Tropical Radiance

Tropical Radiance returned home today from Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA with a Second Place award in the Pieced Wall Quilt Category. You can't see it but there's a smile on my face.


Primarily constructed using a traditional block "The Palm" (modified for paper piecing) the design emerges from color and value placement within each block.

Often I assemble the back from fabrics leftover from the front of the quilt.


Orange is prominent in this quilt and a couple of the fabrics feature jack-o-lanterns. This close up shows quilting in the shape of banana leaves in keeping with the tropical theme.

Yellow Stuff

Black-eyed susans currently blooming in my yard, courtesy of my friend Ann. Check out her extraordinary quilts at:

http://www.annfahl.com

Three Sisters

After acquiring dozens of old hankies from both my and my husband's families, I was tickled to read Carol Collett's Vintage Hankies article in the July 2008 American Quilter magazine. Now I could put all those "for show, not for blow" hankies to good use.

One definiton of vintage is "dating from the past, outmoded" (no longer current, not being in style). As applies to hankies, that's accurate. They're collector's items but of no practical current use. I, myself, am vintage (dating from the past) and perhaps also no longer current or in style. But, I and my old hankies will cling to another definition of vintage: "representing the high quality of a past time."

I am one of three sisters (and a brother) and decided to make small hankie quilts for us three sisters. At the center of each quilt is a photo of us ready for church in our Easter finery (as contrasted with the cutoffs and flip flops so prevalent at church now).

The label reads:

A detail view follows each quilt below. This is my quilt.


Hankies are a fine gauge fabric so it's necessary to use a white cotton foundation to keep the squares stable and opaque. You can see how transparent some of the hankies are. And how diverse--note the Valentine and Christmas holiday hankies.


This is Becky's quilt.


Some hankies came with lace (like the one here) while I added lace to other hankies.


This is Ruth's quilt.


This little yellow chick with a bonnet was my hankie "way back when."

Yellow Stuff

One of dozens in our yard this past spring.

In the Quiet

In the Quiet is one of five quilts in my Simply Sensational series using architectural settings to highlight each of our five senses.

The clock is one of the few sounds you can imagine in this room and is modeled after the case of our mantel clock and the face of our schoolhouse clock. Fabric pens create the detail on the face.
When choosing fabric for a pictorial quilt pay attention to the scale of the fabrics. The rug uses four fabrics, all small scale and appropriate to size of a mini rug.

Photogenic

Photogenic is one of five quilts in my Simply Sensational series using architectural settings to highlight each of our five senses.

The flowers were "fussy cut" from various floral fabrics and arranged using the fused applique technique. Often I make the back of the quilt using the remains of fabrics used on the front. The next photo shows a small section of the quilt back. In this detail shot you see where the flowers came from.

Fragrant Memories

Fragrant Memories is one of five quilts in my Simply Sensational series using architectural settings to highlight each of the five senses.

One of my favorite childhood memories is coming home from school to the aroma of mom's homemade bread.
Fabric pens and paint customize commercial fabric. The cupboards are one piece of fabric using pens to create highlights and shading. Cinnamon roll swirls are darkened with fabric pens and frosted with opaque paint.

Delicious

Delicious is one of five quilts in my Simply Sensational series using architectural settings to highlight each of our five senses.
Thousands of taste buds perceive five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savory. Afternoon tea is accompanied by fruit and sweet tidbits. Even the hummingbird enjoys a treat.

Breeze

Breeze is one of five quilts in my Simply Sensational series using architectural settings to highlight each of our five senses.

The other four senses (sight, hearing, smell, and taste) are located in specific parts of the body, but the sense of touch is found all over. The fresh spring breeze ruffles curtains, book pages and the fur "all over" the rascal on the bed.

For the first time I tried my hand at some beading on the lamp, wall plate, flowers, curtain and pillow. Not every quilt is a candidate for bead embellishment, but when appropriate, beads can enhance an area of a quilt to catch the viewer's attention. The eye is drawn to the sparkle, which invites further inspection. Be sure the embellished areas deserve the extra scrutiny.

Beginnings

It all started in 1989 when I made a 12-block sampler from a magazine quilt pattern. That was it! I knew quilting was my thing. Ten years later I began entering quilt competitions and I haven't stopped. I see no limits to the possibilities and pleasure of creating textile art.

These quilts are original compositions or adaptations of ancient ornamental designs. My work is characterized by strong visual impact, imaginative use of color, complex design and attention to detail.

So many quilt artists have contributed encouragement, information and inspiration to my adventure in quilting. In that same spirit I'm starting this blog in the hope of providing something of value to my visitors. Like me, this blog is under construction so thanks for being patient as I add information to the quilt galleries and postings.

It's just the beginning!

Welcome to my quilts.