Quiltangles, An Art Quilts Exhibit.

I am looking forward to seeing you here:

Interview with Susan Carlson

“Cut loose and let go” are the words Susan Carlson signed to me when I bought her book. I met her this past Saturday at the Quilters Unlimited of NoVa quilt show and I am really happy to say that now I have new friend. You know how the “first impression is very important”? Well, I could tell immediately what a sweet person she is when I approached her by asking if we could take a selfie and she didn’t hesitate to say yes with a smile. 

“Corta relajado y dejate llevar” son las palabras que Susan Carlson me firmo cuando compre su libro.  La conoci el Sabado pasado en el quilt show de Quilters Unlimited del Norte de Virginia y me da mucho gusto decir que ahora tengo una nueva amiga.  Ya saben que “la primera impresion jamas se olvida”,y de inmediato pude ver lo dulce que es cuando me acerque a preguntarle si podiamos tomarnos una selfie y accedio con una sonrisa.

Her lecture was great. She is not only an amazing artist but also an engaging and very good speaker: a couple of technical difficulties couldn’t distract her; she kept her composure and handled it perfectly. Her collage quilts are just amazing.  She must have been reading my mind because as I thought to myself, “How did she develop that unique technique?” she answered the question in her presentation.  She also explained how her method has evolved since she was a student and inspired me when she said, “...it all began when I asked myself, ‘Let’s see what happens if…’”  Well, many amazing things have happened and her work has to be seen to be believed! (https://www.susancarlson.com/)

Su conferencia estuvo genial. No solo es una gran artista sino tambien muy buena hablando: un par de dificultades tecnicas no la desconcentraron y mantuvo el control perfectamente.  Sus quilts de collage son maravillosos. Seguro me leyo la mente cuando pense “Como le hizo para desarrollar esa técnica unica?” porque contesto mi pregunta durante la presentacion. Tambien explico como su metodo ha evolucionado desde que era una estudiante y me inspiro muchisimo cuando dijo “todo comenzo cuando me pregunte a mi misma ‘vamos a ver que pasa si…’”  Pues muchas cosas sorprendentes han pasado y su trabajo tienes que verlo para creerlo! 
(https://www.susancarlson.com/)

The next morning I asked her for an interview. Of course, she said yes with a smile again and when we were done we were even talking about our families, her husband who is learning Spanish and how amazing the quilting world is that lets us meet wonderful people and be in great places.  As I said, she is a sweet person and now I have new friend.  So, here is Susan Carlson, I hope you like the interview:

 

La manana siguiente le pregunte si podia entrevistarla.  Desde luego accedio nuevamente con una sonrisa y cuando terminamos ya estabamos hablando de nuestras familias, de su esposo que esta aprendiendo Espanol y de que increible es el mundo del quilting que te lleva a conocer gente mara villosa y a estar varios lugares.  Como dije, es una persona super dulce y se que ahora tengo una nueva amiga.  Asi que aqui esta, la entrevista con Susan Carlson, espero que les guste:

"Princess Nicte-Ha" a Mayan Legend.

The foundation of Mayan culture is its legends: magical stories of creation, art, gods and beliefs. 

This quilt is inspired by the Legend of Chechen and Chaca. 

Two brave Mayan warriors, brothers named Kinich and Tizic, tragically fell in love with the same woman, the beautiful princess Nicte-Ha.   Kinich, the younger brother, was kind and merciful while Tizic’s heart was filled with hate and anger.  The brothers fought over Nicte-Ha until both were mortally wounded, dying in each other’s arms.  The Mayan tribe was in sorrow for a long time.

In the afterlife, the warriors realized they would never to see their beautiful princess again and begged the gods for forgiveness, to return them to the world of living so they could see their beloved.

The gods granted the warriors’ wish in a fashion: they were brought back as trees. Tizic became the Chechen tree whose black sap is poison that burns the skin of anyone who touches it. Kinich was brought back as the Chaca tree whose sweet nectar neutralizes the poison of the Chechen tree.

