Shaman's Coat and Mola Jacket

I am expecting to go to Vietnam next month and hope to purchase some Shaman's Coats. I have made a connection with an antique dealer who has been successful in the past with scouting them out for me. They are not old old...but surely vintage. Most are made of handwoven fabric and the figures are all hand embroidered. Unlined. They run about 3/4 length and are very wearable.

A few weeks ago I finished my Black Mola Jacket which began life with an orange background. The black area is all strip pieced with several different fabrics to give it some interest.

And the two major molas on the back are beaded.

Another Productive Day at Marcia's Studio

Another productive although COLD day at Marcia's studio. I joined Beth, Pat and Jeanne in working on quilts and solving world crises, one at a time thankfully. I brought this little quilt called Tree Knot...deep within the magic forest...for show and tell.

Inspector Suki had to have a bit of attention and do her usual sitting in people's chairs before heading for an afternoon nap.
I receive lots of input in my attempts to turn in these pieces into an acceptable quilt.

Jeanne worked on a piece she began at Nancy Crow's.

And Beth worked on a Ruth McDowell type piece.

A Quiet Day in Wolcott

Its snowy and blustery outside. I have been busy helping my son in law strip my computer and then reformat it. What a pain. My cat likes to get up on my computer chair and push the back pillow down and make herself comfy. Never mind that there are lots of other chairs and sofas to sit on.

Or make herself comfy in a rocker with tissue pattern pieces.

Or on my son in law's coat.

I'm thinking of using these molas and embroidery on a small wall quilt. Although using the embroidery is questionable at the moment. I would use a black background.

Japanese Farmhouse Museum

As I drive around the local countryside I am always bemoaning the fact that small farms are being abandoned and barns falling down. This isn't a big problem in my area as Mennonites are buying up most of the small farms and prospering. But even then they sometimes replace the nice old barns with modern structures. Apparently Japan has the same problem as they have established a Farm Museum near Osaka. The photo below is by Ichiro Wada who has made a nice slide show of photos of the site:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Ichiroyajapan/JapaneseOldHouses#

Click on "slide show" for the easiest view.

It exhibits 12 old farmhouses brought from different parts of Japan. The houses are from the Edo Period ( 17th to 19th century) Various furniture and tools are also exhibited and the houses are located in sites that approximate their original settings such as bamboo groves.

Another Great Sewing Day at Marcia's Studio

The weather cooperated for once and Beth Brandkamp and I spent the day at Marcia's studio. I took my little blue wool quilt for show and tell. Beth has been working on two adorable baby quilts during her Florida trip.

And today she brought in her fabulous Dear Jane Quilt to work on. It's made almost entirely of 30's fabrics.

Marcia had a few of her latest (or latest finished ) pieces up on the design walls.

And I made good progress on the Wolf Quilt. I have it all sewn together except for the upper left hand corner.

Catalog from the 2007 Istanbul Quilt Show

The catalog from the 2007 Quilt Show in Istanbul arrived last week and it is spectacular as usual. They hire a professional photographer to take photos of all the quilts and print the book on heavy paper. My scans don't do it anywhere near justice. There were quilters in attendance from several countries. This quilt was called Carnival of Colors and was from Hungary.

My scan is a bit skewed on this one and its called Aysugel in the Countryside.

Falling Leaves by Betul Canatar

Fire Dance also by Betul.

Turquoise also by Betul.

Feline Fiesta by Doris Dove of England.

Dolphin by Eti Koen of Istanbul

Japanese Silk in Abundance by Fumi Kido of Istanbul

Inspirations from Japan by Nadya Zulemyan of Istanbul.

Parade of Foreign Trade Envoys by Nuriye Kozik of Istanbul

Mevlana also by Nuriye

My submission...Here Kitty Kitty

Birds in Spring by Ruhiye Karabucak of Adana Turkey

Autumn Circles by Selma Kenter of Istanbul

Another quilt my scanner skewed. Crazy About Me by Wendy Strumwasser, U.S.A.

Japanese Clothing Styles

A few years ago I was lucky enough to take a class with John Marshall at the Wearable Art Conference in Santa Fe. In later years I have seen him at some of the larger quilt shows. He is a well known katazone dyer and makes the most fabulous clothes you can imagine which sell at the most expensive stores. I am referencing an interesting article which he recently wrote and illustrated on Japanese Clothing Styles. His book on the subject is a classic.

http://www.johnmarshall.to/9-conversations017a.htm

The Keiskamma Tapestry

The Keiskamma Tapestry

The Keiskamma Tapestry; an exquisite embroidery done in the tradition of the world renowned Bayeux Tapestry, tells the intricate history of the Eastern Cape Frontier. Created by over 100 women from Hamburg and neighboring villages it represents a group interaction of understanding and relationship development in the region.

With funding from the National Department of Arts and Culture and over 100 private donations the tapestry managed to reach an extraordinary length of 120 meters. The Tapestry has toured extensively throughout South Africa and has been seen as homage to the people of the Eastern Cape.
The Keiskamma Tapestry now hangs in the Parliament buildings in Cape Town. I have just shown photos of two panels. There are dozens more. Take a look. Its fabulous.

http://www.keiskamma.org/art/keiskamma-tapestry

Another Great Day at Marcia's Studio

I spent most of the day working on the Wolf Quilt. I see it emerging on non-symmetrical blocks and began their construction. I may even overlap some blocks. This is a wolf-flower collage which I made several years ago for a class I was teaching.

I was wondering if I could combine it somehow with the discarded wolf for another quilt. Hm.......

I made some progress on the right side and now need to make some blocks on the left.

Inspector Suki spent most of the day napping in her "nest". It is not great Suki weather unfortunately.