Completion!

As Ruta says, "We are all amazing". Agreed.
Here are some pictures from the stitching session held today. Nine of us attended and had a swell time stitching and enjoying seeing all the completed blocks in person.


The completed piece will be raffled off at the TAA Fashion Show event this Fall on Oct. 21, 2012. 
More information will be forthcoming.

From left to right: Karen Borkes, Helen Murell, Marty Young, Sandy Shelenberger, Ruta Marino, Christine Mauersberger, Sue Copeland Jones, Mary Ann Tipple, Jennifer Whitten.

The blocks were stitched to a black cotton background piece by Ruta Marino. Then the ground used Kantha stitching to stitch in-between the blocks and all around the perimeter.
I used my cell phone to take this photo, I would like to post a better (meaning clearer) photo is someone like Ruta or Mary Ann or ??? anyone else has it.

Wish you were here with us!

Karen's hands stitching the binding

Helen works the edge- you can see the blue-stitched lines in-between the blocks.

Mary Ann Tipple works diligently to complete her part!

Sandy Smiles, Ruta and Helen are busy pinning.

Sue Copland Jones stopped in to help bring us to the finish line.

Threading a needle.

Many Hands Make Quick Work!

The hand-stitched names will be added to the back of the piece.

Ready to Stitch it all together/We did it!

Blocks layer out and ready to be stitched together

Ruta has prepared a rather smart layout and has basted (or stitched?) the blocks to a backing piece in order for us to finish the work together.

STITCHING IT TOGETHER

Ruta and I have planned a day where we can stitch it all together* in the South Gallery at the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) in Oberlin, Ohio.

*Although Ruta is convinced that we don't need to stitch much!

Stop in, sit and put a few stitches in.

Spend some time to re-connect with new (and old) friends.

Talk about how to proceed- i.e. When to raffle the finished quilt? 

See the Artist as Quiltmaker exhibition in the main gallery at FAVA.

BRING: Needles

If you live too far away and/or cannot stop in, we'll take pictures and post them on our blog.

When: 

Sunday July 22, 2012

Where: 

in the SOUTH GALLERY adjacent the main gallery

Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) 

39 S. Main Street

Oberlin, OH 

Time:

1 – 5 pm

Here is the link to the FAVA gallery

http://www.favagallery.org/

PLEASE COME!

Last 2 Blocks Received, Let's stitch it all together

We did it!!

I received the last two blocks yesterday and today, from Jakki Dukes and JoAnn Giordano.

Cathie Joslyn sent her regrets that she is unable to complete her block; life has gotten in the way.  We are sorry to hear that and send our warm wishes to Cathie that things will improve soon.

So we have 20 blocks ready for assembling.  Who among us didn't think we'd pull it off?

Who is willin' and able to come to FAVA in Oberlin on Sunday, July 22 to add some stitches to join blocks together?  

Hope to see  you there,

THANK YOU, everyone.  

Stay tuned for layout photos.

STITCHING IT TOGETHER

Ruta and I have planned a day where we can stitch it all together in the South Gallery at the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) in Oberlin, Ohio.

Stop in, sit and put a few stitches in.

Spend some time to re-connect with new (and old) friends.

Talk about how to proceed- i.e. When to raffle the finished quilt? 

See the Artist as Quiltmaker exhibition in the main gallery at FAVA.

If you live too far away and/or cannot stop in, we'll take pictures and post them on our blog.

When: 

Sunday July 22, 2012

Where: 

in the SOUTH GALLERY adjacent the main gallery

Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) 

39 S. Main Street

Oberlin, OH 

Time:

1 – 5 pm

Here is the link to the FAVA gallery

http://www.favagallery.org/

PLEASE COME!

Ruta 'stages' the blocks for a preview

Ruta says:
I must say, now that I have the blocks up on the wall, I am liking all the blocks with lots of blank space.  Will even admit that I have been taking OUT some of my stitches this week. 

Three TWO, blocks to go - wow, and they said it couldn't be done!  Unfortunately, Cathie Joselyn is not able to complete her block for the project.

The 2 remaining stitchers have promised to deliver their blocks in June, once school is out and they have their summers free.


When all is said and done, we will have 20 completed blocks.

Block Eighteen is Here!

Carole Richburg Brown

Block eighteen is here! Or, it must be Mardi Gras time

Yes, I can count.  Christine posted her finished block ages ago but did not deliver it until this past Monday, so hers was block number 17 in the countdown.

Block eighteen arrived today from Carole Richburg Brown.  She titled it "A Really Crazy Dragon" - it looks like Mardi Gras time to me, so I guess it is a dragon at Mardi Gras!

A New Block on Mother's Day!

Barb Lind

Yes, it is true,  block number SIXTEEN has been turned in.

A truly good day, for many reasons, not the least of which was the receipt of this block, from Barb Lind.  Of course, she downplayed her stitching, "she only did borders".  But look at how well the breezy-looking blind stitching looks blowing through the columns, like the remnants of sparklers.

FIVE blocks to go.  Wow.

Fat Mail

Elizabeth Brandt

Fat mail can only mean one thing since it wasn't a mother's day present. Another block has arrived!  

Today's arrival hails from the hands of Elizabeth Brandt and has graceful lines of plain stitching and fancy work in the circles. Yummy.

Pretty soon we can start the count-down.

