Thursday, January 6, 2011

Work Quilt #4 - Finally Finished!

After taking a bit of a break from hand quilting, I finally got back to it, and have now finished "Work Quilt #4".



Whew!



The quilting on this piece, (stitched with Sulky® Blendables) consisted of rows and rows of wandering stitches both horizontal and vertical, which seemed to take FOREVER...



Using fabrics in various blues, greys, and greens, and also incorporating bits that had "flaws", such as that piece with the faded stripe of blue, seen below...



my goal for this quilt was for it to have a "crude" beauty...



trying to create something that although new, would look old, patched and worn...



along with well used and very much loved...



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news, last week I received my complimentary DVD copy of Quilting Arts TV 700 series. I read that the series is suppose to be airing sometime around now, but when I checked the QA Station Finder, (a handy link that lets you see if your PBS station carries the show, when it airs, and which episode is playing) it seems that a lot of stations are still showing the 600 series... so I am confused, but truthfully, that's not unusual.

I will be appearing as the first guest on episode 702. (Alas, my PBS does not carry the show.) I was soooo nervous to see how it turned out, as I felt like such a train wreck of a guest... but I must say I was extremely relieved to see what a great editing job the QA TV folks did... they managed to make me appear coherent. Yay! (Pretty impressive since I lost my voice during the taping.)

So, if anyone gets to see it airing on their PBS station, please let me know, as I am curious as to when it is actually showing. HOWEVER, please note... the heavy TV make-up is not part of my normal attire! My kids, (who at 21 and 16 are old enough to know better) apparently went into shock at seeing me with lipstick and blush, causing fits of laughter and finger pointing. Thanks and sigh.

And last, but not least, if your PBS station also is remiss in not airing Quilting Arts TV, and you would like to view the 700 series, it can be ordered here.

49 comments:

beingvfox said...

your work quilts take my breath away, every time.

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

Damn Girl!

(I think I want to just stop with that emphatic statement... it pretty much sums up my complete amazement)

I'll check the listings. I better get it- we have 3 PBS stations locally, so I'm bound to find one that will have it.

Vicki W said...

That's a fabulous quilt!

Rosa said...

Amazing, such a labour of love. It's beautiful!

Bec Clarke said...

That is just lovely, so much hand quilting and the colours make me feel cool.

Jean said...

Love your work. Always love it.

mary said...

I love this quilt!

Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts said...

The quilt is beautiful. I wish we could get the PBS airing of the show. I'm not sure why they put make up on you. You are beautiful with out it!!!

Kim said...

Aren't kids great???
Mine are really good at helpful suggestions and criticisms at 35 and 30 :0).
this new quilt is just lovely, a breath taking piece of work.
I so admire your work.

Happy sewing and I'll be looking for your show.

Diane J. Evans said...

You do realize that our job as parents is to embarrass our children at every opportunity, a responsibility that I do NOT take lightly. So let them giggle. I bet you looked wonderful.

This quilt is another beauty, Victoria -- your patience astounds!

Diane

pklaw said...

Another gorgeous quilt! I love how the colors of your hand quilting compliment the quilt colors. Your work is always so inspirational. Your comments about your children brought at big smile to my face!

Fer said...

Sublime :-)

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

your work quilts are wonderful. They are what made me want to do contemporary quilting

Sujata Shah said...

Gorgeous stitching! Love the look of this quilt.

Allie said...

Another work of art - this is so calming, so peaceful! Beautiful hon!

I had to laugh about your kids - mine would go into shock if they saw me in make-up too, and to think it used to be that I wouldn't leave the house without mascara! Now, I just make sure the important bits are covered and I'm outta here. I'll check my PBS, although I'm pretty sure they don't air it, argh.

DWhiteCreations said...

I love this! Beautiful!

Quiltefia said...

Hi!! You have made a wonderful quilt!! Love it!! Anne:-) Oslo-Norway

Bonnie Hull said...

work quilt #4 is edible...

Gina said...

Your quilt is stunning!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work. The hand quilting is so effective in those threads.

Unknown said...

oh my this is soooo beautiful.

Abby and Stephanie said...

When I saw the first photo I thought "rugged" but that seems not quite right. Then I saw you called it "crude beauty." Always wonderful and the miles of stitching is always amazing.

patty a. said...

Only one word comes to mind - YUM! I would love to run my hands across this quilt and just drink in the texture.

Anonymous said...

Spectacular blues to me. I will be on the lookout for your episode. Isn't it just like kids to make fun of you when you dress it up a little. I am sure it will be great to see you on TV. xox Corrine

denise said...

