Kristin Shields Quiltmaker

Soaring on a Winter's Evening

This is a small quilt I finished a couple of weeks ago for the Studio Art Quilt Associate's 25th Anniversary Trunk Show in 2014.  This is not a juried show, but of the quilts received, some will be juried into a group that will remain in a permanent collection at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY.  All of the quilts sent in will be part of traveling exhibits for 2 years.  I'm just happy to have something to send in!  

This piece measures 7" x 10", the standard for this show.  I really love working this small and I really love this piece, so I'd be happy to get it back again someday.  

I hope to continue making smaller pieces like this next year.  After the new year I'll be working on a piece for The Undercover Quilters 2014 challenge.  I plan to do something similar for that.  More on that later.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so grateful for my friends and family and for all of you who read this who I've never met.  Your support means the world to me!

The Spirit of the Wood

My Novel Idea quilt is done!  The Spirit of the Wood was inspired by The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, which was chosen as the Deschutes Public Library Novel Idea Book this year.  This fabulous story was itself inspired by the Russian folktale of The Snow Child or The Snow Maiden.  It is set in Alaska in the 1920's and tells the story of a childless couple who somehow come to know a small girl who survives in the Alaskan winters in the company of a red fox.  Previous posts are here and here.

I read this book during the snowiest part of our winter, just after Christmas, and it was magical.  There are so many passages that are evocative of the time and place, so many opportunities to be creatively inspired.  I took notes and could have made a dozen different quilts.  It was very hard to pare it down to the things I most wanted to have in my quilt.  In fact, if I had the time I have two other ideas I'd love to make into quilts!

The fox was the very first thing I wanted to have here and it was a bit of a challenge to try to get an approximation of the colors and the eyes.  Faces are always a challenge for me, but in the folk art tradition, eyes do not have to be symmetrical and perfect.  In this quilt, the Spirit of the Wood may be the fox, the owl, or even the trees.  I needed a title that wasn't just "The Snow Child" and spent a 1/2 hour browsing the pages to find something that would fit.  How perfect is this name given that embroidered "S"!  

While there were many different animals mentioned in the book (I made a list of over 30), I didn't notice owls.  However, this one just begged to be included and adds the touch of color I wanted up there by the moon.

The "S" could signify snow child, snow, snowflakes, snow angels, stars, swan feathers, spirit or even Shields.  I think it looks a bit like a cloud in the sky.  

Subtle elements I included are the snow angels and swan feathers, both important to the story.  In addition to the wonderful plot of this book, there are many references to hand sewing and embroidery.  I tried to emulate Mabel's hand stitched snowflakes.

The book title is couched to the bottom of the panel with some of my hand spun yarn and embroidery floss.

The panel itself is made from a vintage table runner that already had the crocheted edging.  I cut it in half and dyed it in indigo last summer, before I knew about the book project.  I love reusing vintage textiles this way.  In fact, the "S" fabric is an indigo dyed vintage hanky, the snow is made from two different vintage (and well used) kitchen linen towels.  The edging at the top is an indigo overdyed linen table cloth.  It's the only part that was machine sewed because I was running out of time and my fingers were too sore to contemplate hand sewing it down.  The trees and fox were hand dyed by me (except the trunks which are a commercial batik).

I hope you enjoyed this mini tour of The Spirit of the Wood.  This piece will hang in the QuiltWorks gallery for the whole month of April.  The reception is Friday, April 5, 5-7 pm and there will be 50-60 quilts in this Snow Child exhibit.  I've seen many of them and it's going to be amazing!  We hope the author will have a chance to see the quilts when she comes for her lectures the first weekend of May.

Boy am I a lucky gal!

When we decided to move to Central Oregon 8 years ago, I had no idea how living here would change my life.  We are so lucky to be in this place that draws quilters from all over the world!  This past weekend I was in quilter's heaven when Gwen Marston came to town.  Gwen did a presentation for the Sisters Guild on Wednesday evening.  Here she talked about her medallion quilts in solids and her folk art applique.

I was especially pleased to see some of her series of tree quilts.  These minis are quite wonderul with their variations, many of which were inspired by antique quilts.

On Thursday I had a full day workshop with Gwen on making the Medallions in solids.  This is my piece which will be added to soon.

My leftovers ended up in this little piece which I will finish off for my November AAQI quilt.

On Friday, I was so excited to take part in the second annual Folk Art Retreat held at the Five Pine Conference Center.  Sue Spargo joined us for 3 days of folk art, wool and stitching goodness.

I had come prepared to do a Halloween inspired quilt and made good progress on it.  By the second day I had lots of fun shapes to add to my growing piece.  This will be finished off with a couple of borders and lots more applique and stitching.  On the last day I spent much of the time some learning new embroidery stitches.  I am all ready for a winter of stitching!

It is always good to catch up with Gwen.  She is just as cute and funny as always.  She is so supportive and would really like to see me start teaching some liberated quiltmaking techniques.  That is a goal of mine and so I have begun to write up a class proposal.  In the meantime, I have considered getting myself a Singer Featherweight for a travel machine.  Any thoughts or considerations you would have for me are very welcome!

Happy Winter Solstice!

My Solstice cloth is done. I love this one.  I just decided to wing (if you'll pardon the pun) the owl and I like it.  The trees were inspired by Jude's solstice trees last year.  The owl by Janet Bolton.  I had so much fun with this, expect more of these.  Click to see details.

