Gerber Daisy

Having some problems with piccassa. So, I had to make this a separate post.

The last week has been below freezing and I thought it would be the demize of this Gerber Daisy. However, even with 5 inches of snow it is still holding it's head high. Can you believe it!

Gerber Daisy

BLOGGER'S QUILT FESTIVAL

This is my entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival. Thanks Amy for doing this for us. It is a joy to see all the other quilts.

This is the 4th in a series of horse quilts which I had the honor of hanging at our main library during the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky. I named it Three Friends.

It is made with my Stained Glass Applique technique, but I attempted to stylize this piece. Perhaps I will play with that technique some more in the future. I thought I was finished with horse quilts, but when I went to see Secretariat a couple of weekends ago I think I have to make one more. That was a wonderful story and some of it was filmed in Lexington.

Tigger

Finally, I have something finished.

This quilt is for my sister Marcia, and I made it from a picture that I found on her Facebook page. I haven't posted the whole quilt yet as I want it to be somewhat of a surprise when she actually receives it in the mail.

My sister is an animal lover. I think she has 4 or perhaps 5 dogs, plus various cats as well as she raises birds that she
sells. Anybody that gives of themselves that much is ok by me. I hope she will be very surprised by this gift!

I made this quilt using the Stained Glass Applique technique that I have been working in for several years now, and it is a technique that I teach over the internet, as well as to various groups. You can check it out by clicking on Serindipity 2.

Tee \shirt Cutting

As you know I have been playing with the idea of cutting up old Tee Shirts. I tried a number of techniques and this is one that I am pleased with, and wanted to share it with you. This white tee shirt was very old, very big but because of that I had room to cut and tie. I am kind of a stickler for fit, so not every old tee shirt will work. The other thing I found is that every tee shirt stretches differently. So, if you want to try this you will have to experiment a bit.
It is so much fun to take something that you thought you would never wear again and turn it into something current.

Recycling !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before I started quilting, I loved to make clothes. In fact at one time I started my own company and sold my own designs. I also have a hard time getting rid of things that I haven't worn for a long time. So, what better than to think up an idea that will make that piece usable again.

Here is a perfect example. I have a number of these sleeveless tees. So, I simply slit it in the front and used a knit stitch to anchor the center cut.


One thing that must be remembered with any kind of knit is not to pull on it as it is being stitched, as it will stretch and ruffle the edge you are working on. You will also have to experiment, and find a stitch and thread tension that will work on your machine. Knits can be tricky. Be sure and use a needle that is desinated for knits .

I'm having fun with many new ideas and will share more later.

SHOW AT LIBRARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well the time has finally come and my horse quilts are on exhibit at the downtown library. They will be there from now on thru the 31st of Oct.

The World Equestrian games are being held in Lexington, Ky this year and I was so pleased that the library choose my quilts to hang at this special time. If you are in our area please drop by and take a look. Along side me is Vanessa Wright who is a wonderful equine photographer. By the way, all the quilts except In Memory of Barbaro are for sale.

Unknown

PUP PICNIC

I know this is my quilting blog, but I also love dogs as you can see from some of my quilts.

Anyway this last Sunday I went to a fundraiser for many of the humane societies in this area. It was soooo much fun to see other peoples animals and also to see those who were up for adooption. They had contests for the dogs. Like the ugliest, or the longest. They also had contests for dogs that love to perform with frizies. That was so much fun to watch.

This little lady just captured my heart and if I didn't already have two dogs I would have taken her home. However, they said her previous owner had given her up because they could no longer take care of her. She probably is about 12 years old and I wish I could remember her name. She just wanted someone to hold her . So, I just thought I would share her with all of you. She really touched my heart.

Butterfly Stencils

Some of you know already that I love Butterflies, but many do not know that I am a stencil addict. For quite a few years now I have been dying tee shirts and then stenciling on them.

So I thought I would share the very first tee shirt I made, and it is still one of my favorites.

Stencils can be so addictive and I have cut hundreds of them simply out of FREEZER PAPER. Yes I said freezer paper. Not nearly as expensive as using plastic templates. How many times are you going to use a stencil anyway? Perhaps several times, but let me tell you that a freezer paper template gets stronger with use.

So, on my next blog I am going to offer one of my Butterfly stencils to the 10th person who asks and also to the 20th. It will be absolutely free, all you have to do is ask.

So, ladies I am also going to advertise this on my Facebook site later in the day, so be quick. Along with the stencil I will also answer any questions you might have if you have never stenciled. Be careful, it is very addictive.

Creativity?

I finished my last two projects and they are hanging in a show for a month.

What now? I'm not sure, sooooooooooooo, I'm thinking it would be interesting to share each others techniques for getting the creative juices going. Please comment and perhaps we can help each other.

What do I do? I dig thru my binders of ideas, I look thru my photographs, I get on the computer and look at other peoples work, I think about options until my brain is so full of images that I dream about them. So, confusing------------ to many ideas. How am I going to decide which images I am actually going to use?

