Evolution of a Quilter -Virtual Tour of Exhibit 4

Click Images To Enlarge:

The Mutton Conductors

My favorite part of this quilt is the dogs, also known in the sheep industry as “Mutton Conductors.”

I liked this quilt enough to make two of them.

The original quilt was auctioned on behalf of the Oregon Sheep Breeders Association.

It now hangs in the Coos County Extension Office as a piece of Agricultural Art.

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Machine Piecing, Fusible Machine Appliqué, Free Motion Machine Quilting

When inspiration does not come to me, I go halfway to meet it.

--Sigmund Freud

In keeping with the theme of this exhibit "Evolution of a Quilter" the next quilt is one I completed this year. It is a far contrast from the sheep quilt above.

Pepper Dish

45 x 45 inches

Created in a Judy Neimeyer class in Idaho in 2006.

If you look closely, you can see where Judy signed it.

The bright colors in this quilt appeal to me.

I enjoyed collecting all the different batik fabrics.

My favorite process was the machine quilting.

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Paper Piecing, Turned Appliqué, Free Motion Machine Quilting

"The things that we love tell us what we are."

--Saint Thomas Aquinas

If you are in the Corvallis, Oregon area you can see my quilts in person.

CLICK HERE for more info.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Evolution of a Quilter -Virtual Tour of Exhibit 3

A few more quilts from the exhibit:

Click Images to Enlarge

Cowgirl

framed under glass

24 x 36

Cowgirl

My husband’s red heeler dog was a loyal companion

for many years.

This quilt was made to honor Cowgirl

and her significance in our family.

We miss you Sissy

2005

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Machine Pieced, Photo Transfer

Quilters are the storytellers of our generation, weaving tales and stitching stories with needles, fabric and thread.

--Unknown

A Letter to Brad from Cowgirl

A Loyal, Loving Red Heeler

To My Best Friend Brad,

I came to live with you when I was just a pup. You are the best friend a dog could ever have. I rode “shotgun” for you the rest of my life, and what a life it was!

Our days began and ended in a ride in Big Blue. We rode along together down the bumpy gravel road. You drove and I watched the pedals. We had many adventures together fixing fence, feeding cattle, going to the sheep barn. You never had to look for me, I was always right there by your side. You were the most important person in my life. Gosh, you were my life!

Everyone was my friend. I was always happy to greet people with a wag and a lick wherever we would go. But it was you that I was devoted to. I would wait outside the barn door for hours for you, and would wag my tail when I saw you come out.

I’m sorry I couldn’t stay any longer, but we were lucky to have 14 years together. And, I’ll still be waiting at the barn door until I see you coming through.

I Love You,

Cowgirl

Cabin In The Woods

I started this quilt in 1994 for my husband, Brad.

I included fabrics from my homespun collection of plaids. Each time I added something new to the quilt top, I would wrap it up and give it to Brad for his birthday, father’s day, Christmas......this went on and on for years! I also pulled it apart and changed it several times when he made suggestions about the design. I completed the quilting in 2008.

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Machine Pieced, Fusible Machine Appliqué, Free Motion Machine Quilting, Borders are original design.

Thomas Jefferson believed "Every experience deeply felt in life needs to be passed along. Whether it be through words or music, chiseled in stone, painted with a brush, or sewn with a needle.

It is a way of reaching for immortality."

Kitty’s Star

Created in 1993 in a Lone Star Quilt Class instructed by Shannon Rettig of Summit, Oregon.

My goal was to learn precision piecing.

While I completed the Hand Quilting and Binding in 2002, Kitty Girl spent the last few weeks of her life asleep on and comforted by this quilt.

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Machine Piecing, Hand Quilting

The aim of art is to represent not the outward

appearance of things,

but their inward significance.

--Aristotle

If you are in the Corvallis, Oregon area you can see my quilts in person.

