Susan and The Santa Barbara Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Such a honor.... for  friend Susan Katz to give me permission to show her art quilt interpretation from her photo at a recent Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  Yep, she was in this line with hundreds of others.  The time shown here are the early morning moments just prior to the start of the walk.   Wonderful piece and contribution to the race for a cure.  There's a whole lot of pink love happening here. Thanks  and congratulations Susan

Another Neighborhood for someone in Need

This may look familiar...  2nd set of houses I've quilted... others doing some too as a group philanthropy effort.Several piecers emptying their stash including me. As per usual, no one really has seen a dent yet.
 This is the second quilt I've done using the"Steamed Up"  overall stitch pattern.  I like this quilting motif. It's just right to sleep under.  Nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I'm starting to quilt for hire ... overall, custom and art quilting.

2017 Road To Ca class registration opened today

Lot's happening....  Jan 2017 Road To California Classes  ( in Ontario, Calif.) opened for registration at 9 am today.  I'm teaching 4 classes...

Wed.   3001C   Jan 18        The Filling Station ... Quilting skill building class
Thurs. 4001C   Jan 19        Media Mixer... Way fun stuff
Fri.     5001C    Jan 20       One Day Painting With Inks
Sa/Su 6701C    Jan 21-22  Two Day Painted Quilt Art ( my favorite to teach Show class)
I love being at this show..  So fun!  

3 of 4 classes  over half full by noon today. Come play! ;-) Patt
  click here to go to www.road2ca.com

Kaffe meets Jane .. In class?

I don't own an RV, and don't think I want one just because it's one more thing to take care of.
BUT... many see it different than I  and  I wanted to create an easy to care for vacation 5th wheel.  This piece begins with a basic applique pattern ( "Flaura") using  mostly Kaffe Fassett fabrics and miscellaneous fussy cut elements from floral/fauna fabrics found here and there.

The pattern had a somewhat folkart dog running toward the "trailer.... but as a painter instead  I painted, fussy cut,  and added a pet to peer out the back window.  Good doggie! 

The top image is mostly how this piece came home from a recent chick getaway where it began but since it is a fused piece, I needed to get home to work on a larger ironing surface than found in a time share unit.   

Cutting to the chase, I fussy cut and fused dozens of flowers and leaves to be added.. The  fussy cut florals seen below were part of my original plan to add along the curved stem hanging over the trailer. In the end... I dumped this idea looking for  a softer feel on the curved stem..Why?.. the stronger value flowers  shown here competed with the red trailer for viewer attention.
Attention fights are no good!  

Softer value and more delicate florals worked better to my taste. 

Extra fun additons... came  from Jan Sassaman fussy cuts. 

 Her fanciful leaves and flowers were a great graphic addition.

  

Trying to decide...   I created this for personal fun... but it indeed  is so much fun... I might want to do this as a class at a future venue.  

Began in 2009

I have a good friend who made the MOST Beautiful Wedding Quilt I've ever seen... and delivered it to the couple on their 10th Anniversary. I  have always loved this story as it gave me the okay to spend years getting a special quilt top done.  7 years ago, my hubby saw a  colorful pieced stars quilt in a show and he loved it. I wanted to make something like he saw...only MUCH larger ( a California king bedspread.) .  While I never found a pattern... just had the idea of 'it' in my head... I spent the next 3 years gathering fabrics... lots of batiks in a zillion different colors and values.

Then in 2013, I started working on it, creating  star blocks from 6" to 16", ultimately piecing blocks into a colorful field of star blocks.  This has been one of those quilts you work on a while, then put away cause you are sick of it at the moment.  Piecing is largely WORK for me as I'm a much more a painter than piecer.  I think the fact I had no pattern added to this. I'm a decent problem solver, but it gets old fast. This week, while hubby is far away traveling and totally unaware I've been doing this for 7 years, I got the top together. Whew.

Yep... pretty Big 106" wide by 122" long

Loaded on the longarm... no call for custom quilting design...  my goal is a simple overall pattern that doesn't feel so quilted when sleeping under it.  

This is a big pattern called Flamingo Sunset ( by Anne Bright).  It meets my goal. Click on photo for enlarged view.

Finally done but for binding. The quilt lays all the way to the floor on the back side of the longarm frame.  EEK! This is the largest quilt I've put on my longarm... I had 1" of leader left  after adding wider backing and batting.  A quilt this big absolutely requires basting.  I usually completely longarm  baste an entire quilt before adding quilt motifs... I questioned whether I absolutely had to for this one. The answer YES!!!!  When working this large, it's EXTRA easy for the top and back to become misaligned... so basting is helpful insurance!!!! 

Hubby coming home early tomorrow a.m.  After 2 long flights coming from Australia.. He should be wanting a nap.  Clean sheets and a new bed cover await. 

UPDATE:  So... he came home, liked it, and asked me to scratch his back.  For that he seemed excited! I'm laughing! but MEN! 

A Gift Worth Giving

Have you ever made a quilt specifically planned for giving, but had trouble giving it away?  So I planned to make a gift a Baby Quilt for a dear friend...  Got the top done in early May ( making it was fun) ... then quilted... now 'TIMES UP'... Time to let these happy Owls take flight.

 Please excuse this description, but every one of these little guys is a "HOOT"

It seems to me a cute Owl Quilt should be accompanied by a good Owl Book, and a baby owl stuffed animal.

Okay... It's been wrapped and in the car for 3 days.... I must deliver it soon. 

 6-24-16 UPDATE: I delivered  yesterday and believe I got the biggest hug I've ever received.   Happy Baby! 

Devoted To Diana

 One of the joys of my Painted Quilt Art Retreat in May was the inclusion of new student Diana Bicknell.  This is Diana's dog Lexie who was lost this year at 14 years old. Lexie helped Diana through  breast cancer treatment. She wouldn't leave Diana's side on really bad days. So, Diana did the same with her on her bad days. Such a touching story of mutual devotion. Animals are such a gift from our Creator. 

This painted Quilt will hang in Diana's house as a reminder of her devoted friend. 
One of the things Diana has done extremely well  especially for a new painter is to see and project value change. Likewise Diana has added interest and depth to this piece through her varied use of greens.  
I know Diana was pondering how to border. I somewhat think this piece is so powerful, that a border isn't requited.    Beautiful work Diana!