Ann Fahl's Color and Quilts

Amazing Show Opening

2012-02-04T21:55:00.001-06:00

Portrait of a Quilter's Helper by Ann Fahl

Sunday was the opening of a new quilt exhibit at the Anderson Art Center. What an amazing show. Along with my work are quilts by Rhonda Rodero, Melody Johnson, Barbara Schneider, Marcia Stein and Gloria Hansen. Each artist had their own gallery space, everything was beautifully hung and well lighted; all the quilts glowed on the walls. As the opening reception was drawing to a close, I was told that I needed to go upstairs immediately, and that it was important. My feet were beginning to hurt, I didn't want to go upstairs again, but I did.

Drink of Water by Ann Fahl

Remember my blog about the missing 8 carton shipment?

Well, I met Jane, the lady that lived in the house where all my quilts were all mistakenly delivered. So here is the "rest of the story." Jane and her husband were both home that morning, they heard the truck pull up, drop the boxes on the driveway, heard the door close on the truck and it drove off. When they went outside they saw the huge pile of boxes that weren't for them! Thinking they were very heavy, they didn't want to move them. Her husband called UPS right away and told them all the boxes were mistakenly delivered and please come get them. After waiting "long enough" Jane decided that some stronger action needed to be taken, so she called UPS and told them to hurry up, there were boxes filled with "fabric" sitting on her driveway and they were responsible.

Looking at all the quilts on the walls surrounding me, I realized that I had just found out what had happened to them in the big mixup on their return home. Jane and her huband got the ball rolling, long before I even knew that something had gone wrong.

I big thank you to Jane and her husband for making sure UPS picked up the big pile of boxes and ultimately got them to their correct destination. My show never would have happened without them.

Ann Fahl

Walk Through Ellen's Garden: a winter treat

2012-01-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

The other day, a copy of Thread Magic Garden, by Ellen Anne Eddy arrived. What a beautiful book.


Water Lily Sunset, quilt by Ellen Anne Eddy

When I opened the book and saw the title page and table of contents I was hooked. Beyond these first pages the entire book is rich with color, detail and texture of her wonderful new work. Ellen and I think the same way about our flowers and gardens:

"My garden intoxicates me. The sights and smells, textures

and sounds are my daily retreat. Just as I slip into the garden,

the garden slips into my quilts."

What a lovely thought, I wish we were closer to spring.

Ellen's work has changed some since her first book, Thread Magic. At least for this new book, her focus is on her garden and the creatures that live there. Her new quilts are small jewels, each one better than the next.

Snail's Pace, quilt by Ellen Anne Eddy

She is still blending sheer fabrics with her dramatic hand dyed fabrics; and has added commercial lace, trims and loose fibers. She explains in rich detail how she accomplishes each look. Ellen includes:

tips
dos-and-don'ts
types of stitches
color theory
blending threads and colors
composition
creating a visual path
shading
angled stitching
and the list goes on.

Her approach is very thorough and understandable for anyone wanting to try her free-motion techniques.

Whether you are interested in thread work or not, this book is a visual delight. CandT's book designer did a great job of including large detail shots throughout the book. It makes me drool!

Book details: full color, 111 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches, $28.95, available as an eBook from CandT Publishers. The book is now available in quilt shops, from CandT, and from Ellen's website.

Cover of Ellen's new book

Support your local quilt artist. Ask your local quilt shop to carry the book. It will soon become a "must have" for everyone interested in thread work.

Ann Fahl, an envious thread artist!

Free-Motion Quilt Challenge

2012-01-23T14:44:00.001-06:00

Ann Fahl, machine quilting her Coneflower Fiesta quilt! Join her in March for the FM Quilting Challenge.

A 12 month free-motion quilt challenge that has just begun. There is a black and white icon at the very bottom of this blog, when you click on it, you will find an explanation and a place to sign up for this no-fee class.

I will be providing the tutorial for the month of March! And, I will follow the famous Diane Gaudynski who will be featured in February. If you have always wanted to improve your machine quilting, this is your chance.

12 months
12 instructors

Check it out.

Ann Fahl

Oreo is Moving! La Conner to Anderson!

2012-01-19T21:12:00.000-06:00

It is time to announce that Oreo's next exhibit will open soon:

January 29-March 25 2012

Opening reception Jan 29, 1:30-4:00
Open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
-- and they have an interesting gift shop too.

Anderson Arts Center

121 Sixty-Sixth Street
Kenosha, WI 53143

The public is invited. Donations accepted.

Valentine for You, a quilt for Valentine's Day by Ann Fahl

There will be two exhibits showing:

A Black and White Tale, all of the quilts in the book will be on exhibit.

Ann will be signing books at the opening

Quilts in Color: The artists are Rhonda Rodero, Melody Johnson,

Marcia Stein, Barbara J. Schneider, Gloria Hansen

The Anderson Mansion. Galleries on two floors in a beautiful setting.

I haven't seen the complete exhibit on both floors yet, it is still being set up! But what I have seen is amazing! You will love the variety of subjects, use of color, and expertise that all the artists bring to this beautiful art center. If you live anywhere in the midwest, please put this on your calendar.

There will be more about this diverse exhibit in the future.

Ann Fahl

How to Avoid a Problem Shipment (or what I learned from my terrifying evening!)

2012-01-14T17:50:00.000-06:00

WARNING: This is a long post. Make yourself a cup of tea/coffee before you sit down to tackle this blog!

Coneflower Fiesta, one of the quilts is the problem shipment

Terror, that's what I felt when I learned that my complete show of quilts, packed in 8 boxes had been delivered to house several blocks away, and were sitting outside all day. It was time to change how I ship and return-ship my quilts. When you are preparing to ship a quilt, think of the awful things that could happen to it, in transit, and after it arrives at the destination. How can you wrap it to protect it as best as you can? I thought I had taken care of everything!

Have a written appraisal for proof of quilt value

1. Have your important quilts, (the ones that travel to shows, contests and exhibits) APPRAISED. Fortunately I began having them appraised about 5 years ago. Find a qualified appraiser to create a written (not verbal) appraisal of your work. If a quilt is lost you must be able to prove what your quilt is worth. Just because you think your quilt is worth $10,000 your insurance company might think it is only worth $500.

Insure your quilts. Talk to your agent to determine the correct coverage for you.

2. Insure your quilts. Once they leave your home and are entered into a quilt show your home owners policy no longer covers them. Check this with your insurance carrier to be sure. I have an "inland marine" policy that covers items that travel. If you regularly ship your quilts, you must carry your own insurance! Years ago I gave up trying to insure each shipment when I went to the shipping counter. That is when I began insuring my work privately. Shippers will usually state somewhere that they will not insure one-of-a-kind or works of art.

This is a page from my Quilt Inventory notebook. I keep track of every quilt I've made, size, year, description, price, and eventually its new owner.

3. How much to your insure your quilts for? In the beginning I sent my agent an inventory of what I owned, to use as a starting point. Tell them how much your work travels, how much is out on the road at any one time, and keep them updated every year or so with what the total value is. Let's say you have $100,000 of quilts in your closet, your agent will figure out how often the stuff moves, how much to insure on your premises, how much is in transit, and how much is at another location on display. The insurance company will figure out what dollar amount will cover the possible risks. This may take a few days to be determined. Make sure your agent thoroughly understands what you are doing with your quilts.

The quilt is rolled around a tube, wrapped in a plastic sheet, ends tied securely. Place an address label on the outside of the "tootsie roll"

4. Pack your quilts carefully avoiding wrinkles and creases. Always enclose the folded or rolled quilt in a heavy plastic bag, or in a large sheet of plastic. When rolling my quilts I slice open a heavy garbage bag so it becomes a long flat piece, snugly roll up the quilt, and tootsie roll the ends. Think of what might happen to the box with a quilt in it. It could get dumped out of the box into a puddle, the box could fall off the truck and get run over and the list goes on....... A heavy plastic bag when securely wrapped around the quilt can protect it when it is dropped on the ground, in a puddle or left to sit in the snow. These things happen. A container from a traveling show once opened up at a shipping warehouse, the quilts dumped out on the dirty floor, 2 of the 8-10 quilts in the container had to go to a textile conservator to be cleaned, the shipper paid for it.

These telescoping boxes made the round trip from Wisconsin to LaConner WA and back

5. Use a strong cardboard box, they may be reused, but after two round trips I recycle the boxes. I have found using telescoping boxes by U-Line #4872 easy to use, but not inexpensive. You change the length of the box to fit the quilt. If the box is beat-up before it leaves your home, it will really be in bad shape when it arrives at its destination.

6. Choose a shipper that services your area. I will continue to use UPS, I think they provide a great service, and I will continue to entrust my quilts to their drivers and trucks. Take advantage of the tracking that your shipper offers. You can check on the progress of your boxes at the end of each work day. With UPS there is no charge for this service. If you like another shipper, and you trust them, get to know their counter people, and set up an account with them. If you get to know the employees they will be extremely helpful when you run into problems.

7. Write down the phone numbers of your shipper in your personal phone book. If a shipment is missing and you are upset, you may not be able to find the right phone numbers on their website! So go look for them now.

8. Put your labels on everything. Print up a good sized fabric label and sew it firmly to the wrong side of your quilt. Stick an address label on the plastic that covers your quilt. If the box opens and the contents fall out, there should be a name and contact information right on the plastic covered quilt. Attach one to the inside of the box too.

9. Never let a quilt out of your control if you don't have GOOD photos of it.

And this is what I should have done:

10. Always send with "quilt signature required" option. UPS charges about $4.50 per package for this service. I chose not to do this because of the extra cost. I figured I would stay home the day the quilts were due and there wouldn't be a problem! And of course there was. I never dreamed the driver would deliver all 8 boxes to the wrong address! The place where they were dropped off, no one was home. With signature required, the driver wouldn't have left them sitting outside. At least they would be more secure riding in the delivery van. Hopefully someone would have rechecked the address, and brought them to the correct address.

11. When shipping more than one box, ship them on different days. This way all the boxes won't be riding together. Early in my quilting career, a semi loaded with quilts going to a show, caught fire and burned up. What if your quilts were on that truck? Can we plan for everything catastrophe? We need to try.

Several years ago, I was dropping off some packages at the shipper. It was a warm day and the sun was shining. A semi trailer full of damaged packages had been dropped off, unloaded, and several workers were going through the packages. A large truck had evidently been in an accident and the boxes looked like they had gotten wet and were twisted and beat up. The workers were deciding, what could be sent on to the recipient, and what would have to be destroyed. All the recipients would have to be notified about their damaged packages. What a mess. The whole scene made me sick. There must have been some special treasures included in some of those packages, what if your quilt was in that mess?

12. Robbi Eklow has a different solution. She rents a mailbox at a service. When a quilt is delivered to her suite and box number, the carton is safely held behind the counter until she comes to pick it up. I must point out, that this is not an option at the United States Post Office! This is a private service offered by UPS or Pack-n-Ship type businesses. This is a good option, for small shipments. My 8 long boxes would have taken me 2 or 3 trips in the car to get them to my studio, but they would have been safe!

13. I am aware that nobody died and no person was injured, so I have to keep this mess in perspective. Yet I realized that our quilts are great treasures. If one is lost, a part of the maker disappears with it. A little part of us is stitched into each one we make. Yes, it would help to have an insurance settlement, but nothing can truly replace the thing that we spent so many hours creating.

Keep those quilts safe! Please feel free to add your ideas here.

Ann Fahl

On the Front Porch--My Journal of Terror

2012-01-10T11:29:00.001-06:00

January 9, 2012

To think, this morning I didn't have any idea of what to blog about! Things have changed.

Fall Fun

The drama begins............

My complete show from the La Conner Museum, was to arrive this morning, in 8 boxes. I waited all day, and no quilts. So at 5:30 pm, I tracked one of them and found that they were left on a front porch at house with the same number, but on the wrong street. Terror almost stopped my heart. I tracked the remaining 7 boxes, and they were all delivered to the same incorrect address.

Hairy Homage

I called UPS, and they found that they did indeed deliver them to the wrong address. By this time my voice was shaky. Candace was very calm and said she would work on this right away, and someone would call me back within the hour. In the meantime, I got in my car, drove several blocks away, and looked at everyone's front porches, but it's 8 hours later, and it is dark outside. I talked to several people that were walking dogs and one lady that gets lots of deliveries, but no one knew anything about my 8 boxes.

In the Black Eyed Susans

All I can think is that my body of work is sitting on somebody's front porch. Would it be stolen? Where was it? Thank goodness it didn't rain or snow.

As I pulled into my driveway from my personal search, my husband was standing at the front door talking on the phone. This time it was Glen at my local UPS delivery hub. He told me they had already picked up the packages, and would be delivered the next day. I didn't really believe him, as I had found there was no such address over on the incorrect street.

Coneflower Fiesta, my featured quilt at the exhibit

Glen called back a few minutes later and said my shipment had arrived and had already been loaded onto the truck that would deliver the boxes tomorrow, hopefully to my address. He had spoken with the driver that had picked up and returned the boxes to their depot. So, all I can do now, is relax and hope for the best. Did I say "rest?"

