I can do anything you can do....

OK--this seems to be the summer of putting one's thoughts into song. You know the dueling musical ads of Presidential politics. No, I won't go there. Yes, I have definite views which my astute readers have probably figured out but this is a blog about quilts.

Instead the song that has been going through my mind is the one from Annie Get Your Gun--you know where she sings "I can do anything you can do better" and ends with a triumphant "Yes, I can. Yes I can. Yes I can."

Great music to have running through your mind as I try to make a really long table runner using my thing piecing. One of those ideas that I had been dreaming of for years until finally at five one morning I figured out how to do it. And I decided I just had to see if my idea worked.

Just do it as another famous ad would say.

And that is what I did. "Yes, I can." "Yes I can." "Yes I can." If you know what I mean. Yes it is 80 inches long. What do you think?

It could also hang over a bed, couldn't it? Or a sofa.

 What do you think? Why do I get inspired just before a craft fair? Do come down to see me at the Guilford Craft Show if you are in the area. Of course now I want to sing that song from Peter Pan--you may remember the lyrics--"I got to crow."

Wordless "Wednesdays"

OK--I do know it is Friday and I also know that this post is not completely wordless. Me. At a loss for words. No, that is probably not going to happen. And what can I say, I did intend to post on Wednesday but....

After all it is summer. I have to rush out to my garden to see what is blooming. And when I get home from work I do confess it is just too hot to write a decent post. Besides, and this is actually the real reason, I just finished reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. Have you read it? I certainly couldn't put that book down--if you are hunting for a book for the summer.

Maybe I was inspired by Major Pettigrew to choose this fabric. Sure, it is geese not ducks. But still it seemed appropriate. (And if you don't get the reference you may just have to read the book.)

Yes, it should be another rolling hills. After all, one of my favorite galleries The People's Place Quilt Museum--has ordered a couple and I need to have a selection for the Guilford Craft Expo next week-end in Guilford, CT. So I found some co-ordinating fabric and began piecing. Don't you just love the subtlety of these colors?

And this is where it does get to be wordless for a while. What fun to see the patterns form as I make more blocks.

I sewed it together and hung it up. Not bad. Conveys the feeling of late autumn doesn't it? That particular type of day. A bit of chill in the air. The beauty of the subtle colors. The interest of the individual fabrics. Can't wait to show it at Guilford. Yes, I do have a couple other rolling hills for the gallery, of course. I always try to give them the best selection.

And you--have you read Major Pettigrew? What did you think? And now I have a favor to ask. I have finished Major Pettigrew. What else can I read with the same subtle humor and the complexity of characters? Any suggestions?

the quilts of Ann Brauer--it's hot out there

OK--it is officially summer. The weather outside is HOT HOT HOT. My daylilies have just started blooming and they look absolutely fabulous. The Bridge of Flowers is amazing this year with flowers overflowing the sides.   They have finished filming in Shelburne Falls. And I do now have an air conditioner in the studio so I can continue to get ready for the three craft shows I have scheduled this summer.

First I am pleased to announce that my quilt--prairie sky--was published in Machine Quilting Unlimited this month. Then July 19-22--that is Thursday through Sunday I will be at the Guilford Craft Expo on the Town Common in Guilford, CT. I have been doing this show for a number of years and think it is wonderful. Do note they have added Sunday hours again this year. There is lots of wonderful work there including the leather of my friends Dick and Dianne Muller and the amazing garments of Loraine Jackson. If you like to see great workmanship do check out the care she puts into her clothes. I will be previewing a lot of my new quilts with the very intense piecing so I hope many of you will be able to stop by and give me feedback.  We are all in Tent B--my booth number is B20. For more information check out http://www.artrider.com/Guilford11.html

Later in August I will be doing the Berkshire Craft Show at Monument Mountain HIgh School in Great Barrington, MA and then the American Craft Exposition in Evanston, IL. When I am not at a show I will be busy working--in air conditioned comfort if necessary--at my studio although do call first if you are coming from a distance.

And now for the quilt of the month. Another hard choice this month but I have chosen red sky. This quilt is 32 x 48" and normally sells for $820. I love this piece and indeed just pulled it out to show a customer but it looks so much so  like summer that for the next ten days--or until it is sold I will sell it for $600 plus shipping and any sales tax. You know the routine.

the quilts of Ann Brauer--June showers

Yes, it is June. That wonderful month when my garden begins bursting with color. Already the Siberian iris are amazing me with their soft complexity. A few daylilies have started to add their accents of yellow. And even the tomatoes and peas--yes, I do still plant a few veggies--are starting to bloom. Almost every morning I hurry up there with the excitement of discovering what is new and delightful and the purpose of keeping the weeds down to a mild roar--if you know what I mean.

