More quilt show

Picassa has these the right way up, so here goes... five more from the Tucson show.

Many AZ themes, this was my favorite

Detail from first quilt

One of several AZ panels

"Black Hole" with elements pulled into it

Amazing portrait quilt

 

Tucson Quilt Show

I took a lot of photos, bought the DVD, and had trouble deciding what to post. These are some of my favorites, for various reasons. Some for the color, some for the quilting. Some are large, some are miniatures. Most of these won a ribbon. For a few, I included a close up after the bigger view. The last one is the best of show. Enjoy!

I had several more to add, but took them sideways on my camera, rotated them the right way, and blogger loaded them sideways. Any tips to make that work?
 

Tucson Show

We just arrived back in Carefree (holiday spot) from the Tucson Quilt Show. I took lots of pictures and can hardly wait to download them from my camera and share them... but I am so tired that it will have to wait for a day or two. This picture is their raffle quilt. The show winners are even more spectacular.

In the meantime, I'm nearly finished micro quilting a UFO, and have designed and cut out a Rhapsody quilt (Ricky Tims style) while my husband golfs. I've some photos, later.  

Why Design Quilts -- Wayne's Challenge

Wayne Kollinger contacted me with a challenge. He said to answer the question: Why do I design quilts? After reading other responses to this question, I feel my answer is too simple, but here goes.

As a creature made in the image of my Creator, creativity is a given. Some say they are not creative, but everyone is, in different ways. For me, I have a love of color, geometry and the natural world. I see amazing design in man-made things, but the creations of God are even more amazing. He puts a swirl in a shell or a myriad of hues in a flower petal. He colors landscapes that take our breath away, and demonstrates all the elements of design in trees, rocks, even the tides. While a grove of pines may look haphazard to those of us who like to plant things in straight rows, His orderly designs create a beauty that our straight rows miss.

As a Christian, I am called to be like my Lord. Of course this is about righteousness and loving others, but it is also about using that same imagination, that seemingly wild and carefree abandonment to throw sunsets into the sky and fling wild flowers across a field.

Part of me wants order, so I foundation paper-piece and find satisfaction in perfect points and repetition of patterns. However, that part of me might come less from creativity and more from my efforts to control a tendency to a mild attention-deficit problem, or worse, that nagging voice that tells me I must conform.

I have done that — conformed to patterns and precision piecing. At first I didn’t know that I could do otherwise. Besides, I needed to learn the many techniques required to create a quilt. In imitation of my Lord, I am the same — sometimes a mere copyist. However, I am learning that God seldom repeats a technique. When I ask Him for help, His answers are never the same twice. Nor can I second-guess Him. From this, I have learned that creativity can be unique even though inspired by other things. I’ve also seen that there is value in steadfastness and predictability (making patterns, repeating designs), for me the fun begins when I have no pattern to follow and have no idea what comes next.

For some reading this, it will sound odd. Not everyone ties their spiritual life so closely to something as ordinary as a stash of fabric and a sewing machine. However, for me being creative is like breathing. I see quilt designs in everything from light switches to carpenters’ tools. The sad part is that I discovered all this so late in life. I will not live long enough to get everything from my head to the drafting wall, never mind into fabric, bound and finished.

Wayne, thank you for motivating me to think about this and record it. Your creativity is an inspiration. May you be blessed for doing what you do. Sorry, no photos. I’m on vacation and can offer only what has already been posted.

Much Joy in 2011!

It seems to me when a year ends, there should be soft music playing, or at least a bell ringing. This is a milestone. We made it. Ahead lies more challenges, joys, and geometry and colors... and all things quilters experience.

Speaking of experiences, my DH and I started our year 3000 km from home --- in balmy Arizona. At least that is what it is supposed to be. These first two photos are from the road between Salt Lake and Las Vegas, one in St. George. The last one is on Highway 93 in Arizona on the way to Phoenix. At times, it dropped to -9 C. For most of our trip the temperature was at freezing, and finally reached at a mere 6 C (about 42 F) when we arrived in Scottsdale. We just giggle --- what else can we do? At least we have warm clothes and a windshield scraper.

While DH golfs (it has to warm up) I brought my sewing machine and two projects. One is a UFO that is as old as dirt. Photo below. It is not going to look much like this layout, but at least it will be finished by the end of the month. I've already put the pieces together and plan to micro-quilt it.

The other project is a secret, TBA. It will be for my house-sitter back home, a gem of a friend.


There are some nice shops here, so may do some of that, but also plan to tour a few art galleries and take lots of pictures. We also might be drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate!

Until next time, joy for all 365 days of 2011!

Works in Progress

It isn't the posting that gets me... it is taking pictures, downloading and resizing for the web... I'm so lazy. Anyway, this is what I'm working on.

Stack of parts & one completed

More parts to sew

Quilt of Valor, using purples and greens from my stash and the odd and interesting block from Anita Grossman Solomon's book, Rotary Cutting Revolution that was published in Nov / Dec Quiltmaker. I have 35 blocks in various stages of completion and will be using sashing between them. The greens/purples blend much better in real life than in this photo???

Parts basted, pinned, sewn, & some just in my head!

This big one is called Mariner's Sunset. My design wall will not hold it so it is pinned to a rather floppy rod so lots of wrinkles. This one is 100 inches wide by 75 high. The paper pattern along the top is my sketch for the tree leaves that are in the next picture, which is my computer sketch. I wanted to do something different with this 35" Mariner's compass. Someone suggested a sunset, and this is the result. I hope to heavily quilt it. 

My computer sketch for the above quilt

Working on this one is time-consuming and doesn't make my UFO pile much smaller, but getting this big one out of the way will take care of a huge mental block!

On December 10, my quilt "No Star Shines Alone" was chosen as The Quilt Show's Quilt of the Day! I was strolling through facebook and nearly fell off my chair when I saw it. If you have quilts on their site, check it often. They never told me they picked it, so I'd have missed that thrill otherwise.

 

Church Quilt officially finished

I put the label on yesterday, so here is the finished quilt. It is nearly 7 feet each way, and will be hung in our church foyer on Saturday. We called it, "God so loved the world..." and are glad it is done, but really pleased too. Would we make another? I doubt that I would, but maybe something smaller using the same technique. It is mostly batik pieces fused to the black background using Steam a Seam II.

Now I've started another Quilt of Valor using purples and greens. I found a fast and funky way of sewing the blocks that only look complicated. I'll post some photos... but have to take them first! Life is really far too busy. 

NOTE: Those who inquire about this pattern need to include their email address in their inquiry, otherwise if it comes as a "no reply" comment, I cannot get back to you. Better yet, go to my Etsy page and order the pattern! LINK to PURCHASE PATTERN