Bluebonnets and Maggie arrive in Texas

My sweet-and-funny friend Maggie Winfield was in Texas this week, visiting a friend in Austin. We decided to meet for a day in Round Top, halfway between Austin and Houston, just for the chance to visit. We were in the Copper Shade Tree Gallery when this picture was taken.


Maggie is as adorable as ever, you would never guess she has had TWO heart attacks in the last few weeks (she drove ... alone ... from Denver!) You should have seen the rest of her outfit ... black walking shorts with matching black-and-white striped knee socks ... soooo cute! (Now if only I could learn to keep my eyes open for the camera!)


"Welcome to Washington County" ... the embankments along Hwy.290 between Round Top and Houston were just covered with our State Flower, bluebonnets. The day was overcast, but I was able to get a few good shots.


During bluebonnet season, you often see individuals and families pulling their cars off the highway to venture a little way into the bluebonnet carpet to take pictures ... just like I did, on my way home.


I don't know why this old oak tree is still standing, outside the tiny town of Warrenton. I've always wanted to stop and take a picture of it, but never did until yesterday. Then I spent some time this morning Photoshopping out the junkier bits of background. I think the tree must have been struck by lightening at some point in the past, because there is no sign of life anywhere on this old guy.

FMLC Retreat

The FabFour retreated to a Galveston beach house for a few days this past week (the house is owned by the son of one of the FabFour, so he qualifies as a FabSon). The Other Three got there a bit earlier than I did, as I had to take care of some quilting business, but I quickly caught up on all the fun and frivolity.



You can see Sharon, above, working on an absolutely beautiful floor cloth, which took several days because of the drying times in between coats of "stuff". And here's the finished product, which will reside in her quilting studio, along with her lime green desk. Isn't it gorgeous? Now I can't wait to do one myself.



Barb & Betty worked on various quilting projects, but I was Too Pooped to Pop, so I just worked on some beading projects and taught a few mini-classes in wire-working and earring-making.



Barb made the beautiful wire-worked Swarovski Crystal bracelet shown above, Betty made several pairs of great earrings, and Sharon made a lovely necklace for a shell pendant she had found (but of course I neglected to photograph them).

In the course of teaching the bracelet to Barb, I ended up making another one for myself (or maybe to sell). Hers is the blue one, below, and I experimented with the multi-colored one, Peridot and Amber. Because of the different colors, I think hers turned out to look more formal, and mine more casual. There's room for both in my wold!



And last but not least, Betty showing "how it's done" in the Relaxation Department.

Silkies On My Mind

Here is a commissioned quilt I designed and created for a couple who raise and show Silky Terriers. It measures 63" x 43" (horizontal orientation), and is intended to be framed and hung over the husband's office couch.

It includes digitally manipulated photographs, printed on cotton fabric, free-motion thread painting, traditional piecing and raw-edge applique, free-hand quilting, and a faux-tintype technique on aluminum can metal.

In my mind as I was making the different blocks, I gave them nicknames ... shown under their detail shots below.

"Smoking Jacket"

"Beau Peeking Thru the Leaves"

"Shy Girl"

"Escape Artist"


"Zeke"

"The Girls"

"Lavender Shy Girl"

"Blue Silky"


"Tintype"

"Zeke Warholized"

Two of my favorite blocks are of "Zeke" ... which is actually his real name ... Karen Stiehl Osborn knew I was making the Silky quilt and offered pictures of her puppy Zeke, who was "brand new" at the time. Thank you again, Karen! (See her blog for more pictures of him, as well as other goodies.)

Another One Sold!

I Beelieve, by Judy Coates Perez

Congratulations to Judy Coates Perez! Her wonderful artwork for the Reverse Auction was acquired at the Gold Donor level overnight. Ohmigosh, I was coveting that little piece myself, so I'm trying not to be jealous of the lucky winner ;^) That's another $450 for the fight against cancer ... Hooray, Judy! ... and remember, the minimum donation will drop at 10 a.m. CST today, Wednesday, March 25 by a whopping one-third. I have a feeling that today's the day that these fabulous fiber artworks will start flying out the door, so if you wait to late, your piece may be gone! Here's the link to the Reverse Auction: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionArtwork2009.html

SOLD!

Rusty Grove (detail)

My Rusty Grove was won in Virginia Spiegel's FiberArts For A Cause Reverse Auction this morning. I think I was a little bit in shock when told that it was taken at the Gold Donor level ($1,800) by an Anonymous Friend of FFAC. (As noted in an earlier post, 100% of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.) I'm absolutely thrilled to have been able to contribute to the ASC's receipt of that sum, when there's no way I could have afforded that kind of cash myself. ART to the rescue! Thank you, Dear Anonymous Friend of FiberArts for a Cause, and thank you, Virginia and all her Helper Angels (you know who you are) who have made the over-$165,000 contributions (so far) possible.

FiberArts For A Cause - LAST Reverse Auction

Cricket in the Thorn Tree, by Leandra Spangler

The Fifth (and Final!) Reverse Auction opens today, March 24, at 10 a.m. CST with 100% of the proceeds donated directly to the American Cancer Society: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionArtwork2009.html

Virginia Spiegel is retiring her organization "FiberArts For A Cause" to return to her art studio full-time, after raising more than $165,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society. Way to go, Virginia, and Best Wishes for a well-deserved rest, followed by lots more of your wonderful fiber art for the rest of us to admire and enjoy.

This is only a 3-day auction, and the minimum donation will drop dramatically each day through Thursday, March 26. Wait too long, though, and your favorite piece of fiber art will be gone!

Click on each artist's name below, to be taken directly to their page on the FFAC Reverse Auction site.

Natalya Aikens
Gerrie Congdon
Marjorie DeQuincy
Rayna Gillman
Carol Larson
Linda Teddlie Minton
Susie Monday
Judy Coates Perez
Leandra Spangler
Roxane Stoner

Then you can return to the main page for instructions on how to bid on your favorite work of art. Happy Bidding!

Invitational Reverse Auction Opens TOMORROW!

Noshi Ribbons by Gerrie Congdon

The Invitational Reverse Auction of Fabulous Fiberart opens tomorrow at 10 a.m. CST. All the information about the artwork and how to participate is here. I'm copying Virginia Spiegel's post about it, to help spread the word.

A lineup of great artists have generously donated their artwork to benefit the American Cancer Society. Today’s featured artwork is by Gerrie Congdon. Noshi Ribbons is an art quilt created with vintage Japanese fabrics.

According to Gerrie,

I love collecting vintage Japanese fabrics. The colors, textures and patterns are inspirations for the collage. I was compelled to cut and fuse the small linear pieces, just because. A friend said they looked like Noshi Ribbons. I went off to Google and discovered with great delight that I had indeed created Noshi Ribbons. In Japan, Noshi is a cluster of ribbons representing a special gift.

Gerrie is a three-time breast cancer survivor and has supported Fiberart for a Cause from the very beginning. Her art quilts have been juried into several local and national textile art shows. She has done commissions for churches and private collections. Her work has been published in the book Creative Quilting: The Journal Quilt Project, edited by Karey Bresenhan, and in several magazines. This past January, she had her first solo show based on a trip she took to Israel last year.

Read more about Gerrie’s artwork on her website and blog.

Fiberart For A Cause REVERSE AUCTION Set to Raise Funds for the American Cancer Society

Here is part of the official press release of the FFAC Invitational Reverse Auction, in which I am participating:


"Rusty Grove", 26x28. Art quilt by Linda Teddlie Minton. Rust-printed and monoprinted fabrics created by the artist. Additionally hand-painted, hand-embroidered, and machine-quilted.

Fiberart For A Cause will hold its fifth Invitational Reverse Auction from March 24-26, 2009. The Preview opens today: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionArtwork2009.html

Natalya Aikens, Gerrie Congdon, Marjorie DeQuincy, RaynaGillman, Carol Larson, Linda Teddlie Minton, Susie Monday, Judy CoatesPerez, Leandra Spangler and Roxane Stoner have all donated their artwork. All proceeds from the sales go directly to the American Cancer Society. All artwork will begin at a fixed minimum donation. This minimum donation is reduced by a fixed (and very generous) percentage of the original minimum donation each day until the artwork is chosen by a generous patron.

"Having lost my husband to cancer nine years ago, I wanted to make some small contribution to something that is so close to my own heart, as well as a joyful way to remember my husband and other friends and relatives who have fought this disease. Since fiber art is both my vocation and my avocation, this seemed a perfect match for me. I was honored to be asked to contribute to the Invitational Reverse Auction, and delighted to accept", said Linda Teddlie Minton.

