International Fiber Collaborative

When I was taking a Quilt University class, my instructor Marjie
Mc Williams was creating a piece for the gas station project through the International Fiber Collaborative. She has a post on her blog February 11, 2008 regarding her piece.She has mucho good stuff on her blog. I'm sure she would love for you all to take a look at her website and blog. I have bought fabric from Marjie and it is great - and at a fair price. She ships very quickly. No affiliation, just a satisfied customer and student. Did I mention I have taken all of Marjie's dyeing classes that have been offered? Great instructor. If you want to learn to dye - I recommend her and Quilt University.

I quote from the International Fiber Collaborative website for this project
"The Gas Station Project

The first project of the International Fiber Collaborative was to provide an opportunity for people who enjoyed working with fiber arts, whether professional artists, hobbyists or students, to come together from all over the world to express their concern about the worlds extreme dependency on oil. The project was called the World Reclamation Art Project (W.R.A.P.), otherwise known as the Gas Station Project. Participants crocheted, knitted, stitched, patched, or collaged 3 foot square fiber panels that expressed each participants concern about the topic. Simply by designing and creating these panels and participating in this project, they were expressing their concern about this important subject to all nations. All of the panels were then sewn together to completely cover an abandoned gas station in central New York State."

There is now a new project for fiber artists.

Again quoted from the website "The Tree Project

The International Fiber Collaborative announces its 2008–2009 project, Interdependence. Participants will create a full-sized tree for display in April 2009 at Big Springs International Park in Huntsville, Alabama. Much like a live tree is interdependent on its leaves and roots for survival, societies are interdependent on the greater whole, family units, communities, and countries.

Participants from around the world are invited to create leaves to contribute to the creation of the tree. In total, up to 30,000 leaves may be used.

How to Participate

* Leaves should be created using fiber or fiber techniques.
* Entrants are encouraged to be creative in deciding on materials and techniques, and may paint, stitch, crochet, patch, quilt, knit, or glue (water resistant glue).
* Each leaf should measure roughly 5 in. wide (at its thickest) x 7 in. long.
* Leaves may also have shape and dimension.
* Submissions may relate to interdependence in a social, economical, political, ecological, or geographical way.

The tree’s trunk and branches will all be wrapped with handmade fiber sleeves.

The application deadline is March 15, 2009."
I will have to think about this - I may just enter.

I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate.

All things Quilty

That is what this blog is suppose to be about. I also include tidbits about my family. I belong to a number of lists. The QuiltArt list has a few posts about quilting cars. As I followed the links I found this about a woman who created a quilt on her car using nail polish. I don't believe I would be brave enough to do that. My mom taught me to think about resale value and my car is not an older car that I could do this to. It actually gives me the shivers to think about it. I do like the idea of the car wrap better - no damage to the car paint. I am really intrigued with the idea of wrapping my car in a "quilt" but suspect it would be quite expensive. I am not affiliated with this company and don't know anything about them but it gives you an idea what I'm talking about.
Jan

Mom's Christmas Quilt

I finally completed my mom's quilt. I sent it out priority mail to get it to AZ in time for Christmas. There is a story behind the quilt. It is written out on the label. I used my embroidery machine to create the unique label. It is a cross stitch pattern of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to indicate the reason for the season. I used some fabrics that are a reminder of our trip to Sweden a few years ago. For those who don't know, my mom is a 100% American born Swede. When I bought my Volvo they had a Overseas delivery program. We got 2 free airline tickets to Sweden, 15 days of free insurance and registration, a night in a 4 star hotel (really beautiful). We got to meet relatives we didn't know and to visit my paternal great grandmother's birth place. It is still in the family. To commemorate this trip I created a quilt in the Swedish colors, yellow and blue. It is backed with fabric I bought in Sweden (that oddly enough was made in the US) After returning to the US I found the same fabric at my local quilt shop for less money. They have to import and there aren't many fabric shops as we know them here. I have more fabric that will find their way into future quilts. I hope mom enjoys her lap quilt.

