Color Stripes blog

I am frequently hunting for fresh ideas, fascinated by color, and I stumbled across a great blog today – look at Color Stripes – an interior designer artist’s inspiration and color palettes. http://color-stripes.blogspot.com/

May your celebration be from the heart!

I love these two pieced Log Cabin Christmas tree quilts, both made by my dear friend Darlene Shubert in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. The pattern is the same – one is homey and comforting in red, tan and forest green. The other has more of a victorian flair with the sparkle of tissue lame and “found” bits of un-used jewelry, pins, and single earrings. Original pattern designer (if other than Darlene) is unknown.

Our dogs are loveable and rambunctious pests at the same time! The two larger dogs, Whiskey and Horatio came with Dan when he moved back from Reno. Duncan, the blonde cocker spaniel has been with us for 10 years. They love the activity of holidays – food, presents, great smells, people coming and going.

Quilt Studio Sewing Christmas tree

Ok, this tree can’t actually sew!   The ornaments are sewing related.

• Collect several small spools of brightly colored thread.
• Make a loop from colored cord, adding a knot to tie the ends together.
• Slip the loop through the spool, and hang them from the branches!
• Purchase several mini sewing kits with the tiny spools of thread, tiny travel scissors and mini pin cushion.
• Use hot glue to join the sewing components together. Add a colorful cord or ribbon loop hanger.
• Tie a ribbon through tiny embroidery scissors, small rotary cutters, various sewing tools.
• Create a spool of thread ornament, topped with a gathered lace circlet and an inexpensive thimble. Hot glue the components together, and hang with a ribbon loop.
• Keep your eye open for cute sewing ornaments – tiny sewing machines, little mice with thimbles, needlework ornaments.
• Create your own stitched Temari Ball ornaments. I made these in the late 1970’s while living in Japan.
• Save or create your own fabric postcards to celebrate the season!

I loved this quilt the moment I laid eyes on it – also purchased at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, 2006 – it has been beautifully hand quilted. The fabrics are worn, many of them splitting apart. I only display this treasured quilt during the Christmas season due to its fragile nature.

Antique Broken Star

hand quilting detail, antique Broken Star

Quilt display idea

This lovely old Broken Star quilt was purchased in Sisters, Oregon (2006). It has been well-used, and the fabrics speak of bygone eras. Quilter’s identity, location and date unknown.

Antique multi Broken Stars quilt

One block from the antique star quilt

When we were children, we used to make a craft with yarn and sticks, known as a “God’s Eye”.

I was researching the craft this week and stumbled onto an amazing web site called “Ojos de Dios” featuring the beautiful original designs by artist Jay Mohler. Do visit his site and drop him a note! I have added Jay’s blog to the links list, on the left.

Ojo de Dios artist, Jay Mohler

Wildflower Dance mandala

Ami Simms is a fellow quilt teacher and a very funny lady. She has been nursing her mother through Alzheimer’s care for the past few years, and founded the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative to raise funds for Alzheimer’ research.

Here’s a link to Ami’s blog where she just posted a heartfelt note about her Mom’s passing. There’s a wonderful photo of smiling Beebe……and you can see where Ami got her wonderful positive nature.

http://amisimms.wordpress.com/ Beebe, you will be missed!

[message sent by e-mail on Tuesday, Dec. 2]

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season! The Krentz family was home for Thanksgiving, and we all spent time in the kitchen throughout the day. Our son Ryan prepared a brined turkey, and placed fresh herbs under the skin – it was absolutely delicious!

It has been a wonderful whirl-wind quilting year – meeting new friends and catching up with dear friends from past workshops and events.

Lone Star DVD

“Jan Krentz Teaches You to Make Lone Star Quilts” DVD. If you haven’t seen it yet, I hope you’ll get the opportunity! The DVD is just like taking a private workshop with me on the Lone Star Basics – right in your own home! Treat yourself, or ask your loved ones to order a copy for your Christmas stocking!

Have you read any good BLOGS lately? (You are reading one now!)

BLOG – Short for “web log”, a Blog is an online journal, updated regularly. Beginning this summer I have written entries on my blog from a family cruise, teaching trips to interesting places, quilt shops, and photos from various parts of the world. Please check in with me from time to time on my blog!

In the coming year I hope you will join me for a CRUISE!  The cruise directors are waiting to take your reservation for these wonderful workshop cruises. I am teaching 2 brand new workshops from my next book, Quick Star Quilts (due out in February ’09):

Fondly, Jan

I had the pleasure of teaching the South Bay Quilter’s Guild workshop in Luella’s Quilt Basket classroom. What a great shop! Visit Luella and her staff when you’re in the South Bay area! The shop is easy to find at 1512 Aviation Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA – just watch for the huge quilt blocks painted on the building!