Fiberart For A Cause has now donated more than $165,000 to the American Cancer Society in the last four years and was the second highest national fundraiser for the 2007 American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. For more information on Invitational Reverse Auction and Fiberart For ACause, contact Virginia@VirginiaSpiegel.com or visit:

Fiberart For A Cause, fundraising for the American Cancer Society. http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html

Virginia A. Spiegel Website: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/

Blog: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/

OK, it's my voice again ... please go to Virginia's website for Fiberart For A Cause, if nothing else for some of the most wonderful eye candy you can imagine. And, if your heart speaks and your pocketbook allows, you might find that you must have one of the gorgeous works of art that have been donated to benefit the American Cancer Society.

How does she do it?

My friend Maggie Winfield has just had a heart attack, but you would never know it. Here's a picture of her in her Drop-Dead Gorgeous Red-Carpet-Runway Dress, with her Sweatshirt Jacket, just BEFORE her heart attack,

and here she is, Just Being Maggie, right AFTER her heart attack! How Does She Do It? (Suffer a heart attack or two, including 4 hospital admissions inside a week, including a stent insertion and no-telling-what-all, and still come out of it smelling like a rose? Or in this case, looking cute-

as-a-button?)

The hat is her "tribute-to-Aretha-Franklin-at-the-Inauguration-Speech" hat, put together with thrift-store finds. Who else but Maggie and Aretha could pull this look off? (Check out the skeleton earrings, too.)

Take care of yourself, Maggie!

Maggie Strikes Again!

My friend Maggie Winfield sent me these pics of two of her fun-and-scrumptious outfits.

The first one is her entry for a sweatshirt contest at UCross Wyoming, where she went to teach a class on Fabric Memory Books. She wore it over her Drop Dead Gorgeous Red Carpet Runway Dress, and won 1st Place in the Glamorous Sweatshirt Division!

And this one is her Harry Potter coat made for a Favorite Book Challenge. Check out her purple hair, too! Maggie is so much fun, and seems to have boundless energy. When are you coming back to Texas, Maggie?

Coptic Stitch Book

A few days ago, my friend Martha (of The Art Girls) taught us how to bind a hand-made book with Coptic Stitch. Here are some shots of my first attempt at this method.

The front cover was stamped with one of my hand-carved stamps onto black matboard. The little book is 3.5 x 5", and 1.5" thick.

I made 10 signatures from different hand-made papers (from Texas Art Supply).

and here is the binding itself ... Coptic Stitch isn't as hard as I had thought it would be, and I'm definitely going to be making more of these.

WHQG Quilt Show, 2-20-09

This was the year of the West Houston Quilt Guild quilt show (which runs only every second year), and it was better than ever. My good friends Betty, Sharon, and Shirley each won multiple ribbons for their quilts ... here are just a few pictures.


Betty Baker and her First Place ribbon quilt.

Sharon Dixon and her 2nd Place ribbon quilt


Shirley Chriss, piecer/applique'er, with her quilter (me).
This quilt won an Honorable Mention.

Since I didn't enter anything this year, I was happy to see some of my customers (including Shirley, above) entering quilts that I had quilted for them. It's a great thing to walk around looking, and suddenly see a familiar quilt and think, Oh yes, I remember quilting that ... what fun!

Sharon Dixon's 15 minutes

My dear friend Sharon Dixon has had what she calls her "15 minutes of fame" recently, with several articles about the West Houston quilting industry.


"Sharon Dixon uses a computerized quilting
machine to make custom designs." (Katy Magazine)

Hobby Thrives Despite Economic Downturn - Houston Chronicle, February 17, 2009
(article slightly abbreviated due to length)

This month, many Katy and Fort Bend quilting entrepreneurs will be showing their wares at Katy’s Merrell Center, where the West Houston Quilter’s Guild is hosting its biennial quilt show and sale. With 213 entries and more than two dozen vendors, the “Threads of Time” show runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, February 20 and continues 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

WANT TO GO?
• What: West Houston Quilter’s Guild is hosting its biennial quilt show and sale
• When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (Feb.20-21, 2009)
• Where: Leonard Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy, Texas
• Admission: $6 per day; $5 for seniors
• For information: www.whqg.org

Show visitors can take chances on a raffle quilt, vote for their favorite show entry and buy more fabric for their next project. Downtown Katy merchants have organized their own quilt show and sale as part of their monthly Market Days.

