Quilting Arts Gifts

Quilting Arts Gifts 

Okay, technically, this is old news, but my wonderful tote bag is featured in this issue of Quilting Arts gifts! It came out in September. I absolutely love this issue, in addition to having my work published in it. It is so full of so many wonderful ideas. I am totally inspired! If you haven't picked up a copy yet, do it! I will have 8 pieces in Houston this year. An amazing accomplishment considering that you can only enter 2 pieces in the judged show. The IQA quilt show starts in about 15 days, so I will be counting down. For now, #8 is my tote bag in the Quilting Arts booth! Stop by and see! I made this tote bag with my original batik fabrics, from the same fabric line that Michael Miller bought from me at the Houston Quilt Market last year. Sadly, there is no news about when this line will be printed. They have had the designs for a year now and nothing has happened. Kathy Miller told me that I will be contacted when they decide to print it, but for me, it's like waiting for the phone to ring...not much fun and it leaves me feeling like the bacteria on the back of a flea....minuscule. So really, the GIFT, for me is the validation of having my work published. Thank you Pokey Bolton and Quilting Arts! Only one thing to do, forge forward, keep creating, and laugh, often and loudly!

Publications

Publications 

I am so happy that my quilt, Self-Portrait '08 was selected to be in this quarter's Journal of The International Quilt Association!! This quilt had won 2nd place last year in the judged show, Quilts, A World of Beauty in the Small Art Quilt category. I am happy my little quilt won a prize last year, and happy that they selected this category to feature in their journal, and happy that I share the page with my friend, Laura Wasilowski who had a delightful little winner herself called Housing Development #7. The quilt is finally home again from it's tour of IQA shows from Chicago and Long Beach. Tune in tomorrow for my other news!

Felt Purse

Felt Purse 

I got this kit from ArtGirlz last year at the Houston Quilt Show and gave it to my daughter, then 7, for Christmas. I think it was a bit too much for her even though she loves the idea of sewing. So it sat, and sat and sat, waiting and waiting. Then came the unfortunate opportunity. Daughter had to go into the hospital for surgery and spend the night. My anxiety was reaching a peak, even though it was a routine procedure, it is still scary, and I anticipated a difficult recovery for her (and it was). Meanwhile, the purse helped me. I sat and stitched while she was in surgery and the time flew by. And it was a ready to go project, so I didn't have to think much about what supplies to bring, needle, thread, and scissors, maybe a thimble. Oh, yeah, and let's not forget the glasses! And the added benefit, was the gift to her of a cute little purse for her to play with when we went home. Love it! The front side has the flowers, the back side shows the zipper pull and hearts. If you get a chance, visit ArtGirlz here. It's hard to pass up their wonderfully creative projects and supplies! (No affiliation.)

Showing Soon

Showing Soon 

at the Fayetteville Museum of Art, NC Sept 11 to Nov 1 Art Quilts TRANSITIONS Doors Across Austin 36" x 52" I am so excited that my quilt will be traveling to another venue, and it will be a fundraiser for Operation Kid Comfort. Bring a donation and you don't have to pay the admission fee! Love it!

Planned Obsolescence

Planned Obsolescence 

35" x 38"

This quilt was inspired by The Story of Stuff.com. I saw this video and was completely overwhelmed and outraged. If you have time to watch the long video (20 minutes), I highly encourage it. Part of this story deals with the intentionality of making things that will not hold up over time. "They" did this on purpose to stimulate the economy. I feel so angry because it just seems so wasteful. I want to buy quality objects that will last a long time. And, where do all the broken consumer items go? Landfills here and overseas. This quilt shows a new neighborhood, built all in a row, on top of piles of stuff, things that are intentionally obsolete. This quilt is a batik etching. This means that the white part of the quilt was covered completely in a layer of wax. I put the waxed cloth on top of my drawing, and then etched the design into the wax with sharp and tiny tools. Then I dyed it, and boiled out the wax. The top half is made from some new batiks I have designed. The solids are hand dyes. And except for the numb fingers from hours of etching, the top went together relatively quickly and easy. The quilting was another story. I had a lot of difficulty making decisions about how to quilt this, what lines to use. Ultimately, I chose to leave the quilting motifs as simple as possible so that it wouldn't compete with the detailed drawing of the trash heap.