This is my latest piece
modern/contemporary piece.
It is a compilation of two 
pieces that were made as
exercises in a Nancy Crow 
class...I took the class twice 
which is why I had two of 
same exercise pieces.  
Here are the two original 
exercise pieces ...

I struggled with this exercise, as I don't think that I developed interesting shapes and they didn't really tie together as a united piece.  I didn't like either piece in class.  I originally thought it was the color combination of pastels and brights, however, after further thought I believe it was the large unrelated blobs that cause the pieces not to work.  Another class participant came home and cut and re-configured it her piece, which gave me the idea to combine my two pieces into one.  I tried to no go too small with the pieces, so that they remained "shapes" and didn't become lines or bits of color.   I tried to create areas of interest and calm within a united and balanced piece.  I have come to appreciate that the pastels actually work very well to create a secondary ground.  I am much happier with the reconfigured compilation then either of the first two pieces.  It was also a great to practice with on the long arm...as I am continuing to learning to control it.

My latest quilt...a graduation gift for my niece Mary.  I was told two things prior to starting this quilt, think ocean colors, and sea turtles.  Since it was a college graduation gift, I wanted to stay away from the sea turtles because I didn't want it to look like a gift for a much younger girl.  

I had signed up for a class with Jacqui Gering, which seemed like the perfect opportunity to start the project. I selected "ocean" colored batiks and off I went.  I liked Jacqui's class... the right amount of instruction and directions to experimentation/play time.  With some teachers, it's all about their method and following their instructions to achieve their look.  Others teachers don't adequate time to work on the new skill.  Jacqui's class was a good balance.  

I started off thinking I was going to make the quilt to look like light reflecting off the surface of the ocean.  My daughter saw it as coral reefs.  Overall, I see a turtle shell.  No matter what you see, it was a fun introduction to a new technique/style.

I finally finished "My Ugly Fabric Exchange" quilt…it is hand pieced, hand appliquéd, and hand quilted.  I was thinking this was going to be my first all hand work quilt, but I used my sewing machine to attach the bind.  Darn! This quilt was my take along project for many year; going to swim meets, soccer games, doctor and dentist appointments, and vacations. It is the perfect example of "if you cut it up small enough, no one will ever know how ugly it is."  This quilt came about from ugly fabric  exchange in my bee.  We all brought it a certain size rectangle of fabric of fabric, something we would never use anymore.  The block pattern is from Alex Anderson.  From the small rectangle of fabric, you were able to cut all the pieces needed for the entire block.  I paired my fabrics together, cut the pieces out and switched out parts for the basket and the background from those two fabrics.  This allowed the basket to be in one fabric and the background to be from the other.  Resulting in me getting 2 blocks from two fabrics,  reverse versions of each other.  I appliquéd the basket handle first, then marked and stitched the blocks together.  My accuracy is not very good, and there are a lot of bulky seams, but I am happy with the overall outcome.  It is a pretty scrap quilt, if I do say so myself.  It was a great learning experience…now I might try my hand at some English Paper Pieced Hexagons.