Quilting Companions

 I wanted to show you the quilt I did last week with Sid's help, but it is a Christmas present for a client's adult daughter.  I don't think she'd see it here, but I would hate to ruin a surprise for anyone.  I'll post photos after the holidays of this really cool t-shirt quilt.  I have Sid working for me again this weekend.  We have begun another silk tie memory quilt.  This one is going to be in a windmill pattern.  For some reason, I like doing traditional patterns with these beautiful silks. Sid and I have created many wonderful quilts together both traditional and non-traditional styles.  The quilt pictured here really captures both of our talents. 

            We are very proud of this quilt named "Kundalini".  It was made several years ago as a commissioned piece by someone who liked our seed of life quilts.  This client used the word Kundalini when describing what they wanted.  I did a touch of research and discovered that fire and snakes were associated with Kundalini energy.  The client thought it was wonderful and so we created the quilt you see here.
All of the fabrics were dyed by Sid and I did everything else.  I am fond of saying that my quilts are a series of mistakes.  I learn incredible things when I allow myself to make mistakes.
The lesson this quilt taught me was about bias tape.  I had made my own and used bias tape for years.  Then we got this brilliant idea to dye the snake fabric on the bias and cut it 2 1/2" wide.  This looked great! What I learned is that bias tape over a certain width will not lay flat in curves!  After an hour of freaking out,  I decided to methodically pleat the inner curves and sew them down.  This solved the main problem and gave the snakes such LIFE!  It really looks like the snakes are moving and writhing around in the knot work.  You can view other quilts we've made using the Seed of Life pattern at our website, www.mountainjoyquilts.com.
Well, it's truffle time.  I must dip and package many of these chocolaty delights to send to all my loved ones.  Sometimes, I think it's a cop-out to send truffles every year.  I know they are looked forward too though with great anticipation and I might even get in trouble if I don't send them.
We all need a yearly overdose of chocolate, don't we?  Happy quilting and creating!

More Seed of Life Quilts

This is perhaps the most elegant quilt I've made to date. It was a commissioned piece a few years ago, one of several actually. The person this quilt was going to liked purple, Louisiana, and the fleur-de-lis. Given that information, this is the quilt I created. The fabrics were all dyed by my husband at my command. The Seed of Life is a prominent center piece surrounded by yards of purple knot work and dark purple Louisiana Iris. The outer knot work border was designed to look like fleur-de-lis wrought iron fence tops to further induce the feel of Louisiana. At the moment, I forget just how many yards of Celtic knot work I sewed onto this quilt (my husband thinks it was miles). Truly, I was proud of this one for coming out more beautiful than I had imagined.

Quilt Pics

I have set some demanding goals for myself this month. I am working on either un-impressive or as-yet-secret quilts. I will share these projects with you all in due time. Meanwhile, I thought I would share some photos of quilts I have made.

This one is the perfect example of what my husband and I create together. He tie-dyes the stars and flowers and fabrics for me. I design the Celtic knotwork and put it all together as a quilt. My husband believes that I turn his pop-art into fine art. He attended Skidmore College. We were very proud when this quilt hung at the Tang Museum of Art in Saratoga Springs, NY for the Skidmore Alumni showing.

It was made in less than a month I believe. Well, by the time he finished making the stars to his satisfaction, I had one week to apply the knotwork and quilt it. I worked on it for 16 or so hours a day. He was at least a very nice guy to cook every meal that week. This quilt is now in the personal collection of one my best fans.

The snow is starting to melt rather quickly here at Mountainjoy. I so look forward to the spring and summer up here. The carpet of columbines can always make me forget the winter's 10' drifts and howling winds.