Pam Holland Designs and Productions

Congratulations you've won an award in Houston

 

 

I see exciting posts today from folks who have notification of their quilt winning 'something' in Houston. Its one of those things that warm the heart.

I see well known quilting names, and then there are the names of  the gal next door, that's what's so great about 'Houston'

Everyone is equal in this game. You might win in one show and then not even place with the same quilt in another.

I know what its like waiting for the day of the announcements to arrive, its so exciting and an absolute honor to have a quilt honored in the show... Well even in the show!

Congratulations everyone, you sure deserve it.

When you hear the voice on the other end of the phone say that you are in the top 'x' and you need to be in Houston  your heart stops, your breath catches in your throat and you think your heart is going to burst in your chest.

What do you do when you put the phone down from a call like that? I imagine its like getting one of those lottery phone calls. I know I walked around in a daze for the morning I didn't even have the strength to get out of my jamas for a few hours.

My win was tinged with a great deal of personal sadness so in a way I was robbed of part of the joy right at that time.

At this time of year I reflect both, the excitement of doing well in Houston and the trauma of losing our daughter in law in a tragic accident. Our son bears the scars both mentally and physically after being terribly injured and so I just put the quilt away and it comes out on special occasions. I don't look at the quilt with sadness, I had 3 years of happiness making it, I don't know, its just sad sometimes.

There are other stories about being a quilt competitor that are in my manuscript.  Will I put it out warts and all... don't know just yet! 

I have a couple of quilts in this year in special exhibitions, both are being given away. (one in the silent auction if you wish to bid for it.)

On the other hand I had a fabulous day working with my PA today. I can go away relaxed now having to worry about preparing things for the next few trips, we've almost done it all.

She's also embarking on a new venture for us both.... so we are really excited. Sort of jumping actually. (It doesn't take much when you're a quilter.)

 

 

Related articles

I believe that 'Quilting' is a craft, an occupation, a creative expression that is equal to any artistic medium.

Well this granny has hers for quilting... and why not.

The story behind the quilt.

Designing a quilt for a specific project brings forth a lot of challenges.

Almost finished the Houston Project.

Designing a quilt for a specific project brings forth a lot of challenges.

Designing a quilt for a specific project brings forth a lot of challenges.

"Hunger" was this challenge.

It's not beautiful, its supposed to be provocative and the images are from my own experiences of people on the streets in Thailand, India and Mexico.

The Artist statement will give a detailed description of the quilt.

It was difficult to add this small quilt into the larger one, but realistically it would be too hard to thread-paint onto the larger quilt and so I did as a separate piece and appliquéd it on.

The other images are illustrated right on the quilt top and the quilting flows across the genres.

 

The next genre was "The South west" totally different and whimsical.

This is a teaching sample, so I have to add illustrations and instructions.

 

Then on to Donkey Diva,

Mark 1 and 2 

Four quilts in 3 weeks. Gees Louise.

The brain and body have been on overload but now I can wind down. Hopefully I can smell the roses and relax.

I leave for Singapore on Tuesday, Thursday I will be in London and Saturday on a cruise to Norway Teaching.

Breathe, breathe, breathe,

 

Bayeux Discipline

It's quiet and I can sit quietly and enjoy my music.

Feeling a little strange this evening, I suddenly realized it's the first time in 2 months that I have had a few hours to myself.

Home alone and enjoying the sanction of my studio. I'm a little overwhelmed and don't know where to start because I want to do everything at the same time. !! But I do have to have a schedule, just as if I was on the road.

The realization that this is the beginning of my sabbatical and it's actually happening is exciting and a little nerve wracking at the same time.

However even at this early stage I need to plan.

There's my 'BD' Bayeux Discipline 6 hours a day working on the quilt and that journey will begin again on the 26th of December. 4.00 am till 10.30 am each day with half an hour off for breakfast.
That regime is not negotiable, I'm so anxious to get back into the flow of the quilt. 10 days to go.

My own Marathon - What a way to start the year.!!!!!

OK guys, this is a bit embarrassing,

But then who am I kidding,   -   I love it....

This is the link to the Quilt Show and my first video of the year, part 1 of the

 

Houston Quilt Show.

 

The Show I was on a few years ago.....

 

Forget football and journey back with us to Season 1 and see our show with Pam Holland and her amazing re-creation of a historical quilt.  Her detailed work is unbelievable.  This show is free to everyone this weekend.

It's A New Year's Pam Holland Marathon!
            
