The Exhibits at International Quilt Festival

Here are the dolls from the Gypsy Challenge.  They have not been judged yet, so the names and titles are not visible.

The quilts are magnificent.

This is the Best of Show: "Eternal Beauty" by Sherry Reynolds.  I heard her say she worked on it for 5 years!

"When Everyone's Heart Blooms" by Masako Sanada

"I Spy a Mouse" by Cristina Bono

"An Old Woman with Joyous Face" by Marina Landi

"Blue Anemone" by Andrea Brokenshire 

More beautiful quilts (I apologize for not having the artists' names and titles).

See all this year's winning quilts here.

Doll Exhibits - International Quilt Festival

It's that time again!  The International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston is happening now.  We (the Material Girls Cloth Doll Club) set up the doll exhibits last week.  There are 4 parts to the doll exhibit:  the Material Girls of Houston Cloth Doll exhibit, the Texas Association of Original Doll Artists exhibit, In Celebration of the Doll (the invitational portion), and the Gypsy Challenge.   

These are dolls from the Material Girls.

The Dolls on the left side are part of the "white on white" challenge.

This is my piece for the white challenge:  "Forgiven", based on Psalm 51:7 which reads

Purge me with hyssop,

and I shall be clean:

wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

She is entirely cloth, soft sculpture. Her lower torso is felted wool with angelina and various fibers, beads and sequins.  Her top is made of silk and cotton lace.  The base is crackle glazed.  The hyssop in her hands is made of felted merino wool.  

The Texas Association of Original Doll Artists exhibit is titled "Time On Our Hands".  

My piece for the TAODA exhibit is titled "Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer Fall"

Again, these are entirely cloth, soft sculpted dolls.  Their bodies are made of felted merino wool, which has been hand embroidered, with silk blouses and a silk ribbon which links the seasons.

In Celebration of the Doll is an invitational exhibit and I am honored to be included again this year.

My piece is titled "Contemplation"

Her lower torso is felted with merino wool and various silk and wool fibers and beaded.  Her costume is made with brocades, silk, velvet and various trims and beads.

Later I will post photos of the Gypsy Challenge and other exhibits including the amazing quilts!

International Quilt Festival 2017 part 2

Another quilt festival has come and gone.  My purchases were slim this year.  I have so many supplies from previous years that I have yet to use.

Needles, silk thread, trims, shibori ribbon, blunt tip scissors, and a new snowman for my collection. :)


This year I took a felted "cracked mud" scarf class from Vickie Clontz.  Vickie is a fun teacher.  I've taken a class from her before. And it's always fun to take a class to learn a new technique!  Here is my scarf:

I think there are some "cracked mud" dolls in my future!

The highlight of quilt festival is always the doll exhibits.  Here are a couple of shots.  

I posted photos of my dolls in the exhibits in my previous post.

I also enjoy the quilt exhibits and here are a few of my favorites this year.  I apologize for not having the artists names for these:

These two are by Sue Spargo - I love her work!

And this wonderful piece by my friends Ginny Eckley and Susan Ennis:

King Bird of Paradise Quilt won 1st Place in the Art category!  Congratulations ladies!

International Quilt Festival 2017 part 1

The International Quilt Festival is in full swing! This year I have dolls in three of the exhibits:  

"Hannah" in the In Celebration of the Doll invitational exhibit. 

The clothing is made from hand felted merino wool which has been eco-printed with eucalyptus leaves, vintage cotton lace and hand dyed silk chiffon.  The face is sculpted with needle and thread, and colored with pastels and prisma pencils.

"Faith, Hope & Charity" in the Material Girls exhibit.

These dolls are also eco-printed with eucalyptus, oak, Japanese maple & rose leaves.

"Anticipation" and "Remembrance" in the Now and Then TAODA exhibit.

Made with hand dyed silk satin, silk gauze and pearl cotton braid. "Anticipation" is eco-printed with Chinese tallow and chinaberry leaves, symbolizing radiance and hope. "Remembrance" is eco-printed printed with oak leaves, which symbolizes strength and stability.  

Joie de Vivre

Lately I have become interested in (obsessed with) botanical eco printing.  Here is a new piece using this technique.

"Joie de Vivre"

She is wearing a silk tunic with vintage trim and Hawaiian beads.  Her cotton booties are topped with a felt ball.  Her hat is an acorn cap that has been dry brushed with pink lumiere paint.  

And her trousers are printed with Chinese tallow leaves and another leaf that I can't identify (but have had success with and it grows prolifically around here).

To finish the piece I did some botanical printing on card stock, ran it through my printer and attached it to the underside of the base.

This piece will be displayed at the International Quilt Market & Festival in Houston, TX October 29-November 6.

Houston International Quilt Festival!

The International Quilt Festival is in full swing!  With beautiful quilts:

Best of Show winner Janet Stone with her beautiful quilt "Ewe Are My Sunshine"

More gorgeous quilts

Beautifully handcrafted garments:

And of course, the best part, the doll exhibits!

I have two dolls in the show this year.  "In Celebration of the Doll" is an invitational exhibit, with dolls coming from all over the country (and around the world).  I feel very fortunate to be included with these wonderful artists.  My "Celebration" doll this year is

"Handmaid of the Sacred Heart"

This is my interpretation of a Santos figure, in cloth of course.  Her torso, arms and skirt are felted merino wool.  Her apron and headpiece are hand dyed velvet, with machine embroidery and beading.

My other doll is in the Texas Association of Original Doll Artists exhibit "Block Party 3".  Each doll in this exhibit features a quilt block.  The one I chose is the farmer's daughter quilt block, which inspired the piece.

"The Farmer's Daughter"

Her dress and poke bonnet are constructed from a vintage Liberty of London cotton print.  Her cotton apron features the farmer's daughter quilt block on the bib. Her hair is Tibetan lambskin.  In her arms she holds a basket of hand felted heirloom tomatoes in shades of red, yellow, orange and green merino wool.

It's always an honor to exhibit my dolls at the International Quilt Festival!  And I'm so lucky to live in Houston and be able to attend this show every year.