Moon Goddess

Winner of the Free Book: "Sew the Perfect Gift"

2011-12-18T07:38:00.000+03:00

I am excited to tell you that we had Random.org choose the winning number for comments that were left on my blog to win the book "Sew the Perfect Gift". I am happy to announce that "Notjustnat" is the winner. Thank you all for stopping by to visit and leaving your comments. Enjoy Natima!

INCREDIBLE INDIA November Journal Block

2011-12-13T22:25:00.000+03:00

Whether you are the driver or the passenger in India, road travel is always exciting. And if you need a taxi, they come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and styles.

One advantage of this vehicle is you get to know a lot of neighbors in your local area.

The most popular of all though is the tuk tuk. It's small but efficient, economical, can carry several passengers and all their shopping, and best of all it is covered so it makes for the best choice in bad weather conditions.

You're close to the driver so you can easily give him directions for your destination.

While waiting at the traffic light you can always engage in some friendly conversation with the people next to you.

I thought it was a great way to travel around the city.

In my travels around India, the Tree of Life motif was one of the most beautiful and used in many different locations. This particular motif decorated the wall of a mosque.

Another particularly beautiful motif of the Tree of Life was in a temple in the city of Ammedabad. It is wonderful with the grill work in front of a large tree. The green leaves make a wonderful background for the motif. I wanted to use this Tree of Life motif for the first of my four blocks with one or more buttons.

The fabric used for the tree is a brown batik fabric. I used the fusible applique technique for the tree and stitched the edges of the applique with a hand Feather Stitch. The back ground fabric is a hand dyed gold fabric. The leaves of the tree are cut freehand and glued to the tree using fabric glue. An iron-on crystal complements each leave. Hand dyed buttons, of various sizes, where sewn to the trunk of the tree.

The block was hand quilted and bound in a green striped fabric.

Win a Free Book "Sew the Perfect Gift"

2011-12-07T09:58:00.000+03:00

Martingale and Company just released a new book entitled "Sew the Perfect Gift".

I was pleased to be asked, as one of their top 25 designers, to participate and design a project for the book. Lots of cute, quick projects for you to make for family and friends.

If you would like to win a free copy of this book, just leave a comment on my blog.

On Saturday 17th December, a lucky winner will be chosen.

I hope you win!

INCREDIBLE INDIA October Journal Block

2011-12-03T20:13:00.000+03:00

Oh my goodness...I forgot to post my October Journal Block!

My husband's father had been ill for sometime and he passed away on 12th November which meant a trip for us to the U.S. We are now home, over jet lag, and settling back to a normal routine. Such a loss makes the time we will spend with family and friends over the upcoming holidays, even more precious and treasured.
This October Journal Block is my last of four blocks which incorporated text.

Within India, many different religious views are embraced and practiced. I wanted to somehow incorporate some of these views into one block, particularly the views celebrated by many of the population.

Plus, my friend Tehruna sent me a wonderful email celebrating the 4 Spiritualities of India.

Within the four flower centers, are written the 4 Spiritualities of India: 1) Whomsoever you encounter is the right one. 2) What ever happened is the only thing that could have happened. 3) Each moment in which something begins is the right moment. 4) What is over is over.

The sashings between the flower blocks carry the wordings of the following religions:

Hindu - We worship the three eyed One (Lord Shiva) Who is fragrant and Who nourishes well all beings;
Parsi - We revere Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds done and to be done, Now and henceforth

Christian - Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

And the three center photographs of Arabic calligraphy, taken from the walls of the mosque in Ahmedabad, represent the Muslim faith.

All believe!

All of the fabrics used in the block were hand dyed using Procion Dyes. The photographs were printed on fabric using Bubble Jet Set and Bubble Jet Rinse. Text was written using several colors of permanent Pigma Graphic Pens. The block was hand quilted.

Winner of the Free Book: Quilting Those Flirty 30's"

2011-10-23T14:31:00.000+03:00

I am excited to tell you that we had random.org choose the winning number for comments that were left on my blog to win the book "Quilting Those Flirty 30's. And the winner is "aracne"! Thank you all for stopping by and leaving a comment. Watch this space for future books to be given away.

Sights of Sri Lanka

2011-10-14T10:20:00.004+03:00

We recently traveled to Sri Lanka and had a great time! So much to see and do in such a small country. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I thought I would just show you photos, which is a lot better then me just rattling on!

We stayed in some interesting hotels but this one was especially fun! We even had our own resident crocodile who lived underneath our room.

Beautiful peacocks were everywhere on the hotel grounds and in the countryside.

We saw lots of really cool Buddhas!

Lots of monkeys in Sri Lanka but this one was especially cute with her baby.

We climbed to the top of Sigiriya Rock. The view was pretty fabulous from up there.

Since Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country, we saw many young boys who were studying to be monks.

We went on safari and saw lots of animals but we fell in love with the elephants of Sri Lanka.

We saw LOTS of elephants!

We got up close and personal with some.

We rode elephants and fed elephants.

We washed an elephant and gave him a massage.

We bought handmade paper made from elephant poo!

And we watched the elephants make their way through town, on their trek to the river to frolic and play. It reminded me a little of the running before the bulls in Spain!

We learned about the lengthy process and all the time intensive work it takes to make batik fabrics.

We took the train up to the tea country. We heard that the next day, after we took the train, the observation car we were in derailed. Thankfully no one was injured!

We toured a tea factory.

We watched the tea pickers bring their tea to the managers to be weighed and their accounting ledgers marked.

We hiked through the tea plantations, had high tea, and bought several varieties of tea.

I don't think we will every think of a cup of tea in
exactly the same way again!

We met the lace maker and her daughter. This is an old art that is dying out in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is full of these wonderful smiles!

We checked out the day's catch of the local fishermen and watched them work.

We watched the local dancers at an anniversary celebration.

Sri Lanka is known for it's semi-precious stones so it was a real pleasure to visit the local jewelry shops and see all the jewels on display.

And of course the sunsets in Sri Lanka were stunning. We saw a gorgeous one each evening, on the south coast near Galle, where we spent 5 days on the beach. A little bit of heaven!

Win a Free Book "Quilting Those Flirty 30's"

2011-10-12T18:16:00.002+03:00

I am so excited to tell you that "Quilting Those Flirty 30's" has gone into it's second printing.

To celebrate, I will be giving away a free book to one of the visitors to my blog who leaves a comment, within the next 10 days.

From all the comments, one lucky person's name will be drawn on Sunday 23 October 2011.

Good luck! And I look forward to hearing from you.

Japanese Textile Study Tour

2011-10-06T17:10:00.001+03:00

If you have ever wanted to immerse yourself in Japanese culture, on a very intimate level, this is a wonderful opportunity and the dates are 15-25 April, 2012.

A very dear friend of mine, Nat Palaskas, has teamed up with Bryan Whitehead, owner of a small textile school located in his traditional Japanese farmhouse in Fujino, located just outside of Tokyo. There you will have the opportunity to focus on indigo, natural dyes, shibori, stencil dying, and thread making from silk cocoons. You will also see the cherry blossoms in bloom, picnic in a Japanese garden, visit a silk museum and a pottery studio, visit Mt. Fuji, and take in a traditional Japanese bath.

The tour is eleven days, filled to the brim with beautiful Japanese textiles and traditional arts and delicious Japanese food. You will make friends from all around the world and you will have the opportunity to learn from Bryan his extensive knowledge of both traditional Japanese textiles and Japanese culture.

If you would like to find out more and join in the fun, visit Nat's blog below for all the details of a trip of a lifetime.

http://japanesetextilestudytour.blogspot.com/2011/10/cherry-blossoms-where-it-counts.html

See you in Japan!

INCREDIBLE INDIA September Journal Block

2011-09-16T14:45:00.000+03:00

I've just gotten back from 2 1/2 weeks in Sri Lanka. What a wonderful country! But more on that a bit later. First, I want to catch you up on the September India Block. There is pressure to stay on schedule!