End of the Day

It's going to be a long night until the quilts arrive. Keep your fingers crossed.

January 20, 2012

I didn't sleep too badly last night. I've tracked my packages, some say they've been delivered, some say they are back on a truck for delivery, so I trust what Glen said last night, that the packages will be redelivered. I've planned my activities for the morning, so that I will be able to hear the doorbell ring when that wonderful UPS man arrives!

I'm cutting several hanging rods for my show that opens at the Anderson Art Center on Jan 29. As I drill the last hole in the end of the last rod I hear the door bell ring.

The drama concludes.........

It's 8:36 am the UPS man has delivered the 8 long boxes. I am so relieved. I have learned several things from this "opportunity for learning." I will share those with you next time.

Ann Fahl

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's in the Bag?

2012-01-06T20:12:00.000-06:00

This is the bag that stores the miles of bias binding that I have left over from quilt making! I keep a special collection of stripes and plaid fabrics that I like to use for bias. I think bias makes the best and longest lasting binding. (I feel so strongly about this that I wrote a booklet about it.) There is a strip of almost everything I have in this binding bag, so when I'm auditioning binding fabrics, this bag always gets pulled out.

Last week, in an earlier blog I asked you to vote for how you thought I should bind or face the outer edges of my collage. I initially wanted to face the edges, but something inside of me kept telling me to bind the edges instead. So here is the finished quilt. It is just funky and fun.

I chose to bind it with two of the darker fabrics. This gives only a slight contrast to the outer edges. I used the blue/green stripe on the left side and the charcoal/red print on the right.

Now that the quilt is complete, I've attached the hanging strips on both the top and lower edge of the quilt back. The label is attached, which identifies the quilt and me as the maker, and will shortly be uploaded on my website. Also it gets its own listing in my quilt inventory notebook. The digital photography has been taken and stored. My initials always go near the lower right corner. On this quilt it is located near the white spade-like shape. So it is truly finished. Nothing more needs to be done to document the fact that I made this quilt.

The actual ginkgo leaf I used for the pattern was given to me by my neighbor. She had just been to the library on Lake Michigan and found the leaf. I immediately cut one out of fabric but never used it. So this leaf has been pinned up on my design wall for years. It is good for it to have a real home. I quilted it with a wonderful variegated Superior gold thread. The purple cup in the corner is from Ginkgoes Galore.

The fish is something I cut out years ago, I think they may have been part of the fish left over that could have been included in Fish Tales! Fish Tales is included in A Black and White Tale. The coneflower lying on it's side is from the quilt Sewn Together. The little ginkgo leaf is something of which that I've used hundreds.

The pink coneflower is from a large quilt that I am currently embroidering. The cup is from Ginkgoes Galore. The large green hand painted and beaded leaf is from one of my all-time favorites Summer Sanctuary. I painted hundreds of these coleus leaves and only had 2 or 3 remaining.

As usual, even though I've made a good attempt at using my little fusible scrap shapes, I still have many. It's difficult to close the drawer that holds them. There will inevitably be more in the future. It's a challenge to see how I can put them all together.

So here it is for you to enjoy, part of my quilting life in scraps!

Ann Fahl

New Year's Resolutions for Quilters

2012-01-03T18:00:00.000-06:00

The big question this time of year, is "What are your New Year's resolutions?" When reading what one quilter said, it was something to the effect that she was going to finish all her unfinished projects. All I can say is:

Stop that kind of thinking right now!

In my first 10 years of being a quilter, I struggled to finish all those little blocks and projects that were learning exercises. I spent hours finishing a hand stitched stained glass block! And for what? Just so I could say it was finished? I was wasting my time, I could have been doing something else.

If you've been an artist or a quilter for quite a while, and a project isn't working, put it away. A very famous quilter once told me something that helps me when this occurs. Caryl Bryer Fallert told me that "Not all projects were meant to be finished." And with that little phrase she was so right. Sometimes we need to try something, and if we don't like that technique, or it didn't turn out the way we had hoped, put it in an unmarked brown bag and drop it off at Goodwill. Or put it in a white elephant exchange at your quilt guild. You have still learned something from that project, even if it is just, "I"ll never do that again." Get it out of your life, and move on to something that makes you feel good. Or at the very least, cut it up, and sew it together in a different way.

Some projects are worth the struggle to completion. Workshop samples are not. Waaaay back at a time when I was making windows of my quilts, I made a yellow pieced background and scattered metallic scraps like confetti thrown up into the air. The blocks were set in a cream and yellow decorator print that was very pricy, I hated to even cut into the fabric. The finished top was such a disappointment to me, I brought it to my critique group, they agreed that it needed something, there was quite a discussion about trying this and that. In the end, it was the above mentioned Caryl who looked at me and said, "You need to cut it up and set it together in a different way." At the moment, the thought was too horrible to consider, but on my 1.5 hour drive home, I realized she was right. My plan was formulated by the time I got to my front door; I would set the blocks in black. And wow. It is a great quilt!


Confetti Celebration, the finished quilt, (c) 1991

You will have to make your own resolutions, maybe they should be to work on projects that are important to you or to make the best use of your limited time.

In 1976 in America, we experienced a resurgence in the art of quilt making. People were cleaning out their attics and finding old quilt tops everywhere. All I can say is, if you have your grandmother's flower garden quilt top neatly folded, in a box lined with tissue paper; there was a reason grandma didn't finish it. She had already learned this lesson.

Throw some confetti up into the air, and don't vacuum it up!

Happy Quilting New Year,

Ann Fahl

It's Party Central at My House!

2011-12-31T13:06:00.003-06:00

Party Girl, a quilt by Ann Fahl

We never go out for New Year's Eve any more. I prefer sitting down with a Diet Coke with fresh lime and watch a good movie. Oreo however likes to celebrate in a much more active fashion. This quilt was made in 2002 when her favorite "doll" was much more attractive and the little plastic balls are scattered all over the floor. She will party with some catnip this evening.

Here's how the doll "appears" in the quilt.

Being conservative, we always keep our celebrations small and not too boisterous! Here is Oreo's doll. Don't let this happen to you!


This is her "fav" doll as it exists 2011. It's kind of a mess, but she loves it. Happy New Year. Ann Fahl

To Bind or not to Bind.......

2011-12-29T18:00:00.000-06:00

That is the question...............................................................

I've just finished quilting my crazy collage piece. It has been blocked and trimmed so it is a perfect rectangle. During the quilting phase, I've just not been sure how I wanted to handle the outside edges.


Here is the collage, quilting complete, edges trimmed, ready for finishing.

So it is time to make the big decision. Sometimes I want to have a contrasting trim on the outside edges. Lately, I've been more tempted to face the edges of some quilts, to avoid having to sew the binding on the edges. Sometimes I think it is distracting. So what do I do in this case? What do you think?
Bind or face?


Here is the trimmed quilt with 3 choices of bias laid on the outside edge.

Choice 1 is the black fabric with blue, turquoise and green subtle striping
Choice 2 is a charcoal gray print with light gray and red accents
Choice 3 is a stripe which includes most of the colors of the little pieces within
Choice 4 is facing the outside edges so there is just a clean edge

I think I've made my choice, but let me know what you prefer and why.

All those Handmade Gifts!

2011-12-27T16:00:00.000-06:00

Here are the 10 tiny notebooks I made for gifts this year.

So, here they are: I made little notebooks for saving passwords and little treasured thoughts. I pieced many little sections of things I had left-over from early patchwork projects. Then I used many programmed stitches with a layer of tear away stabilizer underneath for a decorative touch. I put the stitching on the seamlines, in-between, and drew lines to follow with silver pencil.

This green one turned out very well, despite the fact that the strips are on the bias!

After the stitching was complete, I made little book covers out of them. The base notebook I used was small in size; 4.5 x 3.25 inches, narrow ruled, from Office Depot. They are packaged in packs of 4 and priced reasonably. I folded in the two ends of the book covers, stitched them in place, finished the top and bottom edge, and stuck the little notebook inside. The stuffing part was as much fun as stuffing a big pillow form into a small pillow case. But it gets done. It's a one of a kind notebook that the recipient may keep for life! Put a little note inside and sign it.

It makes a neat gift. I hope you have a great holiday.

Ann Fahl

A Really Old Chistmas Quilt

2011-12-24T14:54:00.002-06:00

My best friend Linda and I met in 1983. We were so much alike it was almost creepy. She had 3 boys I had two. She had oriental rugs in her house and so did I. We even had the same set of family room furniture. In about 1987, when all the boys were still young, Linda and I took an afternoon to go to a quilt shop and pick out 5 fabrics to use in a quilt. Here are the rules:

The blocks had to be 12 inches
The five fabrics had to be used, but we could add several more light colored fabrics
She was to choose 6 blocks and I did too
We were to exchange a block every month or two
This was secret, we could not share with each other anything about the quilt until each of our quilt tops were finished.

There were no guidelines as to how the blocks were to be put together. Because we had so much in common we figured out that the tops would look almost alike when finished! It took quite a bit of time, but the day came for the unveiling of the new tops. Mine was set in this dark red and green Gutcheon print with the blocks on point; and Linda's was set on "square" with blocks and sashing in a light colored fabric. You really have to study the two quilts to realize the similarities.

While at coffee, Linda mentioned this year, that she always hangs "our" quilt up at Christmas in her entryway. So I decided to dig mine out too. It is such a joy to have such a friendly treasure!

Both quilts were pictured in two different Quilting magazines Quilter's Newsletter Dec 93, and Quilt World 1997. If you have some archives at home, you might find these!

Have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.

Ann Fahl

Making Gifts

2011-12-19T17:38:00.001-06:00

Here are the strip pieced sections with lots of embroidery.

I've been working for almost a week making ten small gifts. The project took waaaaaay longer than I thought it should: I've used up lots of little strip pieced sections I've had for years; played with all the program stitches on my machine; and experimented with some variegated threads, both rayon and metallic. The final result is unique, and the recipients will like them. For me this type of sewing is drudgery!

You will just have to use your imagination. This is all I can show you! Project #1 turned out mediocre, but it helped me tweek the size and order of stitching. So, I will keep #1 for myself. #2-10 turned out better, but not perfect. The limited piecing and seaming was done with the titanium topstich needles size 70, and it worked well. All the parts are now sewn and assembled into a usable item. After Christmas, I'll post the finished item so you can see what I've been talking about.

I'd love to show you, but I don't want to spoil the surprise for my friends that will be receiving one! Any how, I am thrilled that I am finished with this brilliant idea! In the process of embroidering I tried lots of different programmed stitches, and I found some beautiful new ones! It helped get me in the mood for the holidays, get the shopping done, and prepare the menu for Christmas dinner. We won't be having tacos this year, it'll be lasagna instead. We're not much for tradition at my house.

My wish is that all of you get all your gifts completed too. Be sure to sign them.

Almost Merry Holiday to you.

Ann Fahl

Back to the Studio!

2011-12-11T22:33:00.001-06:00

Now that everything is back in place, I've returned to work at the machine. I've started quilting on the collage piece. It's wonderful to work in a room full of light.

Basted collage, partially outline quilted with monofilament thread.

One thing I have rediscovered, is that I need to change my darning foot when I'm quilting around beads. I love the little Janome open foot that floats over the surface, but it is awful around beads.

My favorite open toed adjustable foot catches in all the bead! Frustrating.

In my excitement about trying some of Lyric's beading techniques on her DVD, I forgot about the fact that I quilt after the beading, not before. The little adjustable foot catches and doesn't move when there is a bead nearby. So... I have to change to my closed toe oval generic darning foot.

Attach this closed toe plastic darning foot, and it rides right on top of the beads. Life with beads is much easier sewing with this foot.

So change the foot on your machine and the quilting will go much smoother. And I'm having fun.

Just a reminder that Oreo still has some books left and we can fill orders received this week by Christmas. A Black and White Tale is the book I illustrated with all of my Oreo quilts and the verse is written by Jacquie Scuitto, the Quilt Muse. This is a delightful little book, perfect for a gift for any cat or quilt lover, for under $20! Please check it out. Help support a quilter/publisher and her feline.

It's hard to believe that it is only 2 weeks before Christmas. Happy shopping.

Ann Fahl

This Really is the Good Life!

2011-12-02T17:33:00.001-06:00

I have just finished the last of the studio polishing. The white flannel is pinned on my design wall and I am vacuuming one last time. At 4:00 today, I sat down, with a chocolate chip cookie, tea and watched Dr. Oz. And I thought, "Life is really good today, my studio is ready for me!" It has never been so clean.

Looking at my communications center and newly covered design wall.

The pink Styrofoam design wall is covered and usable, a beautiful quilt is hanging on it, and my walls have quilts and other special items that surround me that I love. My printer which conked out this week, is now working, thanks to HP tech support. The baseboard heaters are painted a beautiful white and trim is too. The dark 70's paneling is gone. It is time to work on my newest Egyptian quilt again, it needs lots of embroidery before it can be quilted. There is my collage which you've seen, which is ready for basting and quilting. Lots to do.

