Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

Hello Quilters!

As many of you know I am a participant in the Alzheimer's Forgetting Piece by Piece exhibit, a nationally touring quilt exhibit of heartbreak and hope.

Just wanted to let you know that the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative has now funded it’s first $10,000 direct research grant as a "quilter" nonprofit. Details are here: http://www.alzquilts.org/grant001.html (Previous to AAQI becoming a nonprofit in January 2008, donations were funneled through the Alzheimer's Association as donations restricted for research.) Since becoming our own nonprofit we have raised almost $133,000 and direct funding for research is the goal.

Also, there is a wonderful opportunity for those of you currently taking care of a family member with Alzheimer's, to help raise money that doesn't require threading a needle. You must be involved in the caring process now, and would be willing to take some surveys. The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative can earn $25 per completed survey. Sisters, brothers, and other family members involved can also sign up to complete these on-line surveys and also help snag $25 for research.

Please learn how here: http://www.alzquilts.org/onlineresearch.html

Melody

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you label your quilts?
I think as a minimum labels should consist of the name of the maker, the date and city and state. Because my quilts often travel, I include my full address, email and phone number. I also add the name of the quilt.

When did you start quilting?
My mother taught me to sew doll clothes when I was five. I've sewn, my clothes, kids clothes curtains, that kind of stuff. The first baby important to me was born in 1978. I made her a quilt! That was it for me, I was hooked!

What batting do you use?
Generally speaking, it needs to be 80% or more cotton, the right size and in my house. I am not using some wool for the larger quilts because the wool is lighter in weight and easier for me to maneuver when I machine quilt.

Do you use the new basting sprays in your quilts?
No, I like to have the ability to scoot the quilt around to make the straight lines straight BEFORE I safety pin baste.

Do you block your quilts?
Generally, yes. The exceptions are to be used family quilts and heavily embellished ones. My work walls are made of Celutex ( a building material) covered with Warm and White. I pin the quilt to the wall, making sure everything is straight and square. I dampen a piece of muslin and pin it to cover part of the quilt, then with my iron, using an up and down motion, I press, re-wetting and moving the muslin as necessary.

Parisienne Rose

Parisienne Rose, captures the romance and excitement you would expect to see at a glittering ball in one of Europe’s capital cities, or perhaps gracing a shop window along the Champs d’Elise, enticing delighted passers-by to take a closer look.

Constructed of heavy silk taffeta hand-selected and imported directly from China, the brilliant red woven jacquard fabric is a delightful panorama of delicate roses in red and black. The fabric itself served as inspiration for the ultimate design. The close-fitting strapless gown has a darted dropped waist bodice and a double gathered skirt trimmed in lace I created using software, 15,000 yards of fuchsia-colored Isacord thread and Aqua Mesh Stabilizer. My Bernina Artista 200 worked furiously for over 100 hours on just the lace motifs, alone.

The long evening shawl, my own original design, is made of shocking pink polyester lined with red Chinese silk taffeta to match the gown. The beautiful dimension you see is achieved with pin tucks stitched with a 2.5 double needle and red thread just a few shades darker than the fabric. Each of the 86 small lace motif along the shawl’s edges took 30 minutes to stitch, and the 14 larger ones each required over an hour.

Both gown and shawl are embellished with 5,000 Swarovski crystals, ranging in size from 3 to 5 mm. Their brilliant colors – fuchsia, ruby, rose, Siam, light Siam, and light Siam Aurora Borealis – twinkle and flash, just like the eyes of the beautiful woman fortunate enough to wear this chic and stunning ensemble.

Quilts of Valor

Quilts of Valor is in desperate need of 600 - 700 quilts to be donated to the Warrior in Transition Battalion at Ft. Bragg, NC. Quilts of Valor is a volunteer organization which provides quilts to wounded warriors to help in their recovery.

