I returned to the Medford area with Pat so we could go to the reception for the “Art and Science” mixed media art show at Southern Oregon University in which she has a quilt. On Day 1, we went to Grants Pass with April Hill (mother-in-law). First stop, the Grants Pass Museum of Art to see “‘Transformations ‘09, an exhibit by members of the Studio Art Quilt Association. Next door we browsed the Grants Pass Arts and Fair Trade shop, where we all found something to buy. Before leaving Grants Pass, we stopped at the Textile Connection, which had the most beautiful fabrics from around the world. Pat had to buy a few chunks of the hand-dyed hand-woven hemp, which looks a bit like burlap but is beautifully soft and wonderful.
Pat did all the driving, thank you Pat. We had to go to Fabric of Vision in Ashland, again. And again. Then we learned about the Big Sale, a warehouse garage sale at half-price because it was the last day. Pat found a brand new dish towel for 50 cents- look for a tote bag in the future. I found something too, but will save it for later. Dinner at Bambu (southeast Asian food), in Medford, with Pat, April and Bob Hill (in-laws).
But all good things must come to an end, and finally it was time to go home. We couldn’t stop talking about the pieces in the Art and Science exhibit: paintings, drawings, sculptures, digital prints, 3D printed objects, and a quilt!
I’m turning squares into circles. It’s a Saturday thing. Next comes the bias tape, for bias covered curves (instead of piecing the curve)!
May 29: Straw Into Gold
I originally thought I’d play around in the No Planning Zone for a few days, but of course, it always takes longer than we think. If we knew how much time and trouble was in front of us, would we embark on new adventures?
I tried dark blue sashing strips, but I didn’t like it. The blue is too dark and looks like the bars of a jail cell. My beautiful blocks look like they are serving time behind bars!
I had two fabrics leftover from the $3 scrap bag, so I tried them. I love the way my Circling the Square blocks have been set free. I’m estimating the quilt will measure 45″ by 65″ with these blocks- I think I should call it quits here. Besides, the $3 scrap bag is just about empty.
The traditional version of this block is called “Bright Hopes” (Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman, AQS, 1993). The first strip starts with a “half-seam”, and then continues around the center square, with all squares and strips cut accurately.
I also start with a half-seam, but I used rough-cut centers with irregular leftover strips pulled from my Tub ‘O Strips. This is a really fun block to make: it’s spontaneous, quick, and easy. It’s addictive, so beware.
A few years ago I named my version of this block “Circling the Square”, for the way the block keeps growing as more strips get added. I love these blocks!
May 22: Circling the Square
The Zipper Obsession began in 2008. I have more ideas than time, but so far I’ve completed 3 quilts and 1 necklace using zippers and zipper parts.
I put out a call for zippers in our electric coop magazine, called the Ruralite, in the summer of 2008.
I’ve received over 90 packages of zippers since then, from all over the western United States.
The smallest package held one zipper, folded up and mailed in a legal size envelope.
The largest package came from Chugiak, Alaska, with two big boxes of over 300 zippers, all still in their original wrappers, but not new.
I bet you’ll see zippers everywhere now…
I just might be cured of Yellow Fever. I once envisioned embellishing and encrusting an entire quilt (or at least the border) with the collected yellow stuff. But after filling in a space smaller than four inches by six inches, I’m over it. Really.
It wasn’t until after I finished the postcards with stitched branches that I realized I’d been under the influence of these blooming trees on SE Yamhill Street in Portland, Oregon.
The excitement just keeps building as we get closer to the 35th Annual Outdoor Quilt Show and Quilters Affair week, put on by The Stitching Post in Sisters, Oregon.
One of the many events is the “Wish Upon a Card” fundraiser for the Wendy’s Wish Foundation. With over $30,000 raised in the three previous Wish Upon a Card silent auction and buy-it-now card sales, this year could be even bigger.
Yesterday I donated 13 of my postcards for the fundraiser. You can donate your own fiber art postcards too- check it out, make your cards and get them in by the first of July.
stitchinpost.com From this website, check out the store, events, and more.
http://www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org/WishPostcards09.htm See some of the fiber art postcards from 2009.
www.wendyswish.org For more information about the Wendy’s Wish Foundation and the late Wendy Huntley.
Circles are everywhere…everywhere I tell you! But sometimes they are fleeting. While spring has sprung in other places, we still have below freezing temperatures, snow or frost in the night.
By noon it can be “shorts weather” (if you wear shorts when it’s in the 40’s and 50’s).
April 17: Circles in the Snow
My Dad liked to go on “junkets”. While others do errands, my Dad ventured on small travel adventures. He usually came home with only items on the list, but sometimes, he jaunted through the front door, wearing an impeccable three-piece suit, with a new treasure. He used to say, “it reached out and grabbed me”. In other words, he had no choice!
What is choice? I heard about research in which opinions were swayed by whether the person had just held a cup of hot or cold coffee. If this is true, how do we make important decisions? Form rational opinions?
On a recent trip to our locally owned Newport Market in Bend, these two plates reached out and grabbed me. Everything about these little dishes felt compelling: the colors, the designs, the glazes. In my defense, I did ask myself how I would use them, but I already knew I’d be happy just seeing the little bowls in my everyday environment.
April 10: Choice vs Impulse
