Hello again

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post!  I knew teaching a graduate class at Portland State University, in addition to working full time, would be a ton of work and very time intensive, but --WOW!  Plus, there's a wedding to be planned! 

Somehow, a lack of time to sew has not translated into a lack of time to buy.  This is the result of feeling sorry for myself for working overtime while friends frolicked at Quilt Market.

When I last posted, I was determined to catch up on bee blocks by the end of that week.  Well, that didn't happen.  However, I spent the last couple of days making bee blocks in between other holiday weekend festivities, and I'm very pleased with the results.  

Bee blocks for Beth: She chose the pattern and the fabrics in the block on the left, I chose fabrics in the block on the right to coordinate with her choices.

Bee block for Dee: She chose the pattern and fabrics, which I enjoyed using.  Each member of the bee is using different blue and green fabrics sent by Dee.  You all know how I much I love blue and green!

Bee block for Lesly for her red and aqua snails trail quilt.

 Bee blocks for Ruth, who asked for 1/4 log cabin blocks in the fabrics she provided.

 Bee block for Frieda: She sent the fabrics and left the block design up to each participant, with a few stipulations.

Bee block for Claudia: She sent the fabrics and pattern for Ohio star blocks.  

 Bee block for Heidi: I finished this block before realizing that I should have made two blocks.  Although I didn't have any difficulty with this block, I immediately made a cutting error on the second, so now need more fabric before I can make its twin.

Blocks ready for mailing -- a beautiful sight!

I also turned my attention to my Bee Hexed In group, which started in October.  Brioni chose one of my favorite color palettes for her block.

Hexies in Waiting

A Canvas for Hexies

Bee Hexed In Block in Progress

This pile of fabrics will hopefully start turning into hexagons by this evening for Chris's Bee Hexed In block.  Her palette of grays, browns, and other neutrals is turning out to be absolutely fabulous.  You can see more Bee Hexed In blocks here.

Have you been keeping up with the Portland Modern Quilt Guild blog?  Next month will be my last month as secretary.  I haven't missed a meeting since our first one in Multnomah Village on March 18, and it is just amazing to look at how far this group has come in such a short time!  Please read about our November meeting, which featured Kristin Link of Sew, Mama, Sew! and the Green Grocery Bag Challenge and ended with a fabric destash and homemade craft item swap and sale.  

I'll leave you today with a few sneak peeks at our last PMQG meeting.

Seriously, this is just scratching the surface.  Go take a look.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Pillow Talk (again)

Pillow Talk Swap 4 Inspirational Mosaic, originally uploaded by wishes, true and kind.

My goal is to have current and overdue bee blocks completed and in the mail by the end of this week. Then I will turn my attention to pillows!

Yes, it's time for the Pillow Talk Swap, Round 4, which is arguably one of the best swaps on Flickr. So much gorgeous and inspirational work has come out of this group. I hastily put together this inspirational mosaic, but my mind is really swirling with ideas for the pillow I will be making for someone else.... I can't wait to find out who it will be!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Catching up

Once upon a time I had a beautiful baby girl.  She took my breath away!

She was my first baby, and seemed to be going on 21 from her first breath.

I've been trying to keep up with her ever since, 

and I've had the time of my life doing it!

Well, that baby girl is 21, and I'm still trying to catch my breath.

And now she is engaged!!!!!!!


This first picture of Molly was taken recently by her roommate in their dorm suite.  
The quilt on the left was made for her by my MIL, and I made the quilt on the right with fabrics that she picked out many years ago.  She made the apron she is wearing, and it cracks me up that she is wearing an apron while playing on her roommate's "antique" game system.

She is still hard to keep up with!

We are so happy for Molly and Peter, and have so much to celebrate!  

This morning Molly and I went to a special bride's event at Crate & Barrel.  As we looked at linens, she told me of an idea for a quilt design, and I am going to have a fun time fabric shopping with her to create that quilt in her head.  Of course, once we talked quilting, everywhere I looked I saw colors, shapes, designs, and textures.  We later found some great clothing for her on sale at Anthropologie, and the same thing occurred.  We never have to look far for quilty inspiration:

 

So many ideas, and so little time -- as always.  So, first things first.  I need to do some catching up on some bee blocks.  It's time to get that sewing machine humming along again!

Where do you find quilty inspiration?

Do you see quilts everywhere?

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

NW Quilting Expo 2010 Part Four B: Studio Art Quilt Associates

My Blogger issues seem to finally be resolved, so I am very happy to present the last few gems from the recent quilt expo.

 Pacific Sunset by Betty Davis Daggett, Portland

 Portland's Welcome by Betty Davis Daggett, Portland

 Quiet Retreat by Quinn Zander Corum, Portland

 Approaching Spring in the Willamette Valley by Deanna Robinson, Eugene

I loved seeing the amazing work of the Studio Art Quilt Associates and hope all of my bloggy friends have enjoyed it, too.  You can check out more of their work on their website.

NW Quilting Expo 2010 Part Four A: Studio Art Quilt Associates

In this continuing series of posts on the NW Quilting Expo, I am excited to present the work of Studio Art Quilt Associates to you.

SAQA is an international non-profit organization that was founded in 1989 to serve artists working in the art quilt medium, as well as teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators, and corporate sponsors recognizing the importance of the art quilt.  Jean Wells is a member, and her work was previously posted here.  The theme was Oregon: State of Diversity, and I think these artists captured the sights and feelings of Oregon very well.

 Robosaurus Rules the Airshow
by Suzy Bates, Beaverton, Oregon.

 I immediately texted a picture of this quilt to my husband.  Robosaurus was at the Oregon International Airshow in 2009, the second year my husband was Board Chair.  He loves this quilt!

Tension
by Catherine Beard, Springfield, Oregon.
Juror's Choice

Marshland
By Linda Christiansen, Eugene, Oregon.

 Thicket
by Bonnie Buckham, Vancouver, Washington.

Bike Oregon
by Shirley MacGregor, Portland, Oregon.

 Ghost Trees, Whispering
Laura Jaszkowski, Eugene, Oregon.

Columbia Gorge View

by Christiana Brown, Portland, Oregon

Ethnic Diversity
by Vera Rogers, Day's Creek, Oregon

  Earth Forms: Prairie Grass

Quinn Zander Corum, Portland, Oregon

Painted Hills (John Day Fossil Beds National Monument)
by Deanna Robinson, Eugene, Oregon

 High Desert Aspens
by Gerrie Congdon, Portland, Oregon

Everyday Barns and Family Farms
by Karen Hanken, Medford, Oregon

My Oregon
by Catherine Beard, Springfield, Oregon

 Winter of Our Discontent
by Kim Lakin, Portland, Oregon

 December Sunset
by Shirley Jo Rimkus-Falconer, Independence, Oregon

 Celebrating the Sunset
by Sara Shayne Miller, McMinnville, Oregon

I actually have more wonderful images from the show to share with you, but I've been having trouble adding images on blogger all of a sudden.  Between transitioning to an iMac at home and a Dell laptop with Windows 7, I've been slowly learning to do some things differently.  I hope you enjoyed these wonderful quilts from the SAQA, and I hope to be back soon with more.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan