my life

2011-06-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Well, this is what Ive been doing for the last few weeks.... making lots of parts!!!

It will be interesting to see what all these parts become! Im always surprised!

2011-05-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

This is what Ive done today to add the the other fabric I dyed last week, there will be a few more colors before I get to cut into them!!!

2011-05-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

The start of something new!!!!!

2011-02-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

It has been brought to my attention that I havent posted anything in a long time, so here you go.
I have been busy working on my quilts for the show next year and Im just posting little teasers for you to see, I have 4 pieces done and how many more to go?
The tile shop has been keeping me busy trying to get more people to come in the door!
Miss Bug is doing well, I just love having her in my life, she is a funny little dog!

2010-12-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

Here is the newest member of Design Tile! I picked her up yesterday, she is a Brussles Griffon, shes 4 and a rescue dog. She is so shy! Im already in love with her! She slept on my bed all night. Im so happy that I can keep her at work with me! More photos and stories to come!

2010-11-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

This is what Ive been doing the last few weekends, now I want to cut into them and see where I go!!! I still need to dye some light colors.... I will do that next week!

2010-10-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

Well this is what I dyed last weekend, my two color gradations. I did it in two steps, the first color one day and over dye the second color the next day. The only thing I dont like so much is there is a lot of texture. This weekend Im going to dye color to black and I think Ive worked out how to do it in one step. Somewhere in all this is my next quilt!

2010-10-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is my new dye space, it works very well!

I am not very smart! Every time I start to dye after a long absence from doing it I cant remember a thing! Its like some movie when you wake up and every day is brand new!
What I wanted to do was dye two color gradation, but I just couldnt figure out how to do it!!!! So today I dyed the first color and tomorrow Ill over dye the second color. I know there has to be an easier way to do this so if anyone out there reading this PLEASE tell me how to do this! I dye 2 yrds in the baggies.

MY TILE SHOP!!!!!!

2010-09-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

Here is what has been keeping me busy, my very own tile show room!!!
I will be adding some new lines and moving things around, and I know there will be lots of work and Im very happy!
Yes Im still quilting and will show some some teasers, I get up and work on my quilts for about an hour before heading to work.
Can I answer any tile questions?

2010-08-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

Well here I go again!!!! I just moved to Kerrville Texas, why? I am buying a tile shop! Crazy ? I feel that this is where Im supposed to be!
I rented a great house with a wonderful space for my studio and am trying to get it set up, Im anxious to get to work.
Kerrville is a small town in the hill country, but it has an amazing quilt store here!!! They have a large art scene and lots of galleries.
I am very happy. quilts to follow!!!

2010-07-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Well my 28 boxes of fabric and stuff finally arrived!

I have a very small one bedroom bungalow so now my living room is my studio, so much for entertaining!

I have a show in 1 1/2 years from now and I want to have 20 quilts ready and I want them all to be about 6ft x 6ft so I have a lot of work to do. This is the first piece in its infancy.... who knows where it will go.

I have so many ideas rushing into my head and I only have so much time to work... I have a full time job now! I love having all weekend to work! Quite a change from Vietnam!

2010-06-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

Well life in Austin is very nice! Im going through a bit of reverse culture shock, but I know this is where Im supposed to be! Still looking for a job.
My boxes from Vietnam are getting closer, they are due to arrive in LA on Friday, Im going through quilting withdrawls! I did find the best knitting store in town so thats whats been keeping my hands busy!
I just finished the top one, and have already started the next one, it will be a cardigan as well....!

2010-05-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well Now I heard that the quilt I had in the Fiber twenty ten was given the award of a new show! I have 2 years to do up to 10 new pieces! Its a group of 4 people that were in the last show!

I have been looking around my tiny one bedroom apt trying to figure out where I will be able to put my design wall and sewing machine!

