday was a disaster; we were to fly to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands in the Carribean taking my son and his family as a Christmas gift to them, but we never left Indy’s airport.

We got up at 4AM, and got to the airport at 5AM for a 7:03 flight to Philly, a change of planes there, and on to Provo.

We arrived to go to the end of a line at US Airways, that was all the way through the concourse to the other end.  After an hour and a half wait, it was our turn to check our luggage, etc.  There were only three airline employees at check in to help all the people in our endless line who were flying Coach.
I, the night before, was able to get my son’s, his wife’s, my husband’s and my boarding passes online for the entire trip…funny thing was, boarding passes for our three grandchildren were only between here and Philly.   None for Philly to Provo!
At the desk yesterday, the woman checked and said, “Oh, you’ll have to go on to Philly and try to get boarding passes there for the children.”  US Air did not have them in Indy; there were no seats for them.

We had purchased our tickets in April.
Oh, well.  Then she said that the flight at 7:03 would not be held up for us (it was now 20 minutes before the plane was to leave)..  All the time we waited in the line, an airline employee came by pulling out passengers for Charlotte and then for Pittsburg; he took them to the front of the line to check in so they would not miss their flight, but he never came back to help those of us who were in danger of missing their flight.
At this time, we had fifteen minutes to make our flight.

We made the mistake of going though “family” security, where we were suppose to be able to go through more easily and stay together.  We had to carry the pan with the shoes and everything else from one area to another, not the regular ‘take the shoes off and the jacket, put the carry on on the conveyer belt with the pan, etc, and watch them go through.”  No,  this was carry stuff from one place to another…unreal!

We finally got through security, ran to the gate only to find that our flight had been delayed and had just been changed  to another gate.
We hopped on the auto walk, arrived at the new gate to learn that no one knew what time the flight would leave.
We had 50 minutes as our connector time in Philly.  My husband talked with the pilot, who was standing there, and he said there was no way we could make our connection.

We checked further to learn that all flights were full; we could not get to Provo yesterday.  Maybe we couldn’t get there today or tomorrow either.  There were no seats for the girls out of Philly, as US Airways messed up!

So we came home.  We are hoping to get a full refund from the airline.  We picked up the dogs from the kennel; we called Coral Garden Resort and canceled, also the car rental place.  My son will go back to work and save his vacation time for later.
No trip!

Oh, of course all our six pieces of luggage went to Provo!   Even though it would have missed the connection in Philly,  US Air told us that the luggage would be put on the next flight to Provo…then it would eventually come home.

SO our family will come back here to get their luggage.  We will do a trip to the Children’s Museum, maybe IMax, kid stuff.
Since this trip was their Christmas (I am not going to shop now for gifts.) we’ll give them each a check, I guess.

We have learned that we will not take a trip requiring air travel over a major Holiday; we had not tried this before.

May you and your loved ones enjoy a Happy and Prosperous 2009!

IQF’s photos from Town & Country Contest

Bishop’s Grand View by Amanda Onchulenko

This is one of the photos of the quilts from the Town & Country contest from the International Quilt Festival.  The quilt photos  are now on line at the following site:

http://www.quilts.com/home/galleryViewer.php?txtfile=/gallery/fqf08-1/onlineGallery

Don’t you agree that they are wonderful!

Indiana Heritage Quilt Show March 5 – 7, 2009

The 18th Annual Indiana Heritage Quilt Show will be held at the Bloomington, Indiana, Convention Center,  March 5 – 7, 2009.

String of Pearls by Mary Buvia, 2008’s Best of Show  winner

For more  information, go to: http://www.ihqs.org/index.html

Canton Museum of Art’s Kimono as Art February 8 – April 26, 2009

The Canton Museum of Art in Canton, Ohio, will have a Kimono as Art: The Landscapes of Itchuku Kubota  exhibit from
Feb. 8 – April 26, 2009.  There are other planned activities in conjunction with the exhibit.
Visit site:   www.northernohiolive.com/current/story1.htm

Kikkou- Matsukawa/ Tortoiseshell-Pine Bark,  Photo from Museum.

Lists of Entries for Exhibitions

I just learned that Lyric Kinard keeps a list of exhibit entries information for shows, including the entry due date, shipping/show dates,  and email address or web site for obtaining the entry form.

If you show your work, you’ll want to check Lyric’s site regularly!

Here’s the page:

http://www.lyrickinard.com/where_to_show.html

Another site to check regularly for fiber art entries  is: http://fiberartcalls.blogspot.com/

And, I just learned of Michelle Verbeek’s     at: http://www.michelleverbeeck.com/artcall.htm

Winners of Road to California Show Posted

The winners of the Road to California Show have been posted at:

http://www.road2ca.com/2009winners/road/winners.html

“Grape Harvest”, winner of the $3,000.00 Best of Show Award, was sponsored by Hoffman California Fabrics.

Entered by Gina Perkes (Payson,  AZ)

Made by Gina Perkes, Lynn Drennen, Jessie Marinas and Marilyn J. Smith
Quilted by Gina Perkes

The quilts and garments are fabulous!

A Reminder to Check Dunnewold’s Blog

Just a reminder to check Jane Dunnewold’s blog to catch up with her   wonderful photos that she posts daily.

This one is from January 1st.

A new day dawning.

Her blog is: http://dailyvisuals.blogspot.com/

Jane’s daily visuals will get your creative juices going.

Work in Progress

I am trying to complete “View from the Park”, which I plan to enter into the Tactile Architecture exhibit with the International Quilt Festival in Houston.  The due date for entries is February 20th.

What you see in the piece are flat head straight pins, which are being removed as I work in those areas.

I have wanted to make a piece for this exhibit for several years now, as I enjoy seeing the exhibition so much.  I still have to finish machine quilting and appliqueing.

New York State Museum Exhibits in Albany

“TEXTURAL RHYTHMS” will be on exhibit at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY,  through March 1, 2009.

Marion Coleman, Saturday Night Rhythms, 2005. Cotton, various threads, photo transfer, thread writing, machine quilted. Photo by Jim Ferreira.

Another Current Exhibition at New York State Museum: My Brothers’ Thread: Fiber Works by and for Men of the African Diaspora

on through Sunday, March 1, 2009

Harold in the Moment, 2007
Cotton: raw edge appliqué, machine quilted.

Museum’s photo.

Go here to get more information:

http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/calendar/index.cfm

Anderson Arts Center Exhibit

There are currently several quilts exhibits showing at the Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin, until March 29, 2009.

“Quilts: Another Dimension – An International Exhibition”
“Memory Cloths” by Leslee Nelson
“Quilts” by Sally G. Miller

http://sonjisays.blogspot.com/   Sonji Hunt has photos and a write up on the “Quilts: Another Dimension” exhibit on her blog.

Pamela Allen, “Snake Charmer”. detail

This is Sonji’s photo.

Artfull Bras Project for Breast Cancer Awareness

This is the project of  Quilters of South Carolina.

http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm

The artfull bras are so creative!

Below are two of them.

Haute Couture – JoAnn Amidon

Buttons and Bows and Boobs – Sandra Baker

The Artfull Bras Project

Members of Quilters of South Carolina have created one-of-a-kind bras for breast cancer awareness.  The exhibit consists of 49 original pieces to make the public aware of breast cancer, to memorialize those lost to the disease, and to honor survivors.

