Kumiko Sudo Blocks

I have the purchased the Kumiko Sudo Quilts ..East/West book. Each month I am creating a new block. Sudo's color choices are definitely challenging, yet rewarding. I find that each block translates differently as you change the color choices. Each block is a creative experience on its own.

By adding borders, to these blocks, I am able to create gorgeous wall art thus adding a new dimension to my quilting.

To date I have constructed "Carousel", "Fuyudori", and "Radio City Music Hall".

Watch my website "foxyquilts.com" for photos and more details.

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Time to make those New Years Resolutions

With Chrismas here and gone, it is time to focus on our New Years resolutions. As the owner of foxyquilts.com, I have the luxury to spend a portion of each day putting creating a quilt. What a blessing that is. So, one of my New Years resolutions, is to make a quilt a week.

What are your quilting goals this year?

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Merry Christmas

It is almost Christmas and trying to get everything done.

What are you doing?

After Christmas, heading off to Boston. Want to visit quilt shops and guilds in the area. Hope to learn lots of things to post in the blog.

Have a great holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving for many reasons. First, it is the only non commercial holiday we have. Second, it is a time to be thankful. Being thankful is one of the most beautiful things we can do for ourselves every day. It is free, simple, easy to do and the rewards are spectacular. Third, it is a time to share with loved ones. Loving is also free, simple, easy to do and the rewards are also spectacular.

So from me to you, I hope your Thanksgiving was full of thankful thoughts and loving those around you.

Now on to the Christmas Holidays another time to be thankful and spread lots of love.

So what am I thankful for? I will only list a few: I am thankful for my family, for my parents that taught me important character values, my talents, ability to learn something each day, friends, country, freedom, Kei, my exchange student who taught me so much, my quilting abilities, ability to earn a living, being self reliant and I could go on and on.

Love and peace to all.

Quilt Competitions..when did they begin

I live in St. Louis, MO, but love the north east. In fact my cousin lives in Pittsfield, MA and I visit there every opportunity I get. While reading a book that my son-in-law gave me for Christmas, I found myself engrossed in the history of how quilt competitions began. The book is titled "America's Glorious Quilts", if you are interested.

In the early 1800's, the Merino sheep was being introduced in the USA. A county fair was organized to introduce the sheep. This fair took place in Pittsfield, MA in 1807. The fair was sponsored by the Berkshire Agricultural Society and was directed toward men only. However, women came with their husbands to the event. The organizers quickly realized they needed something for the women to do while they were at the fair. Thus they organized competitions in cooking and needlework.

The clergy of the area did not immediately take to the idea of women's involvement in the fairs. Especially since their exhibits were displayed in a local tavern. In fact, the winners would not accept their prizes because they feared reprecussions from the clergy.

Elnaeh Watson, the fair's organizer, finally coaxed his wife into inviting the local women to participate in the fair (1811) by guaranteeing she would distribute the prizes personally. The clergy softened and finally decided they saw no harm in the fair and its competitions.

It is not certain when quilting became a part of the competition. However, records in Kentucky are the first recorded quilting competitions. As in Massachusetts, the Kentucky county fairs were established to introduce the Merino sheep. It was at these fairs that the quilting competitions took place.

Quiet Valley Quilt Guild - Bennington, VT

This is Grace Sohn's quilt. Entered in the Bennington Vt quilt show. Grace used a few blocks from the guild's block of the month club, then used a center medallion called

Cotton Boll (symbolic for the use of cotton in our quilts). Grace also chose applique blocks as fill in blocks. The quilt won a second place for viewers choice and a vendors choice ribbon too.

Congratulations Grace.. Beautiful.

Haitian Quilts - Bennington Museum

My cousin sent me a notice the Bennington Museum in Vermont is showing Haitian Quilts. As I live in St. Louis, MO I will not be able to attend the viewing, but thought others might want to make the trip. If you visit the exhibit please post a review.

Title of Exhibit: Patience to Raise The Sun
Where: Bennington Museum , Route 9, Bennington, VT
When: Now through Nov 8
Call 802-447-1571 or www.benningtonmuseum.com

If you have not been to the Bennington Museum I urge you to put it on your must list. 1. it has a great Grandmas Moses exhibit. 2. the Jane Stickley (Dear Jane) quilt is shown at this museum in Sept (check their schedule for the actual showing dates. 3. There are always specialty exhibits well worth visiting.

Enjoy

Machine quilting

With broken arm and all, I attended my first machine quilting class today. What a challenge. I could not keep the fabric in line or change the the feet. But still, I learned so much today. I learned how to baste a quilt, background stitches, marking, and anchoring a quilt.

What a great day

Challenging classes

I recently signed up for a quilting class titled "East meets West". The class is using the book Kumiko Sudo Quilts published in 1992. This is a monthly class where we make a block each month. If you have seen this book, you realize Sudo uses geometrics, florals, plaids, checks, paisleys, and more in unusual combinations. The challenge is choosing fabric that will create a similar block using the same depth, rythm, and dimension. I am learning so much about color and dimension. But it is a challenge.