Saturday, June 25, 2011

Whaleback Light at Night


My painted whole cloth quilt, Whaleback Light at Night, won a first place ribbon at the Vermont Quilt Festival! Winning a blue ribbon is very exciting. The show was great with lots of beautiful work on display. I am very proud to be among the ribbon winners.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Another Rainy Day

I don't think there will be much sunshine in New England today. It is dark and dreary with rain off and on. I am beginning to think our glimpse of summer was while we were traveling in the south during April. I have my mind back in the sunshine of Miami as I thread paint this morning.

Friday, June 10, 2011

The Rhythm of Thread Work

Miami Skyline is on my long arm and I am just getting into the rhythm of quilting. Do the rest of you quilters feel that? Some times someone will ask me how I decide on my background quilting design? There is really no decision except the unconscious one. As with many design elements, "you go with the flow." I fire up the machine and the stitches just flow, like handwriting across the surface of the fabric. I get into a rhythm and begin to see the complete picture. It starts with the photo, melds into the painted surface and is completed by the stitching. Another quilter recently asked the question, when is you product art? I don't know? When I write, words jump off the end of my pen. When I create fiber art, the stitches and the colors, do much the same thing. Is this the artistic zone? What do you think?

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Miami Skyline


I have finally finished my first painted surface from my southern photos. I took the photo of a Miami skyline when we were on an RV trip in Florida last month. I think the painting is finished, if I can stop myself from adding one more thing, here and there! I will heat set the paint tomorrow and then I can put it on my machine to start the quilting. I am itching to quilt!