Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Lone Stars III: A Legacy of Texas Quilts 1986-2011

Lone Stars III:  A Legacy of Texas Quilts 1986-2011
by Karey Patterson Bresenhan and Nancy O'Bryant Puentes

I haven't seen it yet, but I heard it's a good one! I can't wait to get my copy! The quilt on the cover is stunning!!  You can read a lovely review on Virginia Spiegel's Blog, here.  I have two individual quilts included and a number of group quilts.  My two quilts, Little Cities and A Few of My Favorite Things, arrived in Houston this last August.  Quilts, Inc. is having an exhibit with as many of the quilts from the book as they could arrange for the Houston International Quilt Show. 

Karey Bresenhen's enthusiasm and support for quilters is widely known, so it should come as no surprise that she has a starring role in the development and opening of the new Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange, TX.  The opening of the museum is timed perfectly with the Houston Quilt Show and will have part of the Lone Stars III exhibit will be there.  I am so pleased and honored that Little Cities will be at the Texas Quilt Museum.  From the museum's website, "A not-for-profit entity, the Museum will operate under the aegis of The Quilt Institute.  It will be housed in two historic 1890s buildings, which will provide a fine showcase for both antique and contemporary quilt art with their high ceilings, brick walls, and original hardwood floors." 

The group quilts are:  Cosmic Curves, Group Conversations, and I Sing the Flower Eclectic.  I am a bit sketchy on the details about which quilts are going where....And, I am a bit behind on my record keeping for photos of the other two.  I'll need to research that a bit.  Suffice to say, I am pleased as punch to be a part of this historic undertaking and celebration of quilting!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Good bye Clothworks

Good bye Clothworks

It is with great sadness that I tell you that I will no longer be designing fabrics for Clothworks.  It has been a fabulous experience for me and I love dearly all the people at Clothworks!  Like two friends who's paths diverge, and so it is with us.  I like to think that there will be new opportunities for me.  I have been creating lots of new designs, but I am not ready to market them yet.  And I don't know why.  I mention this now because Quilt Market in Houston is coming up soon, and I will not be going for the first time in a long time.  I will miss the excitement and the friends I always see there. 

Meanwhile, my kids are both in school now, and as I say goodbye to homeschooling, I say hello to time in my studio.  I have been richly rewarded.  My enthusiasm for creating my art quilts is in full swing.  I wake up each day excited about what I will work on for the day.  Yesterday, it was dyeing....as in, see my blue arms where the gloves leaked?? Today it was a fun filled morning with our art quilt bee, catching up and dreaming of new projects.

And a little tribute to my long ago launched fabric collection, Urban Landscapes.....here are some new pincushions (see above), designed and built just like the buildings on my 3D quilts like Central Park, and Little Fish in a Big City.  I will be showing how to make these at Quilting Arts Open Studios at the International Quilt Festival in Houston.


And...who can forget this image?  It was the number one all time occurring hit on my blog.  Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Full House

Full House
9" x 12"
Yeah, my fourth in the series!  I love these little house quilts, especially the little worry dolls tucked in the circular pockets (they are held in place with stitching too!).  Three of them will be on sale at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this year at the SAQA booth.  I will be volunteering at SAQA on Thursday, Nov 3, from noon to 2 pm.  Come by and see me, or come by and see my quilts. 


Before the tenants moved in!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Houston Quilt Show

Houston Quilt Show

I invite you to come and see me at Open Studios in front of the Make It University/Quilting Arts booth at the International Quilt Festival in Houston.  I will be at Open Studios on Thursday, Nov 3, 2:50 to 4:50 demonstrating how I made the buildings on my 3D quilt, Central Park.  Central Park is in the Tactile Architecture exhibit this year and I am really thrilled that it got in!  I will also show how to use this technique to make a wonderful pin cushion!  See ya soon!

Saturday, October 08, 2011

One More Day for Giveaway!

One More Day for Giveaway!
I am delighted to have two postcards included in a postcard set by C and T Publishing, called The Art of Quilts Postcard Collection-Architecture.  As a promotion, they are doing a giveaway on their blog until 6:00 pm tomorrow (Sunday).  Sorry for the late notice, I just found out.

The two postcards of mine are:  Long Legged Bird with a Tale to Tell...
and Little Fish in a Big City...

 And, if you want to buy a set directly, you can get one here.

Nine Houses

Nine Houses
9" x 12"

Building on a theme, I am busy creating some smaller works.  I am hoping to sell these little gems at the Houston quilt show.  There is a special opportunity for Texas-SAQA members to exhibit and sell their small works, I am hoping to send in the maximum of 3.  You may recognize the fabrics I have been working with?  See this post!

I am completely dazzled by the simple shapes and colors of this little quilt.  It is mesmerizing to me!  And what is not so obvious from this flat photo, is the texture of the little quilt.  Each black circle is a little hole in the house block.  The hand-stitched circles literally stand apart from the black background creating a small amount of real depth.  I just love it!  And the embroidery floss is such a nice complement to the heavy machine quilting.  It adds a certain texture and warmth to the pieces....a theme you will see repeated in many of my quilts as I work with these original batiked blocks.

p.s.  Thanks for stopping by!  I am struggling with a good name for this little quilt, maybe something more interesting than Little Houses?  If you have a suggestion, please drop me a comment.  I will definitely consider it!