This just in from Florida

Here is another photo of an Orlando version of Lotus:

So elegant.  Thank you, thank you Orlando stitcher for sharing.


And with the photo came an explanation of the Orlando-Michigan connection.  The maker of this quilt is a member of a quilting group in Orlando and has a sister in Michigan.  They take turns suggesting group projects.  In this case, her sister suggested making Lotus.  The project is in progress.  We can expect to see a group photo when the Lotus project culminates.  I'm looking forward to it.

Offspring

The cherished reward for Bobbi and I for writing about a little-known quilt type/technique is hearing from folks who have enjoyed learning about tile quilts and have made their own.  


Bobbi has heard through the quilters' grapevine of at least 6 versions of her Lotus quilt, which is on the cover of Tile Quilt Revival.  

It sounds like the hotbed of Lotus versions is Orlando, and there is another version somewhere in Michigan.  


To date, we have only one photo from the Orlando group:

But we're hoping for more.  Thanks, readers.  

Spotlight on Wendy Turnbull

Bobbi and I are lucky to have a lot of talented friends who became interested in tile quilts as we were working on Tile Quilt Revival.  The gallery of contemporary tile quilts we included in the book is filled with the wonderful quilts they made. 

Wendy Turnbull contributed this lush depiction of summertime to the gallery: 

Before Wendy began this quilt I knew several things about her--that she is an accomplished appliquer and that she has a grand affinity for crows and ravens.  So, I was not surprised she was interested in appliqueing a tile quilt, and, when she showed me the line drawing she was working on as the pattern for a tile quilt, I wasn't surprised that it included a crow's image.  She chose a dark plum background fabric and warm, rich fabrics for the tiles.  I think it's just a gorgeous quilt.  

And then, she expanded on her initial idea and launched a series she's called, A Bird for All Seasons: The Crow in Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring.  Here are the other three seasons, each as beautifully evocative in its way as the summer quilt:

In each, her drawing and choice of fabrics tell the story.  Thanks, Wendy, for sharing.

P.S.

Did I mention that it was cold in the mountains?  Here's a picture of our mutts one morning before the stove was lit:

Dog Balls

A New Year

We are just back from a holiday trip to Colorado where we cross-country skied and snowshoed, watched many movies, and partied with friends--it was glorious.  I didn't take a stitch for 10 days.  Not that I didn't want to.  It's just that the sky was too blue.  The hoar frost on stems, aspen saplings, and especially the fence was too fascinating.  

Holidays are wonderful.  Essential, in fact.  But it's also good to be home and back in my studio.  This week's stitching agenda: quilt a small top, bind a large quilt, and sew a bunch of Lady of the Lake blocks together into a top.  I'd better get on it.

May 2011 be a fine one.