Austin, Texas was the place to be last weekend. It was the inaugural conference of The Modern Quilt Guild and there was excitement in the air. The conference was well-attended, with 1500 pre-registered participants; total attendance figures have not been released. The modern quilt movement is attracting new as well as veteran quilters! FMI: The Modern Quilt Guild

Ann Woodhead and I visited "our" quilt in the exhibit there. I pieced "Orange Improv" and Ann did the wonderful machine quilting on it.

Art Quilts Maine

Saturday, February 9 is the next meeting of Art Quilts Maine, an active group of art quilters from across the state. We currently have a traveling exhibit "Postcards from Away" in which the artists interpreted a real or imagined fabric postcard. Here is my 20" x 30" post card quilt depicting a lovely pink bromeliad I photographed in a tropical garden on Grand Cayman Island.

Cold winter days push me toward warm orange and yellow colors when I am making quilts. Here is a new piece in progress. There. I feel warmer already!

"Lunar Luminosity" is my latest finished piece for our "Fearless Designer's" group challenge. Each month we are assigned a word (chosen by one of the ten members) to interpret in fabric. I generally go overboard with complexity, hence many incomplete pieces. This time I decided to go to the other extreme: simple. I'm thinking about adding some tree branches in the upper right... because I now think it is TOO simple.

I made this tree ornament several years ago from an Eleanor Piece Bailey pattern. It is a favorite. The naked angel is just quirky enough - complete with curves - to appeal to those with a quirky sense of humor. Happy Holidays to all.

Another finish!

National Coffee Day is September 29. Who knew? Discovered when invited to a "celebrate the day" quilt challenge by friend Shannon Shirley. Since coffee and fabric are two things I love, this seemed like a natural for me. Off it goes in tomorrow's mail -- only a bit late for her deadline.

I had a great time at the Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild meeting yesterday in West Newbury, MA. CEO and co-founder of The Modern Quilt Guild, Alissa Haight Carlton was the guest speaker. Not only was she a lively presenter, the she also treated the 25 to 30 attendees with an up close look at several samples of her work.  Her enthusiasm is contagious! I'm itching to sew now. Here are a few of her quilts: