SOLACE in STITCHING

Requests for information on hand quilting open the door for a blog post. Join me for a look at what is in process. At the winter solstice 2016, this small quilt was in the planning stage. You can learn more about that in the archive  HERE  while here I share some thoughts about hand quilting. 

Old utility quilts can look so modern and excite our contemporary sensibilities. In my interpretation of an antique string quilt, I use the seam lines to guide the quilting. Close straight lines of stitching is meditative. I add a little fooling around with some random shapes resembling stylized leaves.  

Hand Quilting Tips -----------

   A   accept - your quilting style
   
   B   be expressive in the moment

   C   consider this, try that, experiment

Back stage---the backing showing the large stitches called basting stitches to hold the layers together while the quilt is being worked in the hoop. This fabric is a vintage print, a reproduction of cloth in a quilt in the Smithsonian Museum. A good match for the style and character of the quilt. 

Credit :  My quilt was inspired by an antique quilt published in Old Swedish Quilts, English Edition 1995, by Asa Wettre

                                               

ps.................Hey there, has anyone noticed concern, disruption or stress lately?  Forgive me for leaving much unsaid here, but know that many things are temporary in our lives. Feelings and emotions are those things that will pass no matter what it feels like in the present.  Be kind and patient with yourself.  

US resource at the CDC  800 985 5990 or text  TalkWithUs to 66746        

AQS QuiltWEEK Grand Rapids, MI

EARLY MORNING by yours truly will be in the hand quilted category at QuiltWEEK this year.
According to the AQS Press Release, 366 quilts from 42 US states and 13 other countries will be on exhibit with 15,000 visitors anticipated.  

EARLY MORNING COFFEE 43" x 42"

10TH ANNUAL NEEDLE ART SEMINAR - A GRAND AFFAIR

It was a grand time at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island with the Needle Art Seminar.

The view from my window was mighty nice. That is the Mighty Mac, as in bridge. 

                                         This is where I rested my head. 

                                  Small Study quilt -- The View from My Window 

Thank you to all of the students who joined me, and to Carmen and Holly for inviting me to the Needle Art Seminar. 

SAVE THE DATE --- May 3-8, 2020....with Susan Cleveland---Amanda Murphy---Jen Kingwell            

                                        Sue Spargo---Lynn Schmitt

grandhotel.com/needleart

SPRING PADUCAH--HONORABLE MENTION

Berry Patch Work 46" x 48" by me, Pam Beal has been honored with an Honorable Mention at QuiltWEEK Spring Paducah with the American Quilter's Society 2019.  The quilt was also juried into the Grand Rapids QuiltWEEK show in August, 2018.  The photo is from the Grand Rapids show.  

The American Quilter's Society celebrates a 35th Anniversary this year. Happy Anniversary!

Congratulations to all of the quilter's in the Paducah show and those winner's of ribbons!  

PIECING ABSTRACTION WORKSHOP

playing with the parts

I'm pleased to return to the Madeline Island School of the Arts island campus for a 5 day workshop in October, 10-7/11-2019

The theme, Piecing Abstraction will have you piecing an exploration, a quilt study. Have an adventure with line, form and color.  

The MISA campus offers a perfect place to learn and play with a spacious 24 hour studio, delicious meals and comfortable accommodations.  Staying on campus is a delight. You are minutes away from the studio for early morning and late night sewing and socializing. I love dropping into the studio before and after class to not miss any of the fun. Getting to know my students is part of the satisfaction of teaching. Did I mention the friendly and attentive staff?  Always ready to please, no request is too big or too small.   

I love October on the island! The weather is crisp and perfect for long days of sewing.  

You are cordially invited to join me.

workshop info here

THINK SPRING---SPRING PADUCAH 2019

the work in progress keeping me company this winter

Think Spring --- Spring is right around the corner because I just shipped a quilt to Spring Paducah.  Berry Patch Work will be in the Small Wall Quilts, Hand Quilted Category.

BERRY PATCH WORK  46" x 48"

The American Quilter's Society is celebrating a 35th Anniversary this year!  I'm pleased to celebrate by sharing my quilt at Paducah, and being one of 410 quilts from 44 states and 16 other countries.  

While we are celebrating, Happy National Quilting Day 3-16-2019.  I'll be celebrating quilting by binding the quilt you see in the first photo.  It will sport a cheerful emerald green binding, just in time for St. Patrick's Day.  Seems like a loose theme of celebration and cheer has emerged in this post.  I wish you good cheer as winter transitions to spring.   

MAY 2019 SPRING NEEDLE ART SEMINAR

OPENINGS REMAIN----Thank you to all who have registered for the 10th Annual Spring Needle Art Seminar at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island : May 5-10, 2019

DETAILS HERE

I welcome you to one, or more, or my three classes -- Improv in Cloth-Small Studies; 
Abstract Design in Quilts; Studio Hand Quilting.  In each of these classes, I share the process of working without a pattern. Your imagination takes the lead, and you experience the pleasure of making an original quilt. For those of you who really like to be immersed, Small Studies and Abstract Design can be companion classes, one building on the other. 

See you at the Grand!