Here are the details about the quilt(s) needed for donation:

* Finished quilts can be of any piecing pattern.
* Red, white and blue fabrics would be their first choice, but any kind of fabrics are fine, but please, no children's fabric.
* The recommended size of a donated quilts is 54 x 67 inches.
* The quilts can be a maximum of 72 x 87 inches and a minimum of 50 x 60 inches.
* Please, no quilts that look like flags. Flag quilts are used to cover coffins.
* Because this is a request for quilts to be donated to a specific program, the Warriors in Transition Battalion, the finished quilts need to be mailed directly to Sue Wolf, a point of contact for the Warrior in Transition Battalion. Her group, The North Carolina Stars of Hope Quilters present the quilts to the wounded soldiers in person. Please contact Sue Wolf at swolf@email.unc.edu for information on how to send your quilt to her.

“The Wonderful World of Quilts & Textiles”

I'm home from Italy and finally over my jet lag I hope. I have good news!

The Good Earth

I have been invited to participate in the Jupiter Arts Center & Gallery Inaugural Exhibition Invitation “The Wonderful World of Quilts & Textiles”.

The Grand Opening of a new Arts Center & Gallery in the Historic Downtown of Centralia with a survey exhibition features the works of 19 Pacific NW Quilters and two Fiber sculptors. Plus a wine tasting & live music!

Details:
Dates of Exhibition: May 29 – June 25, 2009
Date of Reception: May 30th, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Location: 325 N. Tower Avenue, Centralia, WA 98531
Hours: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Wed. – Sat.
Contact person: Robert Tomlinson, Executive Director

Venice

Venice is Europe's best preserved city. Car-free it survives on tourists! Bought a vaporetto (bus by boat) pass to cover all the days we are here.

We rented a two bedroom apartment a few vaporetto stops past Saint Mark's Square. Loved riding along the Grand Canal to see all the sights!
Rialto Bridge

San Giorgio Maggiore

The view from San Giorgio Maggiore's bell tower

Ca'd'Oro the best example of Venetian Gothic architecture on the canal.


My favorite house with garden.

Welcome to the Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is a remote chunk of the Italian Riviera. No museums, just sun, sea, sand, wine and stairs! We spent 3 nights in Vernazza.

I took a boat ride from Monterossa al Mare;

to Vernazza;


to Corniglia;

to Manarola;

and Riomaggiore;

Great views of all five of the towns!

Florence

Welcome to Florence the home of the Renaissance and the best art in Europe! This is a view of the Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River taken from the Uffizi Museum.
Michaelangelo's last Pieta was like all of his work unbelievable in it's beauty.
There is art everywhere!
And everyday life!

And of course lots of bling!

Siena

We decided it would be fun to rent a car for a few days, see some of the country side, do laundry and rest from all the wonderful museums. So we rented a 2 bedroom apartment in an Agriturismo in what turned out to be a very small village. Delightful place with a welcoming host.

Agriturismo Poggio Salvi




Il Campo, Siena (Town square)

Siena is a delightful hill town to vist. Walking the winding streets of old town you get a real feel of the rrelaxed life in Tuscany,

Driving the winding back roads we saw all the wonderful sights of Tuscany. My favorite was Volterra. No pictures to share be cause my camera battery died and or course the extra is safely tucked in my suitcase!

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

Land of colors and fragrances, this is a splendid corner of Italy. The Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast host an enticing pageant of blue seas, jagged coastlines and lush hills. We road the bus to the delightful towns of Sorrento, Amalfi and Positano.

Famous for it's lemon products, we smelled the soap and tasted the local liquor Lemonchello. Even in the rain, it is a magical place!

Rome

The Colosseum - There are no words to describe the Colosseum. It is a 2,000 year old building that could hold 50,000, blood thirsty roaring fans. All and all an over whelming sight!

St. Peter's Basilica - Fortunately we went back to St. Peter's early in the morning to beat the crowds.

Michelangelo' s Pieta

I even climbed the 320 very narrow stairs to the top.

From the top of Peter's

On Vacation

I'm in Rome with two friends, it is more beautiful than I possibly imagined. Arrived here in the morning and after a walk and a short nap I almost felt over the jet lag.


