Stage 2 (I can't believe I'm doing this again...)

They look so sweet and innocent

I've been carting around this one big, awesome section of the quilt for months now. Whenever I exhibit it, people always ask the same question:

"So is this the whole finished quilt?"

It certainly looks finished. It's ten feet square with lovely finished edges, and it has enough different blocks that it could be considered "done" to someone who is less enthusiastically ADHD than I am. However, my answer is always the same:

"Oh HELL no. I have twice as much at home in my studio."

I've been collecting blocks quite steadily since the first gallery show and there's no way I'm stopping now. I counted my pile o' squares the other day and it looks like I have just enough to make another 10' x 10' section. My poor hands are already screaming in protest. My knees and back too. Sheesh.

Thankfully I have a back-up sewing machine (thanks mom!), tons of extra material (thanks Derby Skinz!) and plenty of floor space now. This should be a VAST improvement over my process last year. Looking back, I have no idea how I survived working on our coffee table and sewing in that tiny shared study.

This will probably ruin my chances of ever getting the whole quilt into a carry-on ever again.

Motherly Love from Suburbia/Connecticut: Part 3

Last but not least, this is the third block from Lynne McDonald, the derby mama and quilter with mad "skillz," as my students would say. This piece represents the announcers of Suburbia Roller Derby, Sam Handwich and Stew L. Sample. Sam Handwich is Lynne's son and Awol's boyfriend. I kind of love this roller derby family.

A key part of the design is the memorial patch for Maddie, Sam's dog. Lynne included an article about Maddie, who died tragically when she was still quite young. In Lynne's words, "I included a memory of Sam's dog, Maddie, on his block because during her short life she became a loyal fan and friend, attending most bouts with Sam. The girls on the team grew to love Maddie as much as we did."

Thank you so much Lynne. These blocks are absolutely GORGEOUS, and the details in the designs are so personal. These serve as impressive records of these wonderful people in your life, and I promise to take good care of them as they become a part of the quilt.

Motherly Love from Suburbia/Connecticut: Part 2

Ready for more spectacular craftsmanship? You'd better sit down. This one is fierce. Lynne made this for Awol, who is dating her son, Sam Handwich. She skates for both Suburban Brawl and the Botoxic Avengers along with Lynne's daughter, Taryn Limbs. The design on this one is just killer, and the syringe appliqué looks even better in person.

Next week, part 3. Hooray for prolific quilting roller derby mamas, eh?

Motherly love from Suburbia/Connecticut: Part 1

This is part one of a three parter, because this is clearly too much quilting skill to smash into one entry. Lynne McDonald is a proud parent of a rollergirl and a skilled quilter to boot. She blended these two loves into three stunning blocks, and in her words "I don't know anything about roller derby, attended only a few bouts (and kepy my eyes covered for much of it), but I do know about quilting.

Lynne, I can certainly see that you do. Goodness me, look at that craftsmanship! Please click on the photo to the right if you don't believe me. Simply gorgeous.

She made this first block for her daughter, Taryn Limbs. She's skated for both Connecticut and Suburbia, and her teams are represented in the corners of the quilt. I'm absolutely enamored with the amount of information on this piece - teams, dates, leagues.... it's a gorgeous record of her daughter's experience so far.

Next week, part 2.