2010-04-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am in Austin TX! Ive been here for a month now and I do like this town.
I will be moving into my little apartment on Monday, not a palace like my house in Hoi An but it will do. I also have a car, a red Mini Cooper!!! Its a 2006 and I love it.
Still no job but I have some ideas..... we will see.
Since all my quilting things are somewhere between there and here I have gone back to knitting! I found the best yarn shop here and they were having a huge sale! This will be a fun cardigan to wear!
I do miss my friends and the food but boy have I been eating well here! A little too well!
Ill be going to Orlando Fl on Tuesday to attend a big tile show, I hope to meet old friends and get the word out about needing a job.
More later!

2010-03-08T18:47:00.000-08:00

I just found out that this quilt has been accepted into the show Fiber Twenty Ten! The artist reception is April 16th and I plan on being there!! Very exciting for me!

Nine days left in Vietnam!

2010-02-26T19:35:00.000-08:00

My travels with Nancy Crow and Margaret Wolf!
We had three weeks together traveling through Laos and Northern Vietnam visiting as many textile and weaving villages as possible and having a great time doing so!
It is a wonderful way for me to say good bye to this great country!
Enjoy the photos!

2010-02-26T19:28:00.000-08:00

2010-02-26T19:24:00.000-08:00

2010-01-21T19:28:00.000-08:00

I had no idea!!!!
I called a friend of mine this morning who collects my mail in the States. He said to me, " Ive got your book, it came yesterday" What book I ask.............. 500 quilts! OMG, one of my quilts made it in the book!!!!!!!!!! I never heard from them so I figured that they didnt pick anything I submited, but I was wrong! How cool is that!!!!
I guess I will have to wait till I get back to Portland to see the real thing but I am sooooooo exctied!

2009-12-30T20:31:00.000-08:00

Well finaly a new piece! This is titled Torn Apart. It is 5' x 10"

I have decided to leave Vietnam!! I am flying out on March 18th and will end up in Austin Tx. This piece is how Im feeling about leaving this wonderful place, but it is time for me to go!

Its New years Eve here so I hope you all have a wonderful and safe new year.

2009-11-20T23:41:00.000-08:00

Here is the new one in the new style, its 80 x 71" I like it and might do a few more, we will see.

I need to dye a few more colors for my next big piece, a this n that or something a little different?

2009-11-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

Is there anybody that reads this from Austin Texas? If there is I would love to hear from you! Please email me, Im wondering what its like as a place to live.

Thank you!

2009-11-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

75 yds dyed. It takes me awhile to do this, I have to boil water to add to the washing machine, but at least I have one. I love the greys and am thinking of useing them in another This N That quilt.

Here is my latest creation, its 62" x 58" I like it as a simple study, it has given me an idea for a much more complex piece that I hope to start on tomorrow!

I usualy have a week before I have a new idea but now I want to do 2 quilts right away!!! Can I manage to work on two pieces at the same time?

2009-11-04T20:09:00.000-08:00

I named this Metropolis

Working with two colors is not easy but I think this works. Im going to leave it as a single its 42 x 42 Ill have my quilter use a black and white verigated thread and do it in a grid, at least I think thas what Ill have her do.

Im feeling the need for a change big time, so the easiest thing for me to change right now is my quilting so Im stepping away from the series and the bulls eye!!! We will see what develops!
.

2009-11-04T01:13:00.000-08:00

We had another storm here a few days ago, heavy rains and wild winds, my roof stayed on but leaked a lot. I went to the market and these are photos of the area. The river floods every November but I am always amazed by it. I need to get some rubber boots!

2009-10-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

I love the bulls eyes because its instant gratification!!!

Ive dyed fabric for the next bulls eye, and I hope to start on it today but its rainy and gloomy and it might take a few days for the fabric to dry...,.

2009-10-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

Ok here is the newest in the This N That series, and maybe the last.

I have had a few comments that say my work is too Nancy Crow, Im not sure I see it in this group but then again I might be a little to close.

I am going to do more of the bulls eyes, I love them!

Keep the comments coming please!

2009-10-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

When does a series become a rut???