The big news in my studio is that people whose opinion I respect are fascinated by some of the new quilts I have been trying in my "spare" time. Always fun to struggle with new ideas and see if I can bring them to fruition. The big news in town--and it is big news--is the movie. Yes, they are using Shelburne Falls as the backdrop for a major motion picture. So the crews are out there trying to transform our charming village back to the 1980's. Part of me says--what fun. Part of me will be really glad when it is over. But even during the process, Shelburne Falls is open for business and I am busy finishing orders--still--and of course pushing these news ideas. Do drop by and tell me what you think. I do want to hear your opinions on the new quilts. (Of course, if you are coming from a distance, please call or e-mail me first to be sure I am there.)

In July I will be doing the Guilford Craft Show in Guilford, CT. What a wonderful show in another charming town. Then August sees me at the Berkshire Craft Fair and The American Craft Exposition in Evanston--with no floods, hurricanes or other disasters this year I hope. So stay posted for more details.

And now for the quilt of the month. This time, in honor of my Siberian iris, I chose "may". Now I confess I love the colors of this quilt--blues and teals. There is a story here. A joyous quilt that celebrates the colors of spring in my opinion. It is 32 x 48" with Velcro for hanging. Normally it sells for $820 but for the next ten days or until sold I will sell it for $600 plus shipping and any applicable taxes. So if you want it, be the first to e-mail me.

Hope to see many of you soon. The quilt has been SOLD.

what to bring

Today I packed for the Guilford Craft Show this week-end. Set-up is tomorrow on the Town Green and the show opens on Thursday. But what to take?

Now I do know people who bring everything they have to a craft show. They travel in big vans--leave the vans packed between shows. This is what they do. Some of my friends from the West Coast just store their work on the East Coast. That makes sense for them.  But--as most of my readers know--I also sell work out of my studio. I don't want to pack and unpack everything after each show. It wouldn't be good for the quilts. It wouldn't fit in my Honda Odyssey. And it wouldn't be good for me--if you know what I mean. Besides  customers get confused if they have too much choice--have you noticed that? K.I.S.S. 

So what to do? How to decide? Now some of it is obvious. Of course I always want to bring my best work. There is no point in paying all this money and taking all this time not to show the very best I have. But lots of my quilts are great--if I do say so--and right now my stock is high. So let me think.
Guilford is along the ocean--have you ever been there--really a lovely little town. Upscale but charming.  I think light on the ocean should come with me.

A couple more pieces in blues. Midnight ocean will look great in my booth, don't you think?

I need some browns and tans. Wonder what people will think of desert solitaire. I just had it's picture taken. I am very curious to get reaction to this piece.

This show hasn't seen rainbows of summer. Definitely I will bring that. I try to remember what I brought to the last show in any venue so that my booth does not seem stale.

Ditto with blue hills--what a dynamic piece. Perfect for your beach house, don't you think?

I have a customer who wants to show her husband out of the mist. That's easy--I don't always bring that one but...

But I think I will leave first mountain at home--not a quilt for the ocean. Indeed the only interest I have had for that quilt is someone looking to add it to their Colorado ski cottage.

There are a few other quilts that will stay behind--the ones that I am still thinking about. Not quite complete in their ideas. Or work that has been seen in Guilford already. This is July--I don't want too much work in the colors of autumn--this is not the season for that.  I go through and try to create a collection. Add some smaller quilts that I think will sell. Not everything I make. Again I don't want my booth to look cluttered. But a selection. I hope I chose right.

And you--how do you choose what work to take? Do you take everything? What do you think?

So how do you

capturing the sky

 How do you capture the colors of my iris--the wonderful blues and purples. So dreamy but also with a definition. This one a Japanese iris--dirago star. Wonderful isn't it? So intense and varied in their subtlety. The colors of the sky. I sketch and resketch the quilt. A simple color progression of light to dark blues above a horizon of teal--or is it green? And then the focus--the "story" of the quilt. That square of fine strips of fabric that echoes the looser pieces of the quilt but makes the quilt pop.

