NEWEST QUILT

New Puppy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd like to introduce my new puppy. He is only 24"x22".

This is using the Stained Glass Technique that is working so well for me these days. The only problem I have is a name for this puppy. So, if you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Paducah Quilt Show

Well it is that time of year again. The Paducah show is one of the highlights of my year!

Luckily I have a friend that has a house fairly near the show and so we can relax, and not have to worry about getting a room long before the show.

I was lucky this year and got a quilt in the show. I posted it earlier but will do so again so everybody that doesn't get a chance to go to the show can see it.

Gentle Ben

This is my latest quilt which I have entitled GENTLE BEN.





I'm not sure yet where I am going with this technique. I love animals and my thought is to make a series of animals that are on the extinct list. Or perhaps famous animals such as Lassie, or the horse Man O War. I'm just in that inbetween cycle that hits me ever so often.





In the mean time my friend Cindy and I went to a juried show that is put on each year by the people at the Arboretum. We each had quilts in the show. We also went to another show that day. They had art pieces at the University of Kentucky, and each piece had an arrangemet of flowers that was their interpetation of the piece. I must say that the Gerber Daisies were incredible and you can see I took several up close pictures of them. It was a cold and nasty day, and it was wonderful to see such beautiful flowers, as if spring had come early.

The first quilt is mine, which I made some time ago. It showed in the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas and is titled Free at Last.
The second quilt belongs to my friend Cindy Vough, and it is titled Poison Ivy.

Frustrated

I am feeling a little frustrated these days, since my blog was dropped from the Artful Quilters Site. I was told that it would be put back on the site but that has not happened yet. So, since the only people who are able to access me are friend and family that visit me regularly, It is not to inspiring, and I miss the comments and the feedback I used to get.

So, it has been a while since I made an entry, but will so soon, as I have a new quilt just finished. It is called Gentle Ben.

I am so looking forward to SPRING. Actually, we have bulbs coming up.
I'm afraid they are going to be in for a shock since we had 1/2 of ice yesterday and the day before.

I will be back on tomorrow to post picture.

Very excited!!!!!!

I don't have a picture to show yet as I am in the middle stages of a new quilt. This one is going to be of a BEAR. It is good to be excited about a new project as a lot has been happening not only with the holidays but a very close friend lost her husband the day after Christmas. So sudden and so shocking, with to time to prepare. One day you are married and the next minute you are no not. Going to take a lot of adjustments!!

So, it is good to get back to some routine. I have been doing Yoga almost every day, to make up for all those Christmas Cookies consumed. We held our yearly Open House, and so many people brought cookies. They were suppose to take some home, but many did not. So, I sent cookies off in many directions.

I'm sorry to say that for some strange reason my Serindipity site was removed from the Artful Quilters site. I have applied again and they promised I would soon be back with the other talented Art Quilters. It had been some time since I had visited and that was how I discovered I was no longer there.

In the meantime, I will continue to blog on the Google site, and when they put me on I hope they will put the back log on.

So, some time in the couple of weeks the new quilt should be done and I will post it as soon as feasible.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Resolutions? I don't think I will make any new ones this year! Just keep going in the same direction that I started last year. It was a good year for me, as I got quilts in Nashville, the Pacific International show and also the Road to California as well as some other smaller shows.

So, here is to 2008 and my Best Wishes for each and every one of you who visit my site!

Just a few lines!!!!

The computer saga goes on, but think I finally have it straightened out, with the help of my son.

Just after getting broadband I got a serious virus, and it just locked everything up. So, in the end he had to reformate my hard drive, and I now have plenty of protection as well as something called Ghost. I can't really explain it, but I should not have any more problems.

I sent JUMBO off to the Road to California show yesterday. We will see, what kind of reaction it gets. I don't ever expect to place, but that quilt shows well, so I'm glad to be able to show it. If anybody goes to see the show, write and tell me if it was hung in a good place.

Haven't worked on my new quilt much the past few weeks. Just too much going on this time of year. I'm having an Open House tomorrow, but after that things will calm down and I can get some serious work done. If I am not able to post anything new until after Christmas, I would like to tell all of you who visit me how much I enjoy the Artful Quilters and wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas, and hope the New Year brings you many Blue Ribbons.

NEW QUILT##################

I feel like I am just coming back after a long dry spell!

Computer problems, and I just didn't have the patience to wait 10-15 minutes to down load one picture. So, today I went to broadband and it is so great.

I just couldn't wait to post a picture of the quilt I just finished. These were done from a photograph of two Cavalier King Charles spanials. When I last was looking for a new dog I so wanted this kind, but they were so expensive and so I opted for a Beagle. (you can see him on an earlier blog) Bagel the beagle, and I just love him to death. However, I still love this breed also, so now I have two of them to look at any time I want.

By the way I have some good news to share, as my quilt Jumbo got accepted in the Road to California show. (That quilt is also shown on an earlier post) Jumbo is the first quilt I made with this new technique and it has shown a number of places as well as in Nashville, and looks like it might be in the AQS engagement calander for o9. They ask me to send it and they photographed it, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Anyway, it feels good to be back and I promise to be more diligent now that it will be easier to post things.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Nashville

undefined

Remembering Barbaro

Here is a picture of my latest quilt. It is in honor of Barbaro, the horse that won the Kentucky Derby, but then broke his leg during his next race. He and his owners fought such a valiant battle, but in the end they had to put him down. Sad story but he will be well remembered!

This is hanging in Berea, Ky., amoung many other wonderful quilts at the State Extravaganza that we hold each year. I wish it didn't take such a long time for me to publish a picture on my blog, I would like to show some of the others.

Paris----------------

It took me 10 minutes for google to download this one picture! I just wanted all of you to see how the French display their veggies. Very creative!

Paris, France

I just got back from a trip to Paris France. What a treat, and although I have been there perhaps 6-7 times I never tire of spending time there. This time I tried to go to places I had not seen before. For instance, I went to the Museum of Decorative Arts. One section was housed in the Louvre, and featured costumes from famous designers of the 60ies. I will try and download a couple of the items.

Then I went to another museum and they featured designers of the 50ies and it was a challange. So, each person did a dress or coat using unusual fabrics. I spent one day at the Flea market. For a fiber person it was a feast, only everything was so expensive, because the $ was about l.47. Needless to say I didn't buy very much, but enjoyed looking at all the old jewelry, buttons and many laces and ribbons.

Of course the food was out of this world, but in that vein, lunch, with just a salad and a glass of wine could cost anywhere from $25 to $30.

Since my return I have been very busy working on a couple of new ideas as well as finishing up several quilts that I had in the works before my trip. I am so enjoying this new technique and plan to teach it at the local quilt shop as well as at Get Away next year.

The picture above is a little dessert. Inside it is rasberry moose with pistachios. The French do such beautiful deserts and the way they display their vegatables is really unique.

PADUCAH QUILT SHOW

Drove down on Thursday with two quilting friend. My friend Cindy has a house on the lake where we spent the night. It was so quiet and serene with lots of birds that I have never seen before. Then the next morning bright and early we headed into Paducah to see the show.

I have attended Paducah now for at least 5-6 years and I am always excited to see the winners. This year somehow the show was not very exciting. The lady that won best of show last year also won this year. There were several pieces that caught my attention but in general I didn't see anything with new techniques, or new quilting patterns. Cassandra Williams had two pieces in the show that I really liked but other than that nothing really stands out in my memory. As the trip goes the three of us really had a good time, and of course we spent time in the Hancock fabric store and Hobby Lobby, but didn't really buy very much.

I recently took a class with Hollis Chatlain, and learned to paint with dyes. So, I was anxious to buy some more dyes and also the thickening agent she uses. SORRY, she wouldn't allow us to take any pictures!

I want to thank you for all the latest comments, especially concerning the new Jumbo quilt. It was so much fun to do!

Now here is another using the same technique but it came out so different. This was done from a picture of my male Beagle by the name of Bagel. Hope you enjoy seeing it.

Takes Blogger forever to download anything but finally was able to show my new quilt.

I was given a small ceramic elephant as a child, and have had it with me all these years. When I came up with this new technique, I was so excited and so decided to make this quilt in honor of my little elephant that has followed me around the world several times.

New Quilts

New Quilts

I posted a sneak preview earlier, now here is the whole quilt. I took quite some time to do but I am pleased with it.

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!

I can hardly believe after a couple of weeks of trying to publish a picture, it finally happened! Perhaps I just wasn't patient enough, or perhaps the new Google account has some glitches!

Anyway, here is a peek of my new quilt. It is a landscape within a landscape and if it gets into Paducah I will publish the whole quilt.

In the meantime, I have started a new quilt. After completing such a large quilt I was just Quilted Out for a while. So, I just worked on paper projects and contemplated what direction I want to go next. It all depends on how the next quilt turns out. I always have a distinct idea but very often it changes along the way. So, now with all the cold weathe upon us, it is a good time stay in and be creative!

BLOGGER TROUBLES?

Anybody else having problems with Blogger? I signed onto the new Google site and everytime I try to get to my blog it just says try again in 30 seconds!

No Pictures@@@@@@@@@@

Woe is me!! Now that my computer is finally fixed I am having problems figuring out how to down my pictures again. Just wanted to post a sneak preview of my new quilt, but guess I will have to wait until I can find the file where the pictures are downloaded.

In the mean time I have not done any quilting since before Christmas. Strange thing for me as I almost have another quilt in the works or at least in the head before I finish one. This time I started making Christmas cards and just like quilts one thing led to another and I am still working in paper. Actually there isn't too much difference. I make fabric and I also make paper. Not from scratch but I take white card stock and spray it with paint, and from there either stencil or stamp them to make them unique. I will take some pictures and try and post them tomorrow.