Before I begin my embroidery and quilting, I will give you a quick tour of my studio. This wall is my communications center and design wall which is 8 x 8 feet. It is shoved into the corner, but if I need the full width, I can scoot is to the left, covering up the clock. Egyptian Water Garden II is hanging on it right now. I love this quilt, when I look at it, it makes me feel good.

Check out the fresh white walls! My cutting table is half a ping pong table, & rulers hanging on the wall. Notice the outlet on the wall where the pencil sharpener is plugged in.

Around the corner is the long wall with my TV, cutting table and windows. I have hung up Line Dancing Under the Stars, Tragedy on Esplanade, Black Eyed Susans on Purple and A July to Remember. It is good to live with your quilts surrounding you. My studio gets lots of light in the morning, so I rotate the quilts to reduce fading.

This is a very long wall, so I'm showing it to you in 2 parts.

Around the next corner is my short wall with all my products that I sell online: books, patterns, booklets etc. My stereo keeps my quilting smooth and there is an assortment of Winona Lake items on the wall. My postage stamp piece honoring Winona, a historic painting on grass cloth, a water color by local artist Jean Thielen, a Japanese figure I've had since the age of 12, a poster of Winona, and two black eyed susan pieces. The little one was a gift from Emily Parson, and the Purple Eyed Susans was a demo in my book Dancing with Thread. It really sings on the bright white wall.

This is the part of the room where the embroidery and quilting happen!

Last of all Oreo is thrilled with the new look. She can walk along the ledge that is 4 feet up from the floor and watch over all my creative activities and the critters outside. Another bonus, I found an electric outlet, that I didn't know was there, on the long wall. It had been piled up with assorted treasures and junk for years.

The drawers facing out, under the machine cabinets are where I store my thread--by color. They are on wheels and can be moved around.

Well, I'm ready to sew now. This major cleaning will never happen again. Once every 35 years is enough. I'm good to go sew.

Have a good weekend.

Ann Fahl

The Glamorous Life Continues!

2011-11-28T20:51:00.001-06:00

On the 10th day of patching and painting my studio, I finished the job at 7:30 pm! Wow, it's finally done.

Day 11, is "put it back together" day. Well, I was so tired after all the painting I decided I needed a break--so I took a nap instead. Eventually I did work at getting parts of the room back in place. The work is slow as I cleaned everything, tossed out stuff and tried to find all my rulers! I reorganized all my patterns and book stock, so it is easier to fill orders, hooked up the TV and DVD player. My great grandmother's tea cart holds my phone, phone books, paper and pencils. It took a long time to gently dust all the surfaces, clean the glass tray on the top and hook up the phone and answering machine. This is stuff I'm not good at: cleaning and organizing stuff. "Where did I put those rulers?"

Great grandma's tea cart, is now my communications center! This cart was formerly painted white and sat on the porch at Winona Lake--almost as long as I have been alive. I am now its caretaker, a job I take seriously!

It was time to start dinner, so I went to the basement and got one more load of stuff to put away, and there they were. All the rulers were sitting under a huge stack of old drawings and notebooks! I was afraid something had happened to the rulers. Now the rulers are back in their corner stored above my cutting table.

My rulers have always been on the ledge near my cutting table. Nothing felt "right" in my new studio until they were back in their place.

Now I can relax, I've found the rulers. Tomorrow I will begin to hang my quilts and other artwork on my freshly painted walls. On Day 12 I'll give you a quilters tour of my studio next time. Soon I will be back at my quilting.

Ann Fahl

It's a Glamorous Life

2011-11-22T21:38:00.001-06:00

Recently I got back from a teaching trip in Monterey CA. They treated me very well there, and I had an enjoyable time. The students were amazing, I am proud of the work they accomplished in the 2 day workshop. There were two highlights for me personally; I stayed with Dave and Sally who were wonderful hosts, they had a magnificent garden. Two, I took a beautiful drive down the Pacific coast on Hwy 1. Rita and Stan were my tour guides. Here are some of the highlights.


Shore view with natural archway, it was a beautiful day.


Looking in the other direction the mist creates a mysterious view of the mountains in the distance


A hillside view of the succulent garden at the home of my hosts. What a rich assortment of plantlife I rarely see in WI

This garden had multiple levels, these stairs lead to a view of a small canyon behind the house.

Upon my return home, a combination of events occurred and I decided to paint my studio. This is a job that is long overdue. I ripped off the dark paneling, patched, scraped and primed and textured the walls. There is probably about a week's worth of work remaining. Sometimes it is good to take time off from quilting designing and blogging. I'll get back to those things. This is just another part of my glamorous life as a quilt artist and teacher.

Here is the artist disguised as a house painter!

Here I am dressed for a day of painting and patching, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Ann Fahl

Topstitch Needles Go on an Adventure!

2011-11-17T16:25:00.000-06:00

For a number of years I've been selling my patterns, books and notions on the web. When an order comes in, I am so pleased that someone likes my stuff enough to purchase it. Last year I decided to offer a 4 pack of Titanium needles on my website. I really believe in them, they have made my work easier.

Late in September a customer I will call Mary, ordered a 4 pack. I shipped them to her Sep 28 in a hand addressed envelope. Two weeks later, she hadn't received them so I shipped her another set. This time with trackable label. Again, Mary let me know envelope #2 hadn't arrived and she was using her last titanium needle, wasn't there something I could do? It's November by this time, and the tracking information said the envelope was undeliverable and would be shipped back to me. I wondered what was going on?


Here is envelope #1 as it arrived back at my studio after a month and a half

So I sent her another package, again with a trackable label. Finally envelope #2 arrived at her house. It was too late, because #3 was already on its way. Then envelope #3 arrived. And just the other day envelope #1 arrived! Wow, all those envelopes were so late in getting to Mary's house! Where do you suppose they went?

Do you suppose #1 made a stop in Hawaii, visited relatives, did it hide in the mail truck? Mary wrote me again, after I told her all the extra packs had finally been returned to my studio. She remarked, "no matter snow or sleet, the post office delivers." So I guess it does, but we have to be patient.

Spring Gift, original quilt by Ann Fahl

So I've decided that after an early start, the needles went on a trip to Houston to see the big show and visit my entry Spring Gift, before they went on to Mary's house. She was surely waiting for those needles, and this evening, I picture her as being warm and cozy; sewing a quilt in front of her fireplace!

Stay warm
Ann Fahl

This Really is My Last Post on the La Conner Show

2011-11-13T18:44:00.000-06:00

Today a CD arrived in the mail from my cousin. Bravely, she took both her 88 year old father and her husband to see my show. She sent pictures that I have not gotten from others. I thought you'd like to see them. I'll keep it short.

The Gaches Mansion, houses the La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum photo by John Adams

This beautiful home is well cared for by its current occupants. Currently there is a fund raising campaign underway for additional renovations. There are 3 floors that include exhibit space and a gift shop. My exhibit, The Quilted Garden, is on the second floor.

A museum visitor studying a quilt on the second floor, photo by John Adams

My cousin Charlie pictured above is looking at my Coneflower Fiesta quilt which I have posted more than once on this blog. This is the first chance that he has gotten to see Indiana Memories, a quilt I made in honor of his mother!

Indiana Memories by Ann Fahl

The above swan quilt was made to honor Nelda Vibrans, my great aunt, who died in the 1990's. Both of us loved Winona Lake IN and spent lots of time there. The swan was a symbol of the area because there was a small swan pond downtown. Nelda liked to sew, knit, was an artist and a singer. She made a few quilts, of which I have one. The yellow leaves filled the Indiana autumn days when her memorial service was held. I scooped some of them up on my way back to Wisconsin; and eventually they wound up in this quilt. The swan is sitting on a nest of magenta yarn, symbolic of her love of fiber and knitting.

End of the Season by Ann Fahl

This brilliant quilt is about autumn, a time when there is nothing left of my black eyed susans except the seed heads. I placed them on bright patchwork to contrast the dying blossoms. I love this piece because of all the hot colors on the patchwork. This quilt is included in the exhibit on the second floor of the museum.

Let me know if you get to see the show.

Thanks for reading once again.

Trying Something New

2011-11-09T19:52:00.000-06:00

New tools to add to my toolbox!

Quilting has been an important part of my life since I since I walked into my first quilting class in 1978. Shortly thereafter, I started my own business, and I've been thinking, breathing, eating and dreaming QUILTING! I have made quilts numbering in the hundreds. Maybe I'm slowing down, or getting old, but I want to try something new.

Designing and making quilts will always be an important part of my life, but I no longer want to do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I want time to do other things; to clear away the lint and take time to smell the roses and coneflowers!

Tonight I went to an orientation meeting for people that would like to become Master Gardener Volunteers. This is a program that is run by the University of WI extension service. Other states have similar programs. They are looking for people that want to learn about all the facets of gardening and spend time creating new gardens in public spaces and helping others learn about growing things. I want to learn more about growing plants and good garden design.

This could be the perfect new thing for me to try. It could be a life enriching experience, expand a community garden or two, and a perfect companion to my quilting life! Who knows what might develop? I'll have to wait and see what transpires.

Ann Fahl

Oreo Continues to Entertain at the La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum

2011-11-08T20:10:00.000-06:00

Summer Sanctuary, is a quilt when first completed didn't include Oreo. She was added later!

Please just one more blog about my show at the La Conner, it runs through Dec 31, 2011! This is the longest running exhibit I've ever had. Several people have let me know how much they enjoyed my show and the other 2 ongoing exhibits at La Conner, WA. Some of you have even sent photos for me to see, it's been great. Believe me, it kills me to not be able to go and see it for myself!

A Quilter's Menagerie, is the first quilt that my husband has ever suggested a title for.

Because the size of this quilt is large, it makes a big impact: whether it hangs in my living room or is displayed at a show. This is a fun one to look at because there are so many details when you step up close to it. The green hand dyed fabrics were died by Dagmar Plenk of Milwaukee. She does are marvelous job of blending the procion dyes to make interesting fabrics. They seem to glow behind the tree!

This is a smorgasbord quilt that contains at least one of everything that I do: metallic thread, hand bead, machine embroidery and quilting, machine applique, and all the animals and images that I've used throughout my career.


Indiana Memories was included in A Black and White Tale as part of Oreo's adventures

Although Oreo isn't in this beautiful swan quilt, it has become part of her story in Jacquie's and my book about her adventures. The quilt makes me feel wonderful, but when I look at the quilting I did, I'm amazed at how much I've improved since making this quilt.

Under the Giant Coneflowers is always a crowd favorite

Here Oreo is walking under the leftover coneflowers from Wow That's Orange. Wow, is also in the exhibit. I'll leave you with a springy quilt on this rainy November Day. Do you remember Tiny Tim?

Tiptoe, lots of hand beading on this one

But now I realize that this one isn't in the show. We can still enjoy it anyhow. I will be talking more about metallic threads in the near future.

Ann Fahl

This Time It's a Blue Metallic Thread!

2011-11-06T18:37:00.000-06:00

I'm almost finished with the embroidery of the papyrus blossoms in this new quilt, but have a loooong way to go. Next I'll embroider the brown portion of that plant that holds the flower. I love the way the dark blue accents the blue/green hand dyed fabric. The contrast is greater than the green metallic I used on some of the other flowers. See my earlier post. This will make the quilt for interesting for the viewer!

The more you can embroider with metallics, the fewer problems you will have. Quilting through the entire sandwich is more challenging. I detail all this in my new Mastering Metallics booklet.

Ann Fahl

Still Playing with Metallics!

2011-11-03T20:56:00.000-05:00

For several months I've been working on a major piece. When it's ready to exhibit I will show it to you, and write about how it developed. But for now, I'm just beginning to embroider portions of it. The collage I've been working on, has been sort of a test piece for this new one which is currently titled, Egyptian Garden III.

After spending several days embroidering just stems, it was time to work on the papyrus flower/leaf. I planned the embroidery (decorative stitching on just the quilt top) by doodling on a life size drawing on paper of the flower. Right away I came up with something I really liked. Since I've been playing with metallic threads now, I chose to use a green metallic on a mottled green flower. I used a topstitch 14/90 needle with the spool sitting upright.

I am so thrilled with how this turned out, I just had to share it with you. The base of the flower hasn't been embroidered yet, but it will be stitched next. When the quilt is finished, the quilting will enhance the design direction that you see here. From time to time, I'll show you little bits and pieces of this new quilt.

That's all for now.

Ann

The Beading Begins

2011-11-01T18:57:00.000-05:00

Closed toe generic darning foot that Ann prefers for quilting around beads

Now that the embroidery is complete on the collage, I've started the beading. Unlike Lyric, I bead then quilt with a clear generic closed toe darning foot. This system works well for me. In a much earlier post I discussed the pros and cons of darning feet.

The spot on the collage I chose first was the little wavy red line on the right hand side of the quilt. Check previous post for photos of this collage "Playing with Fabric." I ran a line of short stacks of seed beads. I chose a size 6 yellow bead for the base and an iridescent red size 11 bead for the top. This created an interesting line through the center. Before viewing Lyric's dvd I would have just stitched a single line of seed beads down the middle and that would be it. So I've learned something new that is lots of fun. I love the combination of the two colors, it would be fun with 3 colors too!

