KatyQuilts

Helping the Poor

Posted on December 6, 2008 by katyquilts

Good Morning! While reading blogs recently, I discovered an amazing organization that allows individuals like you and me to loan money to entrepreneurs in develping countries to help lift themselves out of poverty. You can loan as little as $25 and receive updates on the individual and their business. Loas are generally repayed within 6-12 months and you can either withdraw your money at that time or loan it to another person. They have an amazingly low default rate. The average size loan is about $450, not much to most of us in the US but this can make a huge difference to a person in a developing country.

James 1:27 says, “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

What an awesome way to give a hand up rather than a hand out to those less fortunate! Check it out at :

kiva.org

Have a great Saturday!

Posted in Kiva | 2 Comments

Cleaning out!

Posted on December 5, 2008 by katyquilts

I have too much stuff and need more room to actually sew! So it is time to clean out the sewing room. To that end, I am selling some of my vintage sewing collectibles and Singer sewing machine items on e-Bay. If anyone is interested, you can find my auctions here:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsweigak

I also have a Centennial Singer Featherweight and card table for sale for pick up in Saginaw, MI. Let me know if you are interested. You can reach me at: KatyQuilts@aol.com

I also need to clear out some of the many quilts I have made so I will set up a sale page here for some of my work in the next day or so.

Here is one just to get things started:

labyrinth1

This is bleach discharged using a stencil that I drafted. The border fabric is a Polynesian print purchased in Hawaii. This piece measures 23″ x 23″. I can attach a sleeve for hanging if desired. Price is $150 and includes shipping within the US.

Have a great night!

Posted in For Sale, Labyrinth | 1 Comment

Uncertainty

Posted on December 4, 2008 by katyquilts

11-4-08-0081

I started this piece one day after hearing some rather disconcerting news that caused me to wonder once again what the future would hold. Somehow the starkness of it and the skewed angles are able to convey exactly how I felt that day. It is a picture of a feeling, one I have felt many times since I have made it.

So many things are in a state of flux right now in our nation, from Wall Street to Main Street and from the White House to my house. I don’t know what the future will look like, but the knowledge that the the God of all creation deeply loves and cares for me and my family brings me an unexplainable peace in the midst of it all.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Another Ladder Piece

Posted on December 2, 2008 by katyquilts

This was actually the first ladder piece I started. It was not the first one I finished though! Funny how that happens. You can see that it is quite different from the others but I do still like it. These are fabrics that I bought from IKEA when I lived in France back in the late 90s. I am so glad we have an IKEA here in Michigan now! It is still my favorite store. But they no longer have these great rust and yellow fabrics.

This piece hung in my recent solo show. While they are used to hanging paintings, they do NOT know what to do with textiles! So for most of the pieces, like this one, I added a 4 ” sleeve and then inserted a piece of foam core cut to fit. It was slightly longer than the sleeve so I could put a hole in each end . Then I ran picture wire through each hole and used packing tape to secure it to the foam core on the inside. Then the piece could be hung from the wire just like the watercoor and oil paintings they are used to :). Here are a couple pics that hopefully will explain better:

Their hanging system has hooks that stick out from the wall a ways so the foam core tended to tip away from the wall more than I would have liked. It works fine for heavier items or things on canvas that have a hollow back. I need to think more on what I would do next time in the event I have a show there again.

Now I am off to enjoy the wonderful fire in the fireplace! Have a great night.

Posted in Hanging methods, Ladders Series | 6 Comments

My World in Black and White

Posted on December 1, 2008 by katyquilts

FIrst off, thanks to everyone for visiting my blog and leaving me such wonderful comments! You are all so helpful and encouraging!

Anne Copeland of the Southern Cal FiberArts Connection issued a challenge last summer called My World in Black and White #2. You can see the results of this challenge here: http://www.fiberartsconnsocal.org/

And here are my pieces. The first I am not thrilled with. It is called “Out of the Darkness” to represent the positive things that can come out of even very dark times or situations in life.

Here is the second piece. It is called “Grace”:

It is photographed on a gray felt background. It is densely quilted though it does not show. Here is my artist statement about this quilt:

My world and my faith are inseparable. This quilt is an expression of Ephesians 2:8-9 that says it is by grace that I am saved through faith, not by my good works or good intentions. Though at times, I have tried to reach a place of communion with my Creator by means of good deeds, truly I can only reach this place by means of His grace. This quilt is a reminder to me that I don’t have to be good enough because His grace is sufficient. When I couldn’t reach Him, He reached me.

Back to trimming the tree!

Posted in Ladders Series | Leave a comment

Snowing again…..

Posted on November 30, 2008 by katyquilts

It is snowing again here in Michigan. We are supposed to have 6-10 inches by tomorrow afternoon. Kids are hoping for no school! A snow day would be nice! I miss them when they are in school all day. A side benefit is that I can stay in my pjs and drink coffee instead of playing taxi driver :).

I did some sewing this weekend but can’t say I produced much. Working on my “crap” quota I guess. I did make a few ACEOs. I am still trying to decide if I like that format or not. I like the idea of it, just not sure I can say much in a space of 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. I think mine still need some work. Maybe tomorrow I wil take pics and take suggestions :).

I have a luscious box of hand dyed leftover strips. I should be able to come up with something creative out of this box! So far, this is what I have done:

Not loving it so far. Although I do seem to have a fascination with ladders lately. Here is a piece I made for my show. I call it “Self-Effort”:

I do like this one a lot. Until next time.

Posted in Ladders Series | 10 Comments

Hello World!

Posted on November 29, 2008 by katyquilts

Yes, that was the title that came free with the blog but it fit so I kept it! After pondering the merits of a blog for a long time, I decided to go ahead and just do it. There are a number of blogs I enjoy reading regularly. In fact, I enjoy them more than most regular web sites. So why not have one of my own? Even if no one else reads it, it seems a good way to document my fiber art work for my own use.

I had a wesite at one time and that was a great learning experience but I think I will like the interactive aspect of a blog. Time to learn how to add a picture!

This is one of the pieces I made for a small local show that I had here at the township hall. It is mounted on canvas and hung with a wire.

: Vessels

Until next time!

Posted in Vessels | 6 Comments

How I got my solo show

Posted on November 29, 2008 by katyquilts

Our local township has a program called Art in Public Places. Each year, they host a juried art show at our local township hall. They have some nice cash prizes and the winners of the major awards are offered the chance to hold a month long solo show sometime during the following 11 months. A bit over a year ago, I decided to enter and see if they considered quilts to be art! I was thrilled to have two of my three pieces juried into the show and even more thrilled to be the winner of one of the major awards. So that is how I got my first solo show.

I was excited to be juried in and have my pieces hang next to watercolors, acrylics, oils, sculptures etc. I have won awards in local and regional quilt shows but this was different for me. Granted, this is small time compared to the big shows but it was fun nonetheless. Selling some of my work this way was a bonus. Here is the piece that got me my first solo show:

I drafted the labyrinths and created stencils. Then the design was done using bleach discharge. I bleached additional yardage for the borders and binding.

The second year I entered, I again won an award so I got to have a second solo show. It ended last week. Here is the quilt that won the award in that show. I call it “Une Semaine” which is French for one week.

Off to watch my favorite movie (Second Hand Lions) with my youngest daughter!

Posted in Labyrinth, Solo Show | 4 Comments