Art Quilts Textile Connections

Mendocino Quilt Artists
Textile Connections

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Group Projects:
Textile Connections
A Girl and Her Book
Show Your Attitude
Shall We Dance?
Mask Quilts
V-Day Quilts

Members:
   Deanna Apfel
   Laura Fogg
   Vicky Groom
   Ann Horton
   Leila Kazimi
   Susan Kerr
   Betty Lacy
   Dede Ledford
   Mary Ann Michelsen
   Joyce Paterson
   Marilyn Simpson

These quilts were the result of a two year project of pieced block challenges. Each quilter was given a monthly pattern and color “menu” to use to complete the block. At the end of the first year, the collected block sets were chosen in a wild free for all by each member to complete into a full quilt.

The challenge for each of us was to stretch the designs of the quilts to new interpretations of the pattern, with the addition of special sets, embellishments, and personal design elements.

As each member worked on her quilt, the group contributed ideas and encouragement. We learned to listen to our own intuition, while staying open to the group input. Working on blocks made by each member of the group was both challenging and frustrating, but ultimately proved to be a true connection of both the textiles and our friendship.

The quilts premiered at the Mendocino College Gallery in 2002, right after completion. They have been shown as a special exhibit at Pacific International Quilt Festival, 2003, International Quilt Festival, Chicago, 2004, and American Quilters Society, Paducah, 2004. Several of the quilts have been entered in the group quilt category at the International Quilt Festival, Houston, 2004.

	FROM LESOTHO TO MANYALETI by Deanna Apfel I chose these African blocks from our yearlong guild project because of my trip to South Africa in February 2002. I decided to tell the story of our visit to LeSotho, the mountain kingdom, and to the Manyaleti Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park. The mountains, villages, people, and animals I saw had the color and vibrant life needed to set off these joyous African fabric blocks. I used my photos for inspiration, and Quilts on Safari by Jenny Williamson and Pat Parker. Ann Horton designed the block.
	Lone Star Constellation by Vicky Groom I was drawn to the reproduction fabrics from the Civil War era and enjoyed the challenge of constructing the block. When I looked at the blocks on my design wall, I knew they needed some aging. I tea dyed them and was quite relieved that they turned out just as I had hoped. When I showed them to the guild members at the next meeting, they congratulated me on my bravery. Putting the blocks together was a challenge because the colors in each were so diverse. Receiving suggestions from the group was incredibly helpful. I ended up tying the blocks together by adding a large reproduction print from the same era to each block. I then used additional reproduction prints in the sashing and borders. I had never made a quilt this large and found that machine quilting it in sections was very helpful. The group process during this project was wonderful, further bonding us as friends and quilt artists. The results—beautiful!
	CORN AND BEANS by Laura Fogg I didn’t much enjoy making my own "corn and beans" block and I wasn’t especially impressed or inspired as I looked at the dozen or so other ones that were spread out on the floor in their multi-pointed symmetry. Then one of the group members suggested that those blocks would be an ideal background for some really creative raw-edge appliqué, and I was instantly in love with the idea. I saw in my mind’s eye what that pile of extraordinarily ordinary blocks could become with some unusual spacing suggesting a trellis and some wildly embellished corn and bean plants sprouting up in the foreground in abundant summer health. One thing led to another and the quilt vegetables grew even more rapidly than their plant counterparts in my garden.
	TRADE WINDS TO THE ORIENT by Ann Horton What to do with eleven oval compass blocks set on black diamonds, all shaped as differently as the women who made them? I selected these "orphan" blocks that no one else wanted, because I love a challenge! I decided to cut down the miss-matched diamonds into frames, and used the scraps in the inner border piecing. The setting was original, and I moved the black and white Oriental color scheme to a more Victorian look with golds and cremes and some green - then added lush machine embroidery, hand cross-stitch quilting over lames, and intricate pieced inner borders. The opulent drapery fabric in the outer border was the right choice - and also lived in my stash of fabrics. It pays to collect! The result: Oriental spice boxes, the smell of the salty sea, turn-of-the- century ships and Victorian parlors, all in one!
	Wheel of Fortune by Leila Kazimi This quilt was made to explore the Amish way of working in quilts where only solids were used in simple geometric compositions. When I received the squares they were so disparate in color that I decided to dye some, then remove and replace some colors of fabric. I let the quilt speak to me and let me know what was next. Currently purple is the color I am most drawn to so I set that as my background with red and olive accents. I received plenty of help from group members in all aspects from overall design to selection of quilting thread. I especially enjoyed researching the Amish way of life and am attracted to their simple lifestyle.
	THANK MY LUCKY STARS by Betty Lacy Our guild has evolved over the past decade to encompass more group projects. When Ann Horton, our fearless guild leader, proposed this year long block making project we were all enthusiastic. Then the work came and we found ourselves stretched and challenged in new ways. We delighted and bemoaned, kvetched and contended, in the creation of these blocks and eventual quilts. There was talk of a mutiny but somehow we weathered the storm. Some say we were guided by the stars. All of us gathering, caring and stitching our evolving connections to quilts and each other. All of us are stars shinning brightly. Without them I would not have found my way.
	SUMMER BEAUTIES by Dorothy Ledford Daylily blocks were sewn by 9 members of the Mendocino Quilt Artists during a year long monthly block challenge. My hand dyed fabrics and machine and hand embroidery help to embellish this quilt garden. The garden setting is like my garden, flowing with vivid colors, dancing insects and hummingbirds.
	A CALIFORNIA SLANT ON NEW YORK BEAUTY WITH AN AFRICAN TWIST by Joyce Paterson The squares in this quilt were made by the members of the Mendocino Quilt Artists as part of a learning series. I have always loved the traditional New York Beauty block and particularly love the bold colors of this quilt. To Friendship!
	STRING-PIECED STAR QUILT by Marilyn Simpson I chose these blocks because of their primary colors -- they felt very comfortable and exciting at the same time. I got a lot of input from the group on the sashing and borders; I wanted to do just one fabric for each, but they convinced me that multiple fabrics would be best, and I'm glad I listened to them. Eventually this quilt will spend some time on our bed, and I'm making pillowcases to match.
	MENDOCINO STAR by Mary Ann Michelsen