Grandfather Giant

Grandfather Giant   45″ x 90″

Once again I’ve headed to the forest for inspiration.  The Idea of this quilt was to make it tall.  I actually considered making it taller than this, but this just barely hangs a bit off the floor in my house.

I found the inspiration tree in Sequoia Park.  It was covered in burl at the bottom making it look pretty rough.  That’s why I chose the name–it looked like it had been there quite a while.

Techniques: Mosaic picture piecing foreground, painted sky, applique trees and foliage using a picture as a photomap. Heavily quilted. Tiny piping surround with binding.

All wall quilts have a “sleeve” attached at the top back for easy hanging using a dowel, or curtain rod.

inspiration photos–this is the top, and then the bottom – there is a whole section between.  These trees are SO big that you can’t get them in one picture!

Lassen View

Each time I look at this tiny quilt I remember the day that we stopped along the road and my husband took this shot.

He has an eye for framing the shots and this one lent itself to some very fancy threadwork.

It’s a favorite quilt for sure…even though it’s very small.

Techniques: Background scene is Mosaic pieced with 1/2″ squares. The trees are free form machine embroidery with many different threads for a realistic effect. Machine Quilted

16″x11″

Cat Tails

x600Cat Tails name

CAT TAILS

33″ wide x 37″ tall

This quilt started as an idea a few years back when I saw a baby tiger and got a few pictures of her. “Baby Tigress Sheena” is of the same tigress.  The tail didn’t show in that quilt and I decided to feature the tail in this one.

We also took pictures at the Arcata Marsh to get the cat tails used for the rest of the idea.

I shaped the quilt in a different way to draw more attention to the tiger.

Techniques: Mosaic Picture Piecing ground, woven, sky, applique and paint for cat tails.  Lots of thread on a painted tiger. Heavily quilted.

All wall hanging quilts have a “sleeve” attached at the top back.  This is used to insert a slat or curtain rod, for easy hanging.

In Remembrance

In Remembrance

43″x 50″

Portrait done with thanks, honor, praise.

Techniques: This portrait was painted on off white muslin with fabric paints. I used a man in our church for the model and his wife’s hair.  Heavily quilted.

Models:  Jerry & Wendy McGahuey, inspiration photos taken by Gary Durbin.

Portrait of a Girl

 

Portrait of a Girl

40″x 42″

When I first decided to try a mosaic picture quilt, I knew right away which picture I wanted to make.  It was one of my dear granddaughter, Amy.  I did it in a traditional manner with sewn seams.  In fact it is the reason that I started struggling with: “how could I do this in an easier way?  Hmmnm?  Mosaic Picture Piecing was born from those questions.Techniques: Pieced mosaic using a picture as a photomap. Machine quilted.

Ominous Beauty Project

2012

Donna found these mushrooms and photographed them in various ways.  We each got a photo to work with and created a quilt.

We entered them at the American Quilter’s Society Show in Grand Rapids: “The Ultimate Guild Challenge” and won 1st place there!! This was a fun project and I’m always amazed by the variety of styles that come from this group of artists.

Spending A Day at Woodley Island

2015

Once again this is a project of the Fiber Arts Group –this time Rosalinda was the one who came up with the idea.

We decided on a format for thef quilts of approximately 30″.  We all met at Woodley Island in Humboldt Bay on an appointed day.  We walked the area with out cameras and took many pictures. Then we had lunch and excitedly discussed some of the things we’d seen.  Maggie treated us to an excursion on the Madaket where, of course, many more pictures were taken.  What a wonderful, fun day it was.

Next we went home an each person picked a picture or idea and made a quilt of it. This kind of format lends itself well to the American Quilter’s Society show in Grand Rapids.  They call this division “The Ultimate Guild Challenge” and our group placed 3rd in that part of the show!  Wow! we were thrilled.

A Day at Woodley Island

–8 quilts–  This project was especially fun.  It started with a wonderful gathering of the group.  We each brought our camera and spent most of the day at Woodley Island in Humboldt Bay.  Pictures were taken, followed by lunch at the Marina Cafe.  Then Maggie treated us to a trip on the Madaket.  Then we all went home and made a quilt inspired by the day.

Life, Love

x800lifelove

27″x 20″

This quilt was inspired by a photo shared with me by a friend.  It’s of her daughter and granddaughter.  The beauty of mom and baby was a joy to paint.

Techniques: Painted whole cloth and heavily quilted.

Sold

Little Miss Bright Eyes

LITTLE MISS BRIGHT EYES…(CHRISTINA)

34″ x 39″ tall

I decided it was time to make a quilt of Christina and chose one of her favorite childhood pictures.  I used it as an example for teaching the method to others.

Techniques: Mosaic Picture Piecing using a pixilated picture as a photomap. Heavily quilted.

Little Miss Bright Eyes (back)

Just for fun, I experimented with the back. Using the quilting designs as a guide I colored it in with colored pencils. It was a precursor to the “Looking Back” quilt which followed.