What's on the Design Wall in January?

I am making a 70's quilt, and it is the most fun quilt I have made for a while.  I am calling it, "That 70's Quilt."  I did some looking through my stash and found some fabrics that would work, but I needed smiley faces and peace signs, so I did buy a little yardage to make it more 70ish, such as the cassette tape fabric, 1977 Star Wars fabric, and the smiley face fabric.  I discovered that I already had three different peace sign fabrics, so that worked out well. 

It is going to be larger than I had planned it to be.  I think I may make another that will be a little smaller.  This one is looking to be about 64" by 74". 

A couple six-foot tables come in real handy when designing and constructing quilts. 

Final Art Quilt for 2025

Here we are at the end of a turbulent year in our history.  Let it be done!  Meanwhile, I am planning some fun travel in 2026, so I have been working on getting some things completed before said travel begins.  I have completed my final art quilt for 2025.  I have created it to be donated to the SAQA Spotlight Auction coming up.  It has to be mailed out by February 23, so I will submit the application and mail it next week, as I will be traveling then.

I made four owl art quilts this year.  This one is Owl Time IV.  I have only experienced using Lutradur since last month and this is my first completed project using Lutradur, which I painted with Jacquard Dyna-flow dye.  Then I placed a mottled piece of pink fabric behind it to add depth and mystery to the background.  I used regular cotton thread, tatting thread, #16 pearl cotton, and #8 pearl cotton.  I hand-dyed the fabric for the body of the owl, except the wings which is from a commercial charm square I found floating around.  I really like this guy with the petite ankles and the sturdy branch.

To recap the year, I had another winning summer at the Western Idaho Fair with my improvisation quilt that I was aided in construction of some of the blocks . . .it was wild and wooly for a bit, but it came out great with lots of personality, and it took a blue ribbon.  I also entered two AG Doll backpacks with pockets and zippers, an art quilt, and a doll quilt.

Besides completing 24 art quilts this year, I completed four regular quilts, 14 doll quilts, and various small sewn projects.  The small sewn projects include quilted tennis shoes, zipper bags, handbags, etc.  I really enjoyed indigo fabric dying in the great outdoors.

The real highlight of my year was erecting my AG Doll Quilt Show inside a larger quilt show.  It was a tribute to Gwen Marston and Freddie Moran.  My 'girls' truly outdid themselves in creating a vast array of quilts honoring Gwen and Freddie. (It was exhausting!)

The AG Doll Quilt Show also led to doing a presentation for a doll collecting club called, AG Dolls Across the Universe.

I was honored to be the spotlight presenter at the November meeting of the Montana/Idaho Region of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA).

We only got away in the RV twice this year, but I expect to do some traveling in 2026, and focus on whatever creativity my heart desires.

The Black Quilt is Completed!

I got the binding finished and a label sewn onto the back, this evening.  It is so good to have a regular quilt completed.  I am way down on that average, this year. But I have been busy making doll quilts and art quilts.

Here it is laying on my worktables.  I will endeavor to find a sweet old barn to photograph it on in the near future.  I need to do a couple of small end-of-year projects, but I ought to be working on the 70's quilt.  I got some great AG doll clothes from my husband and some amazing accessories from my daughter for Christmas.  Now I have the urge to make a couple AG doll tote bags, but I have other things on my schedule . . . like going to bed!

"Big Wind at Bay View" has been accepted to Road to California!

What?  You have got to be kidding me!  I have the acceptance letter to prove it!

It's true, you CAN see the wind in there!  I think I need a celebratory cocktail.

The "Black Quilt" top is completed!

I have finished the quilt top and backing and took it to be long-armed.  I am thinking my choice of black thread may be an error.  

After I finished piecing it, I found more black background fabrics, naturally.  Furthermore, I thought I used the last of the oranges fabric in this, as I was wishing I had more of it.  Turns out I spied a scrap of the oranges fabric in my scrap bin, after I took the top to be long-armed.  Such is the way of things in a busy quilt studio.   There are polar bears in there, and I took that chunk of fabric and put it in my bag to be donated.  Later, I took all the black fabrics out of my cupboard and sorted and refolded them.  I found more polar bear fabric!  What???  But, I am excited to get it finished!  

I had sorted all the black-backed fabrics into one box.  I have put all these fabrics back into my stash and broke the box down and placed it in the recycling.  One box out of my quilt studio! 

Book Project is Completed!

I used a piece of the hideous pinkish-brown fabric I overdyed last July, in this project.  I am really happy with the results! Below is what each panel looked like before I folded and stitched the final construction.

I used the marks on the fabric to guide my art work.   This is panel 1.

This is panel 2, and my favorite.  I think it is amazing just as it is, without being folded into a book.  However, it is now folded into a book.

This is my finished book.  It is hand dyed, hand-stitched, machine stitched, and appliqued.  Click on a photo to enlarge it and see the details!

What's On the Design Wall in November?

Things are finally settling down for the year, so I am making some regular quilts that have been on my list for a while.  I got the donation quilt top and back finished and delivered to my long-arm quilter.  Now, I am working on "the black quilt".  I had placed over fifty black backgrounded fabrics in a box last December, and now I am working on that quilt.  I am really knocking it out, so I can start on the next one.

I am determined to only use fabrics that I already possess.  I am also tidying up the quilt room, to make room for a few friends coming over for a sew day on Saturday.  This is looking good.  I cannot remember if Lynne, of Patchery Menagerie (blog), used sashing or not.  I will have to go check that out.  I want mine to look different from hers, so I have not looked at the one she posted, last year, since last year.