Mixed Media Metallics Exhibition & Auction!

Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, VA.  is opening this Saturday 18^th at 3:00 pm its latest art challenge exhibit called “Metallics”. The challenge requested submissions of 8" x 10" mixed media creations celebrating the shine of metallics.  

More than 90 entries were received including my “Metallic Owl”.

Many artists contributed their work to the silent auction with proceeds benefiting Food for Others. There are art quilts, collages, jewelry and more in a stunning range of styles, colors and techniques.  I already saw some of the pieces and they are amazing!  Exhibit closes February 8^th Don’t’ miss it!  To learn more go to www.ArtisticArtifacts.com/metallics.

T-Shirts Quilt for Luz

If you have a bunch of t-shirts and want your own keepsake too, give me a call 

or send me an email, I'll be happy to design one for you.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and many blessings to all of you in 2014!     Guess what? I did it! I finished this quilt before the end of the year!  With lots of love to my dear friend Luz who I admire for being a great mom and a very disciplined athlete.  This quilt is a keepsake made of t-shirts from all her triathlon and marathon races.     The first photo shows the entire quilt and the next two show my... 

The Eye of the Quilter: Flora and Fauna. Houston International Quilt Festival 2013.

This October/November the International Quilt Festival in Houston had again the juried exhibit called "Eye of the Quilter". The exhibit is about photos that inspire us as quilters.  This year's theme was "Flora and Fauna" and three of my photographs were accepted! The exhibit is going to be displayed again in Chicago in June 2014.

"Pink and Yellow"

"Translucent"

Here are my three photos and the photos of the exhibit that Sarah Entsminger just sent to me, thank you Sarah!

"Patience"

                                                      

Award Winning Quilt

I'm just recovering from the shock of excitement. I'm so happy to share with you the good news I got last Friday: My quilt called " In the day of the death: La Catrina de Jose Guadalupe Posada" won 3rd place at the International Expo Patchwork & Quilt Puebla 2013, in their contest themed "Mexican Traditional Holidays".

The quilt show was held at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla, Mexico, on September 26th to the 29th. Out of the 14 finalist quilts, mine received 3rd place and I won a Janome 7700 sewing machine! (Such a great coincidence because Suzzie's Quilt Shop in Manassas, where I am a formal quilting instructor, is a Janome distributor).

The top three quilts will be traveling to the International Quilt and Craft Festival in Ireland this coming June... isn't that great?     As I mentioned, the quilt show took place in Mexico...

My Love, My Accomplice And My Everything...

Quilt Portrait 13.5" x 12.5"

       How much does somebody’s life change after love is found? Mine changed A LOT! A new language, a new country, a whole new culture and a new religion! I feel that I still struggle with all these changes a little bit every day. 
But it is worth it.      Here’s a quilt of the love of my life. I meant to have it ready as an anniversary gift last August but, well, mine is a crazy busy life, you know…
I hand painted it after I printed on fabric (see more about the process in the next picture). 
The words I added in the bottom are a verse of Mario Bennedetti’s poem: “my love, my accomplice and my everything… “and that’s exactly what Michael is for me. Thanks Sweetheart for being part of my life. I love you.   Marisela.    

Two Baby Quilts.

My friends Ana and Miriam

Hope all of you had a great summer! I did - a long visit to Mexico seeing family and then a long visit by my sister and niece with us here in VA. Did I do a lot of quilting? Nope! but I did some.

Here the picture of two baby quilts that I was able to finish and deliver this summer. These quilts were for my friends Ana and Miriam, they are sisters and were pregnant at the same time.

The quilts were easy and really fun to make and you know how much I love to make baby quilts! I wrote the name of the babies entirely with free motion, I like it! Looks like embroidery don’t you think? I used the “Double Slice...

At Suzzie's Quilt Shop...

Today I was the featured speaker for the quilting club at Suzzie's Quilt Shop in Manassas, VA. I had a lot of fun! Thank you to the 37 ladies and the gentleman that came to hear me talk about Free Motion Quilting, Brain Hemispheres and my passion for quilts. It was great meeting all of you. I hope to see you again soon at the shop or at one of my classes. Thank you Susy for inviting me!

Quilters Unlimited Quilt Show 2013

Last weekend I went to the Quilters Unlimited Quilt Show 2013 in Chantilly, VA, and I really enjoyed it. There was a display of great quilts to feed my hungry eyes and lots of vendors (now I’m broke)!

The guild was founded 40 years ago. Annandale was the first chapter. This year I was able to volunteer at the annual quilt show as a “white-glove lady”. White Glove Ladies are the only people entrusted and allowed to actually touch the quilts during a show (in case someone asks to see the back of a quilt or wants to examine quilt’s details close up). This gave me the opportunity to see all the quilts closer, touch them, and talk about them with people who came to see the show. It was great!
 
And guess what? I was interviewed by The Voice of America (VOA) – multimedia US government broadcaster that broadcasts news and information about America to other countries in 43 languages. They asked me about how my quilting hobby has been transformed into a passion and I also showed my “Chocolate and Cherries” quilt which was displayed in the show as part of the “Whisper Quilts Challenge” from the Arlington chapter.
 
It really was a great show, so mark your calendar for next year May 30th - June 1st. For more information go to: www.quiltersunlimited.org

In Good and Bad...

Machine Pieced, Free Motion Quilting.  65"X 65"    Quilts by Marisela original design.

It took me a long time (almost two years, wow!) to finish this quilt.  It is for my dear friend Larissa who was here visiting in 2011.  She selected the fabrics and gave some ideas about the design. At the beginning it was going to be a set of placemats but when, just for fun, I put the pieces together on the floor, I saw how great they were for a lap quilt.  I love the fabric from the big busy border and to go according with it I made heavy fancy free motion in the red and brown inner borders -click on the detail picture.            So, this quilt is for a friend who is more like a sister, who has always been...

BIG BAGS

As we do every Friday, our EMA IS QUILTING group got together today. We were all tired of not having an easy way to carry our quilting stuff here and there, especially rulers, cutting mats and ironing stations that are hard to handle. In order to help us with this not so minor problem, Debbie taught us today how to make a big bag. And when I say a big bag, I really mean A BIG BAG, at least mine was the biggest!! We had tons of fun and all of us were actually able to finish our bags today!  You can see all the pictures on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/quiltsbymarisela  

Don't forget to click the LIKE button ok?

PS. Everybody is welcome to join us every Friday morning at Barcroft Bible Church, 9401 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Just stop by and join us for lots of Spanish, quilting, sewing and fun!

... They are so great that I couldn't resist and I made another BIG BAG over the weekend. I repurposed some jeans and added a pocket in the front... Do you like it?

"FRIDA MARIA"
Machine Pieced, Machine applique and my Trapunto Technique. All the quilting is Free Motion and the border was not marked! 52"x45"    Idea from the book "Cool Girls Quilt", That Patchwork Place 2007.  Author Linda Lum DeBono.  Page 67.

Frida Maria is a beautiful baby girl who was born on November 20th, 2011.  With a Mexican mom and a Canadian dad she has awesome expressive eyes.
I enjoyed making her quilt so much, and hopefully she will treasure it until she becomes an adult.  Can't wait to see her again; maybe this summer. She, my two boys, my niece and my nephew will have a playdate together in Mexico.

 -----------------------------

"A FLOWER FOR YOU"
Machine Pieced, Machine Applique, Trapunto, Free Motion Quilting.  60"X 60"
Quilts by Marisela original design.
 
 With lots of love to my aunt Maru and my uncle Tim.

 -----------------------------

"MY FIRST PINCUSHION"
 Not bad for my first pincushion, eh?  Do you like it?

 

-----------------------------------

A wall hanging for the baby's room. She is such a cute baby! 

Quilts by Marisela Original Design. 

---------------------------------------------------

Here's a nice present for my Mom. 

Quilts by Marisela with Artsi2 Quilt Boards. 

No sew quilt wall hanging. Foam Backing. 8"x12".  

------------------------------------------------

"Free Motion Quilting Workshop with Quilters Unlimited Annandale Chapter"

Just want to say Thank You to Anne and Nancy who invited me to give the class to the members of the QU Annandale Chapter  (http://www.quiltersunlimited.org). Thank you to all the attendees, too.
Joyce, Tory, Nancy, Dian, Marion, Nancy, Diane, Anne, Audrey, Elaine and Carolyn are the newest free motion quilters! I enjoyed the afternoon a lot and even learned some new things from you all, too. See you next meeting.

"My 2013 Commitment"

T-Shirts Memory Quilt.  Machine Pieced, Machine applique, Free Motion Quilting. 75"X 65"
Quilts by Marisela original design.

