Learning: Field trip!

A couple of weeks ago, my son, mom and I went on an outing to Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma. The gardens are set up like an art gallery, showcasing different landscape architects and designers.  Here are a couple of my favorite pieces.

Trees with crystal leaves.

These crystal and metal mesh trees were so
lovely in person.  The photo doesn't do it justice!

Garden Play

Ah, winter in California.  If it makes you feel any better, it will be horribly rainy and wet here for the next week!

Making: A Collaboration

A friend and I have been collaborating on a baby quilt.  The baby celebrated her first birthday months ago.  It's really time we finished this thing up!

Collaboration Quilt

All that is left is to do is the quilting and then to pop it in the mail.  But, wouldn't you know...my sewing machine has suddenly decided to be a diva.  So, I get to spend tomorrow searching for replacement parts as opposed to quilting.  BOOOOO!

Learning: Textility

Today, I'm enjoying this Flickr slideshow of the Textility show from the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. 





My favorite is the work by Derick Melander.  Which do you like best?

I pulled an all-nighter!

Well, I didn't actually stay up all night, but it was close!  I'm a big fan of sleep, so you know it's important if I'm staying up late and waking up early.  I'll just come out and admit it, I went on vacation, over-committed myself, and fell a bit behind on my obligations. But, although I'm a bit sleepy today, I'm happy to say, I finished!!!

Confetti Quilt

Here's my new Confetti Quilt.  It's totally scrappy and lovely and I'll be teaching a class on how to make it in October!

You can see more pictures on Flickr!

Completed: A Couple of Different Basketweave Quilts

I'm teaching a new class in June and made a few quilts to demonstrate the pattern. 

A bright and springy green and white quilt

A moodier green and white quilt

Same blocks, mostly the same fabric, really different quilts!

Yeah Bloggers' Quilt Festival Time!

Teaching: A wonky good time!

I'll get back to the quilt-making rampage I referred to in my previous post tomorrow (or perhaps the next day!) as I have 2 new quilts to show off, but first I want to share some pictures from my last improvisational quilt class!

Lots of sewing!

And designing!

These ladies were so much fun.  I'm always amazed at how each person interprets the class in a different way and each quilt is so unique to the quilt-maker.  One of my students, Elena, started a quilt in the first class and had it finished (mostly!) AND selected for a show by the next class!   

Elena's selected quilt is in the center, the one to the left of it is the one she started on between class sesssions!

Infinite Variety - The Red and White Quilt Show

The Red and White Quilt Show!

I can't believe how lucky I am that I just happened to be in New York the same week as the show, Infinite Variety, Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts, hosted by the American Folk Art Museum at the Park Ave. Armory.  Since I make and sell quilts under the name, Peppermint Pinwheels, you know I've got a soft spot for red and white quilts.

It. Was. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!  And that could be an understatement.  The show was only up for 6 days and I caught it on the very last day.  There were 650 quilts - all of them red and white.  I took so many pictures.  I hope you can get just a little bit of the overwhelming awesomeness that was this show through my pictures, and if you want to see more, you can go to the Flickr site set up by the Folk Art Museum to document photos taken at the exhibit.

Did I have a favorite?  I don't know yet.  I'm still processing all the different designs.  The show was unbelievably, wonderfully, incredibly, impressive.  (Can you tell I looked up the word awesome in the thesaurus?) 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Different Perspectives

We spent the second day of our trip at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I've prepared a photo essay to show the difference between the things I found interesting, and how the exhibits were viewed by my 7 year old (or "8-ish," if you ask him).

My photos from the Met featuring mummy wrappings, 19th century graffiti on Egyptian tombs, and a painted ceiling from New Guinea.

The Met through the eyes of a 7-year old boy.  It's all weapons, body parts and "creepy" sculptures made from found objects.

Inspiration: Rugs

If you know me, then you know that in my "day job," I restore oriental carpets.  Every day that I go to work, I get to be surrounded, quite literally, by beautiful hand-dyed yarn and gorgeous (mostly!), antique rugs.  Many of the carpets that I get to work on are tribal in origin and offer so much design inspiration.  But, every once in a while, there's a carpet that seems worn beyond saving.  I love what Loom Rugs does with rugs like these!

Loom has a beautiful selection of very interesting rugs, both new and vintage.  Everything on their site is amazing - pop over and take a look!

Rugs available at Loom

I'm tempted to turn every one of these into a quilt...but especially the black and white one.  We'll see!

Teaching: Improvisational Quilting Class, Part II

We wrapped up the second session of my Split Log Cabin class on Saturday (you can see pictures from the first class here).  Since everyone had finished their homework, we were able to move into the process of finalizing our designs and finishing our quilt tops.  It was so exciting to see how everyone's quilts came together!

For more detail, see these on Flickr.

Most of the students were able to finish putting on the interior sashes of the quilt before the end of class, and some had even started on outer borders.

I hope everyone sends me pictures of their finished quilts!

Inspiration: Book Jacket Design

We have had these books around for awhile.  I really like the cover designs.  A lot.

1. IMG_0005, 2. IMG_0003, 3. IMG_0006, 4. IMG_0007, 5. IMG_0001, 6. IMG_0008

Inspiration: Ghost Town

A few weeks ago I visited the town of Bodie in Eastern California.  I loved the textures and patterns of the abandoned buildings.