This is new for me. I tried it once with desert solitaire and loved the effect. You can read about it HERE. Now I want to do it again and again. There is something here if only I can discover it. I can see it in my mind's eye but not sure how to realize it yet. Again I want the finely pieced square to echo the quilt with a color progression.

But first I tell myself to make what I know. I piece square after square of the quilt. I want blue with hints of purple. Just that bit of warmth. Not too busy. Just color gradually changing. How long this takes. I must see if the idea is working so I pin up a purple square--it seems a bit lost. Maybe it is because I still have to sew the top row of blocks?

Then I think. Look through the squares I have already pieced. Pillows not yet made. What about that rust-orange? Yes, I have made that top row--that also helps the quilt, doesn't it?

Color pops doesn't it? But the square is too high. The quilt looks like a study in geometry although it is hard to visualize with the blocks not sewn together. Let me lower it.

That looks better. But is it right? Aren't design boards great? What happens if I lower it further?

Yes much better. Amazing how small changes can make such a big difference, isn't it? But is this the right color? What about the lavender purple I had originally thought of?

So different that feeling is, isn't it?  So soft and subtle. Yes, that works doesn't it? One more color-- this yellow. Interesting.

Now the square isn't just going to be a solid block of color--it will go from dark to light just like the quilt. No idea how I will piece it into the quilt. First though to make the teal blocks--don't think that will change much. Then on to the square of color.

So what do you think? Lavender, rust or yellow? Will this quilt work? Can I get it done before the Guilford Craft Show next week-end?

oops I did it again

I have been hurrying so to finish the new quilt--have you ever done that? Working as hard as I can--totally concentrated and driven. Piece it and sew it together--I want to see the finished work now. I want to get it done before the Guilford Craft Show so customers can react to it. Then I look at it--half sewn together--the colors do not flow as I imagined. Was it really just my choice of fabrics?

Or maybe I sewed  a row on upside down. Could I really have been that stupid?  Ugh!!!

Now normally I carefully mark the top side of these long rows--but maybe the pin slipped out. It happens. Maybe in my haste I hadn't noticed. Sewing this quilt together is slightly different from my normal procedure because I want the lines of the solid color to be straight. Maybe that is where I made the mistake. It doesn't even matter now does it?

Nothing to do about it though but get out my seam ripper and pick away. UGH!!!! How securely I had sewn those seams. This takes forever. I must use care since I don't want to damage the quilt.  Then I flip the row over. Redo my work. Yes, that was the problem. Whew!!!

Finish the quilt.  Of course it take forever--well, a lot longer than anticipated. Interesting though. I am enchanted with that very thin line--is it a door? A crack in the earth? Not sure. Maybe the desert concentrated. But a story.

And isn't that what it's about anyway. Shouldn't art be telling a story--even if there are no words to the story? Even if it is not linear? What do you think?

the quilts of Ann Brauer--celebrating 30 years in business

Wow--can you believe it is July 1 already. How quickly time flies. We are having delightful early summer weather right now (knock on wood).  Enough rain that the Siberian iris were absolutely gorgeous in my garden this year. The Japanese iris and daylilies are just starting to bloom and promise quite a show--so many buds waiting to open. It is hard to anticipate the color that will occur. The peas have been plentiful--nothing like eating one's vegetable fresh from the vine. There are lots of little green tomatoes and soon the basil will be ready for pesto. What a summer treat. I do occasionally post pictures of my garden on Facebook if you are curious:
http://www.facebook.com/AnnBrauerQuiltStudio.

This July 1 also marks my thirtieth year in business--can you believe that? When I look back at this incredible journey, I get so thankful for all the wonderful people I have met along the way and the many adventures I have had. Maybe I will reminisce more later.  I still must admit though that my favorite quilt is the one I am working on right now--or maybe the one I just finished or plan to start. This is the way it is supposed to be, isn't it?

Meanwhile I will be showing my quilts this year at the Guilford Craft Show on the Town Common in Guilford CT July 14-17. Those who have been to the show know that it is a delightful location with lots of wonderful work under cheerful white tents. Outside but protected. I am in Booth B16. This year they have even added Sunday hours. So if you are in the area, I do hope you will plan to check it out. For further information you can visit their website http://www.guilfordartcenter.org/expo  In August I will be doing the Berkshire Craft Show at Monument Mountain High School in Great Barrington, MA and then the American Craft Exposition in Evanston, IL--but more on those shows next month.  I hope to be in the studio as much as possible when I am not doing these shows--but do call or e-mail me first if you are coming from a distance.