Who is next?

Hoping to see many of you at the opening festivities for The Artist as Quiltmaker XV at FAVA in Oberlin on Sunday, May 13, 2012 from 2 to 4 pm.  It is a good opportunity to save on the postage by hand-delivering your completed block (no pressure).

Ruta.

P.S. from Christine...

I'll be in Oberlin on Sunday. Can't wait to see the AQM show!

Sue Jones reminds us that Evolution of a Quilt will be up in FAVA's south gallery, and Liz' show at Ginko Process as Partner as will be up, too.

A Good Day

Kathleen Van Meter

Ruta Marino wrote to tell us that Kathleen Van Meter has sent in her block

Ruta writes, 

"a good day

Not only did I see a fabulous fiber show with two of my favorite fiber artists, I got another completed block (at 7:30 am this morning, so it took me by surprise)

Kathleen Van Meter decided she should continue the hand theme from her workshop block, so once again, we see the beauty of simple stitching.  My math is always suspect, but I think we are 14 down, 7 more to go.

wow,  what a terrific group we turned out to be.

now, more on the other reason it was a good day.

Kathleen, Sue Jones and I drove down to the Dayton Art Institute to see  Changing Landscapes: Contemporary Chinese Fiber Art, on view until June 17.   wow.  it was well worth the trip; if you can find a way to get down there, do it.

mostly outstanding work.  tapestries, needle punch embroideries, lots of wrapping (yum); snow crystals made out of fishing line, 45 pieces, I think.  wow, wow, wow.  a few weavings that were stuck in the 70's and 80's, but mostly, fabulous.

http://www.daytonartinstitute.org/event/art/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/changing-landscapes-contemporary-chinese-fiber-art

and Maya Lin's 8000 tons of wood 2 x 4's in her installation, Flow, also on view until June 17

http://www.daytonartinstitute.org/event/art/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/maya-lin-flow

also worth the trip, as is the installation of the crates it was shipped in, and the video of the 5 day installation process, with a list of how much wood, how many crates, how much each crate weighed, total weight, how many installers, how much coffee they consumed."

Another Block has arrived!

Karen Borkes

Karen Borkes says of her work, 

"Well, my block is finally finished. I am not a stitcher or a quilter, so it has been quite an adventure. I decided to call it Dancing with the Stars as all the blocks submitted have been absolutely fabulous! (Or is a better title, Stitching with the Stars?)  It is truly an honor to be a part of this project with all these accomplished women artists.  

I feel my block is best oriented with the starting dots on the bottom, but the choice is up to the quilters."

Karen Borkes

The beauty of kantha stitching is that everyone produces winners!  

Half Way to Completion!

It's not easy to sustain interest in a long-distance project, but Joy Lavrencik shows us that it can be done.


A puffy envelope arrived in Ruta's mail today, containing our twelfth block.  Another one that took my breath away.  Simple, plain stitching is truly a thing of beauty. 

Did Joy Lavrencik stitch her fingerprint?

Well done Joy.

Happy Spring everyone!

Eleventh Block

Here is my completed block, signature and threads.  When I looked at the block with just the blind-stitching, it reminded me of a constellation, so the stitching I did was an overall star pattern. I alternated the thread direction (stitching direction) and used 2 shades of blue.

I am excited to see each block as it is completed!   Sandy Shelenberger

No Foolin'

Just a reminder, The clock is ticking ever faster,  three months to go until completed blocks are due.

Block Number Ten

It seems to take a full minute to register what is in the mail, with the self-addressed envelopes I mailed with the unfinished blocks. Not so early (?) onset dementia, perhaps?   Then, I remember, and eagerly tear open the paper to reveal another treasure.

Helen Murrell

Once again, I am blown away by the beauty of simple stitching, with blank spaces, wishing I could have done mine so well.  Helen Murrell's block brings our count up to ten.

Whetting your appetites, aka The clock is ticking

Nine blocks down and four months to go to get your finished blind 

and blue block completed and mailed to Ruta!

ALL the blocks are wonderful, so no pressure to outdo each other.  

(although I must say, it will be good to prove the naysayers wrong, who thought we shouldn't bother)

Hidden Treasure

Well, ladies, the bar has just been raised.  Do you see the image in the block Sue Copeland Jones has created? Wow, glad mine is done...

Our Project has not been forgotten, Number 8 is here!

Just when I was about to despair that our blind block project has been forgotten, one arrived in the mail today. It is from Katherine Dunlevey and is beautifully stitched.  no wonky blind stitching either!

And I have heard that several other blocks are nearing completion.  

Perhaps a good thing to do on that once-in-four-years-extra day (leap-year) we have this month, is stitch yours?

We Promised and Marty Delivered

Marty Young, completed block and signature block

Yes, it is true, there is another block completed.

Marty Young completed her block.

 

Transferred, with extra thread, at the opening reception for Sandy Shelenberger's  (and Shirley McElhaney and Anne Weissman's) exhibition at The Gathering Place in Westlake.

 

Looking good.

 

And I misspoke in that earlier missive - Mary Ann T. did include some extra blue thread, so she wins all around.

Ruta

Another Year, Another Block

Tineke Klaassen has done her homework and sent in her block, before returning to school.

 

 

Jennifer gets the prize for being the first one to send in extra blue thread.  Tineke is runner-up.

Nice Work!