The exhibit will tour South Carolina until October 2009, when the artfull bras will be auctioned, with the proceeds donated to Best Chance Network, a program which provides care and treatment for uninsured women in the state who have breast or ovarian cancer.

“View From the Park” is done!

Done!  Well, I still have to add the sleeve and quilt label.

Now I am quilting “Poppies”.

Photo to come.

“Rainbow Poppy”

It’s almost done!  Rainbow Poppy is disperse dyed onto soft  satin.    I     manipulated a digital photo of a poppy and played with it on Adobe Photoshop Photo Elements 5.0.

I am very pleased with the way it is turning out.  I’m almost done with the machine quilting.

Fun Art Video

Good art

The most incredible paint brush you’ll ever see.

http://www.wimp.com/paintbrush/

Indiana Heritage Quilt Show March 5 – 7, 2009

It’s almost here!

The 18th Annual Indiana Heritage Quilt Show will be held at the Bloomington, Indiana, Convention Center,  March 5 – 7, 2009.

String of Pearls by Mary Buvia, 2008’s Best of Show  winner

For more  information, go to: http://www.ihqs.org/index.html

Art Cloth Challenge 2008

The Art Cloth Challenge

Check  Jane Dunnewold’s Art Cloth Challenge  here: http://artclothchallenge.blogspot.com/

Each of the twelve participant’s work  is shown in step by step detail,  and is accompanied by  text,  contact info, photos and bio.

The Original Fabric

Photo is Jane Dunnewold’s.

Now go to the site to see what was done with this……..

Woodson Art Museum Exhibit Through March 29, 2009

The national exhibition at the Woodson Art Museum features forty-five quilts from Quilt National 2007.

Quilts are appearing in museums and galleries thanks to exhibitions like Quilt National: The Best of Contemporary Quilts, which is at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, and remains on view through March 29.

For more info and a photo of Virginia Abrams’  “Spring Cascade,” see:

http://newsofthenorth.net/article.cfm?articleID=24616

Fiber Artspace Showing Liz Axford’s Art until April 24, 2009

Fiber Artspace Gallery in San Antonio, Texas, will show Liz Axford’s art, opening on March 5th until April 24th. 

Check out the gallery’s web site for more info:

http://www.fiberartspace.com/home.html

Check Out the Washington Post Article About “Quilter’s Home”

There is an article in today’s Washington Post about the  Quilter’s Home magazine’s January/February 2009 issue entitled “Shocking Quilts: We Show You the Controversial Patchwork.”

Here’s the site:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/04/AR2009030403994.html?referrer=emailarticle

There has been quite a buzz about this issue.

Exhibit of Art Quilts at San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles

“Reservoir: John M. Walsh III Collects”

Contemporary art quilts from the private collection of   John M. Walsh III, will be shown at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles in San Jose, California,  now through July 26, 2009.

For more info,  go to:                                                                                                                 http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/exhibitions_upcoming.html

Wisconsin Wetlands II: River Bend by Sue Benner

Chinese Fiber Art at San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

Now through  April 26, 2009, is a Chinese fiber art exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Quilts

& Textiles in San Jose, California.

Changing Landscapes: Contemporary Chinese Fiber Art is the first exhibition of contemporary Chinese fiber art in the United States.

45 works by 48 artists are included in Changing Landscapes, which showcases works selected from five biennial international fiber art exhibits that Tsinghua University in Beijing had organized and hosted since 2000.

For more info, go to:                                                                                                         http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/exhibitions.html

Aria of Autumn by Tian Wei-Ping

Therese May Exhibit at Triton Museum of Art

Therese May’s work is on exhibit at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, California until May 10, 2009.

Web site is: http://www.tritonmuseum.org/onviewp.htm for more information about the exhibit.

Therese May’s “True is True”

E Pluribus Unum II: Cultures in Cloth – A Challenge

E Pluribus Unum means Out of Many, One.

E Pluribus Unum II  collages can be viewed at:   http://www.quiltart.com/challenges/epu2/index.html

We all have amazing tales of our American experience. Visit
www.culturalcloth.wordpress.com to learn how this project came about.  EPU II:  Cultures in Cloth is available to exhibit in your community.

Thirty-five artists accepted the challenge and  created a 14″ X 14″ fiber collage that told a story from their personal cultural history.

Holi by Meena Schaldenbrand
Plymouth, Michigan

Cultural Collage by Sonia Callahan Piedmont, California, UA

International Quilt Festival – Chicago: April 17 – 19, 2009

The International Quilt Festival comes to Chicago, Illinois, April 17 – 19th, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road in Rosemont, Illinois.

For more info, go to:

http://www.quilts.com/home/shows/viewer.php?page=SpringFestival

My Dancing Lilies and Buzzards Bay will be there.

Dancing Lilies

Buzzards Bay

Fiberart For a Cause – Fundraiser for American Cancer Society

Fiberart For A Cause

2009 Invitational Reverse Auction

of Fabulous Fiberart
Preview now open.
Gold Donor Day
Opens 10 a.m. CST Tuesday, March 24
Closes 9:59 a.m. CST Wednesday, March 25
Artwork offered for a premium donation.

Regular Reverse Auction
Opens 10 a.m. CST Wednesday, March 25
Closes 5 p.m. CST Thurday, March 26

For more information or to place a bid, go to:

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionArtwork2009.html

A piece for auction

Marjorie DeQuincy
A Good Time for Change

“SAQA Squared : A Juried Exhibition of Small Works in Fiber”

The SAQA sponsored  exhibit “SAQA Squared : A Juried Exhibition of Small Works in Fiber ” is at The Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park, California, near downtown Los Angeles.  It is on through April 5, 2009.

For more: http://www.avenue50studio.com/pagesdreamsandvisions.shtml

“Small Study 5″  by Deborah Weir

My Two Accepted to International Quilt Festival Fall 2009

My Rainbow Poppy was accepted into the International Quilt Festival’s “In Full Bloom”  exhibit; View From the Park was accepted into their “Tactile Architecture” exhibit Fall 2009.

Rainbow Poppy

View From the Park

Wen Redmond’s Art Featured in Cape Cod Gallery

Wen Redmond  is featured in the  Provincetown, Massachusetts,  Bowersock Gallery,  on  Cape Cod.

For more, go to the site:
http://www.bowersockgallery.com/Wen-Redmond

Wen Redmond’s  “Before I Knew You”

Two Textile Art Exhibits in Sydney, Australia

This exhibit is at the  Fairfield City Museum and Art Gallery, Smithfield, Sydney, Australia, opening on May 23 through July 5, 2009.

It is an Australian national contemporary textile show that addresses environmental issues.  For additional info, go to:

http://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/default.asp?iNavCatId=11&iSubCatId=213

A Conversation With Rain

by Helen Lancaster

‘ArtCloth: Engaging New Visions’ Exhibit in Australia

The ArtCloth movement is gaining significant momentum in England, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and North America.
This inaugural international ArtCloth exhibition featuring print and mixed media works .
‘ArtCloth: Engaging New Visions’,  will be held at the Fairfield City Museum and Art Gallery, Smithfield, Sydney, Australia from the 29th August to the 11th October 2009.

A Video on Embellishing With Paint Sticks

Laura Murray has a video on the Threads web site for embellishing with paint sticks.  If you’ve never tried using paint sticks and you want to give it a try, you’ll find  Laura’s video to be quite helpful.

