Who Knew?

Who knew a quilt was hiding in this box of fabric bits and pieces?

The first thing that I found was this piece of decorator fabric that was big enough for a quilt back (well almost)

After further search, I found a pink that blended and then a stripe and a print or two and my quilt top grew. It seemed every orange and plum wanted to be part of the quilt and I liked the way the solids and more graphic fabrics played against the traditional floral on the back. 

This color combination reminds me of sherbet. Why do I think of nothing but food, ice cream treats, at least?

The quilt top is just the right size and I had just the right amount of fabric. Yes, once again God has provided me with exactly what I needed. (Including a coordinating floral to complete the back.)

The elephant print was the perfect fit for the last bit I needed. Don't you love the playful touch this adds?

Do you have quilts hiding in your house?  What will you find today?

Orchids and Art

If you love orchids and art

 the place to be is the 

Riverfront Arts Center in downtown Stevens Point, WI

 for the Winter's Garden Art Exhibition.

I am privileged to be part of the exhibit 

with my sunflower quilt, "Leaning on the Fence"

 on the right side in the photo.

The show is open to the public and free of charge. 

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the flowers and enrich yourself with the art. 

Both the orchids and the art are for sale 

so you can bring home your favorites.

The hours of the show are:

Tuesday through Friday, 11-5

Saturday and Sunday, 11-3

January 18 - February 17, 2013

at the 

Riverfront Art Center

 1200 Crosby Ave, Stevens Point, WI 

 **************

Another great art exhibit is at WOWSPACE Gallery in

downtown Wittenberg, WI

The "Stringing Along Quilt Show"

combines the 

"Connecting Thread: A Line of Design" work of 

the Milwaukee Art Quilters

 and the

"String Quilts" of 

Sharon Rotz.

An artist's boutique offers a varied collection of 

original works, books and patterns for sale.

The WOWSPACE  at

114 Vinal Street, Wittenberg, WI

 is open 

Saturday and Sundays, 11-3

January 19 - February 10, 2013

PS: I hope to see you at 1:00 p.m.

on Saturday, January 26, 2013 

when I will be sharing ideas at my lecture, 

"Diet Quilts" 

at the Wittenberg Community Center.

Is Your Brain Frozen?

(If your body is also frozen then it's probably a good time to cover up with your quilts and get out of those sub-zero temperatures.)

But, if your brain freeze is due to a creativity block, then it's a perfect day to tame your scraps.

There are days when I want to be in the studio but my latest project has me stumped. These are the times that I dig into my stash. Maybe I just want to feel fabric. (This is justified when you are a quilter.)

The odd shaped sizes of some of my fabrics leaves much to be desired and they are often just shifted back and forth from pile to pile. I've found if I trim these scraps into squares, they find their way into new projects.

After I have collected a good number of like-size pieces, I can easily stitches these squares together on another day (a day when I just want to sew and sew).

I can use these squares to make blocks for creative quilts or they may become a utilitarian quilt that I can share to keep someone warm on a cold winter night.

How are you feeling today? Creative or not?

A New Quilt for the New Year

Crimson Ridge Drive

20" x 26"

©2013 Sharon V. Rotz

The quilting is finished, the binding is added, and I'm celebrating a 2013 quilt.

These fabrics were so much fun to work with. I love the bright colors and bold patterns of the Moda - Comma Mini Charm Packs

For the quilting, I alternated between the orange, yellow, chartreuse and grey "Dance with Me" threads by Aurifil. I mixed them in over the area of the quilt top. The coordinated threads were a perfect mate to the fabrics.

I also love the hand-dyed wool that I added into the mix. 

Explore the unexpected in 2013!

P.S. What did I do with my scrap of left-over fabric??

 It went back into the sewing trash. I have bigger worlds to conquer.  

Linked to Off the Wall Fridays

Is It Time to Move On?

I now may have enough Quilter's Tiles to tile my studio or at least tile my bathroom. 

Each one has been an adventure with an unknown outcome.

Should I continue on or switch my focus to something new? 

I pondered this deep into the night. 

There was no post on Tuesday, no Tuesday's Tile, as I thought and thought. 

I finally fell asleep and have no resolution.

So I am asking you my blog followers and friends.

What do you say?