2009-10-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

Its been an interesting few weeks, we had quite the typhoon here, part of my roof blew off and no power for 5 days, at the same time I got Dengue fever which is brought on by a mosquito bite!!!! Everything is fine now but there is another typhoon looming....

I am sewing together the next in the This n That series and will post it when done but I wanted to show you this wonderful woman, she sells coconut in the market and I just love the way she looks!

Mouse as a triangle.... her little face just pushed into the arm of the couch! Such a nut!

2009-09-23T23:21:00.000-07:00

Its done and installed and I LOVE IT!

This is my living room and it fits perfectly on the wall and with the couch! I cant stop looking at it. Its 160" x 40"

If you click on it you can see that its quilted in a grid pattern.

2009-09-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

In between the big pieces I like to make these! They are quick and fun. Im not sure if I will put them together or quilt them separately I just know I will be making lots of them!

Now I need to think about my next in the This N That series!!!

2009-09-15T22:05:00.000-07:00

This has been a difficult piece for me, I love the colors but after the last one this just seems sort of blah. It is very much like the first one in this series. Maybe it will grow on me.

2009-08-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

A little change of pace!
I was having a hard time coming up with new colors for the next quilt in the series so, I made this! The greens had been calling to me for a while!

This was my lunch the other day, Cau Lau, its a local dish and it is very good! My house keeper made all this for $ 2.50!

Next!

2009-08-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

Next! I just finished this, its 73" x 70" I really like working bigger, it lets me resolve things.

This is number 3 in the series, again I have an idea for the next as far as color but I need to dye a bunch of fabric for it.... I like working in a series, never thought I would but it takes out some of the guess work, I have the sets, so I just need to add the variables!

2009-07-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

The Mouse at rest on a hot humid day.

Look, Im making more fabric for my next in the series. I told myself to use 9 colors..... but these just looked too good to resist. I have an inkling of what this will look like but then ..... who really knows what a piece will turn out like? Sometimes I feel like its magic!

2009-07-25T01:23:00.000-07:00

TA DA!!!!

Its all sewn together!!! It went from 117" down to 80"! Im very pleased with this piece even though it is quite different than what I had in mind.... they do that dont they?

I want to do a series based on this so Im planning the next, what to keep and what to change.

It will be a while before its quilted Hong is still working on my Bulls eye piece.

You can click on the photo and see a great close up!

2009-07-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

Well here is my lunch! I have a housekeeper that comes twice a week , when shes done cleaning she fixes me lunch. Today was fried rice with shrimp, pork veggies, also on the menu was salad with warm shrimp in a tomato sauce!!! I ate all the salad and have enough rice for two days, all this for 2.50!

HUMMMMMM! Tink just wouldnt come down from up there all day, now I know why, there is a mouse behind the cabinets! I think he took it up there in the first place and now its stuck! Great!

This is what Ive been doing with all the fabrics I made! Its over 9ft long and almost 7 ft high, Im just half way through sewing all the parts together. I love it and am already planning the next one!

2009-07-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

My napping buddies!!!

2009-07-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

I am making "fabric" for my next quilt! I picked out my palette and am trying really hard to stay with it so that in the end all these new fabrics will go together in the big picture!

I still want to make more, its kind of addicting!

My precious Bernina that I shipped here is having problems so the closest dealer is in Singapore!!!! I might have to take it there my self!

road trip

2009-07-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Linda and I went on a road trip a while ago on motor bikes. We had drivers, my friend Dung and a friend of his. It was an all day trip up into the mountains outside of Hoi An. Our butts were VERY sore but it was a great time!

This is a Cao Dai temple

This is a traditional house of one of the many hill tribes with the addition of the ever present satellite dish

Here we are in all our glory!!!

Tobacco leaves drying, great texture and color!

2009-06-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos of the market where I buy my food! I love this place! The produce is so fresh and so is the fish., just off the boats!

2009-06-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

This is what Ive been doing for the last two weeks! This is almost 200yds of fabric!

While I was at the Barn Nancy said I should use some new colors so she took me down to her dye studio and started calling out names! I have to say that there are colors here I would never have picked, but I really like! Some beautiful greys and browns!