CLICK HERE for more info.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Evolution of a Quilter -Virtual Tour of Exhibit 2

Virtual Quilt Exhibit Tour 2

Click Images to Enlarge:

Grandmothers Flowergarden

&

Strength and Courage

In The Presence of the Past

Vintage Quilt Pattern: Grandmothers Flowergarden

Started in 1993 and Completed in 2003

This was my take-along-quilt. It traveled everywhere with me. Sewn by hand in planes, trains and automobiles; in doctors, dentists & orthodontist offices; at my children’s sporting events, ball practices, even at a wedding or two. I was tempted to sew a few stitches at long traffic lights in town.

It contains over 12,000 half-inch hexagons & 2,500 yards of thread for hand piecing.

The yellow center in each of the 150 flowers was cut from my grandmother’s house dress.

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Hand Piecing, Long Arm Quilted by Amy of Idaho

Feathered Circle quilted in the center of each flower

My Grandparents, Helen & Nicholas Fusco

Helen's yellow house dress is the center of each flower

Strength & Courage

Strength & Courage

Created in honor of my son, Heath’s,

high school graduation in 2003.

This is an original design that I quickly drew on

a sticky note one morning. It represents all the

things in life that Heath loves, especially growing

up along the Big Elk River in Harlan, Oregon.

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Machine Pieced, Fusible Machine Appliqué,

Long Arm Quilted by Roxanne Eneroth, Newport, Washington

The quilt you are making is an expression of who you are.

Even if you intend to give it as a gift or keep it yourself,

this quilt reflects your heart. It contains a piece of your soul and the work of your hands, so let it be the joy of your heart.

Detailed view of water at the bottom of the quilt.

If you are in the Corvallis, Oregon area you can view my quilts in person.

CLICK HERE for more info.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Evolution of a Quilter -Virtual Tour of Exhibit

I stopped in at the exhibit last week and snapped a few photos to share with those of you who are not able to see the show in person.

There are 30 quilts in the show.

I will share a few images each day with you.

Enjoy this virtual Quilt Exhibit Tour

Click Images to Enlarge:

Postcards created for the exhibit

Sunflowers

100 x 100 Inches

This quilt is so large I was not able to get the entire image in the view finder of the camera.

You can see the chickens on the bottom portion of the quilt in this photo.

Close Up View of Quilting on the Rooster

Close Up View of Quilting on the Hen

Close Up View of the Quilting on the Sunflower

Signage for Quilt at Exhibit:

Sunflowers

Inspired by the sunflowers grown in the front yard and by my favorite quilting friend, Linda.

Created over the course of 5 summers, while I was inspired by the real sunflowers that were growing.

This quilt was a joy and a pleasure from start to finish.

The machine quilting was accomplished

on my little Bernina QE 153

LuAnn McDonald Kessi

Harlan, Oregon

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/

Techniques: Strip Piecing, Fusible Web Appliqué, Machine Appliqué, Free Motion Machine Quilting, Original Design

I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something. Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow. --Julia Cameron

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Evolution of a Quilter......

It's Up...

You can see my quilt exhibit:

The Evolution of a Quilter

I work in my home studio, built by my husband Brad, in Harlan, Oregon. The studio is affectionately known as "The Thread Shed." It brings me joy and is my Happy Place. When I am out there hours go by without my even knowing it. Like all quilts, mine are not just quilts, they are stories about imagination, passion, perseverance, dedication and love. Each quilt contains a lesson for me, and with each one my skills have grown.

My quilts are greatly influenced by life on a ranch in the Harlan Valley. In recent years I have blended a love of photography, gardening and quilting together. I feel my work is taking on a more contemporary look and this excites me. I also feel it is important to display my original quilts, as my older work defines who I am today.

For me, quilts represent the beauty that I need and I want in my everyday life, the beauty that I want to share with others.

Please enjoy the quilts!

