From TCQC 02-17-25

"Early Birds" Ruth Powers - Carbondale, KS 2005 49"W x 38"L

Cotton fabrics, thread, batting.  Machine pieced and quilted.

Here is an older quilt from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection added in 2007. This is "Early Birds" (40"W x 38"L) a quilt made by Ruth Powers of Carbondale, KS. It is entirely machine pieced and quilted and won the Best of Show in the "Think Spring" catagory at IQA in Chicago in 2006.It is now part of the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection and is shown here on a grey wall. 

I first saw a Ruth Powers quilt in 1998 at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles and asked about availability, but they had no information. No pictures were allowed, but I stored the image of "Vireya" in my brain somewhere and didn't forget it. In early 2010 a friend heard about a new group "Kansas Art Quilters" and sent me the URL for their website. I was so impressed that they had a great website up so soon after they formed that I sent a query about membership. They replied that I could be a member, so I sent my check. When I looked at the membership list I found that Ruth Powers was a member and we exchanged the first of years of e-mails. I was so glad that I could purchase this quilt in 2006, although it is hard to choose a favorite among Ruth's many masterpiece quilts this one in particular 'spoke to me'. KAQ was a group that I enjoyed very much, even though I live so many miles away.

"Early Birds"  Best Of Show at Celebrate Spring! IQF, Rosemont, IL 2006 and was in the Celebrate Spring! Special Exhibit at Houston in 2006. Published in Fons and Porter’s ”Love of Quilting” May/June 2007 and the SAQA Journal Vol. 17 - #2 Spring 2007" Ruth machine pieces EVERYTHING using commercial fabrics almost exclusively and FMQs her quilts on her home machine. She also does exquisite thread painting on some of her work. The texture of the fabrics she selected for this quilt give the illusion of depth and the one that shows the distant trees is an inspired choice. This quilt is one that requires many close viewings to see all the details. Ruth has a commercial pattern business, INNOVATIONS, where she sells designs that are just a little different than others on the market. http://www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/patterns.php 

Look at Ruth's work at: http://www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/ Her blog is www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/weblog

12X12 quilt from Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 05-26-24

 

"Don't Piss Off the Fairies" Ruth Powers 2008 12" square

Cotton Fabric, thread, batting.  Machine pieced and quilted.

This was one of the SAQA 12" X 12" auction quilts in 2009. I am so happy that I was able to add it to the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection. Besides the priceless look on this fairy's face, Ruth Powers technical skills are outstanding

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12X12 quilts from TCQC 07-30-23

There are many 12X12 quilts in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection and most came from the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) online auctions over as many years as they have been holding these  events.  The  quilts are donated by members and the offerings increase every year.  This year I believe there are over 400 of these charming little quilts listed. You can see them all at https://www.saqa.com/auctionview  More info at  saqa.com/auction

The auction opens on September 14th and until then every Sunday I will post 12X12s from  the Collection.  There are many birds, but I will start with a few quilts that show people.

"Lady with a Mug"  Bodil Gardner - Denmark  12"x12"  2007

Mostly cotton fabric.  Machine appliqued and quilted

She did not title the quilt, so I added my choice.

"Jane Goodall -  Portrait Study" 12" x 12" Mary Pal - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 2011

Cheesecloth, PVA adhesive, buckram.  FMQ using monofilament thread.

This portrait study of Jane Goodall by Mary Pal was part of SAQA's 2011 online auction.  Mary Pal has invented her unique technique using gauze and a stiffener to define the features in her portraits. Being an admirer of Jane I was immediately drawn to this quilt.   

 

"Don't Piss Off the Fairies" Ruth Powers 2008 12" square

Cotton Fabric, thread, batting.  Machine pieced and quilted.

This was one of the SAQA 12" X 12" auction quilts in 2009. I am so happy that I was able to add it to the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection. Besides the priceless look on this fairy's face, Ruth Powers technical skills are outstanding.

"Pink Purses in Rome"  Joan Sowada - Gillette, WY  2007  12" x 12"

This is one of the first quilts I purchased at a SAQA auction. I had been interested in Joan Sowada's work since her quilt, the amazing "Cosmic Bicycle" was in Visions 2006 where it won the Cathy Rasmussen Emerging Artist Memorial Award. I don't know how 'emerging' she was at the time, but I had not heard of her then.

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Revisiting a quilt by Ruth Powers 04-08-18

If the robins haven't returned to your area yet, they are on their way.  Harbingers of Spring.   I know there are robins in Southern California, but not in my neighborhood.  Our returning bird is the mockingbird and they have been here for at least two months already.  

This gorgeous pieced quilt by Ruth Powers is currently at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove as part of the "Birds from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection" exhibit that continues through April 30th.   

"Early Birds" Ruth Powers - Carbondale, KS  2005  49"W x 38"L

Machine pieced and free motion quilted on home machine.  

Cotton fabrics, commercial and hand-dyed.  