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4537/video-embellishing-with-paint-sticks

Thread Painting Technique Video

Manuel’s Free-Motion Embroidery Technique  is a 4  1/2 minute video on the Threads site.  It’s fascinating to see how fast he works and with NO foot or any kind of guard on the machine to protect his fingers.  Check it out.

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3833/video-manuels-free-motion-embroidery-technique

Kimono Exhibition Closing on April 26th

The exhibition closes April 26th.  Be sure to see this magnificent display if you possibly can.   This will probably be your only opportunity to see these kimonos, unless you go to Japan.

There have been glowing  reports  from members of the complexcloth and dyers lists on what an outstanding exhibit this is.

The Canton Museum of Art in Canton, Ohio,  has a Kimono as Art: The Landscapes of Itchuku Kubota  exhibit which is on until   April 26, 2009.  There are other planned activities in conjunction with the exhibit.

Visit site:   http://www.cantonart.org/

and also:  http://www.cantonart.org/32

There is a video at this site: http://www.kimonoexhibit.com/

There is info on Debbi Cooper’s blog about her recent visit.

http://www.artweardesign.blogspot.com/

Kikkou- Matsukawa/Tortoiseshell-Pine Bark

Photo from Museum.

Photos of 2009 Winners in Celebrate Spring! at International Quilt Festival

Celebrate Spring! is the judged show of the International Quilt Association to be held in Rosemont,  Illinois (near Chicago).  Photos of the winners for 2009 can be seen  at:

http://www.quilts.org/winners-spring.html

The International Quilt Festival opens next week on Friday, April 17th, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, with the preview evening on Thursday night.                                                                 For details, go to:                    http://www.quilts.com/home/shows /viewer.php?page=SpringFestival

See you there!

ARTQUILTS: Transitions Opens April 17 – June 7, 2009, at Allenton & Semans Galleries, Durham, NC

The Professional Art Quilters Alliance-South’s exhibit will open on April 17 – June 7, 2009, at the Allenton and Semans Galleries at the Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC.

For information about the  Professional Art Quilters Alliance- South’s upcoming exhibit,  “ARTQUILTS:  Transitions,”  go to:

http://www.artquiltersouth.org/exhibitions/transitions.php

Fiberart for a Cause – “Collage Mania” May 5 – 7, 2009

Fiberart For A Cause is online fundraising for the American Cancer Society.
COLLAGE MANIA  is set for May 5 – 7, 2009.

The Preview begins April 29.  You are going to need all the time between then and May 5 to really LOOK at the art and make your SHOPPING list!

100% is donated directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.   Last year Collage Mania raised $13,000 for the American Cancer Society in two days. Virginia Spiegel, founder and organizer,
says that the goal for Collage Mania 2009 is $20,000.

For more info go to:

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html

Believe by Karen Stiehl Osborn

Gold Donor Day: Tuesday, May 5
All collages are available for
a minimum $80 donation.
Regular Collage Mania: May 6 and May 7
All collages available for
a minimum $40 donation.

International Quilt Festival in Chicago on Now

The International Quilt Festival in Chicago this weekend is wonderful!  Great shopping and fabulous quilts!

For photos of the quilts in the “In Full Bloom IV special exhibit, check out  http://www.quilts.com/sqf09/enVivo/

But better still, go see the show this weekend if you possibly can.  You’ll love it!

Celebrate Spring! is the judged show of the International Quilt Association  held in Rosemont,  Illinois (near Chicago).  Photos of the winners for 2009 can be seen  at:

http://www.quilts.org/winners-spring.html

The International Quilt Festival opened Friday, April 17th, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.      For details, go to:     http://www.quilts.com/home/showsviewer.php?page=SpringFestival

AQS Paducah Show Winners

I just got back from Paducah, where I go every year to see the quilts and to take continuing ed as a American Quilter’s Society certified appraiser.

Great show!  The quilts were fab!

The winners can be seen at:

http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/paducah/2009/contests/quilt_winners.php

Denver National Quilt Festival Winners

The winners from the 2009 Denver National Quilt Festival can be seen at: http://www.quiltfest.com/activities_detail.asp?id=253

“Aspen Glory” by Erlene Irwin

Nadelstern Exhibit Currently at American Folk Art Museum, NYC, until September 6, 2009

Paula Nadelstern’s one person exhibition “Kaleidoscope Quilts,”  is currently at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City until September 6, 2009.  This is the American Folk Art Museum’s first one person show highlighting the work of a contemporary quilt artist.

For additional info, go to the web site for the Museum:                                     http://www.folkartmuseum.org/default.asp?id=2384

American Folk Art Museum
45 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019

Sacred Threads Exhibit Now Until June 28, 2009, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio

The Sacred Threads Exhibition is on now until June  28, 2009, at the Reynoldsburg High School in Reynoldsburg,  Ohio.

Go to the web site for hours and other info:  www.sacredthreadsquilts.com

2009 = A Beautiful Spring = the Need to Create

This has been a beautiful Spring.  After the brutal winter that we had, (There has been no global warming here.) any Spring would be appreciated, but this year we have had such beauty around us.   The flowering  trees:  redbuds, magnolias,  pears, apples and others have been heavy with blooms.

redbud

pear

The wildflowers, too, have been wonderful to see.  There are more than usual this Spring.  The woodland poppies spread so much since last year.  The jack-in-the-pulpits and Solomon’s seals are everywhere!  What a treat!  The Virginia bluebells are always exquisite.

woodland poppy

Virginia bluebells

Looking at Nature all around me has given me a renewed sense of wanting and needing to make my art.  I have my enthusiasm back and the creative bug has bitten me once again.   I am ready to go with it!   I hope that you are, also.

A Photographer’s View of “Fiber of Life”

This is a wonderful view of fiber from  photographer, Carl Wolinsky’s,  perspective…..Fiber of Life.
http://www.puckergallery.com/Catalogue.Wolinsky.pdf

The color is wonderful!

Quilt National on Now Through September 7, 2009

The 16th biennial juried exhibition of contemporary art quilts are on view at the Dairy Barn Arts Center now through September 7, 2009.  The Dairy Barn is located in Athens, Ohio.

For the winners and other info about the 2009 Quilt National, go to: http://www.dairybarn.org/quilt/index.php?section=226&page=281

You can see some installation shots of the show, taken during the artists’ preview, on Andree Fredette’s  blog:
http://andreedoesherthinghere.blogspot.com/

The Dairy Barn Arts Center

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Shows “Through the Needle’s Eye” Until August 9, 2009

^{Wanda Linsley, Water Lillies, silk and cotton on silk gauze, 13.5″ x 16.5″}

The Embroiderers’ Guild of America is exhibiting “Through the Needle’s Eye”, a display of textile art created with needle and thread, which is on until August 9, 2009.

For additional information about this exhibition, go to:   http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/default.aspx?id=81

Crystal Bridges  Museum of Art  is located at the Massey,  in Bentonville,  Arkansas.  Their site is: http://www.crystalbridges.org/

WSJ Article, “Guide to Summer Quilt Shows”

A week ago,  Saturday, May 23, the Wall Street Journal had a lovely article about quilt exhibits and quilts in the Weekend Edition of the paper.   Quilt National in Athens, Ohio,  Sisters Show in Sisters, Oregon, International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, California, are  some of the featured shows.

You can read the article on this site: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203771904574175704270154992.html#project

=SLIDESHOW08

“Dancing Lilies”  by Caryl Schuetz will be in Long Beach.

