Early in my quilting life, I met many quilt police (QP)…well at least “THEY” thought they were the QP. I have since realized this variety of “law enforcement” is a figment of their imagination. Who gives them the power to judge me and tell me what I’m doing is wrong? Now I realize if I enter a quilt show, which is a competition, I must stand by the rules of order or be critiqued accordingly. This fact is true for all competitions, not just quilting.

I remember one incident in particular when the QP were in a shop of primarily machine quilted quilts. There in a corner was a lovely hand-quilted wall hanging. The self-professed QP patrolwoman jumped at the chance to pronounce her authority, “That quilt,” she said, “is the only REAL quilt in this entire shop. REAL quilts are hand quilted.”

I was taken back by her comment. My thoughts were “OK, now that you’ve insulted every quilter in this shop, what do you think these other things are? Silly Putty? Of course, they’re real quilts!” I have pondered her comments and share the story every time I teach machine quilting.

What I think this imaginary patrolwoman was trying to say was that the hand-quilted variety was a “traditional” quilt. But that doesn’t sit well with me either. What makes tradition? I personally think anything that can be documented for more than 100 years is a pretty traditional thing. Sewing machines have been around longer than that.

And this year I proved it, I bought a treadle sewing machine. Yeah…the kind that doesn’t plug in the wall and runs totally on foot power. She’s a lovely little Burdick machine sold in the 1890′s by Sears and Roebuck, Chicago. Why a treadle? Because I want to sew on it, why else? I was fortunate enough to find a copy of the owner’s manual online. Imagine my excitement when there on the very last page of the manual where the directions on How to Quilt…YES!!! on a treadle sewing machine. I now have proof that the patrolwoman in question, is truly a figment of her imagination.

And now I ask myself, even though the manual shows a straight-line crosshatch quilting pattern, can I do free motion quilting? I’m sure I can. I’m going to take on the challenge and have Lady Burdick quilt with me. Originality and creativity comes from stepping outside the boundaries and facing our fears to try something new. I’ve done that very thing more than once this month, good things are coming. I can be innovative even without electricity.

Sometimes life gets in the way of our creative process. Priorities must be established to keep the things functioning at some semblance of sanity. Every day we are all faced with choices, just sometimes the process of choosing seems heavier than others.

Some times our choices can resemble procrastination. We rationalize that what we’re doing is more worthy than the other things on our to-do list. Sometimes life adds extra challenges which force us to set some things aside. We’ve all been there.

“The laundry will have to wait while I finish knitting one more row?”

Of course, this statement is trivial. There are many more important choices we have to make. I think of a Juggler tossing 8 tiny balls in the air. One of these balls is special, signifying a chance (not a choice). What is the chance that the Juggler will drop that special ball?

So goes the chance that we’ll develop Alzheimer’s after age 65 (1 in 8). Our priorities change when we receive this diagnosis in ourselves or loved ones? Life becomes focused on caring for the disease process. Hopes and dreams can be annihilated. The burdens of everyday life become taxing. Everyone involved is affected by the slow loss of self that occurs with this disease. Its the process of juggling life.

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“The Juggler“ by Nanette S. Zeller (9″ x 12″, 2010) has been accepted as part of the touring exhibit curated by Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) entitled “Alzheimer’s Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope” . AAQI is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. The AAQI auctions and sells donated quilts, and sponsors a nationally touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer’s.

Support AAQI by making Priority quilts, bidding on and purchasing quilts, donating money, and spreading the word. Read more on how you can help.

Read more about the full-size  “Juggling the Chances” quilt.

(The images in this post are small so I can fit more on the page. Click the image for a larger view.)

As a kid, I remember going to outdoor fairs/exhibits during the summer. I remember the Renaissance fair at the local college, the air shows, the fire works displays at the local parks and of course, being a child of the 70′s I remember the Bicentennial celebrations and outdoor events.

On Saturday I celebrated Summer and Independence Day in this days-gone-by kind of way. My friend invited me to Old Threshers Reunion in Denton, NC. Having grown up in Chicago, I really didn’t know what I agreed to do.  I thought it was some sort of overgrown reunion for the Thresher family. Boy, did I get that wrong.

