I CAN'T SEEM TO STOP

 Well, here I go again....ideas keep rattling around in my brain and before I know it...they've burst out.

                                   FRIENSHIPS GLOW - 12.5" X 12.5"

Commercial and gelli printed cottons, raw edge fused appliqué, hand embroidered, and machine quilted.

COUNTDOWN

The countdown is on.....Heritage Placer Vineyards Fall Artisan Faire is two weeks from today.

I'll be under the overhang outside the West side of the Forum. My award winning original designed, one-of-a-kind, ready to hang, no two alike ever Wall Art Quilts will be on display for purchase. 

View both holiday and nature inspired work and browse a selection of smaller fiber art items as well.  You can preview available pieces here:  https://marystorishop.blogspot.com/.    See one you like?  Contact me to arrange a pre-Artisan Faire sale.

WORKING WITH PANELS

 I almost never work with preprinted panels but I happen to have one in my stash among the beautiful fabric I inherited from a friend and you know the saying, "it called to me'.

I'm going to revisit a technique developed by Caryl Fallert back in the day.....this will be a VERY scaled back tuck design.  Stay tuned....

KINDNESS

 How the thoughtfulness and kindness of a new friend made my day!!  (I was surprised to learn she had been student of mine on one of my quilting cruises a number of years ago).  Small world!!

Thank you Teddy for thinking of me and my polka dot passion during your recent trip to Houston's Quilt Festival. 🥰

 

WRAPPING XMAS GIFTS IN OCTOBER!

 There are Christmas ads and merchandise on display already and it's not even Halloween!  Oh PLEASE.....let's just enjoy the upcoming events first.

However, throughout the year I've gathered numerous Xmas gifts which are now rattling around in my sewing room.  So, with a pause in my art quilt projects, I pulled out some Christmas fabrics and set about making fabric gift bags.  I've been gift giving enclosed in fabric bags for years and find it a fun and practical way to present a gift.

Paper tags I've made are another personal touch. Fabric bags are especially helpful for those who mail gifts.  They are lighter and generally easy to pack.  Okay now back to creating wall art!!

MARY'S GOLDEN RULE - USE ONLY FABRIC FROM MY STASH!

 When one's chosen print style fabric has run out, but you need to enlarge an in-process piece.........what do you do? I audition options after shopping in my stash.

I haven't purchased fabric in years...yes, really. This had led me to developing my designs far more creatively. However, if work begins looking like I shopped in a dumpster and threw it against my design wall.....I will break my golden rule and fess up! LOL

ONCE A PACKER FAN, ALWAYS A PACKER FAN

 Our niece is at Lambeau today for the Packer's home game.....wearing her Gilbert Brown jersey......what are the chances?  She's doing what most attendees are doing.... wandering the bars which are on every corner and in-between in Green Bay!  AND who is there????....YUP -  'THE GRAVEDIGGER'

Proud of her for approaching him and rewarded with a nice chat and autograph on her precious vintage jersey (which by the way, we gave to her many moons ago).

She's the darling Packer fan seen on the left taken at a game in 2008.

Sooty is sporting her jersey too.....GO PACK GO!!!!

ONE FINAL HOLIDAY MINI

My preparation for the Aristan Faire on Nov. 8th is nearly complete.   Though the urge for one more whimsy mini had to be satisfied.  Happily it has a forever home already.

                                     GO PACK GO - 14” x 14”

Commercial cottons raw edge fused 

appliqué, hand embroidery, & machine quilted.

PAPER FABRIC

 After nearly 18 years meeting with 6 like-minded bubbly drinking quilt pals we've experimented with just about every surface design technique you can imagine.  Some were one and done and others we revisited many times.

I shared the technique of creating paper fabric with 4 friends.  Basically one collages novelty paper napkins and tissue paper onto a base of fabric, adhered with diluted white glue.

Here are our results...the last one is my collage that I cut into pieces for notecards.

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

 I used the last of my inventory of canvas covered frames on this final small holiday piece.  There are 5 remaining of the 7 I made, available now and at Heritage Placer Vineyard's Artisan Faire Nov. 8, 2025.

As always my work is one-of-a-kind, original design you will not see a duplicate.

HOLIDAY SPIRIT - 12” x 12”

$50

Commercial cottons & felted wool, raw edge fused 

appliqué, hand embroidery, & machine quilted.

 Secured to canvas covered frame. Ready to hang or display on a small easel.

SNOWBOARDING FUN

 I'm having such a jolly time creating these small holiday art quilts......this one is wrapped on a canvas covered frame with a fabric backing.  Holler if you are interested.

