How’s this for a bright and bold baby quilt.  A baby art quilt as my good friend described it. This is just a detail…..a full photos below.

My very special niece Alli is having a baby boy very soon and this is for her…..and baby, of course.  There aren’t many people I’d go to the time of creating this improvisational style quilt….but she’s one of them. I hope they’ll all enjoy the little patches and pieces of color and print. Some of them I dug out of the bottom of my stash and others are new and trendy ones!

Here’s the whole quilt.  I made it in 14″ blocks, figuring it out as I went. I    especially like the curves …….I’ve been wanting to try this style  for a while      (hopefully you’ll see more of them to come…….why is it that there’s never enough time for all the things I want to do…whine, whine……I’m sure you’ve felt the same way)

I stitched around each block with a small stitch when it was completed  because with all those little pieces and seams, I didn’t want to be resewing a   gazillion times as I sewed the blocks together. I didn’t square up the blocks….just used the curved technique I used creating the blocks to sew the blocks into rows and the rows together.

A little closer look……I especially liked seeing and using those kids fabrics that I’ve had forever in my stash…..some probably 15 years old. Old friends! You’ll notice a lot of sports fabrics…..we are definitely a sports family and my niece was a fabulous college basketball player so there are plenty of basketballs. I did add footballs and helmets for her husband Nick as he’s a mega-fan!

If you’re interested in a good reference for this type of work, create your own free-form quilts by Rayna Gillman is a great way to learn a few techniques and get started.

Enjoy looking……!

Most of you have realized….if you drop into my blog now and then…..that I’m not a very faithful or frequent blogger. I always promise myself to do better, but life just gets in the way. Today I want to take time to tell you about my most faithful reader and consistent reminder that I need to write on my blog.  That would be Lauren……one of my granddaughters.

  Here she is……beautiful like her mother! Lauren just turned 11, and is a very busy and talented young lady with basketball, dance, school, friends….and, of course, keeping her eye on Grama’s blog.  Frankly….I think she may be the only one of my wonderful family who even reads it!! I so appreciate her watchful eye. She lives a couple of hours from us, but we were at her house several days ago to attend her fabulous dance performance. She asked me then….”Gramela, (her name for me…..inventive, isn’t she!) when are you going to write on your blog?

Ok, Lauren. I’m going to try to do better. I do have lots of things to say…..just not lots of time to say them! he

At the beach in Hawaii this winter…..having fun with her cousin Brooklynn at the left.

Lauren loves my fabric art and is a great sewer herself…..with her own sewing machine. Her favorite of my pieces is Sunspot…..which I’ve promised will be hers someday. She loves all the beads and crystals….anything that sparkles is good!Thanks, Lauren. You’re the best….and Grama really appreciates your attention and interest in my blog. Keep reminding me. xo

Here’s a look at what I was doing this spring…..new works based on the theme “Textured Waters.”  An interesting theme as it seemed to suggest water colors, and I rarely work in blue. That means it was a good stretch for me! As you may know, I prefer a pretty dark, dusty palette of a variety of shades.

The show is at the Bainbridge Arts & Crafts Center on Bainbridge Island, Washington. If you’re visiting the Seattle area, stop in and see my work. Be sure and tell them I sent you!

The piece above, Currents, is primarily in my favorite shades (the blues are still to come!) It’s a textile collage using many African hand dyed fabrics plus a little of this and that from my stash.  I’ve also added textile paint to some of the shades and finished it off with a few lines of hand stitching. Here’s a closer look so you can see those details

Here comes the blue color! This piece, Low Tide,  I also created from African hand dyed fabric….definitely my new favorite  fabrics. Even though I design fabric for the US market……there’s something so exciting and fresh about these gorgeous fabrics from Africa.

The piece of fabric itself did most of the work…..I enhanced it with raw edges, layering, machine and hand stitching. It has an irregular outer edge which also gives it a very handmade look. I like the contrast between the programmed machine stitching and the raveling raw edges.

Tide Pools gets a little extra glitz from the metallic stitching in the background and a sprinkling of small beads called lentil beads….because they’re shaped like lentils! Very soft colors that add a nice effect.  In this piece, as in many of my textile collages, movement is a very important part of the design. The water current here is rushing toward this small group of rocks in swirls of shallow water.

Here’s a closer look. I created the look of water on the rocks by layering hand-dyed sheer fabrics over other fabrics and shapes to add depth and shading. One of my favorite techniques!

One more…..this one, The Perfect Storm, is from my Paintbox Series….probably my favorite style to work in. Again, my goal was to show motion and depth along with creating a composition using a limited palette of blues.

I’ve used sheer fabrics here for layering and creating depth as well as hand painted cheesecloth to add interest. As you can see, it’s all about where I place the circles to create the composition. I love working in this series!

Enjoy….for more of my textile art, check out the gallery section. I’m not good about updating with new work but hopefully you get the idea!

Great advice passed on to me from my amazing granddaughter Josie…..so true, isn’t it?

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.

          Josie Showalter,  interpreted from a quote from Justin Bieber

And I love it!! My new fabric line Scarlet should be arriving in your favorite quilt shop soon!  It’s bold, beautiful, and full of drama….just the way I like fabrics!

The large poppy print is back by popular demand……..I designed the main floral several years ago and the collection was a great success. In fact, I still get emails asking me if I have any left!! Sorry….I have to say. This time I’m a little smarter and I bought more from the manufacturer, Clothworks.

All the coordinating prints are fresh and new…as you can see! There are three background colors….black (always one of my favorites,) blue, and yellow.  To see all the prints in the group, go to the Clothworks website -

  http://clothworkstextiles.com    /collection.asp?ID=350

It will be up on my website soon….and I’m putting together a great Scarlet kit called THE BIG EASY.   Get the idea that it’s EASY and gorgeous?  Keep checking. It will be up there soon. Trust me…it’s a weekend project and shows off the fabrics beautifully. I know there are lots of you out there who like to make lovely quilts and other items for your homes….but don’t feel you have the time to do it. Trust me…this one you can!

Enjoy Scarlet…….if you don’t see it at your local quilt shop, just ask them when it’s coming!!

A great model, isn’t she! Meet my lovely granddaughter Lauren who had lots of fun in my studio trying on and modeling some of my recent wearable creations.

She put together outfits with my altered jean jackets and vests, scarves, and purses…..and I snapped away taking photos!  Delightful!

I’ve been busy making my textile creations for an upcoming open studio sale with two other artists in June. More to come on that…but if you live near Spokane, circle June 23 on your calender and come check us out.

One of my favorite things to do is alter jean jackets……as you see on Lauren…and I’ve been experimenting with wet felting and making bags. I’ll post more photos of the details….but until then….here Lauren having fun with Grama’s Goodies!

Love that girl….and love to see her having fun with my textile art. Of course, it’s my dream that at least one of my three granddaughters might pursue a career in art someday……..All three of them are alreadywonderful artists!!

I know I’m really dating myself naming one of my collages after that ’60′s classic by Iron Butterfly…….but, I was invited to take part in a group exhibit with a theme of butterflies so this was my solution. I’m just not a butterfly-kind-of girl….so I needed to come up with an idea. Voila….the album cover of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida became my inspiration.

I used a variety of fabrics….including one fabulous hand-dyed piece from which all of the oranges, purples, and pinks were cut. Perfect ’60′s colors, don’t you think. I also embellished it with a lot of gold and pink metal leafing….to add a focal point since the whole thing was pretty much an in-you-face-kind of thing. Without the metallic it was pretty blah…. The metallic thread helped but it still needed a little more pizazz.  I’m thinking it will probably go to my grandson’s room when it’s done hanging.

Funny thing….when researching Iron Butterfly, looking for the image of the album cover, I read that the song was the longest recorded at that time…..17 minutes. It brought back memories of my college days when In-A-Gadda-da-Vida seemed to be playing everywhere, all the time. In fact, I can remember it blaring at noon hour in my sorority house. We’d go upstairs for lunch and when we came back downstairs it was likely still playing……Just a little blast from the past!

I kind of like this collage because it’s a departure from my usual look. It’s a good idea to shake up the comfortable style  sometimes……

Doesn’t that look like a village you’d love to visit?  It’s nestled in the hills of the Abruzzo region of Italy where I’ll be teaching a textile art workshop in September….and I’m soooo excited!

It’s like the perfect adventure….combining two of my favorite things…travel and textiles!  I’d love to have you consider coming along!

I’ll be teaching at the Abruzzo School of Creative arts…and everything about the school, the location, and the itinerary are deliciously inviting. Check out the website at  www.abruzzoschoolofcreativeart.com.  My workshop will be September 5-12 and you can learn more details about my class by clicking on my name at the top of the page.

Now….you may be asking yourself….why would I want to go to the other side of the world to take a workshop when I can do that at home. Good question….and I have a good answer.  While we’re at this idealic location we’ll be immersed in its beauty and ancient culture which will feed our souls and allow our inspiration to blossom and grow. Nothing to do but enjoy and learn. How often do you get that opportunity in life? Not often.

As artists we need to recharge our batteries from time to time and nothing does that like a fabulous location, others around us who share our passion for textile art…..and  the opportunity to relax and grow artistically. I get this same rejuvenating effect as a teacher as you will as a student……and I can’t wait!!   And the opportunity to be hosted by natives of the region is priceless….our itinerary is relaxed with lots of time for side adventures like an Italian cooking class, wine class, market trips and more. I hope you’ll look at the fabulous details of the itinerary on the website.

So….what do you think?  Let me know if I can answer any questions…..I’m already dreaming of the hills of Italy…especially when I look out my studio window at the drab Washington Winter! It’s only six months away….sigh….

Back by popular demand……POPPIES!  The favorite fabric line I designed for Clothwork Textiles will be on the market again next summer….only with a few tweaks and updates. The main print that you see here will be the same as the original hugely popular version….and in three different colorways. Here’s a sneak peak at the other two….all favorites of mine, of course!

The line will be called SCARLET…. appropriate for red poppies, don’t you think. It’s been several years since the first line made its debut, but I still get emails asking if by chance I have any left. Although I don’t sell fabric through my website ( I leave that to the quilt shops)….I will share a little of my private stash if folks can’t find it anywhere else. I’ve hoarded the last yard or two….don’t ask me why….I guess I just like to look at it…so I’m thrilled there will be a new supply.

As you probably know….one of my mottos when it comes to fabric is Bigger is Better. The other is Go Big or Go Home.  It works for lots of things….including fabric! I love designing and working with big, bold, brave prints and I especially like them with black. If you want a little, or a lot, of drama….you can’t go wrong with red and black.

We’re also bringing back the killer variegated solids…which I LOVE using. You get an added punch when you use a color in various shades and these are fabulous. It’s hard to tell from the photos as you’re seeing just a little slice, but trust me…you’ll love them!

I love designing fabric….or I wouldn’t have stayed with it for over ten years. It’s tough out there in the fabric design world and you really have to like the process and the product to hang in there. Obviously I do.  If you’re a fabric fan, you’ve probably discovered changes in the availability of fabric at your local quilt store. Reorders are pretty much a thing of the past…..It’s a “one and done” kind of game now.  Shops order it when it’s still in the paper artwork form and the orders are placed for the amount that’s pre-sold before the printing. That’s the way the games played with many, or even most, of the fabric companies today. Moral of the story is…..if you see it at the quilt shop and you like it…you’d better buy it then because it may not be there tomorrow. Period. That being said….I still love designing, touching, playing with, creating with, looking at, and studying…..FABRIC.

Here’s a look at a few more of the prints you’ll find in the line. Remember, quilt shops….summer, 2012. Don’t miss it!

I guess I’m Catching the Wave…..the Word of the Year seems to be the topic of conversation in a number of circles I travel in. So….I’m going to announce mine. PLAY!!

Here I  am “playing” with my two wonderful daughters…..as you can see, we’re playing in Paris.  Let’s face it…if you can’t play in Paris, you’re in pretty sad shape!

My focus for the year is to play regularly……maybe not EVERY day, but very often.Now that might not seem like a challenge for many of you….after all, playing is fun!! But for we neurotic, compulsive, workaholics, taking time to play can be something to work at.

I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but maybe I’m just realizing how fast time goes by…..and each day had better be a delight. Of course, I love working at my art so that makes it even more of a challenge to make time for simply enjoying day to day things like going for a walk, visiting friends, reading (rather than always being productive….) etc. etc.

One thing that has always come first is playing with my grandchildren…no problem there. They’ve always been at the top of my Playing Priority list. It’s the “going for a walk in the woods by myself”  kind of things I’m focusing on.

I’ll keep you posted on how it’s working. For now, I’d better get back to work. Late night is my best working time!!!