Summer Highlights 2013

Have you all given up on ever hearing from Quilts and Paws again? I guess I'm a "fits and starts" blogger ... bursts of activity with rather long lulls in between. To catch up a bit, I took two classes this past summer that I enjoyed immensely. Both were week long classes at the Stitchin' Post in Sisters. It is such a luxurious treat to immerse yourself in a new process or approach without the numerous daily distractions and disruptions that we all face. Plus, an entire week is sufficient time to feel I've made substantial progress. Good restaurants and a margarita in the evening don't hurt either!

In May, I took Jean Wells' class "Make Your Mark" where Jean taught a wide variety of surface design techniques:  painting, stamping, discharging etc. I especially loved carving our own stamps! Here is my favorite fabric I made that week:

Pam's Stamped Fabric

Every July, I look forward to Quilter's Affair and the Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters. This year, Mallory, Sandy and I went over for a long weekend. We decided not to take classes this year ... instead, we sewed, visited the High Desert Museum, and of course thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor quilt show, including the "Highlights from QuiltCon" show at Five Pines Sunday morning. The setting and weather could not have been more perfect! Don't the quilts look gorgeous amongst the pines and wildflowers?

Hanging amongst the pines is Carolyn Friedlander's quilt

Quilts by Alissa Haight Carlton

More quilts from QuiltCon

Honey in Space by Elizabeth Hartman

August brought a week long class with Rosalie Dace, Cross Currents, also taught at the Stitchin' Post. It was an awesome experience! I loved seeing and sewing a myriad variations of "+" and "X" ... here is my work in progress:

Pam's "Cross Currents" work in progress

As you can see, I made rectangular "+" improv blocks and decided to make pieced background X's with improv hourglass units. I love love love improv piecing ... and of course I've changed the quilt already! I promise to post a photo when it's finished.

Rosalie shared several quotes with us during our week together. Here is one of my favorites:

"Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark".

- Agnes de Mille

Exciting news: group of 4 quilts may be published

The past two years, I have taken a week long design workshop with Jean Wells. In 2010, I took her Intuitive Quilting class then in 2011, Intuitive Quilting II. Jean is an amazing teacher. She has a gift of knowing which question to ask or just the right moment to check on your progress. I feel that I started to grasp quilt composition and enjoyed every minute. The workshops are offered at the Stitchin' Post in Sisters. A week devoted to quilting is, for me, an ultimate luxury. It's enough time to sink your teeth into a fairly complex project and make enough progress that you have some optimism that you can finish when you get home.


Here is a group of 4 pieces I started in the 2010 Intuitive Quilting workshop. I am pleased with the composition and am particularly happy with the quilting. I wanted the quilting lines to amplify and complement the piecing lines without overwhelming the small quilts mounted on the larger background quilts.

The exciting news is twofold:  first, Jean is writing a new book! Second, Jean asked me if she could include photos of this group of pieces in the book. I am thrilled and honored to be asked. There are no guarantees as the publisher, C&T Publishing, has the final say. So keep your fingers crossed for me!

Finished an Art Quilt Top!

With a rambunctious 3-month old puppy, there are precious few moments in the day for quilting.  Luckily, there were only a few seams remaining to complete this quilt top:

I started this quilt in Jean Wells' Intuitive Quilting II retreat in April. I have been so excited to get the top finished so I can quilt it. The week-long class was fantastic and gave me long sought insight about a way I can approach art quilts that feels authentic, inspiring and genuinely me. Jean says her goal is to help quilters "find their voice" and that's the way this quilt is feeling. I think I'll call it "Windows of Illumination" or maybe "Windows of Insight". What do you think?