Not your grandmother's sawtooth star....

Here are some pictures of my first project for my Color Play group which met this evening. To explain the process behind this project, my thinking, my second guessing, my changing my mind…well, it would be extremely scary. I don’t know how Kaffe Fassett does it! I laughed out loud when I read Aneela’s blog this morning (comfortstitching), because she said she doesn’t like batiks. Well, they are not my favorite either, but I had so much trouble finding true violet colors (part of my assignment) and then lighter versions (need those value changes), that I grabbed two batiks up without thinking twice. Ah, desperation!

And I got a fun package the other day from Rusty Crow Quilt Shop.com in Elfin Forest, California (I only mention the location because the name, Elfin Forest, struck my fancy). It was this lovely sampler fabric (by Moda) that I saw on Gwendie’s blog. I love samplers and have a long history of counted thread embroidery, so I just had to have it. I photographed it next to an antique sampler that my husband bought me for a wedding gift. Twenty-four years later, and he’s still a keeper!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show - Part One

Welcome to Sisters, Oregon, home of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the annual quilt show that completely takes over the town the second Saturday of July! Remember to click on a picture for a closer look.










One of my favorite parts of the quilt show was getting to meet and talk with some of the Gee's Bend quilters. Lucy Mingo, who made the quilt in the background, is the one in the orange jacket. I bought one of their books, and all six signed in the front of the book, and also by pictures of quilts that they or their mothers had made:
It was fun to see so many quilts featuring Kaffe Fassett fabric and/or patterns:

I loved finding this quilt, which features flowers fussy cut from a gorgeous piece of Amy Butler fabric. I have approximately 3 yards of the same fabric in a slightly different colorway, but have been hesitating about cutting into it. This is a wonderful way to showcase the beautiful, large flowers:

Don't forget to look at Part Two below.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show - Part Two

More quilts. Lots more quilts....

Don't forget to click on an image if you want to see a close-up.

Just for fun, I'll leave you with these images of cars in quilts. "Why quilted cars?" you ask. I don't know. Perhaps they are the answer to the question, "What do I do with all my leftover blocks?" At any rate, they seemed to be a big hit with children.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan