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.

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.

Art and Soul Radio with Lesley Riley

Christine Adams and I were interviewed by Lesley Riley of Art and Soul Radio on the topic of Sacred Threads. After a short advertisement, listen to our discussion with Lesley about the background, call for entries and the June 22 - July 4 show in the Washington D.C. area. For more information about Sacred Threads, go to www.sacredthreadsquilts.com.

Listen to internet radio with Art And Soul Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Gift for My Pastor - Be Still

I made this piece in 2006. Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorite verses. "Be Still and know that I am God". I left off the word "God" because during this time I was also studying Moses's encounter with God at the burning bush and is given God's name as "I Am". Then Jesus uses the phrase frequently: I am... the way, the truth and the life, the alpha and omega, the bread of life, the living water, etc. So when I made this piece I wanted my focus to be on knowing the great "I Am". The all encompassing God who has come down in human form.

My pastor was visiting my house recently and saw this piece and commented on how much he liked it. It reminded him of a ceiling in a place he had traveled that had inspired him. So I gave it to him.

It's always nice as an artist to have people appreciate your work and to see your work hanging in places you visit. I have enough pieces hanging in my own house. It was time for a new home for "Be Still".

Galations 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

I made this piece for a beloved pastor who is leaving our church. It is mounted on black linen stretched on stretcher bars.

A new piece for my church

Today we celebrated our clergy at church in recognition of Clergy Appreciation month. I created this piece called 'Filled' which depicts the scene in Acts 2:4 when the Holy Spirit descends and fills the discples. This event is referred to as Pentecost and is celebrated 40 days after Easter. This piece was inspired by a painting by Vanessa Williams and was used with her permission.

California Beach House and Milestone Birthdays

I have been off-line for quite awhile now. I am in California at my summer house. During the weeks we are here, we are unplugged. We have no Internet, no TV and limited cell phone coverage. I spend my days in my studio and sitting at the beach. This pile of stones is a reminder to bask in God's beautiful creation. Tomorrow I celebrate a milestone birthday. I have lived half a century. This is the perfect place to think about all my blessings and dream of the next half century.

Beyond the Barrier - Sacred Threads Special Exhibit

From the Sacred Threads Website:

"In the fall of 2008, prison Chaplain Jami Burns formed a new activity group at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, OH which provided the participating inmates with an opportunity to express their life’s journey through quilting. Many of these women have never quilted before but their works give voice to powerful emotions and deep faith."

This piece called "Here I Am..." is by Ronda Carmella Edwards. Here is her artist statement:

"I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the Seraphim: each one had six wings with twain he covered his feet and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, holy, holy, holy is Sabaoth the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. And the house was filled with smoke. Then said I “woe is me!” for I am undone; because I am a wo-man of unclean lips and dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the Seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it upon my mouth and said, lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me. Isaiah 6;1-8He changed me, molded me, clothed me, and allowed me away out of hell fires, by washing me. He sent a sinner back to the sinners so they can see Christ inside of me. God kept the fight in me he just changed the purpose of it. He took my pain and hurt and turned it into love, joy, peace and gave me a job to renew the minds, and the brokenhearted.

To visit the entire exhibit. Please visit: http://www.beyondthebarrier.org/

The Alliance for American Quilts: Quilters' S.O.S.

I was interviewed for the Alliance of American Quilts - Quilters' S.O.S. - Save our Stories as an artist in the Sacred Threads Quilt Exhibit. You can read my interview, by clicking here.

This picture is of my quilt, Miriam's Dance which exhibited at Sacred Threads in 2007.

New Work: Compassion

A dear friend of mine from church, Babette, went on a mission trip last summer to Rwanda. Knowing my love for quilting, she brought back this beautiful batik which I used here as the central panel. I added the black and half square triangle borders and then quilted it. I call this piece Compassion since she was on a trip with the Christian humanitarian organization called Compassion International.

New Work Called Nothing on Earth

I made this quilt for my friend Dianne and presented it to her for Christmas. She redecorated a bedroom and asked that I make her a piece that would go with the new decor. The room is her son's bedroom when he is visiting from college. He is into music so I wanted to make something that fit his interests. The score is a piece written by my father called Nothing On Earth. It is based on Romans 8:28-39.

"Lord, you have called us, according to your purpose, and nothing on earth, or in all of creation, not fear or temptation, not want or tribulation can ever separate us, from the grace of your love."

Journal Quilt Project II: Elements

I submitted this piece called Fire Dance to the Quilt Art Journal Project II: Elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire) exhibit. It was not selected to travel with the exhibit. This piece is special to me because I made it while visiting Vikki Pignatelli for 4 wonderful days last July. I was learning and experimenting with her techniques for improvisational design and curved piecing. The border/binding is pleated and has little contrasting flaps sewn in. It has a lot of texture and is 3-D.

My intepretation of the Elements theme: Fire Dance shows the spirit of God in waves of energy, moving over the earth during creation. In the earth’s initial stages, God’s spirit, represented by fire (coral), the waters and air (teal), and the earth (black) are all inter-mingled while the spirit creates their form and they become distinct entities.

Teaching in California

While I was in California I had the opportunity to teach a Praise Quilt Workshop. Fourteen women from different churches in the Morro Bay area attended. I taught an abbreviated version of my Lazy Landscape class and demonstrated how I do Thread Paint Lettering and raw-edge applique. I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with women whom all share a calling to make banners for their churches. Here are two pieces.

The first piece is by Donna Ross and was made for Pentecost.

This next piece is by Judie Kirkhart and is a gift for a family member.

Thank you to Loisann Cass for thinking of this workshop and organizing it. And thank you to the Calvary Luthern Church for hosting the event.

Praise Wall Update

Since the installation of the Praise Wall at my church in October 2007, dozens of heartful praises have been offered. Here is an updated picture of how the Praise Wall reminds us to enter His gates with Thanksgiving as we prepare our hearts for worship in the sanctuary.

Epiphany's Mission

I belong to a wonderful church called Church of the Epiphany in Herndon, VA. We live by our mission statement which is:

"To stand for Jesus Christ, grow together as God's family and make Him known through the power of the Holy Spirit."

I made this new quilt to hang somewhere in our building. My hope is that it will help us to remember and inscribe on our hearts and minds what we are called to do within the body of our church.

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.

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.

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!

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)

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.