Franchesca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is another Butterfly I have added to my pattern line.
It's name is Franchesca.
The butterfly was made several months ago and I used it as a sample for the Stained Glass Applique class I teach. It was made on a bright red background. Hopefully, I will get all my samples made into quilts. The quilt is 41x43 and the price of the Butterfly plus the flower is $8.00 plus $l.35 for postage.

WHY??????

Last night I went to see Julia & Julia and afterwards I began to ask myself (WHY)
Just in case you haven't heard about the movie, it is about a young girl that starts a blog, and cooks her way thru Julia Childs cookbook she wrote while living in Paris. It is a split story flipping back and forth between the two women.

I guess we all need something that lends itself to our natural talents, and feels satisfying when it is concluded. But why do we continue to quilt even though we have more quilts than we can ever possibly show or sell?
When I get ready to start a new quilt, and I am going thru the process, trying to decide what to do next, I find it a very disconcerning time. I have no problem coming up with ideas but my problem is narrowing them down to one, or perhaps two ideas and then deciding which one I want to spend the next few weeks or months working on. Sometimes I don't sleep very well, and my mind is not always on the subject it should be on. I work very hard to get past this point because I know when I have finally decided which direction to go in, the excitement will finally set it! That is a great feeling!!! So, that is what I am striving for, that and the moment when I can show it finished to my piers. That sort of validates the time I spent putting it together.

So, where am I going with all this? Nowhere, I think I just wanted to get my thoughts down on paper and in doing that, sort out those feelings in my own mind. If along the way someone reads this and feels like I do, perhaps it can help to validate your feelings also.

Quilt Extravaganza

The best part about the reception was that my commission piece was on display in the window, and Dave and JoAnn Palmer brought Lovey, in person to meet everybody. She was so well behaved and just charmed everybody . It was so much fun to get to see the two of them together. This piece was made as a Christmas present for JoAnn.

It was a wonderful show this year, but I must end on a sad note, because someone stole three small pieces. These were small works of birds and sadly, two of Pat Jennings pieces were ones that were taken. The other one I don't know who it belonged to.

Berea Quilt Extravaganza

I had no more than returned from Knoxville and had to teach a workshop on Stained Glass Applique.

Then on Friday the 31st of July, the Quilt Extravaganza was held in Berea, Kentucky. There were lots of activities all over the town, and on that evening we had a reception for the artists.

I was very proud to see Paige Hoogerheide, who is a friend and former student had finished her lions. This quilt was made from a picture she actually took in Africa and she used the Stained Glass Applique technique.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Here is a picture of Eight Belles hanging in the Knoxville show last week. I had a really great time, and enjoyed seeing some of Knoxville for the very first time. This was the first time the quilt show was held in Knoxville , having been in Nashville for as long as I have been attending. For those of us from Lexington, Ky. it is a very easy trip of about 2hours 30 min. Parking was a bit of a problem, but we managed. We also visited the Art Museum, which was very nice. Truthfully, I wasn't overwhelmed by the winners, but there were plenty of venders and lots of fabric to buy.

Elizabeth

Here is a butterfly that I posted some time ago, but it was not named at the time. This is a little pattern, only 11" by 7". none of the Butterfly patterns have been quilted yet, so you can imaging how wonderful they could be with thread work, or couching etc. Of course remember that they can be used as regular applique patterns also. The price is $4.50 plus $1.35 postage.

Mother's Love

I'm proud to announce my latest Stained Glass Applique quilt.

It is named Mother's Love and except for my guild ( which met last night) is the first time to be shown. There will be a pattern for it but will announce that when it is ready. I have a workshop shortly and I am busy getting ready for that.

I'm also ready to start working on a smaller version of Barbaro, and will announce that when it is ready.

This quilt was a joy to do and went so smoothly I could hardly believe it when I was finished.

ANOTHER NEW BUTTERFLY

Here is the 4th in the Butterfly series. She, ( I always think of butterflies as being feminine. She was done on bright blue solid fabric, and a lot of the pink and green is polka dots. She is 23"x 13" but of course she could be enlarged to whatever size you would want to work with. The price for the small butterflies is $4.50 plus $1.35 postage.

ARCH OF THE AGES

This is a quilt I made a couple of years ago, when I was just beginning to explore the idea of Stained Glass Applique. It is named Arch of The Ages. I'm submitting it to a show that will hang in the Museum in Paducah Kentucky. Not sure when. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy seeing an earlier work.

I also just got back from teaching a Stained Glass Applique workshop for KHQS which is our state organization that meets in June each year. I didn't take any pictures, but there were 10 students and they were all so enthusiac and energetic it was a pleasure working with them. I also sold my patterns for the first time, at first to the students, but after I showed my Flights of Fancy at show and tell I got requests from the rest of the crowd, and sold all I had plus took some orders. Especially the butterflies seemed to catch everybodies imagination. I was so pleased and surprised.

I guess it is just my time, because I also won a scholarship to attend a workshop with Jane Sassaman in September. I was really keeping my fingers crossed and could not believe my luck when I won. I have admired her work for many years and feel sure that I will get a lot out of her workshop.

Geese crossing

The other day on my way to the bank, I came across a family of geese, crossing the road. They had traffic stopped for about a block. I didn't have my camera with me, so I came back later in the day to take this picture. The father was in the lead with the little ones inbetween him and the mother. They were taking their own sweet time crossing the road. So, cute!!!!!

Well now that I'm back on the Artful Quilters list as Serindipity 2 , I have to find other things to write about in order to keep up my blog. Up until now I've pretty much kept it as a quilting blog, but the process I use takes some time, so I don't always have two new things a month to show. Perhaps it will stretch my imagination to come up with some new ideas.

Chantelle

Here is a new Butterfly pattern. She is sort of whimisical. Don't you agree?
The price is the same as for Bridgette. $4.50 plus $1.35 postage. The is a little smaller than the other ones. Only about 22".

Hope you enjoy experimenting with her.

Another New Butterfly pattern

I'm on a roll now with my Butterfly patterns.
This one is called Bridgette, and it is made mostly with hand dyed fabrics. It is 24" and the cost is $4.50 plus postage of $1.35.

First Butterfly pattern

This is a picture of my first Butterfly pattern by the name of Anastasia.
The size is 24" but I also made it in a 12"size. Each one is $4.50 plus postage of $1.35. A photo of the butterfly is included. This is the pattern I used in the Butterfly quilt. ( still unamed but I have had some great suggestions). This butterfly is not quilted, but in the actual quilt you will see I used feathers both inside the individual pieces and then on the black background.

KENTUCKY DERBY

For those of you who are Kentucky Derby fans, I thought I would show my Remembering Eight Belles quilt once again.
The Kentucky Derby is such an exciting event, but this year it had a tinge of sadness remembering the valient filly that gave her life for the race. This quilt is not made from a picture of Eight Belles, but rather it was my intention to catch the feeling of speed and determination I saw on her face as she crossed the finish line.

Also, the memorial statue to Barbaro was very touching. I haven't seen it in person yet, but hope in the next few months to take a trip to visit his grave site.

I know I promised to post a new Butterfly pattern shortly, and I am almost there! Keep checking in the next few days.

I am so excited to finish this quilt I haven't even named it yet. Perhaps you can make some suggestions!
Part of the reason I'm so excited is that it has sparked me to design more butterfly patterns. These patterns will be offered soon. There will be two sizes to choose from. One will be 24" and the other will be 12" Each pattern will cost $4.50 plus postage which is $1.25. These patterns can be made in my Stained Glass Applique technique, or simply applique. I have two more sample patterns made, other than the above , and what I plan on doing is to offer another one every couple of weeks or so, I guess until I run out of ideas, or just get tired of making them. So, let me know what your response is. It is going to be an interesting adventure!

Favorite Quilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those who belong to the Park City Girl site and will visit my blog, this is my favorite quilt. It was made in Rememberance of Barbaro, who was a Kentucky Derby winner. He broke his leg in a later race, and fought to live for several months. Unfortunately, it was a losing battle, but in the process so many people learned to love him for his beauty and spirit.

New Quilt completed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I am presenting another commission piece. Made as a birthday present for a friends daughter.

This little ten pound dog is getting on in age, and I am really hoping it will be a wonderful rememberance in the years to come.

It is made with the Stained Glass Applique technique . This pattern will be for sale in the near future.

I have been very busy the past few weeks. I showed my quilts to a ladies club, and also to a second grade class. Also, taught a class on the Stained Glass Applique, but this time they worked on making their own patterns, rather than using mine. It is so rewarding to be able to share my experience with others, and to get to show my work is a great fun!

Another New Pattern

I now have another new pattern to offer. It is of the Lovey quilt that was made as a commission. I have permission to sell the pattern, and actually have sold one to someone that had inquired when I published the picture. Look for her a couple of posts ago. The pattern sells for $10.00 plus $1.50 postage.

New Pattern@@@@@@@@@@@

Here is a new pattern I am offering. The quilt is called Here Kitty Kitty.

The price is $10.00 plus postage which is about $1.50. The pattern is about 24" square, but of course you can reduce or enlarge it to the size you want. It is done in the Stained Glass Applique technique which I teach a workshop on, but there are directions and a picture that come with the pattern. You can contact me by sending me an e-mail at shedrum@windstream.net.