The two in progress pieces are finally finished! “Yellow Headed Blackbird”, 12″ x 12″, will go to the SAQA Foot Square Auction. We actually do have these birds in Kansas though they must not be common in this area. I have only seen one and heard of another.

Vivien asked about the eye. To avoid the intricate piecing, I used a bit of the green with black spots batik that is in the bottom right edge. I isolated a spot that was the right size to be an eye, then with black Pigma pen I blacked out the remaining spots, leaving just a rim of lighter color to define the lower eyelid.Two little white embroidered stitches give it life and also to avoid itty bitty piecing, I embroidered two of the toes.

“The Merchant’s House” 39.5 X 37″ was made for Tactile Architecture but not finished in time. I’m sure there will be another venue for it and it will be ready for next year’s entry.

To see the original photo, scroll back a few entries, or click on the appropriate tag.

I got quite a few nice architectural shots while in the UK so perhaps there is fodder for more quilts there!

Gosh, it’s been awhile since I posted! I’ve started a new piece destined for Tactile Architecture, deadline Feb. 20, based on a photo I took in Wales a few years ago when I spent some time there.
Coming down the steps on the left I was struck by the pinkness of the building in front of me, that perfectly accents the Merchant’s House in the center. It was chilly March and sadly, things were not yet open for the tourist season, though the lack of sightseers made for a nice photo op. I knew when I saw this it had to be a quilt! So far I have the pink house finished.

Sunday afternoon I went with friends to see a play – “KOLD Radio, Whitefish Bay”. It was fun and nice to get out and away from the sewing machine for a bit. While I was out I decided to find and purchase the issue of Quilter’s Home that is stirring up so much controversy on line. The cover teases with something about Shocking Quilts and the issue this month is protected by a plastic wrapper to protect the innocent. There it was on the rack at the grocery store and some curious someone before me had opened it so I was able to cop a peek and wonder why all the fuss? They hadn’t bought it and neither did I! I think it was a brilliant marketing ploy to wrap it in plastic so people would have to buy it to see the article and JoAnne’s banning of it only helped to boost sales I’m sure.

My condolences to everyone suffering from the recent ice storms, we were fortunate to miss that one, but believe me, I’ve been there!