International Quilt Festival 2010

The International Quilt Festival in Houston was as spectacular as ever! Darling daughter and I took in the glorious color, impeccable workmanship and exciting innovations introduced at this year's Market and Festival. Kaffe Fassett's magnificent fabrics are always a highlight. Here, in a booth by Material Girls were some finished quilts, along with his fabrics, patterns
(with Liza Prior Lucy!) and kits.


We picked up this one for my mom, who didn't make it to Festival with us this year. It is featured in Quilt Sampler as a Top 10



Pro Dye and Chemical: great resource for fabric dyes, inks, and how-to books!

Nifty Thrifty had a terrific booth with distinctive, colorful collections of fabulous vintage finds!

Great colored wool felt from Ewe-nique creations!




The shopping here is the best in the biz!

Ahh, now for a few quilts! Unfortunately, many exhibits and breathtaking quilts were off-limits for photography but we walked and admired, in awe, hoping to remember those amazing works of art. Though we appreciated and photographed many award winners, we tended to spend much of our time in the art quilt areas. This gorgeous flower was named
"Peacockiness" by Marilyn H. Wall, quilted by Diana Pickens.

This beauty was entitled "April Showers Bring May Flowers" by Therese Kirchner. It was part of the "Celebrate Spring 2010" exhibit.

I loved this piece: "Angling" by Inge Mardal and Steen Hougs of Chantilly, France

DD and I both loved the saturated color of this Native American themed:
"Moonlit Mirage" by Denise Havlan

"Tortilla Soup"
by Kim Klocke was whimsical and very textural with beading, couching and applique.

DD liked this one..
"Wild Stripes" by Melanie Marr

Founder's Award $7500 Winner: "Mary Simon Rediscovered" by Nancy Kerns

We LOVED "Hanging By a Thread"
by Nadine Sanders and the Hanging By a Thread Quilt Group of Chehalis, WA

"Caddy and the Cakes" by Janet Fogg was deliciously detailed!

"Innocence" by Hollis Chatelaine
This spectacular quilt was the winner of the People's Choice Award.

Festival..Inspirational!
sewing IS art!
-EE

Ribbons & Roses & Feeding Your Passion!

The Spirit of the American Morgan Horse

In Lexington, Kentucky, Horse Capital of the USA, the grounds are magnificent, the stars are World Champions, the sports include Polo & all disciplines of riding and horsemanship, the art is equestrian, and bloodlines run deep and as Royal as any tricolors' Blue.

Thoroughbred Park

Man O' War, sire of Triple Crown Winner War Admiral, also memorialized here.

This summer, as in most horse show seasons for us, it is all about feeding our passion for the glorious four-legged creatures & finding a way to manage: stabling, traveling, training & feeding-yet still finding a way to "manage the store" that is, our family businesses.

Fortunately, we have an awesome, talented trainer who takes care of the "ponies" & we are learning from our teenager that it is truly not the trophy, but the race.

This means making family vacations of horse shows- we wouldn't trade these adventures for anything!



For my part, I will "work for feed"


This week I am doing custom sewing of "designer" ladies hunt show shirts! I made a pattern-first for my daughter, then for several others and got to work.

By adding special touches not usually found in off-the-rack shirts, even most custom shirts, such as piping, elegant monograms and new collar shapes, things are hopping in the order department!

Anything to feed the horse habit!!

Happy feeding your Passion!
-EE

Bluebird of Happiness!

These little birdies, both bluebird and golden bird are vintage bark cloth inspired! Using embroidery software and digitizing over 1930's-era bark cloth, these colorful rayon feathered friends are a treat to stitch out, stitch up and embellish.

Here are a few bags which I made from my vintage collection.

Making new from old is a favorite work and pastime!

Happy Treasure Hunting!
-EE

Fiber Art Jewelry Fun!

Ear Candy (cupcakes!)

Summer is the perfect time to express yourself with color, whimsy and texture! These embroidered and soft sculptured earrings, bracelets and necklaces are fun to make and even more fun to wear! Along with filling orders I've made a couple for me too. My favorites are the strawberry earrings & canary bracelet (though I love assorting colorful birdies on a large link necklace, too!)

Here are a few of the ones I have been making & shipping.

I've included a few in ilovefiberart gallery store...kits will be coming later!


Happy Expressing Yourself!
-EE

Celebrity Cupcakes & Other Winter Fun!

Many bright & colorful spots this winter season! These little treasures were ordered & shipped to a fabulous & influential celebrity whom I met at a Holiday show! These were actually her follow-up purchase from ilovefiberart.com site after buying all that I had left at the art show! Even beading the "sugar" was a pleasure for this delightful, personable & visionary woman.

For tiny cupcakes kits see ilovefiberart.com store. Thank you!

After that, I got back to work building more cupcake kits for upcoming classes...taking time out to make a cherry pie! This is my first lattice-top effort & it was a great inspiration! I am anxious to do pies in fiber next!!
R & B Holiday & snow pics! It has been coldest winter here in 14 years with a White Christmas & New Year's & wind chills of 40 below! Back to my toasty workroom to make more yummy (low-calorie) treats! Those pies & (real) cupcakes have taken their holiday toll!

Happy 2010!
EE

Round & Round- Sewing & Traveling!!

If you are like me, you enjoy having something to do with your hands while traveling...that is if you are fortunate enough to be in the passenger seat! Here, on top of my handy atlas (i love my atlas-even though my dear husband & darling daughter both have GPS on their fancy phones-I like the old fashioned visual overview of a GIANT Rand-McNally!) is a pillow I made & embellished....around & around & around!

You can always find endless uses for beautiful vintage pearl buttons! I raided my collection yet again but was entertained for many hours with this pillow!

Here is the built-in door "caddy" (I am thinking that someone should design a better travel holder! maybe a soft one with pockets to hold everything from thread, scissors to buttons?) Sounds like a good project for later!

*Note-I finally finished the pillow & was a little sad to see it go at a recent show...a nice lady purchased it plus 2 other gold ball pillows with buttons & beads to group as a set. At least they have a happy home & will all be together!!

Happy Sewing & Travel!
-EE

ilovefiberart FUN with Garden Deva!

If there is anything more fun than sewing & making art & craft...it is doing it with great friends! Last weekend's Garden Deva show in Tulsa was a grand success, with fun had by all! Lisa Regan aka the Garden Deva once again showed that she is a generous supporter of local artists, musicians & craftspeople by hosting 2 days of party & show.

Suzi Swinford's & Joe Staskal's incredible pottery & stoneware were among my favorites! Also, Lisa Regan's furniture & fireplace screens, horse sculpture garden-stakes, Maggie Connolly's jewelry, Angie of Blair B Design's relic jewelry & Terri Higgs' silk scarves were amazing!

Here is a shot of my booth, with Suzi Swinford next to me & Lisa Regan's whimsical Garden Deva Sculptures on the wall behind. How about that neon PINK tree? I found that, as well as a pretty PURPLE one at Garden Ridge...already lit & on sale for $29.!

This artist knits & spins..with live demonstrations on her wheel!

Shopping & getting into the spirit!

More show photos & Suzi at her booth.

Maggie Connolly & her terrific silver & recycled jewelry....

Milling about with Betty Boop on her handbag....

Angie B. with one of my teeny-tiny embroidered birds-in-acorn hat nest...she attached one to a delicate square-beaded rosary chain for her beloved daughter Blair, for whom her company is named.
Happy & inspired crafting & collaborating!
-EE