Art Shift

The Mile 0 Quilt Guild has been taking part in aRt Shift for the month of June. We have a show hung at the local library, called the 'Evolution of Quilting', the show is hung from the oldest quilts to new modern quilt art. Fantastic, and lot's of folks have viewed it. We have also held a demo each Saturday. Today was the last Saturday, we hand tyed a chemo quilt. I made the quilt and several members helped tye it. Our guests were the Potluck in the Basement Singers, they did a great job of entertaining and also joined in to help tie the quilt :) The library staff provided, beverages and goodies. It was a fun day, and great way to wrap up our month long show.
Here are some pictures from today. The girls in 'white' blouses are from the singing group. The picture of four us tying are from the left, Ginny, Roz, Lynn and myself, with Counsillor Marilyn Belak looking on.

Gallery Show

The local art group currently has a show hanging at our local Gallery. Our Gallery is an old grain elevator, it is awesome. You can see pictures here: http://www.pris.bc.ca/artgallery/
I went up today and took some pictures, I have several of my Women series and Four of my Still Lifes hanging in the show. Two of my Still Lifes have sold and are gone, and another one has a sold sticker on it. I am thrilled.
Here are some pictures. The one picture gives you an idea of the different levels as you progress to the top of the gallery.
Enjoy!

Poppies

I decided to try my poppy pattern in tone on tone fabric, rather than the hand dyed. I'm quite pleased with the result. I also used WonderFil thread for the thread painting, really do like their threads.
Just finished this yesterday. I've included a close up, love that copper thread!
We finally had a bit of rain, but not near enough...we'll take what we can get though.

New piece

I took a class with Sandra Fisher from Sask last Sunday. What a knowledgeable woman, I learned so much about thread and my machine! I've always said I'm a 'lifelong' learner and so the journey carries on.
Anyway, we used Sandra's design and WonderFil thread, I love that thread! I changed the colors and used my own combo and here is what I did.
I've now started a poppy (my own design) using the wonderfil thread and am having fun.
Thanks to my quilting friend Pat for bring Sandra to our small town.
I've enclosed some pictures of the class, our guild rents this room by the month, so 'it's ours' and we love it.

Singing Sisters

I just had to show you this picture.
This was taken at our quilt show April 26th.
My sister, Judi playing the guitar, has a group called The Potluck in The basement singers. They entertained at our quilt show, at one point the sisters were asked to join the, to the right of Judi are my sisters; Lil, Brenda and me. Brenda and I are members of the guild. The singing quilting sisters maybe :)

"Washday Blues" FFFC #32`

"Washday Blues" is finished. You will note a bit of happiness for this hard working gal in the water bucket.

Continuing with my 'woman' theme, and thinking about my Mom and grandmother and the hard work those pioneer women did, brought this one to life. My grandmother had a scrub board and washing machine like this one.
I've used the analogous hues of red to
yellow orange, and the compliment of blue.
The background is woven fabric. Lot's of hand stitching and a bit of machine stitching to finish it off.
This piece has been sold.

Quilt Show

Here is a picture of my 2nd place win, it is a Pam Bono design called, Daisies in The Cabin, probably the most intensive pieceing I have attemped in my short quilting career.
The other picture is of my younger sister, Brenda. Pineapple blocks, with the most gorgeous wool applique, so textural that folks just had to reach out and touch it!

Quilt Show Results

Whew, our annual quilt show is over. It is such a tremendous amount of work but so worth the effort.
The place was like a beehive, I believe the best show we've had, the walls of the auditorium were awash with color, the glorious melodies of the Potluck in The Basement Singers floated throughout the building while folks enjoyed Strawberry Shortcake.
Viewers Choice awards were presented, I tied for first place with Barb O'Brien.
My Daisies in the cabin took second place, and my younger sister tied for third place with Josie.
The scissor sharpener fellow was very busy! A first time for him to attend.
Here is a picture of the my first place entry, TITLE: “Tancho, Keeper of Fidelity”
QUILT MEMBER: Rhoda Forbes
SIZE: Wall hanging
PATTERN: Designed by Rhoda Forbes
METHOD: Raw edge appliqué, thread painting, machine quilted. The appliqué pieces are all made from my hand painted fabric. The background is 100% cotton commercial fabric.
STORY: Tancho is the Japanese name for the Red Crested Crane. I have always thought they are the most graceful birds. A pair of cranes mate for life, only when one mate dies do they seek out another. Thus the title ‘keeper of fidelity’. The chrysanthemums, apple blossoms and bamboo seem a fitting setting for this crane. It is all alone, perhaps it’s mate has died and it is seeking a new mate , or perhaps it is reflecting on the wonder of the passing of it’s lifelong mate?

Walking The Dog on A Parisian Windy Day

This is a piece that I just finished for the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge. My series is women.
Our challenge was to show planes, shadows using muted shades and yest use saturated colors. I think I met the challenge.
The inspiration for the buildings was from a painting by Edouard Toudoze. I played with the figure a lot before she found her spot in the composition. I did know pre sketching but just cut with scissors, pamela allan style.
I used oil pastels for the bricks, shading etc. They worked very well, I let them cure overnight and than heat set them. I am trying to define my style and I think for this one I would call it embroidered applique. A lot of embroidery stitches were used and no machine work.
I look forward to your comments.

School Zone

This one has been 'on the burner' for awhile :) I finally got it off the sketch pad and done in fabric.
I'm open to suggestions for a title for it, if you have any suggestions. Can you spot the three dragonflies?
I did some 'sashiko' type stitching on it, and quite like the effect. The fish are all done with my hand painted fabrics.
I did two rows of flying geese, to portray the fish movement, one row got slightly covered.
I look forward to comments.
This wall hanging was sold at the show April 26th.