Colored Computer

Colored Computer - This refers to African American women mathematicians employed by NASA in the 1950's and 60's before the age of machine computers.  They did all the calculations manually, which sent our first astronauts into space.  These women did amazing work, all the while burdened by Jim Crow laws in Virginia.  They are the brave, strong, smart women lauded in the current film "Hidden Figures." 

17"x19" 

completed on Feb 13, 2017

This is fused applique using a pack of bright fat quarters from Timeless Treasures Dash Basic, which I just happened to win at a quilt guild meeting last weekend, and machine quilted with some 'hand-me-down' variegated thread from my friend, Teri Lucas!  

This quilt is made for Project Quilting Season 8 - week 4 with the theme: Brighter the Better.   I just saw the film "Hidden Figures" a few days ago, and knew I wanted to play with the phrase colored computers, because it is shocking,  this challenge encouraged me to get to this right away.  I've quilted the names of a few of the smart women around the border:  Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson, Eunice Smith, Kathryn Peddrew, Sue Wilder, Mary Johnson.   Here is more information about this group of women from an article in Smithsonian. 

Since I was also a computer programmer in the early days  (I started in 1980) and a self proclaimed "math girl", I'm drawn to stories of smart women, especially in the analytical sciences.  The amazing contributions of this group of women who were up against incredible odds inspired me.  

Peace.

Step Away from the Edge of the Platform

Step Away - The train platforms have a textured strip to warn people about the edge.  As each train approaches, there is an announcement: "Step away from the edge of the platform."

3"x2"   (yes.. inches)

completed on Feb 4, 2017

This very small quilt is made for Project Quilting Season 8 - week 3 with the theme: Texture.   My friend Adva, in California, was talking about being inspired by the raised dots at the curb in front of a store  (here is her quilt called "Bumpy" )   I took this picture, because its similar, but on the train platform in New York City:

I then remembered that I had this variegated thread that looked 'dirty' like the yellow raised dots in the photo:

I started with rows of French knots - and eventually decided to add the shoe tips, to give a sense of where these dots live 'in the wild'.  Once I added a female and male set of shoes, I decided to comment about following rules (regarding standing behind the yellow edge) and following the requests regarding personal space.  One set of shoes tests the edge rules.

Peace  

Kimberly's Squirrel and Adva's Fox

My friends Kimberly and Adva live on different sides of our country, and we are all in different states.  They are always there to share pictures of our latest projects, get a quick bit of advice, listen to a kvetch about some daily annoyance, participate in a long online chat, or pick up where we left off on a sustained conversation about real issues that we may be dealing with.

So when I was packing for a week long vacation, and knew I had to take some hand work with me, I found coloring-book images of their spirit animals (Kimberly: squirrels; Adva: foxes), and some squirrely/foxy colored embroidery floss, and flew off to Punta Cana!





My daily beach or pool packing included a book, and my stitching.  I used the coloring book images as a general guide for outlines, but then I filled in with my own stitches and colors.  Here is the Squirrel in progress, on a pool towel:

When I got home, I machine quilted squirrely words in the background, and then bound the little quilts.   Here is the completed Squirrel: 

So when I wasn't doing THIS:

I was working on this  (close up of Fox) 

Here is the final fox piece,  quilted with fox words

Because we live so far away from each other, we are not often in the same place IRL, so I can't find a picture of the three of us together  (opportunity coming in April!)  You are just going to have to take my word for it, Kimberly and Adva ARE * Adorable.  Lots of love!

Peace.

Repeal HB2 - in solidarity with North Carolina Lily

Repeal HB2 - In solidarity with North Carolina transgender individuals who are endangered by HB2 - requiring them to use the restroom that matches the gender on their birth certificate

20"x20"

completed on Jan 21, 2017

This quilt is made for Project Quilting Season 8 - week 2 with the theme: Carolina Lily.  I knew that I was not particular inspired by the traditional Carolina Lily Quilt block - even though so many other quilts made for the challenge did some wonderful things with this design:

nor by the flower Carolina Lily - although this is where I drew the main orange color of my quilt:

I knew about the controversial "bathroom bill" in North Carolina, so I did some research for transgender individuals in North Carolina and found Lily, Gavin, Trinity and many others who are part of the #WeAreNotThis movement, to repeal HB2 (House Bill 2)

The large letters are created using the paper pieced alphabet by Hunters Design Studio.   Although I reached out to the individual I found in news articles about HB2, Lily did not want me to use her actual face nor name (which I honor) so this is simply female face clip art, meant to represent any transgender individual.  The male and female bathroom icons are the battleground of this movement, placed on the rainbow of colors used by the LGBTQ movement.

I can't imagine how it makes sense that an individual who presents as female would be required to use a male restroom.  The danger we are putting that person in seems obvious.  I understand the fear about sexual predators in female restrooms, (I'm a woman,  I have daughters)  but this comes at the hands of men seeking to overpower women.  I don't know of a single instance where this occurred by a transgender woman.

