This is a new quilt Ive been playing with since my return from Bhutan, the colors are very monk like. I have dyed quite a lot of the red because you can see what Im doing to it, I am looking forward to having a big stretch of time tomorrow to work on it.

This is my brand new washing machine!!!! I am doing my second load as I write. Next week I will do a lot of dying and no more sitting on the toilet!!!

I added a link to my 426 photos of Bhutan, I hope you will enjoy them! It is on the right of the page....>

I am not sure what I think of this, in some ways I like it but then I look at it again and it just isn't quite there. I love the colors but I feel like there is something missing..... interest maybe, a focal point.... humph!

I feel like a crazed woman! I just love this one too and Im already planning the next in this series. I might have to dye a bunch of fabrics so it will take a while because its coooold out! Yes I know its not like Portland but its cold for us!

Ive been having such a great time working on my quilts that I keep forgeting that Im going to Bhutan NEXT month! Ill be there for 25 days, just me and a guide and driver, how cool is that?! I have made this a weaving tour, the Bhutanese are famous for their fabrics! I will take lots of pictures and put them both here and in an album so you will see it all!!!

I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!!!! I did this this afternoon, its that groupe of colors that were on the floor! I want to do more like this and play with different lay outs, but this one makes me VERY happy! Its simple but I think it works!

I finally finished this, its about 40" x 40" and I am very happy with it! The idea came to me in a dream..... its that weird? Do others dream finished pieces then make them? This is not the first time either.

I now have a huge pile of quilts that need homes!!! Any ideas where I might look to sell them? I think there is a need for a quilts only gallery! Not a quilt show but an art gallery because there are so many quilters out there that are making art.

I really like this one! I had such a fun time making all the stripes, I could have gone on for ever! I look at this and think that I am so far away from what I was doing before I left the States, this is so rigid and constructed, the work I did before was more fluid and emotional with lots of subtle color shifting, I would like to get back to that.

On to other things.... I find my self looking at houses for sale back in Portland, thinking about Valerie, Daves daughter and how she is my only family now, I think about eating at Nostranas with Andy and drinking really good wine, I think about all my quilting and knitting friends and the inspiration they give me. I think about my life and where I am now and how I want to be back with everyone. I have a great life here but its the life of a hermit, its wonderful to have all the time in the world to work on my quilting and dyeing but when I cant share it with anyone what does it mean? Man, I'm getting heavy!!! Lighten up!

Here is something I was playing with, I want to do a few pieces based on shading, this didn't turn out quite the way I had intended but its a start, I have an idea for another one. I think I need to make the pieces smaller to get a better gradation of color.

I have so many ideas lately, I seem to be very impatient, just want to get one thing done and move on to the next, its rapid quilting! I'm not finding something that really grabs me and spending time with it...... what do you think that means?

OK!!!! I think I figured out a way to do this!!! This time I made sections of 3 curved pieces and then sewed them to another section of 3 and so on and so on, it didn't warp or grow and I really like this one!

I dyed the fabric the other day as a gradation with 8 steps, it was easy and I like the greys this one makes, thank you Carol!

I have already started on another top that I dreamt about, Ill put it here when its done.

Ok, back to the moving thing.... well, I want it both ways! Isnt there a way I can live part time here and part time in Portland? If any of you have any thoughts please send them along!

This is the latest, my challenge was to come up with a block that I liked and repeat it, I gave myself 5 or 6 colors to use... its ok.

And now for something completely different!!!! I wanted to do something using colors that I don't normally use so i I pulled these out of my stash, cut strips and this came out! I really like it, its about 20 x 20", I think Ill do another one later today!

I finally made the decision to take some more of Nancy Crows classes, Ill be taking best of strip piecing 1 & 2 and strip piecing and restructuring!!! They are not until fall of 08 but that will give me plenty of time to dye all my fabrics! This will be my 3rd trip to the barn and i cant wait!

The dau hu lady came to the market today she had been sick for over a week and i was going thru dau hu withdrawals! Ive tried other vendors but hers is the best!!! Ill see her tomorrow.

Im feeling better about things but Im still thinking about a move..... hummmm, it will be interesting to see what unfolds!

This is the newest creation, i really like it but man Im not doing something right!!!! I cant figure out how to keep it from growing , I'm not sure you can see but it needs darts to lay straight!!! Ive done so many different things to try to correct it but it just stays the same!!!! Does anybody have any ideas on what Im doing wrong? I really want to keep playing with curves but this is driving me nuts!!!

On a different note..... I still feel like I need to head back to the states..... I love my life here but I feel like Im creating in a vacuum. I have decided to sign up for two of Nancy Crows class in the fall of 08, no matter where Im living.

well this is done.... i like it but it isnt one of my favorites! its all a learning process isnt it?!

i have been asked to participate in a food blog!!! so if you want to take a look its at travelingfriendsofmolly.blogspot.com check it out!

life is good, im feeling a bit like a hermit lately, just going out for dau hu then back home to my studio, i need to get out more! ill post some pictures of my house later so you can really see what a modern vietnamese house looks like.

well thats it for today, its getting cold and breezy out, i need to find my slippers!

well i think im learning some things about the way i quilt..... i tend to look at the small picture, each block is beautiful but then when i look at the big picture it doesnt always look good! i must admit that im all about the color and i forget about the composition, it just starts to look messy and busy.

the top photo was taken yesterday, again the piece has no flow, so today i took it all down and put it back up with some adjustments to the individual blocks, i paid attention to where i was placing them and how the pieces worked together. i think its better but i still need to fine tune it.

sometimes i feel very alone in my work, no one here really gets what im doing. one person asked if i was making seat covers....!

im trying so many different techniques and working so quickly, i feel if i just keep hammering out these then i will find a style thats mine and can then someday create my master piece! o well, i am so enjoying working this way right now.

today after 3 bowls of dau hu i came home and made this.... hummm im not sure how i feel about this. i like it but i do have problems with the technique, it gets very squed, is that a word? i end up cutting it in half and sewing it back together! there must be a better way!
today is a beautiful day, not to hot and no rain! i went to the market and bought interesting things for dinner, ground fish patties that i will fry and then make soup with.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

this is what i did today!! ive never done curved piecing before, there are defiantly some things i need to figure out. i do like this and will try it again.
i needed to put the other one away for now, i will bring it back out later.
today rained all day, very windy too.
my friend hong came by this morning with breakfast, ca ri, its almost like a beef stew and you eat it with a fresh crusty baguette.
tonight ill put on my rain gear and head out for some stuffed squid and some green beans!!!

well this is how far i got today... im still uncertan about this but will keep at it untill it works or i quit and move on to something different.

here is the new piece im working on, i got really excited about but when i put more pieces together it got VERY busy.... no i feel like i have quilters block!
i think that i will keep making the blocks and then see where i end up., i also made some triangles, they look pretty nice too.
its always a treat to see where my work leads me, i may start with an idea but it mutates as i go, i love it!
ill post more photos of the process on this one!

here is the quilt top i finished today!!!!

this is my friend hong, she is quilting one of my quilts, she is very good at it and very fast!

i finaly got all mt fabrics and dyes and have been having a great time! these are some of my new pieces.... many more to come.

there are some days when i never leave the house, just quilt and dye and enjoy my life!!!