I pulled about 15 colors for another new quilt! Now if it will just cool down!!!

I also ordered 1000 yds of Pimatex PFD, its sitting in Saigon, I just have to get it to my house!!! Crazy!

2009-06-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

Well I sort of threw this up yesterday then did some refining today and now Im going to try to sew it together!!! This will be hard for me because I strip piece almost everything, but I must grow and I think this could be a cool piece. The title is Ricefield Sunrise.

Bulls Eye

2009-06-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

Is this a comment of my work?

Here it is and I love it! I am going to sew them together in a horizontal row, I have the perfect place to hang it! This was so much fun to work on, I might even do another one!

Now any ideas about the quilting? Grid, spiral, spokes, what?

2009-06-10T02:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more photos of my early morning sunrise outings.
I love the old men and women that bury themselves in the sand,I think the sand is supposed to help with arthritis but know knows for sure.
It has been VERY hot here, 105 the other day..... lots of showers that day!
Ive been quite busy working on my bulls eye and its almost finished, Ill post it soon!

2009-06-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

New member of the house hold!!! She is a handful.
A friend found her huddled in the middle of the busiest street in Hoi An with motor bikes and cars barley missing her, he swooped her up and took her home, she was just 2 weeks old!!! I got her a few weeks ago and she keeps Tink in line!

View from my balcony

2009-06-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

I heard the drums first so I knew the was a funeral procession on its way. When a person dies they stay in the house for three days and everyone wears white, many people come to pay respects.

The last photo is a woman on her way to market, this is how most things are carried here.

Week 3

2009-05-31T05:01:00.000-07:00

This was a study of line, I didnt get it finished but I do want to work on it more, there are 1/8 inch lines that are very hard to see in the photo, I plan on inserting many more of them throughout the piece.

The 3rd week class was Line Curves Circles Figure Ground.
This was the sampler we had to make using all sorts of curves, I let Nancy keep mine.....

This was the assignment I was waiting for!!! The 80" x 80" bulls eye!
I have spent the last few days working on it and its really coming together! I will post it when done!

2009-05-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

These were done in week 2 of my three weeks at the Barn. This was Sets and Variables II. I had some moments in this class, Nancy even asked me "what is wrong with you!" I wish I knew I just felt stuck in my own head!

I do like part of the last piece, I plan on taking it apart and redoing it..... along with so many other things I have ideas for.

I really feel like I learned so much and I also feel I can now play more and even fail, its all part of making art!

HOME

2009-05-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

I made it home to Hoi An yesterday!!! My bags will get home today!
Here are a few photos from week one at the Barn! This was sets and variables I
The first piece was about contrast and subdued, it took me awhile to like this but it works.

This was the start of my final project of week one, not very interesting.

Here I am showing all the work I did the first week.... some ok stuff

After working on this all weekend I feel that I got somewhere with it, much more interesting! I plan on finishing it and adding a big band of the reds at the bottom.
I will show you when its finished!
Now off to the airport to fetch my bags!

Vietnam Views

2009-03-30T05:17:00.000-07:00

Sunrise in the South China Sea

2009-03-30T05:10:00.000-07:00

2009-03-24T23:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished this and I really like it. Its interesting to me the feelings and thoughts that I go through when Im working on something. I didnt like this for a long time but kept making changes and working through it until it finally came together. I need to remember this!

2009-03-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

OK!!!! Here is the finished piece, except for the quilting..... Im quite pleased with it.

Thank you for all the input it has been very helpful!

Ill be at Nancy Crow Barn in a few weeks and will try to keep you updated on what Im doing there.

2009-03-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

OK I feel like Im going nuts here..... I dont know why Im not over joyed with the bottom quilt.... so what do you think about the new top one... yes I cut up the simple stripes.... I can always make more. I promise this is the last time!!!

I want to thank everyone that has taken the time to help me.... you guys are my life line to the quilting world, no one gets it here!

