Another Great Day at Marcia's Studio

I was setting out a group of fabrics which might go with the cheetah embroidery at the right and Inspector Suki checks them out for softness.

Then it was time to peruse them for appropriateness for the project. 

Beth was working on her beautiful heron

And I pulled out the jacket which desperately needs finishing.

The front will have a black band

I just happened to have some fabrics in my piles today which coordinated with this gorgeous hand dyed fabric which I just purchased on Etsy.com

Hmong Quilts for Sale

I have been purchasing these quilts for a number of years and this was the first time I have seen one with a yellow background.  Its just gorgeous.  I purchase these quilts from the makers in Vientiane, Laos. DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR A LARGER VIEW.

It represents animals in the countryside and EVERY SINGLE STITCH IS DONE BY HAND.  IT IS SEWN TOGETHER BY HAND AS WELL.

SOLD

This folk tale quilt begins with the story of two orphaned siblings.
An older brother and younger sister who go to work in the fields. The color is most accurate in the small shots.

$44.00 plus $4.50 postage

This royal blue quilt is different from the ones I usually purchase.
It measures 30 X 59"
It would be great for a table runner as well as for a wall hanging.
$44.00 plus $4.50 postage.

I have been purchasing these wonderful Story Quilts for a number of years from their makers in Vientiane, Laos. Although the Hmong can be found in Vietnam and Thailand I usually find the best quilts in Laos. And over the years I have developed a relationship with some of the makers who save me a nice selection.


Hmong story cloths are an art unto themselves, totally separate from other Hmong textiles which feature geometric designs rather than pictorial. They are called "Paj Ntaub Tib Neeg" and these lovely pictorial embroideries developed very recently in Hmong history. It appears that Hmong men began to draw elements of traditional Hmong stories to help make sure they would be remembered during the times of change. While in the refugee camps, if not sooner, women began to have the men draw on fabric so that they could stitch the stories on cloth.
They are an incredible blending of tradition and modernization. Story quilts come in an array of themes from food preparation to courting and wedding traditions to life in refugee camps.


This quilt depicts daily life, working the fields and travel between the different villages.

All the quilts measure approximately 34" X 50". Sold





This beauty focuses on caring for the animals. The quilts are made of cotton or poly/cotton and every stitch is made by hand.


The stitches used for story quilts seem very limited at first glance. But there is a surprising variety including back stitch and stem stitch in a dazzling array of colors, bokhara couching is used in the walls of the houses which does a fantastic job of mimicing the bamboo construction of the Hmong houses. People, animals, flowers and tools are all comprised of satin stitch. Traditional style clothing and adornment are delicately portrayed. Note the black jackets with blue sleeve cuffs which are everywhere in a Hmong village.
$44.00 plus $4.50 postage.

SOLD

Spring in Wolcott- Maybe Not!

Its Spring in Wolcott.  The flowers are all out.  Some have even gone by.

The Magnolia tree has outdone itself after a poor showing last year.  When we moved here we didn't know this was such a beautiful tree after buying the house in early April.  We were pleasantly surprised the next spring when it bloomed.

Oops!!!!!!!!!!  There is snow out there this morning.  Maybe I will just go back to bed and wait for Spring to come again.

The Almighty Dollar Quilt Challenge

 

The Almighty Dollar Quilt Challenge now on display at the main Library in Rochester.  Organized by Pat Pauly it is a fantastic show which runs through April 30th.  As usual I can't remember who made a few of the quilts so I have chosen to not identify any of them.  Here a Library attendee scarfs a few cookies from the wonderful snack table.