I have posted about it twice before.  Check out the following pages:

http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2010/12/quilts-with-bird-images-12-13-10.html

http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2009/09/prize-winning-quilt-by-ruth-powers-09.html

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Some bird quilts on exhibit. 03-22-18

There is currently an exhibit of quilts depicting birds at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove.  I am always attracted to images of birds in quilts and just about anywhere else.  If you are in the area, especially to attend Empty Spools Seminars at Asilomar, do have a look.  There is a variety of techniques and styles and sizes, including Ruth McDowell's fabulous "A Rash of Flamingoes".   One of the great things about having a collection is sharing it with others.   

Here are some of the 12"X12" quilts in the exhibit, most are from the SAQA online auctions. 

Left to right and top to bottom:

"Red Hen" - Olga Norris/England (not in exhibit), "Walk the Line" - Doria Goocher/San Diego,CA, "Another Collector" (Magpie) - Diane Wright/Connecticut,  "The Crow's Story" - Olga Norris/England (not in exhibit),

  "Steller's Jay" - Terry Grant/Oregon, "Night Owl" - Judith Roderick/New Mexico, ,"Taking a Break" - Lynn Welsch/New Mexico,

 "From Above-Crows" - K.Velis Turan/New York, "Yellowheaded Blackbird" - Ruth Powers/Kansas, "In the Thicket" - Sonia Grasvik/Washington

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Re-visiting a quilt by Ruth Powers 11-26-17

 

"Don't Piss Off the Fairies" Ruth Powers 2008 12" square

Cotton Fabric, thread, batting.  Machine pieced and quilted.

This was one of the SAQA 12" X 12" auction quilts in 2009. I am so happy that I was able to add it to the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection. Besides the priceless look on this fairy's face, Ruth Powers technical skills are outstanding. I've posted some details below, showing her fabulous quilting. She does teach for guilds around the USA and has been to England and Wales on a teaching trip, so if you are looking for a great FMQ teacher give her a shout!
www.ruthpowersartquilts.com

 

I love the little flower Ruth stitched on the right center here - like a violet calla lily.

Green and blue, divided by aqua - this side could also be a quilt.

This is part of a wing - so elegant.

 

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Revisiting a Ruth Powers quilt 02-21-16

One of the many birds among the 12X12 collection is this fabulous one from the 2009 SAQA online auction.  I have blogged about it before at:

http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/2013/08/ruth-powers-12x12-quilt-posted-on-blog.html

"Yellow-headed Blackbird"  Ruth Powers  2009  12"W x 12"L

Machine pieced and machine quilted. Except for the white in the eye and the toes which are both embroidered.

Ruth has always wanted to see a yellow-headed blackbird in the wild, instead she did this pieced version for the 2009 SAQA auction.

She is very good with the details.  Notice the two toned beak.

And the pieced leg with two embroidered toes.

A complete label including how to get in touch with Ruth Powers.

www.ruthpowersartquilts.com

 

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Ruth Powers 12"x12" quilt posted on blog 08-18-13

"Yellow-headed Blackbird"  Ruth Powers  2009  12"W x 12"L
Ruth does amazing piecing and this quilt is all pieced, except for the feet.  I love the bright colored reeds and the diagonal stripe binding.  One special thing about this piece is that Ruth has never seen a yellow-headed blackbird "in-the-feathers", so to say.  And she would love to.  We looked when we were on a Road Trip a few years ago, but no luck. 
 

The light in his eye is two little white embroidery stitches.  The white in the wing is a piece of print fabric.
 

I cannot tell if the legs are pieced or appliqued - I'd guess the former.  The two downward toes are embroidered.
 

This backing fabric seems perfect for the image on the front, but I'm not sure why that is so.  Perhaps because it resembles a cage? 
 

 
Great label.  With several ways of contacting the artist if the buyer is interested in more of the artist's quilts!. 

I blogged a picture of just the front of this quilt in 2010 - use this link:

http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/2010/02/ruth-powers-quilt-from-tcqc-02-07-10.html

 

Quilt Festival - LBeach '13 08-05-13

I'm still house bound - taking pills, using an inhaler, drinking plenty of fluids, sleeping a lot.   I plan to repeat this for the next few days to be sure that I am really over it before I resume my "normal" life.  Fortunately I have adequate groceries, books yet to read, and, as is to be expected, piles and piles of unfinished projects and paperwork.  I'd like to be able to go to VAM in San Diego to a special program they are offering on Saturday.
  http://visionsartmuseum.org/calendar-dtl.asp?calID=146

Below are all the pictures I took at Long Beach.  As usual, I look at quilts and then go back to photograph, but that didn't work for me this year.  I only looked at maybe half the quilts and developed this bronchial thing so couldn't go back to take pictures.  Bummer!


Betty Busby is so talented, she covers so many techniques and styles it is always a surprise and a delight to see her work.  For some years I thought there were two Betty Busby's.  The work that I saw was so varied that I was continually surprised - still am!
 
