Nancy and Bev

Nancy Hicks has created this wonderful quilt with its whimsical camel and plans to donate it to Women Helping Girls organization for its fund-raising project.











Bev Kondolf is working on this great self-portrait that she started in Pamela Allen's class.







Bev saw this poster of one of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. (I liked it too and just happened to have a copy of it here in the studio.)



And, without having the poster available for reference, she created this quilt.

Quilts in Process

This is next piece in my series of Jet Trail quilts --- Jet Trails #7.

I've had the blocks sewn together for a couple of months, but wasn't ready to pronounce in "done."









I tried adding more blue shapes and even an additional small dark block. But in the end, the only change I made was to invert the blue shape in the bottom row.

The next decision to be made is what type of quilting lines to add.

This "Blocks" quilt has been in my "to finish someday" pile for quite a long time.

The light-colored shapes along the edges of the piece looked incomplete on the white design wall. So to "finish" it, I added the gray shapes at the edges.
Now it just needs to be quilted...










I've been enjoying the opening of the individual flowers on this stalk -- each is a little orchid. The leaves on the plant are very soft and velvety, and lovely year-round. I bought the plant at an orchid show in Fairchild Gardens in Miami, Florida, at least 8 years ago and don't remember its name.

Sewing Day

Nancy and Beth came for some studio time, and Suki made sure she was available in case her help was needed.

Beth is working on the template for her next quilt from her heron picture, and Nancy is working from a template she made of a hosta leaf.








Suki decided that Beth needed her close supervision of every drawn line -- or at the very least, she could function as a paper weight.








Beth brought in her completed Bird of Paradise quilt. The colors are even more spectacular than in the photo.

SAQA's 20th Anniversary

SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Association) is almost 20 years old and has more than 2200 members from all over the world. As part of the celebration, there will be a "Meet SAQA's Artists: SAQA's 20th Anniversary Trunk Show."

SAQA members were asked to create a piece of work that showcases a process, technique or style that represents their artistic voice. The size of piece must fit a 12" square mat with an 8" square opening.

These small works will be available to travel to any of the SAQA regions and used to showcase SAQA and its mission. A portion of them will then be selected to become a study collection at the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The first picture shows my piece, "Blocks #6." It is fused from hand-dyed cottons.

The second picture shows the piece quilted with Sulky 12 wt cotton thread.

The third picture has been cropped to show the portion of the piece that will show through the 8" mat.

Sewing Day

Beth Brandkamp came today, but brought her pencils instead of a sewing machine. She is creating a template for a new quilt from a picture of a heron that she took in Florida.












Nancy Hicks checked out Beth's template, and then went on to try a similar technique with a template of a hosta leaf.










Pat Berardi was creating 12" blocks for a block exchange she organized for members of the Perinton Quilt Club.






Suki was having a "bad tummy" day and spent even more time than usual in napping mode.

RAFA Opening

Our postcards were sent out, announcing our current show of work by members of the Rochester Area Fiber Artists, and inviting all to our opening reception.










My piece, "Jacob's Coat", is in the center of these pieces.







Nancy Hicks is adding her contribution to the table of tasty goodies that everyone contributed. Our centerpiece of toy sewing machines was provided by Janet Root.






Jeanne Simpson did a wonderful job of organizing the reception and her husband, Mark, served the wine.

We had a wonderful turnout, especially considering that the outside temperatures were in the single digits. The approximate count of visitors was around 220 -- a record number for an opening at the Arts Council!

SAQA NY Trunk Show

This is Jet Trails #7 and is about 15" square. It is fused, made from hand-dyed cottons.

It was made for SAQA's NY region 2009 Trunk show (under the banner of the Art Quilt Alliance of NY). It will travel to the Mid-Atlantic show in February, New Jersey in March, Pennsylvania in September, World Quilt in August, and Old Forge in October.






After finishing the quilting, I decided to square up the piece and add the facing.
















Pat Pauly and Priscilla Kibbee also finished their pieces for the Trunk Show.

Pat, Priscilla and I packaged up our pieces together and sent them off.

More Sewing Visitors

Priscilla is contemplating more changes to the wolf quilt.


















Beth brought in her Bird of Paradise quilt. She's using the template and piecing techniques that she learned in Ruth McDowell's class in September.















I brought in an old horse warming blanket so that I could repair its straps. With the sub-zero temperatures we're having, we thought Crystal would appreciate having a blanket to wear. Suki decided to test out its warmth and softness for us.








Suki's spot on the blanket also gives her full view of Jeanne at the ironing board and Pat working at the design wall.

Sewing with Pat and Jeanne

Pat Pauly and Jeanne Simpson worked on pieces that they had stated in a class with Nancy Crow in September. Pat is sorting through her wonderful shibori fabrics that she made recently.
Jeanne's bullseye piece is on the back wall.















Jeanne put her lines piece on the wall and then added a lot more to it. We like all the thin line work and her choice of green fabrics.















We had a discussion about making bias tape vs sending fabric out to have the bias tape made up. Jeanne brought her Clover bias tape maker tool and gave us a little demo on how easy it is to use.










Suki admired Jeanne's suitcases that she uses to transport her fabrics. Suki would have liked to take her nap in the suitcase, but had to content herself with napping nearby.

Visit from Priscilla and Beth

Priscilla finished up a small piece that she made from wool and embellished with yarns and beads.












Priscilla continue working on her wolf quilt, which includes some of her signature seminole piecing.











Beth showed us two "I Spy" quilts that she has pieced. This one will go to her daughter for the new grandchild that is expected in March.











Beth continued with the hand quilting she has been doing on this large quilt with almost 140 small blocks.

Fella

We had to say goodby to our long-time friend Fella today. He arrived here in 1987 in the company of our friend, Monica. He replaced a long stream of horses who have been part of our family (including another named Fella also!).













He was a gentle animal and liked visitors (especially if they brought him treats!). Here he nuzzles the son of the workman who put down the tile floor in the new studio.















His latest partner was a guest mare who was here to provide him companionship. He did not like to be alone and was quite nervous and fractious when left without company. He and Crystal were always together.








Fella developed colic yesterday. It is a gastric disturbance caused by intestinal distress of some sort and is the number one killer of horses. Fella was over 30 years old and lived a long and healthy span of life. We shall miss him, but were able to bury him on our property, secure in the knowledge that he did not suffer a long illness and shared happy days and leaves with fond memories. May he rest in peace.