Back to Nature Opens This Thursday in Portland, Oregon

View Toward Indio (36" w x 57" h)

Photo by Mark Frey

March 3 - April 27, 2011

Back to Nature: An Exhibit by High Fiber Diet

Opening Reception March 3, 2011, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Kempton Hall, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

147 NW 19th (at Everett)

Portland, Oregon

Please come to the opening this Thursday night!

Dusty - March 2011 Handwerk Fabric Club Selection Ready to Ship

My gardener did a spring cleanup on my yard a couple of weeks ago.  This is what I saw.  "Dusty" includes 3 beautiful mixes of lavendar, daffodil and brown, and 3 neutrals:  a grey/brown dark, a warm light beige, and a warm medium brown. Fat Quarter packages (1 1/2 yds. total) are $27 ($30 including shipping by first class post within the U.S.); 1/2 yard packages (3 yds total) are $54 plus actual postage to your location; 1 yard packages (6 yards total) are $108 plus actual postage. Dusty is now available for shipping.  This is a limited edition, so not many packs are available. Email me at bonnie@handwerktextiles.com to order. Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal accepted.

First Quilts Delivered in Guatemala!

Log Cabin Stars by the Loose Threads group in Vancouver WA

Good news!  The first 13 quilts were delivered to the orphanage last Saturday, February 12.  The 4 quilts shown here were part of the first delivery.  Thanks to Vivian, Sondra, Nancy and Luci for carrying the quilts down and making the extra effort to get to the orphanage.  It sounds like the actual delivery was a bit anticlimactic.  It was a festival day in the village and all but one or two folks were attending the festivities.  But, it's progress!  Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed their time and talent.

Vivian found this great article that gives a good history of the orphanage and the programs there.  Please take a minute to look at it.

Deb's Stars by Deb in Maine

Graphic Pastel Squares by Bonnie Bucknam in Vancouver

9-Patch & Stripe by Loose Threads in Vancouver

Making Purses Again

I've finished a couple of purses in the past few days.  The first is from Butterick 5367.  This is one of my favorite patterns.  I've made this particular bag 4 times now.  The first 2 were the same with the exception of the closures and handles.  On the first bag, I dyed a vintage tassel and incorporated that into the closure. On the second bag I used a repurposed silk belt from Hawaii for the handles. 

Here's the bag I made a couple of days ago.  It's the Ashley pattern from Sew Unique Creations.  I used several fat quarters as well as a couple of half yards for this purse.  It takes a surprising amount of fabric.  I used a minute portion of my button stash for embellishing.

Color Improvisations Traveling to Verona, Italy

Tangle (89" w x 88" h)

Great news!  The Color Improvisations exhibit is traveling to the Museum of Modern Art in Verona, Italy!  The exhibit will be on display March 8th through the 13th, 2011.  If anyone happens to see the show in Verona next month, be sure to let me know! (It could happen.)

Tumble (86" w x 87" h)

Canopy (70" w x 70" h)

(Photos by Mark Frey)