How cool is that?!

We are now home from a month in Arizona... where I had the neatest experience. I've made two quilts that were inspired by the art of Bob Coonts. By email, he gave me permission to do this. Since he lives in Colorado, we had never met.

Every January, the large art shows start in Scottsdale. We have gone to them a couple times and decided to go again. I took my daughter and her hubby with the intention of buying them a small art piece for their new home, and for her birthday (which I did).

We parked, got inside and paid at the desk and I turned around toward the first booth/display... it was Bob Coonts! I introduced myself and he remembered me. We talked for a long time. He is a very nice man and pleased that his work was inspiration for my work. I was so delighted to meet him. I would love one of his pieces, so am planning to give him a commission for a size/subject I can afford. The show lasts until the end of March, so if he works on site, who knows... maybe my hubby can pick it up on his annual golf trip.

Here are the two quilts inspired by his paintings. Bob's originals are on his website.

Paint Chip Pony

Horseplay

No more orphan blocks

From classes and experiments and such, I had about 30 orphan blocks (that I could find) so brought them with me on our holidays (and a sewing machine). While hubby was golfing, I sewed them pillowcase style into mug rugs. Some still need the opening for turning sewed up, and they all need a bit of quilting. 

My daughter picked two already. She lives in a humid climate and loves them for soaking up the sweat from a cold glass on a hot day. I've a few ideas of where to send the rest. They are an odd batch though!

I also brought a small quilt to sew, but so far no progress. We are having too much fun. We leave for home in three days, so it will go back the way it came. 

May your Christmas be full of His joy!

Joy to the World Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Finished

A couple years ago I took two classes from Claudia Pfeil. In one, she showed us how to use commercial stencils to make up our own design to quilt on a whole cloth. The piece is about 40" square and it sat, and sat, and sat. I started to think those blue markings would never come out, so finally loaded it on my longarm and quilted it.

I

I'm not crazy about the results, so I named it Learning-01 and put it on the black and glass table in our dining room... where it looks pretty, if you don't look too close. The close-up shows the craziness of lighting. This table topper is WHITE, not even the slightest bit creamy. Oh well, the good news is that there is not a trace of blue anywhere! (Oh, and I learned a lot about what does not work, where I need more practice, and oh joy, it is finished.)

Progress!

This is where I most like to see a quilt top... on the machine and a some stitches in the ditch. Will it be done for Christmas? Maybe... but with dark blue background and dark blue thread, I can only work on it when the sun is shining and the lights are all on!

Top is Done!

This top is finally finished. I am quilting it soon... the blank space is for quilting the recipients name, which will fit nicely. I've the backing (same as the lighter border) but not pieced yet. One block is leftover, and it will make a great label.

Welcome to my Blog!

How nice to be invited to this tour of blogs by quilters from Canada. I trust you are enjoying your virtual trip to each studio, and of course enjoying the quilts.

I have been at this since 1995, and so far have made about 170 quilts, large and small. Here are the links to a few of my favorites posted on this blog:

A Narrow Sea 
Because of Valor 

Detail from Butterfly Trails

Blessings of Friendship 
Blue Collection 

Horseplay
K-5 Fractured and Frazzled Flowers
Kali's Cherry Tree
Lighthouse and Friends
Mariner's Sunset
My Dear Jane
My Mountain
Only in my Dreams
Split Rail Fence
Tall Mountains
Unfettered
When God Became a Man (Note: these patterns are all sold)

Sunflowers and Asters

Check out the other pages (top right) for more photos. I've also an Etsy Shop, but am busy finishing a degree so am not too busy there, for now. Study is taking a lot of time. Fortunately, my sewing machine is near my computer, so when my brain gets heavy, I can stitch for a bit of relief. 

Do come back! 

Elsie