Recently I made a quilt for a traveling exhibit “Living Colour” for the Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters, called “Joya de la Selva” (Jewel of the Jungle). It’s of a giant leaf hopper that I saw in my friend’s backyard in Quintana Roo, Mexico, near the Belize border.
The entire leaf hopper is beaded. It took forever! Then I sewed vertical lines with some slightly shiny silvery thread that made it look like rain, and then for the raindrops I sewed some clear faceted beads with an AB finish on the leaves and flowers, and along the top of the green vertical inner border. It looked so cool. Sort of like looking into a jungle through an open window.
I didn’t want to send it off, but I did. It will be auctioned off (along with 49 others) to benefit the guild’s operating budget. I hope it makes mucho mulah! It is beautiful.
I am also making a quilt that I designed called “Tea is for the Birds” which I will be entering into their 2008 quilt show in Seattle. This quilt show has previously taken place biennially, but this year will be the first of the now annual event. It’s a great show. I’ve been to many of the large shows: Houston, Pacific International, Road to California, etc. and none can begin to compare with the class act that the APNQ
(Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters) manages to put together for the Northwest to enjoy.
Here is a picture of the quilt I hope to be entering:
Here is a detail of the center block:
It took me forever to piece the backgrounds for the applique and the borders. I must be crazy, because I HATE piecing! I’m trying really hard to embrace it. I’m even taking a class to make a quilt that is entirely pieced. We’ll see how long I last!
4 responses so far ↓
ClamWoman // July 6, 2008 at 6:16 am
Well, you know, of course, that the color “palette” used in “Joya de la Selva” is most compelling to me. But I’ve noticed that there has also been a shift in how I’ve been putting colors together (in my head), and I find most of the ‘blocks’ (‘cuz they’re made up of smaller blocks? I don’t know the lingo) in “Tea for The Birds” also compelling.
But, it’s true: I realy would have loved to have seen “Joya de la Selva”.
candiedfabrics // August 9, 2008 at 2:40 am
This pieced background really makes this quilt something differnt – it’s great!
Jan // September 16, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Your leaf hopper is dazzling! Love both quilts, and a BRAVA to you for your success w/in APNQ!
Your pieced backgrounds are wonderful–I love to piece…we might have made a team before you moved away! I’m working on a piece that is 18″ X 52″, sunflowers on a pieced background. The piecing went quite well, and the applique has been daunting at every stage, from design to making the components. great feeling to plow through the dauntedness –I just made that up–each time!
Lisa aka ProudNana // February 18, 2009 at 1:46 pm
OMG….your quilts are amazing!!!