Sponsored by Girona QuiltArt and DamaPatch, I had a fabulous time for the two weeks (July, 2011) that I spent in Girona and Barcelona, Spain, teaching and lecturing. The quilters I met were awesome, and Olga Gonzalez, my sponsor, and the other quilters, took care of me – and showed me a happiness of living – that I could never have anticipated. Thanks to all (I’m already planning my trip back next year). I wish more people could experience the astonishing vibrancy and creativeness of the Spanish art quilt scene (think Picasso). Look for my next quilt – a beautiful dolmen that I visited near Girona (see the lower picture below)!
One of the factors that makes my quilting life so enjoyable is my wonderful studio. My husband custom designed and built it to my specific needs (even better, he did it while I was on a trip to Ireland; when I came home, it was done!). Well, it just won Fiberarts Magazine’s best studio design for “organization and storage”. It is an unbelievable studio – with 100% natural spectrum lighting – where I can happily spend amazing amounts of time, and I’m delighted to be able to give this well-earned recognition to my ever-supportive husband (by the way – and in response to all the questions I’ve received – I have to confess that we cleaned like mad before taking the contest photos (below); the studio is not normally as “tidy” as the photos might otherwise imply).
I had knee replacement surgery this past December, so was not able to put in the amount of quality quilting time I had hoped for. Nevertheless, I just completed (May, 2011) “Monastic Ruin at Glendalough” (which I’m working on in the picture below), a large and colorful quilt of one the seven monastic ruins at St. Kevin’s Monastery City (south of Dublin).
Click here to go to the completed quilt.
In November, 2010, just prior to my knee surgery, I also completed “Up or Down” – a quilt looking down an old stone spiral staircase. Representing a slightly different direction and design than my previous work, the quilt pushed my use of perspective and shadowing to the extreme. Several artists involved in pre-completion design reviews said they actually experienced vertigo while looking “down” the stairs! The work is 59" high x 38” wide.
Other 2010 quilts include Irish Stone Fort Ruin, St. Kevin’s Way, plus the following “non-standard” fun / contributory pieces:
Many Nations
(click to expand)
– A United Nations celebratory quilt (using a recycled UN flag) –
27” High x 36” Wide
Celtic Gold
(click to expand)
– A textile-based take on a traditional Irish jewelry design –
18” High x 18” Wide
Road Canyon Hand Print
– Sold –
– An interpretation of the “Road Canyon Hand Print” (a several century old hand print found
in a Southwestern U.S. cave created by an early Native American blowing red paint over his or her hand) –
18” High x 24” Wide