Wednesday, April 08, 2009

FOUR THINGS!


HAPPY EASTER- EGGS BRING THE PROMISE OF NEW BEGINNINGS AS DOES EASTER!

MY BROTHER DAN SENT ME THIS PHOTO OUTSIDE HIS WINDOW IN PORTLAND,OREGON-NOW THAT WAS ALOT OF EGGS! (SPEAKING OF EGGS)

AND WHEN I SEE PHOTOS LIKE THIS, I AM GLAD I LIVE IN THE NORTHWEST WHERE IT IS TOO COLD FOR CERTAIN CREATURES....YIKES! WHO TOOK THIS PHOTO ANYHOW?

And finally Marie and another friend sent me this sentimental reminder that Barbie turned 50. Doesn't she look great?

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Northwest MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE-SPOKANE WASHINGTON


Below the photo was taken from a landing...all of the quilts together were breathtaking and wonderful in every way......

Well, today was a lovely day for Kathy and I. We set out to visit our local Museum and see the quilt show and painting display we had heard so much about. It was wonderful and after about three hours, we walked out to the parking lot filled with colors, designs and ideas. We went to dinner and talked about the quilts and the paintings we had trouble interpreting. It was great fun and we are proud of our Museum. If you live anywhere close to Spokane, I would suggest you come and see this wonderful show. Well worth the money. The gift shop is one of the best I have seen. Aren't the gift shops always a highlight?

This is by far my most favorite quilt and it is inspiring in that I am going to add some of these things (wheels) to my current quilt I am doing. Such fun and will be so much fun to teach. I actually did these a few years ago and now I can add them to a story quilt!

Kathy and I agreed that our favorite part of this show was the crazy quilts. I think for me it was because it was the closest of any of the quilts that came to a story quilt. I am so inspired and full of ideas for story quilts now that my book is in full production that it is hard to think of anything else. I just wish that some of these quilts from the late 1800'2 and early 1900's would have had stories of people in them. Think about this please. In 80 years, what will people know about YOU from your quilts? Please do story quilts to tell the world about YOU and who you love.


Below are cigar bands...what fun to read what they say.....



OK, so in many of my three to five day classes, I give out tiaras. I often call us "Hoochy Mamas" after the piecing technique I teach by the same name. I was excited to see these Hoochy Mama's on the cigarette silks below. Aren't these fun? I have some of these and they are just shredded from time and the silk rotting. I adore the images.


Vavavoom!

Possibly my Grandfathers dream girl....or yours too...............

Below is just a portion of this huge and wonderful quilt!

Below is the beginning of another fabulous crazy quilt....so much detail and so many wonderful tidbits to look at.........

A cool horseshoe for luck....this was the best I could do for a photo but look at the thread work!

These flowers below were fabulous...all beads and threads...............

This gives you a good perspective of the blocks....and the fabulous quilt!



If this isn't ART, I don't know what is!!! You must see this show!

I know this next photo is a little blury but keep going......

I would love this quilt to hang in my house...wouldn't you? It is just spectacular!
Stay tuned for more from the Museum coming up this week...... Please add your comments, they encourage me to keep taking the time to blog.....

Saturday, March 28, 2009

THE MAGIC OF THE FLOWER POWER BOOK AND WORKSHOPS-YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW!



The quilt in the background is one of my Flower Power books-this Seattle lady is trying to hide perhaps from the camera....it is a cool quilt!

This bird I made is HUGE and too big for any of my quilts......













The fabric we used in this flower power is awesome and still available in two colorways on my website at Marylouquiltdesigns.com




I teach the Hoochy Mama/Flower Power classes for shops and guilds...watch my schedule on my website-it is ever changing and growing....I'd love to meet you in this fun workshop






There are millions and flowers and variations of flowers and these make awesome quilts!