Nicte-Ha died of sadness when she learned of the death of the two brothers.  The gods took pity on her and brought her back to the living world as the white Nicte-Ha flowers that grow on water.

Today, when you walk through the Mayan jungle, you can find the Chechen and Chaca trees always growing together; and always close to them, floating on water, the beautiful Nicte-Ha flowers.

 Los cimientos de la cultura Maya son sus leyendas –relatos magicos en los que se basa su creacion, arte, deidades y creencias.  

Este quilt esta inspirando en la leyenda del Chechen y Chaca:Dos hermanos, valientes guerreros, Kinich y Tizic, se enamoraron de la misma mujer: la hermosa princesa Nicte-Ha.  Kinich era amable, bueno y respetado, mientras que Tizic era temido y feroz. La calidez del alma de la princesa cautivo a Kinich y conmovio el corazon de Tizic pero ambos pelearon por ella hasta la muerte. El pueblo Maya se vistio de luto por la tragica perdida de los guerreros.

En el otro mundo, Kinich y Tizic se arrepintieron de sus actos al darse cuenta de que habian perdido para siempre a su amada doncella y rogaron a los dioses el poder verla una vez mas. A su manera, los dioses lo concedieron. Tizic fue convertido en un árbol de Chechén, su malvada alma aun ocasionando problemas, pues  la savia negra del Chechén quema la piel de todo aquel que lo toca. Para enmendar el daño ocasionado por su hermano, Kinich fue transformado en Chacá, un árbol cuya savia cura y reconforta las heridas del Chechén.

La princesa Nicté-Ha murio de tristeza al enterarse de la  muerte de los dos hermanos. Los dioses fueron bondadosos con ella y la convirtieron en una hermosa flor blanca que crece en el agua.

Al dia de hoy, al caminar por la selva Maya, siempre encontraras los arboles de Chechen y Chaca creciendo juntos y no muy lejos, flotando en agua, hermosas flores Nicte-Ha.  

 

Sacred Threads Exhibit 2015

Here are some of the wonders I saw!     -----  Aqui algunas de las maravillas que vi en esta exhibicion!

"Egret" by Lynne M Lanning.

 

"Hope" by Sandy Curran.

Click  READ MORE... to see more pictures.

ZENTANGLE QUILTS

I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher

Created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas "Zentangle is an easy-to-learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It's a fascinating art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity, and provides artistic satisfaction".
Come join me in this workshop where I will teach you how to translate the previous definition into stitches to create a unique art quilt.

ZENTANGLE QUILTS Workshop
Sunday October 11th  12:30am-4:00pm and Tuesday November 10th, 2015.  
10:00am-2:00pm at Marisela's Studio

 Click here for the complete list of classes and know about how to register.

T- SHIRT QUILTS

T-SHIRT QUILT Workshop 

Friday, February 12th & 19th, 2016. 10:00am-1:30pm at Workhouse Arts Center

Click here for the complete list of classes and know about how to register.

Trying New Techniques.

Quilts by Marisela original design. 17"x14".
Trying a new technique is the same as moving out of your comfort zone. For me, sometimes it is fun but other times it is hard and even a bit frustrating. I finished the first quilt over the weekend. There is no piecing at all - every little piece of fabric was just fused over a muslin base (and while working on it I realized that's why I was getting frustrated). Then, using fabric crayons and pencils, I hand painted the flower (that was the fun part). I also used my Trapunto technique for the 3D effect and lots of free motion quilting. 
I liked the result so tried everything again int he second quilt.

FREE MOTION QUILTING

Learn to quilt your tops with more than straight lines!   Flowers, spirals, leaves, rocks, hearts, feathers and more!  I love Free Motion Quilting and I'm happy to share my method with you.  I guarantee you won't be scared anymore and you will start enjoying it as much as I do!   You will see how easy is to train your brain, wake up your creative side and reflect your creativity in your quilt. 

