Blog

Marbling Workshop to be Offered

Marbling Workshop to be Offered

I have set aside three days, June 6, 7, 8, 2019 for teaching marbling on fabric with acrylic paint. Time frame will be 1:00 to 4:00 pm each day. Because I have limited space at my home I will take 4 participants each day at 

developing a pattern

developing a pattern

I can create many a quilted project that looks pretty appealing to many but to put that idea forth as a pattern is truly work for me.  For Hannibal’s bicentennial I created a wall hanging to represent the past of Hannibal as well as to 

Inspiration Starters

Inspiration Starters

One of the things I am told most often when I am presenting a trunk show or doing a workshop for a guild is “you have so many creative ideas”.  The response is that I constantly take in information from surroundings, from experiences, from quilts I see in  shows, in magazines, online and most importantly from contact with friends who also enjoy being creative. When I do presentations for quilt groups I now take “kits” I call Inspiration Starters.  They are simply done to help the purchaser think outside their box. An example, a gift from a friend, is a great idea for how you can use “languishing linens” that many have sitting in drawers, unused. A simple zipper bag with hand dyed linen and dyed to match doily.

Watch for more ideas on this website or contact me via email.

Bamboo scarves and more

Bamboo scarves and more

I have been dyeing scarves in bamboo, silk charmeuse, and rayon.  A selection is available for sale at Hickory Stick Quilt Shop.  If you don’t live near Hannibal, Missouri email me for details.

Creativity and Inspiration

Creativity and Inspiration

In a recent podcast interview with Pat Sloan we talked briefly about creativity and inspiration. Creativity for me happens when I imagine the possibilities as I plan a quilting project. That happens after I have had an inspiring experience—be it discovering a leaf along the 

Pat Sloan Podcast April 15

Pat Sloan Podcast April 15

Looking back

Looking back

Last day of 2018 I’m looking back at photos and recalling what I experimented with in the field of dyeing and painting fabric. One of my favorites is the plunge into ice dyeing. There are no “ugly” results and I love to pull out the 

A Tribute to Pearl

A Tribute to Pearl

My grandmother, a farmer’s wife, did needlework of some kind every evening.  She kept a basket of embroidery by her rocking chair along with a hand-made bag of crochet or tatting thread complete with mail order patterns ready to be worked into doilies or  edgings 

Pear profiles

Pear profiles

Using Linda Ambrosini’s pattern to have some fun with different fabrics and textures as well as quilting designs. Her pattern reminded me of a design I did for a college art class using blue apples. I may have to create or re-create that design in fabric. Value and repetition we’re the two design elements I focused on although we were always graded on all the elements and principles. Though it’s been almost 50 years since my original design done in paper I can still recall it quite clearly!!! Wonder what grade I received.

Art Nouveau Poppies

Art Nouveau Poppies

Art Nouveau Poppy I have long admired the poppy. The graceful stems that hold that bright red flower have led me to acquire fabrics that include a poppy motif, to hone in on photos of quilts as I search internet sources, and to admire those