Working at Marcia's Studio

For the last two days I have been sewing at Marcia DeCamp's Studio with Beth Brandkamp and Genie Barnes. Beth brought in her gorgeous Lilies Quilt using Ruth McDowell's technique.
I did ssome work on a jacket I started at Casowasco a couple of weekends ago. I also worked on a quilt for the Mola Competition which I can't show until after next week. Genie started a jacket using the Butterfly Jacket Pattern.
Beth has the back finished for our Turquoise Jacket challenge and so far is way ahead of the rest of us.

Molas For Sale

I personally selected all these molas on the San Blas Islands off Panama, the home of the Kuna Indians who are famous for them. Almost all of them are from blouses, which meant the maker took extra special care as she was making it for herself. All prices are plus $4.50 postage. You can enlarge the photos by clicking on them. If you would like more photos or additional information please contact me at: pkibbee@aol.com.



Two happy dancing swans. Beautiful applique work including double applique on the wings and the rick rack style trim (called aba aba) and embroideried tiny stitch trim. $34 SOLD


Two squash. Beautiful double layer applique and tiny stitch embroidered trim. $37

The flowers are triple applique with holes punched in the black layer which are then all appliqued down! Beautiful workmanship. $34

Two happy angels playing marimbas. Great applique and exquisite tiny stitch embroidery on this piece. $44

Whimsical teapots which I assume are crabs. Beautiful tiny embroidery details. $44

Two fat cats. Exquisite tiny embroidery stitches trim this one. $29

Two birds with a clock. I have never seen a clock before on a mola. The double applique wings are all trimmed with an exquisite feather stitch in tiny embroidery. $39

Traditional style mola. Double applique X's and ric rack like applique. $37

Two beautifully appliqued ponies. Lovely tiny stitch embroidery on the ponies bodies. $29 SOLD

Binoculars in beautiful double applique with rick rack style trim. $37

Vibrant flowers on this beautifully embroidered piece. $34

Parrots are a common theme of the Kuna, but usually on the smaller appliques, This one has beautiful tiny stitches trimming the faces and flowers. $27

Two doves in beautiful double applique with tiny embroidered trim. $21 SOLD

Four leaves. Beautiful double applique, rick rack type trim and tiny embroidery stitches. $39

I am assuming these two graceful birds are swans. The usual beautiful applique and tiny embroidery stitches on the birds faces. $29

The color on this one is just stunning. $34 SOLD


I have never seen pipes used as a design for a mola before. $29

Semi traditional mola with a beautifully embroidered duck in the center. $19

Beautiful fish with two tiny fish in the corners. Lovely double appliques and tiny embroidery stitches. $27

Another Fabulous Weekend at Casowasco

Last weekend I spent a wonderful 2 1/2 days at the Casowasco Retreat near Auburn with some Tompkins County Quilt Guild members. This quilt was made by Maureen from Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

The room begins to fill up. There were long cutting tables in the middle, another in the alcove and irons all around the room. A great space in which to workl
Quilts began to appear on the walls. This was one of Cathy's.
Maureen played with these squares on and off all weekend.
The first night is a dish to pass. Desserts begin to appear on the buffet table. It is always a wonderful feast. In addition there is a snack table with enough snacks for a at least a week.



Pat discusses her fabric choices with Sally.

I worked on making a wall hanging out of this beautiful hand embroidered piece from Vietnam. At this point I decided to just add a black border and call it done.
The view from the windows in the sewing room. The weather oblidged with very little rain.
More quilts appear on the walls. Too frequently for me to try and pick up the makers names.

Pat was trying to finish some samples for an upcoming class at Patricia's in Rochester.
She kept begging for snips of fabric from my stash. This is what she considered to be a "snip".
I only saw two Halloween quilts all weekend.

Pat's leaves begin to take shape
And I begin "interviewing" fabric and bits for a jacket.
Isn't this fish a beauty?
Ruth White was making this beauty for someone who helped with the Quilt Show.
A 50th birthday party.

Cathy hung her Ruth McDowell piece over Maureen's blocks in progress.


The jacket begins to take shape.
Pat's leaves.

A Few Fall Images

Fall foliage in my area is about at its peak and its wonderful to look at especially on a sunny day. The view a couple of blocks down my street.
And the small maple tree in my yard.

The side view from my front porch.

Years ago when I was working in a Psychiatric Hospital I used to lead Reminiscence Groups. one patient described standing under a tree with golden leaves and having the leaves fall all around her and how wonderful that made her feel. I have never been able to look at a golden tree again without thinking about it.

The New Tibetan Rug from Nepal

On most of my trips to Nepal I indulge in purchasing a Tibetan Rug. In addition to being a good investment, they can't possibly wear out in my lifetime or even my children's for that matter. This year it was a wine dragon beauty which is about 3 X 6 feet and a 100 knot. One disadvantage of buying them is that this one took up 11 pounds and a bit of space in my suitcase.

The other problem is where to put it? The floor its on is obviously out...it looks awful on that pattern. And I am way past out of walls to put it on. Maybe it can live in the kitchen with the other one for the winter. Obviously it never occurs to me what I am going to do with it when I purchase it.

You can see my other tibetan rugs and more information on how they are made by typing in tibetan rug on the search on the upper left.

Class at Marcia's Studio - The Last Day

During the last day we continued working on the big pieces and put them up on the walls for an afternoon critique and discussion.


Marcia made a stunning piece which reminds me of an Indian rug.



Mine looks too much like a potential jacket back
When i changed the scale it still did.

Class at Marcia's Studio Continued

Suki surveys the cars parked in the yard from a vantage point on the roof.
We made larger pieces from shapes we created.
My pieces.
Then we took cardstock and made a dozen shapes using a set of criteria.




Viewing and critiquing the work.
Some of Terry's works.
The next step was to take the designs and incorporate in larger ones or make new larger designs.
Suki emerges from a nap behind Barb's shirt on her chair.