On display through October 26, 2009

Unitarian Fellowship Church

2945 NW Circle Blvd.
Corvallis, OR 97330
541-752-5218

http://www.uucorvallis.org/currentarttitcont.php

Open Daily: 9:30 - 1:30

My Quilts can be viewed by CLICKING HERE

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Textile Art Workshop in Idaho

Make a Smilebox slideshow I traveled to Idaho last week for a Permission 2 Play class. The students played with Jello Printing, Shaving Cream Printing & Melted Crayon Printing. This is a slideshow of our day! May Your Bobbin Always Be Full, LuAnn To see my New Work CLICK HERE To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Paul Harvey in Idaho

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Idaho Buffalo

Paul Harvey came along to Idaho with us last week.

Roman Nose Huckleberry Picking Trip

Idaho

Everybody LOVES Huckleberries, especially the BEARS

Roman Nose

A great place to picnic

Roman Nose

Brad & I having lunch on top of Roman Nose in Idaho

Paul Harvey came on the picnic with us.

Roman Nose Lake

What a fun day in Idaho at Roman Nose

Uncle Kenny & Anny Donna picked Huckleberries.

Brad hiked around Roman Nose Lake.

I picked botanicals and pressed them in a phone book.

The next day we had an all-day textile arts workshop:

Paul Harvey with the students at the workshop

10 days on the road and we pulled down our driveway at 5pm tonight. It is good to be home. Once the bags are unpacked and the mail is sorted I will put together a slideshow of our wonderful workshop. The students created some incredible textile art. I will share it with you soon!

Why did I name my quilt Paul Harvey? READ HERE

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

The Courage to Create Your Art

I found this on You Tube and it spoke to me about creating art

I pass this along to you as an inspiration to create!

More when I return from a journal quilt workshop in Idaho...

May Your Bobbin Always Be Creating Art,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

My FIRST Quilt 1987

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1987 My FIRST Quilt

Rail Fence Baby Quilt

I took a class and came home with a completed baby quilt top.

I remember how excited I was, exhilarated is more like it.

I didn't walk out of the quilt shop.....I floated on a cloud.

I tied the quilt and quickly sent it off to my cousin who just had a baby boy.

I continued to make rail fence quilts for the next few years until I took a Log Cabin quilt class.....then I made log cabins for the next few years.

Click Images to Enlarge:

My LAST Quilt

Woven Sunshine

Original Applique Design & Machine Quilting by me

22 years after making my first quilt I still feel as excited as I was making that rail fence quilt. I have learned so much over the years, shared my passion for quilting with others, exhibit my quilts nationally, teach quilting, enjoy designing, always learning, and most of all hope I am always creating quilted textiles until I take my last breath.

As quilters we are too fearful about making mistakes. We are unduly concerned about making a perfect quilt. What we need to realize is that perfection and creativity are not synonymous. It is almost impossible to be creative and perfect at the same time.

Perfection Stifles Creativity

Thus, with each project we should determine which process is our goal: perfection or creative growth.

If you want to learn or explore a new concept or technique, give yourself permission 2 play, permission to enjoy the process. Learning is often best when punctuated with a mistake or two...even if you are not too thrilled with the consequences at the moment.

Making a perfect quilt is best to strive for when you work with skills or techniques you know very well.

It pleases us greatly to make quilts as perfectly as possible for special gifts or events, such as weddings or births. If you are interested in making a perfect quilt for such an occasion, then work within your world of known techniques and concepts. This is not a time for learning new skills.

Lastly, enjoy yourself. Have fun quilting. It will reward you with beautiful quilts, fascinating explorations, unknown talents, and great friendships. What more could you ask for?

Hens & Hollyhocks

These are the last of the summer images I have to share with you.

The trees in our yard have fiery red leaves, the evenings are cooler, autumn is upon us.

Hydrangeas and Glads

Growing in front of the Thread Shed

Butterfly on a pink spider dahlia

Porch Swing out Back

Enjoy the last of our fleeting summer days, sit outside on the swing, take a nature walk and press botanicals in a book and clean out your flowerbeds and bring the last of the flowers indoors to enjoy in a vase on the kitchen table.

May Your Heart Always Be Full of Summer Pleasures,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE