Marilyn Doheny Hattiesburg Class-Day 1

Marilyn Doheny hit the ground running today and filled our heads with many ideas of what we could create using the 9-degree wedge rulers, all the way from elegant fans to fantasy flowers, butterflies, bugs, and other critters. Class participants came with several strata sewn which we could use in many ways, with none looking like any other. 
She brought quilts as examples of many techniques, such as the colorful one below. Yes, it is spread out on the floor!

We made a Split Tip, and a Flip-Flop, and saw examples of the Blaze and Chevron.  She showed us how to determine which of our sewn strata would work best for a Flip-Flop and which should be held back for the Blaze and the Chevron. (More about those words tomorrow!)

Strata auditioned as a Flip-Flop

She gave individual help at each table, and we were spread out all over Kelley Fellowship Hall at University Baptist Church, where Pine Belt Quilters regularly meet.

Possibilities

 Marilyn lives in Tryon, NC, and is the owner and inkeeper of  Melrose Inn, where she offers quilting retreats in the 120-year-old B&B she is remodeling and refurnishing.

Marilyn Doheny Workshop

Each summer Mississippi Quilt Association brings in a national teacher for two-day educational seminars in three different locations. This year Marilyn Doheny will teach in Hattiesburg, Jackson, and Starkville, beginning tomorrow--July 23. The workshop participants have been cutting and sewing strata and background with borders to get ready for Marilyn's creations. Marilyn is my houseguest, and we enjoyed a fantastic meal at Crescent City Grill--one of Hattiesburg's very best restaurants in the New South Restaurant Group, owned by Robert St. John.
Watch for workshop pictures!

Red Hibiscus and a Thank You

Red Hibiscus, 29" x 24"

Amaryllis, 25" x 27"

    I'm fascinated with making large flowers lately--have made four by slightly different methods, trying to decide which method I like best. Each has some advantages, so my future pieces will probably be a combination. I love to create using my own photograph for inspiration and I wanted more practice in making my patterns. After I made the Amaryllis piece last month, my guild invited Gail Bachorik to teach her Viva Orchid! pattern, so I made that one (in blues and purples on a yellow background). Then I ordered a pattern and instructional CD from Lenore Crawford and made her Pink Hibiscus (although I did it in reds since I had just worked with pinks on the Amaryllis).

    My daughter wanted me to help her make a small piece with a rose applique to use as a gift, so I showed her how to find a picture similar to what she wanted and we then drew the design and marked the pieces to create the pattern. She did all the cutting and fusing and placing on the background, and I added the machine quilting to finish the piece. 

Knockout Rose, 14" x 14" with picture inspiration and pattern

    Ann Fahl often finishes her art quilts with a small strip separating the border from the center, and I have used this design element on both the Hibiscus and Orchid and Rose pieces. She also sets her designs on a pieced background, and this is used on the Amaryllis piece.
    Through the years other quilters have inspired us and we find we have absorbed ideas, styles, and techniques and have added them to our own repertoire of skills. I am grateful for having met and studied with some of the best quilters in America--far too many to try to name. Thanks to all who have shared!

Between the Covers at the Library

"Between the Covers" Poster

I enjoyed giving a presentation last night at the Oak Grove Library in Hattiesburg, MS, during their "Between the Covers" July adult programs. There will be a speaker each Thursday night. 
Of course, rather than book "covers," my presentation dealt with quilts as "covers." I described the fascination and importance placed on friendship blocks among quilters from the colonial days until the present. Collecting blocks with verses or sentiments and a signature offered comfort when families were separated by westward migration, death, or war.

The quilt pictured here is a version of a friendship quilt even though it does not contain verses or signatures of the makers. I received a set of blocks of varying sizes and chose to assemble the blocks as a giant tree, with the background sky and ground made of Log Cabin blocks.

Orchid

Gail Bachorik taught a workshop for Pine Belt Quilters last month called Viva Orchid! Fusing is a lot of fun but a messy process, as you can see by this picture. Well, maybe everyone is not as messy as I am.

I added a narrow and then a wide border to my orchid and echo quilted around the flower. I will finish the edges with a facing.

Gail's Orchid, 25" wide x 23" high

detail

Bigboy is very trusting when he is assisting

Celebrating the Good Memories

Gathering wisteria and Lady Banksia Rose

We just passed the one-year anniversary of my husband Roy's death on July 4. He loved the yard and enjoyed gathering flowers to bring inside to me. My son and daughter and I celebrated by remembering good times, laughing at some of the frustrating ones, and being thankful for the love he showered on us.

Murder on the Birdbath

I feel like a murderer! I try to keep the birdbath full of water, and think this is even more important than birdseed in the feeder. But today when I went out to water some flowers, I came upon a terrible scene--a beautiful mourning dove was on her back with feet in the air in the DRY birdbath. What a message she sent to me! She could have died somewhere else, but by doing it in my birdbath she made me promise to be more caring in this 100+ degree heat.

Amaryllis

My apple blossom amaryllis puts on a show every spring, with two to four blooms. The first year it actually had six blossoms fighting for space. I imagine if I would feed it more often it might be happier. I enjoyed creating an art quilt from some of my photos this year.
Here is an inspiration photo:

Here is the overall quilt (about 25" x 27"). The background is made up of five strips of beige/cream fabrics, and the quilting in the background was done with a double needle.

