quite a show!

a few of the highlights from sunday's visit to the 2008 quilt show at the metrolakes farmpark. very inspirational!!

peace village

the current project underway is another village quilt- the basic block is done with strip piecing and turns out to be a simple and fast quilt to construct. seeing that I'm making this quilt to donate as the raffle prize for the FEDOPO fundraiser, that is going to be held on saturday march 15th, a quilt that is simple and fast is definitely in order!

yesterday I started hand-stitching the middle of the quilt. again the plan is for a simple and fast stitching pattern. along the black on the border will be words of peace.... such as 'give peace a chance' 'let there be peace on earth" "let peace begin with me" - whatever I can fit in.

if you click on photos you can enlarge the pictures and see the different fabrics a bit better. I found the peace crane fabric when I was down visiting my mom and dad - unfortunately I only bought one yard! my fabric purchase was determined literally by the amount of cash I had in my pocket at the time. maybe in may when I return they will still have some left. the fabric is by alexander henry; the date along the selvage is 2006 so I expect it's not around much. unfortunately, last month was the first time I ran across this fabric....ah so many fabrics so little money (and time to make use of all of them!) the fabric with people is the last of my 'save the children fabric' - I did buy many yards of this fabric when it came out a couple years ago and it has been incorporated in quite a few quilts.



speaking of fabrics, I had the most wonderful surprise in the mail a couple weeks ago. some friends of ours are currently living in new zealand (for a year - they better come back, although it does sound pretty wonderful down there, so one never knows). any way, they sent some fabric images inspired by maoir art (and sheep)..... can't wait to play with the fabric. perhaps there is a village in new zealand that will need to be constructed - with a few other fabrics, this group does seem like it would be good as the core fabrics for another cozy village quilt!

all around the world

before I headed to d.c. last week I whipped together a baby quilt for a friend of mine to give to a friend of hers. the baby is expected to arrive any day now. I didn't have much time to make the quilt and my friend said a simple quilt was fine. she didn't want to go down empty handed and she thought it would be lovely to bring a magical mouse quilt along for the baby.

my friend's friend and her husband are world travelers so I thought an 'around the world' quilt would be perfect. I'm keen on having the quilts I make symbolically represent something about the people who will be cuddling or hanging the quilt - sometimes the symbols are in the design I settle on or the fabrics I choose for the project. most often theres a bit of symbolic 'thinking' in both the design and the fabrics.

we don't know whether the baby is a boy or girl - not that it matters, I'm always fond of bright, bold colors. however, if I know a baby is a girl I sometimes will incorporate a bit more feminine touches (ironic that I the queen of androgyny feels this way! but perhaps I'm being sensitive to prevailing notions and the dominant cultural paradigm) there are 16 fabrics used in this quilt. strip piecing makes this quilt a snap to construct. for this quilt each strip was 2 1/2 inches by 13 inches. finished block was 2 inch square. I had the top and the bottom both done in a day. it did take a couple more days to do all the finishing work.

stars heal

yesterday the starry surprise quilt was mailed - I'm crossing my fingers that it arrives to its destination by saturday and finds the final recipient home from the hospital. if not it will be a most cuddly welcome home gift!

front: two traditional designs - friendship star and flying geese, each star block measures 6" square. top is composed of all batik fabrics

back: center fabric reproduction of fabric from the 1800s (pennsylvania)

detail: hand stitched and hand tied

helpers on a snow day

yesterday ms t and dixie came over to hang out on ave c.

while sitting on the floor working a bit on starry surprise, first dixie then ms t were drawn to the project. funny, sitting there I felt like a quilting equivalent of a hopi storyteller figurine.

in a few years, I expect ms t will be able to handle the needle!

starry surprise

I've returned to one of my favorite quilt patterns - the friendship star. this quilt I'm calling starry surprise as it will be given as a gift from one friend to another. the recipient will be very surprised. for now that is all I can tell regarding the story for this quilt. I don't know the person who will receive the quilt, at least not directly, I do know (s)he is fond of green and has seen my work and has wished for a mouse quilt to cuddle into.

the person who will be receiving the quilt has been ill for a while and fortunately word is will make a full recovery - but there still is a way to go. (s)he is currently in the hospital. my hope is to have the quilt finished in time for the trip home. there will still be a bit of healing and strength building to complete apres hospital. the friend of mine who is having me make this quilt for his/her friend says hopefully it won't be long. so I'm stitching away and sewing love and healing energy into each stitch and knot.

quilt top composed of all quilts. friendship star and flying geese. quilt measures approximately 50"x58" - all cotton materials.

I see with my little eye II

yesterday I finished up the kaleidescope quilt which I'm calling I see with my little eye and as of this afternoon it has been signed, sealed and delivered. I think I made record time with this quilt and completed the project in ten days - of course I had terrific motivation with the fact that the child it is for decided to come 3 weeks early!

the finished quilt measures approximately 46 x 52 inches, center is hand-tied with floss, border stitched with the full name of the child the quilt welcomes along with the following verse: I spy with my little eye my mama and papa, and a world of love and wonder.

top batik fabrics, back 'juvenile jungle print, 100% cotton materials.