AMQG BOM - Block 2

Block 2:  November - Disappearing 9 patch

Ok, I didn't really do this in November.  But I got it done, so give me some slack!

This is my new favorite block.  I could make these all day.  You just make a 9-patch, then cut it in quarters and re-arrange.  Fantastic!

For more info on the quilt-a-long, click here.

AMQG Block of the Month

I am participating in my very first Block-of-the-Month.  Very exciting!  I picked some fabrics that I've had in my stash for a while - you know, the ones that you like to look at every once in a while but don't dare use because they are just too pretty.  Yes, I've decided to start cutting them up.  They will be in a better place, shortly!

Block 1: October - Friendship Star

I've made Friendship Stars before, so this time I decided I was going to do an inside out Friendship Star - I used white fabric, which would typically be used as the background fabric, for the star fabric instead.

For more info on the quilt-a-long, click here.  

AAQG Show

I was very excited to hear that one of my quilts, Feathered Grassland, received an Honorable Mention at this years Austin Area Quilt Guild Show.

My mother and I made this quilt together.  Though she lives over 1500 miles away, I love to collaborate on quilts with her.  Last year, she pieced a red, white, and blue top with this same pattern for one of her cousins.  I liked it so much that I asked her to piece another one just for me!  She picked out fabrics that she purchased through her guild's annual fundraiser.  She also added a custom border to Evelyn Sloppy's design.

I had two other quilts entered into the show.  A self portrait and a beautiful quilt that my neighbor, Jan, designed and pieced.

New Studio

It’s been an eventful summer. My husband and I finally completed our move to the new house, including moving my quilt studio. The quilt machine fits perfectly into the new studio (pictured right).

As a house warming gift, my mother created a studio sign (pictured above and to the right) that she created in an art quilt class taught in her local quilt shop by Lisa Ellis. Isn’t it beautiful!

During the summer I was also, unfortunately, diagnosed with a recurrence of skin cancer. Many trips to Houston for doctors appointments, surgery and reconstruction have taken up a great deal of the summer. I’m anxious for fall and getting back to quilting.

I have many UFOs that are anxious for my return as well!

Larger than Life?

This is a self portrait I’ve been working on. I’m calling it, ‘The Right Side of Darkness’. I’ve had cancer twice in my life, and a friend recently pointed out to me that both cancers as well as the organs I’ve had removed as a result of my cancer treatments are all on the right side of my body. How strange that I never put that together! As soon as she said it I knew I wanted to do a self portrait based on that idea.
One of the hardest part was trying to figure out what size I should be. Am I larger than life like the middle print? Hmmm...I don’t think so. So I settled on the size on the right. It seemed like a perfect fit.

I used fusing to piece this quilt. I have yet to quilt it. Stay tuned for the completed piece.

Black Sheep - Journal Quilt in Houston

This is the quilt I entered for this year’s Journal Quilt Project. It debuted in Houston this week. Several years ago, my husband and I went on a trip to Wales. I took this picture of him as he was looking out the window of the train at the sheep as we were passing by.

The quilt is made of hand dyed fabrics fused with wonder under. I have tried several different methods of fusing over the years, but settled on the technique found in Robbi Eklow’s Free Expression book.