So, I get busy with something that I have already drawn a pattern for, and just dig in and start. I can alway keep the other images in my mind, while I am working on whatever I am working on.
I know that eventually, if I trust in the process it will become clear which direction I want for myself.

For me, it is a frustrating process and sometimes painful. But for those of us that are creative it is a necessary thing in order to activate the creative process. At least we don't have to go to the extreme of cutting off one of our ears.

I look forward to hearing from those of you out there in blogger space.

FACE BOOK

I now have a facebook account. Actually, I have had one for some time, but I didn't really know what I was going to do on it. This is all new to me, but I am trying and I am actually learning little by little. So, come join me. I am also going to set up a business Facebook so I can post pictures of new quilts with patterns. It is called Serindipity, but at this point there is nothing on it.

I have a quilt showing at the AQS show that opened today in Knoxville. I went last year but could not get away this year. The quilt that is in the show is Mother's Love and if you go back sometime you can get a glimpse of it on this blog. It is a horse with her baby.

I finished my last horse quilt, and now I am going thru what I'm sure all of you have gone thru, trying to figure out what direction I want to take. So, I spend my time looking at pictures, and quilts that have won in other shows, also going thru binders of ideas that I have collected. It is painful. No other way to describe the feeling, and I am possessed, thinking about it a great deal of time. I have learned not to push it, and I will eventually get very excited over something new. Then the ideas will just come pouring out of me.

I have two new internet students that will be starting very soon. That is so much fun for me as I can teach anywhere in the world. Who would have thought that would be available in my lifetime.

FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the last in a series of horse quilts. (At least for the time being)

The name of the quilt is called FRIENDS.
Those of you who follow my work know that up to this date my quilts are very realistic.

I wanted to try something that was a little more stylized and this is the result.

It is made using the Stained Glass Applique technique but in this instance I did a whole lot of decorative quilting on each section.
It is going to be in a show called Quilts with a Kick that is held each year in Berea, Ky. which is a wonderful college town about 35minutes outside Lexington. Berea college is a free college, where students have to work to earn their tuition. There are also quite a few well known artists that live and work in the city.

I don't have a small pattern for this quilt, but I hope to do so in the future. In the mean time please click over to Serindipity 2 and take a look at the patterns I do have, and perhaps if you like the technique the Internet classes are always open.

Butterfly Wings

Here is my new piece that I talked about earlier. I'm really pleased with the end results. I named it Butterfly Wings. I guess you all know that I love butterflies, since I have made so many quilts and also offer a number of butterfly patterns.

If you want to take a look at my patterns simply click on Serindipity 2 on the left side of this blog.

This is an adaption from a book called Quilted Symphany by Gloria Loughman. I took some of her ideas but inlarged everything and used the Stained Glass Applique technique that I always work in.

I really enjoyed trying some of her techniques, but I must say that they are very time consuming. Luckily a lot of the individual pieces I was able to do the maching stitching on before it was put together and that made things easier. All in all it was worth the time and I learned a lot from her. I highly recommend purchasing the book.

FINALLY FINISHED

Here is a new piece. Back in October I attended a workshop with Jane Sassaman, and this is the piece I designed. She has you take three shapes of your choice and make a design from there. I found it hard at first because I am used to making my own designs on paper first and then transfering them into a size that I want. This way you don't see your design until after you start cutting into fabric. A little nerve wracking at first!

I'm not sure I would have finished it, but I was the receipent of a scholarship thru the State organization KHQS, and along with that scholarship I wrote an article and have to give a presentation at the upcoming Get-Away this month.

In retrospect it was a very learning experience. Some of what I will use in future projects, and I really enjoyed getting to know Jane. She is a very warm and giving person.

I'm finally back in the swing once again, and will have some more new things to share in the next few weeks.

By the way, Please check out my new site which shows pictures of quilts that I have patterns for sale, plus it described the procedure to sign up for the Stained Glass Applique internet class. It is called Serindipity 2 on the side bar.

FESTIVAL ENTRY

This quilt is named Mother's Love and is the latest in a series of horse quilts. I live in Lexington, Ky. and in late September and October we will be hosting the World Equestrian Games. I have made a number of quilts and they are going to be featured in the Main Gallery at our main library during the time that the games are going on. The technique is called Stained Glass Applique. I have been teaching the technique and also offer the class on the internet.

Another!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I almost missed this one.

What I was trying to say in the blog before that this Butterfly quilt was the outstanding quilt of the show. Here is also a close up as all the edges are turned. The colors were so striking!!!

Last of the Prizewinners !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This quilt is so cute.
This quilt was the star of the show, as far as I am concerned, and so visual.

More Winners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

They win every year, and their work is a cut above. They are a couple, and make their home in France, I think!

