Showing posts with label bloggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bloggers. Show all posts

Monday, October 20, 2014

Around the World Blog Hop

I am delighted to be part of the Around The World Blog Hop, by invitation from Franki Kohler.  Her blog hop post can be found here.  Next week look for Kay Pennington's blog, when she jumps into the hop.  Hopefully hopping from blog to blog you will discover new bloggers to add to your blog roll. 

There are four questions I'm to answer, so here goes:

1.  What am I working on?

Oh, the possibilities!  The #1 item on my ToDo List is a Snow White costume for my granddaughter.  The #1 quilt item on my ToDo List is a wedding quilt for my middle son and his new wife.  I will be making this costume this week, and (hopefully) piecing the quilt this weekend.  Goals are good!  I usually have at least 5-6 projects that I am actively working on, but the last few months of the year seem to center around family-type items.

2.  How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I don't work from patterns and I don't work in set techniques.  I like a little bit of everything, usually beginning with lots of tradition then morphing it into something different.  I LOVE handwork, but often do machine work.  My current thrill is to add hand embellishment to transform something simple into something extra-special.  What do I mean?  How about this piece, which is actually very simple piecework, with some handsewn beads and French knots added for interest:
 "Inspired by Sara"
Suzanne Kistler, 2014
This is a detail of the beading/knots.

3.  Why do I write/create what I do?

I have constant ideas and images swimming around in my brain.  The best way to truly "see" them is to write them down or sew them out.  My writing, and especially my quilting, are my most effective means of communication.

4.  How does my writing/creating process work?

It flows from who I am.  I don't analyze, I just do.  And if I don't do, I don't function properly.  I am happiest if I am composing words on paper or fabric into design.  I imagine a quilt, then consider the best techniques to bring it to life, and go from there.  Quite often the finished product differs from my first imaginings.  Quilts take on a life of their own, and I just go with it.

Like this "finished" quilt,
that really needed beads.

And with that, I invite you to hop along and visit other 'Round the World Bloggers.  I've seen a few others here and here.  Happy Blog Hopping!  :)


Saturday, February 26, 2011

Something For You To Do...

The quilt show is looming, and I am distracted. There is no doubt about it. Time in the Studio is almost nonexistent. Thinking up a post is difficult. I've decided to give you my blog-roll of favorites. Until the calendar rolled over to 2011, I began every morning with a cup of coffee and my favorite bloggers.

But 2011? no way. no time. I am lucky to make a quick visit every other week. I hate it. I LOVE checking in with my blogging buddies, even though most of them have no clue that I exist. But I do. And I always look forward to visiting, to see what they've been up to.

This afternoon I shut myself in my Studio, and cleared off the table enough to put together this little card. It's for a birthday that is long gone, and I'm sure she thinks I've forgotten. I haven't. I just haven't had time...

See? Pathetic. Last year I was on top of birthdays, even going so far as to get things done early.

But you don't want to hear me whine, you want to know who my favorite bloggers are. These are the ones on my personal favorites list, and I have to admit that I will often jump off from them to bloggers listed on their blogrolls..

First in line is Del. Del knows a LOT of quilters. A LOT of quilters know Del. Her blog is full of variety. Sometimes it's her poodle prince, sometimes it's a luscious meal, often it's something quiltie, and on Friday it's feet.

Next is Allie. When she blogs, she's amazing. She's a crazy quilter extraordinaire. She even came out with a book recently, which I 'm going to have to track down in my spare time. Her work is inspirational, and she often gives step by step tutorials on her methods.

Allie is followed by Wanda. hoo-ey, talk about a productive quilter!! This one-woman wonder could probably sew up my stash within a single year. I've never seen so many quilts finished so quickly. And so well!

From the midwest, I travel to Japan, to see what Tanya has posted. She's also a prolific quilter, and a bit of a cat-maniac. She's lived in Japan for decades, and often posts about differences between here and there. I often learn something new when I visit Tanya's blog.

The Pioneer Woman is next, and she's guaranteed to get a reaction out of me. Last night I laughed out loud (as I often do) and my husband wanted to know what was so funny. I read a snippet from her post, and he laughed too. She's a SoCal city gal, married and relocated to Oklahoma. She makes the most of her relocation in a very engaging manner.

From Oklahoma, I zip up to Canada, where the Yarn Harlot knits. She fascinates me. How can someone make a living and feed a family by knitting? It can be done, and she is the master.

After the brief travelogue, I return to quilters. Terry is in Oregon, and her work fascinates me. I don't know that I've ever commented on her blog, but I'm always lurking...

Deborah is next. Her posts are beautiful. Her work is all done by hand, and I'm smitten with her desire to embellish with reckless abandon. I think that's how she worded it last year. Her inspirational photography is an added bonus.

Vicki is next, she loves to dye. She also is wonderful about linking to sites and posts that she thinks worthy of note. I will warn you that I have been known to go to her blog and start clicking around and look up to find that the sun has moved significantly...

Then on to Diane. Diane is a thinker. And an artist. And a homeschooling mom. wow. I'd be "going to pieces" too.