Mysterious Antique Quilt

I was recently given a very fragile quilt, made of hexagons in a variation of Grandmother's Flower Garden. The fabric seems to be taffetas or silk in mostly solid colors, with one small stripe forming the ring around the green flowers. This same stripe is used on the upper and lower parts of the backing, and the deterioration is much worse on the back than on the front. The wool batting can be seen clearly exposed in the picture below of a corner folded back.

The deterioration is uniform across the quilt, with the exception of the surprising black velveteen hexagons in the center of each green flower. The piecing and quilting are very skillfully executed, but now the quilt sheds tiny bits of fabric wherever it is placed. I'm sure it was a prized possession in its glory days.

All Blueberries Not Created Equal

Some are cloudy blue; some are shiny darker blue

Blueberries are so much fun to pick, and I am fortunate to have a friend with a large field of bushes who shares freely with friends. It is best to go early in the morning before the summer heat is unbearable.  There are several varieties--all good. Most have a cloudy look to their blue color. Another variety is shiny and almost black. Which is the favorite? Whichever one you just ate! You can see two kinds in the picture above, cloudy ones on left; shiny ones on right.

Bushes are higher than my head

They almost fall off in your hand

Freeze them in bags to enjoy later

Pictures from Ghost Quilting Workshop

Julia Graber has posted some great end-of-workshop pictures from our class last weekend. See these on her blog at www.juliagraber.blogspot.com . Here is one of Julia and me.

Julia Graber and Martha Ginn

Ghost Quilting Workshop Class at MQA

We had a great time at the MQA Workshop Gathering, and the Ghost Quilting class was a great learning experience. The participants came with their "focus fabric" square or rectangle fused to the background and layered with batting and backing. I demonstrated the use of the Caran d'Ache water soluble wax pastels for those who wanted to add color to their pieces. Some did this, and some drew a few guidelines out in the background to help know where to quilt. We identified what were tension problems and what were speed problems and we found the right speed and sound for their machine to be stitching best. Quilting gloves helped move the fabric for smooth stitches. We got right to the quilting and by the end of class everyone had a nearly finished piece.

Myra Hester Cook

Dianne Force

Chris Baker

Barbara Saulters

Sheila Pierre

Julia Graber

Jean Tincher

Julie Hendrick

Cindy Pannier

Connie Moore

The group showing their work

MQA Workshop Gathering

Mississippi quilters gathered at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson for MQA's annual workshop Gathering June 1-2. What a great facility it was--large meeting room for meals and program, and small classrooms for learning and creating. President Judy Stokes and the education committee had arranged an interesting program, displays, and meals. Our members taught classes and also had their quilts displayed in the meeting room and hallway. The classes offered were:

• Art of Quilting - Rhonda Blasingame
• Twisted 9-Patch - Marietta Johnson
• Mystery Quilt - Jeré Funk
• Ghost Quilting - Martha Ginn
• Scrappy Sweet Sixteen - Watana Cantrell
• Free Motion Machine Quilting - Ann Tullos
• Mosaic Tile - Billie Thompson
• Wacky Squares - Marilyn Rose
• Hunter Star - Diantha Stafford

  

  Works by (L) Ann Fox and (R) Martha Ginn

Ann Fox, Martha Ginn, Rhonda Blasingame, Marilyn Rose

Long Beach quilters showed what we all called the "miracle quilt" that had been made for the city of Long Beach before Katrina. It was hanging in a public building and survived the storm with only crushed leaves clinging to the lower part of it. It suffered no water damage, and the dried leaves were brushed off and the quilt tumbled in a dryer.

 

Gloria Green with Pine Belt Quilters raffle quilt

Marilyn Doheny is the Educational Seminar teacher; she will present two-day classes
July 23-24 in Hattiesburg
July 25-26 in Jackson
July 27-28 in Starkville
 More information can be found on the MQA website.

Quick Draw for Kids a Huge Success

The Quick Draw was an exciting and fun afternoon, and the Jimmy Buffett music by the Lloyd "Hurricane" Munn band was awesome!

We had 28 artists positioned on both floors of the Bottling Company, and the large windows provided good lighting. Two tables were set with barbeque beef brisket, shrimp & grits, salads, and fresh fruit, and the Hattiesburgers in Paradise (the local parrotheads) were gracious and helpful hosts and hostesses.

Trimming to size

Finished, framed 11 x 14

Quick Draw for Kids

     I will be one of about 30 artists at a Quick Draw event on May 20 at the Bottling Company in Downtown Hattiesburg. As the flyer says, there will be food, music, fun, and art. I will be the only one using a sewing machine and thread for my "drawing/painting" supplies.
     The artists will get set up and ready to create. When the bell sounds, we will have one hour to complete our piece, then 15 minutes to frame or otherwise get it ready to sell. Attendees will enjoy the food and music as they walk around and watch the artists in this 100+ year old building that formerly housed the Coca Cola Bottling Company. It has been remodeled into a restaurant/music club with a large balcony overlooking the large lower floor. Pieces will be live auctioned to the highest bidder as a fund raiser for the South Mississippi Children's Center.
     There will be other artwork on display for sale, also. The event is co-sponsored by South Mississippi Art Association and Hattiesburgers in Paradise. Music by Lloyd "Hurricane" Munn and the Forecasters.

Blueberries Getting Ripe!

The blueberries are getting ripe! I love the changing colors, from light green to pale pink to light blue and then dark blue. Soon there will be clusters of all dark blue berries. But for now, it's fun to pick and eat the ripe ones as I walk up the driveway to the mailbox.