In North Carolina: Quilt Blocks on Buildings Along Quilt Trails: Summer 2009

Does this sound like fun or what!

Painted quilt blocks adorn barns and other buildings on North Carolina’s “quilt trails.”

Maps can be downloaded at www.quilttrailswnc.org. You can start the quilt trail in Burnsville and pick up a print guide at the Yancey County Chamber of Commerce building’s gift shop.

Machine Sewing Techniques

The Quilt Show web site has quite a few different machine techniques using specific Bernina feet.  Bernina is a major sponsor for the on line show, and they offer these teaching videos.

They will be most helpful to you if you have a Bernina.  (I have a few.) I think, though, that the instructions will be helpful for any other machine.  You just have to figure out which foot is most like the one being used in the instructional video.

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/bernina_videos.php

You don’t have to be a subscriber to view these videos.

Crowd at International Quilt Festival in Chicago

Here is info about the number of visitors, vendors, etc. at the April 2009 International Quilt Festival in Chicago.

http://quilts.com/home/news/viewer.php?page=../../pressreleases/y2009/postSQF09

equilter.com Interviews Paula Nadelstern

Two gallery interviews were done by Luan Rubin of equilter.com with Paula Nadelstern at the American Folk Art Museum, where Paula’s fabulous “Kaleidoscope Quilts” exhibit is on.  Bonnie McCaffery filmed the videos.

This is  part one of the  interview with Paula Nadelstern at the American Folk Art Museum in NYC on YouTube:                                     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKjGXUogNco&feature=related

This is part 2 of the  interview on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjNpSR8SPI0&feature=related

Paula Nadelstern’s one person exhibition “Kaleidoscope Quilts,”  is currently at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City until September 6, 2009.  This is the American Folk Art Museum’s first one person show highlighting the work of a contemporary quilt artist.

For additional info, go to the web site for the Museum:                                     http://www.folkartmuseum.org/default.asp?id=2384

American Folk Art Museum
45 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019

Gloria Hanson went to see the exhibit!  Go to her June 3rd blog to read about her visit. It’s at:  http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/

Free Knitting Online Videos

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

Here are videos on  how to do a lot of different knitting techniques.

The video has close ups of the  hands and yarn that are very easy to see.

Shaving Cream Dyeing Video

Fabric Dyeing 101 has a  2 1/2  minute video on shaving cream dyeing at:

http://blip.tv/file/96535

I have done some shaving cream dyeing.  It’s fun.   I have done it a different way, where the results are a marbled look, if you want…very easy to do.   Try it.  I think you’ll agree.

“Artful Stitches” Exhibition at Pembia Hills Arts Centre, Morden, Manitoba, Until July 3, 2009

Judy Morningstar exhibit, “Artful Stitches”, is on now until July 3, 2009, at Pembina Hills Arts Centre located in Morden, Manitoba, Canada.

More information is at the art center’s site: http://www.pembinahillsarts.com/main/page_exhibits_june_2009.html

U of Maine Fiber Arts Exhibit on Until August 9, 2009

“Intertwined” is an exhibit of Maine fiber art that is on until August 9, 2009, at the University of Maine in Lord Hall Gallery, Orono, Maine.

The exhibit  includes 59 works by 29 artists.

More info can be seen at:
http://www.umaine.edu/news/view_release.php?x=1243358244

A New Grand Puppy Has Arrived

Last weekend, a new little grand puppy arrived at my son’s home.  Her name is Maude.  She is an 8 week old  bloodhound, who arrived at the airport from the breeder in Colorado.

Maude is so little!  But soon enough all that will change.  She is a little cutie!  So gentle and laid back, quite the lover, too.

Bead Fest in Philadelphia Set For August 19 – 23, 2009

The Interweave Bead Fest will be in Philadelphia, scheduled for August 19 – 23, 2009.                                                                For more info, check:                      http://www.beadfest.com/beadfest/philadelphia.cfm

This is the 8th annual Bead Fest.

I love using beads in my quilts.

How About a Trip to Quilt National, Then a Drive Through Southern Ohio to See the Quilt Blocks on the Barns?

I recently wrote about quilt blocks painted on barns along the quilt trail in North Carolina,  quilted gardens in Elkhart County, Indiana, and now I just learned that quilts painted on barns are also in southern Ohio.                      This is  the site to check for Ohio’s: http://ourohio.org/index.php?page=a-patchwork-of-love-2

To learn more about Ohio’s barns and the tour, check out:                            http://ourohio.org/index.php?page=where-to-find-ohio-quilt-barns

The Monroe County tour is written up at: www.monroecountyohio.net Color brochures are available that outline the driving route and directions to each barn location. Contact the Monroe County Tourism office at 740-472-0169 to obtain a brochure. To learn about the Adams County quilt squares, visit www.adamscountytravel.org

Champaign County, Ohio,  also has a quilt barn project going, as do Harrison County, Miami County and Athens County and others.

Right now I am thinking about a trip to Athens to Quilt National, and then some time spent driving along the barn route in Athens County, at least.   What fun!

Quilt Photos From NQA Show on Flickr

If you weren’t able to get to the NQA Show last weekend, there are
105 photos of the National Quilt Association’s show  at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/truvy57/3643650189/in/set-72157619967810794/

Here is a link to the Hanging River exhibit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/truvy57/3644953303/

Jane Dunnewold’s Art Cloth Mastery Program Graduates: “Twelve Voices From One”

“Twelve Voices From One”  is a graduate exhibition of the 2007 Art Cloth Mastery Program.

Jane Dunnewold has put together a blog of the exhibition mounted by her 2007 Art Cloth Mastery program graduates. You can see the beautiful space and some fantastic work at:
http://masteryprogram2007.blogspot.com/

What a Wonderful World

This You Tube is for you animal lovers and Louis Armstrong music lovers.  It’s a friendship between a fawn and a kitten shown to the song of “What a Wonderful World.”   My favorite song!

It made my day today.  I hope it makes you happy inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BuPP_eXINw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thequiltshow.com%2Fos%2Fblog.php&feature=player_embedded

American Quilter’s Society’s Knoxville Show July 22 – 25, 2009

The American Quilter’s Society’s summer show is July 22-25, 2009, at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

For more information: http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/knoxville/2009/general_info/

You Tube Videos About Silk Painting and Other Techniques

Salt & Sugar Techniques: Silk Painting with Jill Kennedy…

StudioGalli

Silk Painting, Part 1

andoatnp

Gutta Technique: Silk Painting with Jill Kennedy

StudioGalli

Thickener Technique: Silk Painting with Jill Kennedy…

StudioGalli

Water Technique: Silk Painting with Jill Kennedy

StudioGalli

Silk Painting Demo with Francine

Do4Silks

Hayatsune Dye Studio: Arimatsu • Narumi Shibori

StudioGalli

Bob Adams : Discharing Dye For Surface Designer…

StudioGalli

Alcohol Technique: Silk Painting with Jill Kennedy

StudioGalli

Hidden Worlds in Silk Painting by Maggie Ayres

maggieayres

Silk Painting: Adding Depth & Contrast in Machi…

StudioGalli

Abstract: Light on Water

pyramiaou

Silk painting – Flower, preparation

yanghaiying

painting on silk, wisteria

yanghaiying

Quilting Arts & Cloth Paper Scissors Wish You H…

pokeybolton

Daniella Woolf: encaustic for fiber artists – S…

StudioGalli

silk painting 1988

hermanbrokie

Silk painting 1 – colouring a pre-outlined piece

yanghaiying

JEAN-BAPTISTE FINE ART ON SILK

soufriere

Silk painting, How about a clean background?!

yanghaiying

silk painting – wave or mountain?

yanghaiying

New England Quilt Festival August 5 – 8, 2009, in Lowell, MA

The New England Quilt Festival is next weekend in Lowell, Massachusetts.  Many exhibits in Lowell are on, and there will be over 500 quilts to see. The dates are August 5 – 8, 2009.

This piece is one in the exhibit ” Quiltscapes at the Whistler ” at the Whistler. The exhibit is on from August 5 – 29, 2009, with an Artist Reception on Saturday, August 8th, 2 – 4PM.  For more info, go to: http://www.whistlerhouse.org/exhibits_lowell_massachusetts.php

Opening Act, by Quilt Artist Elaine Quehl from Ontario, Canada

The  Museum’s photo.

The Brush Art Gallery ’s exhibit,  ART QUILTS LOWELL 2009, is August 5 – September 19, 2009. There will be an Artist Reception on Saturday, August 8, 3 – 5PM.  Their site is: http://www.thebrush.org/exhibitions.htm

“Images 2009″ is at the Tsongas Arena.

A Sense of Balance is the exhibit at the  Boott Cotton Mills Museum gallery. See: http://www.lowell.com/boott-cotton-mills-museum.php

Fabrication of Imagination, at the ALL gallery from August 1 – 30, 2009, 246 Market Street, opposite the National Park Visitor Center in the Market Mills.  There is an Artist Reception on Saturday, the 8th, from 2 – 4PM.   Here’s more: http://www.examiner.com/x-7238-Boston-Artisans-Examiner~y2009m8d1-The-Fabrication-of-Imagination-exhibit-in-Lowell-MA

What Followed Me Home is the exhibit at the American Textile History Museum until August 23, 2009. Their site: http://www.athm.org/future_exhibitions.htm

Maine’s Fiber Art Studio Tour This Weekend August 7 – 9, 2009

One hundred seventeen fiber art studios in Maine are having a Fiber Art Weekend August 7 – 9, 2009.  Go to this site for the studios and maps with other info about the event.   Sounds like lots of fun!    http://www.mainefiberarts.org/TourMap/tourmaplist.html

Slide Show of Cathy Franks’ Work

My friend, Cathy Franks, was the guest on The Quilt Show  with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims last week.  Lilo Bowman from the show produced a slide show of some of Cathy’s work.   Cathy is a long arm quilter using a Gammil.  I think her quilts will knock your socks off!

Cathy does my long arm machine quilting.  Am I lucky or what!

Detail of “On the Wings of a Dragonfly” by Cathy Franks

Click to Play

Mako Quilt Aurifil Virtual Gallery on You Tube

Technology  makes new inroads into the quilting community every day.   The latest one I saw on the Internet is this one. The Aurifil thread company recently  featured a display of award-winning quilts in their Second Life gallery.

You  can check their first virtual gallery exhibit on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2BTsEnAxI describing the quilts.

SAQA Benefit Auction Set to Begin September 10, 2009, at 2PM Eastern

SAQA’s 2009 Benefit Auction begins September 10, 2009.  This is an online auction of 235 pieces.   Go to the website to see the fabulous work that will be auctioned.   I can’t wait!

http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx

The pieces are 12″ square in size.  This is one:

by Anne Parker

by Gerrie Congdon

New AQS Show in Lancaster, PA, March 2010

This just came through my email….
Quilter’s Heritage has been in Lancaster for years. Rita Barber announced her retirement after the show last April.

Subject: AQS Announces 4th Quilt Show

Press Release

Contact: Bonnie Browning, 270-898-7903, ext. 146
bonniebrowning@AQSquilt.com

Paducah, Kentucky – August 19, 2009: Today AQS President Meredith Schroeder announced plans for the American Quilter’s Society (AQS) to hold a fourth quilt show in 2010.

AQS will produce a new show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, March 24 – 27, 2010, at the new Lancaster County Convention Center. The AQS Quilt Show & Contest – Lancaster will feature a quilt contest with $44,000 in cash awards. A special category in the contest is Grand Geometrics – Created the Amish Way. “We are pleased to bring an AQS Quilt Show to Lancaster and the southeastern Pennsylvania area, and to provide another opportunity for quilters to enter our contests and be recognized for their artistry,” stated Schroeder. AQS has signed a three-year agreement to hold this event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

“We’re thrilled at the prospect of welcoming the American Quilter’s Society (AQS) and one of this country’s top quilting shows to the new Lancaster County Convention Center (LCCC),” remarked Josh Nowak, director of sales & marketing with the LCCC.

“We can’t think of a better setting for the AQS Quilt Show & Contest than Lancaster County – home to a rich quilting heritage within our Amish community, and where this art form continues to thrive today,” said Christopher Barrett, president and CEO of the PA Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The 2010 AQS Quilt Show presents an undeniably alluring opportunity for local and national quilters alike to share their creative process and outcomes, in a setting recognized worldwide for its beautifully manicured quilt of farms and fields.”

AQS also holds events in Paducah, Kentucky (pending for 2010); Knoxville, Tennessee (July 14 – 17, 2010); and Des Moines, Iowa (October 6 – 9, 2010).

Contest rules are available on the AQS Web site, www.AmericanQuilter.com. Registration guides for each show will be available online as soon as they are completed. To order a printed registration guide, send $2.00 for each guide to: AQS, Attn: (name of show) Registration Guide, PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290.

In addition to the AQS Web site and the AQS Blogs (AQS Quilt News, AQS Publishing, and American Quilter magazine), quilters can now become a fan of AQS on Facebook, and follow AQS on Twitter. The AQS quilting community grows again!

For lodging and general information on American Quilter’s Society shows, go to www.AmericanQuilter.com, or call 270-898-7903.

–

Nancy Eha’s Free Beading Lessons on Videos

Nancy Eha has several free beading videos on her blog:

http://www.beadcreative.com/FreeBeadingLessons.htm

I enjoy incorporating beads in my work.  I just completed beading my newest piece “Rainbow Poppy”.  What appear as shiny areas in the flower centers of my blog header are seed beads.

Detail of “Rainbow Poppy”   Caryl Schuetz

Helpful Info to Using an Ink Jet Printer on Flat Surfaces & Info on Gels, Mediums, and Paste

There is helpful information about using Golden digital grounds that allow you to print on flat surfaces using an ink jet printer.  I was not aware of  three Golden digital grounds before, and I can’t wait to try them.

Here is the info page: http://www.joggles.com/digitalgrounds.htm

A primer on Gels, Mediums, and Paste can be seen at: http://www.joggles.com/gelsmediums.htm

There’s so much to learn!

From Drawing to Free Motion Machine Embroidery Instuction by Richard Box

This is a nine minute You Tube about free motion machine  embroidery by Richard Box of U.K.  He is a gifted machine embroiderer and has several books out on the subject.  I have several of his books, and I think they are excellent on the subject.  The You Tube  instruction is well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JWRtsyoLhQ&feature=related

Iraqi Bundles of Love

This came in my email Tuesday from Karey Bresenhan of the International Quilt Festival.  What a great idea!  Just have to pass it on to you:

Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 11:59 AM
Subject: Iraqi Bundles of Love

Dear friends,

Quilters have the biggest hearts in the world. American quilters now have a unheard-of opportunity to do a good deed that will help our country’s image, aid our troops stationed in Iraq, and help Iraqi women who are bearing the brunt of so much destruction in their country. This is not a political project—it is a project started by one quilter’s husband who is now stationed in Iraq. I have looked into it personally and think it is a marvelous effort to make a difference—I feel certain that many quilters will want to help this happen!

The project is: IBOL—IRAQI BUNDLES OF LOVE. And in good old Army parlance, we’re starting The Festival Brigade to help this project succeed. Major Art LaFlamme (his wife is Kristin, who has a quilt in this fall’s Houston show) is the originator of the project. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it will do so much good. Here are the bare bones. For more details, including how to package your Bundle of Love, go to Major LaFlamme’s website for the project:

http://ibol.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/iraqi-bundles-of-love-the-intro/

First, go to your stash and see what you can spare—fabrics, scissors, thread, thimbles, notions like needles and pins, etc. No books—too heavy. If you’re also a knitter, yarn and needles would be great to include. Lots of us have duplicates, even triplicates, and what a great way to lighten your stash, gain storage space, and do good, all at the same time!

Then go to the post office and get one of their large, flat-rate FFO/APO boxes, which are fairly sizable (one quilter sent 9 pounds in one box). At just $11.95 to mail, it’s a great tool to use in this project. Package your donations according to Major LaFlamme’s directions (this is very important as it will reduce the help needed to unpack and distribute these supplies) and mail it to him in Iraq at his special project address (the post office will ask you to fill out a customs form, too).

Once your box arrives in Iraq, Major LaFlamme and his great group of volunteers from the US armed services will open the box, lift out the package, and easily deliver it to its distribution point, where it will go either to an individual Iraqi woman or to a shop that is making scarce, badly needed supplies and has almost nothing to work with. (You see why it is VERY IMPORTANT to follow his packaging directions?)

Here, in his own words, is Major LaFlamme’s description of how the IBOLs will be distributed: “Some would be delivered by US forces, to local individuals and to local groups and small businesses who have had micro grants or loans from either the US or the Iraqi government. I see this as reinforcing good with more good. Some would also go out with US forces, to places like rural villages, camps for displaced persons, orphanages (which often means single moms who are without tribal men to provide for them), and the like. And some would go to our partners in the Iraqi security forces or police.

They would work with their subordinate units and local tribal leaders to then get the stuff out to those who can use it. This is important, as it does things that range from letting them engage the locals in ways other than questioning or arrests, to showing the locals that the Iraqi government, by proxy, understands and is working to meet their needs. It’s not the same as electricity 24 hours a day, but it shows that the government understands and is trying.”

All you have to do is get a flat-rate APO box from the post office, fill it with extras from your stash, package it according to his directions, and mail it for $11.95. I think it would be a lovely gesture to include a photo, your first name, and your state, so that the lucky recipient knows this came from a real person in a real state in a real country with a really big heart. You could send a letter, too, but remember that English is not widely known. But anyone can understand a photo, a name, and a state.

Timing is essential. Major LaFlamme wants these gifts from the heart to be delivered during Ramadan, and that means we have to move fast to get them overseas in time for him to deliver them. He needs to receive them no later than September 17; allowing about 10 days transit time, that means boxes need to be postmarked by September 7. So don’t put this off till later…DO IT NOW! Join with the rest of the quilters in The Festival Brigade and let’s make this project happen!

The address for this is below. You won’t find it on the Bundles of Love website, but I’m sharing it with you here in this e-mail. Major La Flamme is keeping it off of the web, since this project is set to come to an end with Ramadan in mid to late September. Feel free to share it with others, but please help us respect his request—both for safeguarding this address, and for getting these bundles into the mail by September 7.

211th RSG
IBOL – Population Donation
APO, AE 09393

Again, in the Major’s own words, here’s why he thinks this is important: “I want this insurgency to end. I want peace in this land. I want the Iraqi government and police and security guys to be able to meet the needs of the people here, from water to power to security and law and order. And as a long time student of both Iraq and counterinsurgency, I understand that these kinds of changes are themselves big. I see IBOL as a tool, no different than a hammer. You may not be able to build a boat with just a hammer, but used right, it can sure make a difference.”

I know how much receiving a Bundle of Love would mean to me if I were living in the conditions the Iraqi women endure, and I urge you to take action IMMEDIATELY to participate in this fine project. What an impact this can make.
* The extra stash was paid for long ago.
* The postage will run $11.95 if you use the APO flat-rate box.
* The box is free.
* The goodwill is priceless.

Karey Bresenhan
Director, International Quilt Festival—Houston, Chicago, Long Beach

SAQA Benefit Online Auction Beginning September 10, 2009, at 2PM EDT,Video Can be Viewed

The online auction is just around the corner now!  I can hardly wait to bid!

A video has been made about some of the quilts that will be in the SAQA online auction:

http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/FlashAuction09.aspx

The SAQA auction begins  September 10, 2009, at 2PM EDT.  This is an online auction of 235 pieces.   Go to the website to see the fabulous work that will be auctioned.  http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx

Dianne Dockery

Melinda Bula

The photos are SAQA’s.

“A World of Stitches” at Bellefonte Museum in Bellefonte, PA, September 27 – December 20, 2009

“A World of Stitches: Applique Art From Benin, Panama, and Pennsylvania” is the exhibit that will open on September 27 th and be on until December 20, 2009, at Bellefonte Museum in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

Sue Reno will have five pieces included in the exhibit.   Pictures and details are up on her blog:
http://suereno.blogspot.com/2009/09/bellefonte-museum-exhibit.html

The Museum’s site is: http://www.bellefontemuseum.org/

Site info about the exhibit is: http://www.bellefontemuseum.org/current_exhibit.htm

Kuna Mola, Panama         Museum Photo

New Work

I have been working on a new piece, “Imagine,” and I am pretty torqued about it.  I have auditioned a few different fabrics for the ground and for the stems, and the piece has finally come together.  You can see the pins, since the piece is “in progress.”

Appraisal Day at Heritage Quilters of Crown Point Quilt Show, Crown Point, Indiana, Saturday, October 3, 2009

I will be appraising quilts at the Heritage Quilters of Crown Point’s “Indiana Rose XII Quilt Show,”  in Crown Point, Indiana, on Saturday, October 3, 2009.  I am a quilt appraiser certified by the American Quilter’s Society.

The show is October 3 – 4, 2009,  at the Timothy Ball School, 720 W. Summit St., Crown Point, IN.
“Indiana Rose XI” Quilt Show

Email: heritagequilters@yahoo.com
There will be 250+ quilts displayed; quilt appraisals,  merchant mall, food vendor, raffle quilt, boutique, silent  auction, special challenge display, and door prizes.

If you are in the area, stop by.

Excellent Screen Printing Demo With Maggie Weiss Video

This month’s guest on Bonnie McCaffery’s site is Maggie Weiss who does a demo of screen printing using the thermofax machine.

The video is very informative with excellent instructions on this technique.  I enjoy using this technique for screen printing, because it is so easy!

Maggie uses two transparent  paints for hers:  Setacolor and Pro Chem’s.

After seeing Maggie’s demo, you should give this a try!

http://www.bonniemccaffery.com/vidcasts/039.html

SAQA Online Benefit Auction’s Final Tally

Martha Sielman, the executive director of Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. reported that the final tally for the SAQA Benefit Auction is 228 pieces sold, raising  $47,350 for SAQA’s exhibits and programs.
Incredible!