From the Bay Area, I head to Indiana to visit Kay. Of all the quilting bloggers I visit, I think her work is the most like mine. Tradition seems to be dominant, yet she's lured by art quilting as well. I love seeing what she's up to, and have gotten more than a few ideas of how to finish up some UFOs that have been lurking around for far too long.

Nina-Marie is on my list, but she seems to blog in spurts. She's currently in a down spurt. I imagine that she's doing so much quilting she doesn't have time to blog.

Kim is a hoot and a holler. She's a legal secretary in Sacramento who works during the day and quilts all night. I don't think she sleeps. ever.

Lisa's blog is restful. It is peaceful, it is beautiful. I don't think she's ever had a post that wasn't filled with fabulous photographs. She can turn even the most mundane subject into a work of art. She's also a crazy quilter, whose attention to detail is incredible. Visit her, for inspiration.

Penny is in Oklahoma, just like the Pioneer Woman. I sometimes wonder if they live near each other. Penny has samoyeds and loves to quilt. She's recently made the move from traditional to art quilting, among other things.

Robin is an artist in Hawaii. She's a photographer, she's a quilter, she's a dyer, she lives life with passion. Often it's all about what the camera sees, and I love it.

Susan is a new addition to my blog roll, I added her when I bought her quilt from the SAQA online auction. Her work fascinates me. wow.

Last on my list is Lisa. She's a friend of mine, and so busy doing that she doesn't have much time to blog. I keep an eye on her, just in case.

I also check the local bloggers to the right of my blog, to see if they've updated.

Wow. No wonder I haven't had time to visit. It would take me all day!!

Actually, I used to zip through in 15-20 minutes, unless I started following links. Hopefully you will click on some of these and find a blog or two that catches your attention.

The last thing I'll mention is that they say we might have snow tonight. "They" have been saying that all week. Snow? We already had snow, in January 1999. Why would we have it again so soon?

Last week I stitched out some snowflakes, for a postcard exchange. I couldn't find my file of patterns, so I stitched the same snowflake over and over again. Funny. As soon as I finished, I realized that the file with all my other snowflake patterns was being held hostage in a zip file. silly me.

Hopefully this will be enough to entertain you during the next few days or week. I have so much to do, I don't know that I'll be able to fit blogging into my day. In the meantime, enjoy!!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Del Quilts

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of spending time with fellow blogger, Del Quilts. She was in Hanford, to give the program for the Common Threads Quilt Guild. Del has a contemporary quilt collection that is unrivaled. Her taste is not limited, and work from quilters all over the world has found its way into her possession.

For an hour or so, our eyes feasted on quilts that are often only seen in books or online. It was absolutely delightful. Is it possible to over-indulge in quilt adoration? I don't think so. I want more. :)

Here is Del, with "Summer Lily" by Ruth McDowell.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know I'm a HUGE fan of Ruth's work, and Ruth. I love, love, love this quilt, and it was a treat to see it in person.

The first time I took a class with Ruth, Del was also enrolled. One afternoon we walked into the classroom, and Ruth had her quilts displayed for us to marvel at. I saw one that I was smitten with. I looked up the price and started thinking. How could I explain to my husband that I just HAD to have this quilt? As I walked through the rest of the quilts, I was obsessed. I was going to just have to figure something out. Should I ask him first?

It didn't matter. When I'd just about decided that I could swing this quilt and get away with it, Ruth mentioned that the quilt had been sold. Sold? Who bought it? I had no idea.

Aha! Last night I found out who bought that quilt! Del made a point of telling us that if you see a quilt that you really LOVE, you should buy it. If you don't move quickly enough, someone else might snatch it up from under your finger tips. If you haven't figured it out yet, Del is the loving owner of Ruth's Cineraria quilt. Next time I will move faster. ;)

This table reads like Who's Who of quilting. Off the top I could identify Ruth Powers, Melody Johnson, Nancy Brown and Franki Kohler. (See that gingko quilt? I wanted it last year. Guess Who beat me to it! Not this year. I bought Franki's 2009 gingko quilt. See? I learned that lesson! ;) Although the top row is upside down, if you use your imagination, you'll know they are amazing!
Top row, l-r, Quenching Rain - Melody Johnson, How Could You Leave Us - Ruth Powers,
Haiku - Karen Stiehl Osborn, Gingkoes II - Franki Kohler, A Predictable Attraction - B.J.Adams
Bottom row, l-r, Don't Piss Off The Fairies - Ruth Powers, Yellow-headed Blackbird - Ruth Powers, Laurel Leaves - Terry Grant, Beaded House - Sally Sellers, Henry - Nancy Brown

Finally, I can't resist one more picture of "Fort Morrison Jerseys," another of Ruth McDowell's quilts. I actually saw this one in person the first time I met Del. She was gracious enough to bring it to class, especially for my enjoyment. My husband is a dairy vet. He was FASCINATED by the quilt. "WOW!! She even got the stanchions right!" (Of course he was looking at the structure of the dairy, not the quilt, per se.)

I love Debbie's "pose" here. I'm not sure who's studying whom. Do those cows look real or what?!!!

All I can say is that last night was an incredible experience. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Del and hearing her talk about each quilt. If any guild out there is looking for an inspirational "trunk show," I highly recommend giving her a call. You won't be disappointed. :)