Quilting on the Edge

Thanks to my Blog Readers!

I am really happy when I see so many of you reading my blog and checking out my work and thoughts, and do appreciate your comments. Someone recently wondered why my photos were so small.......for those who may not know, just clicking on any photo will enlarge it for a much better view.  Also, I'm a little late in getting my blog set up as I'd like, but I recently added a place where you can place your email address and you'll be automatically notified whenever I post a new message.  It's in the column to your right, right at the top.  Type in your email address and then click on the box below it, and you'll be taken to a new window to sign up.  Thanks for checking out my blog!

Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota Florida

Today we visited the Grandma Moses Exhibit at the Ringling Museum.  The weather had cooled considerably and many others had the same idea of how to spend the day.  Besides the art exhibit, personal items of Grandma Moses were on display, including paint brushes, her pin cushion, and even her rocking chair!  Below are some photos of interesting sites I saw at the museum, it has a lovely environment and the outdoor areas are peaceful and beautiful. The only bright colored patchwork type photo is a closeup of the mosaic jacket on a large statue at the visitor's entrance.

Seaside Journal # 1: Shell Seekers

I sat on the beach this morning about seven thirty with my coffee and watched the walkers, swimmers, joggers.....there's a whole busy life going on by the Gulf on Anna Maria Island.  I started thinking about all the people looking for shells, filling ziplocs or old grocery bags, or even holding them gingerly in their hands or pockets.  What draws us to look for shells?  Outside of the collectors, there's a lot of us just doing it because we're at the beach, and there are shells to be found.  I myself have done this countless times over the years, and still do.  My favorites to find are sand dollars and the shark's eye.  As I watched the people, I wondered about them.  Is it done for just a distraction?  Is it done to coincide with what's going on in our minds? Are we looking for a missing piece to make ourselves whole?  Some people just pause and look, others bend down, some use their big toes as a sand mover.  And what happens to those shells?  Do they stay left behind when the vacation is over?  Or do they go home for some token of a seaside experience?  When we find the shell again at our homes, do our senses fill up once again with that time when we were by the seaside? Maybe we come across it in the kitchen junk drawer.  Or on a bathroom shelf.  Or stuffed in an old coffee can with lots of other things, sitting on a ledge on a shelf going into your basement.  Maybe it's our way of saving bits of our lives in the hopes that on another day we cannot know, someone will find the shell and we  will be remembered.  Are we looking for a special shell, or just something to make us special?  Just my musings on this warm February morning by the seaside.   I know I'll keep collecting.  Chris

Quilt Art Postcards: Musical Theme

Here are four musical themed art quilt postcards I've made, ready for your message on the back like a usual postcard, 4 by 6 inches, and they're for sale!  Contact me by email with the link provided on the right side of this blog below my photo.   They can also be framed.  Each comes with a clear envelope for mailing, and discounts are given for multiple card purchases.   Their names are: upper left, Noteworthy;  upper right, Quiet Noise;  lower left, Solo Guitar;  lower right, Musical Relief.  These art cards are fun to mail and even more fun to receive.  Individual price is $18.00.  Thanks, Chris

Baptist Fan Quilting

                  This is the quilting pattern called Baptist Fan that I am hand quilting on this quilt, an earlier post on Moda Fabric Wallpaper Strips quilt top mentioned I wanted to use this pattern. Here's how it's looking........it will take me a while to do this hand quilting, but I love the texture and pattern it creates. 

Art Quilts from layered fabrics

                      I have sure been having fun today!  I recently read an article about layering fabrics and then making art quilts, and here are my two samples I tried today. The first piece uses four layers of fabric, and second piece (which I'm calling Interrupted Chaos) uses three layers.  I layer the fabric, stitch a design through all three layers from the back, then cut out between the stitching through the front of the piece, exposing one layer of the fabric which I choose to expose.  Lots of possibilities!  I plan to experiment with this method a lot more.  Stay tuned!

Up In Stitches SAQA Exhibit

I am happy to say that this art quilt, called S.O.S., has been juried into the Up In Stitches Exhibit sponsored by SAQA to be in Paducah Kentucky at the Yeiser Art Center in March! 

City after Dark

Here's my newest art quilt, not yet quilted.  I had a nice selection of hand dyed bright colors which I dyed a few months ago,  and I wanted to show them off against a dark background. The background was one piece, then I sliced it to add the long green lines.  These reminded me of streets dividing a city, and then I saw all those lights in the windows.  That's how I arrived at the name of City After Dark.  It measures 12 by 18 inches.  Seems all that is missing is some cars on the road.  You'll have to use your imagination for that!

Inspiration from Rainbow Springs Park

We went to visit our friends staying in Crystal River Florida for a few days and we visited Rainbow Springs Park nearby........what a gorgeous place to spend a few hours.  I took several photos for inspiration for future art quilts, here's a few of my favorites.  I like to keep a file of photos on hand to spark ideas for art quilts.  Can you guess what is pictured in the third photo?

Hope # 2 Art Quilt

Back to art quilting......this is my February Art Quilt for the small challenge group I'm in online.  This piece is 17 by 16 inches, it began with the large green leafed fabric which you see as the background.  I cut away a section, placed another fabric in that area, and proceeded to make the tree, use watercolor pencils and color gradated organza to create the focal point.  Then there's the image of a person looking on, also created with fabric overlaid with the same gradated organza.  I applied a transparent ribbon binding to continue the airy effect.  I am not  sure of a title yet, so I'm calling it Hope # 2.   I posted Hope, the first art quilt in this series, earlier on this blog.