Next I couldn't wait to put single bead stacks on the ends of the spiral eyelashes on the lower left corner. I chose the same size 6 red bead for the base and a size 11 black bead for the top. This adds a nice little touch to the ends. Although it doesn't show in this photo, the spiral is appliqued with a rusty red metallic thread and the eyelashes are covered with a red metallic size 40 thread.

Next, I decided to change colors and bead the inside of the large lime green leaf at the center top. I tightly clustered some iridescent seed beads in the center. The leaf was hand painted and left over from my quilt titled Summer Sanctuary. The edges of the pink center already had a little free-motion stitching in a variegated pink thread.

Who knows what is next?

Ann Fahl

Red and Green for Halloween!

2011-10-31T11:20:00.003-05:00

Last Christmas I showed you a photo of my cactus in bloom. It is a huge show piece. Well now it is also ready for Halloween. Because of its size, it no longer goes outside. It's too darn heavy. However, late summer it started to sprout a beautiful red and green coleus plant, which had been near it the year before.

So my Christmas Cactus wishes you a Happy Halloween.


Ann's Christmas Cactus with Coleus all dressed up for trick-or-treat!

I'm wearing my pumpkin necklace, skull earrings, orange t-shirt and socks. Get all dressed up in your costume and have a chocolate filled trick-or-treat.

Ann Fahl

Quilting with Metallic Threads Goes International!

2011-10-29T20:45:00.001-05:00

It has been a few days since I announced my new booklet on metallic threads. This has been amazing. I now have sent booklets to three different countries, Finland, Germany and South Africa. It seems that quilters everywhere have problems with metallic threads. This has really energized me and challenged me to do more quilting with metallics.

Diane Gaudynski has been playing with metallics too, check out her blog. She has written an extensive blog about choice of fabrics and how it plays such a huge part in the success with quilting with any decorative thread!

My quilting isn't anything like Diane's but I have just finished a sample quilting with gold sliver thread on some hand dyed fabric. Hand dyes have caused great challenges in the past. You won't like the fabric I chose, but its the only fabric I am willing to use up for samples. I chose the color gold so you can more easily see the stitching. I've had to pull it out from under the cat, Oreo to take a picture so you can see it. So here it is, in all its beauty:


Quilting with wool batting, hand dyed fabric top and backing

The thread didn't break once! Here is what I did:

The "Sliver"spool was sitting vertically on the machine
The Bottom Line in the bobbin
14/90 topstitch needle
top tension set on 2.5
Take some time testing the tension setting on a sample swatch before you begin on a project

Now I'm thinking about places I can use a little bit of this wonderful shiny flat thread in quilts that are already finished! Who knows.

Please let me know how you have found success with metallics. Or any tips you may have to share. Good luck to all of you that want to play with metallics.

Ann Fahl

Can't Sew with Metallic Thread? Yes you can!

2011-10-25T13:47:00.000-05:00

Egyptian Poppies 15 x 16 inches

So many of us have problems sewing with metallic threads. A few years ago I figured this would be the perfect topic for a new workshop, but how could I teach others when I wasn't able to successfully quilt this small sample? I was trying to quilt the background of Egyptian Poppies with green metallic thread, and it would break every few minutes. Nothing seemed to work. Frustrating...... So I worked and worked with the thread on different fabrics etc. I took notes right on the fabric; set the timer to see if I could sew continuously for 10 minutes before the thread broke.


One of many test samples of quilting with metallic thread

I worked with three different people in the US regarding my issues. At last my problems were solved! I designed a new workshop, and decided that a booklet on the same subject would be helpful to even more people out there. So almost 2 years in the works, Mastering Metallics has been born. Jayne Steffens was my proofreader, she did a great job helping me clarify a few problem areas, and made the booklet easier to read. Sally Miller, the book designer for A Black and White Tale helped me to create the cover with a great photo I took in my studio. I am grateful to both of them for their help.

The cover of Ann's newest booklet

Whatever the issues you might be having, I offer a solution. Now, you may not like my solution, but I offer one anyhow. Some days sewing with metallics everything goes smoothly, and then there are the other days. The 28 page booklet is divided up into types of problems and their solutions as well as by sewing processes: machine applique, machine embroidery and quilting. The pages are packed with tips, ideas, photos and charts to help you. Some of the areas are:

tension settings
thread position
fabric choices
needle size
needle type
thread quality
types of metallic thread etc.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please check my website for more information.

These threads will always be more challenging than others; but with a little knowledge we can work with them more successfully. It isn't always your sewing machine! It is the settings you have on your machine and the fabrics you have chosen which are the largest areas of problems.

Whoever and wherever you are, I wish you luck with sewing with metallic threads. If you have more problems, we can have a discussion right here on the blog.

As the days go by, I will continue to post pictures of my metallic threads and beading of my collage that I discussed in an earlier post.

Ann Fahl

Playing with Fabrics

2011-10-22T14:09:00.003-05:00

Last week, I had some free time. I've had the feeling that I haven't played in my studio in a long time. I've been doing lots of writing, but not really any quilting. Hmmmm, what am I avoiding? Lyric's Bead DVD arrived and I found it quite inspiring, so I decided to make a collage to both bead and embroider.

Collage, pinned and un-fused, it needs squaring up too

There are two little drawers full of fused scraps in my studio. To begin I created a pieced background with 5 irregular strips of dark fabrics. From my stash I pulled out a gray, dark print, blue, red and green fabrics of a similar dark value, pieced them together. This is not an attractive background but it is interesting.

Next I pulled out all those little fused scraps of this and that. All saved from earlier projects because they were too valuable to throw out! So here is what I have so far. It's fun, but perhaps a monstrosity! We'll see. Mostly it is a learning and confidence building exercise.

Completed collage, fused and embroidery has been started

There are images in this thing, from quilts that have not yet been finished, and pieces that are as old as the hills!


Appliqued spiral from lower left corner, appliqued with red metallic thread and a programmed stitch

I have no idea where this spiral was from, but I have a bunch of them in warm colors. I am doing as much as the embroidery as I can with metallic threads. If you look at the right hand column of this blog, you will see my newest booklet pictured: Mastering Metallics. So I'm using all the tips and ideas I've discovered in the last year or more, working on that project. My next blog will be all about that booklet.

Rhonda's Ginkgo, embroidered with variegated gold thread, but not trimmed up

There is a large hand painted ginkgo fused in the center right area of the collage. Maybe 5 years ago my neighbor Rhonda, gave me a ginkgo leaf this size that she found when she was at the library. I cut this hand painted fabric leaf out immediately, but it never found a home, so here it is. This is why these collages are so much fun.

Off and on, as I make progress on the metallic thread and the beading, I'll show you what I've done. You can see the endless possibilities for bead-work and threads. We'll see what evolves. It'll be fun.

Have any of you been to see my show at the La Conner quilt museum? If you have, please let me know what you think. I haven't had any feedback yet, and I'm dying to know what it looks like!

Ann Fahl

Bead it Baby!

2011-10-17T10:50:00.002-05:00

Today I had a most interesting afternoon. Lyric Kinard's new DVD called Bead it Like You Mean it arrived in the mail. I had just finished piecing and fusing a medium sized piece; folded all the fabrics, put them away, and cleaned off my cutting table. I'm ready for something new. What a coincidence!


Lyric's new DVD

After running an errand, I decided that the rest of the afternoon would be dedicated to Lyric and beading. I put the dvd in my laptop and took instruction from Lyric. I've been beading my quilts since about 1991, and of course, I think I know it all! Well, I learned lots of things from her because her point of view is so different from mine!

I loved how her backdrop changed with each segment she taught. Her explanations were well thought out and very clear. She demonstrated everything at least once. She used contrasting threads so it was easy to see where the thread was inside of the beads and on each project. I was very impressed, Lyric is a gifted teacher and presenter.

On several occasions she showed small finished pieces that incorporated the techniques she had just demonstrated in the previous segment. Lyric always had a little bit of a sense of humor as she explained the possible difficulties and challenges that might come along, this made watching the video both fun and informative.

Briefly, this is what she covered:

Types of beads
Setting up the tools and workspace
Seed beads
Bugle beads
Stacking beads and fringe
Creating cages for large pieces
How to bead a quilt after it has been finished without any knots showing on the back

She shows a great way to make knots along the way and at the end of your threads. She stresses the importance of making the beads secure. I enjoyed the segment on making stacks of beads which is something I haven't done, and look forward to adding to my new piece.

This DVD comes in a protective case, was professionally filmed and edited by Bonnie Lyn McCaffery. The DVD can be stopped after each segment, so you can practice the parts that interest you before going on to the next chapter. Bead it Like You Mean It retails for 24.95 plus 5.50 shipping. She accepts PayPal on her blog http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com

Here's a closeup of my collage Still Life with Scraps

In the very near future I will show you my current project titled Still Life with Scraps, when fused, embroidered and beaded. I am anxious to see how it turns out.

Happy beading everyone.

Ann Fahl

The Quilted Garden

2011-10-12T21:15:00.000-05:00

I’ve blogged about my exhibit several times, but a soloexhibit is a big event in the life of a professional quilter! I wanted to blog about it one more time. These shows are so much work, that I’d almost prefer to bea part of a group exhibit instead. Thishelps to share all the costs involved in making and shipping quilts to and fromthe show location. Shipping expense is a huge consideration, that 2 or 3 years ago when I agreed to have the show, was not as large a cost. Any of you considering shows now, should think about this cost long and hard!

Back to the show at the La Conner Museum. I always make a quilt especially for my exhibitions. As you know Coneflower Fiesta is the featured quilt for this one.Why did I choose coneflowers? I’ve done so many coneflowerpieces and still have some in mind.

I wanted this one to be large, showy, and have flowers thatdance across the width. This carries out the theme from my book on free-motionquilting, Dancing with Thread. Thequilting is spontaneous and adds lots of interest to an otherwise boringsky-like background. And lastly, it carriesout the garden theme for the show: The Quilted Garden.

Background of Coneflower Fiesta in process

I began this project by piecing together blue and greenstrips to create the background. Most are 6 -10 inches wide. I was tired ofmaking quilts with pieced squares in the background and wanted to create asimple yet striking setting.

Fused top of Coneflower Fiesta. The multi-colored cones are a favorite rainbow commercial fabric.

Eventually one ginkgo leaf and a fallen petal were added before the embroidery was started. After the top was completed. I marked where the quilted flaming spirals were to be placed by safety pinning paper circles on the top. So if I got carried away with my dancing/quilting, the important space for the spirals would be reserved.

So the show is up, the doors are open, and my quilt is on display. You can check my website for more of the story of its making. Make sure you look at the 3 closeups to view the flowers and spirals. Or better yet, go see the exhibit.

This quilt has become a new favorite of mine. Thanks for reading.

Ann

Patternspot.com

2011-10-09T19:20:00.001-05:00

My newest pattern at Patternspot.com

One of my recent projects includes designing some new patterns. I am on my way. I now have 4 on my page at http://www.patternspot.com. Just enter my name: Ann Fahl, in the search box. There is no paying for shipping and handling, no waiting for the mail to arrive, you simply download the pattern and print it at home. Give it a try! They have tons of patterns by many designers.

I include pictorial instructions on how to do this fan fold.

I have already told you about my table runner pattern in an earlier post, and now I've added a $4 pattern on how and why we should make cloth table napkins. It's called No Sew Cloth Napkins: a family friendly project. This isn't a pattern like you might purchase at the quilt shop, but more like a complete magazine article that gives my personal history about why I started making them, instructions on how to make them, yardage, why I don't have to iron, and pages on how to do my favorite fan fold that will make your table look festive. You might enjoy it. I have to say, I designed a great cover for my new product!

Thanks for reading.

Ann

A Great New Book

2011-10-06T19:09:00.002-05:00

Joen Wolfrom recently published a new book. And it is a great one! The title is Adventures in Design published by C & T. Available as an e-book too.

When I am teaching a multiple day workshop that involves design, I am frequently asked how a person can learn about color and design. I have never had a good answer for them until now. The answer is this book, it is in full color 140 pages, that's a lot! and 150 quilts. It is a real delight to just flip through the book to see all the pictures, she has included artists from all over the world, and I'm on page 119. She also includes luscious photos of all kinds of things, the colors of the closeups of flowers are unbelievable.

She goes through the design elements, one by one: line, direction, shape, color, value, texture, proportion and scale. Before you tune out, she explains everything in a very interesting understandable manner and illustrates with quilts.

Next are the principles of design: balance and focus are the important ones for me; then she covers unity repetition; rhythm etc. She makes these rather boring principles visually exciting, and you will "get it."

This is a book to keep in your sewing area, or near your reading chair for years to come. Study it a little now, try some of her hints and ideas; and then return to it again and again. You will learn something new each time.

Give it a try!

