Spirit Series Quilts

This year in the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge group, we were encouraged to work in a series for our challenges. I thought I would try to express abstract concepts in a "Spirit" series. The following quilts try to capture the spirit of various words or ideas:



The "Spirit of Passion" was made using a new technique for me. I layered three fabrics and sewed them together with curved lines then cut away layers to reveal layers below. To add interest and finish off raw edges, various embroidery stitches were used. This was a very pleasant process.















Continuing with this new process "The wandering Spirit was created". I had played with rusting some fabric and was anxious to use some in a quilt. It has alot of possibilities and was a fun exercise for me. I hope to use more rusted fabric in some future projects.

"Spirit Renewed" was the result of a sketch where I was attempting to capture the concept of "spirit". I was thinking of hope, and faith as I drew my sketch and feel that it acheived this feeling. A complementary color scheme was used with the purple and yellow being opposites on the color wheel. I find this piece very restful, and my Mom wanted it for her bedroom, how could I refuse?

Quilts from Sketches

New Dawn is a quilt from a sketch, as another fffc challenge I was attempting to show how saturated color contrasted with muted, greyed colors produces a illuminating effect. I fell a little short of my goal, however was able to get a little sense of depth to my piece. I learned alot on this challenge

The piece is called "Pipe Dreams" and came from a sketch I had made. It was alot of fun trying out different color schemes with this one. An analagous color scheme was the best for this piece, and purple is very pleasing to me, thus the choice of this particular color scheme. If time permits this design may be tried in another color way.

fun quilts with Fast Friday Fabric Challenge

As a part of Fast Friday Fabric Challenge, some of our challenges are really just for fun, and some are teaching us a design or technique concept. On this challenge we choose a subject from the spam that we had received, and it produces several humorous results. Trendy Zwendy was born as a result of the spam titled "create your own zwinky". She was alot of fun to make.

Another fun challenge for me was when we had to alter a traditional quilt block. I chose to take the "card trick" quilt block and attempt to make it be 3-d. I added the little frog to create a focal point and add interest to this small quilt.

SAQA- Amazing Art Quilts Exhibit

Last Friday was the opening of the SAQA Amazing Art Quilts Exhibit, that was part of the Quilts Past Present and Future Event in Western Virginia. The Event will remain open throughout September and has venues in Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg and Weyers Cave. I strongly urge folks that can, to see these wonderful exhibits.

As a participant in the Amazing Art Quilts Exhibit, I was quite impressed at the amount of preparation and attention to detail that SAQA regional representatives Jill Jensen and Martha Bruin Degan put into making this show a great success. I hope you enjoy the photos of this event.

Best of Show went to "Variations on A Fabric" by Judith Lundberg

Four Judges Choice Awards were given:

"Log Cabin Remodel" by Susan Webb

"Cumberland Burial Site" by C.J. Pressma

"Summer Solistice" by Catherine Kleeman

"Vorgetauscht" by Mary Stoudt

Other creative and amazing works:

Calendar Contest Quilts

Entry 1: The Ecelectic quilt
This quilt was inspired by a contemporary carpet, and has hand painted wood veneer applied to the surface. It is heavily quilted and embellished with machine embroidery.




Detail view
















Entry 2: My Garden Path

This quilt is an abstract view of my garden path as seen from my studio window. I tea dyed the background fabric, and then used colored pencils to add additional color to the background. The flowers are fused applique and beads were added to give dimension to the flowers.

Art 2 Mail postcard exchange #37

I joined my first postcard exchange this fall, and have been busy trying out new ideas and techniques on the 24 postcards for the exchange. It has been alot of fun making the cards, and even more fun receiving cards from all around the country and even the UK. Here are 4 of my favorite cards that I sent:

A winning Challenge Quilt

This quilt was made for a challenge at my local guild this October 2007. We were given a fat quarter of the grape-green fabric and told to come up with a quilt no larger than 50" square. I chose to elaborate on a Ricky Timms design - to create this quilt. My fellow guild members voted it to be first place, which was quite an honor for me.