Puzzles & Games

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This week's quilt is Ancient Directions by Alison Goss, created in 1990.  Having lived in many places, Alison has always been inspired by her surroundings.  According to The Twentieth Century's Best American Quilts, edited by Mary Leman Austin, Alison states, "I made this quilt about nine months after an extended stay in the San Juan Mountains in the Four Corners area of the American Southwest.  I was overwhelmed, and still am, by the beauty and meaning of this area.  I tried to put as much of my feeling as possible into Ancient Directions." 

Joen Wolfrom, in her book, The Magical Effects of Color says, "Some spectacular examples of contemporary quilts with vague traditional roots include: Ancient Directions by Alison Goss with its dimensional design based on a simple diagonal four-patch."

However you feel about Ancient Directions, you can't help but be drawn into depths and beauty.

The quilt is 80" x 67"  It uses hand-painted and commercial cottons and is machine pieced and quilted.  It is in the collection of the National Quilting Museum.

Ancient Directions 35 non-rotating

Ancient Directions 100 non-rotating

Ancient Directions 100 rotating

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Our current guest in Episode 901 State-of-the-Art Quilting: Tradition Meets Innovation - Susan Brubaker Knapp, has a delightful block of the month pattern entitled, Heart's Desire.  It is Susan's take on a Baltimore Album quilt and finishes at 62" x 62"  It has a modern twist and features hearts, vines, and leaves.  Susan used hand-dyed fabrics, but image what this would look like on a white background using prints or batiks.  The pattern is available at Susan's site.

Hearts Desire 1 - 35 pieces non-rotating

Hearts Desire 2 - 100 pieces non-rotating

Hearts Desire 3 - 100 pieces rotating

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Molly Upton's ideas were inspired by the fine arts, painting, architecture, dance, music, and literature, and she found a method for creating her ideas through fabric. Torrid Dwelling, created in 1975, was far ahead of its time. In fact, at the time of her death at the age of 24, her work was being represented in a Madison Avenue art gallery. Torrid Dwelling uses a wide range of fabrics and innovative strip-piecing techniques. Molly commented that she drew inspiration from "wandering through ruins, active streets and deserts; from past civilizations, and (from piano) keyboards."  This quilt is 98" x 92" and is in a private collection.

Torrid1 - 36 pieces non-rotating

Torrid2 - 100 pieces non-rotating

Torrid3 - 100 pieces rotating

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On this July 4 we brought back the puzzle for American Life.  Okay it's 1930 not 2011, but it's a fun quilt.  How fast can you do this?

In 1930, Mrs. Cecil White created a quilt with vignettes of American Life.  Her style seems similar to cartoon art.  She included everything from a shoe shine parlor to an elopement and a trolley ride.  The quilt is 77" x 66" and made mostly of cotton fabric.  It is hand appliqued and quilted.  Not much is known about Mrs. Cecil White but anyone can enjoy her look into everyday life in 1930.

cecilwhitequilt1 - 60 pieces non-rotating

cecilwhitequilt2 - 60 pieces rotating

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This week's puzzle is from TQS guest, Susan Brubaker Knapp of Blue Moon River.  This lovely quilt while bold in design, is small in dimension.  It is only 12" x 12" and can be found in Susan's latest book, Point, Click, Quilt! Turn Your Photos into Fabulous Fabric Art.  Susan created this quilt using cotton fabric, acrylic textile paint, cotton threads and cotton batting.  It is thread sketched and free-motion machine quilted.

Susan's Episode 901 will post on Monday, July 4, 2011.

African Beads - 100 pieces non-rotating

African Beads 1 - 100 pieces rotating

African Beads 2 - 35 pieces non-rotating - Great for beginners!