A New Unique Quilt

 This is a totally new way of creating a quilt for me.

I had this section of irregular strip piecing so decided to trim it and attach in to a black base. I had intended to use black cotton for the base. When I went up to the studio in the treetops I remembered I had this rough silk and decided to use it.

One thing led to another and I decided to do a lot of curved quilting. It was really an enjoyable way to stitch. I did find a long repeat variegated thread that was perfect for the project.

I was concerned I'd have trouble with bulk in the corners when I did my usual facings. The corners are as close to perfect as any I've ever done.

This quilt is only about 13 by 18 inches. I am in love with it and hope to use a variation of what I've done for a future project.

I Couldn't Wait For Christmas So Here's the Series I Finished

About 20 years ago I started a set of luggage for my daughter in law Julie. I finished one piece and gave it to her.
The remaining 5 pieces were not finished until this past week. I had intended to save them for her for a birthday or Christmas gift.

Yes, this is the series of 5 pieces I mentioned several times on Facebook.

I was too excited about them and gave them to her yesterday. She loved them.

This is the piece I gave her 20 years ago and she uses it all the time.

I'm so happy to have the entire set completed so she can enjoy it all.

 

How Long Does It Take To Make A 24 Inch Quilt?

   

This one took 34 years.

I marbled the fabric and soon after I made the blocks and sewed them into strips. 

I was not impressed so I put it away for over 30 years.When I discovered it again I loved it so I finished it.

Calling All Former Students - LONG AND FUN!

Whether you took one class from me, were one of my 25 year plus groupies, took classes through Gateway or took my on the road classes, THIS IS FOR YOU!

I am sharing some of the things I have recently finished with photos just to make this post interesting, even though they may not be related to what I am writing about, but to keep you reading and maybe tweak your memory about something you have made from a class project.

I am currenty finishing some projects I taught and didn't finish years ago.
I am working from memory and not looking at my notes.
The one I am currently finishing was a real challenge and I am amazed that those of you who took the class were able to make it, (I can't share the project as it will be a Christmas gift for someone).

It would have been a lot easier if I had pulled up my class notes and it probably wouldn't have taken 3 tries to get the zipper in right side out.

 I had the best group of students anyone could ever have.
It was YOU who pushed me for more, more, more and the reason I developed as I did as a teacher and designer.

I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

I know some of you read my blog and/or my Facebook posts.
I love to hear your comments and thoughts.

I still am left with many unfinished projects because even though a class was finished the project didn't get finished as I was on to developing something new for all of you.

But I do have a prioritized list and I am working on finishing some of them.

Although I am no longer teaching, I continue to develop new ideas and implement them as I work on my own original  ideas, designs and projects.

The Next Of The Story

I had a larger section of this incompleted cross stitch piece left over after making the zipper pouch.

Unfortunately it was stained and had the blue x's to make more cross stitches.

I soaked it overnight in Oxyclean and not only did the stains disappera, but so did the x's.

I haven't quite decided what I will do with it yet.

BIGGER Zipper Pouch

I had a vintage piece of cross stitch that the stitcher had never completed. I cut out a completed section and filled it in with crazy quilting.
It was a fun projet to work on. It even has a pocket inside.

For Never Plaid 2 Has Been Acquired

This quilt spoke loud and clear to the new owner when she saw it.
I am always happy when this happens between my art and an art appreciator.

Hawks And Heros Quilt 2

The first quilt in this series was the first place winner in the Quilters Express To Japan contest.

This is the second in the series and uses freeform curved piecing.

I love to share photos of quilts in room settings. 

This is a quilt you could hang anywhere.
This shows how art can add beauty to a home or office.

44 x 44 inches

$2499 includes shipping in USA

Feather Pouches

I made these 3 zipper pouches from the pieces left from a jacket I made years ago. The fabric was already quilted. 
Making things like this is always a great way to get back into quilting and sewing when I have been away from it for a while.

Words I Live By

This title may not sound very exciting.
Will you keep going and see what I have to say?

The word is SIMPLIFY!
One reason to use a computer is to simplify our lives and make it easier. It is easy to fall down a rabbit hole and waste precious time. And when they work smoothly that is true. When they don't, not true!
Although this quilt may not look simple I used the fabric to it's advantage and created a shaded very complex looking quilt quite simply.

Then we also PROCRASTINATE
That is another way we can waste time.

I had to make a decision on what to do with these pieced diamonds and it only took me 18 years to decided this was the one! 

Two positive words I live by are SERENDIPITY and INTUITION.