Ann Fahl

Piecing with a Titanium Topstitch Needle

2011-10-04T19:04:00.001-05:00

All this business began with a booklet I am writing called: Mastering Metallics. I have had trouble quilting with metallic threads for years. I like to think of myself as a thread expert, I wrote two books on the subject. But I'm coming clean, right here and now; quilting with metallics has been my downfall!

Thankfully the problems have been solved, after hours and hours of trial, error, tears, and emailing other experts on quilting and thread. The booklet is almost ready to be published, it has a great cover! Anyhow, I'm kind of off topic.

The other day the e-newsletter came from thequiltshow.com and it featured a video with Bob from Superior Threads, talking about "using the correct needle." So I watched it, thinking I might find some new information of interest for my booklet. Well, I did.

Size 70/10 Titanium Coated Topstitch Needles

Just in passing Bob mentioned that the size 70/10 titanium topstitch needle could be used in piecing. I'm the lazy type, and if I have to do just a little piecing, I'll use what is in the machine. That's usually a 80/12 topstitch needle. But I don't like the larger holes that it creates when I'm sewing a seam. But like I said, I'm lazy.

I sell these needles when I'm on the road, and I have a pack of the 70/10 size sitting near my machine. Oh yes, they piece beautifully. They have a longer eye, which gives the thread plenty of space to move around while the stitch is being created. Because the eye isn't too big, it doesn't make that big hole on either end of the stitch. Wow, what an eye opener. I now promise, with right hand raised, to "always change the needle to a topstitch 70/10 when I sew a seam or piece."

In this picture, Ann is piecing with a new 70/10 titanium topstitch needle. This picture just proves that you should always look in the mirror and comb your hair before taking a picture of yourself sewing!

OK, now raise your right hand, say it with me: "I promise to always change the needle to a topstitch 70/10 when I sew a seam or piece." You will learn that the titanium needles last much longer, so you will actually save money on needles when you do this! This will make your world a better place.

It goes to show you that one never knows when some little piece of news will change the way you do things.

Have a great day.

Ann

For October 3 2011 only

2011-10-03T15:02:00.002-05:00

I just learned that my quilt Celebration of Life is on the quiltindex for today. I consider this to be one of my top 10 best! Thank you quiltindex!

http://www.quiltindex.org/news/

Celebrate the day!

Ann Fahl

What's a new Ezine #001?

2011-09-28T20:55:00.000-05:00

A group of 16 textile artists have been working hard for some time, coming up with ideas for original work. They began a blog in Jan 2011 called The Sketchbook Challenge. They have now combined their ideas in a magazine format, that is available for purchase.You print it at home, and they even give you instructions for binding it, if you desire.

I have just looked over the first issue. 13 of the artists have contributed to issue # 001. There is a wealth of color, art, ideas and information to peruse. The artful look is a little different than most how-to magazines which makes it fresh and freewheeling. Each article carries the essence of the individual author and delights you with color and ideas. There will be something in every issue that you will find of interest. It will stretch your creative muscles. Mine need stretching! There are 83 pages, larger and more idea-packed than I expected.

The articles include:

How to Draw a Pinecone by Jane La Fazio
Make a Sketchbook Sleeve by Sue Bleiweiss
Remedies for Blank Pages by Carol Sloan
Take your Pencil Out to Eat by Susan R. Sorrell
and the list goes on and on. Here is the link where you can check it out yourself: Ezine #001 to look inside the issue and order.

Do not let the plain brown wrapper/cover deter you from opening these magical pages. There is something wonderful inside waiting for you. Read Lyric Kinard's piece on Making Bad Art. I've made alot of what she is suggesting, but she encourages the reader to keep working!

Let me know how you like it.

Ann Fahl

A Gardening Tip for Hosta Lovers

2011-09-26T11:53:00.001-05:00

One of my curly leaf hosta Sep 2011 with no treatment

Last spring I read a newspaper column about problems with Hosta.( I'm sorry I don't remember the author.) Hosta are the plants that thrive in the shade. Since that is all I have, there are plenty of hostas in my garden. The problem discussed in the paper was: "slugs causing lots of holes in the leaves" of the plants by midsummer. Now this isn't something that is so troublesome that I lie awake nights. But this is continually a gardening issue. The usual solution is to put saucers of beer under the plants and the slugs drown in it. This isn't for me. I'm not going to spend my life putting beer underneath all my hosta.

Well this new tip is a little bit weird too, but it was do-able for me. The author suggested putting crushed egg shells under the plants. The slugs avoid the shells because they are sharp. This made lots of sense to me, and I'm always looking for non-chemical solutions. I have two different types of hosta that are particularly susceptible to the "hole issue," so I tried this new technique on them. It works! The plants that become most holey are variegated leaves with large amounts of white area.

Here's a curly leaf hosta near my driveway. This one got the first eggshells of the season! Sep 2011

So, we are eating eggs. Dr. Oz says this is OK!! Saving the shells isn't really a big deal.

For raw eggs; after I crack the egg and drop it into a bowl, Iswish out the shell and let them dry in a container on the counter.
For hard boiled eggs; I save the shells as I peel them.
In several days time the shells dry out and become quite brittle. It is easy to crush them with your hand and take them out to the garden.

Ann's eggshell collection for 2012

Now I'm saving shells for next year. I'll just store them in a zip lock bag in the garage! Let's say, you save too many, not a problem. Just throw the extras in your compost pile (if you have one) behind the garage. Ground up, they are good for the soil.

Look out slugs, next spring you are in trouble!

Ann

The Really Big Show

2011-09-23T20:02:00.002-05:00

Here's the UPS truck, loaded with my treasured quilts, heading down the street on the way to La Conner!

After spending most of 3 days packing quilts, I am now done. There are 8 boxes packed, sealed and labeled for UPS. There are more than 30 quilts rolled up in these boxes. This exhibit has taken more of my time, than any other I've done.

The next part is they have to travel from here in Wisconsin to north of Seattle to La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum. This is a long trip for the quilts, so this shipping bill will be a big one.

There were so many decisions to make. If you have an exhibit, large or small in your future, here are some things that I did as part of the plan that might help you.

I sent out a pile of show proposals to quilt museums around the country. 5 years ago!
Decide on a title: The Quilted Garden (this was a year ago.)
Choose the works to be included-2 months before
Arrange the quilts on the floor plan of the La Conner
Draw up an inventory list with sizes, prices and descriptions for signs and send to La Conner
Send out publicity to as many web sites and print media as possible, 3-6 mo. ahead
A special quilt was made to anchor the exhibit Coneflower Fiesta
Now it is all packed up in U Line telescoping boxes and ready for the UPS man to pick them up. I usually take them to UPS myself, but my car isn't big enough to hold all the cartons. I now have more respect for the after the show crews that pack up all the quilts and return them to their owners! This was lots of work.
I sent an inventory of the quilts; their sizes and values to my insurance agent. We had to discuss my coverage and made some adjustments to my "inland marine" policy. If you enter shows and competitions, you need one of these policies. Homeowners insurance won't cover quilts that travel. I am grateful to my State Farm agent for spending so much time with me on the phone, and working out something that I could afford.
Also I shipped a separate box of books, patterns and booklets for the giftshop at the La Conner to sell, so if you find your way to the show, you can see my new Oreo book.

Coneflower Fiesta, the featured quilt of my upcoming exhibit.

I hope many of you in the northwest will be able to see the show. A huge amount of effort has been put towards the show. The show opens Oct 5 and closes Dec 31, 2011. The hours of the show are: Wed-Sun: 11am-5pm; Mon& Tues By appointment only. The La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum, 703 S. Second St., La Conner, WA 98257, 360-466-4288. Open to the public, admission fee for nonmembers. For more information go to the museum's website.

Please tell all your friends and local guilds about my show. I'd like it to be the best one they have ever had!

Oh yes, UPS did a great job, and the quilts safely arrived in under 5 days. No more worries there.

Ann Fahl

More Variegated Thread

2011-09-19T11:54:00.002-05:00

Warning: do not quilt the cat!

Next year, I'll be teaching at the AQS show in Paducah. One of the workshops will be called Colorful Machine Quilting.

I've been making samples and handouts this week. It's always fun to make some unexpected discoveries. The quilt sample consists of strips in three colors, which I used to quilt across with variegated threads. Here is what happened.

First I chose a multiple variegated thread in primary colors that includes: red, yellow, blue and green. It looks wonderful on the red and yellow. Look closely and you will see that the yellow portion disappears on the yellow fabric, and the same with the read. It still is wonderful! Rainbow #813.

Here is the multi-varigated on rich blue. All the colors in the variegation are visible because the blue segment is lighter in color.


Superior Thread came out with a new red/green thread. This is Rainbow #863. I'm not a Christmassy kind of person but the red and green looked beautiful on the spool. This thread "sings" on the yellow side, but lacks punch on the red.


The same red and green also looks beautiful on this rich blue fabric.

I guess when it comes down to it; it is much more fun to quilt with a variegated thread on a contrasting fabric. Do not attempt this while a cat is present!

An update on the Gingko Table Runner from variegated previous posts: It is now available on Patternspot.com.

You can download this pattern: Autumn Ginkgo Table Runner, and don't have to pay shipping!

Have fun with variegated thread. I always do. Perhaps that's why it is my middle name.

Sincerely,
Ann Variegated Fahl

It's One of Those Days

2011-09-13T16:13:00.002-05:00

The pink super bells grow vigorously on my deck. The red geranium was a gift from Laura Wasilowski!

Today is a beautiful crisp sunny day. My husband played golf, so I had the house to myself, didn't even have to make lunch for anyone. So what's the problem?

I can't figure out the passwords for all of my Amazon's accounts. There are many, one for being a book customer, one for author central, one for the author's page, amazon advantage, and last of all the publishers page vendor central. I'm locked out of all but one, they won't even send me anymore temporary passwords because I answer the test questions wrong. I'm trying to get everything set up for my book A Black and White Tale. It happened last night, I tried again today with similar issues, so I'll deal with this "another day!"

This isn't the best way to begin the day, it brings a black cloud over everything else.So I've started a new book which interests me, had a cup of tea, and I thought it was time to write another blog.

September is a wonderful month in Wisconsin. It is sunny and dry, very comfortable weather all month. It also means shorter days and winter is coming. My garden looks beautiful. The black eyed susans have lasted a very long time. I have put them in bouquets throughout the house.


A corner of my container garden on the deck. The frosty white clematis is in its glory today. The magenta geranium was a hold over from last year. Don't the angled boards of the floor look wonderful?

One of the joys for me is to have flowers filling the house. While I'm making dinner I'll make one or two little arrangements for every room. This is what makes gardening worth the effort. Here's a little tour of my house.


This is the kitchen sink bouquet. It gets the left-overs or flowers with broken stems.


In the living room there is a little bit of goldenrod mixed in with black eyed susans and a few other things. You can read more about the quilt here.


Today the diningroom table gets this little old vase with a sprig of the first mums to bloom.


The vase is hand made by the potter at Winona Lake. This one sits by the stove in the kitchen.


Here is that wonderful purple vase that is immortalized in 2 of my quilts. In front of my	Purple Iris quilt.

So you've had a little private tour of my floral arrangements and deck garden. I have saved the best until last! At lunchtime today, I went to change the water in my birdbath. I carefully slid open the screen door and Oreo shot out of the door so fast, she was a blur. Forgetting to slide the screen closed I rushed after her, down the stairs, where she had already cornered a little chipmunk.

She grabbed it in her mouth, ran up the stairs, through the open door and dropped it on the carpet in the middle of the dining room! It was stunned and had no idea what had happened. I was yelling and knew I had to pick it up, but with what? I ran to the kitchen, there was an empty oatmeal carton on the counter. I dumped out the newspaper that was rolled up inside and ran back to the dining room.

The chipmunk was gone!! Oreo was chasing it around the table, around the xmas cactus, behind the clock, under the sofa and back again. She caught it and dropped it back in that "favorite spot" on the rug in the dining room. I put the oatmeal box on top of it, slid a newspaper underneath it. I was shaking after all the excitement. This time I carefully opened the screen door again, set everything down on the deck, taking a moment to calm myself, quickly lifted the oatmeal container, backed into the house and closed the screen.

Let me collect myself for a moment. My heart is beating fast just thinking about this! The little guy limped away, and hasn't been seen since. Oreo keeps looking for him, but he is not to be found. Just think I could have had a chipmunk in the house wondering around all night. AAARRRGGGHHH.

And you thought I was giving you a tour of my flower arrangements. I was showing you most of the places that a chipmunk had visited today.

Have a better day.

Ann

Eureka! A New Favorite Variegated!

2011-09-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

Close up of quilting with YLI Variations #21V

I'm still working on the same new table runner pattern. I am quilting the soft cream mottled background with a YLI Variegated thread I purchased in NC a few months ago. For years I have hoped to find a soft variegated thread that would be appropriate for fabrics which were soft neutral colors; muslin would be an example. And there was a small cone of sand #21V sitting on the table in the YLI booth at the show. It was mine! How could I have missed this color combination?

