American Houses

Here's another oldie for you. American Houses. This is the one that I made and ended up with so many scraps that I just had to make the Patriotic Crazy. I know it's busy but I love it anyway. It's currently ON LOAN to my parents. LOAN I tell you. I want it back some day.

I told you that I was going through old magazines. The quilting magazines made me depressed. I feel so out-of-step with the quilt industry/shows/publications etc. So many pictures of perfect, intensely difficult quilts. While I can admire their ability, I still feel cold. I LOVE imperfections and wobbles and for all the blocks to look different and fun.

What did I choose to save? Pics of antique quilts (back when everyone made quilts to the best of their ability but without the need of perfection) and an article on the Ralli Quilts of India/Pakistan. I can see why I let one of my magazine subscriptions lapse a year ago.

Even Quilting Arts isn't doing it for me anymore. Way too many dolls, postcards, ATCs and techniques I'd never want to try. Sigh.

On a different topic, I received my belated Christmas present copy of Nancy Crow's new book. I'm a big fan of hers. Don't love all her work by any stretch of the imagination, but some of it just stuns me. Some inspired by utility quilts only modern looking. I love that she loves to machine piece and the quilts are all hand-quilted. They look like quilts. That's one of my main dislikes of so many art quilts - they're way more art than quilt.

Nancy Crow's workspace is so awesome. Three huge design walls and an incredible amount of space. I love looking at the folk art and textiles she has up, esp the brightly colored wool bags from Mexico. For the dyers out there, you will just choke when you see the amount of space, equipment and supplies she has. Something like 500 yards of PFD white fabric just sitting there ready for her to get started. I soooo want to go play in her studio.

I have been a good girl, getting something crossed off the to-do list almost every day. I've delivered a couple of heavy loads of books and magazines to our little library here. The temp has been in the upper 90s but it doesn't feel too horrible most days because there is something of a breeze and the air quality has been fairly decent.

My friend C. had horrendous problems getting her cat Bella to the vet on Saturday. Bella bit through C's leather glove and really got her knuckle, which is now infected. She's on all sorts of antibiotics and if it isn't better soon she has to go in to the hospital to get a shunt put in. Aiyee. It took three tranquilizer shots to get Bella calmed down enough to get her microchip in and that was after they got Bella out from behind the fridge at the vet's. Made my whole experience look a lot better. Howler may get really scared and freak out, but he's not mean or wild.

Here are some fun links to try, if you haven't already. Kim at Force Majuere Farm is a quilt restorer and she recently explained the problems with using polyester and fusibles in quilts (it's frightening.).

I absolutely love Pine Ridge Quilter Laura's work. She too loves words on quilts and putting in info like names and dates. And none of that darn perfection stuff either. Check out the (dog)house quilt she made in honor of her sweet puppy Bullvye and the wonderful plaid Christmas stars.

Carol at Giraffe Dreams is a fairly new blogger. She made a fun Welcome quilt using the free-pieced letters. Go over and give her some encouragement.

The fabulously lucky Kristin at Knit One Quilt Too recently attended a lecture by Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran. I'm anxiously awaiting for more pictures of their quilts. And if that weren't enough, Kristin was going to the Sister's Quilt Show too. Envy envy envy.