Saying Goodbye to our Mary

Our crazy quilt group has lost a dear and talented "sister." Mary was a gifted artist and her talent unequaled. She was able to create in any form of needle art and loved to recreate the beauty around her onto fabric. She was a gifted artist in oils as well and her paintings are magnificient.

Her last crazy quilt was "The Mighty Oak." Her inspiration was taken from one of the Piecemaker Calendars and she added her very own touch of Texas in each of the blocks. She entered our local Quilt Show the year it was completed and won every ribbon. It was a true work of art!

We are planning an article for CQMagOnline.com in memory of Mary and have permission to include photos of "The Mighty Oak." You will want to log on in April - you will truly be inspired as we have been. We will miss Mary but her presence lives on through all the many treasures she has created.

CQMagOnline is a quarterly publication and absolutely free to anyone who would like to look through the articles. Just click on the live link and then "current issue." I would be remiss if I didn't thank Rissa, our editor, for her dedication. It has been a wonderful resource for crazy quilting for many years

And The Winners Are..........

What fun it has been participating again this year in the One World One Heart event. It's with a great deal of pleasure that I announce my winners:

Maggie R. with Magpie's Collectibles is the winner of my silk ribbon embroidered and beaded necklace.

Laura with Ragamuffin Primitives has won the beaded bracelet and earrings.

A special thank you to Lisa for organizing and hosting this event. Although this is the last year for the OWOH, I am really excited to read about the Our World Our Art. To receive a piece of art created by the artist is truly special. I look forward to 2012.

Thanks to everyone who visited my blog and left such wonderful comments. I hope you will visit often.

One World One Heart - 2011

Welcome to my blog! I've been very negligent with my posting but Lisa's OWOH event has motivated me and I hope to do better.

My name is Barbara and I live on the Texas Gulf Coast. I am an avid crazy quilter with a special love for creating with silk. I write for CQMagOnline.com, a quarterly publication for crazy quilters. I invite you to sit down with a nice cup of coffee and read the current issue. There are some wonderful projects and tutorials included in the January issue.

I would like to offer two prizes this year. The first one is a silk ribbon embroidered necklace stitched on black velvet. I've used a beaded peyote stitch for the bezel and bail. The necklace is made with vintage beads and Swarovski crystals. (I will edit and include a photo of the necklace when I take another photo.)

My second prize is a heart bracelet and earrings that I've beaded. (earrings not shown)

I invite you to leave a comment in order to enter my drawing. Please make sure I have a way to contact you by email should you be one of my winners. The event is open to active bloggers. The drawings will be held on February 17th. and I will notify the two winners by email and also post your names on my blog.

I encourage all of you to visit Lisa Swifka's website and participate in this year's event. It's a wonderful way to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances.

A Calmer Time

It has certainly been a long time since I've posted to my blog. Occasionally the necessities of life get in the way and it's difficult to resume the old practices. In April I had knee replacement surgery on the right knee. Although God truly blessed me with a quick recovery and an easy rehabilitation, the initial surgery was difficult on this "old body."

Last month I had my final cataract removed from the left eye. That's a quick and easy surgery and it's great to have improved vision. Enough about me, however, and more regarding the fun things.

November 3 -7 was the Houston International Quilt Festival and we were honored to have our WTWW ArtBras and wall hangings on exhibit. Quilts, Inc. did a remarkable job setting up the exhibit and their work was amazing. Our gratitude and heartfelt thanks for showcasing our art in such a wonderful manner.

It's always great seeing old friends and making new ones. I always look forward to representing CQMagOnline at the Festival and finding new tools and techniques for our art. I have some great articles for the upcoming issues and hope you will log on and take a look.

This is our 2010 Fan wall hanging assembled by Stephanie Novatski.
What an amazing job she did - it's an exquisite piece. Photos do not do justice to the beauty of this beautiful crazy quilt.

On the right is our 2009 Rose wall hanging. Each of our wall hangings are donated to a breast cancer center. This one will be donated to Methodist Hospital Breast Cancer Center in honor of Jan Campbell. You can see her ArtBra on the cover of our 2011 Calendar. Calendars can be ordered through the ArtBra website and we encourage you to support this very worthwhile cause.