They both come from very similar parts of who I am.
I am not one to make long range plans and goals. I found it is too easy for me to get sidetracked if I do and never achieve them.
But if I let SERENDIPITY take over my life goes forward and many wonderful things happen.

I needed something to help deaden the sound in our sunroom. All of a sudden a bolt of lightning hit and I thought maybe this quilt I had made years before and had planned to display in a totally different way might work. I played with it on the tables in my studio to see if I could make it fit the space. It worked perfectly. It is a 2 sided quilt so I was able to loop it around the pole I used to display it.

INTUITION may send me on a journey that I have no idea about why I am heading in that direction, yet when I make that journey the result is often a great reward.

Lest you think my life is only about quilts, my family and friends are a most important part of my life. I had great friends from years ago when we lived in Ohio. We had lost touch with each other for over 40 years. I did remember they had moved to Ocala, Florida so I let my intuition and a little bit of detective skills go to work and I found them. This is the "My Florida Family" I mention often.

Not only did I find my friend Sally (on right) but with a little more detective work we found our other BFF from Ohio....Grace, who lives in Nebraska on the left. What a great feeling after we hadn't been together for 50 years and find it's still the great friendship it was many years ago.

There are always exciting new things happening in my life that I share so stay tuned. 

Still More Zipper Pouches

These were made from Fairfield Cotton Classic batting I painted. I layered organza over the batting  and quilted the sandwich with metallic thread.
I made a vest from the fabric and these were done with what was left.

Ice Dyed Floral Quilt 3

This is the third quilt in the series I made from a gorgeous piece of my ice dyed fabric.
It is also the last as I used all the fabric. 
I used unique borders and quilting on this one.

Making Lemonade Out of BANG Table

When my table fell and broke I tried to figure out what to do as I did need a table to work on. I had other tables but they weren't right.

All of a sudden a light bulb went off in my head as I remembered I had a cutting table in the studio that I wasn't using.

My friend Bob came over and moved the broken table out of the way.

He also single handedly carried this down the stairs. 

It is even better than what I was using as it is the proper height for cutting.

It is also larger.

It's all ready to work at with priority projects and cutting supplies.

And YES the broken table is fixable but I won't be using it now.

BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was sitting in my chair and ready to start sewing when I heard a lound BANG.

My kitchen/cutting table fell and broke.

Friends will be here to help move it out.

Missing My Florida Fiber Friends

These are my friends who I  have so much in common with. We all love to create with fiber, paint, dye and share. They were all there for me at my Florida Ice show to help out with the crowd. 
Right now we are all spread out around the country. Sure do miss each one of them.

Beatrix Potter Baby Quilt

 I made this quilt with a set of Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit hankies. It is at least the 5th similar baby quilt I made. I have more of the hankies somewhere so expect to see another in the future.
It's nice to have a finished baby quilt on hand as there seems to be a lot of babies being born these days.

Amish Shadows Variation

This is the last quilt I hand quilted myself. When I look at the quilting closely I am impressed with the length and evenness of the stitching.
Most of the stitching was done years ago but I did the last bit of it in the past year.

Zipper Pouches From Shirt Cutouts

I made these pouches from several neck cutouts from my No Sweat Checkerboard Shirt pattern I designed.

I adapted my pattern to make an ensemble for the Fairfield Fashion show. These are the cutouts from those garments.

My Lifetime Achievement Award - Anderson Art Center

This is the first time I am sharing this. Only a few of my family and closest friends knew I was being honored.
The gala ceremony for my 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award at Anderson Art Center in Kenosha was scheduled to take place October 10, 2020.
Due to the uncertainty of COVID health issues it has been postponed until mid to late 2021.
It was not held in 2019 as they were closed while they did a 4.3 million dollar upgrade to the facilities.


I was featured on their 10th anniversary calendar.

A friend asked how many hours this meant.
This was my answer:
I have been involved with Anderson even when it was Gallery 124 in a little house across the street.
I had the pleasure to see the building before it was gallery ready.
I’ve had 3 solo shows there, facilitated two others, enter as many of their shows as I can, have judged one of their shows, sing the praises of this jewel of Kenosha county to anyone and everyone.
I love the gift shop with all artist made items and find something for myself or a gift each time I visit.
I make an annual donation which for the last several years has been earmarked for the change to LED lighting throughout the building.
This should give you a glimpse of what this Jewel means to me. I just feel so fortunate to have this connection.

Ponytail Palm For The Sunroom

It has been a long time since I have had live plants. 
My daughter in law Julie has a green thumb and chose this plant as a perfect one for me to live with and care for.
I shopped my house and found the perfect antique crock for it in the family room.
I am so pleased with it in this space.

NEW Time Lapse Sampler Quilt

I created this top from leftover blocks from a quilt I made for our bed years ago. I taught the blocks in a lecture demo class so made extras of most of them. 
It is 78 x 64 inches. 

36/36 Quilt On Design Wall

I finished all 36 blocks each containing 36 pieces.
We laid them out on the design wall.
I took this photograph of them and was pleased so I took them down and have them organized to chain piece.

As I studied the photo I realized there are 2 blocks that I am not pleased with. I have one extra block that I think I can use.
Looks like I'll be making at least one more block.
I'm just pleased I got this much done.

Another Completed Time Lapse Quilt

There are many reasons why some quilts take years to finish.
I am guessing I started this 30-40 years ago.
I think I was dreading sewing all the binding by hand on the back of the quilt.

You are probably seeing this quilt larger than life size.  It is exactly the same size as the World's Smallest quilt I made which was documented in Quilter's Newsletter magazine.
The strips you see in the patchwork are 1/42nd of an inch wide.
It is a serious quilt and I have been offered big bucks for these which I won't part with.
It is 1 1/4" x 1 1/2 inch.

The Original Eight Pointed Star for One Armed Quilter

This is the very first quilt of this style I created. The quilting was finished very recently.
The idea came to me when I was in a great deal of pain and couldn't use my left arm.
I was looking at a typical 8 pointed star with diamonds that require precision piecing.
A light bulb went on in my head wondering if I could used strips rather than diamonds.
Using my computer and Corel Draw I designed this with rainbow colors, the first available palette. I could see it would work.
I had strips precut and selected strips in a similar color palette and started piecing.

I was able to sew it with just one hand and as I sewed my arm improved and I was able to continue creating these pieces for the 8 diamonds.
I just happened to have the rainbow arc fabric I used between each section.
It was very successful and I have made several variations along with teaching the class to many students.
Since the background is black it is harder to see the quilting, but if you can enlarge it you may be able to see it.

Delayed Post

As I spent the last few months settling in I neglected to write posts to share some things I meant to.

I usually return north too late to see the spring flowers in bloom. I was delighted to see how they are expanded and I had so many this year. This is one bouquet of my tulips.

Even the daffodils waited for me.

There were even enough tulips for a second bouquet. 
I really enjoyed having them around to enjoy.

Together Again

I was deciding what projects to bring down to my mini studio and
found a tray of finished blocks.

Then I started to tear the studio and house apart to find the ones I was in the process of creating. Julie and I  searched everywhere and anywhere I thought they could be with no luck.

 I finally realized it was ridiculous to waste time looking for them as they would show up when they were ready to be found.

I headed up to the studio a few days later to get something else.  I looked on a high shelf and I could see the tray I had been looking for., Too high for me to reach so I waited for help getting them .

I have been working on completing the blocks for almost a week now. Still have a lot to do.

Traditional Design Scrap Quilt

This is another time lapse quit probably started about 15 years ago.
Originally I had intended to add 2 borders and had the fabric for them.
I realized it didn't need borders and was a great size for a blankie for ME!
I love scrap quilts. I call this a controlled scrap quilt as I selected fabrics within a broad color scheme.

I am enjoying using this.

54 x 69 inches

Sunrooom Studio

I set up a small studio in the sunroom on the first floor so I can walk over and sew for 5 minutes or a short time.
I am working with leftovers from previous projects making small items. It's working and I have a few done and others in the process.

A Finish! Another Time Lapse Quilt

I started this quilt as a demonstration for our quilt group in Florida. 

It is an origami flying geese quilt.
15 years later it is finished. 

48 x 71 inches

I'm Knitting Pin Cushions

I love to have some simple knitting to do while I watch TV.

My mother had a pincushion I loved and remembered. I could not find a pattern for it so I just experimented. This is my attempt to replicate it. I used a variegated yarn and this reminds me of a rose.

When I finished the first one there was this beautiful orange color left along with other fall colors.
I decided I'd make a pumpkin pincushion.
Both of these were done without patterns.

Quilted In One Day

I had pieced this quilt top a few months ago.
It took me a while to get to the quilting.
I love doing spiral quilting and was able to do all the quilting in one day.
It is about 36 x 45 inches.

A Favorite Vignette

I have a lot of favorites but today this is one of them.

I love to combine art that compliments other pieces. 

The two fused glass pieces were purchased over 10 years ago at an art fair. I have used them in many different places in our home.

The red vase was purchased from a medical fund raiser for an artist. I fell in love with it. 

I made Glory Aura after I had these pieces. I loved it and was lamenting I had no place to hang it in our house. When I measured this space it was perfect and worked so well with the other art.

The impact of using all these together was greater than using one or two alone.

A Unique Ice Dye

This is an ice dye that has not been made into a finished piece of art yet.
I love it but I often run out of time to do everything I'd like to. It is quite different than any other pieces I've ice dyed....and that is my goal to make works that are original and stand on their own as art.
I don’t think I’ll every tire of Ice Dyeing.
Each piece is a new surprise. I play and try different fabric manipulations and colors on each and every one.
I can’t even remember how I did many of them when they are finished. And that is good.
When I made a quick visit to my show this winter before heading south there was a lady there who kept telling me how I should make a record of exactly how I did each one so I could duplicate it. It took me a long time to make her understand that I was creating ART and had no desire to make the same thing over and over. In fact, even if I tried there still would be many variables and each one would be different.
That is the difference between an ART Ice Dyer and a production Ice Dyer. dyess is one of the I don’t think I’ll every tire of Ice Dyeing.
Each piece is a new surprise. I play and try different fabric manipulations and colors on each and every one.
I can’t even remember how I did many of them when they are finished. And that is good.
When I made a quick visit to my show this winter before heading south there was a lady there who kept telling me how I should make a record of exactly how I did each one so I could duplicate it. It took me a long time to make her understand that I was creating ART and had no desire to make the same thing over and over. In fact, even if I tried there still would be many variables and each one would be different.
That is the difference between an ART Ice Dyer and a production Ice Dyer.

25,000 Days Old On Leap Day

This had to be one of the best parties I’ve ever hosted!
I took NO pictures….I just wanted to enjoy the party.\ and the memories are still fresh in my mind after all these years.
The photo you see share a few souvenirs from the party.
How lucky am I to have my 25,000 day old birthday fall on Leap Day and on top of that it was a Friday, the day everyone is in a party mood!
My intent was to make all the food…heavy appetizers and desserts. As I mentioned the party to my friends many of them volunteered to bring something and I did little food preparation.
The food was awesome and plentiful. By the end of the evening almost all the food was gone.

M & M’s
My guest list included neighbors, quilting friends, my Village People friends, my card club, my Wisconsin friends now living in the area, and just plain friends.
I made the rules and they were observed since no one had ever been to a 25,000 day old party before.
This was the invitation:
Kay Sorensen’s 25,000 Day Old Party
Yes, that’s 25 THOUSAND
February 29, 2008 XXXXXX That’s my house!
5 pm. Til ????????????
Heavy appetizers,  dessert and beverages
What to wear? Florida Friday night “going out” clothes!!
In case you have never been to a 25,000 day old party I’m including the Etiquette Rules for a 25,000 day old party
Etiquette Rules for a 25,000 Day Old Party
1. You may NOT bring a present
2. No cards unless you can find a card for a 25,000 day birthday celebration
3. It is NOT proper to bring a present
4. If you have adult houseguests they are most welcome
5. PLEASE do not bring a present
6. It’s all about FUN and enjoying the party!
7. Do not bring a present does NOT mean bring a present.
In case you are one of the people I told I won’t really be 25,000 days old until March 1^st, I WAS WRONG. I recalculated and the proper date is February 29^th. I forgot February had 29 days this year. Oh, well, what can you expect from someone who is almost 25,000 days old!
RSVP to: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Driving and parking Please come in your golf cart if possible. (If you live in The Villages or Ocala do NOT come in your golf cart!)  If you’re driving and can double up it will help the parking situation. And if you live in the neighborhood you can walk!
As guests arrived they were greeted with a hug and a flamingo necklace which set the theme for the party….FLAMINGOES!
I made up a questionnaire and the reward for getting the answers was a flashing flamingo pin! Almost no one completed the questionnaire but it was the best thing I’ve ever done to get people mixing. With friends from such a variety of groups so often people tend to stay in their own little group….not at this party….everyone mixed and met new friends. I did come up with ways to give out almost 50 flashing flamingo pins!
And how many friends attended….64! It had been a cold season and I was thrilled when we had the warmest day and the best weather of any day that month. We were able to have the doors to lanai wide open and people moved back and forth between the great room and the lanai.
If  you are approaching 25,000 days old or any other interesting number I hope you too will have a special unexpected party.
Remember, you are only 25,000 days old ONCE!