Crafts and Mentors

My craft group made small felted wool critters this month.  Here is a photo of the ones I made.  We had a grand time sitting together and stabbing at little balls of wool, trying to avoid hitting our thumbs.

 

I also snapped a picture of quilted art pieces that I purchased from two of my favorite teachers last month.  The larger one is by Susan Shie, and has lots of her words of wisdom written on it.  Beautiful thoughts about peace and kindness - very inspirational.  The smaller one is Pamela Allen's guinea fowl.  I love her funky approach to the world, and have admired her work for a long time.  I also received prints of other pieces from both teachers.  I will cherish these works, but even more, I love that I have had the opportunity to spend time getting to know and love both of them as regular people as well as the rockstars that they are!!!

 

Camp projects

 

I wrapped up my time with the camp girls this morning.  They will need more time to finish their projects, but I think they can help each other to finish what they started.  Here are more photos of our progress.  It was a joy to work with them.  So peaceful when they were all sitting and sewing. . .

Art quilts at Camp

I have been visiting a camp near my home, to help some young girls learn to make art quilts.  We did a group project together to get started.  We brainstormed themes, and agreed on 'make up'.  Here is the piece we made so far:

  I love it.  Not bad for a first effort! 
Then, each camper (and counselor) started her own piece.  We are learning about composition and some hand sewing skills.  The girls are excited about the work, and are fantastic about cleaning up the resulting mess.  They have the weekend to work on sewing down all the pieces, and Monday, we will add backs and finish up.  Here are a few more photos:

This was a retirement goal of mine, and I am loving sharing the joy of sewing and creativity with these girls.

Darn! It fits!!!!

This keeps happening to me.  I go to the thrift store in search of interesting fabrics to cut up for my art quilts.  Invariably, I find plenty of great prints on shirts, skirts, dresses, and sometimes pants.  I get home, wash and dry the clothing, and as I fold, I am finding that the clothes sometimes fit me

perfectly.  Then I'm not sure whether to be glad or disappointed.  Here's the newest one.  It may be my Easter dress.  Very nicely made and fits beautifully.  But I wanted it for my art quilts. . .

Great News!!

While I was at the retreat in New Smyrna Beach, I received three bits of great news!!  Two of my pieces were juried into the SAQA exhibit, Redirecting the Ordinary.  Here they are:

These will travel to the International Quilt Festivals in Houston, Chicago and Portland, Or. and possibly some other venues as well.

I also learned that my quilt, Pamela's Chix was selected to be in a show in Cary NC in May and June. This show is entitled ArtQuiltswhimsy, and is put on by PAQA South.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   And my third bit of great news is that Quilters Newsletter magazine has asked to publish a quilt that I made about my mom shortly after she passed away.  She loved this magazine, and it would have made her so happy to know that this quilt will be in it!!!

                                                                                                                                                                  My cup is overflowing.