I've been quilting with it for 2 days now, and it is exactly what I wanted. Because it is subtle, I don't know if the photos will really show how great it is, but I'll show you anyhow.

This thread is a tri-lobal polyester thread, which is stitching on my machine like a dream, it is on a thread stand and it unreels smoothly with no problems. This isn't the shiniest thread on the market, but it does have a nice sheen to help emphasize the stitching. I am using The Bottom Line thread in the bobbin and a Titanium topstitch needle size 14. There is a Fairfield Soft Touch batting in the sandwich. I need something that isn't too puffy and is absorbent for use on the table.


Another closeup of the quilting

It's fun to find a thread that works well. I've used YLI's Variations thread before, but never had this particular color in my collection. Now I do!

Hope all of you have a variegated holiday weekend.

Ann

The Beauty of Variegated Thread

2011-09-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

Right now, I'm developing a new pattern for a table runner. This is my first attempt to design a smaller project that a beginner might choose. The runner has just 7 large Ginkgo leaves going down the center, with a few smaller leaves sprinkled in. You can machine applique the leaves or use free-motion embroidery to hold them in place. Eventually this pattern will be available on patternspot.com

Closeup of embroidery

I completed the embroidery yesterday. Now I've been embroidering for years but the effects that variegated thread has on a project never ceases to amaze me. How can you not love this red variegated thread on red fabric?

Really a closeup of embroidery on ginkgo leaf

Try a beautiful polyester or rayon variegated thread in your next project. It adds a dimension that solid color threads do not.

If you are wondering which thread this is, it is Superior Threads Rainbow #832.

Taking a Few Days Off

2011-08-30T14:58:00.000-05:00

My favorite place in the world is Winona Lake Indiana. Whenever I feel like my batteries need to be recharged this is the best place to go. It is a place of many good family memories, beautiful sunsets, relaxation, and great sleeping.

If you like boats, you'll like this photo. It's one of my favorites. If you like to see a little more nature and something more restful the next one is for you. There are always a few ducks swimming around at Winona.

Fall and winter bring other types of birds, coots, swans, geese, herons of all types. For me this is a great place. I feel so fortunate that I have a place to go to to relax and get away for a few days. It is good to "not quilt" for awhile. My brain needs a rest from that type of decision making!

Now I will resume work on my first table runner pattern, it'll have ginkgo leaves on it. More about this later.

Enjoy the last days of summer.
Ann

Ten Thoughts on Creativity

2011-08-16T14:39:00.002-05:00

Sometimes you have the time to work, but you don't have any ideas for a new project. What can you do to spark your creative energies and get going?


Pile of fabric that was auditioned for one of my current quilt projects!

Always keep a list of quilt ideas. Post it where you can easily look at it or add new ideas! If you don't have one of these, start one today. Then you can check your list of ideas and maybe find something to work on.
Go and touch your fabric, look through the colors, what speaks to you?
Go to your local quilt shop and find a fabric that you can't live without; and use it to begin a new quilt.
Look through your quilt magazines and books. You can also check the links on my webpage to see what others are doing.
Take yourself out to lunch or go to your local garden center or museum. Take a notebook or little camera and photograph things that interest you. If you look, you will find ideas all around you.
Cut a bunch of squares in one or two colors and construct a background. Or--make some nine patch blocks with your scraps and see what develops.
Just sew something. Do you have a nightgown or piece of clothing that needs to be altered? I am a firm believer in the fact that if you sit down at your machine or start cutting fabric, an idea will come to you. If you sit with your coffee cup at the kitchen table all day, nothing is likely to happen. But, if you go to your sewing area where all your "stuff" is and get busy; an idea is more likely to emerge. Why not make some placemats and practice your machine quilting?
Pull out some scraps with Wonder-Under on them, and make a tiny little quilt. Allow yourself to play or color freely, just like when you were in grade school. Who knows what might develop?

Buds and Beads a tiny quilt 12 x 10 inches Made from scraps with Wonder-Under on the back

9. If nothing seems to come to mind, you are probably distracted by life's events. Or, sometimes your brain is just tired, and needs a creative break. It is called "writer's block" by people that do lots of writing. I have just emerged from a very long blank period. Take this time to read a good book, paint the bathroom, or throw yourself into a completely different project. If this is where you are, just concentrate on NON-QUILTING activities. You will know when you are ready to get back to work.

10. Try wearing a pair or colorful socks or a wild T-shirt, something that is FUN. This will help set your mood for more creative thoughts.

Good luck.

Ann Fahl

It's Not Easy to Give a Quilt Away

2011-08-01T14:56:00.004-05:00

Today is a big day. Just by looking at me you can't tell, but I donated a quilt to hang in our beautiful brand new Mount Pleasant Village Hall.

The quilt has been steamed and all cat hairs removed!

Several years ago, it was decided to sell the old property and build a new Village Hall at a new location. I thought about this for a long time before I investigated what needed to be done to give a large piece to hang in this new public space. December 2010, I talked to someone at the village hall about this request. In February 2011, the new building was far enough along that I could tour it as long as I wore a hard hat! I saw everything; from the holding cells in the police department, the offices, restrooms, meeting rooms to the lunch rooms. The village made an effort be be environmentally responsible by using energy saving and recycled products etc.when building. The focal point of the building is a natural area on the back side of the building, so there is lots of glass! In fact there is so much glass, there are precious few places to hang one of my big quilts!

At this point I gave my contact a list of 10 quilts from which to choose. They narrowed the field to 5, so I took the 5 to the large meeting room to see which might work the best. By this time, there had been some personnel changes and my original contact was no longer working for the Village, there had also been an election so there was also a new village board. This is when I met Logan. We discussed each of the 5 options and in a short time decided on November Garden. The colors blended well with the soft gray or beige walls and with the gray/black carpeting made partially from recycled tires.

Here is the large wall, about 12 feet wide, between 2 huge north facing windows.

Now it is June 2011, and the chosen quilt had to be officially accepted by the Village Trustees (the board.) It was presented, and I talked for a minute or two about the quilt and why I wanted to donate one. The board swiftly voted to accept the quilt. I explained that I would hold the quilt, until a plexiglass box could be made, to protect it when hanging in the public space.

There was a 2-3 week delay in completing the box. Logan and I finally made a date, in July to hang the quilt in the large meeting room. The night before we were to hang it up, there was some discussion at the open board meeting about where the quilt was to be hung. So there is yet another delay. I return to the wonderful new building and look at the alternative sites and found there were 3 that were acceptable to me. An official decision was quickly made about the new spot in the community room which was large enough to hold 100 plus people. Many people would be able to enjoy the quilt here.

Here is Logan and Bob, the precision quilt hanging team!

So here it is, today, August 1, the quilt is finally hanging. We experienced so many little glitches, I won't even mention them here! The quilt was hung by Logan and Bob, with some assistance from me. They were very particular about measuring the wall so the box and the quilt were perfectly centered! One hour and 45 minutes later, the quilt was in its protective ventilated plexi box, and my long wait is over. November Garden looks wonderful. Time for celebration. Please take the time to hum Purcell's Trumpet Voluntary and join me in my celebration!

Here is the quilt, November Garden, 50 x 56 inches, in its new home in the village hall.

I do hope the residents of Mount Pleasant, and the Racine, WI area will enjoy my quilt, even if just for a moment. You will find the quilt in the community room to the east of the large main doors. The hours for the village hall are 8-12, and 1-5 Monday-Friday. The address is 8811 Campus Drive, Mt. Pleasant, WI which will not be found on your GPS. From I94, turn east on hwy 20, turn north on 90th street at the cemetery. You will find the building on the east side of the road, the corner of 90th and Campus.


Here is the recently completed Mt. Pleasant Village Hall--now complete with quilt!

You may read more about the details of the quilt itself on my website. I am so pleased that this very special quilt has a new home. My thanks to everyone that helped with this quilt donation project. Thanks Logan.

Ann Fahl

Trillium and Ginkgo Leaves

2011-07-26T16:13:00.000-05:00

It seems to take forever to finish a quilt these days. This new one is called Trillium Landscape. It is small just 26 x 26 inches. I had to put it aside for awhile as I worked on some other things, so it has been in the works for months.

This is the third quilt that I have used the idea of setting my subject into another shape--a ginkgo leaf! This will make its debut at the LaConner Quilt and Textile Museum in LaConner, WA in October.


A closeup of Trillium Landscape

The trillium and leaves are heavily machine embroidered. I chose to use a curved and spiral combination of patterns as a contrast to the petal shape.

I love this little bud that rests on the right side of the ginkgo leaf. You can also see the embroidery in the ginkgo leaf behind it. My choice is always to use variegated thread. I try to have every variegated rayon or polyester thread in my studio. I love the way it shines, this enhances the stitching. If you choose the correct needles for the free-motion work, you will have success with your embroidery. Try using the new titanium topstitch needles.

This is a closeup of my signature on the front of the quilt. It needs to be there, but I try to choose a color or placement for it, so it doesn't draw the eye away from the subject.

Sometimes I like to repeat shapes from the subject in the quilting. You can see I've added a quilted leaf in the middle of the two embroidered leaves. Quilting should add surface interest to the quilt, but not be a distraction. For me it has to be fun, so I enjoy the process of quilting.

Ann

Writing a New Book and a Vacation from Quilting

2011-07-24T12:50:00.000-05:00

If you live in the US you've lived through this heat wave!

It's too hot to work outside in the garden so I decided to stay inside and finish up a book that I've been working on for the last year or so. This isn't a quilting book, it's another in my series on my family history.

Last summer I found the letters that my grandfather wrote his sweetheart while he was in the army in 1916-1918. After reading through most of the 65 letters, I decided to transcribe them and put them in book form for my family. At the end of each letter he continually asked her to come and visit him at the base; which she eventually did on August 3, 1918. They married on August 15 several weeks later.

Book cover with some of the letters

When I was typing up the letters, I was totally absorbed into their story. Imagine my grandparents as young and in love! It was hard to stop working on them. The bonus is that grandpa sent her postcards, comics, newspaper articles, bulletins etc., and most of these things were still in the envelopes! Grandma kept these letters and many others in a cedar chest. When she died in the 70's her son kept them; then last summer they found their way to the cottage in Winona Lake. I just couldn't leave them alone. That's when this book got it's start.

I titled the book, "Dear Grace" I put as many letters into the text that would fit in 60 pages. I inserted as many pictures of the things that grandpa sent her. I'm very proud of the book, and hope my cousins enjoy it as much as I did. This is a precious treasure which I will share with all of Grace and Harry's grandchildren.


Here is Grace and Harry in 1916, early in their relationship

I took the completed file to Office Depot where Angie and David worked a whole day laminating the covers, printed the body of the book, and binding them with a small black spiral. The book looks great and with care should last a generation or two. Only 15 relatives will own one.

This morning I took all the books to the post office and mailed them off. You know, I am really sad that this project has come to an end. For me it was a chance to step back in time and get to know my grandparents as young adults. I learned a lot. I'm not sure what I will tackle next. Nothing will be quite as personal and magical as this project.

Even quilters need a hobby!

Ann

National Pecan Pie Day and Other Things

2011-07-12T21:06:00.000-05:00

Today I heard on the radio, it was National Pecan Pie Day , I cannot let this day pass without making a comment or two. My mother was a top notch classical pianist, not the best cook in the world! Several times she made a pecan pie for a Thanksgiving dinner. It was really yummy, even though it wasn't chocolate! So celebrate this day by having a small slice of pecan pie and a cup of tea. Close your eyes and remember all the good times that accompanied that pie. I'm so sorry that I don't have a piece of pie pictured on a quilt to show you; or to eat on this special day.

This new birdhouse decorates the counter in my kitchen!

This past weekend I had another book signing at Winona Lake IN. I am done having book signings as they are lots of work, for the number of books sold. This event was in conjunction with my cousin's Vintage Cottage Antique & Collectable sale. Wow, the people really turned out. My cousin Janet sold all kinds of stuff; from an old dining room table and chairs to a designer sweater. Looking at all the great collectables was fascinating. I did purchase a birdhouse, that I now have in my kitchen, made by Bob Shull a Warsaw area woodworker.

This summer, it seems like I've been doing lots of gardening. The geraniums on my deck are spectacular this year. Every summer about the Fourth of July they are loaded with blooms. This year is no different.


Here's my container garden on the deck. I love the sundial/birdbath nestled in the center of the flower pots.

After many weeks of no sewing, I have finally returned to my sewing machine. It feels good! I'm quilting a small wallhanging for my upcoming solo exhibit at the LaConner Quilt and Textile Museum in WA. You'll have to wait to see a photo of it.

I hope you are having an interesting summer.

Ann

Purple and Lime Green Discovery

2011-06-30T15:24:00.002-05:00

One of the great things about the quilting community is that when we get together, we learn about new ideas and products. Several weeks ago, I judged and taught at the NC Quilt Symposium in Raleigh. Karen Kay Buckley's room was right across the hall from mine, and we spent lots of time talking about the quilt world. She showed me her new signature scissors.

