Weeping Willow IV for The National Quilt Museum

After traveling around the county with the AQS Quilt Shows, my quilt "Weeping Willow IV" will now be auctioned off with the benefits going to The National Quilt Museum in Paducah.

I hope you will take a look at it. It's item #222.

Weeping Willow IV

Are you going to attend Quilt Week in Grand Rapids Aug. 22-25? I hope you will check out the special exhibit " Fresh Faces, New Ideas" where my "Weeping Willow" will be on display.

http://www.quiltweek.com/…/gra…/grand-rapids-quilt-exhibits/

Weeping Willow IV

My "Weeping Willow IV" is now in the hands of The National Quilt Museum.

You see, I was invited by the PAAQT (Professional Association of Appraisers of Quilted Textiles) to participate in the Fresh Faces / New Ideas Challenge 2018-2019 exhibit. This is the first year for the annual exhibit. After traveling for a year with the AQS Shows this piece will be auctioned off for the benefit of The National Quilt Museum.

It measures 33" X 40.5" and is made with commercial cotton fabric and quilted with verigated Fantastico from Superior Threads.

I first prepared the background by fusing 952 small 1" squares to the background fabric. Then I layered the batting and backing and quilted horizontally across the quilt with a serpentine stitch. Next I fused the tree with the leaves onto the quilted background and used free-motion quilting to attach the tree to the background. It is finished with a facing that is hand stitched to the back.

Detail

Signed and dated.

This quilt reminds me of Psalm 137 in which the Israelite captives wept by the rivers of Babylon when they remembered Zion, their former home. Their captors demanded they play music and sing, but the despondent slaves hung their harps on willow trees that lined the river, unable to sing the Lord's song in a foreign land.

You can see some of my other "willow" pieces here, here, and here and here.

Linking to Nina Maria's Off the Wall Friday.

My Time in Paducah at the AQS Quilt Show

Judy and Lauren accompanied me to Quilt City, USA

There were so very many wonderful blue ribbon quilts and not enough blue ribbons to go around. I think every quilt at the show was a winner!

Judy especially liked the light tan background quilts with feathered stars.

Lauren enjoyed the brighter quilts with bold colors.

I was glad to meet Joy, whom I learned to know in Mississippi. Her home was wiped out during Hurricane Kitrina and she and her husband relocated in Paducah.

I took a picture of this quilt for my farming husband, Paul.

Amazing kaleidoscopes!

We found it interesting to see the exhibit of The Tentmakers of Cairo and watch this Egyptian man do hand applique.

I especially liked this “Tuning Fork” quilt by Heather Pregger.

One day we visited the Yeiser Art Center to view Fantastic Fibers 2014 - A Cutting Edge Fiber Art Event.

We studied this quilt  by Susan Carlson a long time.

I also enjoyed an evening class with Karen K. Stone called “Windsor Gardens.” You can see my work in progress HERE.

The next evening I had a class with Stacy Michell making two “Hawaiian” quilts. This also was a fun class.

And the book signing of New Quilts from an Old Favorite – Carolina Lily at the National Quilt Museum was wonderful.

I got to meet the other artists in the book and visit with lots of other friends and people that came to the exhibit.

Linking to:
Esther's Wip's On Wednesday
Lee's WIPs

Flying to See Dustin & Gina and Dana Makes a Quilt

Life …

I made a fast flying trip with Paul and Joel to NY. Paul had a CAM Rapid Response meeting in PA. Joel planned to visit Dustin & Gina in NY after dropping Paul off in PA. There were 2 extra seats in the plane so I got to hop aboard to go along.

Dustin took Joel to some airplane museum close by and Gina took me to a few little fabric shops around Penn Yan.

In his back yard, Dustin chopped and broke scrap slats for a bonfire.

This is the back side of the house where Dustin & Gina live.

They invited her family in for supper -- meat, potatoes, carrots and onions wrapped in tin foil and then smoked on the grill.

Joel roasted his marshmallows to perfection.

Gina fixed us a wonderful breakfast including homemade grape juice. Mmmmm good!

I enjoyed my short stay with Dustin & Gina so very much. It just didn’t last long enough.

On the way back to the airport Joel bought us a treat at Seneca Farms. I chose “peach” ice cream, the flavor of the week, . And that was mmmmmm good too!

And then it was time to fly back home.

… as a Quilter

Dana came over one day and became interested in making a small quilt. She’s a good fast learner …

… and got a good start on her improvisational quilt. She’s making it similar to the quilt that Gina made here.

We stopped for fuel at a small airport in Knoxville, TN. Seeing the Sunsphere reminded me of the AQS Quilt Show we had attended there earlier.

AQS Quilt Show in Knoxville

I met Mother, June, Polly, & Barbara for a fun week together. Here we had supper at the Trio on Market Square.

Polly watches me as I shoot the yellow & green umbrellas.

I loved visiting the Sunsphere from the 1982 World's Fair.

There was a great view of Knoxville from the top, with lots of information and history