Thursday, August 19, 2010

I Love This Quote!!!

" If at first you don't succeed....
... try to hide your astonishment!"


Harry F. Banks

As of late yesterday, all the out of state offspring and grandchildren have returned home. It is QUIET. Below:
8 year old twin Jersey Boys Max and Leo, 11 year-old blond Colorado girl Kaley, and local brunette Morgan. xoxoxoxo

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Carrying On!!!!

Continuing on with this scholarship fundraiser donation to IQA, I'm first securing the black sections of this quilt . I don't really want the thread to show much so 'am using a 100 wt Invisifil. Around the eyes , I simply add a securing stitch to hold it together. Outlining the eyeball perimeter is important

I'll be stitching fairly heavily on the rust colored and white ares, and letting the black outlined areas stand on their own. I tend to think the minds eye likes the variety of textures... smooth versus furrowed with quilting. It's all an individual decision I know and for me varies by piece. Yahoo!! There are no rules!


Quilting upside down is fine with me! Click on photos to enlarge.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Fundraiser Donation For Houston

Each Year, Houston IQA offers a silent auction from teachers donations made to support scholarships. All donations must be small quilts, and since I already have an unquilted tiger eyes, I think I will quilt it more densely than my class samples and donate that. For this piece, I'll use 2 layers of batting to provide a bit more stability. So pin and get goin' Patt.

I'll begin the same way I do my samples of this image... a simple and casual curvy zig and zag at the edges of the black tufts of fur. Note: it's not necessary or even helpful to follow the feathered edges of the painted area. Near the edge is good enough!

More to come.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Quilting in the Desert

Indian Wells Hyatt and Calico House of Anaheim Ca plus Monica's Quilt and Bead of Palm Desert hosted Mystery Quilt weekend no 3 of 4. Another 60+ quilters were hosted this weekend as part of this annual retreat event. One more retreat next weekend. Thanks Monica!!!

Sewing was great and food was fabulous.

New Talk Blocks

Moving along the path to getting a phone quilt for a friend.... 2 more contributions have arrived.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Oh Mystery of Life...

I'm packing and heading to Palm Springs for the 2nd of 4 August weekend mystery quilt retreats sponsored annually by Monica's Quilt and Bead (Palm Desert) and Calico House (Anaheim). I'll do my best to entertain the 60+ quilters each Saturday luncheon. Soooo much fun. It was 110F degrees outside when I left there to return home last weekend (at 3pm no less) but inside the hotel was lovely.

Late yesterday, I put my dear grandaughter on a plane to return home to Colorado. Color me 'mopey' but I'll recover. She's growing up my Kaley.... A pic from a visit to a local stable this trip...

Lastly... a quote for today:
"If at first you don't succeed, try to hide your astonishment!"
- Harry F Banks

Friday, August 6, 2010

Heartwarming Heroes Quilt

Nothing is more satisfying to a teacher than seeing how inspired students take off and do their own thing... so hats off to Cynthia Wilson who I met while teaching at Houston last year. With her permission, I have posted her quilt and story.

Cynthia wrote:Hi Patt, I took your portraiture class last year in Houston. You may remember. I painted a picture of Jill Scott, the actress/jazz singer. When I got home I practiced, and practiced. I did a portrait of my father and each of my three grandchildren and gave the wall hangings as Christmas gifts. I then started with celebrities and finally settled on personal heroes of mine. I showed some of my portraitures at my guild meeting (Annapolis Maryland Guild). It was suggested that I make a quilt out of my portraits. I have enclosed a photo of the quilt for you to take a look at. I am also pleased that Dorothy Height did get to see my quilt when it was first completed. My sister friend, who pieced and quilted the "Heroes" quilt, Bernerdett King, and I took the quilt to the National Council of Negro Women Headquarters for Ms. Height to see it. The quilt was also displayed for a couple of months at the opening of the "African American museum of Prince Georges County".