The first thing that appealed to me was the color of the handles! Then I realized that they were large soft plastic that was comfortable in your hand. I had heard of special scissors that "grip" the fabric, rather than push it away from the blades. They have micro serrated blades that grab the fabric and make it easier to cut and trim. The price is modest. $19.95 for the small 4 inch pair and 25.95 for the 7 1/2 inch pair. What a great gift for the quilter on your list or just for yourself. Here is a link.

I also mentioned that I was a judge for their quilt exhibit. Probably, I have just as many opinions about judging as most other people. That's why I wanted to become a judge. After years, I realized that there is no understanding why some quilts receive prizes at one show and nothing at the next!~ It will always be an enigma because it is such an subjective process.

At lunch, we did have fun together. There was a surprise hanging in the ladies room!

The esteemed judges in NC. Karen Kay Buckley, Ann Fahl, Kathy Sullivan

Judges can have fun too!

Have a great Fourth of July.

Ann

Of Magazines and Machine Quilting

2011-06-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a great day. I finished machine quilting my featured quilt for a solo exhibit at the LaConner Museum and a new issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited arrived in the mail.


New issue of quilting magazine.

I haven't read the entire issue yet, but if you are interested in improving your machine quilting, there are plenty of articles in here for you. I have a 5 page article on "Keys to Successful Machine Quilting" on page 33. There are lots of large photos to enjoy and study throughout the entire issue! I am impressed with the quantity of information included in this publication.


Detail of Coneflower Fiesta, Ann's newest and not yet completed quilt!

This is just a teaser, but in keeping with my machine quilting theme. These extra large spirals are scattered across the surface of a large coneflower garden. (I'm not done with coneflowers yet!) I am continually trying to improve the scale and visibility of my quilting and I feel that I have succeeded this time.

Have a great week.

Gettysburg and Ginkgoes

2011-06-10T17:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a month or so since I added this quilt to my website. This is my first chance to blog about it. In April my husband and I drove east for a book signing. We stopped at Gettysburg PA on the drive home.

I'm not a fan of war. As a child I accepted war as a fact and a part of history. As an adult and a mother, it is difficult for me to understand why governments declare war on each other. Nothing seems to be solved at the wars' conclusion, so many people are killed. Depending on what statistics you read up to 60,000 men died at Gettysburg alone.


Gettysburg an original quilt by Ann Fahl (c) 2011

When we arrived in the area of the battlefield, it seemed to be a quiet but boring farm landscape. The unique wooden fencing and black stone walls interested me. All the rock in the area is volcanic and black. Huge rocks and boulders are scattered everywhere. It would be difficult for a farmer to till his soil because of the rocks. It would be a lifetime of work to just remove the small ones from the fields.The huge boulders are to heavy to move. So the farmers created small rock walls on the boundaries of their land. The rail fences were also used in 1863. They were constructed by leaning the rails up against each other without nails or ropes to hold them together.

I've never liked fences, but they criss cross the landscape and visually hold it together. They were obstacles on the battlefield the last 2 days. There were stone markers scattered everywhere, marking an event or person that was there in July of 1863. The large open field looked like a combination wheat field and deserted cemetery.

At 10:00 am we met Ed our personal guide to the battlefield. He is a retired executive from IL, who wanted to become a guide at Gettysburg. He's now been a guide for 7 or 8 years. He made sense of all the empty quiet land. All those markers out in the field show where the soldiers from each state began each day. Two hours later, he had described each of the 3 days battles, we drove around the fields and saw some of the markers. We finished up at "The Angle," where the last and bloodiest part of the battle ended at a black stone wall. While we were standing in this spot near the wall a man played "Taps" on a coronet. It was difficult not to be moved by the moment and circumstances.

Our tour was over, but the events at this battlefield and many others like it affect our lives.


Gettysburg and the farm- like setting

I wish we could have stopped at the cemetery, we did drive past it. There were so many graves.


A few of the many graves at the Gettysburg Battlefield

There has been an effort on the part of the North and South to mark all the graves and find all the bodies. The last one was found in 1997. There are memorials everywhere marking everything. The ground is sacred to all those that work and volunteer at the battlefield. They protect the area and try to keep it as it was during the 3 days in July 1863.

As far as the quilt itself, I created it on a piece of hand dyed green fabric. The farm landscape is contained in the shape of a ginkgo leaf. The cannon represents one of the over 200 that were used in the battle is mostly machine appliqued. The graves are machine appliqued and shaded with colored pencil. Machine quilted with wool batting. 24 x 23 inches.

Ann Fahl

Trillium in Technicolor and Problem Solving

2011-05-26T16:58:00.000-05:00

Trillium in Technicolor as seen in my book Dancing with Thread

This post will show you how I have spent the last week or so. I will also share several tips I've learned along the way. Obvious yes, but they are worth mentioning. This is enough information to fill a half day workshop!

Trillium in Technicolor is a quilt I was very proud of. There were several new things that I tried and they were successful. However, something has always bothered me about the quilt.

So here is the big tip: I hung the quilt up in my bedroom where I would see it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. After several weeks I figured out the problem, the largest flower was bright orange and it always seemed to scream at me. The solution was to change the flower. Am I crazy? I finished this quilt 2 years ago, why am I fooling with it now? Well, I'd like to show a grouping of trillium pieces in my autumn show at the LaConner Quilt Museum.

I knew the replaced flower had to be in the pink or rose color family, it would blend better with the remaining flowers.


Auditioning soft pink fabric: not too bad, maybe I like it!

Auditioning deeper rose fabric: I like this better!

Parchment pattern piece on lower right petal

I had to think about how I was going to do this and work up enthusiasm for the project. With pencil, I traced the three petals onto parchment paper. I added a generous 1/4 inch seam allowance for turning the edges under. Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I cut out most of my images using scissors. These petals have wavy edges and I think it works better. I cut out the rose fabric for this first petal and began to see a transformation.


The first rose petal is hand appliqued into position. I also added a light pink edge on one side.

Using tiny hand stitches, and matching rose colored thread, I used the needle turn applique technique, and stitched right up to the dark leaves. I am really pleased with the results. It did take all evening to do this.


On the second evening, I cut out and appliqued the second petal

I am encouraged as I like the pink, but I still seem to see it as an orange flower!


All three petals are appliqued into place.

I hung the quilt in my studio all day so I could admire my new pink trillium. It is good. With a steam iron I lightly steamed the flower to make the edges flat. Now, how am I going to quilt this thing?

Using one of the parchment pattern pieces I doodled some designs that would be effective and similar to the quilting patterns used on the smaller flowers. There were two different Rainbow Variegated Threads that worked with the rose color: I chose #814 because it added more depth to the quilting.

First I worked up my confidence level, then I began to quilt. It really didn't take too long, even though I took my time, this is the LAST chance for this Trillium.

Detail show of the new and improved rose colored trillium

I'm very pleased with the changes I have made. Even after all this time, I feel the flower has more detail than the original orange. The light pink edges give the quilt more depth and realism. Even the quilting is better because I took more time to develop a design for it. I have no idea what I was thinking when I fused the Orange one on in the first place.

So here is the completed quilt, I'm looking at it right now, as I am writing this. It is successful, the colors work well together, and I'm thrilled with how all the quilting patterns have formed a cohesive whole.

Trillium in Technicolor an original quilt by Ann Fahl

Yes I made the changes by hand. This was done because I had so many curvy edges to cover. I could have maybe fused the fabric down, but I didn't want to flatten the quilt. The final quilting was done on the machine and unless you read my quilt statement about the quilt, no one would ever know that the quilt was altered! I admit. I did a good job. Go to my website to read more about the quilt and see larger images.

This method will work for you, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation! Be calm, take your time, think the solution through, maybe even making a test sample first. Wearing a bright colored pair of socks will always make you feel better and get you in the mood for "quilt improvement."

If you have a problem quilt, put somewhere you can see it all the time. Eventually the answer will come to you. Then you can decide whether to make changes or not--that's up to you. You have put so many hours into your work, it would be a shame to stuff it into a closet and try and forget about it! Maybe there is a simple solution that will improve the quilt.

Have a rose filled holiday weekend.

Ann Fahl

"Embrace the Light"

2011-05-25T17:30:00.000-05:00

Tea Party an original quilt by Ann Fahl

"Embrace the light," this is one of the messages that Oprah left her viewers today. My days will be a little different, now that Oprah will not be in my studio every day at 4:00. I am one of her very fortunate viewers because I know what lights me up and inspires me. I have gone out into the world to teach so many quilters my techniques and I have been so rewarded by hearing your stories and appreciation. Quilter's are very lucky people, we have the threads of friendship and support that help us to grow as people and quilters! For years I have known that I was meant to be a quilt instructor and artist. It took Oprah to put it into words.

Oreo and I stop each day at 4 each afternoon and I have a cup of tea and watch or listen to the topic of discussion for each show. This is not an exaggeration, there is a little of Oprah and her wisdom stitched into each piece that I've made over many years. I have learned so much in the process and been exposed to ideas that have made my life richer in many ways.

Thank you for everything Oprah.

Ann

The World's Most Expensive FREE Rose Bush!

2011-05-22T19:59:00.000-05:00

As quilters, most of us can come up with creative solutions for problems that come up!

Two years ago, my neighbor, gave me a start from her grandmother's rose bush. I've always admired the one in her yard, it is covered with white roses and it has grown to be a huge bush. This spring all the new canes on my bush, are loaded with new growth, and hopefully beautiful flowers! It really needs to be staked up! But the sticks I found in the woods really aren't strong enough to hold it up.

But wait, my oldest son is a hockey player. They break sticks all the time. He uses composite sticks, expensive ones. Now he has given me three of them. I sawed off the broken parts, and pounded them into the ground around the rose. To hold everything up, I love using colorful strips of fabric or selvage edges to tie the canes and sticks together.

So what's so expensive? The hockey sticks are worth $100 apiece when new! If you know a hockey player, and you are a gardener, it's a great way to recycle.


Three sawed off hockey sticks plus one stick hold up Ann's new rose bush.

It's a great spring. My garden is going to be very colorful in a short time! I can hardly wait.

Ann

Everything about Trillium

2011-05-16T16:03:00.000-05:00

Three Trillium a quilt by Ann Fahl, also a pattern

One of the first flowers that I chose to put in my quilts was the trillium. I appliqued them, and painted them on batik panels by the number. I love looking at this simple three petaled flower close up. Many years passed by, years full of coneflowers and black eyed susan quilts. Now the trillium is back. I'm sure you will see why!

Close up of Trillium in my garden.

Because of its simplicity, it is perfect for my threadwork.


Trillium in Technicolor a quilt by Ann Fahl

This quilt was a little different for me, because I used a soft pastel patchwork background. I like strong almost blasting color. But this quilt was still fun to make. I loved cutting away some of the double dyed black leaves to let the background peek through. Also I developed a little trillium quilting design to fill the background.

Trillium in the Sun a quilt by Ann Fahl

What could be better than put this rich green and bright white subject on the color orange? From a distance I love this quilt. The color warms me when I look at it.


More trillium from my yard

And last of all is my newest trillium piece, which I introduced to you several posts ago. This one is on a rich blue patchwork background. In this one, I got everything right. Finally I developed a unique little stitch to hold the flowers and leaves in place, which is large enough edge detail to hold the pieces in position. I teach this stitch in my applique class.

Spring Gift the newest quilt by Ann Fahl

My criteria for choosing a subject for my work is that the subject must be something that fascinates me or I love or feel strongly about. If I'm lukewarm about the subject, the quilt will be too. Choose something that you can wrap yourself around and totally commit too. Your quilt will be ever so much more successful.

Ann Fahl

My Alternative Mother's Day Celebration

2011-05-09T15:29:00.001-05:00

This is my view out my studio window

Sunday, the actual Mother's Day was an enjoyable day for me. I got up late, my husband had a blueberry scone waiting for me, yum. I decided to spend the day, outside in my garden. Until today I've spent little time outside. There have been too many things going on! My book for one thing, finishing my Gettysburg quilt, and working on a hot new genealogy project which has completely absorbed me. The weather has been crumby, it is Wisconsin, it has been rainy and cold.

The dandelions and thistle are showing up. Every time I walk up to my front door there are a couple of things that need to be pulled up. It's kind of like looking at a quilt hanging on the wall in a gallery, and there is a large piece of thread hanging on it. Do you pull it off?

Current view of my back yard garden

Today, I pulled out my little garden stool, gloves, little diggers and worked on my spring garden clean-up. And yes, this is really what I want to do on my day! It's warm outside, the sun is shining and the birds have all arrived. The perfect day. I had a thermos glass full of iced tea so I have something to drink while I'm taking a break.

Wild flowers called Hepatica nobilis bloom out in the front yard

Kmart advertised some yard art on sale. There were flamingos and cranes on special. So after having lunch out, we stopped and purchased one crane which is now standing on the edge of the garden. I still have many days of work, but this was a wonderful day of discovery. I found primroses, yellow wild violets, little white hepatica flowers, white trillium are beautiful. What a spring we are having. The yard is full of daffodils and narcissus. Such inspiration for future quilts. The only thing I missed today was my two sons.