Very nice, it feels as you intended.

I may have overlooked them, but what are the dimensions?

Will be looking for the show, hopefully my PBS will have it.

sweetypie said...

that is beautifull I could just reachout and wrap myself in it well done wonderfull work

Victoria said...

Thanks very much everyone, for the kind responses!

Denise, this quilt measures 38" x 38".

Hey Harriet said...

That's beautiful Vic! I hope your New Year is off to a good start. It seems as though it is! Can't wait to see what you come up with throughout 2011! I really want to see you on TV! Maybe there is a way of uploading the segment to youtube? Let me know if you figure it out or if you find somebody has put it there. I think that's the only way I'll be able to see it :)

Cheryl Arkison said...

Your quilts make me sigh and exclaim at the same time.

I've been taping Quilting Arts in the hope of catching your episode. I must run through the 12 or so issues on the PVR now!

Candied Fabrics said...

Oh this is glorious! I love how the quilt looks really old, except there aren't any broken threads, or snags, like you'd find with a truly old quilt. The texture you get is awesome!!!

I'm a chicken and have yet to watch the DVD! It's been killing me because I can't wait to see the rest of the folks, and somehow I can't touch any of the DVDs! Sigh...we're having a party on Sunday to get me liquored up and then I'll watch me...and THEN I'll be able to watch the rest of all those fabulous women I met that day, you especially! :-)

Sarah said...

Goodness me! This quilt is just so stunning. I love your work quilts. They are beautiful!

O'Quilts said...

I was skimming the comments to find something different to say that could express the beauty of this quilt. But, it has been summed up already. You should be so proud of your talent and stunning work.

XUE said...

Oh my goodness, Vic! I picture you with Ellie Mae warming your toes as you sew up a frenzy & produce this wonderful quilt! Wish we had PBS in this city. Yes, please...youtube please!

Hoola Tallulah said...

Gosh, that is a lot of hand stitching! SO very beautiful! I have just started my first ever quilt, so far it is um, wonky.

Kathryn said...

Love the latest quilt! And I've been watching quilting arts religiously waiting to see you ... now I know #702! They're still showing 600 series in SF. I'm sure you looked great!

Karen said...

really wish i could see your TV appearance over here, boo!! Thanks so much for the comment too, I really appreciate it x

Peppermint Pinwheels said...

Love the soft blues of the new quilt! Did you use new or used fabrics on this? So curious!

Crazy RAvens Studio said...

Glorious colors and texture! Wish I had the patience (and time) to quilt.

Victoria said...

Thanks again, to each of you. :0)

Peppermint Pinwheels, this is actually new fabric: Kaffe Fassett shot cottons, (which he creates in conjunction with Oxfam, an international charity that champions fair trade, thus helping to support the poverty-stricken weaving villages in India and Guatemala where the cloth is produced... and I like that!) His shot cottons are on the thin side, so they already have that washed and worn sort of feel that usually only time brings on.

picciolo said...

thats a lot of stitches Victoria! It looks really soft and cosy, I love the colour variations.
: )

Peggy D said...

Absolutely gorgeous -- not just that, but wholly unique too, I've never seen anything (new) quite like these. The colours are also my faves, but it's the creative impulse and the execution that is really inspiring.

Modern Day Quilts said...

Thank you for letting us feature this beautiful quilt!

I am Arizona; a person, not a place. said...

It looks like it would have taken forever to hand quilt it! But, it was worth it because it's beautiful! I love the ruggedness of it.

jhenzel said...

Hi - I love your blog and your quilts and pincushions. For your hand quilting, do you use a lap hoop? If so, what kind do you use?

Jennie

Victoria said...

Thanks again to each of you!

Jennie, to answer your question... No, I don't use a hoop, as I find them awkward and constraining, and gave them up years ago. Instead I just keep tension with my hands, and also my knees, (I stitch sitting with my knees bent upward, resting the quilt on them). It also helps that with these work quilts I have first done a layer of machine quilting... that works great to keep the layers from shifting.

Catherine Fowler said...

crude beauty? I get what you are saying but they are just plain beautiful. They look old and new at the same time.

Madame Purl said...

Gorgeous... the 12wt Sulky? I love that hand stitching.

Marjorie Horton said...

I really admire the soft color and the texture of the stitches but I really like the gentle irregularity of the lines of stitching. This quilt has many of the traits that attracted me to Welsh quilts almost twenty years ago. Great quilt, thanks for taking so many pictures of it.

natalie. beyond the reef said...

Inspiring. Stunning. Lovely......thank you so much for sharing so much of you with so much of us....