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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Working on Quilt inclusion in Obama Book/Dr. Mazloomi


The Women of Color Quilters Network is a non-profit organization* founded in 1985 by Carolyn L. Mazloomi, a nationally acclaimed quilt artist and lecturer, to foster and preserve the art of quiltmaking among women of color.It supports its membership through presentations, providing venues for sharing technical information, grant writing, and other services. It offers quilts and fiber art to museums for exhibition, and researches and documents African American quiltmaking.

In recent years, the Network has showcased the work of its members before national and international audiences.An important component of the network's activity is its use of quiltmaking in social and economic development projects. Educational projects and workshops foster exposure to the arts, creative development, and improved self-esteem. These programs present the benefits of quilting to audiences of all ages, income levels, ethnic background and learning abilities.


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

OBAMA IN RUSSIA June '09


America @ the crossroads.... health care reform in my lifetime.

Geeeesssshhhh, Back Under the Gun....


With high quality photo's that are needed to be included in Carol Mazloomis' upcoming book.

pllllllls, ahhhhhhhahaaaaaahhhhaaaaahhhh Going to do it! Lord help!



I used this SHO-nuf pictue on facebook a few weeks ago.... seems to explain the depth of distress....(lol)

Friday, July 24, 2009

Now ++ On to that which is Peaceful, Calming


Bernice Cooksey gave me this ... 18" squares (4 across x 5 down)

Hand piced by her mother on muslin (give to me almost three years ago 09-2006 photo)

I tried rick-rack, soft colors or something to offset and bring out colors. So as I've begun embroidery, I cut the blocks apart, I've put them on my machine and now I'm set to remake this for her!

AGAIN.... I CAN RECORD THE BEGINNING AND FINISHING OF MY QUILTS...... 20 BLOCKS SET IN RIBBONS OF SOFT COLOR.....OCTOBER 16-2009.   Ready for quilter Bill Crye....

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Negro Clothing...... Osnaburg


The slaves’ clothing was usually very rough and inadequate. Men commonly had only two trousers and two or three shirts to last the year. The female slaves had a similar number of dresses in dull colors. These clothes were often made from osnaburg (commonly called “Negro cloth”). Osnaburg is a heavy course cotton of the kind used today in feed sacks or drapes. Male and female children wore only a shirt until they were grown, then they started wearing clothes.

This paragraph in be web-surfing on today.... caused me to look further.

What is Osnaburg?

Its origins began in Osnabruck, Germany, date uncertain, for which the fabric was named. It was a coarse, strong, plain-weave tow linen often left in its natural color. Fabric might have been similar to or a type of canvas, dowlas or sackcloth, all coarse linens used for cloak bags and cases and clothing for lower classes in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Modern osnaburgs are coarse-yarn, medium and heavy weight cloths of low construction made of [1] part-waste cotton mixed with low-grade cotton called PW osnaburgs and [2] all short-staple white cotton low-grade stock called clean osnaburgs. Thread count ranges from 20x20 to 40x40.

LIFE GETS TEGOUS DON'T IT ?

THAT'S THE WAY CHURCH FOLK -- BIG MAMA used to say it in the deep country way! Tedious, you get the idea:

Alex Haley said.... and I know in my heart


"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we have come from.

Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning.

No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness."

Friday, July 17, 2009

Quotable quotes.....


I'm a quilter & my house is in pieces. When I learned how to quilt...I forgot how to cook.
*******
I machine pieced and quilted this early 2005!
An Underground Railroad quilt project by Eleanor Burns.

I've been Quiltin long than I thought!

These are finished pieces that I use in trunk shows...made back in 2004-2005.
I'm drawn to the gold and browns. The shoes and hat wallhanging is paper-pieced. A small dream-task is to place these in local black businesses as exhibit showpieces.
u-know? I looked at my work and then at the large quilt that Bill Crye was finishing. It is quite a distinction between the color, pattern and designs used by a black quilter... and a white quilter. I-too-have made the Euro-American squares and triangles in the traditional primary color palette. My points matched, they were cut perfectly and sewn 1/4th of an inch. Great product and a great give-away to friends and family. Yea-I can master the traditional quilt techiniques in all the major magazines.
It's just that my greatest satisfaction is when a take a design and tie it back to my heritage... it has a symbolism.... That black mama is definitely steppin out in her hat and shoes to match. Not a bonnet or a pill-box.... but a mean lean to the side on that big rim hat!
Luvin myself and my people! Thanking the Lord for my lot in life!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

With His Permission.... Ol' Bill Crye



With his great Gammil longarm quilting machine. We always talk a bit, and he's always interested in Black folk... loves the one black woman in his church, and the quilters who are black. Llikes our kinda quilting - outside the usual norm.

Equal Justice Under The Law!


Judy Howard is a friend from several years back... she is sponsoring the God Bless America Patriotic Quilt Contest and Exhibits that are available for $100 rental with all profits going to provide quilts for wounded soldiers. By e-mail, I'd usually say I'm the short, black woman with gray eyes..lalalal.... and she later said "I'd love to have an African American quilt artist in the exhibit!" Now - u don't have to call me but once to REPRESENT. She's preparing a new book, and the 22x22" will be in her traveling exhibit for the next 3 years! I'm glad to check another item off the list!

See her photos on www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com.

To schedule a program, book signing, exhibit, see/purchase her quilts call 405-751-3885 or email BuckboardQuilts@cox.net. All book and rental profits go to charity quilting. See 200 antique quality quilts at affordable prices on www.BuckboardQuilts.com

http://www.judyhowardauthor.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Remaking Grandma's Blocks

As the eternal dreamer,
It occurs to me that a magazine article or book might carry this title. I'm always drawn to remake grandmothers old-falling apart antique quilt.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Remember these little blocks


Hand-pieced by OKC Community Quilt member, Marian a month ago. I'm thrilled to add the binding and have them quilted. A tad large (46"x46" square" and the last green was almost too heavy.



I would hope she would keep her handiwork as a keepsake.... but



She's committed to the Stork's Nest, and sorrority group that provides layettes to young mothers.


Antique Quilt Tops -Rough Diamonds


Let's say.... in the making. I really can see how super, fantastic and outstanding this junkie thing will be. Had to wash it. It did shred -- cottons, other stringie fabric.
It reminds me of my Mama Dooley's quilt... will be a knockout!
I love that people know I collect these treasures. Given to me by Madine West, St John (I think!?!) Her mother made it. I'll do an anatomy page, and interview her also.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Black Threads: Carolyn Mazloomi Calls for Book Submissions

Black Threads: Carolyn Mazloomi Calls for Book Submissions


Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi has a call out! Dr. Mazloomi is author of the following contemporary African American quilting publications:* Spirits of the Cloth* Threads of Faith

"President Barack Obama has evoked much passion and inspiration from people all around country. There have been several quilt exhibitions featuring quilts inspired by the President. I seek high-quality images of quilts celebrating the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, to be published in a book, The Journey of Hope in America: Art Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama, to be released in August 2009

They Told Us: Lymphoma 8-31-2009

They Told Us:  Lymphoma 8-31-2009

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