A thresher is a a farm machine that separates seeds or grain from husks and straw. For example, Eli Whitney’s cotton gin is a thresher. So knowing what a thresher is, you may wonder why they would have a reunion.

I got it the answer as soon as I saw all the tractors lined up. Its like antique car collecting. The people who attend this reunion are proud of preserving the history of our nation, especially how machinery has played a role in farming.

In an era of Internet, cellphones, cable TV and a plethora of other technical devices, it is fascinating to see real “machines” in action. Steam and early gasoline engines where everywhere. We were greeted by a beautifully restored working steam train and the sound of “hit and miss” engines was the melody we heard all day.

Along with the engines that were entered into the judged events, there were vendors of all sorts. There was a mix of carnival-style vendors selling t-shirts, trinkets, chicken on stick and Italian ice.

There was also a wide variety of flea market and antique vendors. Clearly the mission of these vendors was to entice the sales from the thresher enthusiasts. We found tables and tables of old tools, gears and spare parts. I found myself attracted to all the old oil cans. Do younger people even know what these are?

As someone who loves the “old way” of doing traditional craft, I found myself fascinated more than I could believe. The wood and iron combined with the beauty of the machinery and the smell of engine oil, had me mesmerized as we wondered the fair grounds. The people that were around us weren’t the big city type I grew up with.  Overalls seemed to be the respected uniform of the day. It was a step back in time, comforting me as it reminded me of my summer excursions as a kid.

At noon, everyone stopped. I mean everyone and we all turned toward the American flag to listen to the National Anthem sung over the loud speakers. This event alone sent chills down my spine. I so wanted to take out my camera to capture what I was seeing around me, but it was most important to respect what we were all doing. This day reminded me I am proud to be an American.

Today is World Wide Knit in Public Day 2010. We are not here to harm you. Have it be known, that we are a peaceful people who prefer to sit quietly, lulled by the soft clicking of our needles. We are easily entertained playing with string. Do not harshly judge us because we fling pointed sticks widely through the air.  We do not intend to use them to harm you, just don’t mess with our stash or talk to us while we are counting.

Today, I found myself knitting under a magnolia tree at the local farmer’s market with several similar minded folk. The local yarn shop hosted the gathering. It was a warm summer day, but a gentle breeze and good company cooled our souls. The mayor of the town stopped by to chat, he was pleased to see us all.

The next best thing to knitting in public is exposing your knitting in public. My friend Sharon proudly exposed her stocking-clad feet to the world this week. Well, she did it with some prodding from me, because I wanted to take a picture of the new socks I made her. Awhile back, Sharon gifted me with the book “Favorite Socks: 25 timeless designs.” To show my appreciation for the gift, I knitted Sharon a pair of socks using the “Embossed Leaves” pattern by Mona Schimdt and used yarn dyed by my friend Lynn Koolish. The finished socks were cozy and fun to make. Probably the fastest pair of socks I ever made.

So, the next time you see someone knitting in public, be not afraid. We are harmless. Our pointed sticks are intended to make stitches, not war, and we can make amazing things from balls of string. If you’re nice to us, you too may become a recipient of a hand-knitted treasure.

Ok…just a quick note, I just couldn’t resist. Its a steaming hot summer day in North Carolina, the best place to be right now is inside with the AC on full blast. As I was doing yard work this morning I was able to enjoy a little bit of summer refreshment. Blueberries!

This is our first harvest. The bushes have been here, but the birds have been out-smarting us the past few years. Just a small bounty for now, plenty more to be enjoyed in the next couple of weeks. The thought of summer blueberries fresh from the yard, just seems to make the summer heat more tolerable. Yum!

(Note: berry bowl by Flying Pig Pottery)

Over the past month, I have taken many pictures that were to be included as part of various blog posts.  They will be saved for a future dates, because today I want to talk about the color purple.

Purple is an interesting color. It has long represented royalty. Little girls usually favor purple or pink as their favorite colors. Many ladies, when they grow old, want to wear purple. Purple is a secondary color formed when two primaries, red and blue, are blended together. Wearing purple shows you want to make a statement. When I think of purple, I think of eggplants,  flowers (e.g., violets, lavender, Liatris, larkspur, etc.), and cows (“I never saw a purple cow…”). If you send purple flowers to someone, you are sending a message of pride, dignity, and admiration. Ah purple…

Purple also is a color that represents many causes. For example, the color purple represents Alzheimer’s disease. Names signed on 10,000 purple strips of fabric, represent a tribute to the 5.3 million people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. With the wrong side facing out, 55 purple strips are sewn into panels 6 inches wide by 7 feet long. 182 of these  pieced purple panels will be quilted and hung in a traveling exhibit called “Alzheimer’s Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope.”

I have been fortunate enough to help with this project. I’ve gathered names and have quilted 3 panels for this exhibit curated by the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). I’m also hoping one of my 9″ x 11″ Priority Quilts makes it into the exhibit. Yesterday, I saw a lot of purple as I gently guided my 3rd quilt panel under the needle of my sewing machine. I have touched each of the 55 names on this panel and they have touched me. Much like Alzheimer’s has done to the person, the names appear faded and washed out against the wrong  side of the fabric. With my quilting, I have secured the strips so that the colorful bright purple side of the fabrics will never be seen again. I’d like to think my efforts and those of AAQI are doing the same for the existence of this disease.

I grew up in Chicago. A big city with lots of cool things to do. One of my favorite memories of school was the field trips. A paper bag lunch in one hand and a permission slip in the other, I was always ready to go. I can tell you lots of stories of the cool places I went to during my school days in Chicago.

These school memories have been flooding me this past week, because last week I went on a field trip. My friend Ami Simms visited North Carolina last week and we planned a visit to Spoonflower while she was here. Spoonflower is an Internet-based business that prints fabric on demand. The Spoonflower community (some 70,000 individuals)  create their own designs, upload them to Spoonflower and “wa-la” in a week or so they can have their designs printed on fabric delivered to their door. Amazing!

Rolls of fabric waiting for printing

If you’re not so talented, you’re in luck! Many of the highly creative members of the Spoonflower community offer their designs for sale on Spoonflower’s public marketplace. The marketplace offers the largest collection of independent fabric designers in the world. And to think that this company was only founded 2 years ago, talk about a success story.

Machines print fabric on-demand

Ami and I were able to tour the Spoonflower facilities housed in a former sock mill in Mebane, NC. We were greeted by the lovely Kim Fraser, who inspired her husband, Stephen, to start this business in May 2008. As someone who loves those “how’s it made”  TV shows, I was in my glory.

Heated rollers set the designs into fabric

I was fascinated by the machines and the simple complexity of Spoonflower’s operation. I was overwhelmed by the colorful designs being printed before my eyes on rolls and rolls of fabric. I was in fiber-licious heaven looking at and touching the diversity of fabrics that Spoonflower offers for their on-demand printing. I was inspired to design things that could be printed at Spoonflower.

Printed fabric cut, folded, and prepped for shipping

Above all, I was impressed with Stephen and Kim and their dedicated crew. Spoonflower is American ingenuity in action. This is someone taking an idea, running with it, and succeeding in difficult economic times. It is wonderful to see a company who is helping pave the way to bring the textile industries back to North Carolina.  I am inspired in more ways than one. I guess that’s why field trips are fun.

My friend Olivia is an inspiration.  She tells it like it is. There’s something about Olivia that makes her remember-able. Is it her smile? Her warm personality? Although these are wonderful, what rally makes Olivia stand out is her hat-itude!

Olivia can wear hats. She loves to wear hats! You can spot her from the other side of the room because her hats are so wonderful. And so, Olivia inspires me.

About a year ago, she noticed my felted flowers and wanted them for her hats. I, never thinking to put the flowers on hats, was happy Olivia admired them.  She took some of the flowers to shows for me and received great attention.

So I made a hat to showcase a felted flower and now people want me to make hats.   I made several hats to sell at Artist Alley, just in time for Mother’s Day. With the help of Olivia, I’m learning to be gracious with a little Hat-itude. Now you know why I’m wearing this Hat-itude!

This blog post is about the trials and tribulations on why sometimes it takes a long time to birth a pair of socks.

