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

Christmas Lights and Cotton Candy

Bet you are wondering what these 2 things have in common. Tonight DH and I went to Bristol Motor Speedway to see the Christmas lights display. It is magical! We haven't been for several years and it certainly has grown in the number of lights displayed. It took almost an hour to drive through it all. At the end there is Christmas Village set up in the infield. They have the optional photo with Santa, one craft booth, Speedway Souvenirs and food booths. One of my weaknesses is Cotton Candy whenever we get to go to fair like advents - usually during WARM weather. It was 20 degrees but I got my Cotton Candy in pink and blue - I am such a happy girl!

Back to quilting related items. I have just finished up 2 craft shows. One for work, with 10% of proceeds donated to the CarePartners Foundation and one with the Leicester Artist Group. I will be doing one more on Wednesday in our inpatient hospice unit for patients, their families/friends and the staff. I am not going to make any more items. Very few of the Christmas items sold at the 2 previous shows, go figure.
I want to thank all who came, looked and most of all purchased one of my items. They are all made with love.

My Beautiful DIL

This is my beautiful DIL. The title of the pic is Jon's (DS) favorite 3 things, his wife, their unborn child and fishing. We are expecting our newest grandchild around the 6th of Feb. I hear the babe is kicking alot, and is doing great. Can't wait for our newest addition.

Another Quilt University class

I have spent the weekend trying to catch up on my class work from Quilt University. Started working on a paper pieced angel. Still a work in progress. I have almost completed the 1st 2 lessons from the Machine Embellished Surfaces. I was a bit intimidated about taking this class but know how great these classes are so I hopped in. It has been easier than I thought it would be and can see how these techniques can be used in my art quilts. The first picture is of couching decorative threads and free motion quilting over a variety of specialty yarns and ribbons. The next picture was creating wrinkled fabric I can also use in landscape quilts. The last picture is from the 1st lesson. On the left top a stand alone leaf, bottom a dragonfly. On the right top moss that I plan to use as changing leaves in my landscape quilts, bottom is a stand alone of tree branches. Well off to bed.
Jan

Catching up again.

It's been a busy month since the last post. My son's wedding, taking 3 Quilt University Classes, which are pretty time intensive, and getting ready for 2 craft shows in early December. I went to a quilt show with a friend I met through a QU class. We had a great time, saw lots of great quilts. There are so many talented people out there!
Here is a posterized version and the line drawing of my husband's picture in prep for creating a "Realistic Portrait" in fabric. It is from a Quilt University class of the same name. I have completed it to the point I can fuse it all down. I will then start the sewing and thread painting. Up close it doesn't really look like him but from a far it really does - freaky.

Going to a wedding

Tomorrow I leave to fly to NY for my son's wedding on Friday. The reception will be a great big party on Sat. It ought to be a great time. Dan left this morning & has arrived safely.
In preparation for the wedding tonight I pampered myself...got my nails done and a wonderful pedicure. I sure do love a pedicure, almost as much as a great massage. I don't get either often enough.
The gas here has gone crazy, still have stations running out on a daily basis.
I am working on a pattern by Amy Bradley called Quilt Diva. I believe I will use this as talking piece whenever I do a quilt show. Oddly, I think she looks a lot like me LOL.
Off to finish getting ready to fly.

Time to get started again

What a beautiful day here in Western NC. The sun is shining and it is warm, a great September day. As I enjoy the day I am listening to Fox News, such devastating news from TX. My heart and prayers are with all those affected. I know what it is like to have your property flooded. Not fun and insurance is never enough to cover the damage.

I have signed up to participate in 2 upcoming craft shows. The Leicester Studio Tour Christmas Show at the Leicester Community Center on Dec 6, 2008 and a craft show at work on Dec 3, 2008. I am now starting to create Christmas ornaments in EQ6 and will start making items this weekend. I found this great white fake fur type trim I am going to use as snow on mountain tops. Dan, my DH, has several great photos on snow on the mountains he has taken over the past few years. I want to translate them into quilts. I believe I will try making 4x6 postcard size landscape quilts for the 2 shows.

I will be leaving at the end of this week to attend my son Jon's wedding to Teresa. I can't wait to see them and all of the rest of the family. We live so far away we don't get to see them as often as we would like. I will post photos when I get back.
Jan

Wins at the WNC State Fair

What a weekend. I entered 4 quilts in the Western NC Fair. 3 won 1st place ribbons.


The pot holder was paper pieced using my own hand dyed fabrics, designed by Kim Noblin. The design was from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4673.asp. I took the 12 inch block and changed it to a 8 inch finished quilt.




The Spring colored Bargello took a 1st for a table runner. It is created from commercial fabrics and comes from a Quilt University class Bargello Seasons with Ruth Blanchet.




















The crowning glory is my landscape which took a 1st place and a Judge's Choice. It was done with my hand dyed cottons, organza, sheer material, Shiva oil paint sticks. This was created using one of my DH, Dan, photos taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I created a frame around it to create the illusion of looking out of a window of a log cabin. It was entered in the mixed media category. I learned to create landscapes from another Quilt University class called Miniture Landscapes with Susan Brittingham.

I'm unemployed!

Well it's official, I'm unemployed for the next 4 days. I have been commuting almost 75 miles a day for 2 1/2 years. With the price of gas it became apparent I needed to find something closer to home. I am thrilled to say I am able to stay in my field of palliative care but working in the hospital and home settings vs the nursing home setting. I am excited to start with this wonderful company.
On the home front my DH and I will be participating in an artist studio tour this weekend. We have not been involved before but look forward to meeting many new friends and customers. DH will be presenting his marvelous photographs, I will be offering hand dyed fabrics, scarves, baby & dog items. I will also have numerous quilts of various sizes available as well. The weather may be iffy this weekend which may result in a less than stellar turnout. We will hope for the best.
The last bit of news is also exciting - the GRANDCHILDREN are coming to visit along with their mother and uncle. The twins are now crawling so we will need to make sure the dog gate is closed at all times to keep the monkeys from tumbling down the stairs! Can't wait to get my arms around them again. That's all for now. Keep on keeping on.

Good afternoon all,
I've had a pretty busy weekend. I was able to meet a new friend. I met Kristin online through a class at Quilt University. We've been in several classes together. She lives in SC & we were able to go to the Asheville Quilt Guild Show on Sat. All I can say is "WOW". There were so many incredible quilts, so many talented people. Today I have finished dyeing the cotton items for the Leicester Studio Tour. I'm in the process of washing all of them out now. Next weekend I'll finish the rest of the silks. I'm still working on the quilt projects as well.
Here's a picture of Kristin and myself and the latest landscape quilt.