While we were in Little Runn of Kutch in Gujarat, our resort was host to a local wedding. This was a Hindu, arranged marriage, between two families. I still find the whole concept of an arranged marriage fascinating, even though I have friends from both the Indian and Arab cultures who have arranged marriages, which are very successful. It is a very different concept from my own culture. I think what makes the arranged marriage, in many cases so successful, is that both families are supporting the union and help to make the marriage work.

A typical arranged marriage usually follows these steps. First, an advertisement is placed in the matrimonial section of the paper stating a boy is looking for a girl or vice versa and their attributes are listed. The families contact each other and usually a horoscope is done on both candidates to see if they would be a good match. If the families are happy with the potential match, the boy's family will make arrangements to meet the girl and the girl's family will make arrangements to meet the boy. If both parties are satisfied that he or she is a good candidate, they will then introduce the two children. If the children like each other and would like to proceed, then the girl's family will provide a dowry based on the requests of the boy's family. A dowry can consist of money, jewels, property, vehicles, such a motorcycle or car, or a house and can be a very costly amount for the girl's family to provide. Once the dowry is established, the wedding date is set.

This is the young bride in all her wedding finery.

Besides her heavily embroidered wedding sari and jewelry, much of her body is covered with beautiful henna designs, to celebrate her marriage. The henna designs are done in either black or with colors, as seen here.

Hindu weddings are usually quite large, with sometimes up to 1000's of guests. I think these were family members and close friends that arrived early for the wedding, to support the bride.

This block is my third block with text and represents many aspects of the Hindu wedding.

The background fabric of the block was hand dyed using turmeric powder.

The matrimonial ads were printed on hand-dyed fabrics which I dyed using Procion Dyes, with the fabrics being prepared for printing on my computer using Bubble Jet Set and Bubble Jet Set Rinse. I used fusible applique to adhere the hearts to the background fabric and I used a hand Feather Stitch around each heart. Sequins and beads were sewn to the hearts to make them festive.

The earrings are representative of the type of jewellery worn by the bride.

The hand and foot shown are typical henna designs which I have drawn using a Micron Pigma Waterproof pen.

The center jewels represent the costly dowry that is an integral part of any arranged marriage.

The block was hand quilted with lines radiating out from around the hearts, hoping that love will grow in the marriage. The block was bound in blue silk fabric.

INCREDIBLE INDIA August Journal Block

2011-08-16T16:25:00.003+03:00

The women of India are beautiful no matter their age. Their dress is so colorful and striking.

They seem to glide gracefully no matter what they are doing. In many ways they remind me of the national bird of India.

The peacock! This stunner was sitting on top of a temple as we traveled to a small village by camel cart. Beautiful and so graceful. Peacocks are everywhere in India. In many embroidered pieces of work...

in places of pride in the palaces...

and adorning the tile work.

The feathers are sold regularly bundled together and are used as brooms to sweeps the floors of the temples.

In Gujarat we stayed at a small resort called Runn Riders. Small individual thatched huts were our accommodation. Each hut had a beautiful embroidered cloth at the doorway.

Our sleeping arrangements were simple cots.

Showers and toilet facilities were outside where you could enjoy nature all around you.

Or if you preferred you could use the indoor toilet and there were arrangements whether you preferred to stand (Asian style) or sit (Western style).

Some of the huts had lovely wall designs such as these.

Our hut walls were decorated with typical drawings of the Gujarat area.

This delightful peacock was the inspiration for my second text block. I liked him so much I even sketched him into my journal.

I took some liberties and enhanced my peacock with florescent paint and iron on crystals.

The peacock was Stem Stitched using 2-strands of a 6-strand embroidery floss on cotton fabric which I hand dyed using Turmeric Powder. The green dye around the edge of the block was Distress Ink sprayed on top of the drawn greenery. The script was stamped using Bombay Inks and wooden block stamps.

The block was finely hand quilted, very densely, in the same manner as a Kantha which is a quilt work and embroidery piece typically from West Bengal and Bangladesh. The block was bound in a blue hand dyed fabric.

I like these iron on sequins so much I think I may have to add a few more around the tail. They are slightly addicting!

INCREDIBLE INDIA July Journal Block

2011-08-11T16:45:00.002+03:00

In Udaipur, our hotel, the Jagat Niwas Palace, was a heritage hotel located on the shore of the lake, overlooking the Lake Palace. It had once been owned by the Maharajahs but in 1989 it was restored and refurbished. It was decorated with gorgeous antiques.

Janine and I felt like princesses sleeping in our high beds each night.

There were lots of levels to the hotel and many nooks and crannies to explore.

The view from the window seat in our room overlooked the Lake Palace. With our windows open you could hear religious chanting coming over the water...very spiritual.

Sometimes on our trip Janine and I would rise early and go exploring just to see what we could find. Early morning on the lake in Udaipur was breathtaking, with the early morning sun casting shadows over the lake and the surrounding buildings.

This woman was washing her clothes on steps to the lake, just around the corner from our hotel. It was amazing how clean she was able to get them by hand. Since it was so early in the morning, she was able to do her chores in peace and quiet.

In India, I asked most people if it was OK to take their photo before I actually took it. Most everyone was happy to oblige and if they said "No" I respected their wishes. When I saw these four gentlemen sharing their morning tea and chatting, I thought how charming they were and just quickly took the photo, without thinking or asking permission. I got caught in the act. They in turn asked me for money. I gave them the change I had in my pocket.

So they were definitely the seed of an idea for my first "text block". Especially when I noticed that they were so well placed in front of all the advertising billboards.

I knew these text blocks would definitely stretch the edge of my envelope and have me working outside my comfort zone. Being firmly rooted in "pretty" and "applique" the techniques used to create a mixed media block don't really fit in that realm, causing some stress, at least for me.

The background of this block is black felt. Behind the photo of the men is news paper from India which has been sprayed with distress inks to achieve the golden color, sewn closely in a grid to the felt, then sprayed with water, and distressed with a brush.

The coins and paper money are Indian Rupees, less than the change I had in my pocket at the time, but they seemed quite happy with the gift.

The photo was printed in my HP printer on fabric that has been prepared using Bubble Jet Set 2000 and rinsed in Bubble Jet Rinse. Both the photo and rupee note where stitched using a very free form stitch, using two strands of a 6-strand embroidery floss.

The block was hand quilting using black quilting thread and bound in gold fabric which I hand dyed.

INCREDIBLE INDIA June Journal Block

2011-08-02T17:16:00.003+03:00

During our time in India, we were very fortunate to visit three different small villages. Our first village visit was to the Mir Village which was inhabited by Rabari herders and their families, located in Little Runn of Kutch, in Gujarat. Because our guide knew that we were especially interested in textiles and crafts, he wanted us to visit the Mir women who made beaded bracelets. To get to the village from our accommodation in Runn Riders, we went by camel cart.

Our driver and his camel.

Our seating arrangement for the trip!

It was slow going but a delightful way to travel. You could smell the fields, wood burning, food cooking, and it was good fun to wave to everyone we passed. It's not everyday the village people saw ten western women riding camel carts. We attracted a lot of attention.

The village was teaming with activity and they were prepared and excited about our visit.

As the women presented their wares for sale, it seems the men were doing the child minding.

If ever you feel you don't have enough material possessions or you are not rich enough, you just need to visit one of these villages. Trust me...you are rich beyond your wildest imagination. This village had no running water, bathing facilities, or toilet facilities that we could see.

This young Rabari woman had a large selection of bracelets to sell.

Note the bracelets she is wearing on her arms and how colorful her clothing is.

My friend Janine shopping...decisions, decisions. Pressure was high to purchase from all the women. Sadly we could not. How many bracelets can one buy, even thinking of all your friends and family?!!?!?

When we were planning our trip and knew that we would be visiting some small villages, Janine and I decided to take crayons, pencils, markers, and coloring books for the children. Things that we thought they would not be able to find in the village or maybe afford. The children were so excited! Janine is passing out crayons with help from our guide Nirav to keep the kids in control.

