Seasons of the Moon Patterns

I finally got the patterns listed in my website shop.   As you all know by now, I designed these patterns to use the beautiful hand dyed gradient fabrics I bought from Vicki Welsh.   As things happen, that led to a collaboration, which led to this.... Vicki now has the kits in her Etsy Shop.   It's all about choices, so here they are:

1) kit with pattern and background gradient fabric,  available from Vicki's shop

2) kit with pattern and all fabrics needed to make the quilt top, also available from Vicki's shop

3) pattern only, available from my website shop.

So, make your choice, then make the quilts!  Be sure to send me a photo of the quilts you make from these patterns. I'd love to see your creation!

The Patterns are Done!

And on their way to Vicki to be joined with her beautiful fabrics into kits!



So keep an eye out for her announcement  shortly that they are available for sale.

From Memories to Hope

Today is the reveal of the Fiberactions  "Memory" challenge. This is the story of my quilt for this challenge.

I knew from the beginning what I would portray for the "Memory" challenge. For those of us who live along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, the events of April 21,2010 marked the beginning of a profound change in our lives.



(oiled Kemp's ridley sea turtle rescued from the Gulf of Mexico;photo courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife,used with permission)




I hand dyed my background fabric and cheesecloth. The turtle bodies are hand painted batting, their shells are a combination of both hard and soft structure Tyvek painted with Lumiere and then heated.
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and the subsequent, ongoing oil spill created an environmental disaster of epic proportions that will be felt for years to come. The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and it's wetlands are the nurseries for countless species of wildlife. From shore and sea birds, to shrimp, oysters,and fish...including tuna. Dolphins, whales and endangered sea turtles. And we will all be touched by it in some way, be it large or small, before all is said and done. For me, it is very personal.

After retiring in the mid 1990's, my husband and I exchanged the Chesapeake Bay for the Atlantic, Caribbean,and Gulf of Mexico as our sailing grounds. For the years since,we have sailed those beautiful waters and snorkeled countless awe-inspiring reefs before finally settling here on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Some of my fondest memories of those times are of swimming the reefs with the turtles. They are amazing and gentle creatures. They are also endangered. And now, with all our other wildlife, face even more peril.

As I watch this disaster unfold with great sadness, I remember those times and hope that the Gulf and its turtles will survive and recover. I have been so fortunate, and I hope that my granddaughters will also be able to experience the wonder of these gentle creatures.

This little quilt is both my tribute and my hope for these creatures.

Now, head on over to the Fiberactions blog to see the fabulous quilts by the other artists of our group.

And They're Gone...

We had a wonderful week, and now the girls are headed back home.   I miss them already!  We made books, made pillows, had pool time, and spent time just hanging out and visiting.

No more words...just some photos







Bye girls, love you all!

I guess it's back to work for me tomorrow...

Doing the Happy Dance!

Not only are my girls here and we're having a blast ( more on that with photos later), I recieved notification today that my quilt "Solar Powered" has been juried into the Houston show!



So that drama is over for now, back to fun with the girls!

Just One more Day!

until my girls get here! My youngest daughter and her two girls (my two oldest granddaughters).  I'm getting the final preparations for a week of sewing, quilting, beading, and bookmaking....I'm talking about journals & sketchbooks here, not bets.

I already have all the sewing stuff prepped and ready... and today since it rained all day, I spent the time cutting papers to size. The books we'll be making will be 5"x7" and 3"x5"...good sizes for backpacks and purses. I always try to have one new craft for them to try each year in addition to our sewing, and this year it's making books.

Writing and sketch papers (many in colors too)



fancy papers for covers









and yes,I know  there are enough for hundreds of books; but we need lots of options :)

Rubbing plates to do some embossing with



border punches for pretty edges (this is one of many)



die cutter and dies for shapes and motifs



My trusty bind it all to bind our books (we also have a comb binder and many colors of comb bindings, and a laminator for some different covers)



and many sizes and colors of owires for the bindings



And I didn't get photos of all the chipboard,clipboard and canvas board just waiting to be made into beautiful book covers!

Whew! And we'll have to get some pool time in there between the afternoon thunderstorms.

I think it's going to be a busy week!  Stay tuned and we'll share the creations the girls come up with.

A Peek at the Elements...

of my newest piece for the next Fiberactions challenge, "Memory".



Can you identify any of the elements?  Do you have any idea what this ends up becoming?

Stay tuned, the reveal is on July 15th!