Judy B. Dales ~ Quilt Maker

In just about a week I’m having a show of my work at the Lakeview Inn in Greensboro, Vermont. A champagne reception for” Curves Unleashed: Judy B. Dales’ Fiber Art” will be July 17 , 4:30 – 6:30 and the exhibit will be open Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 10 – 5.

Floral Forms II

This exhibit will be a benefit for the Greensboro Arts Alliance, a new organization that is bringing theatre productions and readings to our community. I will donate a percentage of any sales, the door donations and the proceeds of a silent auction to this fledgling organization.

Woman of Vision

The piece that is being auctioned off is Woman of Vision which is 34 x 34 inches. It features a woman’s silhouette and a glimpse into her mind. She is surrounded by various images of flora and fauna from our world and her concern for these things is symbolized by the teardrop shapes on the right. Her mind is whirling with concern and anxiety, but imbedded deeply within is the faint image of a dove holding an olive branch representing this woman’s strong wish for peace. The auction will start at the opening reception and will continue until 4:30 Sunday afternoon when the winner will be announced.

There will be more than two dozen quilts hanging and other smaller pieces on display, most of which are available for purchase. In addition there will be a new portfolio book for sale which features images and descriptions of nineteen quilts. I will be in attendance for the entire time and will be demonstrating some of my techniques, if time allows. I’m excited to be showing some new pieces for the first time and, as always, pleased to be sharing my work with friends, family and my community

The Lakeview Inn is a charming historic building here in my hometown that has recently been purchased and is now available for various functions. My work will be displayed in the larger public rooms. If you visit you will have the opportunity to enjoy the lovely gardens and Vermont Daylilies, a business situated at the rear of the property. If you come to the Champagne reception you could dine afterwards at the Highland Lodge which is just up the road (call for reservations: 802-533-7733) or at Claire’s, the new restaurant in Hardwick that is creating such a buzz. Highland Lodge is also famous for their excellent lunches and Brunch on Sunday! So, if you find yourself wandering around in the Northeast Kingdom, please come to the Lakeview. It is situated on Breezy Avenue which is the main street into Greensboro and should be easy to find.

When I said check back in a year, I wasn’t kidding. It’s actually only been six months, but here I am again. I’ve finished the round piece, which is now square (almost). I think it’s actually an inch wider than it is long. I’m very pleased with the piece.
The fabric that I chose to surround the circular part of the design is a decorator fabric that has been in my stash for a long time. It has a wonderful sheen and enough pattern to make a really great border. It was a bit sleezy and raveled a lot, but otherwise is perfect for the job.

The method I used to create the central portion of this quilt produces such wonderful results. I love the wispy color and the delicate nature of the design. I used slightly darker thread for the quilting which adds definition to the pieces but doesn’t alter the subtle affect of the color.

Moon Dreams, ©2009 Judy B. Dales

Whenever I finish a piece using this technique I always wonder why I don’t make more pieces in this style. I finally decided that the process is so intense and unpredictable that it scares me. I also realized that I avoid this technique because it is so difficult to find the transparent fabrics for the overlays. However, now that I have tried dying my own silk, chiffon and gauze, I will have an unlimited supply!

I used a photo of this quilt on the cover of my new book. This is a small portfolio book that I have self-published using www.blurb.com. You can see the book there, and buy it if you wish!

New book!!

The book was created to accompany the show I’m having in a few weeks . It contains photos and descriptions of 19 pieces, some older and a lot of new pieces. Click here if you would like to check it out: www.blurb.com

It was a new experience, working with blurb.com. I had a few frustrating moments at the beginning, but once I calmed down and took a deep breath, things improved. The program’s response time is not as fast as what I am used to. I suspect that is because it autosaves everything as you go along. It’s nice to know everything is saved, but I had to curb my impatience and give it time to do its thing. Once I got accustomed to the pace, I found the program easy to work with. I have yet to see the actual book, but it looks great on line.