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!