Payback Quilt and Gratitude!!

I have a Facebook friend I have never met and I can't even remember how we found each other but we have a lot in common. We are both Baby Boomers, love peace signs, hippie chick stuff, share political views, rock and roll music and she mentioned she wanted to start quilting so I answer her questions when she asks.

 

I love Tina Turner and there is a Facebook page about getting Tina into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Her and her creepy ex-husband, Ike, are in the Hall of Fame recently.) So on the FB page they are always posting anything new and relevant about her life. Tina was on the cover of the German Vogue magazine. I commented that "I would love to get my hands on this!" About three weeks later a package arrived at the salon I work at and there was the German Vogue from my FB friend!! I was in shock that she even saw the post and then took the time to get me this magazine. She said she has a friend in England who bought it and shipped it to her in North Carolina. (Ilive in Upper Michigan.)

 

So as a sign of gratitude I made her this cute little quilt sized at 12" x 12" based on one of my patterns. I knew my FB friend had straight brown hair, loves tie dye stuff and peace signs so I incorporated these things in the quilt. It was fun to make and I mailed it out to her a week later!! She loved it and I feel good she has it and I can think of her kindness every time I look at the pictures in the German Vogue-I don't know German so I can't actually read the Tina Turner acticle!!

This is the close up photo. I added rhinestone earrings and necklace and  glitter on the eyelids and hair. Peace Out!!

2013 Sacred Threads Quilt Exhibit Acceptance

I entered the 2013 Sacred Threads Quilt Contest which is in July in Virigina. It is an exhibit which has spiritual themes of healing, joy, peace/brotherhood, grief and others. I had a quilt in the exhibit in 2011 (the show is on the odd year) and I entered the maximum 2 quilts. The first is the quilt above titled "My Friend is Bipolar" which was intended for the SAQA Exhibit last year called "I'm Not Crazy!" (not so great of a title in my opinion.) I poured heart and soul into this quilt because people in my life that are very close to me are bipolar. This quilt represented my view of living with people who are Bipolar. I was quite bummed when it did not make the cut. When this exhibit call to entry came around I selected the "grief" category and it was juried into the show!! Their website is www.sacredthreadsquilts.com

The woman on the left represents the "manic" side of the personality disorder-very grandiose, over the edge, frantic, excessive, hyper etc. She is not easy for me to look at because she screams irratic!!

The woman on the right represents the "depressed" side of being bipolar-stressed, low self esteem, gloomy, pessimistic etc. I feel I have captured her pain.

 

The colors I have chosen for each side of the Bipolar Disorder is also representational. The clothing, the hair, the jewelry etc. all reflect this.

My quilt "Victory Rolls" is near and dear to my heart because it is a perfect representation of me- the hairdresser, fashionista and lover of bright colors, flowers and embellishments. Therefore I put it in the "joy" category and it was also accepted into this exhibit!!

I went on a limb and gave my 1940s woman green skin because I love lime and chartruese!!

 

 

Simply Summer

Pine Street Quilts, where I work part-time, got in new charm packs from Moda called "Simple Marks" by Malka Dubrasky. She had a previous line last year and I loved it! The bright cheery colors and the bold geometrics intrigued me and this new line was just as awesome-plus there were polka dots in the collection!! I decided to use AGAIN the "Oh Sew Charming" pattern for the third (and last) time but I also included the beautiful floral instead of just using the charm squares. I found the colorful floral with the white background at the Appleton WI Hobby Lobby and thought it went nicely with these colors in the charm squares. I am also embracing the Modern Quilt Movement and I see a lot of white instead of black with bright colors in the quilts of this movement. I fussy cut four center block pieces as best I could to have the four color "families" represented and also used the floral on the outside corner blocks, the binding and the back. I chose a white with turquiose dot for the background fabric and a variegated thread with turguiose, lime green and a bit of yellow for the quilting. I though it stood alone without any embellishments and it was looking like tropical fruits or fruity Lifesaver wrappers. I call it "Simply Summer" because of the Simple Mark charm pack name and the feeling of summer's bright colors. This is my favorite of the three charm pack patterns because the bright bold colors are my favorites and I love the bold geometric African-like designs plus the great contrast with the white backgorund. It is a happy quilt!!