This mother was pleased to take some crayons for her children. Again, note the lovely bracelets she is wearing.

Some children of the village. The girls are already wearing bracelets like their mothers.

This father proudly showed off his two daughters.

Later in the evening the women from Mir Village came to dance for the guests at our accommodation, Runn Riders. They were lovely in their brightly colored clothes. Each girl wore anklets of bells which made a lovely sound when they danced.

The girls resting between dances.

Our visit with the Rabari women was one of the highlights of my trip and I wanted to portray their colorful clothing and dancing in my last circle block.

The figures of the dancers were depicted in the traditional Warli style of art from western India.

All applique is fusible applique. All dresses were done in silk and Buttonhole Stitched. The head coverings were bits of print fabrics from India and Feather Stitched. Iron on crystals in a complementary color were attached to each head scarf. Arms and legs were Stem Stitched using 2 strands of a 6 strand embroidery floss. Eyes were added using a fine, permanent, black ink pen.

The block was hand quilted using several different colors of metallic thread. The binding consists of various colors of the silk used for the dresses. I Stem Stitched along the edge of the binding with red DMC Size 8 thread, adding the little brass bells, like the girls wore on their anklets, at each spot that the quilting met with the binding. Now my block even sounds like the dancers!

This completes my four circle blocks. They were so much fun to do. Next month will begin with the first of my four blocks with script. I can't believe how quickly the year is passing by.

Natural Dyeing

2011-07-20T13:40:00.001+03:00

In these lazy days of summer (boy is it hot and humid here in Abu Dhabi!) it is fun to kick back and play. I have done a lot of fabric dyeing using Procion dyes but I have been wanting to experiment using natural dyes and see what results I could get. While I was in Michigan, I found this wonderful book by Sasha Duerr, The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes in which she using all kinds of natural things in your kitchen to dye both plant and animal fibers.

My first experiment was with Turmeric Powder. As a mordant or fixative to bind the dye to the fabric, I first boiled the fabric in an aluminum pot, which is one of the easiest mordant methods. I used cotton, silk, and scrim or you may know it as cheesecloth. The silk is so vibrant while the color of the cotton is much more subtle. Three very different shades depending on the type of fabric used.

My next experiment was with Blackberries. Yum! The great thing about dyeing with natural ingredients is you get to eat your way through your dye process. Lovely soft, dusty color on the silk. Very vintage looking.

I also made a stronger mixture of blackberries and dyed these white wooden prayer beads that I purchased on my India trip. The wood really absorbed the color.

I am looking forward to trying some other natural dye materials such as red cabbage, mint, onion skins, and hibiscus tea, just to name a few. What fun and inspiring fabric to use in projects.

INCREDIBLE INDIA May Journal Block

2011-07-13T11:51:00.005+03:00

After traveling for an extended time, it is taking me a while to get caught up on my sewing and blogging. I will catch you up as quickly as I can. I hate being behind schedule!

We quilters and lovers of textiles enjoy every aspect of our craft and I especially enjoyed seeing in India how differently things are done. A lot of work is done on the street and it was exciting to see and appreciate the similarities and the differences.

This gentleman was a local tailor. Whenever my studio becomes disorganized or I think it is way too messy, I just need to look at this photo to remind myself that productivity can take place anywhere, under some extreme circumstances! His sewing machine sat about two feet from the street curb. Push and shove was his storage technique! I could relate. I use that technique at times too in my studio.

This gentleman was dying a piece of red silk fabric.

To dry it, he waved it up and down in the wind and sunshine. Lovely!

This group of gentlemen were beading designs on the this lovely green silk. It reminded me of an old quilting bee, as they sat together around a frame chatting and seeming to enjoy their work and each others company.

I don't like to iron clothes but I do enjoy ironing my quilt fabric because it is during the ironing process that I get a lot of good ideas. It's rhythmic, soothing, and peaceful, conducive to letting your mind wander and dream of wonderful designs. This woman was the local ironing shop and she set up her workspace in front of her home on the street. Her iron was an antique model that was heated with coals placed inside the iron. Very effective for getting out those stubborn wrinkles. Notice the lovely flower designs carved in the wall behind her. She was so friendly and happy to chat with us once she knew we all appreciated the work she was doing and our fascination with her iron.

For my May Journal Block, which is my 3rd circle block, I took inspiration from the flowers that fill India. They are everywhere. From the real blooms...

to the drawn and painted blooms.

Flowers grace the homes, the hotels, the palaces and shops.

Especially lovely is the floral embroidery that is incorporated in so many of the textiles of India.

When you think of India, these stylized flowers immediately come to mind.

My May Journal Block, the 3rd circle block, was done in all hand dyed fabrics and hand quilted. The flowers were done using traditional applique and the leaves were done in fusible applique, with a hand feather stitch edging the leaves. The stems of the leaves are done in a Stem Stitch using a Size 8 embroidery thread. To set off the colors of the flowers, I used a two color binding and introduced a third color by Stem Stitching along the seam line of the two color binding with a purple Size 8 embroidery thread.

The flower centers are fusible applique, sewn in position using irregular long stitches, using 2 strands of a 6-strand embroidery floss. Small beads were sewn randomly to the threads.

Cookies for You

2011-07-01T17:24:00.005+03:00

When I was at International Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, a promotional bookmark, with a cookie recipe on the back, was given out at the launch of my new book Quilting Those Flirty 30's. Inside the book you will find 12 more family favorites. I wanted to share this recipe with you. They are delicious!

Carrot Chip Cookies
3 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/3 cups white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, sugars, and eggs in a large bowl. Blend in carrots. Mix all dry ingredients together and add to carrot mixture. Beat just until blended. Stir in nuts and chips. Drop by rounded teaspoon full on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Makes approximately 4 dozen. Enjoy!

If you would like to read more about Quilting Those Flirty 30's, visit the publisher's website at http://www.martingale-pub.com/store/index.php?author_id=125 You will also be able to read the Author Interview which I had with Durby Peterson of Martingale and Company.

Fun to Play But Home at Last

2011-06-26T17:47:00.007+03:00

Sometimes you have to get out and play with your man. My husband's idea of play is hiking in remote areas. The more remote the better. The nature boy comes out in him and he's happiest when he's far from the maddening crowds.

So in late April we headed to the island of Sardinia, via Rome, for 10 lovely days of hiking. Except for 2 days of cloudy weather with a little drizzle, that we never needed our raincoats for, the weather was perfect with blue sky and lots of sun.

We hiked from the mountains.... to the coast....and through lots of lovely countryside in
between.

It was very much a nature trek, as we saw deer, pigs, sheep, snakes, goats, dogs, a baby mink, butterflies, and of course some bugs.The dung beetles were my favorite. Industrious little creatures!

Goats are the most curious animals. Most in Sardinia wore bells so even when you couldn't see them, you could hear all the bells throughout the hills and valleys. It's music to your ears, as you hike along.

And of course we say many beautiful flowers carpeting the hills and growing wild everywhere. I loved the flowers....

my husband liked the local beer.

And it seems no matter if you have great hiking boots or not, after more than 100 kilometers, hiking up and down hills, through valleys, across dunes, and along deer trails, sometimes blisters appear. We definitely got some doozies!

These were Mike's.

These were mine!

But no time to worry about blisters. It was time to head to where I like to play...International Quilt Market. It would only be the 2nd time that Mike had joined me for Market. This year it was in Salt Lake City. Back to Rome and on to Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City is beautiful, ringed by snow capped mountains.

This Market was fun and exciting with the release of my new book "Quilting Those Flirty 30's."

International Quilt Market is where quilt shop owners from around the world come to shop for their stores. During Market, at sessions called School House, shop owners come to learn about all the newest and the latest in the industry. It's such fun to meet the shop owners, touch base with my customers, share what's new, and what I have been working on.

