Tis still a lovely day….. for:

Call For Entries
Special Announcement.
Sacred Threads 2011 will be held in Northern Virginia (30 minutes outside Washington D.C.) from June 22 - July 4, 2011.


NOTE: Photo image taken @ DisneyWorld Jan 2007

More ramblings in my Quilt-Spirit!

I must be really one of a kind…… I must update and redefine my bio!

Images for future quilt stories of African American people!


a>

For the snow-ball quilt (ABOVE), she lifted the mattress to show its place of safe-keeping in a spare bedroom. Even the colors in her bedroom denote the mid-80’s style of her home, where she and her spouse of over 61 years raised two daughters (our classmates!)

Can’t you almost feel the tenderness… the ability to remember as Mrs. Miles gently spreads her hands over this precious quilt.

The story of Mary Lou and the quilts made by her mother is a story I began to piece together prior to 2007: and her are a few of the photographs from a second visit in her Oklahoma City, OK homeplace.

I was writing notes, and taking pictures – quite leisurely as she tipped around slowly… showing and naming the pictures of her mom and dad in the background pictures.

She later, opened a linen closet to show me unfinished blocks and smaller tops hand stitched by her mother. I placed the facts into a spreadsheet to reconstruct the various dates and ages of the family…. Oh I’ll have to go back and look up her maiden name!

I was writing notes, and taking pictures – quite leisurely as she tipped around slowly… showing and naming the pictures of her mom and dad in the background pictures.

She later, opened a linen closet to show me unfinished blocks and smaller tops hand stitched by her mother. I placed the facts into a spreadsheet to reconstruct the various dates and ages of the family…. Oh I’ll have to go back and look up her maiden name!

I’ve put off 3-4 of my life dreams… and callings. An inward urge… persistent… as if saying “Bev… do it before it’s too late and people pass on. The story needs to be told….. Bev… if you don’t do it…… LORDY<>

PS./….. That’s an open door to any fellow blogger who have published- self-published… or know of way to help me out….. help me to move forward!!! Thanks

Partial Credits: (l) Rose J. Smith, b 1943 Summertime in Bartlesville, 2000: Acrylic on Canvas (2) Marlene Collins Walker, b 1933 Reclining Nude, 1977 Oil on Canvas (3) Mitsuni Ishii Reedy, b 1941 Brenda (Woman with a Turban) The State Capitol in Oklahoma City

l

The State Capitol in Oklahoma City hosts a revolving exhibit showroom for beautiful artwork…. Share my inspirational visit…. I feed and absorb all of this color, faces, expessions…. On another wall – I believe a Native American artist listed as TONY – The TIGER had multi-dimensional, mixed media work…. Pretty neat. My brain and heart and soul… I am praying and believing that I’ll continue this quilt journey…. (I B-quiltin” !) J and I believe I’ll fulfill my dreams… God will give me the desires of my heart…. I’ll post to the hallowed State Capitol walls!

Won’t you be my neighbor???

It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood

I’m thinking of the many, many antebellum African enslaved and free women who quilted….. In Africa… men performed esteemed needlework. But on the plantation, women were taught to sew as became skilled seamstresses. You know, in this role reversal (in my mind’s eye) I picture the black mother toiling in the “Big House” till late and after feeding her family she began quilting in her shanty or cabin. Her man also worked relentlessly in the field. He glanced at her feeble but determined effort to sew, and he deftly reached and guided her hands into a lesson of pride as he remembered his land and people and the various banners and robes he-himself had spun, dyed, tied and quilted. Oh the glory by candlelight or moonlight as they both groaned and yearned for their life and livelihoods in Africa. Oh! the harshness, and downright meanness of the Euro’s, their audacity to think of them as stupid chattel. Though they knew not the language and ways of the wild, greedy, selfish master and mistress…. This couple’s heart and spirit were revived, their children were safe for a short period of time in the cots, and they lay side by side in the still of the night.

यू क्नोव... इवे बी

“I;ve been looking for the tab, marker, or any and everything that would let me OK comments to e=mail or on this blog site..
There is not a real person anywhere as owning blogspot...blogger / via a contact number (even if I had to wait on hold for an hour)….. just the help note. Anyhow…. I finally clicked… and now I am ALOWING POSTS
(JUST THAT I HAVE TO CLICK IT ON EVERY POST???0

BUT do miracles never cease….. TODAY…. Whatever I type switched to a foreign language. So…. I go to word/doc type—copy and past……… गीईश

AUDACITY OF MUSIC

Audacity of Music
“ and let her own works praise her in the gates.“ Proverbs 31:31 KJV

Medallion Styled Quilt . . .

I'm in the mood for the center of my wall-hanging artsy quilt to be the focal point -- the message to the viewer!!!





I'm pulled towards a bold, bright triangular edging:But I can't go too far or all my quilts will bear too much similarity.



I made a portable design wall (abt 50x50") What and Why A Design Wall?

Here's a sophisticated, intelligent quote about the usefullnes of a design wall "... from the flow of colors to the combination effect to the symmetry of various patterns, a quilt design wall helps an artisan look into each and every aspect of a quilt making with detail."

I am not a visual person -- there's something deeper in which I draw a flow of colors and the lines and an outline of my quilted piece, be it full-bed-sized or smaller:: (more like my African American Ancestors who thought "evil runs in a straight line!")This is the inner Beverly who finds creativity only when I break the rules of standardization! This happens as I quilt as well as during the times that I watch a Caucasian-based-media-commentary... the other side of my unique cultural heritage goes into an automatic "let's deconstruct this idea.... there's more than meets the eye! I look as deeply into the Scriptures in order to lift up and grow deep spiritually!