CHECK OUT SAQA’s Online Auction – http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx

Gwen Goepel

Video & Blog Showing Use of Golden’s Digital Grounds

Linda Matthews has a site,  ” Creative Textile & Quilting Arts,” where she experiments with different fiber art products and techniques.  See this You Tube video about her using Digital Grounds, which is a Golden product:

http://www.creative-textile-and-quilting-arts.com/putting-digital-grounds-to-the-test/

Golden Digital Grounds is a sealing coating that is used with ink jet printers.  What it does is allow the artist to coat various substances and then print on them with an ink jet printer.  Some of the substances are fabric, paper and canvas, even metal and acrylic paints.  The results are a crisper image with much more saturated color.  It is better than using Bubble Jet Set or no solution at all.  The solution holds the ink on the surface rather than allowing the ink to soak into the fabric or other substance.

She used Digital Grounds here on her blog site.  Check it out for more inspiration.

http://www.creative-textile-and-quilting-arts.com/category/digital-grounds/

I am looking forward to trying this product!  Now to find the time and order it and try it.   Thanks, Linda!

International Quilt Festival in Houston This Week!

The International Quilt Festival in Houston is October 15 – 18, 2009, at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

This is the greatest quilt-related show, and it is huge!  If you haven’t been and have a change to go…..GO!

For more info: http://quilts.com/home/shows/viewer.php?page=FallFestival

This year I have a quilt in the “In Full Bloom” exhibit: “Rainbow Poppy,” and one in the “Tactile Architecture” exhibit: “View From the Park.”

“Rainbow Poppy”

“View From the Park”

Arizona – Related Quilted Postcards on Exhibit: Online and at Tohono Chul Park, Tucson, Arizona

The Tohono Chul Park in Tucson, Arizona,  is having  an  exhibit of quilted postcards with a theme of  “Wish You Were Here!”   The theme is Arizona-related.
They have all of the postcards in an online exhibit  at:

http://www.tohonochulpark.org/PDF/Exhibits/WYWH-slide-show2.pdf

The exhibit runs at the park through November 16th, and postcards are for sale.

Rogene Robbins

“Where’s the Grand Canyon”

The web site for the Tohono Chul Park is: http://www.tohonochulpark.org

“Art Quilts Transitions” Exhibit at Fayetteville Museum of Art, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Through November 1, 2009

“Art Quilts Transitions” exhibit is on until November 1, 2009, at the Fayetteville Museum of Art in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

For info:

http://www.fayettevillemuseumart.org/exhibit.htm

Alliance for American Quilts Online Auction Begins October 26, 2009

The Alliance for American Quilts is having an online auction, whose proceeds will be used to support the AAQ and its projects.

All 85 “Crazy for Quilts” contest quilts will be auctioned via eBay

Here are the dates:

Week One: Monday, Oct. 26 – Sunday, Nov. 1

Week Two: Monday, Nov. 2 – Sunday, Nov. 8

Week Three: Monday, Nov. 9 – Sunday, Nov. 15

The bidding for each quilt will start at $50 and each auction week ends at 9:00 pm Eastern.

http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/projects/galleries/Crazy%20for%20Quilts/gallery/

73. “One Crazy Hot Mama”
Pamela Allen

14. “Folly Flash”
Yvonne Porcella

Kaffe Fassett Interview Video

This is a video about Kaffe Fassett…very interesting.  I think you will enjoy it.

mms://media.xstream.dk/dk4_2006/Kaffe_720.wmv

Maude, a Little Bloodhound Puppy

Here’s Maude, my grandpuppy, a bloodhound. She is sooooooo cute and what a personality!

I like this close up so much, I may have to do a piece based on it.

So Much Color Outside!

These are views  from my studio.

These are other photos in the woods.

Fall is my favorite season.  I love the rich colors and the crisp mornings.

A Few International Quilt Festival, Houston, 2009 Winners

Caryl Bryer Fallert won the Best of Show at the International Quilt Festival in Houston last week with HandiQuilter Best of Show Award.

“On the Wings of a Dream”

“Building Up” by Kathy York

first place in Small Abstract Art Quilt

“Pup Art” by Nancy Brown

third place in Art Whimsical

“Heart’s Desire” by Deborah Kemball

second place in Traditional Applique

“Cinnabar and Indigo” by Judy Mathieson

first place in Innovative Pieced

“The Calm After the Storm” byInge Mardal & Steen Hougs

second place in Art People Portraits and Figures

Kent State University Museum’s Embroidery Collections Online

Kent State University Museum has excellent embroidery collection info at this site:

http://dept.kent.edu/museum/exhibit/embroidery/collection-embroiderytype.htm

The photos are the Museum’s.

French Knots

Appliqué

Online Auction Begins Monday, October 26, 2009, for the Alliance for American Quilts

I am repeating this today as the auction begins tomorrow.  I acquired a Therese May small quilt at the auction a couple of years ago…I am so happy to have it!

Crazy for Quilts

The Alliance for American Quilts is having an online auction, whose proceeds will be used to support the AAQ and its projects.

All 85 Crazy for Quilts contest quilts will be auctioned via eBay

Here are the dates:

Week One: Monday, Oct. 26 – Sunday, Nov. 1

Week Two: Monday, Nov. 2 – Sunday, Nov. 8

Week Three: Monday, Nov. 9 – Sunday, Nov. 15

The bidding for each quilt will start at $50 and each auction week ends at 9:00 pm Eastern.

http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/projects/galleries/Crazy%20for%20Quilts/gallery/

73. “One Crazy Hot Mama”
Pamela Allen

14. “Folly Flash”
Yvonne Porcella

Photos Online of “Points of View – SAQA’s Emerging Artists” at Houston’s International Quilt Festival

There are some photos of pieces from the Houston International Quilt Festival’s exhibit of  “Points of View – SAQA Emerging Artists” at:

http://www.quilts.com/home/galleryViewer.php?txtfile=/gallery/lbqf09-1/onlineGallery

The works are lovely.

 

Abstraction 2

by Karen Schulz
Silver Spring, Maryland

 

Slide Show of Art Painted Surfaces Category at International Quilt Festival in Houston

Here is the slide presentation of the 2009 International Quilt Festival’s category:  Art Painted  Surfaces, sponsored by Ricky Tims:

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5449774f4455774d446b3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link

How to Use New Product Texture Magic

The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky TIms has videos and info about new products and techniques.  This one is about a new product by Superior, Texture Magic.
Part I is: http://www.thequiltshow.com/blog_videos/TextureMagicVideoPart1.html   Part 2 is: http://www.thequiltshow.com/blog_videos/TextureMagicVideoPart2.html
Patsy Thompson shows some special ways that you can use Texture Magic with different fabrics.  Click on the picture for PART III.  For Part I and Part II click on these links:         Part I Part II

 

My Mom, Artist and Animal Lover, and Cleo, My African Gray Parrot

My mom passed away unexpectedly last week…. a shock to those who knew her.

She was almost 89 and was the source of my creativity and my need to make art.  I sat by her while I was very young;  she was at the sewing machine making garments for us and window treatments for our apartment;  I sewing doll clothes by hand.

She learned to sew from her mother, who used a treadle machine for making clothing, bedding, aprons, curtains, etcetera, out of necessity, and later, for the pleasure of it.