This is an apron which is part of the project "Kitchen Garb" in "Quilting Those Flirty 30's." There are eleven projects in the book, as well as 12 delicious cookie recipes, all family favorites, that I wanted to share with my readers. Yum!

I was so excited to catch up with Donna Ward and her daughter Ashleigh. Donna machine quilted all the quilts in "Quilting Those Flirty 30's", as well as my other books. She is such a talented quilter! We have worked together for about 8 years. We email frequently and send many boxes back and forth but we only get to meet at Quilt Market, when we both attend. Donna lives way down under in New Zealand.

Left to right, Ashleigh, Donna, and me.

When I had sent the quilts for "Quilting Those Flirty 30's" to Martingale and Company, U.S. Customs did a terrible thing and slashed two quilts that were to be featured in the book. I had seen photographs that the Staff of Martingale had sent me of the damage but it was gut wrenching to actually see it in person, when I picked up the quilts.

Thank goodness for the talented staff at Martingale and Photo Shop where the damage could be repaired and the book remained on schedule.

Not a word of apology or any type of compensation for the damage done to my quilts from U.S. Customs. A sad experience but I count my self very fortunate that this is the first time in 14 years of business that I have had a quilt damaged. That hand coming through the quilt on the left hand side is not supposed to be there!

Such a fun Market...meeting old friends and making new ones, and sharing the whole experience with Mike. He had fun hanging out with the quilters.

No time to rest. The logistics of moving lots of luggage and lots of quilts to the next stop is never easy. I really envy those people who can manage to travel the world with only a carry on. I am not one of those people!

Next stop, Hawaii, for my son Zachary's graduation with his PhD.

This trip will be very productive for clocking some air miles.

Proud parents of the happy graduate at the University of Hawaii!

While we were on Ohahu, we thought we better tour the island and check out the sites.

Zachary, his girlfriend Stacy, and Mom.

After 4 days of celebrations we head to Michigan, home ground for both Mike and I, to visit family. Michigan greets us with perfect blue skies and sunny weather, rather rare for Michigan. All the flowers were in bloom.

I must say that Michigan is one of the most beautiful locations ever, in the summer. I'm just not sure I can handle the winters there any more. I think my blood has gotten much too thin, after living in the warm climate of the Middle East for so many years.

After Mike left Michigan to return to work, I stayed on for another 3 weeks to help my Mom downsize, sort her home, pack and move, to a retirement location in Grand Rapids. With her new apartment and her patio filled with flowers, I think she will be happy and hopefully it is a good move for her.

It feels so good to be home and in my own bed in Abu Dhabi.

It will take me a while to catch up after being away for so long but it was a good trip filled with good times, family, and friends.

We couldn't have asked for anything better.

INCREDIBLE INDIA April Journal Block

2011-04-18T19:21:00.004+03:00

You know, I own a Jeep Wrangler and never, in a million years, would I have thought you could carry so many people in one. I have come to rethink that! There was a large group of people standing along side the road and one could assume that a large bus was coming soon. Wrong. This Jeep Wrangler was the local mode of transport and they all managed to get in or on.

Fully loaded! How many persons can you count in the half of the front area that you can see?

Note luggage rack on the top that many passengers are seated on.

And there is definitely room for several more to stand along the back. Makes "economy class" air travel seem spacious and extremely generous by comparison.

I decided to base my April Journal Block on the Sun Temple of Gujarat.

The scriptures of the Hindu religion refer to the sun as the store house of inexhaustible power and radiance. Surya symbolizes the Sun God and he is considered the only visible form of God that can be seen every day. There are many hymns describing the celestial body as the source and sustainer of all life on earth. The origin of the worship of the Sun in India is thus several centuries old.

There are seven sun temples in India and we were lucky to be close to the Sun Temple at Modhera in Gujarat and were able to visit. There are many legends and beliefs associated with each of the temples but all of the temples believe that a visit to the temple followed by a dip in the sacred tanks associated with them would bring relief to the believers ailing from blindness, leprosy, and other skin disorders.

Interior arches and columns of the temple.

Wonderful detailed carvings on every column.

Elephant carvings on the steps leading to the temple.

Intricate carvings on the exterior of the temple.

These little black bats make their home on the ceiling of the interior of the temple. They seemed totally oblivious to the comings and goings of the many visitors.

Unfortunately, we were not able to stay until twilight and watch the bats come to life and leave, when I'm sure the bats would exit to feed.

Every temple has a religious caretaker and this gentle man greeted us all as we left the temple. You will note that he is wearing an orange turban and shirt which symbolizes his religious devotion.

The wearing of bright orange as an overt sign of religious affiliation is common throughout India.

I decided to use Surya, God of the Sun, as the focus for my April Journal Block. And of course he must be depicted in bright orange hand-dyed fabrics to show his religious significance in the Hindu religion. This is my second journal block which must include a circle.

The background fabric is a yellow hand-dyed fabric. Stem Stitching is used for the facial features. The sun is done with fusible applique, with the inner circle stitched using a modified Herringbone Stitch. The points of the sun are outlined with a Feather Stitch.

Orange iron on sequins enhance the sun's radiance, his eyes, checks, and forehead. The points of the suns on his forehead and cheeks were painted using Pebeo Setacolor fabric paint.

The block has been hand quilted in a circular design to portray the radiating sun.

INCREDIBLE INDIA March Journal Block

2011-03-31T19:04:00.002+03:00

Inspiration is everywhere in India. Every turn has your brain ticking and your creative juices flowing. You want to capture the essence of India, in every way possible.

During the trip I took hundreds of photos and kept a journal of our action filled days. Color fills your world and wonderful designs are everywhere. These photos are just a few of my journal pages. It is the textiles of India that are so wonderful. Color, color, and more color with texture you love to caress. I envy the opportunity the women of India have to purchase and use all these fabulous textiles which are a part of their daily culture.

This lady was was working in the yard of Ghandi's Ashram. Isn't the color of her sari wonderful? I loved the trees there that were planted in the yard with signs hung on each one..."Faith", "Hope", "Love".

These are the colorful turbans of the men in Rajasthan.

Laundry day! It's nice if you live on an upper floor so that 6 yards of fabric, that make up a sari, can easily be hung out to dry,

These two ladies were having a wonderful morning shopping for fabric. They sat on the floor and the shop keeper would open sari after sari for their consideration.

This month, March, my first Journal Block will be one of my 4 circle blocks. My inspiration for this block came from the City Palace Museum in Udaipur. It has been inhabited by royalty since 566AD! It is an amazing structure which has been added to over the generations.

Wonderful designs every where you look.

You could spend days wandering the hallways and different sections of this huge palace.

I thought the most beautiful design, in the parts of the palace that we were able to visit, was this ceiling design and I wanted to capture it for my journal block. It was a huge ceiling with wonderful color and design.

To get this circular design to fit in a 10 inch block I decided to paint my interpretation of the ceiling design using Setacolor Fabric Paints by Pebeo on unbleached muslin. You can mix colors and thin the paint with water to get a consistency which is easy for you to work with. To set the color, you just need to iron it with a hot iron.

I then hand quilted along each section of the design and around the corner motifs.

The block is bound in fabric which I hand dyed.

INCREDIBLE INDIA

2011-03-24T09:46:00.003+03:00

I have been missing in action, again, in one of the most incredible countries in the world. INDIA! How to describe India...it's filled with the most wonderful people, it's so colorful and vibrant, it's a diverse mix of cultures, religions, customs, and traditions, it's steeped in mysticism, it's poor, it's rich, it's markets are filled with the most delicious foods, it feeds and awakens all your senses, and it has you dreaming of coming back for more.

The true riches of India you will find in it's people, from every walk of life, living, contributing, mixing with their neighbors in a seamless, chaotic mass that works, though it may seem like disorder to the casual visitor.

They are the lifeblood of the country. The whole time I was in India, I felt privileged to be a part of such vibrant communities, if even for just a very short time.

