A finish, a start and a ribbon!

I finished this flimsy last night.  It's been in the works for over a year!

"Garnet Hill," 68" x 51"

Actually, it's been on my mind since I saw this folk art rug in the Garnet Hill catalog 5 years ago.

I made this block today.  It's the start of my summer scrap project.

And I won a ribbon for "Spring Equinox" at the local quilt show!  Quilted by Cindy Gilbrough.

Signs of Spring

I'm preparing for a 4-day retreat with Gwen Marston in June.  

We're going to make "Liberated Medallion Quilts."  

I chose this vintage Japanese yukata panel from Patricia Belyea's wonderful collection at Stashfest in LaConner last weekend.   It's a new challenge to work in a more simplistic, abstract style.  

I'm sure Gwen and the other participants will help.  

Pink "snow."

My first vegetable garden!

Happy Spring!

This just makes me happy

I've been in love with this quilt for a long time.  It's been on my computer screen for months, 

maybe even years.  I don't know where I found it. 

A few months ago, Julie sent me a box of blocks she'd bought on ebay.  

They came from a quilt top the seller said was made in the 1940's in Ohio.

I started embroidering the seams on my trip to NYC.

I thought that's what the maker would have done, if she'd finished the quilt.

I had planned to sash the blocks and make a simple lap quilt. 

But there I was in Victoria's loft, with all of her Lone Star quilts, 

plus that one on my computer screen and...

There are JUST enough blocks to make a 68" star and a 4" border!  

Don't you just love it when that happens?

Anna Williams Quilt at the Brooklyn Museum!

A big highlight of my trip to NYC was seeing a quilt by Anna Williams at the Brooklyn Museum.

There's a show there called "Workt by Hand, Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts."

There are many incredible quilts from the museum's collection.

You can see more photos at Helen's and Victoria's blogs.

It was Anna William's quilt that really captivated me.  

Made in 1995, it seemed to vibrate with joy and energy.

So many little pieces.

So many "ugly" fabrics--including sparkles!

I never thought I'd actually get to see one of her quilts up close.

Proof that there is "no scrap too small," and "no wish too big!"

Bojagi by Chunghie Lee

One of the highlights of being in NYC was getting to spend a day with Helen.  

She came all the way from Long Island to attend the Bojagi exhibit with me.  What a treat!

The pieces are truly stunning.  

I was so fascinated by the hanging threads, that I forgot to take a photo of this whole piece.

In some of the pieces, Chunghie Lee silk-screened photos of many of the "no name women" who made beautiful bojagi centuries ago.  

The pieces are large and small.

This one was two layers of sheer fabric.  Some of what you see is showing through from the other side.

Exquisite!

Later, we went to the Museum of Modern Art.  But no photos there.

Thank you, Helen, for a wonderful day!

New York State of Mind

I got to explore New York City last week!

Thanks to dear friend, Victoria.  My husband and I doggie-sat while she was teaching in Australia.

Here she is, just before leaving for the airport, putting the final touches on a new quilt design to show her students.  That girl is the "Energizer Bunny!"

It was cold for springtime.  It even snowed a few days.  

The buds were just ready to pop.  Here's a shot of Central Park.

Everyone we met was friendly and warm.  Even the buildings display sweet virtues.

The sidewalks do too.

Inspiration is everywhere.  How about these polka dots!

The Garment District is right outside her door.  

Mood Fabrics is one shop I visited.  

In the evenings, I played with Victoria's scraps.  

Jenny Egg kept me company in the studio.

Crosses in the living room inspired some 9-patches.

A tile floor design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art inspired a quilt.  

Or was this at Grand Central Station?  Anyway...

 I had to visit City Quilter to get some more fabric.  Great shop!

I decided I liked this layout better, but I'm not settled on it yet.  

So I turned to another project, and cut out pieces for a Lone Star from the blocks that Julie gave me.

I also visited two fantastic quilt shows.  Stay tuned!

Generosity

  

A few months ago, Julie sent a box of 24 blocks from a quilt top she purchased on ebay. 

The seller said it was from Ohio and made around the 1940's.  

Julie said I'll "know what to do with them."  I hope she's right!  

 After being awe-struck over and over again at the beautiful old fabrics and petting them constantly, 

I decided to patch the few holes and embroider the fabric edges, 

similar to old crazy quilts.

I started with a simple blanket stitch, and decided I liked it.  It's also helping to reinforce the hand stitching that was done on foundations of various fabrics.  

It's fun to ponder about the original maker of this quilt, the sources of her fabrics, 

the purpose of the quilt, and the stories behind it.  

And Beth sent this lovely bag.  The image is from an old card that her mother had.  

Dogwoods and butterflies were my mother's favorites, and she was from Texas, like Beth.  

I love those sweet little coincidences.  It's perfect for carrying my embroidery thread.

On Friday, I'll travel to NYC to stay at Victoria's loft while she and her family go to Australia.  

I've never explored NYC, and I'm SO looking forward to it.

You can see what I'll be working on while keeping the dogs company!

THANK YOU JULIE, BETH and VICTORIA!

The generosity of quilt-makers always astounds me!  

Wordless Wednesday