Mom was an artist from childhood, drawing fashion designs and anything else. Her drawings and paintings were delicate and lovely.  She wanted to attend art school, but alas, with the Great Depression, that was not to be.

It seemed like the end of an era last week as we laid her to rest.  She loved animals and rescued cats and dogs ever since I could remember.  She put food outside every night for those less fortunate animals who might be hungry and come by.  She couldn’t see any living thing suffer.

There are five rescued cats in her home now.  They are there with my dad, his company.

The other night, he told us of each cat and how he and my mom came to adopt them.  At the time the cats were acquired, my dad was not “into cats”, never had been.  Then as he was older, he came to love and respect them.  Now he cannot image life without them.

Contributions to her memory are being made to an animal group, Coalition of Animals (Their mission is to create awareness in the community for the humane treatment of all animals; to help end the problem of companion animal overpopulation through spay/neuter; to promote the adoption of homeless companion animals; and to provide people with the educational information they need to help keep their companion animals safe and healthy.)

and to a land preservation trust, Fairhaven Acushnet Land Preservation Trust. With donations, they buy or are given land in Fairhaven and Acushnet, Massachusetts, which is kept natural.  Animals living on the land are protected.

That way both domestic and wild animals can be helped.   That would make her happy.

This is Cleopatra, my African Gray parrot, who I had for almost 19 years.  “Cleo”  was a rascal.  She talked and said whatever she pleased in whoever’s voice she chose to use.  She made us laugh…so often.

African Grays are the most intelligent of the parrots, and believe me, that is the truth!

Last week was an incredibly bad week for our family.  My mom passed away on Monday and Cleo dropped dead on Thursday morning.

I am unable to make any sense out of this.

Slide Show of David Taylor’s Work

Here is a slide show of quilts made by Award-winner,  David Taylor.  They are spectacular.

Art Quilts Appraisals ….. Should We Have Appraisals of Our Work?

There has been discussion on the QuiltArt List in the past few days about having our art quilts appraised.  Should we?  Why? …. among other questions.
This is the main web site page for  the Professional Appraisers – Quilted Textiles:  http://www.quiltappraisers.org

The page which  explains the whys of having our work appraised as well as answering other questions about quilt appraisals:  http://www.quiltappraisers.org/facts.html

This page on their site also lists links for quilt care  information:  http://www.quiltappraisers.org/links.html

Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching Exhibit at Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, Arizona, November 20 – January 2, 2010

ART QUILTS XIV: SIGNIFICANT STITCHING exhibit will be open on Friday, November 20th, and is on until January 2, 2010 at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Chandler, Arizona.

This 14th annual edition of Art Quilts features 46 pieces by 41 different artists.  The interpretation of this year’s theme ranges from statements on forgiveness, peace and suicide to works with intricate stitching.

The Art Quilts exhibition has grown from a largely local show into a fine collection of fiber art,  drawing entries from artists throughout the world.

 

The site for more info:  http://chandlercenter.org/visual-arts/exhibition-hall.html and http://chandlercenter.org/

Photo is the Museum’s.

 

 

 

Ways to Display Art Cloth

Jane Dunnewold says, “The overall goal is to hang work so that there isn’t any question in the mind of the viewer that the work being presented is art. This might sound simple, but it can be deceptively difficult.”   Jane  has guidelines of ways to display art cloth on her tutorials page of her web site:  http://www.artclothstudios.com/tutorials.htm

Very helpful!

 

Honoring Fort Hood Families Who Lost Loved Ones With Quilt Blocks, Tops, or Quilts

You are invited to make a quilt block, top, or quilt to honor  the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy at Fort Hood.   I found this venue today, Splinters & Threads, which is a quilt shop in Merkel, Texas.

They gave me permission to copy and paste their page to mine, so that we can get the word out to more people.

We are making quilts for the families of the soldiers lost at Fort Hood Nov 5, 2009 as well as the police officer that took down the shooter.  Here are signature quilt ideas.  Blocks must be 6 1/2 inch blocks (6″ finished size).  Please make them red, white, and blue. Sign your name and state and a note if you would like.  If you are a military Vet or active duty, please include your rank and branch of service on the blocks.  I would like to have these by the first week in December 1, 2009 so that we can get them quilted and to the families for Christmas this year.

The blocks need to be here by Dec 1.  Tops can be here by Dec 7.  Finished quilts by Dec 15.

If you do embroidery only we welcome you to send patriotic designs and /or your name stitched on white fabric.  Please trim to 6 1/2″ square and don’t forget your signature.

If you do not quilt or embroider, please sign a piece of white fabric square 6 1/2″ to 7″ with a sharpie pen.  Keep your signature near the center of the fabric so that fabric can be sewn around it.

Please send blocks or finished quilts to:

Gina Reddin    185 CR 414      Merkel, TX 79536   email: gina.reddin@gmail.com

http://www.quilterscache.com/R/RailFenceBlock.html
http://www.quilterscache.com/C/CalicoSpoolsBlock.html
http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SignatureBlock.html
http://www.quilterscache.com/D/DevilsPuzzleVariationBlock.html

Other options:

http://www.quilterscache.com/M/MonasteryWindowsBlock.html

http://www.quilterscache.com/A/AutographBlock.html

http://www.quilterscache.com/C/CrackerBlock.html

The following is a list of those lost at Fort Hood:

Spc. Kham Xiong, St. Paul, Minnesota – 23 – father of 3

Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, Havre De Grace, Maryland – 55 -             2 daughters, 6 grandchildren

Pvt. Francheska Velez, Chicago, Illinois – 21 – with child when she died

Capt. Russell Seager, Racine, Wisconsin – 51

Pfc. Michael Pearson, Bolingbrook, Illinois – 22

Pfc. Aaron Thomas Nemelka, West Jordan, Utah – 19

Sgt. Amy Krueger, Kiel, Wisconsin – 29

Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, Tipton, Oklahoma – 22

Spc. Frederick Greene, Mountain City, Tennessee – 29

Capt. John Gaffaney, San Diego, California – 56 – 1 son

Army Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow, Plymouth, Indiana – 1 daughter

Maj. Libardo Eduardo Caraveo, Woodbridge, Virginia – 52

Chief Warrant Officer Michael Grant Cahill (Ret.), Cameron, Texas – 62 – 3 children, 1 grandchild

You can read more about each soldier here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/06/fort.hood.shootings.victims/index.html

There is also info about this on this blog:  http://otterwise.blogspot.com/2009/11/quilt-blocks-for-fort-hood.html

Video of Recent Festival of Quilts in Birmingham U.K.

To see some of the lovely quilts at the recent quilt show in Birmingham, U.K, see this site on The Quilt Show:

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/2287?bcpid=51434044001&bclid=0&bctid=50722623001

“Wall Art” Exhibit of Marilyn Wall’s Work at The Arts Company in Seneca, SC, Through January 11, 2010

Marilyn Wall has an exhibit, “Wall Art”,  of her work at The Arts Company,  125 N. Townville St. in Seneca, South Carolina, on now through January 11, 2010.

http://www.marilynhwall.blogspot.com

I enjoy posting an exhibit of fiber art at a gallery or a museum.  To me,  it just makes what we do more and more accepted as “art.”   I get a little peeved when those who know nothing about fiber art, refer to our work as “just quilts.”  They are not “just quilts.”

For that reason, I post our exhibits  as a way of showing  “them” that this is art.

Happy Thanksgiving

wishing you a very