Quilting As Art

I took a rather lengthy trip that started in January and ended in March.  I did not take my laptop, so I did not update my blog while I was on the road.  I flew to Destin, FL, then stayed with my daughter in FWB for about three weeks, before we hit the road and traveled across the south.  While waiting for the road trip to begin, I created a Kawandi style art quilt.  For the backing I used a pink tablecloth, I got for $2 at a local thrift shop.  The rest is made with scraps I found in my daughters sewing area.

One of our destinations was Laurel, MS.  The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art is a top-notch art museum.  It is rather larger than we expected, so we were able to enjoy it for a good length of time.  They had a number of excellent exhibits.  We actually went there to see the Art Evolved: Intertwined exhibit.  Part of that exhibit consist of art quilts on tour by SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates), of which I am a member.  It is always a treat to see the amazing works of other quilt artists. 

Laurel Izard, Condor.

Do click on the photos, they will enlarge.  I made sure the information tags were captured in my photos of each individual piece.

Clara Nartey, It's A Balancing Act.

Our room, at the bed and breakfast we stayed at, had a family heirloom quilt on the wall.  It was made by a family member and handed down to our host.  It is very much a work of art. (below)

Seeing the Laren Rogers Museum of Art was really the only quilt related planned-stop on our trip.  It just so happens, we were laid over in Deming, NM, unexpectedly.  While visiting their amazing historical museum, we found out that the Deming Art Council, was exhibiting art quilts into April.  We took advantage of the time we had and went to the exhibit.  They were quilts by local area artists and they were truly wonderful.  

This piece, by N. Costa, draws you in.  I am trying to not put a ton of photos in my post, but it seems inevitable.

This is the close-up, and you can see just how much work she put into this.  I love it!

This piece is by Desert Art Turtle (whose name, I think, is Jody).  It has three-dimensional aspects to it, including the salamander clinging to the lower part of the cactus.

This piece is by Paula Fluder.  She used her own hand-dyed fabrics to make this astonishing artwork.

Paula Fluder, hand-quilted.

Val Irish, Graffiti in Purple.

Val Irish, Graffiti in Orange.

Val Irish, Graffiti in Pink.  I like her series, especially the words in gold lettering and the little details.

N. Costa, Storm Clouds.

More from Desert Art Turtle.

By Cathleen Norma, log cabins. 

 

I got to talk with N. Costa at length about art quilts and particularly the artists represented in this exhibit.  I had a delightful experience, and I recommend you stop by the Deming Arts Council if ever you are in the area.  I think whatever the art they are featuring, it will be worthwhile.   Tip: Use the parking behind their building and walk around, to avoid having to back into heavy traffic on the main street.

Kawandi Class

I did not take a laptop with me on my trip, so I am very far behind in posting.  There is So Much to post about!  First things first.  On January 13, I taught a Kawandi Class to some new art quilters, from all over Treasure Valley.  They get the spotlight first.  Each one of them sent me a photo of their completed project, so I am posting them here.  They are all wonderful.  They are in the order that I received them.

                                            Annita's

                        Cheryl's

                        Maria's

                          Jan's

                        Maureen's

                            Tresa's

                        Donna's

                        Sheri's

                        Genea's

                    Deborah's

                    Debra's

                            Peggy's

                        Karen's

                         Christine's

Mine!  This is made from the demo piece that had been used in three other Kawandi demonstrations, prior to this class.  After this class, I went home and completed it.  Mine and Peggy's are the same shape and about the same size.  I think they would look grand hanging side-by-side.

What a great job the new-to-Kawandi art quilters did! 

When it Rains it Pours!

I have several things to post about, but very little time to do it.  I just returned, on Sunday, from Road to California, down in Ontario.  It was my first time to a big quilt show.  I had an abstract art quilt that was accepted to the show, so I had to go!  I did take Edna with me, so she has posted tons of photos on the doll quilt blog.  My photos will be post when I return, in March.

Meanwhile, I have completed a donation quilt, which I will post about later.  Now, for that amazing 70's quilt:

This quilt is for my cousin, who is a little younger than I.  I had a lot of fun with the design and fabrics.  I got it all boxed up and will get it mailed tomorrow.  Then I am away from my computer for a month.  The centers of each quarter piece, I drew and then I did raw-edge reverse applique to make them look so great.  Click on the photo and it will enlarge, so you can get a closer look.  This one is fairly large and is called "That 70's Quilt".

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.