The Retrospective Theater

I have been given the OK to show my quilt, The Retrospective Theater. It was recently exhibited in an International exhibit in Hollywood, California. I've heard from many who went that is was a fabulous exhibit. All of the exhibits had accompanying three dimensional settings to add to the theme of the quilts. Each category had it's own special space. The 'Silver Screen' exhibit which my quilt was a part of, had old movie reels, old film strips, and general paraphernalia from old films. The exhibit everyone raved about was the real 'woody' parked on the sand in the 'Surf's Up' exhibit because it brought back so much nostalgia for those of us who remember such things.

I'm just excited to have be shown in such a wonderful, totally juried exhibit of this quality. My quilt will now travel for a year to other International shows of what I consider, the highest caliber.


Explanation of my quilt design.

The category of the 'Silver Screen' caused me to think of academy award winners, memories of old bill boards, dreams of an ideal movie theater with fine dining and entertainment = a gathering place for movie lovers.

What is more Silver Screen than the Academy Awards? My theater only shows academy award winners. At the moment it is a triple slam: the only 3 movies that won the 5 major academy awards.

Of course on Sunday afternoons the Bistro features a photo fashion show; each week different award winning designers are featured.

On weekends, for the late night folks, Theater 1 shows films where the director won the Oscar.

My bill board advertisement expresses my desires for an ideal theater venue. As well as acknowledging and honoring the award winners. It strives to respond to patrons desires in order to have a viable enterprise.

Techniques used: piecing, raw edge, fusing, photo transfer, printing, and painting.

This is a photo of my whole quilt ~42"x60+" hanging on my quilt wall in my dining room. All of the text/advertisement was made up by me to enhance my idea.




Sketch for the 'movie clip'.



Close up of the raw edge movie clip. I made this using pieces of fabric and fusing them to a background to make the picture. Notice how I needed to change the book. Had it all wrong in the first sketch.



Close up of the close up so that you can see more detail about how I made the piece.



This shows how I blocked the quilt. The layout 'lines of yarn' are the dimensions that it should be according to my guide/plan of what I was doing. You will notice some 'shrinkage'.



Blocking corner closeup.




More about the process of making the quilt for those of you are are not totally saturated.

Fabric ironed and pinned to a board. This is my pallet.


Testing fabric contrast for letters.


Fusing material and fabric for letters. After fusing the fabric to the material, I cut out each letter and then ironed it in place.



Fusing the quilt title letters.

Hypsboas Pellucens = endangered species

2008 is named the year of the frog by Conservationists. Up to half of the world's 6,000 amphibian species are in danger of extinction. All are being affected by habitat loss, pollution, climate change, pesticides and introduced species. An even bigger threat is the deadly parasite fungus known as amphibian chytrid.

First photo is the painted frog on the fabric background.



Second photo is the frog with the background enhanced with stitching, then framed in velvet.


Third photo is to try and show the dimension of the piece.

rusty thing in my garden

Last weekend I was working in my garden trying to get it flat enough to plant. During the digging I uncovered this large piece of rusty something. I think it was once used to hold something up. I photographed my foot in the photo so you could get an idea of size. That is a size 42 clog.



Since I have never tried rust dying, I thought this was the perfect time. I used two very different fabrics to see how this would work. However it has been a week now and nothing is happening. I've tried to keep the fabric wet. However, during the day, the sun really dries it out fast. Could I put it in a plastic bag? Or would that make it mold? Suggestions welcomed.

Pickled Cherries

Ann's pickled cherries

Adds a gorgeous bit of color to the relish tray.
Also makes a nice gift.


Look at the volume of cherries and pick out some smallish jars to fill.
I used 8 oz to 14 oz. Other sizes will work.
Sterilize jars and lids. Let set in water until ready to use.


Sort the cherries, keeping only the best non-blemished ones with intact stems.
Save the others for another use.
Rinse the cherries in cold water.
Trim the stems halfway down.

1 pound.....cherries


Set jars on counter or drain board.
As you fill the jars with cherries, prick each cherry a couple of times with a sterile needle.


When the jar is half full, add the following to each small jar; double for large jar.
5 or 6.....whole black peppercorns
2..........cloves
2..........thick slices ginger root
1 inch.....stick cinnamon crushed

Continue filling with cherries.


Prepare the sweet-and-sour mixture.
In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, water and sugar and bring to a boil.

3/4 cup, rounded.....white vinegar
3/4 cup, scant.......water
3/4 cup..............sugar, brown or white


Pour hot pickling liquid into cherry filled jars.
Place sterilized lids on jars.
Cool.

Refrigerate at least 1 month before using.

Keeps approximately one year in the refrigerator, depending on the vinegar and the sterilization of jars and lids.

Sweet Peas from Mom

For many years my Mom grew sweet peas on a pasture gate that was no longer used to fence in animals. It was always left open. Every spring when Mom was picking daffodils, which she grew along the fence, she would peek to see if the sweet peas were coming up. One year after I bought my house, my Mom sent me a little medicine container of sweet pea seeds. I planted them near a small sundial in my tiny yard. I've got about 4' between the neighbors garage and my old barn, now a rental apartment. These beautiful sweet peas have been coming up for 10 years now. They are a lovely memory; another connection with my Mom.

This year we have had a lot of rain. The sweet peas and everything else just grew twice as big as usual. The green vines behind the sweet peas are some out of control kiwi vines. I'll trim them back AFTER I harvest the fruit. Just got a male vine two years ago. Looking forward to my first real harvest. Maybe I'll move the snakes from the cherry tree to the kiwi vines to keep the birds away. However, I think it is the squirrels who eat this fruit.

art of the heart finished

I finally finished the embroidery on this heart piece. It came out a little brighter than I like. However it is for a July 3 birthday present to someone who enjoys bright colors. If she likes it, that is what counts. I'm always cautious about gifts because one never knows if the person really appreciates. I usually appreciate handmade things more because I know the work involved. She also does creative things, so I'm hoping she will like this, even though it just goes in the mail today.