SAQA Journal Spring 2010 04-10-10

There was a surprise in the mail today - the SAQA Journal for Spring 2010 containing an article about the TCQC with pictures of three quilts that are part of it: Ruth McDowell's "Ft. Morrison Jerseys", Elizabeth Barton's "Gathering Storm" and Ruth Powers' "Early Birds" are shown on pages 28/29. Another of Ruth Powers' quilts, "Burlingame Fire", is in the SAQA Member Gallery on page 18, as are quilts by two other quilt artists I have my eye on - Sue Reno and Nancy G. Cook. This is an interesting issue of the Journal with a number of helpful articles.

Suzanne Smith Arney, the free lance writer of the TCQC article, interviewed me back in Sep/Oct 2009 and this article is the result. I hope it encourages others to start a collection of art quilts, no matter how small.

Photos for 04-09-10 blog post 04-10-10

Some readers cannot see the pictures and I am trying to repost so that they can. But it doesn't seem to be working. These are just the images w/o text. If you look at the previous post you will see the text w/o the pictures. I don't know what Blogger is up to. Sorry! You might let me know if you don't see pictures in either post. Del

Quilts from RMcDowell Asilomar class 04-09-10

I have been too busy being sick to do any sewing, but several of my classmates from Ruth's class have been working hard on their projects. Such talented ladies they are.

"LIttle Squirt" Debbie Van Fossen 2010

What a lovely choice of fabrics Debbie has used for the background. Bright pastels and all those happy bubbles add a lot of joie de vivre to this little guy with his cocky white tail and wonderfully intelligent eyes. A loving portrait of a charming family member.

Debbie has done very fine machine quilting in the background the make Little Squirt stand out.

"Indian Pipes" Bonnie Keller 2010

After she got home Bonnie made some changes to her project. "I came home and sewed on this like a woman possessed! I changed out some fabrics and then before I added the applique, I sliced off three inches all the way around the edge and shifted it all counter clockwise and sewed it back on. I wanted to make it feel like it was hidden down in the undergrowth so that is why I added the ferns and salal. The bug is an Alder Borer that my husband photographed. It is thread painted on. There are also critters hidden in the quilting: a moth, a snail and a bee. That is my "signature" to have critters on my quilts, and I love doing it. "

Notice that the whites are not all white - lovely shading and shadows - and she has used fabrics with uneven light spots in the background. Something that Ruth always points out to her students are those light splaces in every photograph. Cutting and shifting the out edge has created the impression of Ruth's signature "integrated border". Great quilt.

"Hibiscus" Gail Sheirbon 2010

When Gail returned home from Asilomar she sewed all of her Hibiscus together, but then had to leave on a long business trip. When she gets home and resettled she will layer and quilt it. She hasn't decided if she will use French Knots or beads on the end of the stigma. Whatever she decides I think it will be a lovely quilt.

Wordless Thursday 04-08-10

Wordless Wednesday CO '04 04-07-10

Checking my e-mail 04-06-10

I had an e-mail today from Nancy Cook of North Carolina who commented on the Ruth McDowell "Rooster" I posted on Sunday night. Thanks, Nancy, comments are always welcome.

I have seen Nancy's work previously and went for another look on her blog, her website and the blog of a group she belongs to "Fiber Art Options". Very impressive work and some interesting ideas on ways to hang quilts in galleries which don't accommodate the slat-in-sleeve-system. Check them out at: http://www.nancygcook.com http://nancygcook.blogspot.com http://fiberartoptions.blogspot.com/ I also dipped into the personal websites of some of the other F.A.O. members. And I will go back again.

I am impressed by the exhibits that all of the members of Fiber Art Options are involved in. Their "Orchids: Sensuality Stitched" closed March 15th at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, NC. A great variety of styles and techniques with wonderful colors - there are pictures on the group site and individual sites that explain some of the techniques used. Also on their group site there are more ideas about how to hang quilts on hard walls without framing them.

I haven't done much "blog surfing" for the past few months because I have been swamped with things I needed to get done. Today while I was feeling lousy and coughing my head off was a perfect time to get caught up a bit. Tomorrow I plan to get well!.

Not much.... 04-05-10

There is not much happening in my life except "rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids and take the prescribed medications". I can't seem to shake this cold/bronchitis/whatever-it-is.


Here is a blog post by Suzanne Kistler that she posted after I spoke to the Hanford QGuild last month: http://faithquilter.blogspot.com/2010/03/del-quilts.html



And you might find this interesting, posted by Vivian Helena about a Civil War enactment she visited near her home in CA. I'm so glad I was born into the 20th Century. http://vivianhelena-creates.blogspot.com/

I'll try to do better - soon! Del

Another Ruth McDowell quilt added 04-04-10

Ruth McDowell has recently been creating chicken quilts! She has done quite a few and all but one have been sold. Check her website http://www.ruthbmcdowell.com/

"Rooster at Freddy's" Ruth B. McDowell 2009 24.5"W x 28.5"L

About this quilt Ruth said, "One of the fabrics I began this quilt with was a wonderful piece that Freddy Moran gave me several years ago. Apparently I was channelling Freddy, since the quilt kept reminding me of the wonderful color scheme in her kitchen, golden marble counters and all! "

As I remember Freddy's house this quilt is not bright enough! One thing that stands out in my memory is a very large porcelain rooster that Freddy had in her dining room when I saw it - surely three feet tall and every bit as cocky as this guy is. My kitchen is blue and white (very dull compared to Freddy's, but there is a narrow wall beside the door into the dining room that is perfect for this quilt. However, he looked a little lonesome, so while I was at Asilomar I bought him a girlfriend and will post her image next Sunday.

I'm still doctoring the cough - it is surely the return of what I had in Dec/Jan and I am very tired of it. Mostly I have been popping pills and resting and reading. Thank goodness my friends keep me supplied with books and distilled water for the humidifier.

Disgusted Bunny 04-04-10

I passed on Easter dinner at Corky's house due to my cold. But his dad sent pictures.

He is so patient! But his look says, "Oh, pleeeeez."

Still a good looking Poodle Prince, though.

Happy Easter 04-03-10

I'm still trying to get rid of this cold, so I will be home 'resting' for Easter Sunday. And perhaps I will be able to finish editing the wild flower pictures I took on the way home from Empty Spools.

Wishing you and yours a lovely Easter Sunday. Del