Color

Do you have a favorite color? My grand daughter, Haven, and I have such a hard time choosing a favorite, that we've just decided to have a different one every day. Hers is always the same as mine (for now!). Yesterday, it was 'sparkly rainbow'...the color of her nail polish which she had described to me over the phone. 

Yesterday, I pulled some pretty colors from my stash using the fabric in the background as my inspiration. I'm thinking of jumping on the "Granny Square" bandwagon....

I have the fun job of being one of the librarians for my quilt guild. A few months ago we weeded out our shelves and had a little book sale to make money for new books. Here's some of the titles I'll be introducing tomorrow during the meeting. The covers are so colorful and pretty, who wouldn't want to check them out!

 Are you attracted to any certain color....or just all of them like me?!

Fifth Sunday in April

"... I know whom I have believed;

and am convinced that he is able to guard

what I have entrusted to him for that day."

2 Timothy 1:12b

We Can Do Kandinsky!

Wassily Kandinsky is sometimes thought of as the father of abstract art. In much the same way that he carved his way into traditional art, modern quilters are finding respect within a traditional craft. (BTW, two of these prints are upside down...guess who's fault that was!)  

Take a look at all of these beautiful and creative quilts made by members of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild in response to the recent Kandinsky Challenge. Quilters chose one of 9 different paintings as their inspiration to create a wallhanging size quilt using solid fabrics. Let's start with a group picture of the participants snapped at the end of a fun KCMQG meeting....

 *Warning*This is a photo heavy posting, but I wanted you to see each of the 26 quilts up close and personal. During the reveal, the guild members voted for their favorite in each catagory as well as for their overall favorite. The winners are pictured at the end of this post. Enjoy the show! 

Can you guess which painting was the inspiration for each quilt?

And here are the viewer's choice winners for each category represented. The quilt in the middle, made by Mary Kay Fosnacht, also easily won the overall Viewer's Choice Award.
(There are only 8 award winners because no one chose to use painting #3 as their inspiration.)

The KCMQG Kandinsky Challenge quilts will be on display during the Machine Quilter's Showcase, May 16-19, in Overland Park, Kansas. You won't want to miss this amazing collection if you are planning to attend the showcase! WOW!


(If you must know, prints 6 and 8 are upside down!) LOL

Signals-The Kandinsky Version

We interrupt the regularly scheduled program, "Farmer's Wife Friday", to bring you this special broadcast of "Signals- The Kandinsky Version". 

 My binding was stitched down in plenty of time for a photo shoot at the closest thing to a boat marina that I could find.....a bridge over a stream!

 I feel like my quilt has a nautical feel in a sort of racetrack slash TV test pattern slash steering wheel kind  of way (except for that upside down ice cream cone on the bottom that was supposed to look like a boat. Thanks, Fred.)

 I tried to add texture with organic quilting that might imitate waves rolling over water. Using two different whites, Kona white and Kona snow, created a bit of dimension to the signals. 

 I had a lot of fun making this out-of-the-ordinary-for-me quilt. I hope that Mr. K would approve. It's good to be stretched!

 My next post will reveal all of the fantastic quilts made by other members of the KC Modern Quilt Guild in their response to the Kandinsky Challenge. Be prepared to be amazed!

Kandinsky's On White II was my inspiration.

(Farmer's Wife Friday will be rescheduled for Monday.)

Inspiration from Art

Have you ever challenged yourself to create a quilt using a piece of artwork as your inspiration? If not, I can almost guarantee that you will be stretched and, find that in doing so, you will tap into creativity that you didn't realize lurked within in you. You'll have lots of fun, as well!  Yesterday, I showed you some of the parts I'm using to create a quilt using a painting by Wassily Kandinsky as my inspiration. I've got the quilt together and am quilting it today. Here's a teaser..

Take a look at more art by this famous painter and some creativity it is still generating today...
http://www.google.com/search?q=kandinsky+circles&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-CmYT9WuEIGi2AXE06T8Bg&ved=0CFkQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=613

The idea for the KC Modern Quilt Guild Kandinsky Challenge began last summer when I made this...

You can read about my block design and inspiration here. While I'm not certain that this type of quilt is really "me", I have enjoyed the creative process very much and would like to explore it again in the future.

Meanwhile, I'll keep quilting away on my quilt as the deadline looms tomorrow evening. (Why do I do this to myself?! ) Anyway, I'm getting pretty excited about seeing all the other quilts created by the awesome KCMQG members. There will be a Viewer's Choice Prize for each of the inspiration painting categories. I'll be sure and take pictures so that you can enjoy them as well!

Round and Round

Over the weekend, I was invited to a very fun birthday party! The birthday girl, who turned three, wore a beautiful crown, made by her mommy, and blew out candles on a cake topped with a carousel.

 Besides being good at crown making, Maelie's mommy is also very creative in the party planning department. Look at all of this cuteness!

 The kids all got to drink their choice of flavored milk from these adorable bottles made by drilling holes in the top of Starbuck's frappachino lids and inserting candy striped straws.  (I'm going to have to steal this idea for my next party...or anytime!)

Anything would taste good using one of these straws!

Once the gifts were opened and the cupcakes, popcorn and candy were eaten, we all headed to the park to join Maelie in one of her favorite activities....riding on a carousel.

 Why ride a horse when there's a camel or even a chicken sporting a saddle? Maelie, you really know how to keep us entertained!

 Meanwhile, back home, I'm busy going round and round on a quilting challenge for the KC Modern Quilt Guild. Here are some of my parts....

 And here is my inspiration. There were nine different Kandinsky paintings to choose from and we are to make a wall hanging size quilt inspired by our chosen piece of art.

 Of course, we have had 3 months to work on this and yet, once again, I've waited till the last minute. I guess I must work best under pressure!

Stay tuned. It's got to be done by Thursday, one way or the other!