Friday, March 31, 2006

Journal Quilt Challenge for March 2006

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Quilt Retreat and March Journal Quilt

The March submission for the Journal Quilt Challenge is done. It is really only the kernel of idea which could be developed. I need to try this again, which is the advantage of a journal quilt.

Today is the first day of a 3 day quilt retreat, I have been so looking forward to this (after all that happen in the last 6 mos) It will be great seeing my friends again after missing the last one in September. There are 50 ladies who attend this retreat 2 times a year. They have quilting styles which are traditional as well as unconventional or maybe a better word is artistic. I range somewhere in between. The place- The Interlaken Inn located in Lakeville Ct is lovely; the accomodations and meals are well prepared. They have treats and drinks at the breaks and you can work until you drop. I have been known to be working until midnight and up again at 7AM. It starts on Friday and ends on Sunday at 4PM. There are no kids, no phones and no family interruptions. You can work with a design wall and let the inspiration carry you. The ladies are so nice and all of them encourage you. If you get stuck with a technical issue there is someone there to help. I always come home inspired to charge ahead and my family knows that everything else is set aside for this. My husband has seen the happiness on my face when the retreat photos come back. This is one event I would encourage quilters and quilt artists to go for.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Ripples""-pineapple blocks

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Pineapple Blocks

Well the pineapple blocks are done from the class and it is now called Ripples"" It is a traditional block but the color and design have impact and I am pleased with it.

After a visit to my favorite quilt shop the owner (and friend) told me there was an outside chance I could enter the quilt show in May 2006. I contacted the show organizer and she said although it was late to put in a description to their catalog there was a chance they might have room. So I am crossing my fingers and I did send in two registration apps. For me this is a time of renewal, courage and future hopes. Quilting and these art pieces mean so much to me so say a prayer for me. This is my first time submitting quilt work to this particular quilt show.
There is another quilt design in the works which comes from another class with Quilt Univ called Structured Fabrics. It takes bright fabric strips in a plaid format or a layered structured format to create another textured fabric. This allows me to try different layering techniques which may open depth and dimension.

There are so many things happening right now between the quilt classes, new quilt art, preparations for quilt retreat new week and personal problems with my aunt Betty and my brother in law, I think I deserve an afternoon off.

There are two pieces in different stages of design work. My creative system starts out with a drawing and design idea in my sketch book. Then the design turns into a computer drawing on Corel Draw and then collecting of fabrics occurs. The piece will take shape in fabric on a basic level; then it sits on the wall for a few days (or weeks) to see if it works. I might add something or make changes. The penguins are now at that level. A few days ago I woke up with an idea that wouldnt leave me, without even a cup of coffee, I dragged out the sketch book and later that morning went directly to the computer and Corel Draw. Everything else was dropped. Does anyone else go thru that immediate response or mental decision--? Now or never or lose the inspiration?? I wish I could understand how that works; it doesnt seem to be orderly or even at the same time of day or place.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Inspiration

So my two Quilt Univ class's have inspired two pieces all involving fabric that has a water theme. Pulling out my favorite blue- green- marine blue- tourquoise and light blue-- for the pineapple blocks made it easy to consider a journal piece from the scraps. Today the inspiration came to a head; I couldnt stop until the journal piece was done. The nice thing about this is -- you could expand -- "Lagooon"-- into something much larger. My husband believes it looks like a mountain scene. The pineapple blocks are not done; there are four more corner blocks in different shades of black - to blue- to green which will make this into a small wall hanging. These blocks were done as a paper foundation and the paper is still attached. The next class asks for an off center block; the teacher has suggested there will be more design possibilities. Since the Journal Quilt class has two more weeks- that means two more journal quilts will be coming. Let me know what you think.

Pineapple Water blocks

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Lagoon-- February Journal Quilt 2006

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Sunday, March 05, 2006

Ghost in the Tempest

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First Pineapple block

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Foot Loose and Fancy Free- January Journal Quilt 2006

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This Week

Here it is my home work plus "the Ghost". Foot Loose"" has some personal meaning for me as a Journal Quilt both for class at QU and also for the Journal Quilt Challenge. There is so much behind that surgery (9/2005) to remove melanoma cancer from the bottom of my right foot. They say acceptance is part of recovery. Emotionally this is only 6 mos old and still a little sensitive for me. Not only was there surgery on my right foot (after 8hrs and 9days inpatient and 3 mos limited at home recovery) but also the skin graft was taken from my left wrist (2" in diameter) which left a sizeable scar. When you lose your independence - there is so much to think and appreciate all the things you use to do and cant. I'm back - out and about and almost as active as before. Life marches on.

The Pineapple block is the beginning of a quilt I had planned to do when I was operated on. I missed out on a class given near by. So this QU class has opened up a great opportunity to expand on a traditional block and expand the design.

The Ghost"" now has more of the free motion stitching, beads and sequins as well as angelina fiber (as the white snow blowing). There is fine netting over all the bead/sequin work as well as some metallic thread and "sliver" thread. The tree itself has some silver thread work as well. This piece could be redone in a smaller version for the journal quilt class. It tends to give you a dark mood.