And now for the quilt of the month....I have decided that this months quilt will be November dawn. Again this quilt is 45 x45 inches. I love the colors in the piece--slightly out of the ordinary. Indeed I love this quilt but it is my 30th anniversary so I should give a gift to my loyal followers. The normal price is $1200 but for the next ten days only it is $600 plus tax and shipping of course.  Again there is only one of these quilts--it will be sold on a first come/first serve basis. On July 11 if the quilt is not sold, its price will return to $1200. So--if you are interested, please e-mail me.

Have a great summer--hope you are getting just the right amounts of rain and sun where you live.

And thanks so much for being there.

the quilts of Ann Brauer--it's May!!!

Suddenly it seems it is May. The snow is gone--finally. There is an energy here--I think of it as a time of preparation. Little green leaves on the trees. Peas peeking up in my garden in  somewhat straight rows. (My cats do "help" with the planting--oh well.)  I want to work in the bright blues of May. The yellows of forsythia. The tender greens of the lawn. And the purples of my lilacs. Every day seems new. Such excitement and hope at this time of year.

I have begun filling out my schedule of shows for the rest of the year with this same sense of excitement and hope. This summer I will be returning to three of my favorite shows--the Guilford Craft Show in July and the Berkshire Craft Show  and American Craft Expo in Evanston in August. I am so looking forward to all of them.  You can see the complete list of shows on my website at http://www.annbrauer.com  So I will be in the studio working to finish a few orders and make lots of new quilts and smaller accessories for these shows. 

It was rather obvious to me my quilt  may sun should be the quilt special of the month. This quilt was made as a sample way back in 2006. It is 48 x 48 inches and was originally priced at $1080. The colors in the image are not as true as they could be since I took the picture myself. There are bright blues, yellows and some greens. For this special the quilt is $500 plus tax and shipping. Just like in other specials this is offered on a first come/first serve basis. The offer will be withdrawn on May 10 so if you are interested please e-mail me directly.

One of the new items I have been working on is a new variation of my little purses. These are about 8 x 8 inches with a thin strap for hanging. The back is a solid pieced black. The purses are all cotton. I love the feel of the thin strips of cotton on the front and the intense and wonderful colors that I can create. Right now I have three different styles--a solid color, a color progression and purses with contrasting colors. What do you think? Which  works best? I would love to hear. The purses are $60 and there are a few more on my web site under small works.

Well, that's enough for now. I hope to see some of you in my studio. The Bridge of Flowers is lovely at this time of year.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. And do enjoy the season.

the quilts of Ann Brauer--April Fool's Day news

Hope all is well with you. As you may know I just finished doing a series of three craft shows--I  even got to meet several of you--how nice--but it does feel good to get home and start working on my orders and new quilts, My mind is spinning with new ideas and designs--I can hardly wait. Of course just as the snow drops began to bloom, Mother Nature decided to drop snow. Ugh--I didn't need that for April Fool's Day. Oh well, it is pretty and won't last long.

This will be a rather short news letter this time--the No Holds Barred Show at the New England Quilt Museum goes until April 6. The Salmon Falls Artisan Gallery is now re-open after some more renovations. If you make it to Shelburne Falls do visit my quilt "medieval views" which they have displayed in a wonderful and dramatic location. Spring really is coming--the Bridge of Flowers was supposed to open today--probably in a day or so--and of course you can visit my studio if I am there (do call first as I am planning a couple of home visits to discuss custom orders.) In July I will be doing the Guilford Craft Expo on the Town Common in Guilford, CT. This year the show will run from July 14-17 as they have added Sunday for the show. Another fun show that I am looking forward to.

Meanwhile after much thought I decided that the April quilt will be "endless sky" Now I love this quilt--it is 45 x45 inches. Cotton, cotton batting--machine pieced and quilted using my usual quilt-as-you go method.  I made it a couple of years ago. The regular price of "endless sky" is $1200 but for the next ten days it will be $500 plus shipping and taxes. Obviously this is a first come/first serve offer so if you are interested do e-mail me. Another quilt will be posted in May. The quilt is SOLD.

And for those interested in smaller items--I have redesigned my eyeglass cases slightly using the very thin strips of fabric similar to what I am using for the pillows. The eyeglass cases are still $20. I have made a few other color combinations since I took this picture. They are fun to do--and I may also make some for cell phones--what do you think?

Thanks so much for reading. I do hope to see many of you soon.