I also like the back.  Iquilted it free hand, just changing direction on a whim.  I did Jude's technique of quilting behind something like the trees, but only going through the back layer. It looks more uniform that way, but doesn't interfere with the shapes on the front.  Signed it in stitch.  This is my new preference.  I am still working on that signature post.  Sometime soon, I promise!

This is our amazing winter view from the kitchen corner of the house.  It's sort of a mysterious view, but with the  leaves gone we can see the river and Mt. Bachelor.  This little lighted tree feels like a special gift just for us.  

I wish you a safe and joyous holiday, whatever you celebrate.  I think I might take a blog break.  Don't expect a whole lot of posting til after the new year, but I may pop in once or twice to share photos.  

Playing around

with my new Nikon Coolpix P500.  Just going through her paces to see what she can do.  Also, packing for the next trip and for moving.  And basking in the memories of the 36th annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  Busy, busy, busy.  Oh, and Magic Diaries just started.  Life is full...  

Sunflowers Moon Stars

Today's musing over at SunMoonStars was about this method of creating a sun/moon/star burst.  I found myself so intrigued I dropped everything and started making.  The star below was the first one, the pieces above came afterwards and need to be finished.  I do need some sunflowers for my Second Chances quilt, so I made several of them to give it a try.  The version top left is a little what-iffing with a square center and I may add more points.

I've already added the first star made with this method to the top right (above).

The center was created with an off cut from the moon.  The points are made with the backside of this great Kaffe Fassett print.

I really like it!

Moon and Stars

Sun Moon Stars is continuing and so is my Second Chances quilt.  I'm stitching down the moon now with a turned edge.  The stars are variations on themes that Jude has been talking about over at SMS.  Previous posts about this quilt are here, here and here.  I've done my sun and now it's time for the moon and stars.

I'm filling in areas with stitch now and having a wonderful time.  I especially love couching.  Many of the couched yarns are my own handspun.

The tree leaves are created with little cloth weavings.  There is obviously more to come.  I guess I've been concentrating on the left, but the right side will get more leaves, an outer border and something done to make the trunk not so rigid.  There will also be a swing hanging from the tree and some sunflowers.  Stay tuned for more!

2011 SOQS Quilt Block

My entry for this year's block contest.  When I got these fabrics I liked them individually, but not as a group and just didn't know what to do with it.  The pack sat around for a good two months.  A couple of days ago, I got it out and played around in my sketchbook with some ideas.  I finally settled on this one.  This block is inpsired by Tonye Phillips, Gwen Marston, Mary Lou Weidman, Jude Hill and Joanne Meyers.  After I got the applique done, it needed more so I added a lot of back stitch.  For the curious, here's the back.

I went back to make a mosaic of my previous blocks.  I guess houses are always on my mind, but I also considered doing a tree with moon, an owl and various patchwork star patterns.

Now, back to sewing!

A little stash enhancement never hurt anyone!

Last week was spring break here.  Both the kids had the week off.  Hubby was working, but not traveling, so we were all at home.  We had nixed a little Oregon vacation with the trailer, mainly due to our heavy travel schedule for the summer.  And a good thing, the weather's been classic Central Oregon "spring"- snow, hail, sleet, rain, wind and brilliant sunshine in small doses.  Anyway, with a totally free week, I had visions of staying home and sewing for hours on end- always a fantasy for me!  As the days went on, each one was filled to the max with time with friends which was fantastic, but not the week I had envisioned.  I have lots of stuff to post about, but I need to take photos and get them organized.  So, we'll start with these as they are easiest!  

On Thursday, I had a wonderful day out with my friend, Erin.  We had both won gift certificates at our guild meetings last year to Homestead Quilts, a store about 45 minutes from Bend.  We kept putting off the drive due to distance and weather.  Finally, we got to go and it was great.  The store was much bigger and well stocked that the last time I'd been there 4-5 years ago.  I stocked up on solids there.  I can always use more solids and these are the Moda Bella solids that I particularly like.  Today is Erin's birthday!  A big shout out Happy Birthday to her!

Yesterday was the Fiber Market Day in Prineville.  I went over by myself this time and didn't even buy any fiber.  I got some locally made soap and hand lotion.  Then went to The Quilt Shack in Prineville.  It's a small shop and had some nice stuff, but I didn't end up buying anything there.  On the way home I stopped in Redmond at one of my favorite quilt shops, Material Girl Fabrics, which sadly doesn't have a website.  Leslie has a fantastic assortment of contemporary prints.  It always makes me happy to walk in the door there.  I got the wonderful Alexander Henry Halloween prints above.  Plans for these include the Halloween/Christmas mash-up blocks that Tonya is looking for.  If you don't know what that means, you can read about it on UnRuly Quilting.  By the way, Tonya is coming to the Sisters Quilt Show this year!  Woohoo!  We've already made plans to get together.  It'll be great to meet after all these years.

Material Girl Fabrics also had the MoMo owls and Route 66 prints.  I've been collecting owl prints for a while now and have quite a few. I just love the Route 66 print with the retro cars and maps.  I've been to many of those places, but don't have plans for that fabric yet.  The last one is a street map of Paris that I bought on Etsy from Uberstitch.  This summer will be my first trip ever there and I already know I'm going to love it and will need to make a quilt.  I'll post more about the crafty pleasures of the week soon!