This year there were a lot of quilts that were made by two people. I wish AQS would catch up with the times and make another catagory for people who want to do what they are the best at, and then farm out the quilting to someone that is really good at that, and especially when they pay someone else to quilt their piece. Not really fair to those of us who do both.

ANOTHER WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This quilt was very nice, but personally there were other quilts that showed better. Although I'm sure the quilting and the piecing were exquisite!

2nd Big Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This quilt is truly amazing. If you look close you will lace all around the edges. I'm sorry but I didn't buy a book this year so I don't have the the quilt makers names. However, you can find that out by going to AQS website. As I was viewing the quilt, the maker was explaining how she got the lace on without the stitches showing on the back. She sewed on the binding, but before pulling it to the back she sewed down the lace and then pulled the binding to the back side and stitched it down by hand. By the way, the binding on the back was scalloped!

Paducah grand prize winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just came back from the Paducah quilt show, and wanted to share the winners with all of you. This quilt was amazing! Very dark with a lot of gold thread.

Paducah was not as crowded as it usually is. We arrived on Wednesday afternoon, but did not go to the show. We did our shopping first and went to the book sale as well as the Museum. Then very early the next day we went to the show. It was crowded but not as busy as it usually is. They had set up what they call a bubble, which is a big tent to house the vendors that are normally out by the swimming pool. It worked well, but was very disorientating. Once I got in, I had a hard time figuring out what I had seen and had not seen. Also, had a terrible time finding a way out. Perhaps they will correct that next year with some signs.

All in all it was a good trip and the weather was the best I remember. I will post more of the winners, but thought it would be better to show them one at a time.

STILL ALIVE

I know it's been some time since I posted anything.
I have been working diligently, and have my new horse quilt top ready to quilt. I also have a quilt that I have promised to quilt for a friend, so it is going to be a while before I can actually show something.

I also have been cleaning up and organizing my work studio, and that has taken a lot longer than I anticipated. I also have been working on a little sample piece from a book that I just fell in love.

So, I would like to recommend Gloria Loughman new book called Quilted Symphony. I have her first book and I bought it because I remember her wonderful quilt called Kimberly Mistique. It was a large quilt of Australian trees. I think I saw it at IQA show in Houston perhaps 6 years ago. She is a native of Australia, and really did a great job on this book. It is colorful and precisely written. If nothing else it will stimulate your imagination.

NOTHING NEW TO SHOW ?

I have been working diligently on a new horse quilt, but nothing I can show yet.

However, I have been teaching two internet students, both doing the same pattern, and they started within a week of each other.

I must say it is so much fun teaching over the internet. I feel like I have made a new friend with each student I work with.

I thought with this entry I would let you get to know another side of me by talking about another passion I have, and that is Yoga! I started practicing it many years ago, and would do it for a while, and then move on to something else. However, about 4 years ago after falling and breaking my pelvis, I decided to give it a try again and so enrolled in a seniors group. When I tell this story, I always say that Yoga gave me back my life. At first it was so hard for me to get down on the floor, but I worked very hard at it and slowly improved. I got so taken with it because it made me feel so good afterwards that I found some other classes and actually was doing yoga 5-6 times a week. Then one of my teachers ask if I would like to teach. I didn't hesitate for a moment. This was my chance to pay back to other people what Yoga had given to me.

If you are not familiar with Yoga, it will give you a burst of energy, but with a calmness and clarity of mind. Once you learn the correct way to breath and do the postures, you will gain strength and flexibility. When you are over a certain age the body just seems to get stiff and inflexible and balance becomes a problem. Yoga helps with all those problems.

If you are a person that has trouble sleeping, let me recommend a tried and true way to calm your mind and relax. Lie on your back with your hands beside palms up and your legs a little apart with your feet just relaxed. Let your imagination take you to a very pleasant place, like a warm beach, or a green meadow, or imaging that you are floating on a cloud.

Now, just start at the top of your head and just talk to yourself, willing each part of your body to relax. I'll bet before you get to your ankles that you will be asleep.

Now that you know my other passion, I will be happy to answer any questions in case you are thinking about giving Yoga a try. You can do it with a DVD or there are some television programs, or you can search out Yoga class at churches, or there many other places that offer classes. Some are for a very nominal fee, and others are as expensive at $15.00 a class.

I would love to hear your response after giving Yoga a try, so please write me and share.

Revamped Blog

For those of you who visit me regularly, you will be surprised to see that my blog has changed!
I ask my son who was home for a visit if he could set up a link between Serindipity and Serindipity 2. Well, he did that as well as a few other changes. I am so thrilled.

So, I am busy working on a new horse quilt, and also teaching two internet students the Stained Glass Applique technique. I've also taken on a project to quilt a friends top that passed away a few weeks ago. Her husband ask and I could hardly say no. Actually it is my pleasure to do that for him.

More soon!

BURR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what my back deck looked like a coupld of days ago.
Today it was 55 degrees. What a pleasure after so many weeks of below freezing weather.