SAQA Regional Show - "Local Color"

My quilt "Aerial View" was selected for the regional Connecticut SAQA exhibit that opens in May 2013 at the Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.

All the quilts in the exhibit have a Connecticut theme. Mine was inspired by a recent airplane flight into Bradley Airport.

Aerial View
2013

Felting in Hartford

Yesterday, my art quilt group, Connecticut Fiber Artists Collective (CFAC) sponsored a wool felting workshop at the Unitarian Society of Hartford.

What a fabulous day full of fiber and fun!  We learned to nuno felt under the tutelage of Robin McCahill, a master felter, teacher and puppeteer.

Here are some pictures of our day.

Glorious bumps of wool roving in all colors

Placement of wool roving in layers on bubble plastic prior to felting

Toni proudly displaying her "to be" flowers and leaves

Toni and Roz rolling 

A finished scene- wool roving on silk chiffon- magnificent!

Joe's Quilt - Free Quilt Pattern

Joe’s Quilt

Size:  Approximately 46"x90"

By Mary Lachman

Quilt designed and made by Mary Lachman

Materials Needed:

•       Dark and medium fabric scraps or fat quarters – choose a variety of large, medium and small florals and patterns (flannels works well) 
• 2 yards of light fabric
•     ½ yard for binding fabric
•       3 yards backing fabric
•       quilt batting of your choice
•  Thread to match fabrics

Cutting and Piecing Directions:

Four-Patch "Bricks":

• Cut 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles from dark and medium fabrics.
• Sew two of the 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles together along the 4 1/2" edge, press toward the darker.
• Sew two more 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles together along the 4 1/2" edge, press toward the darker.
• Sew each set together along shorter edge. 
• The Four-Patch Brick should measure 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

 Light Bricks:

• Cut 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangles from light fabric

Assembly:

• Sew Four-Patch Bricks and Light Bricks together in rows, alternating each brick.
• As shown, the quilt is 9 bricks (width) and 11 bricks (length) but you could make it any size you wish. 
• Once the top is completed, layer backing, batting and top. 
• Quilt as desired and bind. Make sure to label your finished artistry with your name and date of completion!

Quilt Envy

Eight years ago, when a friend gave birth to her second child,  I presented her with a handmaded scrappy baby quilt. She adored it and so did her son. For years since she has repeatedly told me how much she and Alex enjoy looking at the colors and patterns.

Interestingly Alex has become a very artistic boy who is always drawing and painting pictures. Recently his mom asked me to stop by for tea and cake.  I  took along a few quilts to share with her and Alex. Alex showed me his paintings and gave me a tour of his bedroom, which he shares with his brother, Joe. There at the end of Alex's bed was the baby quilt I had presented him with 8 year ago---a little faded, but clearly loved.

It was clear to me Alex needed another quilt, a bigger one, now that he was a big boy, and I thought I had the perfect one at home that I finished last November. I told my friend of my plan and if it would be ok to give Alex a quilt, but not Joe. She assured me that it would be fine.

So, a few days later I presented her with a scrappy flannel quilt made from 4 1/2 inch squares. Here is a picture of Alex curled up on top of his new quilt!

Alex's Quilt

But sometimes one is not enough!

Alex's older brother, Joe (10 years old) was mesmerized by the new quilt on his brother's bed (too his mother's surprise) and it just happened that I had another recently flannel quilt in the closet. Just the trick for a belated birthday present!

Joe's Quilt

Check back to the blog in the next week or so and I will share my patterns for both of these quilts.

Hats on the Way

This past weekend I focused on two things (instead of running errands or working in the garden):

#1 - Completing hats for the Creative Arts Workshop 44th Annual Celebration of Arts and Crafts; and

#2 - Cleaning up the studio so I could see the floor again.

This year CAW asked me to provide them with a dozen hats. However, since life is crazy and I am a runs-with-scissors-kind-of-girl it wasn't until yesterday that I knew I could meet their request. I love making hats and this year I decided to try a few new ideas. I hope you have a chance to go to the exhibition which runs from October 27 through December 24, 2012.

Most of my hats are knit of 100% Peruvian wool, felted in the washing machine and shaped by hand. Wool is naturally warm and weather resistant and renewable. 

Here is an example of a traditional felted wool topper accented with a grosgrain ribbon band and vintage button. 

In this one I added embellishments of handcrocheted flowers and vintage buttons.  

This hat is made from recycled wool garments (a vintage skirt and a handknit scarf). It is lined with fleece. 

Here the flower embellishment is made from the trim of a recycled wool sweater. 

All tagged and ready to go to New Haven.

Felted Wool Hats

The summer has slipped away and I am finishing hats for the 44th Annual Celebration of American Crafts 2012 at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT www.creativeartsworkshop.org .

The gala exhibition and sale runs from October 27-December 24, 2012.

Here are a few examples of my hats. These are hand knit of 100% wool and then felted to form a warm dense fabric that is resistant to wind, rain and snow. They are available in small, medium and large sizes.

Slice and Dice

This week I decided to give something new a try. Sort of a cut-and-sew, but I think it is more aptly termed slice-and-dice.

I randomly pieced together some scraps, then decided to add some gold strips by stitching them in and then cutting the main fabric and stitching the gold strip down on the other side.  I repeated the process until I had a maze like configuration of blue and gold. Then I did the same with multi-colored batik strips.

This bottom photo is the completed piece. What do you think? Now to name that piece. Initially I liked Yellow Brick Road, but now that the batik is added that doesn't seem right. It will come to me. Do you have any suggestions?

Tomorrow I will travel with friends to Lowell, MA for the quilt show and the Brush Gallery exhibit where friends Diane Cadrain and Diane Wright have pieces. It should be fun!