Quilting business owners say their customers love the color and feel of fabric, and seem compelled to grow their “stash,” a store of extra fabric kept in closets, under-bed boxes, or guest rooms turned into quilting studios. They are “destination shoppers,” planning day- or weekend-long “shop hops” with their friends, or retreats to country locales where they gather to sew and shop together.

The Emporium books quilting cruises, allowing crafters to sail away with their sewing machines to exotic ports of call. For most avid quilters, a first step when arriving in any new town is turning to “Q” in the yellow pages of the telephone book.

Quilt shops have many ways to lure customers in the door. Like other shops, Quilt ‘n Sew Studio offers classes and a buying club. The Feathered Star has a weekly “Sit and Sew” where customers can bring their machines and visit while working on their latest projects. Several times a year, the Emporium schedules a popular “pajama party” where quilters show up in their nightgowns and fuzzy slippers for a late-night quilting party.

Business is still good, said quilt shop owners, despite the current economy. “Quilters are obsessed with fabric. It’s a type of hobby that is handed down from generation to generation,” said Debbie Bertrand, owner of the Quilter’s Cottage in Richmond. “When the economy takes a turn, people turn to their hobbies and do more things at home.”

Sharon Dixon, whose workshop is behind her Katy, Texas home, is one of several machine quilters listed on the WHQG Web site at http://www.whqg.org/. She began her business full time in 2001, after she and her husband sold their hardware store in Old Katy.

Dixon sews youths’ T-shirts into bedcovers, and has been asked to turn a stack of old shirts into a quilt honoring a loved one who died. She’s now on her third room-sized long-arm machine.

“Business is going very well. I’ve been a little bit nervous with the economy, but it has not slowed down so far. I think quilters are so addicted they just have to keep going. It’s their therapy."

Last month, Sharon was again featured in an article about quilting in Katy Magazine:
(again, article slightly abbreviated for length)


(Hey, that's MY t-shirt quilt that Sharon made and quilted for me!)

Quilting is a big deal in Katy. According to Nita Beard of the West Houston Quilter’s Guild, half of its membership are from the Katy area. “The popularity of quilting is astounding. People have quilted forever,” says Beard. “Some still prefer hand-quilting, but many of today’s artists quilt by machine. It’s an ancient craft that has evolved into a modern-day art form.”

The WHQG was formed in 1993 with only 25 ladies and now boasts hundreds of diverse members including teens, new mothers, grandmothers, and even a few men. Every other year the WHQG hosts a quilt show, attracting thousands of onlookers, shoppers, and artists. Last year, guild members presented a check for $3,000 to Katy Christian Ministries through proceeds from a raffled quilt. “Our 2009 show will be held in February at the Merrell Center, and the excitement is building!” says Beard.

Most modern-day quilters cut out squares from high-quality quilting fabric, follow specific patterns, and machine sew the squares together. Then they either hand quilt the top, or take it to a professional machine quilter. These quilts can cost hundreds of dollars to make, but can be passed down through families from generation to generation.

Quilting has come a long way. Just ask Sharon Dixon of Katy T-Shirt Quilts. “Customers come to me with boxes of their children’s school t-shirts, or Rock-n-Roll t-shirts, or any collection of t-shirts. And I sew them into the most beautiful memory quilts you can imagine! It means so much to snuggle with all of those memories,” says Dixon. “Quilting is a unique way to share your love with future generations.”

Dixon also has a long-arm quilting machine business. “People who don’t stitch by hand come to me for specialized machine quilting. My quilting machine is on a big table and runs stitching through the entire quilt, based on a design my customer chooses.”

Learning the Craft
Some quilters are self-taught, while others learn from family members. Most join a quilting guild or take lessons at a local quilt shop. Many young mothers are learning to quilt because of the design appeal - quilts give a custom look to a bedroom and are lovely on the wall of a nursery. Devoted quilters visit the International Quilt Festival every October at the George R. Brown Convention Center to learn the latest about quilting world-wide. Whether you’re a master quilter or you just appreciate the art form, there’s no doubt that Katy has plenty to offer the quilt enthusiast.

If you’re interested in purchasing a quilt, taking lessons, or buying some supplies, be sure to visit each of these stores.

