Sally Ride Science

Several years ago, a friend and I visited the Heath Ceramics studio in Sausalito, California.  I have been a fan of their beautiful tile and ceramics ever since.  Last summer in preparing to renovate my bathroom, I stumbled upon some neat little square-images of tile samples on the Heath website.  I quickly realized I couldn't afford Heath tile for my project, but I could cut and paste the sample images into a quilt design idea that I would save for a later date. I was finally able to start the piece and my goal is to have it finished by the end of April, so there's time to get it hand-quilted and ready for a show this September at the Catich Gallery at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.  Here is the work in progress: sketch  Each strip takes about an hour to construct, not including the time it took to pre-cut the pieces  A finished 24 x 24 inch blue square This image (four - 24 x 24 inch squares) represents only a quarter of the finished piece Finally finished the t

  I always put a label on my quilts.  I hand-stitch it to the lower right hand corner of the back.  The labels are inspired by old-fashioned hang tags and include: Quilt-maker's signature Title Quilt size Year of completion Number of pieces Place where it was made Quilting information (*) Website Prior to constructing the label, I adhere freezer paper to the back of the fabric, which makes it much easier to do the writing (with Sharpies - one thick, one thin).    Someday, the label may be the most important part of a quilt.  Imagine pulling a quilt out of a trunk in your late uncle's attic and finding a label which would give you at least some of the quilt's provenance.  No matter what the quilt looks like or it's condition, the label would be the most intriguing and exciting find!   *I am unable to directly credit my Amish hand-quilters in accordance with their cultural tradition.