Stitching in the South of France
Imagine my delight when I received this picture from Veronique, who lives in the South of France. She and a group of textile artists meet and share ideas on a regular basis.
This pillow, created by Veronique, was inspired by my article in the February/March 2009 edition of Quilting Arts Magazine call Power to the Hand Stitcher.
Here is my version of the heart quilt, Joyful Heart #21, from the article. I like Veronique's version much better. Her stitching is exquisite! Proving once again that hand embroidery transforms a quilt from flat to vibrant and beautiful.

We Have a Winner!
Congratulations to Bairbre Bible for her first place win in the Hill Country Quilt Guild Show with this quilt, Lady of Shallot! I had a lovely visit while teaching the ladies of Texas in 2008 where Bairbre and I met.
Do you recognize the fabric background? That is a piece of my hand dyed fabric called Italian Prune. I love the way she used the color striations found in the fabric to her advantage. This is an excellent example of how to use a hand dyed fabric.
Great quilt Bairbre! You deserve that first place award.

Danger! Low Inventory!
It looks like it's time to dye again. My inventory of hand dyed fabrics for the Artfabrik site is running on empty. Everything from the Avacado Squash colorway to Italian Prune is in need of replenishment. And I ask you, where was Martha Stewart when I needed help naming these colorways?

It will be a battle between my need to dye fabric and my desire to be out in the garden this coming week. If only I had a little elf to dye the fabric!

Mother's Day Memories
It was a wonderful Mother's Day week for me. We celebrated last weekend with dinner. My son, Gus (above), took me to a movie, and my daughter, Louise (my partner in gardening), gave me some new gardening clogs.
My family is often the topic of my art quilts. But I'm not sure how to incorporate Star Trek, pasta, and green garden clogs into a quilt. Any ideas?

Free to a Good Home
May is my birthday month. And I'd love to celebrate it with each and everyone of you! Especially if there is cake involved.
As a birthday gift to all my lovely Artfabrik customers, I'd like to give you this free Garden Basket pattern with any order you place with me over $30 during the month of May.
For the fabric and threads used in this quilt, check out the Artfabrik Store. You can also find notions and other patterns to make. Come and party with me all month long!

Birdland Bertie
It's a great day for gardening! My gardening companions are song birds busy building nests and singing their little hearts out. A cardinal serenaded me through a hour of digging, weeding, and transplanting today. One little bird even checked out my birdhouses. No doubt looking for high class digs like these above.
So much of my work is inspired by my garden. Here's an example called Coleen's Calling Birds. Note the high class birdhouses. Who wouldn't want to live there?