Quilt-N-Sew
(Owner Terri Burton is a big supporter of the West Houston Quilt Guild ... thank you so much, Terri! )
829 S. Mason Rd.
281-398-0670
http://www.quiltnsew.com/

Bonnie Blue Quilts
http://www.bonniebluequilts.com/

Feathered Star
1002 Ave. A
281-371-2456
thefeatheredstar.info

Katy T-Shirt Quilts (Sharon Dixon)
3020 N. Saddlebrook Lane
281-395-3374
http://www.katytshirtquilts.com/

West Houston Quilter’s Guild
http://www.whqg.org/

Reporter KM MELANIE SAXTON is a local area writer and editor, community
volunteer, and proud mom to daughter, Emily.

I would add one more quilt shop to the list of great places to visit near the West Houston/Katy area ...
Quilter's Cottage
920 FM 359
Richmond, TX 77406
281-633-9331
http://www.texasquilterscottage.com/

Owner Debbie Bertrand opened this wonderful shop in 2006, and has a huge selection of quality quilting fabrics, plus gift and quilting supply items. The last Saturday of every month is “Build Your Stash” day, when a selection of fabrics are chosen and priced at a 25% discount , and they also have a fun sew–in on Friday mornings. Debbie is a generous supporter of the West Houston Quilt Guild, and we appreciate her! Quilter's Cottage is a "destination" shop ... well-worth the few minutes' extra drive to Richmond.

QuiltArt Raven Challenge

The Raven Challenge, created and coordinated by Lynda Thompson, was recently unveiled. My two fiberart postcards, "Nevermore" and "Poe Meets Frost" will be contributed to the Fiberart For A Cause Collage Mania, to raise money for the American Cancer Society. (Please see my earlier post of January 12 for more details.) Here are the two cards:

"Nevermore", front and back:




"Poe Meets Frost", front and back:

Sea Scape

Take 20 second-grade children, their two teachers, and two dedicated Moms named Christy and Libbie ... mix them all together with a longarm quilter, some beautiful batik fabric, and a bit of threadplay, and you get ... Sea Scape! Click on the image for a bigger view.

This was a customer quilt that I thoroughly enjoyed working on. The children's enthusiasm and joy in creating their sea animals was definitely catching, and I tried to keep the essence of their innocence in the threadwork. The wall-hanging is 50" x 70" and is to be auctioned off to raise funds for the school.

The children are adorable, of course! I've blotted out the names for this web image, but each hat has its owner's name printed on it.

It's Not A Quilt ... Or Is It? Opening Night

The Copper Shade Tree Gallery held it's Opening Night celebration of "It's Not A Quilt ... Or Is It?" on Friday, February 6, 2009 in Round Top, Texas. I can honestly say that "a good time was had by all"!


Above is Gerald and Debbie Tobola's son Tim, with his lovely friend, whose name I'm sorry I've temporarily forgotten!


Sweet Sherry and Steve Yarborough, my neighbors, came up to Round Top to see the show, and are flanking my "EyePod", which tickled their funnybones.



Kay Tobola, above, is a funny and gracious lady who helps Gerald and Debbie with anything that needs doing, during these opening nights. She is a lot of fun!

Jo Sweet enjoys a glass of (?) and conversation with a patron.

Hannah Mallon and Mary Ann Littlejohn join forces for a sip and a giggle.

Owner Gerald Tobola gives my brother Don Teddlie the lowdown on the Arts in a small town and a big world.

Gerald always has a smile for everyone. He is one of the most fun people I know.

Tim and his Dad ... wonder where he gets his good looks from? ;^)

Tim did the beautiful oversized postcards for the show again this year ... thanks, Tim!


Sweet Debbie is hard at work behind the counter, as usual ... I could barely get her to take time to grin for the camera, and by the time I clicked the shutter, she was already back at work!


My dear friends Connie Fahrion, Leslie Tucker Jenison, and Mary Ann Littlejohn. What a group of talented women!


Carol Moore, Me, Leslie Jenison, and Virginia Spiegel. Carol (from Canada) and Virginia (from Illinois) are in Texas for a month's stay at Karey Bresenhan's Great Expectations Creativity Center, as Artists in Residence. I was so thrilled to have them come for the Opening Night. They are both a hoot-and-a-half, and I can't wait to see what they have been working on.

And last but not least, here's a pic that Leslie sent me from her camera ... me, Connie and Mary Ann at the end of the evening.

The art quilts / fiber art from this show can be seen at the Copper Shade Tree through the end of February, and I will also post a few pictures here at a later date.