"Stringing Along" Exhibit

You are invited to an upcoming exhibit and lectures

at the WOWSPACE 

in downtown Wittenberg, WI

                          NATIONAL PRIZE WINNING QUILTS AT WOWSPACE

The Walls of Wittenberg is pleased to present “Stringing Along,” the fourth annual quilt show, featuring the work of the Milwaukee Art Quilters and Sharon Rotz, Mosinee. The show opens Saturday, January 19, 11am-3pm, and continues Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am-3pm, through February 10 at the WOWSPACE, 114 Vinal Street, downtown Wittenberg. Free Admission.

MARQ’s “Connecting Thread: A Line of Design” was the 2010 winner of the Ultimate Guild Challenge in Knoxville, TN. The challenge had exacting standards. Each quilt is 36 inches square and a string of red cording must run through each quilt, exiting or entering the piece either 12 inches from the top or bottom, ultimately connecting all the quilts when displayed. Of the quilts on display, the work of eight artists was chosen to go on to Knoxville: Terri Kirchner, Cecelia Rotter, Nancy Linz, Roberta Williams, Kasia, Jane Wolton, Nancy Kimpel and Linda Reuss Benson.

The Milwaukee Art Quilters (MARQ) was organized in 1992 to exchange information about contemporary art quilts, pursue exhibitions and competitions and to share artistic critiques of one another’s work. More than 40 members from various backgrounds come together to advance their work as quilt artists.  To quote MARQ, “Art quilts are part of the fiber art field of highly collectible artwork. They are meant to hang on the wall like an oil or watercolor painting. The quilted surface brings a dimensional depth to the artwork that paint alone cannot.”

To continue the theme of “strings,” Sharon Rotz, Mosinee presents her collection of “String Quilts.”  Strings are those leftover bits of fabric that could have been thrown out; however, thrifty quilters make use of even their smallest bits of fabric. These strips of fabric are sewn together to cover a foundation, cut into shapes and used in quilting patterns.  Sharon has used her stash of “strings’ to add spontaneous color and pattern to her contemporary art quilts. Not made for utilitarian purposes but for the joy of the viewer, Sharon’s quilts delight the eye.

Visitors to the WOWSPACE are familiar with the award winning work of Sharon Rotz. She has successfully competed in national and state competitions; her work as a commissioned textile artist is displayed in private collections and public venues; she writes quilting books, creates quilting patterns and has more than 20 years experience conducting workshops or giving lectures to quilt guilds and others.

A boutique of books, patterns and smaller quilted pieces allows the visitor to purchase an addition for their own quilt collection.

Sharon Rotz, Mosinee, will discuss “Diet Quilts” on Saturday, January 26, 1 PM, Wittenberg Community Center, 208 Vinal Street. Door Prizes! Suggested donation is $5.

Chris Lynn Kirsch, Watertown, will present “Quilt Tales,” on Sunday, February, 10 1 PM, Wittenberg Community Center, 208 Vinal Street. Door Prizes! Suggested donation is $5.

Don’t miss these opportunities to see some exquisite quilts and learn from 2 expert quilters.

Save It or Trash It???

Thanks for all of your comments on my last blog. 

I hope you are all happy because you hung guilt over my head and made me do it. 

Today, I dug into my studio waste basket and pulled out that last remaining bit left from my fabric packs. (I don't empty the trash daily, obviously, and  I don't put other things in my waste basket -- only sewing scraps.)

And now the debate is on............ 

Should I save it (and use it) or am I crazy and this tiny bit of fabric should go back into the trash?

Seriously........

What would you do with it?

The Beginning or the End?

 

What triggers your quilting excitement?  Is it the thrill of breaking into a new fabric collection? Or is it the satisfaction that comes with using up all of the fabric?

I just couldn't wait to see what I could do with these bright and cheery Moda fabrics-- Comma Mini Charm Packs and the coordinating thread by Aurifil.

Out popped house after house, and with the addition of only three of my stash fabrics, I completed this wall-size quilt top.

To set off my 2-1/2" fabric squares, I chose a rich hand-dyed wool from The Wooly Lady. I also added a grey plaid homespun and a pearl grey polished cotton. Three different textures and finishes to create depth in the piece.

Now I was down to just a few narrow strips of my fabrics and used them in the borders.

There I did it. To my great satisfaction, I used it all.

Well, almost. I did have a small square of fabric left, less that an inch in size. 

I was conflicted, should I find a way to use it also?

In a bold 2013 movement, I gently placed it in the trash.

Linked to Off the Wall Fridays

2013 Blessings

Like newly fallen snow, the Lord has blanketed your life with blessings. 

Celebrate and

Give thanks each and every day.

From our house to yours.......

Happy New Year 2013!