Back to quiltin! :) I think of my Gee's Bend lady-friend who thoughtfully said "..God gives me this here idea... just lookin' at a wall, or newspaper, of out a window.... I sees a color or design and says to maself: Self - I'll make that 'nto a quilt!"

Several years ago, I visited the Milwaukee Art Museum exhibit of Gee's Bend, and purchased coasters, and a video cassette: YES! I'm old and ol'enuf -- and old fashioned! My sewing room is equipped with a 15" color/video combo television. So my extreme satisfaction is to sit and sew in this quaint environment! God Bless my dear old Mississippi Mama Dooley and Big-Mama Sipuel!

What's Your Dream Garage Sale Item ? ?

Would u like 2 know what mine is.....???  

First:   A Long- Arm Quilter's Husband or Son who is so dis-interested in the antiquated shop-area that belonged to granny.... Lo and Behold.... he's selling the Gammil... that big on heavy thing takin up room???   Throw in quilting supplies:  Pantograph Patterns + Stencil Patterns (for blocks, circles & corners) ....Threads ........Parts ..........Instructional Material !

Let's say, I was driving the farm backroads of Oklahoma, Kansas etc in my JEEP ....  I see this SALE sign early morning sunshine and dew on the ground.   Plus I have a sufficient bank roll  :) 

Hi World..... Another adventure for ME!

It's coming into focus.... my dreams are coming closer to reality this year!  AQSG 2010 Quilt Study of 19th Century Stars with Exhibit @ Seminar in Minneapolis, MN.  Dates are October 14-17, 2010. 

I'm calling of a friend I met 2 years ago at a Rudisill Library in Tulsa Oklahoma Quilt showing.  She brought in her mother's beautiful... I mean georgous Lemoyne star quilt!  The AQSC allows me to make either a replica of the original or my own interpretation of the inspiration quilt in whole or in part.... no other guidelines that require my masterpiece via hand or machine made.  Construction methods are up to me.     Measurements: all four sides cannot total more than 200 inches.  http://members.shaw.ca/kigraham/basic/8point.htm

American Quilt Study Group • 1610 L Street • Lincoln, NE 68508-2509
Phone/Fax: (402) 477-1181 • aqsg2@americanquiltstudygroup.org
 
I've got picture filed from the event to post in a minute:

Rich Simplicity ~

“You can’t force simplicity; but you can invite it in by finding as much richness as possible in the few things at hand. Simplicity doesn’t mean meagerness but rather a certain kind of richness, the fullness that appears when we stop stuffing the world with things.” – Thomas Moore

I have a window in the southern back portion of my den..... And I open the blinds every day.... So I've been waiting.... and my joy is the beatiful blooming of my daddy's rose bush. Standing 5ft +.... and I've failed to feed it in particular. But a great year of 2010---- Howard Huggins was born in 1924/ died in 1997! God bless his work, his memory, every increasing my love for my daddy!

MAGICAL Mazloomi brings out the best in us!

She asked...... and I think I've delivered !
Just two weeks ago in Ohio, I saw the best of the best operating in her zone! Dr. Carole Mazloomi curated "JOURNEY OF HOPE: Quilts Inspired by Prez Barack Obama" via the Artists Quilt Reception ~ Wilberforce OH @ National Afro-American Museum!

After she sternly and graciously "worked me over" verbally and truthfully about keeping my word and being on time... and following the rules ~ she gave me a followup call regarding her next CALL FOR ENTRIES

into a juried exhibit titled "Beyond Category: Visions of Jazz in Fiber". Take note --all my fellow quiltin friends. . . . The show will be featured at the International Textile Biennial (San Jose, Costa Rica) and the University of Costa Rica (Limon) from September 7 to October 12, 2010!

Eligibility: each entry is by digital images only: up to three entries. Quilts must be created after 2008: minimum of 36" pr side thru a maximum of 60" per side.

KEY DATES: July 1, 2010 deadline for entry and July 15, 2010 notification of acceptance. Dr. Mazloomi contact information is: Carolyn Mazloomi email: drmaz4wcq@aol.com

Remembering that talk-and tone in Dr. Mazloomi's voice (all to my betterment! is this areal word?) I have completed the block construction and applique onto my show-wall! Good measurements, good color combo.... I'm on!

During my first venture into creativity...I pieced the NY Beauty star in bold fabric thinking of the circular motion represented the soul of black musicians..... I browsed antique shops of black memorbillia months's ago ... and in the sheet music I found a great picture of W.C. Handy.... along with this lady--singing--the--blues---no--doubt! entitled Under-Neath the Harlem Moon. Knowing she would be the inspiration of my JAZZ vision as a centerpiece; I sewed along with music-themed fabric..... Had on-hand a good many orphan blocks...... on and on.... let's see what works!!

THEN ... to behold the fabric on hand in my stash.....five inch triangles matched with black....

Show-Time!

Outstanding.... now we're talking black soul! Even as music is a universal language.... this is my hearbeat and interpretation.. right??

I even tried to keep my sewing room NEAT... refolding fabric as I go.....

OK..... ready for a peek.......... I now think of all the borrowed inspirations I've use, all of the copyright preventions I've seen listed....... NOW I take a step and wonder who will copy me?? !!

Here goes my sneak peek.......

Ready for decorative thread and zigzag to secure applique....and my soul lady! Women in black seem to be a recurring theme for me at this time in my life -- hmmmmmm.