Enjoy a Quilt Every Day!

Do you have a personalized Google page?  I have a gadget that you can add to your iGoogle page, that shows you a different quilt each day.  The quilt that pops up today is my Egyptian Water Garden II.

Egyptian Water Garden II, quilt by Ann Fahl

This is one of my favorite quilts.  The quilts appear in random patterns so you can't predict what quilt will be shown next.  If you keep the gadget long enough you will be able to see almost every quilt I have ever made.

You need to sign up for an iGoogle page, click on "add gadgets" icon, and type in "art quilt of the day."  Click on the "add it now" button, and a quilt will appear.  This is a little visual treat for each day. Have fun with it.

Hope to see you at Paducah.  I will have copies of my Metallic booklet and my Black and White Tale with me, so you can see them first hand. Come up and introduce yourself.

Ann Fahl

New Year's Resolutions for Quilters

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

A Really Old Chistmas Quilt

Christmas Jewels, (c) 1988, hand quilted, 67 x 81 inches

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

Playing with Fabrics

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

For October 3 2011 only

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

Ten Thoughts on Creativity

© 2011 Ann Fahl

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!

1. 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.
2. Go and touch your fabric, look through the colors, what speaks to you?
3. Go to your local quilt shop and find a fabric that you can't live without; and use it to begin a new quilt.
4. Look through your quilt magazines and books.  You can also check the links on my webpage to see what others are doing.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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?
8. 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

"Embrace the Light"

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

Everything about Trillium

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

It is National Potato Chip Day!

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

My First Commission--Some Ann Fahl History

Today I thought I'd share my very first quilt commission with you.I made it for my aunt when she redecorated her living room in soft green with red accents. In the early 1980's, I was fascinated with stained glass applique. I found a pattern in a magazine, I'm sorry I don't know which one. I made the four blocks, hand quilted them and mounted them on wood stretcher strips. I don't know what the reason for the stretcher strips was, perhaps so it looked more like a large painting. The fabrics include muslin, commercial prints, taffeta and silk-look fabrics. Mounted it is 31 x 32 inches.

At the time, I think my aunt paid me $70 for my work. I was thrilled.

Several summers ago, she redecorated again, and asked me if I wanted it back! I didn't even remember it, because it had been so long ago. So now it hangs in my studio, to remind me of my humble beginnings. Actually, I like the simplicity of the piece. The only thing I'd do differently now, is to quilt it much more heavily and bind it.

So here it is for all the world to see. I have never shown it to anyone before, as it was made before I took slides or photos of my work. Now that I again own it, I can show it to you.



The quilting is finished on my new daffodol quilt. It has been lots of fun at each step of the creation, to see my idea come to life. I allowed myself several breaks from the quilting, and sat out on my deck, hoping to see my little hummingbirds come to the feeder. I was treated to four visits. The colorful male came 3 times and the female just once. They are checking me out by first sitting in a tree about 10 feet from the feeder. I must think of some names for these beautiful little creatures. How about Gertrude and Heathcliff of Red Skelton fame?

Ann