Started our first full day with a trip to the Vatican.
The floors are a quilters design inspiration.


Then there is the shopping... and the bead store.


I'll post more when I can.

Quilt Shops near Salt Lake City

Quilts, Etc
11 Main St
Sandy, UT 84070
(801) 255-2666‎Amazing fabic store and help with quilting questions and confusion. They have great help with the knowledge they need to help you. They will take the time it takes to help you with anything. Everything you need is there!













Material Girls Quilting
1645 West Town Center Dr #4
South Jordon UT 84095
801-495-4290
Bright, happy, cheerful place with 4000 bolts of fabric and many patterns!


The Cotton Shop has three locations,
I visited the one at;
6100 S. State Street
Murray, Utah 84107
801-266-6942






Their fabrics are selected for today's sewing needs and with a broad selection of: Flannel, Quilting Fabrics, Juvenile Prints, Basic Staple Fabrics, Outerwear Fleece, Craft & Novelty Items, Quilt Batting, Bulk Lace & Ribbon.

Quilts, Inc. Promotions

HOUSTON—April 7, 2009—Quilts, Inc. announced today that three staff members have been promoted and will receive new job titles and responsibilities both in the company’s Houston offices and at all editions of International Quilt Festival (Houston, Chicago, Long Beach) and International Quilt Market (spring and fall).

“We are incredibly lucky to have so many talented people on our staff, so that we can promote from within. These changes provide new challenges and open the way for the company to expand and grow,” said Karey Bresenhan, president of Quilts, Inc.

Wilma Hart, is now Vice President of Corporate Projects. A lifelong avid photographer, one of her first projects will be to develop and implement a plan to provide photographic services and documentation of quilts in the International Quilt Association's Judged Show and in International Quilt Festival’s many museum-quality quilt exhibits.

Judy Murrah, has been promoted to Vice President of Education and Administration. She will now additionally oversee and coordinate most of the day-to-day workings in the Quilts, Inc. office, including human resources.

Ruth Moya, will assume all responsibilities overseeing all activity on the show floor at the Festivals and Markets, from set-up to take-down. She will also be the main point of contact for exhibitors in all matters on site.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI)

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is an Internet-driven, grassroots, totally volunteer effort to raise awareness and fund research through art.

The AAQI currently administer two major programs. The first is a nationwide traveling quilt exhibit called "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece By Piece." It contains 52 quilts each interpreting Alzheimer's in some way.

The second is the "Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts" project, so named for the urgent need for research dollars and the requirement that these quilts must fit into a cardboard USPS priority mailer without folding. They are small works of art no larger than 9 inches by 12 inches, auctioned on the first day of each month or sold outright on the Internet or at selected venues across the United States.

This denim shirt brought to the Bernina teacher reunion and autographed by famous quilters, designers, teachers, Bernina educators, and quilting/sewing magazine editors is currently part of the auction.

EMBELLISHMENT EXTRAVAGANZA

I have great news! For all of you who love embellishment as much as I do, I am leading a five day workshop March 2010 at Quilting Adventures in Texas. Make plans to embellish with me now!

Love embellishments, but don’t know where to start? Then this embellishment workshop is for you!

I love embellishments, especially ‘all things shiny’ and uses them expertly in my work. Learn techniques in a relaxed, hands-on workshop. I will guide you in the creative use of beads, fabric, foil, paintstiks, buttons, threads and embroidery to fashion your own special quilt.

You will also learn an easy way to form a bow, create texture with ribbons, plus construct folded ribbon roses.

This workshop is like having a week of private lessons from a Master Embellisher! Once you learn the techniques, you will be able to create your own embellished ‘masterpieces’ on any textiles from quilts to wall hangings and garments.

There will be plenty of time to work on small projects. You will be surprised at how quick and easy the smaller ‘Eye Candy’ and ‘Bead Candy’ quilts are to make. As your creativity flows, you will be dazzled by the results!