Auction Has Ended at AmiSimms.com

I am very pleased that my two little quilts made over $200 for Alzheimer's research. Thank you to "Swede" and "VQQuilter" for bidding on my two pieces.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

My two pieces, Wild Fires and Garden, are now up for auction on the Ami Simms site to raise money for Alzheimer's. Please consider supporting this fund raiser by bidding on any of the wonderful quilts for sale. Check out all the quilts by visiting the Alzheimer's Priority Quilts. This auction runs until December 7th.

Grandma Emma (1907-2007)

My Grandma Emma Soderquist turned 100 on October 18, 2007.
Our family gathered together to celebrate. The picture above shows four generations with my daughters, my mom, Emma and me.


Then Emma slipped away from us and on November 14th, she joined my Grandpa in paradise.

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

2007 Journal Quilt of Sue Pel-Or of Israel

A fellow quilt artist from Israel created this beautiful piece. I had captured a picture at the show in Houston and read on the QuiltArt List about her desire for a picture. I contacted her and we agreed that I should post it here for all to enjoy. Contact Sue.

A Page from My Book: Journal Quilts 2007
Journal Quilt Project

Susan Pel-Or
Netanya
Israel

Spare That Tree

Creative Quilting techniques used
Scanned, photocopied and printed (p.16); Using my own digital photos printed on cotton heavily freemotion embroidered (p.23); Use of overwhelming black background to bring forward smaller picture (p.130)

I was devastated by the topping of the tree outside my workroom which was authorized by someone in our building in spite of the fact that the owners had voted against it. This tree provided shade, beauty and privacy.

I had to find trees in bloom to photograph but in fact I never found a tree that was as beautiful as ours had been. I had to print a photograph which I then reversed and printed again (on Extravorganza) so that it would be lighter than the stump which I photographed and printed on cotton. I scanned an actual flower and printed it in several sizes. I printed the branch section again on cotton and cut out individual branches to scatter around the base. I then fused my composition onto black cotton and used a variety of threads to freemotion on the different areas.

Because my sewing machine decided to go on strike, I used hand stitching far more than I had originally planned, but I feel it was a fortunate accident.

The journal quilts have enabled me to work more freely and have “given me permission” to incorporate any technique that works.

Journal Quilt 2007

A Page from My Book:
Journal Quilts 2007 – Journal Quilt Project

The TO-BE List (the anti-TO DO list).

Creative Quilting techniques used: “bubble-quilted” background (p. 14); raw-edge mounted (p. 101); portrait line drawing (p. 194)

April. My first ideas for my journal quilt focus on techniques I want to try. I am camping with my son’s Boy Scout crew in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, sitting by a peaceful pond and reading the Creative Quilting Book. The portrait line drawing technique sparks my imagination and gives me an idea for my theme. Hmmm. I decide I’ll do a portrait of myself and then add embellishments that describe who I am.

May. I want to make that cool bubble-quilted background and just play. I need a break from my projects with close deadlines. Just sewing circles will be fun

June. I have started collecting images of things that represent my life. So far I have a computer (I’m a geek), a sewing machine (quilter), fleur-de-lis (Boy Scout leader), and a cross (faith). I need to find a way to represent my family.

September. Yikes! I am totally overwhelmed! I have been gone all summer and now I have all the kids’ school paperwork, Boy Scout meetings to plan, seven weeks of emails to answer, and five websites to be updated. I am drowning in my TO-DO list! I realize I need to regroup. It’s time for the TO-BE list!

I am not defined by what I do or what I get done. What’s most important everyday is to be the person I was created to be.

Now I know what I want to do with my journal quilt. I do not want this quilt to communicate what I DO, but who I want to BE. And I will start with “Be Still and Know that I Am.” (Psalm 46:10).

Here is a picture of me at the Houston, International Quilt Festival standing next to my Journal Quilt. Notice I am standing in the same position as my portrait. The lines on the face and my bangs are in the same position. That was unplanned and kind of amusing! Click on this link to view other Journal Quilts.