WTWW 2011 ArtBra Calendar - A Work in Progress

Wow it's been a long time since I've posted. But I do have a good excuse and thought I would share. First let me tell you about Victoria Adams Brown, a dear friend and mentor. A number of years ago she started the WTWW Foundation and invited me to design an ArtBra for exhibition. I believe that was in 2004 and we are still going strong.

I've blogged a lot about my past designs but thought I would share with you my newest bra which I call " Chrysalis." It is inspired by three wonderful women who have experienced the ravages of breast cancer and turned it into a positive experience.

With each one I was reminded of the monarch butterfly and its life cycle. From the darkness of the cocoon (which can be likened to the months of surgery, rehabilitation and often times chemotherapy) emerges the beautiful butterfly. These women have emerged from their cocoon with a new beauty and grace both inside and out.

Brenda Wilson, Vic's sister, designed a beautiful butterfly which she kindly gave me permission to use in my designs. Brenda is a breast cancer survivor, spokesperson and advocate. The magnificent wings of the butterfly sit atop a body shaped like a pink ribbon bow - the well-known symbol for breast cancer. I have taken her beautiful design and re-created it with beads. I hope you will enjoy the photos of my progress.

Brooke Exley Long, owner of Hanah/Artemis Silks donated the beautiful shibori fabric that covers the bra. I've used Hanah silk ribbon to make the zinnias and burnished silk leaves.

The branch the cocoon hangs on is made with the Diva Custom Cordmaker designed and sold by Connie James, owner of Fibergoddess.

We are excited about introducing the 2011 ArtBra Calendar and hope that everyone will purchase a calendar to support this very worth while cause. The ArtBras and wall hangings will be on exhibit at the Houston International Quilt Festival this Fall.

I can't close without telling you about the two other women who have so inspired me. Jan Campbell was diagnosed with breast cancer almost a year ago. She was my first crazy quilt instructor, another wonderful mentor, and one of my dearest friends. She has designed her first ArtBra this year named "Are They Real?" You can see it on Vic's blog.

And last but certainly not least; Linda Cauble. I met Linda at the Houston Quilt Festival last year. Her story is amazing! She required a bone marrow transplant and her recovery was complicated by these issues. But what a beautiful lady she is. She is the owner of A Beaded Road and sells the most beautiful shawls.

Thanks for stopping by my blog - please visit often. I've linked all the websites so just move your cursor over the names and businesses. Don't forget to order your 2011 ArtBra Calendar. They make wonderful gifts.

Many Thanks

I had a wonderful time participating in the One World One Heart event hosted my Lisa Swifka of the Whimsical Bohemian. Thank you Lisa and to all who visited my blog and left comments. I hope you will visit often.

I can't tell you how excited I was when I received four emails saying I had won. It's hard to imagine actually being chosen four times but I am so thrilled. I want to thank the following bloggers:

Louise Little Tete A Tete Thank you Louise for the beautiful lampwork bead. I have received it and it is gorgeous.


Piece Alex emailed saying I had won this beautiful rose necklace. This will be another treasure since I love anything with roses. Thank you Alex!


Javableue & Cie Isn't this cabochon ring fabulous? I can't believe I won this beautiful gift as well.



Mana Moon Studios

This is a gorgeous beaded key chain and I am thrilled to have won this as well. This was indeed a good year for me and I cannot thank these wonderful bloggers enough.

I hope Lisa will repeat this event next year. I will definitely participate and offer more than one giveaway. It's fun to give and equally fun to receive. It definitely brightens the day to receive a beautiful surprise in the mail. My sister once told me when you receive surprises it's God's way of saying He loves you. This adds a special meaning to these special gifts.

Once again - thank you Lisa and many thanks to these four special bloggers.

The Winner Is.....................

I am so pleased to announce the winner of my OWOH giveaway: Marie from Art From My Heart. I have contacted Marie by email and will be mailing her gift as soon as I hear from her. Congratulations, Marie, I hope you will enjoy your gift.

I've had a great time riding the magic carpet and visiting bloggers from all over the world. What a wonderful vision Lisa had. Without this event I would never had the opportunity to meet so many talented and creative artists.

A special thanks to Lisa and to all who visited my blog and signed in. I hope you will visit often and keep in touch.