QUILTS ALL OVER THE HOUSE

This past week I gave a Zoom lecture to the Valley Forge Homestead Quilters, in Pennsylvania. Meeting virtually with them was fun and hearing that Philadelphia accent I think I have lost but can recognize instantly was even more fun. They chose the lecture "THE HARD STUFF" and I hope I inspired them to rise to a challenge. Thanks, ladies, it was good to be "with" you.

The Heritage Quilters of Huntsville had our bi-annual quilt show and I will do a long blog about it next week with lots of photos. The guild always presents a great show and this was no exception.

Since I am working diligently on a super secret project I cannot show you, here are some of the many quilts around my house, in no particular order:

The extra guest room, also where the overflow quilts are stored

An Archeological Dig, some completed, some waiting for quilting 

The most commonly used teaching quilts in easy reach

Many tops waiting to be quilted

The Living Room, an art quilt above the mantel, a small one on the chair waiting for the binding to be hand sewn. The small quilt on the sofa is for the cat

More Living Room--time for the Christmas quilt to come down. My Quilt of Valor is on my chair

A small piece from my "artsy" period, with LOTS of beads and a 3D lace dragonfly

Our bedroom with a few of my favorites and my husband's Quilt of Valor is at the foot

Even have quilts in the bathrooms--this was an early teaching sample: Quiltmaking 201, more challenging blocks and hand quilting

Another in my bathroom--Batiky Log Cabins--made for and featured in McCall's Quilting magazine years ago

The main guest room, always ready for guests

Oriental One of a Kind--from my artsy/Asian period, lots of beading, some hand quilting, some machine quilting

A lovely Round Robin quilt I made with the Sunday Sew and Sews

Hand marbled fabric I made and used for a Signature Quilt at a wonderful retreat with the Virginia Consortium of Quilters, 1989

Color Play 2, made in 2010, a scaled down version of a quilt in a magazine

My introduction to paper piecing 1994. Those kimono blocks are 2.5". Lots of hand quilting, back when I hand quilted everything

So there you have a little tour. How do you display your quilts?

Let's quilt.

Barbara 

A Visit With Friends

 A few weeks ago an old friend asked if she and her husband could stop by for an overnight visit as they returned home from a three week trip out West. I was excited to have them visit. The last time I saw Tom was 22 years ago, at their North Carolina home, when Eileen had me come teach workshops for her guild. I see Eileen every other year at International Quilt Festival:

Eileen and Tom with their traveling home

Eileen and I have known each other since Kindergarten. We grew up 3 blocks apart and went all through public school together. After college, she went in the Navy Nurse Corps, I went in the Marine Corps. We both married Marine Lieutenants from Alabama. We both had sons. We both waited a while for the blessing of grandchildren and are now happily grandmothers: BooBoo and BB.

Maybe most importantly, we both became quilters. Eileen is mostly an Art Quilter, who has works in galleries and public buildings in several locations. Check out her work on her website Fiber Art Quilts. 

From big works, like Schools Out (SOLD) 62" x 66":

To small works like these:

I am pleased to have bought two of her small pieces over the years--they remind me of my happy place--the beach. I especially love the bits of driftwood and shells she incorporates in her art:

Though they were only able to stay about 18 hours, we had a great reunion. My husband and I enjoyed hearing their "travelogue"--they had been on the road in their Winnebago for 3 weeks. I snagged two photos she posted on Facebook, terrain I have never seen:

Kodachrome Basin State Park, Utah

A Slot Canyon--yes, some people really can slip through there

We enjoyed a good German dinner at a small local spot. They can't get authentic German cuisine in their coastal NC area. After a good night's rest, we enjoyed a simple breakfast in our dining room with more discussion, mostly about our military days. 

Then  it was time for them to hit the road, hoping to make it home in one long day. One last hug:

Eileen wanted you to see what kept her busy on the many hours Tom spent driving. Like most of us, she was sure to have handwork with her on vacation:

We hope to get together again, at their home next time, with far less than 22 years between visits. 

Old friends are great, old quilter friends are the best!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

The Journey #7 My Artsy Period

When I started making quilts more than 35 years ago there was a bit of divide between those who made "Traditional Quilts" and those who made "Art Quilts", similar to the Contemporary vs. Modern quilts of today.

While I am most known for traditional quilt designs, over the years I have played with more "artsy" designs. Here are a few of those:

Batik Log Cabin, 1997, an early foray into "artistic" design simply with the use of batik fabric, which were just starting to hit the market with a bang at this time. It was featured in McCall's Quilting, February 1998. Today it resides in the master bath where I see it every day:

 McCall's Quilting February 1998:

Off-Center Mariner's Compass, 2001, original design, machine quilted. I am not crazy about this one, there is something "off" about the design. I do love the batiks. Finished is better than perfect:

Oriental One-of-a-Kind, 2002, begun in a "design your own quilt" class. It has both new and antique oriental fabrics, the beading is the first I ever put on a quilt. This one I like a lot, I hand quilted it with large stitches, another first. Today it lives on a guest room wall where I see it often:

Snake Doctor in Motion, 2003, begun in a Beaded Dragonfly class with Nancy Eha, "Snake Doctor" is a slang term for Dragonfly, my favorite insect. The two rows of hand-made beaded fringe took far longer than I expected. Machine quilted with variegated thread. This hangs in my kitchen where I see it every day.

Beaded Dragonfly Detail:

Fringe Detail:

Circle Play, 2004, based on quilts in a book by the same name by Reynola Pakusich. I used some of my beloved oriental and batik fabrics, learned to do machine applique' with decorative stitches, and played with pieced borders as a design element. I have taught this several times, students enjoy the freedom to "play" with their fabrics. One of my favorites and it has the honor spot above the mantel in the living room: 

Strips 'N Curves top that was started in the early 2000's in a class with Louisa Smith. It hasn't come out of the drawer for many years, some day I will finish this, it is about 42" square at the moment:

Black and White and Red All Over, 2007, this pattern was featured in McCall's Quilting June 2007, called High Definition by Beth Bruske. I knew it was the perfect quilt for my photographer/musician son, Joshua--who most often shoots in black and white. Many of the prints have musical notes. The back is deep red. Queen-size. Machine quilted by Lisa Marshall. Here it is at the HQH 2007 quilt show, with a ribbon:

 Color Play, 2011, the pattern was in McCall's Quilting, February 2006 where it was called Art Affair, designed by Jan Douglas. I made two of these, the first with 10" blocks (62" square) and the second with 5" blocks, (35" square) from the leftover fabrics. The large one was longarm quilted by Deanna Plotts:

The smaller one I quilted by machine myself. Both of these are favorites just for the big, bright, bold use of color:

That's about it for my "artsy" quilts. Today I focus on traditional quilt blocks and designs, using different types of fabrics. I still love batiks, Oriental designs, 1800's reproductions, and today's bright, happy prints.

I think having a granddaughter to quilt for made me look at contemporary fabrics in a new way. I am already planning a bed-size quilt for Sam--which he won't need for at least three years, of course. Good to plan ahead.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara