Quilting the Map of Oz

Emerald City: greens -- check. Winkie Country: yellows -- check. Munchkin Country, Quadling Country, Gillikin Country: blues, reds, purples -- check, check, check. One gigantic quilt for the backdrop for the play - Check it out!

This summer I adapted the book The Lost Princess of Oz into a play for daVinci Arts Middle School. The Lost Princess is one of my favorite Oz books; Patchwork Girl of Oz is a close second. I worked with a friend of mine, who is the school's costume designer and show director, to help shape the play into a fun performance piece for the students. During our working coffees she talked about making a Map of Oz quilt for the backdrop of the play. I loved the idea and offered to quilt it for her when she got the top put together.

For you Ozites out there, the map of Oz first appeared on a glass slide for L. Frank Baum's traveling show, Fairylogue and Radio Play. When it landed on the pages of the Oz books, it was illustrated in reverse: West to the right and East to the left. There is speculation that the glass slide was reversed, which led to the switch.

When the quilt top was finished it was 170" long and 118" wide. I called up a friend of mine, Jolene who just opened her long arm business, Good Knight Quilts this summer. She wasn't sure it would fit on her set-up, but she was willing to try and also willing to let me drive her Gammill! I was so excited to get to work on a long arm machine and Jolene was super generous to give up an afternoon (six hours, to be exact!) to help with the quilt.

The show opened last night and it was a blast! The kids were brilliant and the quilt looked amazing. Such a fun and rewarding project. My daughter Lili was cast as Scraps and I got to make her funny bloomers. She loves being the crazy Patchwork Girl and I am super proud of her. (Mushy mommy moment, but that's the way I roll!)

I also hand lettered this sign for the Truth Pond. I went to see Faythe Levine talk about her new book and documentary, Sign Painters, and was inspired to paint the sign by hand. Not too shabby for 'winging it!'
If you are in Portland and have young kids come and see the show! It runs this weekend and next, Shows at 7pm Friday and Saturday and a 2pm matinee on Saturday. Let me know if you are going to be there so I can be sure to say 'hi!'

Stitch Gifts + Travel Trio = Yay!

Happy Happy Joy joy! I have a new project to share in the new Stitch Gifts magazine! Can you tell I'm excited? This is my second project for Stitch (my Go-Retro Wool Quilt was in the Winter Wool Issue). I love this magazine and I am still pinching myself that my project is in it!

I didn't even take the time to take a nice photo of the cover -- the issue was sitting on Julie's desk at the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store. She could barely get the words 'I got the Stitch Gifts Mag ---' out before I grabbed it and turned to the page she had marked with a yellow sticky note! The best surprise? My project shares the spotlight with a darling embellished cardigan sweater project designed by Susan Beal!

Susan has two projects in this issue. I'm tempted to post the other one, but I think I'll wait because I don't want to completely steal her thunder. I will say that I have to make it because it is super pretty and will be great for the holidays!

So, my Travel Trio, an easy drawstring bag, tissue case and portfolio, were inspired by wanting something useful and fun to take with me when I travel. I go to Washington DC a few times a year and I have been thinking about a way to organize my travel swag for a while now. I wanted something that I could slip into my purse or computer case that would be easy to find, stylish and have room for everything I tend to collect when I'm on the road. Since my last project for Stitch was vintage-inspired I thought I'd stick with that theme.

I created a tea towels Pinterest board when I was searching for the perfect Vintage towels for this project. This made it easy to communicate with the editor and it was easy to see what would work together as a collection. Don't worry, I didn't buy them all so you can hop over there and shop away!

There are some amazing projects in this issue. I can't wait to make some of them. If any of you do make the travel trio please let me know and tell me where I can see photos of them! I think everyone in my family now knows what I will be making them for their holiday gifts... I can't wait to pick out special tea towels for all of them!

PS I did all the illustrations for the instructions too. I am just as excited to see those in print. Most of my illustrations usually go to factories. But mums the word - I will have some in a book coming out this spring. Stay tuned!