Batik Coins

This is a pattern commonly called "Chinese Coins" because the solid blocks are said to look like stacks of coins. I guess if you squint and tip your head sideways you could come to that conclusion. Anyway, this is a very simple pattern, and I made it to use as the project for my next quilt class in September.

Sweetie Pie

Cute little creepy-crawlies, flowers, butterflies, balloons, and oh-so-sweet pink and yellow with pindots!
The 9-patch squares are worked into the border, and.....
repeated on the back.

Flight of Fancy

I really went out of the box (for me!) with this quilt:


First, by fussy cutting and arranging the theme fabric (bird / flowers / Japanese-style motifs), it is almost a realistic landscape scene. My work is usually much more geometric.

Second, it is done using a combination of piecing styles: It is a 9-patch, but also includes both big and small solid patches of the theme fabric. Usually, a quilt is made using just one type of piecing technique.

Third, in order to smoothly incorporate the 9-patch squares into the theme fabric, I used the watercolor approach. That is, adjoining squares and patches blend together to appear as a smooth transition.

Finally, it is quilted using several different design elements (what was I thinking!). The orange setting points were shadow quilted. The large and small bird squares were free-form quilted with arcs to represent the shape of the birds' wings, the clouds, and also to reflect the curved motifs. The 9-patches and adjoing squares were ditch quilted, but only in parallel lines from bottom right to upper left to help reinforce the flight path of the birds.

One other note (which you quilters will certainly appreciate): When I took the pattern (from 9-Patch Pizzazz by Judy Sisneros) into the quilt store to buy fabric, we pulled an interesting bolt off the shelf and started building around it. After a few minutes we realized that it was the same fabric that was used in the pattern! Believe me, this never happens in real life!!!!

For sale: 38" x 47"  wall hanging  $150

Point, Counterpoint

This is a work I designed based on the painting, below, by Geraldo de Barros. The original (an enamel, 23.5" x 23.5", 1952) is in black, white, and light blue. The hues and shapes do indeed appear to show movement, or, at least, tension.


I did my version (29" x 29") in the primary (rainbow) colors. It does not have the same sense of movement as the original, but I believe that the bright colors and interplay of the shapes against the stark black background do have an interesting vibrancy.

For the quilting, I chose to do stipling. The thread colors match the black or colored fabrics. So if one looks at the back of the quilt (which is a solid black fabric) the outline of the points and counterpoints on the front are clearly visible.

Puzzled?

Normally in a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces all fit together such that you see the finished picture but don't see the tabs and slots. In this "puzzle", the opposite is true. Hence the title. This piece will be donated to the United Way of Lake County for their annual fundraising auction.

The back is a piece of fabric that has been in my stash for over 10 years! Never could find the right piece for it...until now.

DOUBLE VISION

Another wall hanging made with multi-colored fabric. The fabrics are dyed in different colors across their widths, so that when pieces are cut, they subtly change and blend in the finished piece. This piece will be donated to the United Way of Lake County for their annual fundraising auction. Click to see other views. I couldn't decide what to call it, so I solicited suggestions from the core group of people that access my blog. Well....there were 24 entries submitted by 17 people in the "name the quilt" contest. Lots of "kaleidoscopes" and "spinning" themes. The winning name was submitted by Nancy Coolley. I think it really captures the essence of the pattern.

And....if you want the to hear the song by Foreigner,
click here.

3D Tucks #1

Although I have made many faux 3D quilts, this is actually the first real 3D quilt! That is, sandwiched between each vertical strip is another strip. This "tuck" strip has black fabric on one side and a second fabric on the other. The second fabric is cut from a piece of fabric which is dyed from purple to yellow and back again across its width.


After all of the strips and tucks have been sewn, the tucks are ironed against the seam line so that they pop out of the quilt body. A line of decorative stitching is added to hold them in place.


Looking at the quilt from either side gives different perspectives as the tucks and colors shift across the surface.

Diamonds Are Forever

This is the second quilt in a row that we actually get to keep! I made this basic "block and sash" quilt using colors to match those in our bedroom. Click to see how it looks on our bed.

This quilt also will be used as the pattern for my "Advanced Beginner" class in May!

Starburst!

My first work involving curves and points, this pattern is called New York Beauties. The idea was to simulate multiple fireworks exploding simultaneously in the black night sky.

The back is almost as interesting as the front because each burst was quilted with a matching color of thread.

Butterflies For Hannah

Purple is Hannah Moffic's favorite color. So mom Ari and grandmother Rusti picked these wonderful fabrics for a special butterfly quilt. Click for more pix!

St. Roch Quilt

My daughter, Emily, works for the St. Roch Community Church in
the 9th Ward in New Orleans (www.strochcc.org). During the summer, she helped run a day camp for neighborhood children.

We thought it would be a good idea to have the older kids make a quilt!
I designed one based on the unique cross motif used at St. Roch:

Then, Emily, Lindsay, and other counselors revised the design to
make it easier for the kids to construct. They also had the great
idea of letting the kids personalize some of the squares!
Here is the quilt top after they cut and pieced it:


(standing, from left to right) Destiny, Precious
(front row, left to right) Nyjah, Caitlin, Nakyra, Lindsay
Also helping were Tyla, Jalen, and J'lanae.

But camp ended before they could finish the quilt, so I offered
to do it for them. Here is the end result:



Nice job everyone!!!!!!! Click here for more pix.

D Is For Dinosaur

A colorful, bright, fun quilt for the the new grandson of our friends Mardelle and Jim. Unfortunately, the baby's parents did not choose a name that started with "D"!

Check it out!

3D Study in Black and White

Three strips of black patterned fabric and three of white alternate to create depth and movement in

this piece. The thin red border both frames and accentuates the black / white pattern.

Ditch quilted using black and white threads to emphasize the illusion on the back.

For sale: 32" x 45" Wall hanging  $150

Sea of Love

This bed quilt was a wedding present for Jesse and Amy. The border has an Indian motif.



The picture is not so great (and if you look closely you will see that it has been rotated 90 degrees). Because the quilt is so big, it had to be held up (by Wendy and Pauline), so this was the best we could do.

Eric Carle

Here is a very hungry
caterpillar!!!! Did you know
he is celebrating his
40th birthday this year?

This is the first time I have
had the quilting done by
someone else.......butterfly
designs on a long-arm machine.

For more views, click here.