Alternative Energy - vs- Fossil Fuels #2

Here is my small piece made to compliment the much larger piece as part of the SAQA Earth Stories Exhibition.  All the artists have been required to create a smaller piece measuring 12" x 14".

Alternative Energy - vs- Fossil Fuels Complete

I managed to complete this quilt - 72" square - from start to finish - in just two CRAZY weeks!  But there was more!  I had to make a smaller piece to accompany it (12 x 14") and also a journal to accompany my piece as part of the traveling exhibition. 

First Trial Piece for Earth Stories

 Here are some images of the first piece I created as I began working through my ideas for my Earth Stories piece.  The final piece would have to be 72" square!  This one is only 11 x 14".

 I thought I might be using text for some of the printing, so I used what I had on hand - some Thermofax screens of my own journal plus some other language text pieces I have - I think this may be Arabic or Hindu and possibly also some Native American written language samples.  This piece is not being made with any idea that it will ever leave my studio.  I am just working through my ideas here......

Petroglyph Canyon Quilting Finished!

 The finished quilt measures 85" wide x 36" high.

Details below.

Details of the City

Primary City Finished

 

31" x 45" 

Here it is in it's full and finished state.  I decided to go ahead and try making all the edges jagged.  I used my usual fused binding technique, but there were a lot of little corners to bind!  I think it took as long to bind this piece as it did to quilt it!  I figured I could always trim it into a nice straight rectangle if this approach failed. 

Now, about the title.  I have been using Primary City (for the primary color scheme).  I am not crazy about that title, so will have to mull the title.  Usually a good final title comes to me during the final stages of construction, but that has not happened yet with this piece.  Hopefully, I will come up with something by the time I am ready to add a label.

Red Planets is Finished!

I've finished binding "Red Planets".  It measures 14 x 25"

I am very satisfied with this use of the deconstructed screen printed fabric.  The unusual patterning creates striking visual interest, but doesn't overwhelm.  I would like to further explore this approach to using my vast collection of deconstructed screen prints.   I am not sure whether this is successful because of the color - or if the results could be replicated in another color scheme. 

Starry Cottonwoods is Finished!

 Starry Cottonwoods is now finished.  Bound, with hanging sleeve and even a label!

It measures 36 x 45"

It is always great to finish a piece!  I really enjoyed working with color again after the previous five were very muted and colorless!

Winter Eve is finished!

 The finished size is 36 x 45".

It's always great to be able to finish another piece!

Binding Finished for Light in the Forest

Continuing on with "Light in the Forest".  Yesterday, I showed how I cut the strips for the binding and fuse it in place.  Today, I show the details of the attached
 hand dyed, block printed binding as it has been stitched in place with a free motion zig-zag stitch.

eBay Auction of American Alliance for Quilts Donation

The small quilt I created for Alliance for American Quilts is currently being auctioned on eBay. This quilt won first place in their annual contest. It has shown in various venues over the past 8 months and now it is being auctioned to generate funds for the organization.

You can view the auction here.

Stone Wall Quilted

Here it is with the quilting finished!

Next, I will trim and bind it. I plan to try a new technique for binding this piece.
Stay tuned.

Stone Wall Quiting

Time to quilt this piece. I chose three thread colors. A Signature cotton variegated, a Aurifil cotton in rust, and YLI black cotton threads.

I decided to follow the printing pattern with my quilting stitches.

Triple Beet Panels on Stretcher Bars

Yesterday, I showed how I glued my quilt to a prestretched canvas. Here is the result.
You can see how I finished the edge of the quilt with a specialty yarn (hand dyed by me) zig-zagged to the quilted edge. And also how I stitched over the pebbles with a variegated pearl cotton (in the very colors I used in the quilt)
And here is the piece in it's final form:
And a final detail.
I don't usually have difficulty coming up with a title for my work. It usually comes to me in the final stages. This time - it didn't happen for me. I would welcome suggestions. Thanks!

Sky Over Pueblo in SAQA Structures in Cloth

I am delighted to announce that my quilt, "Sky Over Pueblo" is part of the Structures in Cloth exhibition sponsored by SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Association). The show opens today in the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Colorado. The show will hang through August 28, 2011.
I am so honored to have my work included in this wonderful venue!

Alliances Finalist!

I am thrilled to learn that my entry to the Alliances Contest of the American Alliance for Quilts is in the top Four run-off.

Members of the American Alliance for Quilts can vote through Monday for their favorite. The Grand prize is a Handi Quilter Machine. I have lusted for one of these machines for years!
Wish me luck! The winner will be announced this coming Wednesday, April 27 at the American Quilter's Society Quilt Show in Paducah.

(and if you are a member of the American Alliance for Quilts, I would appreciate your vote!)

Canine Bound and Chicken Scratched

I've been able to finish up on the Canine.
I did decide it should be hand stitched on the ears, nose, and legs.

Bound with hand dyed green.

Alliances Entry

"We Are the World, We Are the Quilters"
is my entry in the American Alliance for Quilting Fundraiser.
Here is a link to the American Alliance for Quilting Website, where you can find details of this year's contest and fundraiser.

You can see my entry , and other entries on this Youtube video

This piece is very similar to another, larger piece I created for a different fundraiser, in fact, I used the leftover scraps from the previous piece to make the "world" for this one.

End World Hunger Now - Finishing Touch

My "End World Hunger Now" quilt is finished and ready to go off to the show.
I have a bag full of these little "worry people" that I purchased for a project several years ago. They came to me in small bags of 50, each bag had a tiny piece of paper inside with the first name of the maker. I love that each artist makes a different style and each little "worry doll" is an individual.

I glued them in place, then reinforced them with embroidery floss. The glue I use is called "The Ultimate". I get it at Hobby Lobby. I like it because it is odorless, but very strong. I use it for everything, and I have never yet had it fail.

The background fabric is a piece I discharged outside in the winter using a spray bottle filled with bleach solution. I hoped for a more crystalline effect, but even though it did not turn out as I hoped - I have used this fabric in a number of different applications.

End World Hunger Now

It has not taken long to put this quilt together, since it is only 22" square, the size required for the "Food for Body and Soul" traveling quilt show. I did a little something on it each day and had it put together in no time. Next - I will add the embellishments that inspired my idea for this little quilt.