We were a group of 10 women, organized by Di Wells on a textile tour of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Eight days to immerse ourselves in textiles of every kind, to visit small villages off the beaten path, to see how different types of textiles are made. We visited the areas of Ahmedabad, Little Rann of Kutch, and Udaipur, exploring the surrounding country side on safari, and in camel drawn carts. For anyone who loves textiles and crafts made by hand, it was truly the trip of a lifetime.

Members of our group were (from left to right):
Patricia, Diane, Lynn, Phil, Sarah, Liz, Di, Ann, and Janine in the front. Eight of the women came from the UK and Janine and I met up with the group in Ahmedabad.

Liz (third from right) was telling us how she had decided this year to participate in a Journal Block of the Month in her area. Each month she was to make a 10" block which could be based on any idea but 4 blocks had to have a circle, 4 blocks had to have script, and 4 blocks had to have buttons.

Janine and I were so inspired by our India trip that we have decided to also do a Journal Block of the Month, based on our trip to India. We will use the parameters of Liz's group but our inspiration would come from the things we loved and experienced in India. Because I was so inspired by the hand crafts of India, I have decided to add one more parameter to my Journal Blocks, to make all of my blocks by hand. Photos taken during the trip and journal entries will help keep our inspiration alive through out the year.

We will work on our 4 circle blocks first. Each month I will share my blocks with you and what inspired their creation.

Felted Tea Cosy

2011-03-24T08:45:00.001+03:00

I spend lots of time in my office and studio and I always have a cup of green tea on the go. But like you, I get busy working and forget it and it goes cold more times than it is still hot when I get around to drinking it. I decided I needed a tea cosy to keep it warm. This past weekend I found some time to make one.

I used off white wool with fine streaks of lime green and I also ran some pale lime green pieces of yarn through the piece. This first photo is before I decided to embellish it.

You can tell I have lived in the Middle East too long. If an item doesn't have a little glitz and shine on it, it just doesn't make the grade. I have embellished it with iron on sequins, some shiny bobbles, and emphasized the stands of yarn with running stitches. A handmade felted ball is on the top.

Now my tea is hot or at least pleasantly warm when I get to it!

Quilting Those Flirty 30's

2011-01-31T12:16:00.001+03:00

I am so excited to share with you the cover of my new book Quilting Those Flirty 30's. This book is very close to my heart and is a real family affair. It's filled with a delightful array of quilts, cookie recipes, and fun stories that will make it a "keeper" both in your sewing studio and kitchen. Look for it's release in May. It was such a fun book to create and I hope you enjoy using it as much as I did writing it!

Happy New Year From Stanley Too

2011-01-11T22:47:00.002+03:00

From my studio, Stanley also wanted to wish you a very Happy New Year as well. He likes to be in included in all activities! He doesn't miss much.

He has just recently had a hair cut and I have been saving his fur for the last few months to use in a felted piece. I have in mind a silk shawl with his hair felted in with the wool along the edge. It is so many lovely colors and so shiny. Watch this space! We will be sure to show you the results. We have a few more hair cuts to go, before I think we will have enough.

Happy New Year

2011-01-10T16:39:00.002+03:00

Happy New Year! I wish you all a wonderful 2011 filled with good health, laughter, and love. And may you find lots of time to create!

One of my goals this year, besides eating healthy and finding time to get more sleep, is to do more felting. I have been collecting the most wonderful threads in anticipation. Storage in my studio is always a challenge, as I am sure it is in yours too. I found this wonderful large jar so now I can keep my threads on display. They look good enough to eat. Great eye candy, as well as inspiration! I can't wait to work with them.

Textiles as Inspiration

2010-12-05T14:47:00.002+03:00

My tapestry design.

TDIC, The Abu Dhabi Tourism, Development and Investment Company, who is the master developer of key cultural events in the area, hosted a wonderful exhibition of Islamic Embroidery entitled, "A Story of Islamic Embroidery in Nomadic and Urban Traditions." Stunning pieces of embroidery from the Turkoman, Uzbek, Morocco, and Algeria regions dating from the 19th and 20th centuries formed the core of the exhibition.

These textiles told the story of the women who lived and worked in these times. As quoted from the Curatorial Statement of the book "A Story of Islamic Embroidery", The world of women's craft is a fascinating yet hidden one, where most women work in discreet intimacy. Embroideries, however, provide us with the perfect gateway into their minds and lives. Behind every piece of embroidery are the efforts, the tears, the laughter, and the ambitions of the woman who created it. It is thus a very intimate world that is shy to reveal itself, as embroideries are the demonstration and living testimony of what many women do in their secluded domestic world."

I visited the exhibition several times and was awestruck by the workmanship and intricacy of the designs. Many of the pieces incorporated not only embroidery but quilting techniques as well.

TDIC teamed with The Prince's School of Traditional Arts of London to host a workshop in which participants were to design their own pattern for a tapestry inspired by the works on display within the exhibition. Our design tools consisted only of a compass and a straight edge. We mixed our paints from pigments and tea dyed our paper to create a design reminiscent of tribal times. It was a wonderful way to immerse ourselves to an even greater extent in a truly inspiring exhibition.

Global Quilt Auction

2010-11-05T14:42:00.000+03:00

Recently I was asked to contribute a quilt block to Global Change. Quilters from around the world were asked to join together to help provide sanitation to schools in Central African Republic by contributing quilt blocks from their country which would be made into quilts for the Global Quilt Auction. The quilt you see is the first quilt to be completed. There are more to come.

Global Change is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide safe clean water and basic sanitation to people living in extreme poverty throughout the world. Visit their website at www.globalchange.me to read about their mission, projects, made a donation, or to place a bid for one of the Global Quilts.

Wild Women Do

2010-11-03T09:25:00.004+03:00

Our local quilt guild's summer challenge was to create a quilt based on your favorite song. I thought I already have one of those hanging in my studio. I call it "Wild Women Do" based on the song by Natalie Cole, made famous in the movie "Pretty Woman."

It is hung right above my sewing machine. I keep it there as a reminder to myself..."what ever you do in life, make it fun."

Remember...Wild women do and they don't regret it. What you only dream about, wild women do!

Off to Thailand

2010-10-13T10:40:00.014+03:00

I have been missing in action! Missing from my life here in Abu Dhabi. So many travels and wonderful places to visit in the last few months. I think...No! I KNOW...I am addicted to traveling. Every time I pull my suitcase out to pack, I feel that tingle of excitement, that sense of adventure, that niggling thought that I am going to experience something special, something to marvel about, something wonderful. Whether it's watching a storm blow in across the water, petting the new hair on a baby elephant's head, or finding a special treasure in the local market, I know it's going to be a good time. Happy feet will take you so many fun places!

My favorite part of Thailand is all the wonderful food. Yum! From the exciting floating markets to the fresh fruit markets, it's a wonderland of sense, smell, and taste. So far I haven't found anything in Thailand to eat that I didn't like. I know I will never be super skinny because I like too eat too much!
It was really fun to participate in a Thai Cooking Course so that we could bring some of the taste of Thailand home with us.
It was great fun to eat all the dishes we made and we did graduate so I guess I'm good to go on Thai cooking.

These look live real flowers but actually they are carved from Dove soap bars and painted these wonderful colors. Exquisite craftsmanship and they smell wonderful as well.

Baby elephants are so soft and cuddly...you just want to take them home with you! Mike loved this little guy.

Buddhist statues and temples adorn the country and are everywhere.

I found this an especially beautiful temple, done all in white. It was in the remote country side, near a small village.

If you love textiles you will love the wonderful silks produced in Thailand. Such vibrant colors!!! It was fascinating to watch this young woman weave the delicate threads into a piece of cloth with very intricate designs.

