12x12 Fabric technique swap #18: Kiki Finlayson, Oregon

From Kiki in Oregon, a wonderful 12x12 quilt honoring her grandmother. I love the colors and unusual details. Kiki tried ink-jet printing on fabric to print a photo and used paint sticks on fabric as new techniques. Click on the photo above to read more in detail! Thanks for participating in your 7th creative swap, Kiki. Just wonderful!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #17: Sharon Walworth. Rhode Island

From Sharon Walworth in Rhode Island, we have this beautifully stitched 12x12 quilt she calls Bonsai Square. Sharon refers to this piece as 'randomly constructed' on her label (click on above photo) but it looks very beautiful and structured to me! Sharon sent me an email to explain more how she created this lovely piece:

"I am hoping to embark on a series of journal quilts based around a theme of Mandalas, produced largely with batiks and hand dyes. This one was a sort of prototype, or first attempt, and I did learn a lot from it. My "safety net" was my reliance on machine embroidery. (I love Sharon's stitching!) I did take a few chances with fabric selections, and enjoyed playing with lumiere paints on a little lace scrap in the center of the piece.

In constructing my "leftovers" piece (see below), I included the rectangular scrap on which I experimented with stitch width, length, color, etc. (I think the leftover piece shows a little more freedom in my approach, eh?). Thanks for another great swap."

You are most welcome, Sharon! So glad to have you involved!

Here is the "leftover" piece Sharon made into a beautiful fabric postcard for me. Thank you!

notes from lenna

Just a reminder that the 12x12 quilts are due in my hands April 22nd - soon! That swap is full and will soon be wrapping up. It already has exceeded my expectations!
I especially wanted you to know that this will be the last swap I will schedule for a bit . . . . because in a few weeks, sometime in May of 2009, Steven & I are putting our home on the market. Yikes! Yes, and for a good reason . . . to move and be near my parents. I will keep you posted. It may take some time, but we are motivated! Just wanted you to know our plans . . .

Collage Swap on Canvas #1: Martha Franklin, Virginia

There are 2 current swaps at this time, the 12x12 quiltie swap (full) from which you have seen many pieces coming in, and the collage on canvas swap due June 10 (cancelled). Here is our first entry for the collage swap, from Martha Franklin in Virginia!

Martha used 5x5 stretched canvases -click on the photo above to read HOW Martha created her pieces. This is a 3 for 3 swap. Thank you, Martha for the extra collage! Martha themed her collage on the element of Love, specifically on the love that is found everywhere, from the earth to the moon and back.

Thanks for the great kick off to this swap, Martha.

12x12 Fabric technique swap #16: Mary Zimany, Connecticut

Wow, is all I can say! Opening the mail these days is quite a delight! It should be busy here for the next two weeks as all quilts are due in my hands on April 22nd, 2009. We have 39 participants and 23 (12x12) quilts left to come in. I will try to keep up with the posting as best as I can! Here are some details on Mary's beautiful 12x12 piece:

Please click on the photo above to read about the techniques Mary used. You can also visit Mary's Blog where she has a great post and more photos of her 12x12 for this swap. Thanks so much, Mary. I totally love your contribution to our swap and Steven does too!!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #15: Cheryl Gebhart, Oklahoma

Isn't this an amazing quilt?? wow!

Please click on the photo above to read about how Cheryl created her 12x12 quilt for our explore & and recycle fabric techniques swap. I am so impressed. You can also read more about how Cheryl created her piece on her blog. I also want to thank Cheryl very much for the gorgeous mini fabric square she created and sent to me, see below. Don't be too jealous!!

This swap is turning out much more amazing than I even expected - thank you all!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #14: Annicka Greborn-Holmqvist, Sweden

Please click on the photo above to read about how Annicka put together her wonderful 12x12 quilt for our swap. She calls it 'City Light' and has used items she already had in her studio. Annicka's blog is HERE! and there is more about her 12x12 there, with a translate button too!

I also cannot resist showing you this beautiful postcard with a funny quote that Annicka sent & also translated for me - thanks, Annicka! I love it.

Thank you for participating from far away. We are so lucky to have all our International players in this swap! : )

12x12 Fabric technique swap #13: Ewa-Christine Stenport, Sweden

From Ewa-Christine in Sweden, a most beautiful white on white 12x12 quilt has come in. Ewa-Christine has used some of her grandmother's linens and felted two hearts. Read more about making it on her blog and by clicking on her letter above. Ewa-Christine's blog is written in Swedish, but you can use Google Translate if you need to read it. Thank you Ewa-Christine, for aspiring to work with us for this swap even though English is not your first language. You have done so well!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #12: Sabine Schneider, Germany

My goodness. What an amazing bunch of beautiful quilts came in for the swap while I was away! This beauty is from Sabine in Germany. Sabine also has a blog she calls: Colourfly - My colorful world -please visit! The text is written in German, so I used Google Translate to read it...

Click on the photo above to read about the making of Sabine's quilt. She included silk rose petals, a butterfly and a fabric postcard as well - so beautiful! The middle of her quilt is see through!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #11: Martha Franklin, Virginia

Martha Franklin in Virginia has sent in a 12x12 quilt for our swap that just makes me SMILE. I love this quiltie, Martha! Note that this is Martha's 7th creative swap, which is just awesome. Please click on the photo above to read Martha's description for her quiltie. Thanks to all of you who have done this -written your techniques down. It's simply awesome because we all learn so much!!!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #10: Kate North, New Malden, UK

A lovely 12x12 quilt is from Kate North in the UK. Thanks so much for participating Kate -- this makes 10 creative swaps you have completed! Please click on the photo above to read about how Kate challenged herself for this swap. To see more of Kate's work, please visit her blog!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #9: Joellyn Quinn, Wisconsin

Please click on the back of Joellyn's 12x12 quiltie to read how she created her beautiful free-motion stitched piece. Thanks for participating in your 6th creative swap with me, Joellyn!