Project Quilting Season 8

It's time for Project Quilting's eigth season! It's a three month on-line event that challenges participants to create a quilt in one week, with a week off in between. You can participate in as few or as many as you like. Participants are automatically entered into random prize drawings and at the end of the season there will be grand prizes awarded to all participants, with one entry per challenge quilt, so the more challenges you enter, the better your chances.

The schedule for 2017 is:
Challenge 1: January 1
Challenge 2: January 15
Challenge 3: January 29
Challenge 4: February 12
Challenge 5: February 26
Challenge 6: March 11

Each challenge is posted at noon CDT and due exactly one week later at noon CDT.

Here's a post with some tips about how to participate.

The challenge will be posted on the "Persimon Dreams" Project Quilting blog and you can also find links about past seasons there. Still have questions? If so, check this out.

Custom Quilts made in 2016

It's my annual look back on the custom quilts I made during the year that I haven't shared yet (some were gifts).

Click on the photos to see larger views.

Joy's t-shirt quilt, 41 x 81

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A toddler-sized quilt, 32 x 47, based on my Sea Breeze Baby Quilt.

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"Red Rose" Fabric Mosaic, 11" x 14" framed

Tis' the Season for Giving: Oranges & Plums Lap Quilt

"Oranges & Plums," 38" x 56", handmade by Pam Geisel, Dec. 2016

For the month of December the Island Batik Ambassador's are celebrating the "Season of Giving" by making quilts to be donated to a charity or cause of our choice. I made this lap/throw-sized quilt using some multi-colored and purple 10" x 10" squares that came with our last fabric shipment and I added some oranges from a few other collections.

I am donating this quilt to to an annual event that raises funds for the Antioch School, a private elementary school in Yellow Springs, Ohio. 

The school encourages children to pursue their innate curiosity. Children are our future and not all learn by traditional methods. Their fund raising event is on Sat., Mar. 4, 2017 and this quilt will be a part of their silent auction.

Winter Wonderland: Dancing & Prancing Table Runner

"Dancing and Prancing" Table Runner, 13" x 30", handmade by Pam Geisel, Nov. 2016

This month the Island Batik Ambassador's are making pieces that fit the theme "Winter Wonderland." I made this blue table runner this month using Island Batik fabrics from the Frost collection, although the dark blue inner border is from the Jewels and Gems Collection: Lapis Lazuli from last year. You can click on the photo below for a closer look.

Art & Soul art show this Sat, Nov. 19 in Yellow Springs

My last show of the year this year is Art & Soul, which features over 30 exceptional artists who “put their souls into making art.” The show is this Sat., Nov. 19 from 10 am-5 pm. It will be in the Mills Lawn School Gym, 200 S. Walnut St. in Yellow Springs, just one block from the Xenia Ave. There's plenty of free parking in town and also in the lot behind the school.

There is a $4 admission fee, a portion of which will go to the Yellow Springs Schools and the Yellow Springs Police Coat Fund.

You can find photos and bios of all the artists participating on the Art & Soul Facebook page.

"Behind the Scenes" exhibit of Bill Franz's photos and his subject's artwork

Me and my Juki with "Lavender Diamonds," photographed by Bill Franz

Two years ago I was contacted by photographer Bill Franz. He'd recently retired from his job and wanted to take photos of artists in their studios. I'd just finished my large art quilt "Lavender Diamonds" and he thought that would be a good back drop.

This month he is having an exhibit titled "Behind the Scenes" of his photos of artists in their studios at the K12 and TEJAS Gallery and he invited myself and several other artists to participate by including a few pieces of our own artwork.

They are having a reception this Fri., Nov. 11 from 6:30-10:30 during their annual "Art Off" Fundraiser. Tickets for the event are $50 per person or $75 per couple and include food, drinks, music, performers, art demonstrations, silent and live auctions, and a live painting competition.

Teaching Quilting Workshops in Preble County

 

The Visual Arts Center of Preble County (Ohio) recently got a grant that allowed them to get eight sewing machines so now they can offer sewing workshops and classes. The machines arrived on Friday, Oct. 28 and the next day I taught a workshop on making quilted postcards.

Then yesterday, Nov. 5, I taught a 6-hour workshop on making a small art quilt. We covered piecing, using fusibles, machine raw-edge applique, couching yarn, and making a facing (knife edge) binding.

Here we are (I'm on the right) with our "Summer Barn" art quilts. They seemed to have a lot of fun and we were all grateful to Island Batik who donated the fabric that we used.

The Arts Center is also currently hosting an fiber exhibit featuring myself, Irene Friedman, and Sharon Shute. The exhibit runs through Nov. 25.