In August, we take a break from our usual programming and spend a little time together, enjoying a pot luck lunch, and sharing a wide variety of show and tell -- not just quilts, but all those things we've been up to! This August, we were treated to a visit from Kara Asilanis of The Curious Forge.

The Curious Forge

We had a visitor for our August luncheon.  Kara Asilanis, from The Curious Forge, came to tell us about the organization, the space, equipment and skill sets they provide for members, the programs they have set up for youth and non-profits, and to invite us to come for a visit.  She brought samples of the artistic work being done at The Forge and encouraged us to check out their calendar for upcoming public events. 

Show and Tell

Julie Broughan showed us a citrus orange and lemon yellow jacket she had dyed with indigo and embroidered with images of her grandchildren.

Robin Hart was wearing a t-shirt with her own design,

and Shelli Fried modeled her indigo dyed dress.

Carole Rossi was inspired to do this quilt by a photo she took while walking along the beachfront in Barcelona, Spain.  Entitled "Precarious in Barcelona," it was shown in Houston in the architecture exhibit.

Michelle Peerson brought in this piece created using fabrics painted in a Mary Boalt class.  Michelle painted on fusible with Lumiere paints, stamped with, among other things, found objects, and then fused it all to a piece of duck with silk organza.

And Michelle shared with us some dresses she made for new members of her extended family.

Trish Morris Plise had several projects to share.  This purse was made from fabrics created in a Mary Boalt class,

and this stunning quilt was hand appliquéd and hand-quilted using traditional Hawaiian techniques.  This silver sword quilt took her over a year to complete.  It represents a plant that grows only on Maui and blooms every twenty years.    

Trish also shared her mermaid #3, created using techniques learned in an Alexandra Von Burg class.

Ginny Lee brought in some of her fabulous fabrics.  The large piece is a middle weight habutai silk from Dharma.  It was stretched and fabric painted with seta color and will eventually be used as the background for a steampunk quilt.  She used stencils including a plastic tablecloth and placemats, as well as salt, etc.  The crocheted placemat, smaller pieces of fabric and onesie were all indigo dyed.

Jan Petre brought in two animals quilts to share.  This cat was created using Sandra Mullen's technique of thread painting on top of a photograph,

and this owl was finished after taking a class with David Taylor.  David's technique involves using convex and concave shapes to create a design.  It is all done with turned appliqué hand-stitched to the background and then thread-painted.

Patti Blesso has been a very busy woman.  She made this giraffe from a kit, 

a blue heron quilt, 

and a seaweed basket.

Last, but not least, Patti shared with us some of the wearable art she has created -- this jacket from a Mary Boalt class, and 

a Heidi Emmett jacket.

Sharon Rizzo comes by her artistic bent quite naturally.  Her mother was a prolific and accomplished artist whose favorite medium was colored pencil.  It was the anniversary of Sharon's parents' memorial, and we were honored to have her share with us some of her mother's work.

Sharon's dad was also quite an artist.  Here are some examples of his wood working skills, featuring intricate marquetry.

Besides art quilting, Pat Gillings is known for her basketry and beading work, both in evidence here.

Pat uses long pine needles to craft her baskets.  These have beaded centers, a technique she learned on YouTube.  The trick is to add eight beads per row.

Pat also brought in some fabrics she dyed during Ginny Lee's indigo and ice dyeing workshops.