Quilt for Cylus

Scrappy birds

Discharge with bleach

Table mats

Cylus Taylor Möller

On the 26th of July 2014, my grandson Cylus Taylor Möller was born. I held him for the first time that Saturday afternoon - the beginning of a very special bond. Thanks Kenny and Jadi-Leigh for letting me into your precious family circle.

And because no child can ever have too many grannies or too many people loving them or too many quilts, I made a quilt.

 

The pattern is Country babies by Fat Cat Patterns. Since the name Cylus means Protector of the Forest,  I named it Bush Babies. I'll think of a way to explain to him, when he is a little bit older, how a zebra and a panda landed up in the same bush and how little Red Riding Hood left Mary had a little lamb's lamb in the forest. In the mean time, he can simply enjoy the colourful pictures. Fabulous pattern though. I appliqued using a simple blanket stitch on the Bernina.

Epic Road Trip - Kleinkaroo 2012

This quilt was done as a challenge set by Creative Hands. A South African artist was studied and their work used as inspiration for a quilt. 

I chose Michèle Nigrini. 

Michèle believes that art is a medium for the elevation of the spirit yet remains rooted in the experience of everyday life. Her aim not to copy nature, but to
interpret the essential character of things, submitting it to the spirit of the place.

MY INTERPRETATION : Roadtrip Dec 2012 in scattered silk, net, silk tulle, cotton, applique , thread painting and buttons. 

Not based on any one painting in specific, I was fascinated by the collage techniques she uses so successfully in many of her works.    

In retrospect, looking at this quilt, I can see a lot of secondary interpretations leaping out from what was essentially purely documentary of a wonderful holiday. 

My facebook post on 4 January 2013 read: 

We traveled almost 5000 km in the last month, by motorcar. We visited the most beautiful of South African beaches, met with friends and family and some friends who are almost family. Drove to Laaiplek for a blessing of a building, a glass of wine and hake n chips at the Pik n wyn. Joined the family for Xmas lunch on the other side of Storms River. I also dragged Johan up and down beaches, up and down 176 tires to get to the beach and 7.2km into the Wilderness Forest. We drove through the Seweweekspoort pass going down to Wilderness and back through the Swartberg pass up to Prince Albert on the way home. And now I'm back home. Rested, brown as a nut, and ready to go. Hope you all have a wonderful 2013! It's going to be a busy one.

This quilt is about that trip!

Irene

Creative Hands Challenge : A double sided equilateral triangle depicting "Movement". This was made with inspiration of a photograph published by renown Cape Town photographer Irene McCullagh.  

Bordello bargello?

Accidentally called a Bordello quilt in stead of a Bargello by the lady that quilted this, the name stuck. The pattern is Twisted Bargello and we made this in a class with Alette Davy. The quilt is exhibited with Jacaranda quilted guild at the Centurion Art Galery c/o Contonment Ave and Unielaan. I made the top and it was beautifully quilted by Ananda van Rooyen.

La Foule beautifully displayed at HobbyX at the Coca Cola Dome in Randburg

Thanks to Craftwise & Stitches for a wonderful display at Hobby-X!

La Foule at The Pink House in Grootbrak

The "Free to Express" exhibition in the Pink House, Grootbrak  http://thepinkhaus.weebly.com/

Edith Piaf – La Foule

Elle décrit de manière vibrante sa romance éphémère dans la foule. Une vision vêtue de noire, la lumière blanche qui reflète l'expression libre de ses mains.

Her fleeting romance in the crowd. A vision dressed in black, white light that reflects the free expression of her hands

The video of the Edith Piaf performance of La Foule that inspired this quilt can be seen here

La Foule was first exhibited at the September 2013 at the International Quilt Convention Africa.

Group of 9 exhibited at the Pink House in Grootbrak, WP

Flat on my backside next to Mama Africa in Bloemfontein at the National Quilt Festival.  It was really cold, but a wonderful experience. Thank you to Oranje Quilters Guild for a stunning show! 

Mama Africa

Mama Africa, please don’t cry,
though your children are hungry,
your rivers run dry.

Mama Africa, don’t be in pain,
the greed will subside
and a new King will reign

Mama Africa, so much to share,
 of talent, of greatness
an oneness so rare

Mama Africa, lift up your eyes:
 they’ll fail and they’ll falter
and then they’ll realize

Mama Africa be content
your children will grow up and
then realize the extent

Mama Africa, please don’t cry,
though your children are hungry,
and your rivers run dry.

The burning bush

Banner made for the Creative Hands colour challenge. 

Newly updated shop

I've been wanting to update the quilt pattern shop for some time now.

Boasting a new banner, I've also loaded some new patterns. 

The First 12 days of December 2012

These 12 days are going to be hectic. Full guesthouse (thank goodness!) and a lot to do: The first Doll's Blanket is done, except for the labels.

Another couple to go.

Almost Christmas

Today I took out the Christmas quilt. Christmas: a time to love, a time to appreciate nature, a time to sit at the quiet light of a candle and a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Pandora

Creative hands challenge "I opened the box" got my creative juices going.

Pandora opening the box and exposing the world to the 7 cardinal sins.

Popular Alhonse Mucha painting, "Joan of Arc" was used as a foundation for Pandora's astounded expression.

The rough edge of the quilt was burnt and left ragged.

Dealing with depression

According to the Medical Dictionary, depression is "a mental state or chronic mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation (or less frequently agitation), withdrawal from social contact, and vegetative states such as loss of appetite and insomnia."

Dealing with this said state of depression is a daily chore. While designing this quilt for the Jacaranda Quilters Guild 2012 Challenge, I was once again reminded of that fact. Choosing the design in a traditional patchwork pattern, I had to also incorporate my interpretation of the colour wheel. The closer I came to the centre, the bigger the challenge. The project was abandoned at at least 5 stages and it was only with great support, abuse and manipulation that between my sister and fellow group members at Creative Hands, it was finished.

Except for a major "blaps" on the backing, the quilt came out very satisfactory and was crowned with a "Highly Commended" white ribbon at the friendship meeting.

 

I certainly learned a lot. The seemingly simple pattern required precise patchwork. This was a challenge on it's own for a free spirit like mine with virtually no patience. I now own an array of seam rippers in all shapes and sizes. 

The second breakthrough on this quilt was the detailed quilting in the negative spaces. I used templates for the first time. The quilt offered ample negative space where I could practice the technique. The design of the quilting is in lots of hearts, depicting the love needed by us all.

All together a very positive experience that dealt beautifully with possible depression. Does the design make you think of depression, or does it deal a blow to it?