2009-03-11T23:45:00.000-07:00

Its voting time again..... I just did this stripe piece and I really like it, so I was thinking of sending it to the SAQA auction. What do you think? Top one or bottom one? Thank you!!!

2009-03-03T00:56:00.000-08:00

I finished this today!

I liked the small piece that I did a few days ago and wanted to make this.

Sometimes I think I make my work too simple, there doesnt seem to be any depth to this. Im taking it to Nancy Crow and have her critique it.

2009-02-17T01:22:00.000-08:00

Im in my new studio space, its so full of light and breeze that Im here all the time! Ive been making these 12 x 12 quilts with the plan on donating one to the SAQA auction, which one should I send? I think I know the one I would pick but I would love some feed back!!!

Ill post house photos later!

2009-02-04T00:11:00.000-08:00

I just finished this today, its been pinned to my wall for a few weeks, its ok, I feel like its a step backwards. Im not sure I got the balance right with the orange.

I needed to finish it so I can take down my flannel and fix the holes in the wall cuz Im moving on Sunday!!!! My new space has so much light and air, I feel that I will be doing some great work in my new house!

2009-01-31T22:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I forget where I live, I just take things for granted, but then something takes me by surprise.

I was going home after a wonderful lunch at a friends house and I noticed this temple, it is right in my neighborhood and Ive never seen it before!

I love the creatures made from plates and dishes.

It was a beautiful place and I walked all around, very peaceful.

2009-01-31T22:56:00.000-08:00

2009-01-31T22:51:00.000-08:00

2009-01-24T17:20:00.000-08:00

Style?????

What is my style? Do I have a style? Will I ever settle into a style?

I am finishing three very different style of quilts and I started wondering if my work will ever look like its from the same person. I guess Im still playing around trying to figure out what I like the best..... it keeps changing. Sometimes I feel like Im about to break out of my box and really do some great work, but then ........ how do you know when youve got it?

I love quilting and dying all the fabrics, sometimes I just feel like Im stuck and I cant get past where I am, I feel like there is so much more that I can create but its stuck somewhere inside me........ how do I get past that?

Ill be back at Nancy Crow for 3 weeks starting in April, maybe that will help. I know that when I was there in the fall I did some good work and I did a piece when I got back that Im very happy with but the it all came to a screeching halt and I made a piece that looks like some Ive done before.

Maybe after I move into my new and bright house Ill feel like pushing myself more and getting my rhythm going. Maybe there are just so many ideas that I want to try that Im all over the map, I just dont know!!!

2009-01-23T04:15:00.000-08:00

I was going through some photos and saw this, I love this, all of us wearing our great skirts. If you look closely you can see that the women have tattoos on their faces.

This was taken in Laos three years ago. I think I need to go back!

2009-01-23T03:48:00.000-08:00

I love this photo! It was freezing cold in Shanghai and we had been out walking when we came to this small restaurant and Richards friend ordered these dumpling!!!!! Steaming hot, they have soup inside as well as the meat. I could have eaten many more!

2009-01-23T03:43:00.000-08:00

This is the coolest way to cook sweet potatoes!!! they were huge and Delicious!

Yes these are snails, they were stuffed with the snail and pork!!! The suace was out of this world, I tried not to be a pig and eat them all.

This is a little cake stuffed with red bean paste, just before it is cooked they sprinkle sugar on the top and finish it off like a creme brulee!

2009-01-23T02:13:00.000-08:00

First off Im glad the I can view and post on blogspot again!!!!

I was in China for a few weeks doing tile work for my old job in Portland Or, I was lucky enough to be traveling with Richard and all his friends. Richard had told them that I love food...... so I got to eat the real thing and I loved most of it!
I am so blown away by the food that I want to do culinary tours through the different areas!!!!!

I will be posting photos of the food for a few days, I hope you enjoy!

2009-01-23T02:12:00.000-08:00

This is duck tongue that has been steeped in black tea, I did not know that tongues had little bones in them, I only ate one....

This beautiful taste treat was made with tofu that acted as a wrapper with an egg inside and a few veggies, very good!