We have all Pam's videos in a special player. There are over 15 short inspirational videos for you to see. Just put your mouse over the top or bottom of the index and you can scroll up and down all the videos.

 

progress

I've had lots of visitors today, so the work has been spasmodic.  I finished the thread illustration on the flower and you will note that I've taken it out of the background...(the top petal and the stem) it gives a 3 dimensional effect.

Now I'm quilting the background following my computer manipulation guides. The watermarks will be left with no quilting in them       (I think)

I will cut some of the leaves from the final background fabric and soften the edges of the piece by appliqueing them over the picture.

I think I will make 2 free standing aggy leaves which will cross on the right hand side of the quilt. Its a bit hard to explain... but just keep watching.

Designing fabric on the ipad

Working on some designs...... I need to do my own fabric for portraits and the back ground of my small quilts

Thread painting a quilt.

I'm finally working on the thread painting of the image. I'm using 7 shades of gold and brown, they are not exactly the same as the image, but I can change them a little with ink.

Quilting a project like this, I generally start one side and move to the other, changing the threads as I go.

I do it this way to prevent puckering... there's a small amount, but I've pressed the quilt once during the process. It seems to stabilize the stitching and ease out any puckering. It's tempting to stitch like colors at once and then go on to the next color, experience says that you get a smoother effect doing it color progressively.

Once all the colors are down I will add highlights with either  a lighter or darker thread, just as I would as if I was drawing.

I'm changing the direction of the stitching to follow the contours of the facial image.

I'm using 50 weight masterpiece superior thread and 50 weight Aurifil thread... the Aurifil is thicker than the Superior 50 weight thread... both are 2 ply so it's interesting.

I generally change the bobbin at the same time as I change the top thread. (but not always) so you don't see as much definition on the back of the quilt.

I've chosen not to use a hoop, it is cumbersome and to be honest I think it stretches the quilt. I may b wrong, but I just like hands on.... 

A piece of my soul

About This Interactive Collection

A piece of my soul Quilts by Black Arkansans

It's amazing how one thing leads to another.

At breakfast this morning I chatted with the owner of the restaurant with all the Arkansan flags proudly on show.

(I mentioned them the other day)

When I came back to the hotel I was doing some research on the flags for interest sake, and I found the site above.

I urge you to have a look at it. It's fascinating.

I won't have time to visit this trip, but it's definitely on the agenda for next time.

The Museum is in Little Rock some 50 miles from here.... and I'm sorry I didn't know about it.

I will see if I can get permission to do a show on the exhibition.

How to change photos in Microsoft word

Notes for Students.

Click on the URL below for the PDF information.

How to change photos in Microsoft word

You decide to create a portrait... sometimes it's difficult to work out how to break down the color layers....

Some people use a photo program on your computer to do this...but you can use Microsoft word.... and I've created a PDF set of notes to give you that information.

The portrait of Tilly, above has been posterized.... you can see that it's easier to break down the colors into specific layers...there are just 4 or 5 layers of color... the edges are more clearly defined than the original photo.

The photo below is a watercolor... this is my choice when creating a portrait  quilt.

This is the original photo

Being Me

BEING ME.

For as long as I can remember I've lived in my own private world. I'm never bored and very seldom lonely...

When I'm on the road I'm surrounded by the most wonderful people.... however, there is always a time in the day that I sit quietly and work by myself and classical music takes me to a quieter place.

I've discovered a wonderful CD on I tunes, I've listened to it constantly for the past week. The music is just beautiful....

I listen to this type of music when creating the Bayeux Quilt and when I'm writing.

Listen to the music.

Recognized during her lifetime as one of the finest composers in Italy, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani spent her entire adult life within the four walls of the musically famous convent of Santa Radegonda in Milan. Contemporary accounts describe the huge crowds that filled the exterior church of the convent to hear the angelic voices of nuns singing Cozzolani’s passionate and ecstatic music.

It's been a great week.... lots of creative process.

A lot of laughter and sharing of experiences... 

13 years at the same retreat is a record for me.... I just love it..

I silently listen to the banter in the room... "can I borrow some of your, um..... forgot the name  thread",

"Yes, if you can pronounce it you can borrow it"

I filmed today, talked at length, had dinner with the gals and attended a very famous annual event here in Grayling Michigan.

It's the annual AuSable  canoe marathon.

The attire was striking.

 

The crowds gathered in their thousands and waited expectantly.

The starting gun fired and the 90 teams had to sprint about 1/4 mile to the start.

That's me for the day.......