Snow Flakes

I found this fun site in a round about way. I belong to a QuiltArt list. Karen Fridy had a post on her blog, Design Stitches, which directed me to Mrs. Goodneedles's blog and on to Make-A-Flake. What a hoot. Be a kid and give it a try. I did and had a great time. It took a bit before I got the hand of the scissors. What great quilt blocks these would make.
Enjoy.
Jan

Palliative Care Month

I work as a Nurse Practitioner in Palliative Care for CarePartners in Asheville, NC. This post is not about work, it is about a group of wonderful, giving people who provide care to the very ill and how we work together. Palliative Care month was actually last month. One of our very dear members, Barbara Anderson-Friedman, had a brilliant thought about a year ago. She provided cotton squares to a number of the hospital units and asked them to make squares depicting what Palliative Care meant to them and their patients. The blocks were so creative and wonderful, all works of art by themselves. In November the Palliative Care team from the hospital and those out in the field got together for an evening of fellowship to create the quilt top. We had pizza, washed our hands and created. Those who couldn't sew pressed fabric, pinned squares together or just enjoyed the fellowship. One of children of one of our Docs even created a block with a picture of what Palliative Care meant. (It looks suspiciously like his family, but in the pure sense of palliative care that is what it is to him - safety, love and family). That is what this palliative care team is for so many in our community.
We had a great time together. The quilt top is ready for the 2 borders (Yes I will get them done - after Christmas) then someone better at quilting than I, will get the quilt to finish. The plan is to present it to Misson Hospital and it will be hung in a place of honor. Another example of teamwork, love and care we provide to those with life limiting illnesses.

Debbie Aiton (L) & Barbara Anderson-Friedman(R)


Marcie Johnson


Josh Kamell


Nancy Crouch (L) & Jan McNamara Houck (aka me) (R)


Dr. John Langlois


Dr Andrew & Elena Kamell


The quilt top - finished as far as we could go - with Jennifer Kamell (L) & Kerri Spinelli on (R) the rest of us are hiding


Jennifer Kamell, Me, Nancy Crouch, Barbara Anderson-Friedman, Kerri Spinelli

ATC for Christmas

I have been experimenting with ATC (Artist Trading Cards) or perhaps they are really more in the postcard category. They are for the most part 4x6. I made a few for the folks at work. I have enjoyed playing with my ribbons, scrapbooking doodads, and tonight some yarns. I believe I will make up a large piece then cut it into the size I want and see what turns out.
Please let me know what you think of first attempts. Thanks!
Jan

Sorry about the puddle song

After helping a few people learn how to add a subscription link to their blogs I thought I'd go look at widgets. I found widgetbox.com and tried adding several widgets to my blog. A Christmas Countdown widget and a pug dog singing. I laughed so hard I almost made a puddle of my own. (I am getting to that age where laughing hard can have unexpected consequences). I hope you all enjoy the song.
Here is another picture from my favorite photographer, Dan my DH. This would make a great quilt don't you think? Enjoy!

New Friends

Today has been a busy one. Trying to complete items for Christmas, listening to audiobooks and meeting new friends from the QuiltArt list. Most of us have blogs and there have been discussions on the list regarding how to promote ones self during this down turn in the economy. As I have linked to all these talented people's blogs I discovered that many of them aren't promoting themselves through their own blogs. I have gotten to "speak" via email with several artists today. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to share with so many, so quickly. I hope I have made some new friends today. I look forward to seeing their new posts now that I am able to subscribe to their blogs.
I am including a picture of my Husband's that makes me happy. I hope you enjoy.

A Thought to Ponder - or From the mouths of Babes

I was talking to one of my sisters today when she shared a story of a conversation she had overheard at work earlier this week. She's been thinking about it all week and I suspect now I will too.
There was a small child at the therapy department. The therapist asked the father if the child had been talking about a "pretend mother". The father said he had been. He had been telling his parent his real mommy wasn't perfect but his "pretend mommy" was. This is an interesting concept for a small child; real people aren't and don't have to be perfect but in a pretend world things can be perfect.
None of us are perfect and looking for the perfect anything can make you angry and never really satisfied with what you have or are. During this holiday season I want to remember that my real life isn't perfect but my pretend life can be. I would rather have my real life...warts and all.
Jan

New work

We have completed 2 craft shows in the past week. Here are a few of the items that did not sell so far.

This is "Elegant Angel" Original design by Lily Kern. Class taken at QuiltUniversity.com

An original design. "Bear Creek" hand dyed and commercial home dec fabrics. Adapted from Dan Houck's photo.

12 Dog Days of Christmas. Commercial fabric panel

"Summer Bargello" Created during QuiltUniversity.com class Bargello Seasons with Ruth Blanchet - Won 1st place Table Runner at the WNC State Fair, Sept 2008

"A View of the Blue Ridge Mountains" Created with hand dyed and commercial fabrics. Original design adapted from Dan Houck's Photos - Won 1st place and a Judge's Choice Mixed Media at the WNC State Fair, Sept 2008