This quilt has such gentleness and grace, it made me stop, admire, and photograph, even though I was just walking through the exhibit area en route to somewhere else.

   

There is love there.

On the same walk through I came to this wall of quilts which I found appealing and stopped to look, read and photograph.  The two on the right are by two of my favorite artists and the one on the left is a pattern I have thought about making for many years. 

 

Just the name "Endless Chain" is intriguing.  As a child visiting the quilting ladies at the Grange I thought it was "Endless Change" because the Grange ladies made only scrap quilts and the scraps were endlessly changing.  The colors here appeal to me and make me smile.
 

 

Bodil's work is so distinctive - always colorful and filled with fun bits that one must search to discover - the little sheep roaming the hills, the tiny mug on the ground.  She is represented in Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection and I always hope to add another of her works.  The words written in the border are:   "I arise from dreams of thee in the first sweet sleep of night when the winds are blowing low and the stars are shining bright."

Every edge is applied with zig-zag stitching.
 

http://www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/

 
This dear little guy was created by Ruth Powers who makes realistic images, but with the feeling of a painting rather than a photograph.  Look at the wonderful "cloudy" background made of soft flowers and the graceful leaves with their quilted veins.  She has a good eye for color and chooses her fabric prints carefully.  And notice the FMQ on the background - Ruth is a pro on a home machine. 

Collecting the Alphabet 12-13-12

Last summer when Ruth Powers and I were traveling to Kalispell she talked about a blog where the writer collected letters of the alphabet.  We decided we might try it, but the pickings were slim.  Since then I have collected a few more letters.  On Sunday at Liberty Station, just across the street from Visions Art Museum, the lawn has been reseeded with rye grass which was brilliant green in the sunlight - see yesterday's Wordless Wednesday post.  Along the edge of the parking lot there is a row of long needle pines which drop their bundles of three needles to blow all over the grass and the blacktop.  I've discovered a couple letters for my alphabet collection there and Sunday I found another.


Capitol "J" - pine needles on grass.  12-09-12

I suppose it is a silly thing to do, but sometimes silliness is a good thing.

A good online source for identifying pines is http://www.icogitate.com/~tree/pine.name.ac25.htm

Monday Browsing 10-22-12

A penny “gazing ball”:

http://www.houseofhawthornes.com/2010/06/bowling-ball-yard-art.html

NOTE: Pennies minted in 1982 or before are all copper and are worth more as reclaimed metal.

A few quilts from Pacific International Quilt Festival (PIQF) in Santa Clara, CA:

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d7a4d314f446b304e54493d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link

Ruth Power's "Bignonia" started in Ruth McDowell's Kalispell class in June is toward the end.

Tea drinker?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/20/green-tea-benefits-health_n_1988290.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular#slide=1662670

Palm tree in bloom.  June 2012 Anaheim, CA

Monday Browsing 10-01-12

All the members of the Twelve by Twelve group have posted their creations for their latest challenge “Maverick”. Check them out at http://twelveby12.blogspot.com/

Here is another imaginative quilt from the incomparable Judy Mathieson (she made this about 20 years ago): http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/5102  See her other quilts, including many quilts with dog images:  http://www.judymathieson.com/Judy_Mathieson/Welcome.html

Superior Threads now sells a conductive thread made from stainless steel! Here is a video about one young man’s experiment .  This appeared in their latest newsletter.  http://www.superiorthreads.com/videos/tutorials/conductive/

Ruth Powers, my friend who lives in Kansas, was advised she has won one of the big prizes in Houston – of course, she won’t know which one until the awards night at QFestival the end of October. Suspense!  www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/
A guild she belongs to is doing a program on studios, so a photographer visited Ruth and photographed a bit of her studio. See it here:
http://www.thecuriouskansasquilter.blogspot.com/2012/09/ruth-powers-fantastic-quilter-artist-in.html

Brugmansia  and Bougainvillea  09-29-05

Photos at the Hampton Inns in Utah and Montana 09-08-12

When my computer caught a disease in July and had to be wiped clean and reloaded, the Picasa files were jumbled - some duplicated, some missing, some with pictures that don't match the titles on the file.  It is one huge mess.  Occasionally I will start sorting through, but I soon run out of patience.  Sometimes I will find duplicated files and delete one of them - what a feeling of accomplishment!  When I was sorting the other day I came across these images I took at Hampton Inns in Utah and Montana.  These photos and signs were mostly in the elevators and Ruth Powers and I thought these "advisories" were pretty funny.  Lovely pictures, but does anyone go into a well-known, popular hotel chain and even think about not having clean sheets?  Neither of us ever has. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One room even had a sticky note on each headboard.  We left them there - for the next occupant!

This one is just a cute sign - also in an elevator. 

 

I much prefer to stay at Holiday Inn Express - can't explain exactly why I feel safe at their motels, but I do. However, every town doesn't have a HIE and Hampton Inns are very nice.   Maybe the fresh baked cinnamon rolls for breakfast at HIE have something to do with it.