Come see me on my own website funfromatoz.com
All the old stories and the new wild adventures are waiting for you to go and get it!
blogging it at funfromatoz.com/home/
Fun from A to Z !
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Savage Selvedge: Life on the Edge
this was a fun project to do - well, the inside was fun - the border was a lot of work but worth it and the piping and binding was fun too! I'm super excited to have 2 ribbons for this quilt, a Vendors' Choice from Material Girls and a 3rd place in the large quilt pieced one-person category at the Southern Comforters Quilt Show this weekend.
as of November 2010 |
pattern I used is Red Zinger - originally the directions were available on Karen Griska's blog
http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/
but looking for the link now, I see that she has it for sale at
http://www.etsy.com/listing/121443402/red-zinger-selvage-quilt-pattern-pdf
check out photos of some of my favorite selevedge projects - including the covered chair that is on my to do list!
http://pinterest.com/funfromatozamy/selvedge/
2 books I have on Selvedge Quilts and Projects
Quilts from the Selvage Edge by Karen Griska 2007 |
SAVE THE SELVAGES Quilting Project Book using Fabric Selvages for Small Projects | by Sandy Thompson 2012 |
Friday, March 15, 2013
Interview with Misty Cole
Introducing my first blog interview - with fellow quilter, blogger, bibliophile AND friend -
MISTY COLE!!!
Here is what I sent to Misty as we did this using old school paper and ink.
Her answers are in bold...
Rules –
The first rule of interview
is we don’t talk about rules! I’d say
try and and answer one question at a time, don’t read ahead, don’t think too
hard. I thought it would be fun to
go old school and give this to you in hardcopy, there is a certain aspect of
artist that in me needs paper and pen.
Do what works for you. Feel free to respond electronically or
hardcopy or telephonically or in-personally which is not to say impersonally!This should be easy and fun,
if a question isn’t, let me know and we’ll remove it from the interview. This is about you so share what you
want.
Thanks and wish you
funfromAtoZ!
Amalia Teresa Parra
Morusiewicz
Congrats Misty on being
selected as the featured quilter for the Southern Comforter’s Annual Quilt
Show! I think it would be fun to get
some of the behind the scenes glimpses into you and your work. So close your eyes and let’s pretend we are
sitting in a nice coffee or tea shop and having this conversation face to face…
Ok, open your eyes
First question – what are you
drinking in this pretend game?
The Republic of Tea –
Black Currant & Cardamom Rooibos Tea
Excellent Answer, see this is
so easy!
I read your bio on http://southerncomforters.org/2013featuredquilter.htm
and I learned that you grew up surrounded by of creative women, who did all
types of handwork. Growing up within a
creative community is a great experience.
Any lessons that you learned back in the day that are still vital to
your art today?
Use the best tools you can afford.
Collaboration can be both fun and aggravating.
It is important to share your creations plus your knowledge &
skills with future generations.
I don’t think you can throw out
the baby with the bath water, so feel to talk “art” in general way don’t worry
if it’s a quilt or a painting. You grew up in the south, studied art in Baton
Rouge, a city filled with rich artistic influences. How has this experience influenced your art?
Actually grew up in rural Northern LA, not much going on artistically.
[studio
audience – Misty means Louisiana, not Los Angeles]
I watched a lot of Bob Ross.
[Me too – I love his happy trees, and
the twacking of the brush on the easel]
I was lucky to have some wonderful art teachers
who encouraged me to
pursue my passions, unlike others who didn’t “get” it.
Let’s play a number guessing game, so you don’t need to look
up the answers, guessing is totally fine… And you are welcome to tell any
stories you want along the way, this is all about you!
I understand that you, like many other quilters, first
caught the quilting bug when you had a baby.
So starting with that first quilt, how many quilts have you made?
Probably about 80
Ok, the quilt police show up at your door, how many quilts would
the quilt police say are traditional vs art quilt?
50/50
Percent of the time that you have in your bag something that
allows you to create on the go? (Could
be handsewing, knitting/crochet, sketchbook )
100%
Even if I don’t have
a specific project,
I am the type to write down an idea on a dinner napkin, a
receipt, any paper, my hand, etc.
Number of scissors you own?
6ish just for sewing. I’m a get
rid of the old when I replace it gal.
[I
should learn from you!]
Favorite size machine sewing needle?
80/12 Universal
Shades of Baltimore |
Personally, I love that you have made traditional quilts
that have a very current flair. Your
Shades of Baltimore in another colorway, wouldn’t have the zing. Now I get to use one of my favorite words…
Juxtaposition! Tell me about the
creative process for that quilt, did you think of the juxtaposition of the very
traditional Baltimore Applique with the black background and candy color that
are right out of the Easter basket?
Sorry, leading the witness! Jury,
please disregard that last question… I’ll rephrase, tell me about your creative
design process for this quilt. Pattern?
Inspirations? Thoughts?
I think this is funny
because I DID NOT DESIGN THIS – totally a kit that I bought, all the hand dyed
came with it, I wanted to try applique and saw that in a magazine and thought I’d
try it out. But the photo caught my eye –
the traditional design with those brights contrasting on black.
Tempus Fugit |
Do you know which of your quilts is one of my favorite?
Tempus Fugit?
Well, I do like that high flying quilt, but the 2 favorites I was thinking of are…
Orange Lotus |
Coral Snake |
Here’s my tough question – which 2 quilts do you consider
your favorites and why?
I love Orange Lotus,
too. I enjoyed every step of making that
quilt. I’m glad I gave myself permission to machine quilt it. I loved sifting through the button box.
I like the one called
Coral Snake – it was a round robin with a friend, Alicia Simon. We work very differently,
I learned a lot. Plus it looks great in
my living room. The fabric was a gift from
my sis from Cambodia and I love it.
You are a mom, wife, teacher, artist and have many other
roles in life. I see a happy, balanced spirit in you, what words of wisdom do
you have for other regarding balance?
Do what you can.
Set a Timer.
Ask for help.
Forgive yourself.
Get up early.
Make a list.
Don’t apologize for
doing what you need to do – others understand and respect it.
My kids will remember
my passion for my work- I let them see me struggle, fail and try again.
Next we enter the speed portion of the interview – pick one
word from each of the 13 pairs below.
party or peace
time or money
salty or sweet (my fave combo)
realistic or abstract
symmetry or uniqueness
chanting or humming
water or oil
summer or winter
pen or pencil
odd or even
chance or certainty
paper or plastic
questions or answers
Studio audience - I have secretly put 13 pairs in here, because 13 is
Misty’s favorite number.
And now, the question every quilter, traditional or art is
wondering – do you sew with your shoes on or off? Or do you kick off the right
shoe?
I’m barefoot whenever
possible, must be my redneck roots showing.
Oh, yes, I forgot to mention, I
have a time machine and you can send a message back to your younger self - what
advice would you give yourself about adventures in art?
Stop worrying about what everybody else thinks.
Make art for yourself. You don’t
have to show anyone if you don’t want to.
Play and have fun.
Try new things.
And that art teacher in college that made you second guess yourself was
an idiot.
Thanks for playing along with
me! Is there anything else about your
art or your artistic journey you would like to add?
I still feel like a beginner in many ways, even though I’ve been making
art since I could hold a pencil.
My art at age 10 looks like my art nearing age
40.
For me making art is not optional,
it is something I do like breathing or taking a walk.
Visit Misty next week, at the Southern Comforter's Quilt Show as the Featured Quilter!
And check out Misty's blog http://dailydesignwall.blogspot.com
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