I'm an ally.

Peace  

Dear Mr. President, Thank you for 8 years

Dear Mr. President, Thank you for 8 years of dignity, hope, intelligence, respect, Michelle, Concern, open-mindedness, perspective, ...
12"x11"
completed on Jan 8, 2017

UPDATE 2022: this piece was accepted as a donation to the Obama Presidential Center  

This quilt is made for Project Quilting Season 8 - week 1 with the theme: "8 is Great".  My thoughts were with our outgoing President, and our grim predictions for the incoming president in January 2017.  

Of course, this started with the Shepard Fairey "HOPE" Poster

I traced off the major shapes,

Then I traced the outline onto the red/blue background  (its a little hard to see the drawing there) 

I started my stitching, and discovered that I was going to have to fill in the shapes quite densely to get them to 'read' the different color.

 Here is a picture of the back once I was done, which I post here only because it will never be seen again:

I was glad to be indoors working on this piece, because we had a bit of snow this week:

I've been developing this style of dense embroidery for a few years, and I still have some work to do in this style.  I really enjoy it.  I also like commenting on political/social current events, or any sort of research I've been doing, or books I'm reading or plays I've seen.

I, like many in my blue state, and among my liberal friends, am very anxious about changes in our national culture in the coming months and years. I'm so grateful for these past 8 years, and Obama's efforts to move us towards a more inclusive 'normal'.

Peace  

Paula 

2022 UPDATE:  The Obama Presidential Center opened submissions for artifacts that celebrate the presidential years.  I entered this piece and was later invited to send it in to the curatorial offices in Chicago.  I hope it is one day on display (or in rotation for display) when the center opens. 

  

Dan and Anne Marie's Wedding Quilt - September 2016

Wedding Quilt for cousins Dan and Anne Marie Rovere

I worked with Dan and Anne Marie on creating a wedding quilt they wanted! We started with my usual process of looking at quilt images online.  They wanted blue and purple, they liked a lighter center, and when we found a quilt image, they liked everything about it. Luckily, its available online as a tutorial video from 3 Dudes Quilting, so I watched that a few times, then dug in.

I purchased some beautiful batiks while on a sewing trip to Annapolis, MD with some pals,

then I learned this interesting technique for making this quilt, which includes, creating strata, cutting squares, layering those squares right sides together and sewing all around the block,  cutting on both diagonals and opening up to these fun blocks. 

I started laying out the blocks on my "design floor"

Once the quilt top was all put together, I created the back this the leftovers and some other fabric from my "collection":  

Then I did something I had been wanting to learn, I went with pal Kimberly to a quilt shop in Burlington NJ to learn how to use their big Long Arm quilting machines.  After a long lesson, we made reservations on the machines for our own projects, and I was able to get this big quilt ALL quilted in one afternoon!

 I added a hand made label on the back

This quilt is full of love for these wonderful cousins,

Best wishes for a long and happy marriage

Peace

Micah's Bar Mitzvah Quilt - August 2016

"Cousin" Micah Frank, wrapped in his Bar Mitzvah gift,  August 2016

64"x80"

Micah is the son of Abbie and Mark Frank, St. Louis, MO.  Although not 'actually' related, we have always considered Abbie one of the cousins, and when she married Mark, he was a lovely addition to the family.  Of course, Micah's birth and inclusion as a cousin was a given. 

The year before Micah's Bar Mitzvah, I started working with him via FB Messenger to discover what he might like as a quilt.  He was pretty clear:  The colors should be orange and blue of his favorite soccer team:   The Netherlands                        

In terms of design, Micah wanted  "something modernish with orange"  to which Abbie added "...whatever the heck that means!!"   but I understood him, and started hunting down some possibilities.

I gave him some options, then got more details from a young man who understands design!  In messages from his mother:   "He said he likes something, "modern...not a white background but if all the squares were together that would be amazing!" He said no random shapes placed here and there...he wants something that goes together. So he says his style is modern, orange, squares and rectangles without a white background. Make much sense?!"  

In fact, yes, it made perfect sense.   After posting many possible quilt images, he decided he liked this one:  (not the colors, just the pattern - I LOVED that he could separate color from pattern)  

 

Those are pretty basic square shapes, so I drafted up the 4 basic blocks  and decided on a size, then off to the fabric store.  Based on his soccer team images, these are start of my fabric collection for this quilt:   I added some lighter blue, and lighter and darker orange, then got to stitching.

Here is the finished top and back:

I sent it off to my friend Janet Mease at SLO Creative Studio for all over quilting with a soccer ball theme, and then hand stitched a label 

I think he likes it!

By the way, his Bar Mitzvah service was beautiful and meaningful.  I remember the Rabbi from his parent's wedding; she is inspirational.

Micah:  may your life be a blessing always.

Peace.