Highlights from the 2014 World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach

I had the chance to attend this show last Friday. 

And here are a few of my favorite quilts.

 

ENJOY!

 

 

 

Everglades Sunset

by Candice Phelan of Wellington, FL

 

 

Dancing Mangroves

by Waynette Pennell of West Palm Beach, FL

 

 

Rafflesia Arnoldii, The World's Largest Flower

by Joan Balmer of Port Charlotte, FL

 

 

A Taste of Sunshine

by Deb Crine of Marco Island, FL

 

 

Bluebirds

by Laura Ruiz of Malabar, FL

 

 

Fish House:  Pine Island, FL

by Carol Elrod of Bokeelia, FL

 

 

To Good to be True

by Gabriele DiTota of Melbourne, FL

 

 

One Hundred Years at Rest

by Nikki Hill of Saint Augustine, FL

 

 

--my favorite of the Hoffman Challenge Quilts--

(I did not get the information about this quilt so if you know anything

about it please leave a comment so I can give proper credit)

 

 

Into the Light

by Judy Momenzadeh

 

Mr. Grim

by Holly Dominie

 

 

Sunrise, Sunset

by Melody Randol

 

 

Sue Bee's Flower Garden

by Sue Burnett of Wellington, New Zealand

 

 

Gaia

by Maria van Buel of Auckland, New Zealand

 

 

Let's Go Party

by Keiko Ike of Kochi-city, Japan

 

 

Cherry Blossoms in the Full Moon

by Noriko Matsutou of Toyama-shi, Japan

 

 

Tiptoeing into the Future

by Kathryn Harmer Fox of East London, South Africa

 

 

Don't Go

by Laura Kemshall of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

 

 

Tulips

by Yemima Lavan of Modiin, Israel

 

 

The Unicorn's Garden

by Eileen Campbell of Kew, Australia

 

 

The Drought

by Beth Miller of Kambah ACT, Australia

 

 

Reaching for Our Roots

by Shani Leser of Ginot Shomron, Israel

 

 

Naturally Crazy

by Linda Steele of Park Orchards Victoria, Australia

 

You'll never guessed what came up to our beach just in time for Christmas!

 

Exotic Florida sea turtles...one for each grandchild!!!

 

...with a couple left over just for Grandma. 

 

 

 

Yes...this is what I spent a good share of my time making during the month of December. 

 

Way back in October a plan was hatched to have all the grands and their parents

come to Florida for Christmas.  So when I saw the pattern in Houston at Festival,

I knew I would be making one for each kiddo for Christmas.  It was perfect!

 

The pattern is called Shell Shelters by Java House Quilts.

 

 

 

Here is a view from the top of one of them.  As you can see, I opted to make simpler eyes that weren't in the instructions since half our grands are three and under. 

 

 

For the eyes I used two felt buttons found at Joann's and one black button. 

I stitched them together to create a single eye and then hot glued them

using a glue stick made specifically for fabric and washing.

 

And here's a view of its belly showing the zipper. 

 

To save time and make it more durable to lots of

"loving", I also hot glued the heads in.

 

 

Here's wishing y'all a FABULOUSLY AWESOME 2014!!!

 

Till next time...

 

Do you doodle?

(NOTE:  Since I don't have any quitly pictures to share right now, I thought I'd talk about doodling.)

 

As a kid I loved to doodle.  I doodled on everything...pee chees, phone books, my tennis shoes....anything.  In high school I took every art class I could

because I loved the feeling I got from drawing.

 

Several months ago I started drawing again when I decided I was going to teach

myself to longarm quilt.  And I've really enjoyed putting pen(cil) to paper again.  I spend

a lot of time drawing different quilt motifs to cement it in my mind.   I have

a notebook specially dedicated to just drawing quilt motifs. 

 

But you can only draw so many feathers before you start to get a bit bored.  So the last

few months, I've started to do more creative doodling.  I bought a few ZenTangle

and doodling books for some creative inspiration and off I went.  I'm loving it!

 

Here is a bird I copied out of one of the books...

 

 

 

and some random butterfly doodles...

 

 

 

This one was inspired by a free Sharon Schamber quilting video

I watched the other day on The Quilt Show.

 

 

More randomness...

 

 

 

This one was inspired by a quilted vase I saw posted on someone's blog. 

For the life of me I can't remember where I saw it now.  Apologies to that blogger.

 

 

I was going to use this as a card to give away until I realized I

drew it on the backside instead of the front...duhhhhh.

 

 

 

A pumpkin for thanks giving.  I probably should have doodled a

cornucopia in it instead of a spring basket but there ya go.

 

 

How about a snowflake drawn on dark cardstock with a white Gelly Roll pen?

 

 

With owls so popular, I knew I had to draw one. 

I'm thinking a fox will be next.

 

 

 

This flower was inspired by a flower I saw on fabric.

 

 

Another flower inspired by a motif on fabric.

 

 

Here I wanted to use warm and cool colors together but separate.

 

 

And finally how about a chubby little bee?

 

 

That's all I have for now.  I hope you weren't bored by my doodles. 

 

I really must put the pens down now and get back to sewing. 

I have three quilts to quilt and bind, and two tote bags and nine

Shell Shelters to make before Christmas...ugh. 

 

Till next time...