New Work for Art Box CSA

New Work for Art Box CSA
8" x 8"

I am not sure of the launch date, end of Oct? First of Nov? (Art Box CSA is now closed.  Thank you for your support!) However it is coming up.  And, I have been working on some new ideas.  The first references work that I have done earlier, and I still really like the simplicity of the design and the colors.  This series is called Grey House.  The new part about this set is that I started working with a neutral gray and white palette for the background squares.  I love the way it helps the turquoise and other bright colors practically jump right out of the box! 

Grey House

The second set was inspired by a new batik fabric I have been working on for a completely different project.  I made enough to have extra to use on the Art Box pieces, combined with a zipper and a flower, it is delightful!  I hope you will think so too.  I love the way this piece has so many different levels, from the bottom layer which is exposed from the open zipper, to the middle level of the yellow background, and last, the top level of the quilted flower with the center cut out.  The flower is also one of my batiks, mentioned in an earlier post.

Zip Flower

Be sure and visit our Art Box website for the sale of these beauties.  I'll let you know when, and til then there are still a few left from our initial offering!

Urban Tree

Urban Tree

83.5” x 39”

Some projects take longer than others.  I started this one and 5 others in the summer of 2010.  I was on a roll.  Having recently completed a big stash of batiked fabrics, I had one idea after another for what to do with them.  Over about 6 weeks, I fused 6 quilt tops.  Then life slowed down a bit.  I ended up homeschooling my son which left little time to get to my stack of work waiting for me.  But, the creativity was still there, just channeled into a different venue, mostly algebra and science.  Occasionally sneaking into the studio, but progress was slow.  Then I injured my hands, with broken bones and ripped tendons, and dislocations.  What I thought before was slow, was now at a standstill for many months.  But, I was fortunate because I healed, and then started working again.

Slowly, one by one, I have been making my way through the stack.  Two of them were lucky enough to get to go to Houston this year.   Urban Tree, is in World of Beauty.  It is entered under the name "Tree" because I forgot what I was calling it when I did the entry forms.  Too funny!!  

Here are some detail shots for you... These first three are of the same block, quilted in different ways. I thought it would be fun to try to make this graphic designs look slightly different with the quilting.

 Here's a shot of one of the buildings...

Here's another building...

Here's a side shot to show more of the quilting...

And a process shot of the back before I started adding the hand quilting..

And the trees were made using some batik techniques.  Here is a fat quarter of trees that I made for the background trees...

Capital of Texas QuiltFest

Capital of Texas QuiltFest
Friday Sept 14 to Sunday Sept 16

I am delighted to announce that my quilt, Building UP, won an Honorable Mention in the Art Quilt category!

And even better, our group quilt, Artists' Garden, won a First Place in the Special Events category, and it also won a Creativity Award.  This is so special to us because we had such a great time working together on this quilt and nice to be honored for our efforts!

Artists include:  Connie Hudson (project coordinator), Cindy Henneke, Annie Smith, Frances Holliday Alford, Leslie Jenison, Sheri McCauley, Kathy York, Barb Forrister, Suzan Engler.

And, another surprise, our group quilt, Rainbow Pixel Project, also won an award, Honorable Mention in the Group Category.  Group members, Kathy York (project coordinator), Leslie Jenison, Sheri McCauley, Frances Holliday Alford, Barb Forrister, and Connie Hudson.

I also have two other quilts hanging at the show.  An all time favorite of mine, High Rise,

and Fifty, Female, and Fearless.

If you are in the area, stop by.  The show is wonderful.  It is at the Palmer Auditorium.