Knitting is like any loving relationship. You have good days and bad days; an on-and-off cycle of passion. This particular sock knitting journey started as a vanilla-colored skein of yarn…boring!

Over 2 years ago, my friend, Lynn Koolish, offered to dye some yarn for me. I packaged up a plain vanilla skein of  yarn and gave Lynn some general color ideas. My heart stuttered when Lynn sent back a beautiful dark blue and magenta skein of yarn. What a stunningly fabulous makeover!

I lusted over this yarn for a year, or more. Something special needed to be made from this colorful ball of string. “I love you, oh beautiful yarn, stay with me and I will make you into something that will keep me warm!” It had to be…a pair of socks for ME!

And so the stitching began, using Cat Bordhi’s “Bartholomew’s Tantalizing Socks” pattern. My love affair continued with another spark. I loved this sock pattern, it was fun to knit and I loved how the linen stitch looked with this hand-dyed yarn. Stitch by stitch with 5 wooden sticks I produced one beautiful sock.

Of course, one sock is not enough, so I started on sock 2. As I approached the ankle of sock 2, I realized my love affair was starting to fizzle like a fire under a sprinkler. It became obvious, that I did not have enough yarn to complete the second sock. I was disgusted and cast them aside.

I was loving everything about these socks, the yarn, the design, the fit (of sock 1). The yarn let me down, I was devastated. I thought for months on how to save this relationship. Of course, even if I asked Lynn to dye more yarn for me…she could never dye it exactly the same. It would be obvious if I incorporated another yarn into sock 2. Months past and I pondered if I could ever save this dying love affair. My mojo was gone, it was easier to leave them abandoned then face the reality.

When problems happen, a knitter often resorts to unknitting (aka frogging). They rip away the knit fabric one stitch at a time, like reversing the clock, until the offensive problem has been removed or the entire project is once again just a ball of string. I hate frogging! It’s heartbreaking. I resist it with all my might, but sometimes when there are no other options, a knitter must turn back the hands of time and start again.

So over a year after I abandoned my socks, I finally gave in. I wanted this yarn to warm my feet. The only option I could see to save this love affair, was to frog the toe of sock 1.  My plan:  like some sort of yarn IV, I would use the yarn I carefully unraveled from the toe of sock 1 to feed the knitting for sock 2. The result two equally toe-less socks.

The next hurdle, with two matched socks equally incomplete, I had to find a way to finish the toes of both socks. The sock gods were with me this past week, as I had a perfect yarn sitting in my stash. I have no idea why I purchased the magenta yarn, which happened to be the same gauge and super-wash wool as Lynn’s yarn. As if by destiny, it was meant to mend my failing sock relationship.

Today, a matching pair of socks rest in my drawer. Yes, I could have purchased a pair of socks for less, but I wouldn’t be able to love them as I do these. Like any loving relationship, we have a history together, something that no one can take from us. Good and bad, we made it through, such is the story of my relationship with these colorful socks.

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to spend a lovely afternoon with the Tarheel Quilt Guild in Fayetteville, NC. I was there representing the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) as the guest speaker for their meeting.

The Tarheel Quilter’s make many quilts for veterans, pre-mature infants at the hospital, and friends. During their formal portion of the meeting, I was struck by many of the stories.  The striking note during the stories was how a quilt made a difference. The story of the veteran who received a quilt a few months before he died. He cherished the quilt, so much that family members argued over who would keep it after grandpa’s passing.

Other stories about premature babies seemingly gaining strength and surviving because the comfort of a quilt coddled them. And the heart-breaking story of one of the members who was struggling for her own life, while in the other side of the hospital a baby was comforted by a quilt she had made and donated. Both the baby and the Guild member survived.

Guild members talked about the power of prayer placed in each stitch of the quilts they make for charity. I believe that quilting is the one art that goes deepen than the beauty of the techniques. There is a strength and connection that comes from being wrapped up in a quilt hug.

My presentation fit well into this meeting. Although the Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts we make for AAQI are too small to wrap around the shoulders of anyone,  they do provide catharsis for the creator, their beauty produces strength for the recipient, and they raise money for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Quilts are truly an Art with a heart.