These little red primroses hide among the leaves until I pull them away

I'm going to have a 2 day celebration. Both of my boys went to visit a friend out of town. So we're having our big dinner tomorrow up in Milwaukee at an Italian restaurant. It'll be fun to hear about their adventure, so we'll have fun together and I get two days of celebration.

Life is good.

Ann

An Interview with Jacquie Scuitto, The Quilt Muse

2011-05-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

The following is an interview with my co-author of A Black and White Tale. Her writing really made my vision for the book and the quilts all come together into a delightful story!

Jacquie, tell us about yourself.

Jacquie at the sewing table!

I was born and raised in Maine, went to college in NY State and lived there for some years afterward, then moved to Europe for 25 years -- Italy and Germany. My two daughters were both born in Italy but grew up and still live in Germany. I married my DH, Louis, right out of college and we were married for nearly 58 years before his death in 2010. We returned to the USA in 1986 and lived in his home town in Sayville, NY, and moved to Vermont in 2003. Though I had sewn clothing for years I’ve only been quilting since 1991.

How long have you been writing poetry?

My first poem was published in a local newspaper when I was 8. Then I took time out for years! I did write poems in college, some of which I still have and most of which I cringe at now! Joining a couple of on-line quilt lists in 1996 provided impetus through the many discussion threads to express myself in verse. Since the first ones posted elicited positive responses I was encouraged to write more.

How long does it take to write an 8 stanza poem?

I rarely write any that long and there is no set time required in any case. Some verses practically write themselves, others refuse to coalesce to a coherent conclusion no matter how long I try.

What does it take to get an idea for another verse?

Usually a comment or question on one of the on-line lists I belong to. Other times it is just from a stray thought. A few have been written for particular people or events but those don't get posted to the lists!

Did you enjoy verse when you were a child? Who was your favorite poet?

We often learned poems in school and I also had a delightful book, 100 Best Poems for Boys and Girls, where I first met verses by Ogden Nash, Emily Dickinson and many other poets. I also read the Alice in Wonderland books. One of my aunts gave me a notebook in which she had copied some of the poems by A.A. Milne as well. Looking back I realize that I liked verse with strong rhythms and vivid word pictures.

Scrapyard Cats by Jacquie Scuitto

What is it about quilting that makes you want to write about it?

Quilting opened up a whole new world to me especially after I joined on-line quilt lists and I found a lot to say in verse. I could even make some fairly sharp comments without getting flamed!

How did you choose the quilts that were added to the story in A Black and White Tale?

Some seemed obvious like the tea table and teapot to go with the one of Oreo with the broken teapot. The flowers and leaves went well with Oreo in the garden and the Winona Lake ones, even though Oreo was in none of them, seemed to add to the reactions she could have had.

What is it about cats or pets?

Jacquie's cat T2 supervising the quilt scraps

I always had cats as a child as well as for most of my married life. My husband liked them as well. In fact when we hadn't had one for several years he wanted to take home some kittens we met at a place where we were staying! I realized that we NEEDED a cat -- and we haven't been without one or more since. I currently have two, a tiger named T2, and my black and white Flecki (German for spotted). They are both getting on but seem to be good for a number of years yet. I find that they add a bit of life to the house.

How long did it take you to write the verse for A Black and White Tale?

I don't really remember. The tricky bit was incorporating the new Oreo quilts that Ann kept making!

Flecki guarding the front porch

Are there any amusing stories or difficulties about writing for the book?

Not really. It was pretty straightforward once I had settled on the sequence of the quilts -- which did keep changing as more quilts were added!

Any stories about working with Ann Fahl?

I loved her comment that my adding the non-Oreo quilts to the story made her look at her body of work in a new light.

What’s your favorite part of the book?

The Oreo quilts!

Has the publishing of the book changed anything for you?

I feel more like a 'real' author, even though I had already published a book of verse in 1996. This one has an ISBN number!

What's next?

I am trying to gather up my courage and energies to try to publish some of my quilt verses, probably self-publishing in some way.

Jacquie taking a moment away from her quilting!

If you are interested in learning more about Jacquie Scuitto, and reading some of her poetry go to her blog at http://quiltmuse.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading!

Ann Fahl

Quick Tragedy Update

2011-04-28T14:32:00.000-05:00

Tragedy on Esplanade by Ann Fahl

This quilt has been the subject of many posts in recent months. Recently it has been accepted into the Sacred Threads exhibit in Herndon, VA. June 22, 2011 - July 4, 2011 Church of the Epiphany. I am pleased that this sad little quilt will get additional exposure.

Ann Fahl

Spring Gift Debut

2011-04-27T19:57:00.000-05:00

At long last, I am posting my 2011 competition quilt. It's title is Spring Gift. When I finished this quilt last year, I felt that it was one of the best I've ever made! It was inspired by the need for a new quilt to hang above the long awaited new furniture in my living room. My vision was to make it simple in subject and strong in visual impact on a field of blue.

Spring Gift, original design by Ann Fahl

I sent if off to Paducah several weeks ago, in hopes it could perhaps garner one more prize before I retire. There's much excitement with the flooding down there, and also the excitement that my book was making its debut. For a few days I forgot about my quilt. Then the AQS prize winners were announced online, so I went to check, Spring Gift wasn't there, and I was disappointed.

All my quilts are made because I find joy in designing and creating them. Yet it is always a big kick to win a prize. Somehow getting the reinforcement of the judges and that prize check really gives me a thrill and inspires me to make another. I am not crying and I know it is good to just have my quilt hanging in this very famous large show. Somehow, I feel I have lost the prize-winning touch. Can I find it? Maybe it is time to shift my focus. I just don't know!

detail of Spring Gift

Many famous prize winning quilters stop entering competitions. But I've been having fun, doing this for over 30 years, I'm not ready to quit------yet. So please enjoy my beautiful trillium. If you'd like to read more about the quilt, you will find it on my website.

Have a great Easter.

Ann

Of Book Signings, Gettysburg and New Quilts

2011-04-22T17:43:00.000-05:00

I've been home from my book signing trip in VA for several weeks now. Since the drive was so long, my husband and I took the time to take a mini vacation while we were there.

The Friday book signing was not as busy as I had hoped, but we had a really good time and met some nice folks. So, I'm glad I went.

The next day we drove to Gettysburg for a tour of the area. The first afternoon we toured Eisenhower's home; then went to check out the offerings at the museum and welcome center of the Battleground area. I was disturbed by the cyclotron program which was filled with the graphic horrors and physical violence of the Civil War. It is a huge painting, housed in-the-round; accompanied by a light and sound show. I found it very troubling.

Day 2 at Gettysburg we took a personal guided tour of the battlefield with Ed. This was the highlight of our trip. We learned how the battle progressed, the strategy of the generals, and how each location was important to the end result. Ed made our 2 hour tour amazing. He explained everything, answered all our questions and was filled with tales of the 3 day battle.

When we got home, Ken Burns' Civil War was beginning on PBS. I was Civil Warred out! When I woke up in the morning I was still thinking Civil War.

A small landscape quilt is what I'd like to make. Since the arrival of my new book, I have been totally distracted by working on the marketing and promotion for it, and I haven't sat at my sewing machine for weeks. The subject of war and violence is repugnant to me, a subject that will be difficult to work on. If it is small it won't take too much time.

Unfinished detail of one of the farms in the battlefield area

The Gettysburg area is hilly farm country. Beautiful, quiet, restful, a place one could go to relax and enjoy nature. There were interesting rock walls and wood fences to mark the property lines. I liked the contrast in textures that they provided. The 24" x 24" quilt top is now designed and most of the pieces fused in position.

How could it be that approximately 60,000 men were killed here in just 3 days? Such horror and violence.Why is it that as human beings try to solve our difficulties with war?

Cannon fused into position

The top is ready for embroidery followed by the quilting.

My husband Bob has been fascinated while watching this quilt evolve, and has commented on every change or addition I make. This is a good thing. All these years together, and hundreds of quilts through my sewing machine, this is the one that fascinates him! It must be the cannon.

You'll have to wait to see the finished piece.

Ann

For Cat Lovers Only?

2011-04-13T20:55:00.000-05:00

This morning finished up my birthday festivities, they have lasted over 4 days. We always do something special at coffee when we have a birthday. There is a birthday treat and maybe small gifts and cards. Even at my age it is nice to be recognized on my special day. There were funny cards and thoughtful gifts, but one in particular stands out.

All of you readers have read much about my newest adventure, publishing my book about my cat quilts. Perhaps Oreo might be jealous of this particular gift. Should I have named my book something else?

Maybe I could call it A Milk and Dark Chocolate Tale! Here is the gift I got from my friend Carole. The perfect gift for a cat and chocolate lover.


A two tone chocolate cat!

I think I'll taste test her ears first!

Ann

Birthday Blog

2011-04-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

Ann all dressed up on her birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. By the time one gets to my age, birthdays aren't quite as much fun as about 8 years old! My two grown sons came home and we all went out to dinner together, that was great I really enjoyed it. Then we had a little celebration at my critique group; we celebrated my birthday and Robbi Joy Eklow's (we're 2 days apart.) There was a choice of 3 kinds of cake! Can you imagine? Truly this was a celebration!

My plan was to say something meaningful to all of you--on this solemn ocassion, but nothing seems to come to mind. I had my hair cut, and I put on my Burger King crown to put me in a more festive mood. Still nothing.

Today, the day after my birthday is David Letterman's birthday and he is one of my favorite comics. He makes me laugh out loud. Then my co-author Jacquie Scuitto sent me this link to Sarah Ann Smith's blog. Now that made me feel really good.

At this moment only one thing continues to come to mind, as a child this made me think a little bit, then smile. My grandmother used to say; "Today is the tomorrow you thought about yesterday."

Perhaps tomorrow inspiration will strike!

Ann

Tragedy Quilt on Display

2011-03-27T16:18:00.000-05:00

Tragedy on Esplanade by Ann Fahl

If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know how much I have struggled to create this memorial quilt. Click on the title above to read more about it. Finally it is hanging in a public place in Winona Lake IN. It will be there through April. This is where you may view it:

It is hanging above a glass cabinet in the

Lobby of Winona Mercantile and Boathouse Restaurant

Village at Winona

700 Park Ave.

Winona Lake, IN

Check ahead to see if they are open.Winona Lake is a small little town. But if you drive there, you can check out the artisan shops and have lunch at the Boathouse. On the way out of town, turn left on Winona Ave. and drive a mile or so to Lowery Fabrics and Sewing Machine Shop. It's worth checking out!

Ann Fahl

Introducing........................................

2011-03-25T16:10:00.000-05:00

I picked up the books from my printer yesterday. This is a day I've waited for, for a long time. I could hardly wait to turn the pages, read the verse and look at all the quilts pictured inside.


Here is the first look at the books!

But first we had to unload the trunk! We have boxes of books stored in several rooms of the house. We need to keep them in a clean and dry place so these precious books don't get moldy.

At last I opened one of the books and took one to Sally Miller (book designer) to show it to her. We were very pleased. It was exactly as we expected, with no mistakes. The printing on glossy paper is wonderful and enhances the photography. You can see each bead stitched on the quilts, it's amazing. I can't believe this is my book.

Oreo inspecting the books, she isn't as excited as I am!

Finally, Oreo and I, have A Black and White Tale, ready for sale! The website is up and running. I will be glad to sign each book for you.

And here is the cover of this 48 page book!

This is a small book, yet packed with 34 one-of-a-kind quilts some with a cat, and some without. It is colorful and sure to please both quilt and cat lovers of all ages. Jacquie Scuitto's verse which accompanies the quilts will delight you. At the conclusion of Oreo's tale, there is a section of the book that has the back stories and descriptions of each of the quilts. Sorry no patterns included.

Now that we are ready to go, we have decided that Oreo will be in charge of cat hair removal, and I will be in charge of packing and shipping. So we are ready to hear from you. Please help us out by telling people about the book. We will try to understand if you are a dog lover!

Ann and Oreo

It is National Potato Chip Day!

2011-03-24T14:44:00.000-05:00

Great Grandma's Bench, a quilt by Ann Fahl

I heard it's Potato Chip Day on the news at noon today. It just brought all kinds of wonderful thoughts to mind. Potato chips were always one of my favorite snacks when I was growing up. After school my sisters and I would each have a bowl of chips while we watched As the World Turns at 4:00.

When we were at the cottage at Winona Lake, no meal was ever complete without them. Seyfert's Potato Chips were available in Indiana, and my Aunt Mary Edith always thought they were the tastiest chips ever. She would buy extra bags to take home to Georgia.

We stored the chips in a tall old Lone Ranger tin. It was always a good sign for the kids when Grandma pulled that out of the pantry! My Uncle Bill Jones was a subtly humorous man who we remember fondly. He always said, "I always get worried when I see the stack of smaller plates and the potato chips put on the table for the next meal. That meant that it was going to be small!" (And he was going to be hungry!)

For me, everything at Winona Lake always tasted better. The above Winona Lake quilt is pictured in my new book, A Black and White Tale.

Ann