The June Challenge

This month the challenge was issued by Peg Cummings who encouraged us to create a piece that revealed something that was hidden. Each of the following pieces does just that in a very unique way. We look forward to seeing what Peg has created as she was unable to attend this month. She was dealing with a family crisis and was so sorry to missing our meeting. We missed you too, Peg.

This sea scape by Karen Garth contains tintzel, angelina, and paint. I can't remember what was hidden and revealed here, but I would guess that it was hidden from all of us that Karen can also paint!

Janett Rice Showed us her piece inspired by the oil spill in the Gulf./ The top layer was created on nylon net onto which she fused copied print from newspapers, and fabric indicating the size of the spill. Upon lifting up the net, the picture on the right shows the 3500 offshore wells in the gulf. What a sobering piece, Janett, but what an inspiration for all of us.

Dian Lamb made this piece in memory of her mother using roving for the hair, and texture magic for the daisies. We need you to move back from Texas, Dian!

This is my Moto-Mama. She is revealing that there is not very much going on in her head, but she's a happy driver in her little blue car. She is very happy to be finished. Notice her burned toes - they're touching the road all the time! The fenders have been painted with gel medium that contains microbeads made of glass and is colored with blue lumiere paint. She was constructed from wire covered with warm and natural batting and covered with Aves apoxie sculpt. The hair is yarn and ribbon, also touched with the same microbead mixture. The wheels were salvaged from a toy purchased from the thrift shop. No planning, just letting my very fertile imagination run wild created this all terrain shopper. Hope you have fun looking at her!


Our "After the meeting class"

Marka Harwell-Bentley did a brief class after the meeting about ATCs (artist trading cards), and also showed us some examples of fabric postcards. She then passed out playing cards to those who were interested in completing them to bring to the July sale and trade. What a really fun thing to do. I can't wait to start mine. These small projects are so much fun, and often a real kick-start to bigger things when we're feeling a little stymied. Thanks, Marka!

Show and Tell by our many talented members

Sandy Leal completed tons and gobs of these pins for the Enchanted Doll Artist conference this July in Albuquerque. She used the DG-3 as shown in the photo to achieve a beautiful gloss finish. She and her business partners Diane Zammito and Linda Dufrene have the DG-3 available for sale for $10.

this pincushion was completed by Sandy Leal and presented to Margaret Illions as a thank you for Margaret's daughter-in-law. Sandy rebuilt the pincushion from a broken piece that the daughter-in-law had received from her grandmother. She also made a pattern which will be available for sale. Notice the lucite bead flowers on the top, and the copper labels above each section of the palm tree branches that identify each of the needle types stored.

Heidi Vogeney has completed her Memory of a New York winter art quilt. It was cool to look at it in the midst of a Las Vegas summer!

Susanne Mayfield just had her braces taken off, is about to finish up her home remodel, and soon will take a trip to France where she and her husband plan to share a French kiss at the Eifel Tower. So romantic, Susanne! And your smile is just beautiful.

Rickie Seifried had her piece framed (quite brilliantly, if I may say so) by Mary Ashcraft. She calls this her paper valentine, and it was framed with an open back so the wonderfully accurate stitching could be seen from the back when so desired.

Rickie Seifried did a monochromatic landscape. This photo didn't turn out at all well, but the piece was very nice.

Judy Hawkins completed a frog purse, and then decorated it with a piece of frog embroidery. Makes me jump for joy!

This highly embellished piece was completed by Karen (last name unknown) in a class taught by Janett Rice. Really beautiful with beading, raw edge applique, and lots of quilting.

Leslie Harrington was persuaded to show the purse she had made and was carrying. We liked the colors very much.

Ramona Finocchiaro calls this her bleeding hearts quilt. It was all hand quilted, and we were dazzled!

This Halloween quilt by Nancy Inbody has fussy cut witch pieces set in a pattern designed by Nancy. The photo to the right shows us how she has done the back of her quilt with pieces she had planned to use on the front, but didn't work out! Nice job, Nancy.

This appliqued piece was from a purchased pattern, and made by Nancy Inbody.

Linda Rhode shows us a wall hanging that she is working on. We look forward to seeing the finished piece. She wondered what the group would suggest as a finishing edge, and there were several suggestions - black, black and silver, or gold banding.

Linda Rhode has made dresses out of pillowcases to send to children in Africa.

This is the piece we saw by Ann Pugh last month when she showed us the possibilities for slicing the original quilted piece. She tells us that friends have named it after the oil spill for her, although that wasn't her original intention!

This piece is by Ann Pugh and celebrates the 25th anniversary of the quilt club. The star is in silver, which is the traditional color for the 25th.

Nancy Inbody, visiting us from San Diego, CA, shows us a piece of toille that she fussy cut and made into wall hangings for Christmas. She made 30 (!!!) of these to give for presents.

Karen Garth brought her finished piece from the Dena Crain class. She has added lots of embellishments, and has her own special label (Fur Butts). Pretty classy, Karen!

Ann Pugh has started her own contribution piece for the Ronald MacDonald house quilts. She is inspiring our group to make 30 quilts to replace the queen size ones that were made several years ago for this house. It was agreed that for July, each of us will bring two (2) pieces of 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" pieces of batik pieces (not pastels) that she, Karen Serra, and Linda Hirshfield will sew together. Other volunteers will be gladly accepted. The Desert Quilters will provide the batting, and if additional fabrics are needed, donations will be asked for from our members to make up the difference.

Janett Rice brought this piece, inspired by the class instructed by Joan Wolfrom. She has stretched the piece over foamcore

The above pieces were the result of a personal challenge between Dian Lamb (left) and Janett Rice (right) using candy wrappers and the same piece of blue fabric. What different results!

Dian Lamb shows us a piece she did for her son of his dog.