This is hot pot from Cheng Du, the outer ring was oil infused with fennel, szchuan pepper corns, chilies and a number of spices I dont know the names of. The inner ring was a lovely subtle broth. You can pick from lamb, beef, assorted pig parts ( I wont mention which parts) eel, fish,veggies to cook in either ring.... it was fantastic!

2009-01-07T04:36:00.000-08:00

I have been in China for the past 8 days doing tile business. We took a break and went to a temple outside of Shanghai, it is a very new one and this was a light show in the ceiling. I loved the colors!
I have been eating a lot here and will be posting some food photos later.

2009-01-07T04:32:00.000-08:00

2008-12-24T05:11:00.000-08:00

Its Christmas Eve and I just got home from having a great dinner with some friends. On the way home I stopped to take pictures of some of the Christmas things going on around me. There is a Catholic church and they put on a pagent, it is packed around there!!!

I hope everyone has a great holiday!

2008-12-24T05:08:00.000-08:00

2008-12-14T03:46:00.000-08:00

Amazing color!

2008-12-14T03:42:00.000-08:00

Nap time!

2008-12-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was working in my studio and happened to look out the window! I really do love living here, you just never know what you will see!

2008-12-07T00:58:00.000-08:00

I just finished this Im calling it ribbons of joy. Its 71 x 51.
This is sooo different from all my other work but I want to make more, a ribbon series, could be cool.I need to dye more fabric, Im thinking about doing one that is pale pale pale colors, see if I can get past the Easter thing.

While I was in the States I got 2 part time jobs. So I will be going to Saigon for one job and on January 1st Im going to China for the other!!! I am looking forward to seeing China even though it will be big cities. Cant wait to try the food!

2008-12-01T21:46:00.000-08:00

Ok I have been making fabric for the last three days to start my new piece, I have to say that once I get started its fun! I'm trying to stay in a color group so that I'm not all over the place like I usually am.
Why is it that all pale colors look like Easter? I don't care for that.
For those of you that were in Strip Piecing you will notice that I made two number 14s, they do work well!
I will add more photos as I work on this!

2008-11-26T00:18:00.000-08:00

This is the last of the tops from Nancy Crows class, I just finished it today. Im happy with it. Noe I will have to do something new!! I have been dyeing lots of gradations to take with me in April.

I have been very frustrated trying to get my dyes through customs... they are worried that Im bringing in something harmful. I am supposed to get them tomorrow! I did find a prochem MX dealer in Australia and she said that they ship here often, That will be great!

It has been raining here every day since Ive been back! At least the landlord fixed the leaks in my bedroom!

2008-11-17T02:27:00.000-08:00

Here is another piece that I started at the Barn, I finished it today, its ok.

I think Im afraid to start something new, Im not sure where my work is going or where I want it to go, I do know that I want it to be mine and not something that looks like I did it at the Barn. I love going there and pushing myself and learning new ways to work. I look at the pieces I did just before I left and they look so simple to me now..... maybe tomorrow Ill start something new.

2008-11-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

I have a web site!!! A friend of mine put it together while I was in California. I hope that lots of people can find it and buy my quilts!

Its www.annerparker.com have a look and let me know what you think!

2008-11-15T03:47:00.000-08:00

Today I added on the last 4 rows on the right, Im calling it done. Now I have to wait form my shipment of cotton batting to get here!

I asked Nancy how I should quilt this and her suggestion was to do it in a grid pattern, I think I will have Hong do it that way!

2008-11-13T23:01:00.000-08:00

Here I am with Nancy Crow!!! I was there for 2 weeks......! Its was great and in April09 I am going back for 3 weeks!!!

2008-11-13T22:45:00.000-08:00

This was from the second week at Nancy Crow. I had such a hard time with this piece, I felt that I didn't really get the assignment but just kept pushing through. Im not sure about this one.... I need to keep working on it to make it mine, for some reason it feels very much Nancy and not as much Anne.

