Spring Fling 12 x 12 Challenge

This is our last 12 x 12 challenge. Since only nine people participated it probably means that people have lost interest. Humpf! Oh well, these are fun and colorful. Frankly it's been a long, cold March and April here in Southwest Missouri and these look like we are more than ready for sunshine and warmth.

 Sunrise Sunset - Dianna Callahan

It's Tulip Time - Cathy Jeffery

 Daffodils In Spring - Donna Olson

 Spring Down the Rabbit Hole - Vivian Terbeek

Spring Green - Merrilee Tiesche

 Majestic Spring - Carol Bormann

 Poppy Time - Maureen Ashlock

 In Spring A Young Man's Fancy Turns To Love - Emmie Seaman

Can't Wait - Diane Steffen

April's Show and Share

Vivian Terbeek has done a piece with two layers. Two quilts in one! The top is like a "fringe" of white and small pieces of fabric.

 

 The bottom layer is a pieced "quilt."

Winter's Bonfire

Lodge Pole Pine by Roberta Ranney

 Clouds and Shadows by Lettie Blackburn

Lettie won the Fiber Award in the Senior Art Exhibit sponsored by the Missouri State University Gerontology Department. I think Lettie is our youngest member; Barely a "Senior."

Favorite Tree Challenge

We had three months to work on this challenge - Favorite Tree - chosen by Lettie Blackburn. People either found it very challenging or really liked the subject because of the  11 people participating 15 works were created.

 How To Choose From Riches Such As These

Lettie Blackburn

 The Last Stand...Remembering

Lettie Blackburn

Lettie says this is a dead pine tree whose design fascinates her and this is the third time she has used it in her artwork.

 

 Georgia Street Gingko Tree-October 16th

Carol Bormann

This interpretation of the gingko tree was inspired by a photo Carol took a few years ago. The viewpoint is from under the spreading limbs looking up toward the sky. The canopy of the tree was covered with yellow leaves. The piece was created using applique and machine embroidery.

 

 Georgia Street Gingko Tree-October 17th

Carol Bormann

This piece abstractly illustrates the yellow leaves that all fell in one day. The black trunk and branches of the bare tree contrast with the circle of fallen leaves. Machine embroidery gives pattern and dimension to the mat they formed. The tree silhouette was fused on top of the leaves.

 Grace

Dianna Callahan

A drawing on fabric.

 Tree in Ozark Sunset

Dianna Callahan

 Redbud

Cathy Jeffery

Tree in Sunlight

Donna Olson

 

 Owl In a Pine Tree

Roberta Ranney

 Boo Hoo Wahoo

Emmie Seaman

A Wahoo tree is a small native tree usually found in the wild in damp areas. It has beautiful color in the fall and red berries in the winter which the birds love. Emmie's beautiful Wahoo in her back yard was destroyed in the ice storm of 2009 and only a bare trunk was left. The tree trunk is cut free form and fused to the hand dyed background. Embellished with machine embroidery.

Wahoo Tree (back)

Emmie Seaman

This was a first attempt but the above was preferred so this was used for the back of the of the quilt.  It is a photo image of the tree in fall foliage with berries printed onto canvas. A  photo image of the dead tree is fused onto that.  

 Ginkgo

Lucy Silliman

 Dogwood

Diane Steffen

 Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

Vivian Terbeek

Non-Deciduous Palm

Merrilee Tieche

Merrilee misses the warm coast.

Chinese Christmas or Dirty Santa Party

Every year we have a finger food, gift exchange party to celebrate the Christmas season. The gifts must be handmade or from a collection. The food was outstanding which I didn't photograph, I just ate it. The gifts were also outstanding.

 Carol Bormann holding a journal with hand made cover made by Lettie Blackburn. And Lettie holding a pillow made by Emmie Seaman

 Cathy Jeffery holding pieced, molded leaves made by Diane Steffen. Maybe we can get Diane to write a blog post about her technique.

 Donna Olson holding Christmas socks.

 Lettie holding a wall quilt made by Roberta Ranney.

Pottery made by Dianna Callahan

Merrilee Tieche was Queen for a Day while she plows through tissue paper.

Then we also had show and tell:

 Roberta Ranney with one of her many owls. She says this is the last one; made for herself.

 Quilt for a four-poster bed made by Lettie Blackburn

Red Strips by Cathy Jeffery

Cathy Jeffery is holding another piece in which she used scraps from her red strips. Note Vivian Terbeen wearing the tiara. Now she's Queen for a Day!

YES! we had loads of fun.

Transportation 12 x 12 Challenge

 Our latest challenge chosen by Carol Bormann and entitled "Transportation" was revealed at the last meeting.  In a personal manner, life has become challenging for several of the members and only nine participated but it was still fun to see everyone's creative innovations.

 Hazardous Ride

Cathy Jeffery

I was inspired by a tumble that I took on my great nephew's skateboard, thinking I could still ride it at the age of 62!

 Avacrow

Donna Olson

I took this name from the movie "Avitar" where the form of transportation was gigantic winged creatures. I would just settle on a Crow. 

 Go Mama

Emmie Seaman

Babies in a backpack get a warm, cuddly, smooth ride.

 Bike Ride Across the Danube

Lucy Silliman

Lucy is a world traveler who rides out of the ordinary modes of transportation.

 U Turn

Diane Steffen

 

 California Freeway

Vivian Terbeek

 Gassing Up At Phillips 66 on Route 66

Carol Bormann
The 1957 Ford (my first "ride" in a Mid-Century Modern setting was machine embroidered using rayon thread on black polished cotton.

I Love New York Taxis

Merrilee Tieche

I visited the Eastern Seaboard from October 2 through October 14. Ten days later, Hurrican Sandy swept toward New York. I had planned to use busy New York City somehow in the representation of the Transportation theme of this little quilt, but seeing the photographs of the beautiful bright gold NYC taxis submerged in hurricane driven waters really focused that idea. This was my first trip to New York and I fell in love with the city, it's energy, and beauty.

After the Rain

Dianna Callahan