Houston Purchases

 I had a wonderful time at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX. Like many of the 60,000 visitors, I spent some money. My treasures on this trip, besides spending time with dear friends, was supporting some favorite charities and bringing home some little quilts.

Jamie Fingal - Zippy Floral

The first is by Jamie Fingal. It's called "Zippy Floral" and was donated to the IQA auction.

Fannie Narte - Love Heals

The second piece is by Fannie Narte. It's called "Love Heals" and raised money for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). I volunteered in the AAQI booth and enjoyed time with Ami Simms and her team. Ami is holding up a Priority Quilt made by Betty Bassett of Poolesville, MD. Betty made this piece in my Priority Quilt workshop last May.

Terri Stegmiller - Fresh Cut 2

The third piece is by Terri Stegmiller and is called "Fresh Cut 2". Terri donated this piece to the Texas Quilt Museum.

Texas Quilt Museum

Today I am mailing this little 12" x 12" quilt off to Karey Bresenhan to raise money for the brand new Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange, Texas.

I enjoy sending off my little pieces to raise money for good causes. I hope it finds a good home.

Vinescapes

My Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends group is working on an exhibit called Vinescapes. My piece is done!

We will debut our exhibit at the Philip Carter Winery in November. Our opening is November 13th from 3 -5.

Village Piecemakers Priority Quilt NOW UP FOR BID

My little priority quilt "Lazy Daisies" is up for bid in the September auction to raise money for Alzheimer's research. To check out the bidding, click here: Benefit Bidding for Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.

Village Piecemakers- Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative Continued

Yesterday, Nancy McGrew and I were featured in Ami Simm's Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative update blog. Click here to read the article. The post is called "Quilters Give in Many Ways".

The piece pictured here is from the Priority Quilt Workshop. I taught the students how to make this background and thread paint these cute flowers.

Since the participants are each donating their workshop pieces, I thought it would be fitting for me to donate this class sample.

So today, Lazy Daisies will be shipped to Diane Petersmarck, the dedicated volunteer that handles the Priority Quilts.

It is number #7302  if you wish to watch for it come up for sale or auction. I am getting very close to my $1000 promise. Perhaps this is the piece that will reach my goal!

I have appreciated the opportunity to interact with many of Ami's volunteers. Fannie Narte, an accomplished quilter, worked on the blog article. A big thanks to Fannie.

SAQA Donation

I have taken a break from working on the Sacred Threads exhibit to finish my 12" x 12" piece for SAQA. I used my lazy landscape technique for the background and then did the daisies with thread play.

Lisa's Menuet

Years ago my father, William Brehm, wrote the melody heard here in this video clip. I would hear him working on it while I was visiting. It quickly became one of my favorites and I learned to play it by ear on my own piano. Later when my dad finished it, he named it for me. I am quite pleased that it is the background for this charming video about the wonderful Mott's Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. The pianist is Lisa Emenheiser, a talented musician who brings my dad's music compositions to life. The videographer is Andy Sacks, a long time friend of my folks.

Village Piecemakers Priority Quilts Show and Tell

As promised, here are photos of some of the resulting Priority Quilts from the workshop. Aren't they wonderful!

Judy McIntyre

Betty Bassett

Pam Klobukowski

Becky Carr

Dara Tokar

Nancy McGrew

Diane Beach

Village Piecemakers Workshop for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

Today I spent a wonderful day with the Village Piecemakers from Poolesville, MD. I did a workshop devoted to making Priority Quilts for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  After teaching my favorite stripped piece background, I demonstrated some of my techniques to make trees and flowers.  In this photo you can see the works in progress. It was so much fun to see these little 9" x 12" quilts develop. I look forward to seeing the finished projects.

Worship and the Arts - Seminary Student Work

Dawn L. Stewart with her piece "Sing to the Lord"

A couple of months ago I was contacted by seminary student, Dawn Stewart, studying worship and the arts. She had an assignment to write a paper based on an interview with a sacred artist. She found my name on the internet. We spent the day together. I showed her my studio, shared my faith/quilting journey and even took her to my church where several of my pieces are permanently installed. Also in the class she needed to make a piece of art. Our conversation led to her coming back to my home for private instruction on how to make a praise quilt. After two sessions, this is what she created. I am very proud of her accomplishment. She is not a quilter and yet she quickly learned how to rotary cut, sew 1/4" seams, fuse, applique, and did the words with thread painting. She was a very quick and fearless student.

Sunflowers - Alliance for American Quilts Auction Piece

I have finished my auction piece for the Alliance for American Quilts. This year's theme is "Alliance".  In 1987 I made a lasting alliance with Mike Ellis. I got married. So to honor the theme, Mike and I made this piece together. He is an artist too. He painted a canvas based on a photo I took last summer in California. Then I made a quilt sandwich and finished it with thread.

 

This collaboration was wonderful. We have more pieces planned for 2011.

Prayer Quilt

I have long had a passion for healing quilts. I have mostly been involved in exhibits and projects that make health care facilities an easier place for patients and their families or using quilts to raise money for terrible diseases. But recently, I have had a different experience. I made a prayer quilt for a friend at church. I used a simple log cabin design with plenty of white space for people to write their thoughts and prayers. For two weeks the quilt was out in the gathering place for people to add their words.

I did not spend any time photographing this piece. So here is my really informal photo of the piece just before it was delivered to our precious sister.