The Art of the Quilt – Invitational Quilt Exhibit
November 14th, 2010Last Friday marked the opening of a new exhibit at the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville, VA. (PiedmontArts.org) This show is a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many wonderful artists have items on display, including Sandra Wright, with a breath taking cape, including beautiful textures and thousands of handsewn beads, Fog, Snow, and Ice on the Blue Ridge. Linda Fiedler has Rain and Shine, as well as another wonderful machine embroidered Flora of the Blue Ridge. The threadwork she uses to make the flowers is spectacular. Â
 There are also wonderful pieces showing mixed media including Karen Fridy’s, Rising, as well as Priscilla Hair’s, Emergence.  Scott Murkin has some of his wonderful Strata series Sunset and Midday on hand. All incredible work, with too many artists to mention. You’ll just have to make it up to the show!Â
The Art of the Quilt will be running from November 13, 2010 through December 30, 2010.Â
The Art of the Quilt, is an invitational exhibit curated by Linda Fiedler. Linda is an exceptional machine quilter and teacher with national and international awards to her name for her quilting as well as her quilted clothing.  You’ll have to see her work up close! Fabulous.
Following are two of my pieces you can see in this show:Â
Bountiful Blue Ridge Laurels
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Blue skies with feathery white clouds rushing by above the colorful mountains. Fluffy soft Merino wools as well as silks have been needle felted to make a backdrop for the beautiful Mountain Laurel flowers. The flowers and  leaves were individually needle felted, wired and beaded to depict the bounteous foliage and flowers found along the Blue Ridge.  Complete with hand stitches across  the mountain sides to add depth and dimension across the landscape.  Here is a close up of the many flowers and dimensional leaves.Â
Driving Through Paradise
Driving Through Paradise depicts the fabulous color display you will see each fall on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.  I had such fun creating this piece with the tree and it’s many textures, from the tree bark to the dimensional leaves.  Working with everything I could find that would needle felt and give me the textures I love.  Â
Near the bottom of this scene, you will see an abundance of textures. These were made with curly wool yarns and fabulous bits of hand dyed wools depicting vegetation along the roadside. As you drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway,  the colors surround you and never seem to stop on a beautiful autumn day.Â
Here is a closeup:
Both needle felted works are surrounded with beautiful handspun yarns for a natural frame.
















I always enjoy the wonderful ladies attending my workshops at Accent Sewing. Some have taken almost every class I have had there in the past several  years and some totally new to using a Babylock Embellisher.  It is such a thrill to  bring new felters  into the wonderful world of Machine Needle Felting.  I am so pleased to have such a fabulous group of felting buddies, and the group continues to grow.  Thanks to all.


     This doll class is great fun. So many embellishing ideas to make each Angel doll unique. Good work ladies. 
Maxi’s poinsettia turned out great. What do you think?  It is almost 20 inches across. 