San Diego Fires

Like all of us, I have been deeply touched by the horrendous wild fires of last week in Southern California. My thoughts and prayers have been with all of those who have lost their homes, their pets, precious memories and, worst of all loved ones. I made this quilt over the weekend to mark the time lest we forget this tragedy.

Praise Wall

Today was the inauguration of the Praise Wall at my church. This quilt "We Lift Our Praises" forms the centerpiece for the wall.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.
Psalm 63:2-4 (The Message)

Over the next several weeks, our church members, staff, friends and visitors will fill out praise cards and they will be pinned to the long banners that hang on either side of the quilt. Below is a picture of the Praise Wall with just 3 praises posted so far.

Studio Experiments

With the kids back in school and some time in the studio, I decided to just play with fabric for a few days. I needed a break from quilt projects with deadlines! The show Simply Quilts is back on the air. While I have seen most of them, I enjoy the peaceful time in the morning to gather my thoughts and be inspired by Alex Anderson's guests. Recently, I caught an episode with Kim Deneault. She has developed a technique called Raggedy Reverse Applique which she uses for working with kids. Check out her website and book. I decided to try it to make some abstract art quilts. Here are three different ones I made, each within just a couple of hours. It is alot of fun! I layered three fat quarters of fabric, right side up and then sewed long curvy lines. I then cut through either one or two of the layers leaving 1/4" next to the sewing line. Then using Kim's technique, I clipped the edges about 1/8" apart. Once all the edges are clipped, I washed and dried it the machine. I added a back and then quilted. I added some fibers to the beige and blue one. Phew, got that out of my system. So now it's back to a quilt project that is due in two days.

The Story of "Praise Him" Continues

Last October I made this quilt called Praise Him for my pastor. The full story about its creation is on my website. It was an amazing experience of obedience and joy.

Well, yesterday I received the most incredible email. Ronald Cason was googling images of Praise and came across the picture of the quilt. He wanted to download it to be used for a background for his Yahoo 360 page. Well the Holy Spirit moved him to contact me first. Please read Ronald's own version of how the Holy Spirit moves among his people and touches our lives. Go to Ronald Cason's 360 site. His blog for September 9 is titled "I Like the Way You Move." I couldn't agree more!

Boy Scout High Adventure Trip to Switzerland

I am back from my Boy Scout trip to Switzerland. My co-leader, Bill Branner, and I took a group of four Venturers to the International Scout Centre in Kandersteg. Here is a picture of my son climbing on a glacier. This picture was taken by Bill's son Matthew who was lower in the crevasse.

My Newest Quilt is Called "Rays."

While I was in California, I made a class sample for the workshop I will teach at the Quilt Patch in Fairfax, VA this fall. The class is about using value to bring light and transparancies into quilt design. I pieced this entirely with fusible. The only sewing was the machine quilting and the facing for finishing. The pieces are finished as separate quilts and then are attached together using small tabs.

“His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden." (Habakkuk 3:4)

I'm back from California

I have just returned from an amazing 5 weeks at our summer home on the central coast of California. Here is a picture of our home taken by my nephew from the air. I could spend hours everyday down on the rocks over looking the water watching for otter, seals, star fish, crabs, dolphins and even whales.

Rajua has a new home

On June 22nd, UNIFEM held its fund raiser and my african themed quilt named Rajua was purchased in a silent auction. Rajua means "to give hope" in Swahili - a fitting name for the UNIFEM cause. Rajua was purchased by Neale Godfrey. Neale is the Chairman of the Children's Financial Network and wrote the well known book Money Doesn't Grow on Trees. This was my first quilt to get into a juried show (Mid-Atlantic and AQS) so it was a little hard to see it go.

Sacred Threads 2007

This was the year for me to enter some juried shows. So far, so good! My quilt called Rajua, made for UNIFEM exhibited at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival and at AQS in Paducah. But the real thrill for me was when two of my quilts hung at Sacred Threads. Since making art quilts about my faith is my true passion, it was the perfect venue. My quilts are back home now.

This quilt is called Follow Me and it is based on the scripture from Mark 1:17 when Jesus says, "Come and I will make you fishers of men." The quilting on the outside border symbolizes the fishing net.