OK here is what I have really been up to for the last few weeks. Has anyone heard of Zumba classes. It is a type of Latin American aerobics. Well, I have been doing Yoga now for about a year and thought I was in pretty good shape, but let me tell you Zumba is quite a workout. The best part is that it is so much fun, and you really get to turn loose and shake the hips and boobs. So, ask around and see if you can find a class in your neighborhood.

IT'S OVER!!!!!!!!!!!

You shop, you plan, you cook! You think you have all the time in the world, then suddenly it is upon you, panic! Not me. I just enjoyed myself and if it didn't all get done, no one noticed.

However, today, I had the day to do what ever I wanted to and I was so discombumbulated I just did Yoga, and slept. Nothing wrong with that! I am planning my next quilt. That is my excuse! It won't be long before I am back into my old routine, and wonder where the time went.

I finished my Silk Painting class, and have registered for an art class next semester. I finished my latest quilt, and actually sent off the cd for Paducah this morning. We will see! Don't want to post it yet, but I might give you a bit of teaser later!

This is done on silk using gutta and also a thickener as well and chemical water on the lower section. It doesn't look straight because the air conditioner was blowing it around.  

This is a Shobori piece done by folding and clamping. 

This is a close up of the Discharge piece. Some color added back in and also varigated threads used to quilt it. 

You can see the discharge piece with the large leaf. Then below is a silk piece with butterflies. 

OPEN STUDIO

Tonight we had open studio, which means that all the students in the art department put their projects for the semester on display, for anyone that wanted to come and see them. I took a few pictures, and it was rather exciting to have such a crowd viewing the show.

I'm still trying to get Piccasa set up again so I can post pictures. So, here goes!

FINALLY BACK!

Well, for the moment my computer is working perfectly. Had to reinstall windows! I spent hours on the phone with Microsoft, dispite that fact that they were very nice, they just could not seem to solve the problem. So, I am a little limited as we had to reinstall almost all my programs. So, hopefully in a few days I will be back to normal.

I really felt out of touch, not being able to surf the artful quilters. Also, I was anxious to see the quilts that won in Houston. They were wonderful, but it seemed more traditional than last year.

I have been working every extra second on my entry for Paducah. I am done quilting but must square it up and find suitable binding. It is a big one! 88" by 81 " for the moment. I don't know how much I will chop off when I square it up.

It is good to be back, and I am now going to try and access my pictures and post at least a few.

Still on the Fritz!!!!!!!!!!!

Just when I thought my computer was fixed and was going to be better than before, something went wrong, and I am not able to access the internet at all. So, I am at the Library just to sort out my e-mails, and just let everybody know I am trying to get things back up and running again.

I am working really hard on a quilt I hope to enter in the Paducah show, but it has to be done and photographed by the first part of January, so I am really going to have to be diligent about working on it every day. Also, had to finish up projects with the class I am taking, so that took time away from my project. I have some really wonderful pictures to post, but that will have to wait until later. Sorry! I am feeling really frustrated.

I Will Be Back Soon

My computer is on the fritz but I will be back online soon.

This is my most favorite because he discharged and then went back in and added color. 

I think this is an earlier piece that was also in Quilt National. 

Another of Bob's pieces. I think this was one that was in Quilt National. 

This piece is done in silk. It is a little hard to see but the quilting was done in an up and down motion leaving open areas. This created some very interest horizontal even puckering. I have to spend some time trying this technique 

Another picture of the same quilt. 

This is a close up of the last quilt and you can also see some of his quilting. 

This is one of my personal favorites. This was done by distressing styrofoam and then laying black fabric over it and dispensing various forms of bleach.  

The gentleman on the left is Bob Adams. He is our guest artist. What fun we have had doing discharge. In case you do not know what discharge, we are working on black fabric and removing some of the color by using bleach in many different forms. You will see some of Bob's quilts in the next few pictures. 

As I mentioned I am taking a Silk Painting class this semester, and this is our teacher Arturo Sandoval and one of his students. Behind them is my partner for the class. Not a very good picture of him but he is from Korea and is quite the artist! 

Silk Painting Class

I am taking a Silk painting class at the University of Kentucky. Interesting experience being in a class with so many young students. We are now paired up so we can share some of the equipment, and I am with a young man that is Korean and doesn't speak all that much english. I think he understands but is shy about expressing himself. Should be a lot of fun to get to get to know him.

Next week we have a visiting artist by the name of Bob Adams. He is an art quilter and has had pieces in Quilt National for the last 3 shows. He is going to be teaching Shabori and Discharge, all of which I have played with a little. He also is going to Critique the students in our class. Of course I chose to, and think it will be a wonderful opportunity.

We drew 12 sketches, and from those we had to choose three for projects to be completed this semester. You can see the ones I chose and I will post pictures as they are completed. One of them will have 72 different colors it it. That I can't wait to see!

This is the 3rd drawing I chose. Since I have never worked on silk before, my thought was that I should keep the drawings very simple.  

This is the second one I selected. It will be 30x 30 when finished.