Susannah was a runner for many years.  A couple months ago, she gave her husband a number of t-shirts that she had worn in various races.  Since she wasn't going to use them anymore, she suggested he donate them.  Instead, Susannah's husband called me and asked me to make this quilt as her surprise Christmas present.  I hope she'll be delighted and touched as she opens the box on Christmas morning.  Notice, especially, the red logo in the center, The Steamtown Marathon 2006. He emphasized that he wanted it highlighted in the center of the quilt because this was the marathon where she qualified for the Olympics.

As I was making the quilt, several things came to mind.  First, what a thoughtful husband he is!  This is such a special Christmas present.  Then, I realized how much I...

.

"JUSTIN'S TRAIN"

Wall Hanging. Machine Pieced, Machine Applique, Free Motion Quilting.

Three different sizes: 10"x 10", 8"x 6.5" and 8"x 7.5".
Quilts by Marisela original design.

"BIRDS ON A WIRE"  

Wall Hanging. Project from the book "Quilts Made Modern" by Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr.

Machine Pieced, Machine Applique, Free Motion Quilting.  20" x 27"

----------

I can't bake, but I can make cupcakes!!!
QUILTS BY MARISELA with artsi2 Quilt Board.
No sew, quilt wall hanging. Foam Backing. 8"x12".

 

Clothes Line Bali Bag, with Aunties Two Pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

"OUT ON A LIMB"
Wall Hanging.  Picture Image Applique.

Textural Landscape Pattern from Wendy Butler Berns. 13"x16".

"FREE MOTION QUILTING CLASS"

Saturday was a great day. We began the class at 10:00 am sharp and by 1:30 pm all these girls were able to free motion quilt about 15 motifs including flowers, shells, leaves, rocks, spirals, feathers and more! They also learned how easy is to train your brain, wake up your creative side and reflect your creativity in your quilt. Meet the new free motion quilters: Linda, Yvonne, Anne, Carolyn, Clara, Bonnie, Mariana, Betty and Sandy. Congratulations! I loved working with all of you!
Smile and Quilt,
Marisela.

Free Motion Quilting...

Brain Training...

Great Results!

"My Stalker"

Machine Pieced, Machine Applique, Trapunto, Free Motion Quilting.  30"X 35"
Quilts by Marisela original design.

This spring I got a stalker.  He watched me almost every time I left or came home. One day I was lucky and I was able to shoot a great pic of him through my window. He's gone now and I miss him. Here is the quilt I made out of his picture.

By the way, my students in next Saturday's Free Motion Quilting class are going to be the first ones to see this quilt in person and learn how to quilt leaves plus many other motifs.

Detail

Photograph

"MY KID'S TABLE"

This is how my kid's table looks after a bunch of scraps and some Mod Podge. I love it!

 

Cardboard box + Fabric scraps + Mod Podge = Toy Box!

"OUR BABY WILL LOVE OWLS TOO"

Machine Pieced, Machine Applique, Free Motion Quilting.  30"X 35"
Quilts by Marisela original design.
Owls have a very special meaning for the mom and dad who received this baby quilt. They were delighted that theme was woven into the quilt in such a beautiful and fun manner.
I really enjoyed designing and customizing a meaningful and precious keepsake that will remain with their baby forever.

"OUR BABY WILL LOVE OWLS TOO" Detail

Quilts by Marisela invites you to visit the 

Fine Arts Summer Spotlight Exhibition

 in the Bodzin Gallery at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=28RGBX1xQRU

Among the featured items on display are three of my art quilts and quilting fabric necklaces. 

The special exhibition runs from June 19th - August 21st.

Visit JCCNV, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031. http://www.jccnv.org

Have a wonderful summer!

"FRIENDSHIP IS FOREVER"

Wall Hanging.  45"x16"
Project from "American Patchwork & and Quilting" magazine, issue 109.
Machine applique and hand embroidery by Mariana Gaviola, free motion quilting by Marisela Rumberg.

EMA IS QUILTING is the name of our Monday quilting group. E is for Spain (Espana), M is for Mexico and A is for Argentina: the three countries we are from.  Our meetings are now going to be online, because Carmen is returning to Spain this August.  As a surprise good-bye present, Mariana and I made this awesome quilt for her.  I wish you were there to see her face when she opened the bag! We know she really liked it.  We will miss you A LOT, Carmen. Keep quilting, and, as we said, we will see you in Spain very soon.

"FRIENDSHIP IS FOREVER"  Wall Hanging.  45"x16"
Project from the "American Patchwork & and Quilting" magazine, issue 109.
Machine applique and hand embroidery by Mariana Gaviola, free motion quilting by Marisela Rumberg.