2008-11-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

We made columns by re piecing all the new fabrics we had made. This is about 87" tall and 48" wide, Nancy wants me to double the width!
I really like this, it is very different form my other work! I also like the thought of working really big!

2008-11-13T22:32:00.000-08:00

We made LOTS of new fabrics LOTS and LOTS

2008-11-13T22:29:00.000-08:00

This was the first exercise of the first week at Nancy Crows! We were to make strip sets in given sizes then we had to come up with a check and a plaid.

Nancy had me take a portion of the plaid pattern and blow it up and assign it colors based on the light and dark areas. I like this and will finish it.

2008-11-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

I am so proud of what we did yesterday!
I sat with my friends in Pasadena Ca. and we cried with joy! I am so glad I was still in the States to be a part of it all!
I go back to Hoi An on Monday!

2008-10-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm still in Oregon and counting the days to head back to Vietnam!!! I really miss my home there even though I know that its raining and my roof leaks and the river has flooded, its still home for me!!!

My 2 weeks with Nancy Crow was wild! I had a great and exhausting time I will load some photos when I get back.

I did get some great news!!! My green quilt with all the beads has been accepted into the SAQA Points Of View show!!!!! Very exciting for me!

Ok more when I get home.

2008-08-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Im flying to Saigon and will be there for 3 days , then on Thursday Im flying back to the States! I will be there for 2 months! Part of the trip will be in Ohio at Nancy Crow! I am very excited and will post photos when I can. I have been there before and know how grueling it will be and am looking forward to it!

2008-08-11T00:42:00.000-07:00

Here I am with Hong, she does all my hand quilting!!! She runs a booking office in the market and when its quiet she works on my quilts. I am so happy to have her as my friend.

2008-08-11T00:36:00.000-07:00

I seem to be doing a little series, I love this. I love most of the things I make.... thats good. It is 40 x 54, I find I like working this size it gives me room to move around in. Now I just have to get it quilted.......???

2008-08-11T00:31:00.000-07:00

I finaly got this quilted by my friend Hong, she did a great job. I have never used beads on my work but I am happy with the way this turned out. I cant say I will ever use beads again though.

2008-07-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

Next! I just have so much fun!!! I cant wait to see what come next! I am very happy with this. Now the hard part comes... how the heck to quilt it! Any ideas?

2008-07-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

I was at the market the other day and I saw these rambutans ( not spelled right) and I loved the colors so I checked out my stash and put this together.

I like it much better in person but still feel something isn't right about it, too busy? No real focal point? Maybe I can do some interesting quilting....

2008-07-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

The start of something new I like this.

I thought I needed to change size.... hummmmm

I kept going but was not happy and threw it away 3 times....

Then I added the big flame.... it made me cry I hated it so much

2008-07-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is the final out come, I am very happy with it it and will have Hong do some interesting hand quilting to it.

The things I have learned while working on this is to stop second guessing my self, this was my vision when I started this but I thought I needed to make it more interesting by changing size and direction, all that did was make the piece look forced and make me want to throw it away. I also changed the name, it was Nights Fire but people got confused because the "flames" were going the wrong direction so now I'm naming it African Print.

2008-07-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

I have had a few people say that this piece would look better upside down.... what do you think? I could go either way....

2008-07-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

Well this is finished to the point where it will go to the hand quilter!!! I am very happy with this. Its 29x42" I croped the photo but Im pretty sure that it will finish far from square, I like that natural curves of the edges of the quilts I make, my work is not perfect and thats the way I like it!

I am thinking of doing another quilt in the same technique but way different colors, will see what happens, Ill keep you posted!

2008-07-04T02:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a new piece I am working on! I started this on Monday and maybe Ill finish in a couple of days then off to Hong for hand quilting! I like the way the color moves, I had to play with it a while to get it the way I liked it but I am happy!

2008-07-04T02:49:00.000-07:00

I cant help it.... the cute cat shot! He loves to get in the fabric even when its 100 degrees out! He has now discovered the out of doors! I just hope he remembers where his food is!