Jill: I like #2 best. Have thought about what we learned, re balance, colour, rhythm, etc. I think #2 is better balanced regarding colour, shape and size of blocks. It has some tension for interest. Ann

Puzzle me this

TRee

Also, after a sterling beginning on my tree quilt, I simply looked at it hanging on the wall and vaguely concluded that it was finished.  One of the downsides of my style is that once I can really see in my mind what it looks like, the process becomes less interesting.  But yesterday, in an act of force of will, I spent two hours fusing little bark pieces to the remaining 4.5 feet of bark background.  Well, not to all of it, but I made considerable headway and perhaps have convinced myself that I haven't finished it yet and even that there remain problems to be solved.  It's the problem solving that will keep me going; that and a deadline.

Christmas Now!

I took to making these 3-D geodes for Christmas tree ornaments to sell at the Point Roberts Christmas Craft Faire.  I made a few; then a few more; and suddenly there are over a hundred of them, getting more glittery and fancy each step of the way.  I read today about a Chinese artist who has made 100 million porcelain, hand-painted sunflower seeds (currently on exhibit at the Tate Modern; see here).  I don't think I'm going that far, but I don't know.  They're pretty fun, they're pretty cute.  Although these are just 3-D versions of the geodes I've been making for years, credit to pointing the way to the last issue of Quilting Arts.  I make them somewhat differently, but they end up looking the same, I'd guess.  They're about 2.5 inches in diameter.  Now, what do you sell something like this for?  (I have to put little hanging strings on them all, also.)

These pieces were made at a recent soy wax batik workshop with the blind leading the blind. We learned a lot and will do this again. Some of the product from this workshop is quite interesting and we are all interested in doing more and seeing what we can do with what we have made so far. I'll post what comments I wrote down at our recent show and tell but the artists themselves will have to post there own comments in our comments section.

july meeting

pictures from meeting

More from the Refrigerator

From Judy Ross:

Here are photos of the three 'refrigerator' quilts i've done with the maiwa linen centers and the 'leftovers' (cottons) randomly pieced on the outer section.  Each also has perle cotton embroidery.  They are all about 4'x6'.  You've seen the first one ('Rajahstan') and perhaps the second one ('Walkabout') before it was quilted.  Now that one is completed and i've finished piecing and some embroidery stitching on the third one ('Mombasa').  The third one will have no additional border and the embroidery stitching will go out to the edge when it's done.  I've included all three pictures here so you can get some sense of them in comparison as part of a series.  I've enough linen to do at least one and perhaps two more.  And I suppose Maiwa will sell me more if I can't stop after that.  Happy to hear any critique via email as I won't be at the 23rd meeting, although i expect we'll be up in the creek in early august. 

#1, Rajahstan, Judy Ross, 2010.

 #2, Walkabout, Judy Ross, 2010

 #3, Mombasa, Judy Ross, 2010 (?), pieced top only.


(The first was shot with artificial light; the second and third were shot outdoors in the shade, affecting the lighting, of course.)

More from Fibre Works

Another view of the painted block quilt and a painted board with a interesting and amusing message.

Another shot of the painted blocks quilt showing the pieced block.

More from our day at Fibre Works Studio and Gallery. This is not pieced with exception of one or two blocks. The "blocks" are painted on a whole cloth. Cool!

This photo has gently (very) curved lines. I removed the yellow horizon line to eliminate some angle. The figures are just tissue paper to show where the children would sit. Let me know if this is an improvement or not. Ann

Canada Day wallhanging

This is my untitled piece for the Sew Easy Canada Day contest. It had to be Red, White and one other colour but not blue.

I like my concept but not very happy with my quilting - guess I have been away from the machine too long.

This was Leslie's favorite quilt and just about burned a hole in her credit card but she resisted and only wimpered a little on the way home. It is gorgeous!

Leslie, Laura and I went to the Fibre Works Studio and Gallery in Pender Harbour to see the Kemshall and Nicholls show. I apologize that the attached photos are mostly out of focus. (The focus on my camera is misbehaving badly.) But hopefully good enough for you to get an idea of what this amazing show is like. This first quilt is of the artists grandmother and her dancing shoes. It is a whole cloth quilt. The left hand side that appears pieced is also painted. The quilting is amazing!

And another close up

And this is a close up of one of the commission pieces.

These are some of the pieces I have done for a commission. They are 12"X12" stretched canvas. They are done using the same technique of machine piecing, applique and quilting then painting over it all, and then cutting it all up that I have used on other recent pieces. I've added beach glass, rocks, shells, and copper wire to complete the pieces. The 2 pieces on the right are using the same technique but put together in a more "quilterly"manner.