Mixed Media Quilted

Never got out of my jammies today. That alone is reason to be a happy girl.  I added to to the day's pleasure by finally quilting one of my mixed media  class samples. These elements are matte medium napkins, handmade papers, stamped tissues.  Tons of fun to create... now to quilt.

 Click on photo for an enlarged view of the finished wall quilt.

Father Christmas Ready to quilt!!

My basket passing roundabout quilt top is finally finished and ready for quilting.  Some may recall I have a fun friendship quilting group that monthly meets and takes a project from another quilter and works on their project for a month.  At the end of a year... the originator gets their basket back to finish it up.  At the beginning of 2012, I created a central  image of a Father Christmas free motioned machine embroidery for a user designed roundabout. All I did after the Embroidery was provide washed/"Retayned" red and white fabrics, and put the final border on it.  The rest of the design came from my friends.  So it finally is bordered and ready to be quilted.  I've wanted a red and white quilt for a long time so 'am mighty happy it has finally arrived.  I'm out of town (Sedona, AZ)  finishing so no design wall to photograph on.  Click on photo for an enlarged view.

Blubber Blubber...I Hate to Leave

What a wonderful time I've had here in Austin, Texas. I cannot say enough about the warm, friendly, and fun people in the Austin Area Quilt Guild. Last evenings meeting included a special show and tell featuring the work from our Painted Quilt Art Class over the weekend.

THANK YOU AUSTIN!!!!

Austin is Awesome!!!

What a joy!!! I just taught a 2 day  Painted Quilt Art class here in Austin, Tx with members of the Austin Area Quilt Guild.  Such a fun, adventurous group!  Public thanks here to Frances (program VP) , Mary and Jan (Workshop  Officers) for a wonderful time.  This group was"cranking" big time.  I was able to capture a few pictures as yesterday ended so will share them here. I love to show off students work both  paintings finished and in progress.
Here are but some of the varied fine work from the last 2 days...   Please consider all photographs and patterns as copywritten     I'll begin with RENEE's Iris

Kitty captured these 2 adorable dogs. These are Kitty's 2 generation dogs.

 Lee chose to interpret a photo of a sweet dog to be featured in an upcoming fundraiser guilt.

 Rats... I'm a bit uncertain which magnolia this is... there were 3 painted.

(c) patt blair pattern

 Marie produced a serious set of tiger eyes. There were a couple more tigers painted but somehow not photographed.  I was pretty much brain-fried though mighty happy at day's end. Nice work all!

 (C) patt blair pattern

Kathleen ( www.thequiltgal.com)  created a piece honoring her beloved kitty. 

 AND a lovely rose.

 Mary Kay is painting her beloved therapy dog Caleb. I would love to meet Caleb. He's  beautiful inside and out. Don't you want to hug this animal?

 Sharon has her dog nearly finished.  ( My apologies that I missed getting a photo of our other Sharon's ( Sharon C.) floral Datura.)

 Holly took on a bold challenge of this bee hive and wow... it is well on it's way to something exceptional.

Sandy had some great fun creating this whimsical butterfly. 

                                            (c)  patt blair pattern
I'm showing 3  in progress dragonfly pieces...

                                                                            (C)

(C) 

(C) patt blair pattern

 Frances is a great photographer.  The shot on the left is her own photo of El Capitan in Yosemite ( one of natures most magnificent places on earth ). To the right is a closer view of  part of her in-progress painting of her photo image. I have no doubt the finished piece will be exceptional.

                                             (C)
I surely missed a few photos of other work.. Rats...  THANK YOU ALL for a great 2 days.

Painted Quilt Art in Temecula - May 2013

Every May since 2008, I've hosted a Painted Quilt Art Retreat in Temecula Ca. Wine and Horse country.  This May produced lots of great work ( what a talented group!!!).  So many worked on large projects this year... That tells me confidence is building .. yeah.  I captured only a few photos on the last day... Dang!  I was hoppin' this year.   Please consider all the following painted images as copy written.  Many thanks to all who attended.. including this cute little bunny outside our classrooms

Diane Hansen ( Chandler AZ) had exclusive approval from a European fairy artist to interpret this piece on fabric. Diane has since completed the outer borders and very likely has the quilt top in quilting mode.  Diane is definitely focused and had a joyful time creating this piece.

 (c) original image under copywrite

Cinde Ebbe is one of the most detailed artists I've met.  You might appreciate this 'Audibon quality' work by clicking on the photo for enlarged view.   Cindy's patience and attention to the smallest detail works perfect in creating such a refined piece. 

 I love the playful/colorful approach to Dee Dee Kelley's in-progress surfboard work.   It actually takes hard work to create this loose fresh feeling.  You are seeing a black and white line drawing appearing through the upper half of the image... and ofcourse the closeup glasses atop the yet to be painted fabric.

A couple photos I took of other work was a bit blurry so not shown... sorry all.   The doors are open to registering for 2014. See the Patts Retreats link on the left.
Attendees... please send me a pic of your finished painting... I'll gladly brag about your work. ;-)

Completing The Journey in British Columbia, Canada

I've never been this behind blogging... work, illness, all got in the way.  I want to post of few special photos completing our trip to Vancouver Island.   First, the history behind Butchart Gardens.

My hubby fell in love with a tulip called Tulipa....a tight blossom with horn-like petals almost looking like they would produce music in the wind. 

                       Such  beautiful wisteria!

 I did stop by the Empress Hotel to purchase some specialty teas!!! 

I'll post only one more.... not from Victoria as are the above photos, but of this elegant bagpiper from Nainamo BC the previous day...  perhaps a future portrait.

Everlasting Beauty

Twenty-Five years ago, I visited the world- renowned gardens of Butchart outside Victoria, B.C.   They were beautiful then, and even more beautiful a quarter century later as my hubby and visited last week.  The gardens remain in the Butchart family, and are now for the first time in  it's history managed by a female family member.