Mug Mats

These are fun projects, mug mats 8.5x11.  They are commissions. The second one wanted a custom message so I created the design and make a silk screen to print. I even made a screen to print the piercing pattern onto the batting. 

Bless and be blessed.
~Bobbie

His Tag Quilt

Flannel and Mink for the little guy.

Another Tag Quilt

12" x 14" with different textures.

Spring Break

This semester I'm teaching a Jr. High art class in a private school, my first of this type. It's another learning experience as I design the curriculum, create Power Points, write handouts, order supplies, and spend time with great kids. In the middle of the semester, my pc crashed. Sheesh. But I'm getting by and praying for a miracle. I like it when they come. Don't you?!

This is spring break and though I'd love to be traveling to some distant land or simply taking in the Van Gosh Exhibit in Chicago, my limitations allow me to sew a little, transplant a couple plants and meet a friend visiting from out of town. I should discipline myself to sew even more but, but, oh I can always find a reason to not tackle my to-do list.

Now if I we're able, I'd scour the quilt stores within a 60 mile radius for fabrics to make a quilt I'd redesign from my gift to myself. Sale: buy 1 get 1 60% off.  Couldn't pass that up with the timing of my modest tax return.
     
Instead, I enjoyed making a couple tag blankets for the newest baby in the church. They have different textures included in them, made from scraps from a prior baby quilt.

While the fire's hot, I think I'll see if there's more scrap fab to make a pink one.  To make it have a softer drape, I'll substitute a knit fabric for batting. That means a run into town for a heavy knit and ribbons for tags.  Another stop on my errand list.

Someday soon, I'll have my studios out of storage and there will be no more need for fabric/accessory shopping.  No, I've a store within my storage and can't wait to unwrap all is treasures.  Until then, I'm blessed to be able to do a few things, so I smile.

Bless and be blessed,
Bobbie

Some Quilt Pic - Mine

Pressed for time but want to get some pics of some of the quilts I've made.  Also check TOPICS on the right of many other, many kinds, many sizes. 

Boundary. This piece is displayed at a local college, under Plexiglas, therefore poor pictures.  It's 3 layer that are only connected to the top bar.  All silk and velvet fabrics are my handdyed, except the black silk. I've devored some of the velvet. Aged barbed wire fencing is attached, as well as flexible webbing.  This is one of twenty pieces from each member of our then, newly founded art co-op gallery we formed, Artists' Own.  The gallery is now in it's 16th successful year but I resigned some years ago.

Traditional with batiks, 10 inch blocks. Block of the Month challenge personalizing with batiks. Something inside me insists on customizing every project I do so it won't be just like everyone else's.

Sushi for my daughter, large lap quilt.

 

 

Jetsons. This was a Block of the Month challenge personalized with batiks and retro 'Jetsons' looking fabric.  Yet to be quilted.



 

 

From my handdyed fabrics.  12"x8" cut and made into luggage tags. 

The Gift Of Listening shown in Chicago and Texas show.

 

 

My part of a 4 part collaborative baby quilt. 

 

More later.

 

Bless and be blessed!

Bobbie

Praying for a Way

My life has been filled with many endeavors due to passion creating confidence, competence, and the grace of God.  The last several years have been ones of saturated personal refinement, difficult but good. 

Want a copy of my resume?  Just let me know: Traditional or Artist. Want my story?  I'll share it with you.  We all have one and interesting to hear.

For now, I am looking for a way to support myself and wouldn't it be great if it were with my gift, talents and experience.  One way I've been contemplating and praying about for several years now is with a quality long arm quilting machine.  There's a wait list of six months in this area for that business.  My student and business contacts would help jump start me.  I could use all my organizational and some creative skills from my years of the couple of art/teaching businesses I've done.

I've researched ways to finance a machine by every typical means, including a grant, but none work for me.  Since Christ still does miracle, it's possible.  One way is to enter into a contract with a financial backer, me giving them a percentage of the proceeds until I pay off the machine.  The best part of having a personal relationship with the Living God is that He thinks higher than I so I won't limit Him in what, when or how He works.  He uses people to bless in many ways, including ideas.

Soooooooo, dear ones, if you know of a way I might be able to plug into this business idea to support this SHUWOW (single healthy uneducated white 'old' woman), please let me know.  In the meantime, I'll continue to put in applications and network.

Though I've no answers, I'll look back someday and see the hand of the Lord in all this.  He is faithful!  Yes, Jesus is.

Bless and be blessed.
~Bobbie

Fiinished Baby Quilts in '12

The first two I made as samples for the hospital program I started for the high risk pregnancy unit.  We help expectant mother's make their baby a quilt while they are in the hospital.

For Zeke

Collaborative of four for Miriam. 

This is my quarter.

Keeping Busy

What have I been doing?  A few things.  In July, I made Zeke a baby quilt.  He was born a week ago.

In January, I recovered two of my kitchen chairs.

Last fall, I took two more classes from Nancy Crow and another from David Hornung.  At this point in my art life, he is my all time fav.  Don't tell Nancy.  Since they have different subject matter, it's not a comparison.  Shhh.

Fall '11 and Spring '12 I taught at the Indianapolis Art Center.  We did five weeks of mono printing, then twelve weeks of independent study.  I had great students!!!

Last week I spent at Seiver's on Washington Island beading in Diane Fitzgerald's class.  I still have to sew the components together.

I have also started a Quilt Program at a local hospital in the high risk pregnancy unit.  We had our first mother finish her baby's quilt.

I start Fall classes next week.  I'm taking three.  In prep, the school offers Student Success classes.  Of the four I took, I was only late to the 'Manage Your Time' presentation.  LOL.

Next?  Finding a way to support myself and still succeed at three classes a semester to secure my Bachelor's and Master's in Fine Art.  Miracles still do happen!

Happy Creating,
Bobbie

1st Large 1st Traditional Quilt

In '07, my oldest daughter had a black and red living room with Asian decor. She's always cold so this should help to give her a warm snuggle.

Imri's Sushi Lap Quilt 52x74 - Started 6-07, slept till 4-12. 

This is the first traditional style quilt I've made.  It's also the first piece I quilted that was larger 2ft.

 

Signed 'With Heart & Hand for Imri Grace from Mom. Bobbie WV '07 & 4-12". Other end "I'll love forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be" taken from Love You Forever that I read while crying when the girls where young.

She likes toile and I was amazed when I came upon an Asian toile print instead of the common French ones. It's the main fabric on the back.

Journal Quilts

I joined people across the world in making Journal Quilts for a few years.  Journal Quilts are 8.5" x 11" with the goal of making one a month (at least 9) and experimenting in techniques.  One of mine was published in Creative Quilting: The Journal Quilt Project with Karey Bresenhan.  You will see Beading in PV, MX on page 206.

2005

Jan '05 - Many Many Quilts

Feb '05 - Power Source

March '05 - Stages of Daughterhood - Mommy

April '05 - Suicide By Tabacco - Survivors' Heartbreak

2006

Jan 06 - Beading in PV, MX

back of Beading in PV, MX

Feb ' 06 - Log In Your Eye

March '06 -  Synthetically Organic

April '06 - Lint Roller & Bubble Jet

May '06 - Remains of the Day

June '06 - Ima Flashen

July '06 - Sheer Color

Aug '06 - Parts of Speech (front)

Parts of Speech (back)

Sept '06 -  Ricky Timm Inspired

'07 Listen 17 x 22 "We can do no great things, only small things with great love."

~Mother Teresa