SNOWBOARDING FUN - 12” x 12”

$75

Commercial cottons & hand gelli printed cottons, raw edge fused appliqué, hand & machine quilted. Secured to canvas covered frame with a fabric backing.

MOEWY CHRISTMOUSE

 It's been so enjoyable creating these small holiday whimsy pieces.  The newest one is bound rather than on a canvas frame as my others have been.  It's available for purchase now. 

MEOWY CHRISTMOUSE

12” x 12”

Commercial cottons, Ultra-suede, felted wool, 

raw edge fused machine appliquéd, machine quilted.

A hanging sleeve is attached.

NEW KICKERS

 One should never be criticized for having too much team spirit.

"The husband' got new 'kickers' just in time for the game today.....

Still finding it weird to be watching a Packer game at 9:00 PST....Bloody Marys here we come.     

GO PACK GO..............

DESIGNING MY OWN FABRIC

 Recently I completed this small 12" x 12" holiday art quilt secured onto a canvas covered frame.

The holidays are filled with a riot of colors and patterns....so I decided to use some of my polka dot collection for trees.  In order to provide an apparent 'Christmas' theme.....one tree needed to stand out.  So I 'made' my own fabric!!

Here's how.....first I experimented with sizes and fonts of the word NOEL.....and printed it out for confirmation.  Next some red gelli print fabric was stabilized using a letter size adhesive label and run through my ink jet printer, printing the created text.

The adhesive label was removed and the fabric was then backed with a piece of Wonder-Under (which is still my 'go-to' fusible choice.)  Following my tree template, it was cut out.  

Before fusing to my project I added polka dots using Prisma Pencils.  It seemed sensible to do that prior to securing to the project in case I didn't care for the look.

I love the concept of creating 'fabric on demand'.

COLORS OF THE SEASON - 12" X 12"

AVAILABLE - Resonably priced

EARLY MORNING WALK

Heartwarming sight viewed on my early morning walk.

DYE DAY TO DIE FOR!!

 It's been well over a year since I had a dye day with pals.....our Fiber Frenzy group of 6 met monthly to 'play'.  I've missed that.

With gratitude I accepted an invitation to join like-minded art quilters to a 'dye day'.  Michelle has the most incredible wet studio set up in her yard and generously not only shares the space with friends, but all her supplies as well.  She was my first fiber friend here and I can't thank her enough for including me in so many activities.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  This is heaven.

To make the most of my time, I decided to concentrate on premixed procion dyes that I used to flat dye a variety of fabrics: PDF, vintage brocade table cloth, the wrong side of older printed fabrics I no longer cared for, and course burlap colored cotton.

I now sport the badge of a day of dyeing fabrics.  Gloves you ask?  Sure but I can never keep them on.....

These are some of my flat dyed fabrics.

What a fabulous day!!!!

COLORS OF THE SEASON

 The holidays are such a cheerful and colorful time of the year......so I'm celebrating with my newest very colorful small holiday art quilt!

                                           THE COLORS OF THE SEASON

12” x 12”

Commercial cottons, digital text on gelli printed fabric, raw edge 

machine appliquéd, machine quilted, secured on canvas covered frame.

BACK TO MY WHIMSY ROOTS

After deciding to create some small holiday pieces I've found myself gleefully charging ahead, back to my previous whimsy style....less embellished this time in an effort to maintain a realistic price for shoppers who have lots of expenses come holiday season.

Landscape and botanical themes have been the predominant subjects ever since moving to Western North Carolina in 2006.  The fantastic scenery certainly inspired me.

Yet, I never lost my sense of humor and the urge to move back to the lighter side of art quilt themes has drawn me back in and it's refreshing.  Here are two more 12" x 12" holiday pieces mounted on  canvas covered frameS.  The backs are finished with fabric.  Both art quilts are available now at $75 each.

                                      FROSTY & FRIEND

                                BRINGING HOME THE TREE.  SOLD

IT'S DOWNTON ABBEY DAY!!!!

 So sad to say goodbye to Downtown Abbey, which like so many, I'm a devoted fan.  Today a friend and I are grasping our tickets as we head for the Finale.  Talk about dedication to this show, I have been in a theater only twice in the last 25 years and those were with the grands!

We don't employ kitchen staff like the Crawley's, but we managed a feast fit for one of their lavash dinners.  It's been an adjustment learning to cook on a gas BBQ grill after our entire lives we've used a Weber, Big Green Egg, & Iron Smoker.  Wood/charcoal are not permitted here.  

However, a big positive is the abundance of fresh lamb available in the supermarkets here.....it's a favorite of ours.

Behold the rotisserie leg of lamb, boned, cubed & marinated along with roasted vegetables and wild rice.  Oh yummmm!