A visit to the Bridge over the River Kwae and the JEATH War Museum was a sobering reminder of the number of POW's who died during World War II in the construction of what came to be known as the Death Railway. It was a strategic railway built between Thailand and Burma. Japanese engineers predicted it would take at least 5 years to construct the railway, but the Japanese army forced the prisoners to complete it in only 16 months. Over 116,000 workers died during the construction due to disease, starvation, and lack of medical care. Allied forces destroyed the bridge during the war but it was later repaired and is still used today.

A visit to the Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery or the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi was the highlight of our trip to Thailand. The wildlife sanctuary was established in 1994 when the monastery took in injured jungle fowl. When a wild boar stumbled into the monastery the monks cared for him until he could be released back into the forest. This boar returned with his family group of about 10 animals and took up residence on the sanctuary. Villagers also started to bring in unwanted pets and injured animals and soon the menagerie of animals began to grow.

The first orphaned tiger cub arrived at the Monastery in February of 1999. Though the tigers in this area are protected, poaching still occurs rather frequently. A Thai poacher will make US$ 5,800 for killing an adult tiger (several year's salary for a farmer) making the profit well worth the risk. When the mother tiger is killed the cubs are taken as a bonus or left to fend for themselves in the jungle. Slowly the number of orphaned tigers on the sanctuary began to grow. As the years went by, the tigers grew up and to the monks surprise and delight started to reproduce in captivity. The monks were soon faced with the need to create more living space for the tigers and as early as 2003 a plan was launched to create a large land space to house the tigers. Through donations and volunteers the monks now work to re-home the tiger cubs in a more natural forest environment, rehabilitating the new generations of cubs prior to their release back to the forest where they belong.

These four month old tigers are still being bottle fed. They are cute and playful but already you can feel the power that they will display when they reach adulthood.

Guiding the adult tigers to the canyon for their daily walk.

Camel Beauty

2010-07-02T16:19:00.003+03:00

Have you ever been to a camel beauty pageant??? Well, let me take you there.

Each year more than 2000 camel owners from throughout the Middle East Region bring together more than 24,000 camels to participate in the Al Dhafra Camel Festival held in the deserts of the Western Region of the United Arab Emirates.

The festival seeks to highlight Bedouin culture, activate heritage tourism, as well as activate economic movement in this remote region, while highlighting the UAE handicrafts that reflect Bedouin heritage.

As far as the eye can see, tents and camels blanket the desert. It's a family event. It's the Bedouin women who keep the traditions and skills alive and who make the colorful decorations that you see adorning the tents and camels. We are eager to see all the events and to view the camels to see if we can pick a winner. They are just as curious about us and in the end we get up close and personal!

Camel Beauty

2010-07-02T16:05:00.002+03:00

The main event of the festival, the Camel Beauty Competition called Mazayina, aims to preserve the pure bred local Asayel and Majahim camels. Prizes worth approximately US$ 11 Million make for a very exciting competition! From the very young camels to the more mature, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So what are they looking for in the competition??? Is it perfect eyelashes?

Or maybe it's a perfect nose or nice soft lips. Or than again maybe it's a perfect set of gleaming white teeth!

Camel Beauty

2010-07-02T15:45:00.004+03:00

A sense of humor is always good!

Maybe a pleasing profile?

Strength of character is a plus!

Congeniality and a sense of community spirit not to mention awareness of what is going on around you will definitely take you far.

Whatever it is they are looking for in the most beautiful camel, you can only admire these unique creatures that can survive the harshness of desert life.

A Day of Sharing in the Desert

2010-04-06T16:56:00.005+03:00

It all started with my friend Karin Jackson's purchase of an antique camel bag at the Al Dhafra Camel Festival (which I will tell you about in my next blog entry). As we wandered through the Souk at the Festival, the local Bedouin weavers were admiring her purchase and through them we had the pleasure of meeting Leila Ben-Gacem, Manager of the Entrepreneurship Development Department of the Khalifa Fund, here in Abu Dhabi.

Leila is from Tunisia and has come to the United Arab Emirates to work with the Khalifa Fund to help keep the country's heritage skills alive. She travels to the farthest western reaches of Abu Dhabi Emirate to the two most remote towns of the region, Ghayathi and Sila, to search out local women with traditional skills; specifically the Bedouin art of weaving. For the past year she has been organizing a network of women operating in tents, caravans, and homes. These women are improving their skills and with the help of Leila, local co-ordinator Moza al Mansoori, and Design Consultant Yaza Hussain, market opportunities will be created to enable them to reach their potential through their creativity and handwork, while supplementing their family income and helping to meet their needs.

During our chat with Leila and our discussion of the difficulties and struggle to place a monetary value on handwork and determining a fair price for these items, she learned that we were quilters. She thought the ladies would love to see our work and of course they would love to share their weaving skills with us and she suggested we all meet. We were thrilled to be invited! A date was set and we invited some fellow quilters to join us.

6:30AM eight quilters met to head to the desert and Ghayathi, a 2 1/2 hour drive into the desert from Abu Dhabi. Once we leave the greenery of Abu Dhabi island, it is a sea of sand, as far as the eye can see. We arrive at a local girl's school in Ghayathi, where we are greeted by the weavers who have come to show the weaving they have produced since their last meeting and to consult with Yaza on some new design ideas. There was a show and tell of quilts and weaving. Leila and Moza were kind enough to translate for both sides as the local ladies speak very little English and we speak almost no Arabic.

A Day of Sharing in the Desert

2010-04-06T16:51:00.003+03:00

One of the ladies gave us a brief history of weaving which was used in the past for camel bags and straps for the camels, udder bags, floor cushions, tents, etc. and also showed us how they spin the goat and camel hair into yarn. Today they weave pencil cases, shoulder bags, purses, book covers, laptop cases, key rings, wallets, table runners, etc. They are now artisans working for a modern market.

A Day of Sharing in the Desert

2010-04-06T16:43:00.002+03:00

To help explain the art of quilting, I gave each of the ladies a copy of my latest book "Quilts from Paradise." Though they could not read English, they could understand the illustrations and could appreciate the amount of time and effort involved in a quilt.

Of course we did some shopping! Like all artisans, the weavers were proud to be photographed with their work. The lime green table runner which I purchased was this woman's first sale. Those of you who have sold your work know and remember how exciting that first sale is. It's a lovely piece which I will treasure as a wonderful memory of our day with the weavers of Ghayathi.

A Day of Sharing in the Desert

2010-04-06T16:37:00.002+03:00

Following our gathering at the school, one of the weavers invited us to her home to see an actual loom that is used for the weaving. It is a very simple frame of metal pipes laid on the floor. She also shared with us samples of her weaving.

2010-04-06T16:32:00.002+03:00

Moza al Mansoori and her mother were our hosts for lunch at their home in Ghayathi. The food was DELICIOUS! It was such a pleasure to be able to sample all the local dishes. We were served in the traditional Bedouin style, with the food laid out on mats on the floor. Two goats were slaughtered in honor of our visit.

A Day of Sharing in the Desert

2010-04-06T16:29:00.001+03:00

Following lunch Moza give us a tour of the horse barns and camel pens.

A Day of Sharing in the Desert

2010-04-06T16:17:00.003+03:00

We even got to milk a camel and try warm camel's milk, which is frothy, sweet, and delicious.

What can I say but...it was a day, I will never forget. A huge thank you goes out to Leila, Moza and her mother, and all the weavers of Ghayathi. We thank them for sharing their love of weaving with us and for letting us share our love of quilting with them. Though we speak different languages and participate in different customs and traditions, we all appreciate and respect the skill and passion that allows us to create things of beauty with our hands.

If you would like to know more about the weavers of the Western Region of the UAE, I invite you to watch the following documentary.

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100112/MULTIMEDIA/100109730/1313

Learning New Skills

2010-03-17T17:59:00.011+03:00

How exciting when quilters gather to learn a new skill - felting! My good friends Janine Ibbini, Karin Jackson and I decided to let our creativity out of the box for a great day of fun and inspiration with Caroline Lindsay (far right). I found it a nice change to be a student for the day, rather than the teacher!

Caroline is a fabulous textile artist from England who taught us all the ins and outs of creating felt with little water and embellishments. I think the best part was the fulling (beating your design on the table to mesh all the fibers and embellishments together). Definitely good for building up your upper arms and releasing all your tensions. She shared many of her tips and techniques with us.

I thought it was wonderful all the lace, beads, fabrics and other textiles that could be incorporated into the design. It's all so tactile!

After a morning of fun and play, we three girls went home with 3 pieces of felting and filled with inspiration to do more. Now it's time for us to embellish the felt pieces with stitching and other embellishments and if we like, frame them.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

2010-03-09T20:55:00.008+03:00

In February, the second Dubai International Quilt Show's theme "Imagination" brought in quilts from many parts of the world, as well as workshops taught by renowned teachers such as Ricky Tims, Bonnie McCaffery, Sharon Pederson, and Janine Ibbini. The Dhow Palace Hotel was host to women from around the world who enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine, while doing what they love best...Quilting!

RickyTims' class was the highlight of the show for me, as I spent the rest of my time vending and being MC for a fantastic night of celebration at the Gala Dinner. Fabulous quilts won fabulous prizes. Everyone made new friends, caught up with old friends, and went home richer in knowledge and understanding and with passion to start new projects, using new skills learned.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

2010-03-09T20:49:00.006+03:00

Cheryl Olsson's "Lorraine's Rhapsody" quilt winner of Traditional Appliqued Bed-Size Quilts quilted by hand or by machine as well as Best of Show Winner!

Bonnie Davidson's "Fans and Flowers, winner of Pieced or Appliqued Wall Quilts.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

2010-03-09T18:25:00.004+03:00

Mala Ramakrishnan's quilt "Quilting Frenzy" winner of Whole Cloth Quilts made by hand or by machine.

Layla Aghashahi's quilt "Dancing Lights" winner of the Art Quilt Category.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

2010-03-09T18:16:00.002+03:00

Nora Al Qahtani's quilt "What If?" Winner of Traditional Pieced Bed-Size Quilts, quilted by hand or by machine.

Patricia Watkins' quilt "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" Winner of Traditional Pieced Bed-Size Quilts quilted by another person.

Dubai 2010 International Quilt Show

2010-03-09T17:56:00.002+03:00

Claudia Sidwai's Flames and Waves - Viewer's Choice

Have Passport, Will Travel

2010-02-10T17:39:00.004+03:00

In January, I reached "Platinum Elite" in my Frequent Flyer Program which just goes to prove that I have spent way too much time in the air this year and not enough time posting to my blog. Some travel for business, some for sad occasion like funerals, and some for pure pleasure. I can't say it's been a dull year. Our most recent trip was a months vacation to Hawaii, New Zealand, and Fiji. All are so beautiful!!! In New Zealand, we rented a camper van which is definitely the way to get to all those great hiking locations. The weather was fantastic! We hiked every day but one. Thank goodness it rained one day so we could catch up on laundry and do some reading (which is my absolute second favorite hobby after quilting!).
Our hikes in New Zealand took us along the shore, through the forests, and up and down lots of hills and small mountains. No matter which direction you looked the view was breathtaking! And what a fun way to spend time with family. My son Zachary and his girlfriend Stacy joined us for the trip.
One thing to remember when you are a group in a camper van with luggage - don't everyone all get up at once in the morning!

On the Trail In New Zealand

2010-02-10T17:12:00.003+03:00

Even on the hiking trail a five minute break is a great reading opportunity. I always carry a book in my pack! A couple good reads that I would recommend are "Skeletons at the Feast" by Chris Bohjalian, "Sacred Hearts" by Sarah Dunant, and "The Weight of Silence" by Heather Gudenkauf.

They say New Zealand has more sheep than people and I do believe they are right. We saw lots of these guys!

The Beauty of Fiji

2010-02-10T17:01:00.003+03:00

Though Fiji is one of the most beautiful places on earth, it's the warmth of the people which always brings you back to Fiji. When they give you a welcoming "Bula" they mean it.

It's lovely to see that the children of Fiji carry on the island traditions and heritage through dance and stories.

Catch the Color

2009-11-01T17:27:00.002+03:00

Are you washing your quilt fabric before you use it? I hope so. This little quilt is made from the paper color catchers that I place in my washing machine when I wash my fabric. It is amazing how much color is absorbed from the fabric! Even if you don't plan to wash a quilt you have made, if you give the quilt as a gift, the new owner may.

It's always best to pre-wash and dry your fabrics. Sometimes fabrics act differently under the same washing conditions. If one fabric is going to shrink a lot and one is not, you would rather have them do that before they are sewn into your quilt to prevent lumps, bumps, and other unsightly mistakes such as bleeding color all over your finished project!

Better safe than sorry!

Everything's Blooming

2009-08-26T16:36:00.003+03:00

Just two simple blocks compose the quilt center ! A fusible applique border of windswept blooms provides a fun finish!

Find the pattern to "Everything's Blooming" in the October 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting.

Enjoy!

From Heart to Hand

2009-08-01T14:10:00.004+03:00

I think our hands are our most expressive feature. When I meet elderly people, I love to look at their hands and think of all the work they have done, the things they have created, the places they have travelled, the lives they have touched, the things they have held and loved and the things they have held and lost. Some are beautiful and smooth, others work worn and rough. Oh the stories they could tell....

My Mom, sisters and I recently spent the day together, along with my sister's daughter Hannah. Even though we are all related, we were saying how different our hands looked and how you could tell our ages by our hands. We decided it would be really neat to have a photo of our hands...3 generations. It became our day's project. After breakfast and coffee we took our photo and all trooped to the photo booth to develop our photo, with copies for each of us. From there to the frame shop to find each of us a frame that suited our tastes and decor and then home to polish our frames and mount our pictures. It was such a fun day, filled with much laughter and lots of ribbing that only sisters and mothers can share. It is a photo we will all cherish.

Clockwise from top right:

Rogene Franklin Freed: 83, wife, mother of 6 children, gardener, and home builder
Cynthia Freed Tomaszewski: 55, wife, mother of 1 son, quilter, sailor, and world traveller
Beth Ann Freed Thomas: 50, wife, fashion coordinator, office manager, and gardener
Amy Freed Cooper: 49, wife, mother of 3 children, legal secretary, baker, and voracious reader
Hannah Cooper: 17, student, baseball player, volleyball player, and a lover of all sports.

Working with Wool

2009-06-29T10:44:00.004+03:00

Sometimes we need to reach out of our comfort zone!

When Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting brought together 25 designers for 3 days of fun in Iowa, we played games, bonded as friends, and challenged ourselves to work with new materials that we had never used before. Though applique is my passion, I had never thought to work with wool!!?!??! What fun! New Accucut stencil machines cut the wool templates fast. I just needed to display them in a pleasing manner. Using 3 strands of a 6 strand embroidery floss in complementary colors, I sewed them in position. Little star buttons add to my composition called "Sweet Dreams", a delightful table runner for a childs room.

Now "wool" calls to me (especially the yummy hand-dyed stuff) and who should I be lucky to meet when I was at International Quilt Market but the lovely ladies Gail and Lisa of the WoolyLady. They share my love of applique and have done some fantastic, show stopping designs in wool. They shared some of their patterns with me and their penny rug pattern "Brown Eyed Susans" I thought would look delightful as chair pads for a Mother's Day gift for my Mom (in her colors of course!). She loved them!

Rather than using freezer paper to cut out the templates, as suggested in the pattern, I used a very light weight fusible which made it easy to cut out the designs and hold them in position while I did my decorative stitches. I find it less messy than using an adhesive spray or glue stick and if you use a very light weight fusible it will not make your project stiff. Which ever method you choose to use, you will love working with wool. It has such a lovely feel. I can see now that I need a stash of wool for my wooly dreams and creations!

Be sure to stop by and visit the Woolylady's at www.woolylady.com and see their delightful designs. Be sure to tell them I said "Hi".

Some Great Summer Reads

2009-06-07T16:30:00.005+03:00

When I'm not quilting, I'm reading! And vacations are my favorite time to read. The first thing I pack in my luggage are the books I plan to read along the way. I've just gotten back from a 3 week trip to the U.S. which means lots of long flights and lots of time to read. Here are two books that I loved and recommend. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Both books are about special friendships. We all have many acquaintances but true friends we can count on one hand. They have great impact on our lives and they are the ones we will remember forever! Have a tissue handy for both of these great reads!

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
"Astrid and Veronica" by Linda Olsson

Enjoy!

Creative Inspiration...It's everywhere!

2009-05-03T16:45:00.005+03:00

I am frequently asked where I get my creative inspiration. Gosh, it is everywhere! It's in the great colors of the garbage man's headscarf, the shape of a plant leaf, an artist's painting, a vivid sunset, designs in the tile floor, shapes that I doodle. Travel is one of the biggest inspirations of all. The colors, smells, costumes, artistic designs of a culture open your eyes to creating simple designs in a new way. It gets you out of your normal routine and frees your mind from all the daily obligations that crowd out your creativity and opens your mind and spirit to new ideas and thoughts.

I believe that all art is an imitation of life and that art inspires new art and creative ways to look at the world. Each week I try to do something that stirs my creative mind such as visit an art gallery, an exhibition, shop in the souk, tour a new location, visit the sewing supply stores to check out the new embellishments. Even a simple button can send you on the path of creative inspiration.

For example, each year I visit the International Jewellry show with friends. Jewellers from Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, India, and Italy showcase their latest designs. Diamonds, rubies, saphires, emeralds, pearls dazzle the eye. The shapes of the designs are always intriguing. The depth and color of the stones amazing! There is always inspiration just waiting to be discovered. Thousands of women congregate to see the designs. For women of the Middle East, India, and Asia jewellery is an important part of wedding ceremonies. It is representative of the wealth and status of the family and plays a large part in the customs and traditions of their culture. It is passed from generation to generation, from grandmother, to mother, to daughter.

Is it all real? you ask. Trust me, it is! And the price tags reflect their beauty.

Wrapped in Fabric!

2009-04-20T08:36:00.008+03:00

We quilters dream of being wrapped in fabric. And quilters are used to handling fabric...lots of it! But to wrap 6 yards of fabric around your body in a graceful manner and then be able to walk, sit, dance, and tackle all manner of chores, as well, is truly an art. Due to my long time friendship with Tehruna Patel and her generosity, my closet has quite a selection of ethnic saris and shalwar khemis. So of course whenever I attend an Indian celebration, I am appropriately attired.

Tehruna is a member of the Parsi community in India and her sari reflects her heritage. Her sari, which shimmers in the light as she moves, is a Tanchoi sari which is a silk twill weave and is the sari she first wore for her wedding reception, when she married.

I am wearing a plain black silk sari and my choli or blouse is hand embroidered with Parsi designs.

Underneath the sari is a long petticoat, with a drawstring waist which is tied very tightly. One end of the sari is pleated and tucked inside the waist of the petticoat, the balance is wrapped around and the pallu, or end of the sari, is then either draped over your arm (as Tehruna is wearing hers) or brought over the shoulder and allowed to drape down the back (as I am wearing mine) to show off any design on the pallu. The trick to walking gracefully in a sari is to kick the pleats ahead of you as you glide forward.

In the second picture, Tehruna is wearing an antique, traditional red Garo which is heavily hand embroidered with Parsi designs of Chinese influence which include birds, flowers, and figurines. This time her pallu is brought from the back over her shoulder and the corner tucked into her petticoat to show off the fabulous embroidery on the pallu.

Thrity, second from left, is wearing a silk sari with a hand embroidered Parsi border or kor.

Never will you feel more elegant or more like royalty than when you are dressed and glide in a sari!

Like quilts, these traditional saris are an investment and an art form that are used and handed down from generation to generation.

Fabric Tester

2009-04-08T15:21:00.007+03:00

There is only one living creature that spends as much time as I do in my Quilt Studio and that is Henry Morton Stanley, aka Stan the Man, Yoda, Grumpy, and Fuzz Butt. We named him after the great explorer because he was born in South Africa, was sent to the United Arab Emirates where we adopted him, and he will surely continue his world travels living with us.

Though he's a petite dude, we thought for sure he would grow into those ears but they still remain his most distinguishing feature. He is my constant companion and is good about giving his opinion on fabric choices. Ears up... it's definitely a good consideration. Ears down...maybe we should reconsider.

His favorite foods are chicken and fish and though he demands regular treats, he gives thanks with a handshake.

Who knew that a 5-pound piece of fluff could add so much life, love, and laughter to our house!

Quilts from Paradise

2009-04-03T23:23:00.005+03:00

Watch for the release of "Quilts from Paradise"! Coming to you late summer/early Fall 2009

You can dream of escape to a tropical isle, with the projects in "Quilts from Paradise". Smell the flowers, splash in the waterfalls, collect treasures the sea has to offer, watch the sun rise, let the butterflies tickle your nose, and hear the birds sing. It's all possible when you immerse yourself in "Quilts from Paradise". Embellishments galore! A tropical adventure!

More of my Studio

2009-04-03T14:20:00.003+03:00

As you can see I like lots of lights! Quilters ask if I use a design wall. Actually, I don't. In all my years of quilting, I have never had space for one. In my old studio I did not have wall space for one, but I had a white Berber carpet floor where I would lay out the quilt as I worked on it. This studio also has a white floor so as I sew I can just swivel around and lay the pieces where I want them and adjust them accordingly. It's all what you get used to doing. Or need to do out of necessity!

Of course I have a large stash! More fabric than I can ever sew in this life time. Each shelf holds two rows of fabrics. Like you, I dream of one day owning the perfect studio with built in cupboards and a perfect place for everything. Gosh, when we lived on our boat, I only had two lockers located under our bed mattress. I had to remove the queen size mattress to get to the lockers, remove the locker tops, and crawl down into the lockers to get to my fabric. Boy was it dark in there! My husband said I was not allowed to complain as two of the largest lockers on the boat were dedicated to my quilting supplies. This is a major improvement. I am already half way to perfection!

My Studio

2009-04-03T13:43:00.006+03:00

Whenever I meet a quilter I always wonder where she creates and what her studio looks like, so I thought I would share mine with you! We recently moved from an apartment that we had lived in for 14 years to our current location. I am thrilled because now my studio is more than twice as big, with floor to ceiling windows, so I get lots of light and have a lot more space. It's a little messy at the moment with fabrics pulled for my fifth book that I am starting work on, fabric that has not been pressed, fabrics that won't fit in my stash, etc. etc. but I love being surrounded by all that inspiration. The tall cabinet in the far right corner holds 3 rods at varying heights over which I drape quilts. There are probably over 60 quilts in there (lots more are stored in my office). To the left, bookcases hold reference books and miscellaneous goodies. My cutting table is in front of the window, at waist height, where I have lots of light, a great view over the tunnel on Airport Road, the Cultural Foundation and the old Fort. Under the table in the foreground is where I store all my batting.

2009-04-01T22:40:00.004+03:00

I was named Cynthia which means Goddess of the Moon. There are many pictures of the Moon Goddess but I think this one is especially nice. I also answer to lots of other names...Cindy, Mom, Gizzard, Sweets, Boobie. I'm sure you have lots nicknames as well. It's fun to check a book of names to see what your name means and if it suits your personality. If you could choose any name for yourself, what would it be?

2009-03-31T16:39:00.002+03:00

I have put off starting my blog but today is the day!!!!! Yes! It is raining here in Abu Dhabi which is very, very rare. Many years we only get rain a couple times in a year. One time we didn't have rain for 4 years. Normally everything is covered in dust but with all the trees and the grass being washed by the rain everything is bright and fresh and ready for a new beginning.