Free Motion Quilting is Brain Training. © 2013

FREE MOTION QUILTING 1   
Thursday, September 24th, 2015.  
12:30pm - 3:30pm  
at  Marisela's Studio

FREE MOTION QUILTING 2 
Thursday, October 24th, 2015 10:30am-1:30pm  
at  The Quilters Studio

QUILT YOUR OWN QUILTS  
(The first part of this workshop is Walking Foot Quilting, the second part Free Motion Quilting) 
Saturday, (2 Sessions) September 26th and 27th, 2015.  10:00am- 1:00pm at Workhouse Arts Center
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Saturday, November 14th, 2015. 10:00am-5:00pm at Virginia Consortium of Quilters 

Click here for the complete list of classes and know about how to register.

WHIMSICAL TREES

"Strings"

For this quilt, over a piece of muslin I just placed and arranged lots of yarn, different kinds of thread, DMC, and angelina fibers. Covered with a layer of tule and quilted it. It was fun!
Quilts by Marisela original design.

Left: This is a mini quilt (6"x7") I made using a piece of white silk. It's a whole cloth quilt. I painted it with ink, did My Trapunto Technique in the top green area and added Free Motion Quilting. The two birds are charms. Quilts by Marisela original design.

Right:  Another mini quilt also made of Silk. (I actually cut out a blouse to get the scrap of silk!) The petals of the flowers were made using a stencil and ink with Aloe Vera. Free Motion Quilting and beads. Quilts by Marisela original design.

"Watercolor"

"Silk"

"Thread Painting"

Above:  I cut out the top of a tree I made at a recent class I took and incorporated it into my own design.

T-Shirt Quilt for Kelly.

Kelly found me online and trusted me to make this keepsake out of her college memories. I never met her before but as soon as we saw each other we made a nice connection. I'm glad I have a new friend now and that she liked her quilt as much as I did.

Notice how I placed the 4 little squares in the quilt. Those were in the sleeve of the t-shirts. After I finished the top I machine applique those. They give a nice and original look to the design, don't you think?. You can use the same technique with batches or any other small motif. 

Handmade with love by Marisela. Walking Foot and Free Motion Quilting. Low loft batting, Cotton T-Shirts and batiks. 

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A SAMPLE QUILT I LOVE

Here it is! My sample for the T-Shirt Quilt class that I’ll be teaching this fall at The Quilters Studio in Fairfax. You all know that I don’t like to make quilts when there are not feelings or a meaning involved in it, so when Kathye Gillette asked me for a sample it was a bit of a challenge. I knew I wanted a girl’s quilt but I have only boys at home so, “What to do?”

First, I asked some close friends with little girls to give me a piece of their clothes. Then, I used some of my clothes (the lobster in the bottom left) and finally I found some others at yard sales (inspiration is everywhere!) It wasn't the way I usually get shirts for a t-shirt quilt but collecting them this way was fun.

The picture I took of the quilt is 

QUILTS FOR THE NEW BABIES.

Grandpa Steve asked me to make a quilt for the first grandchild in his family.
This quilt is an enlarged traditional quilt block. 46" x 46"  Walking Foot and Free Motion quilting.
Handmade with love by MARISELA.
 

To get this note in the mail today draw a giant smile in my face. It's really nice when people appreciate the love and effort we put on each quilt we make, Don't you agree?

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Remember the Owls Quilt I made two years ago for Vicky? (See it here).
The baby who got that quilt has a little sister and Vicky is now a proud grandma of two beautiful girls.  Go to my You Tube channel to see the videos with the process on how I made this quilt.
45" x 38" Walking Foot and Free Motion quilting. Handmade with love by MARISELA.

HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL 2014. The first impression is the most important.

FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE QUILT EN HOUSTON.  
La primera impresion, jamas se olvida.

I am still on such a high from the festival that even though I returned from Houston last Sunday night things still don’t feel back to normal yet. The boys didn’t have school Monday and Tuesday and in my head are still a million emotions, smiles and new ideas.  

Aunque regrese el Domingo pasado, todavia me estoy recuperando del viaje a Houston. Mis hijos no tuvieron clases Lunes ni Martes y en mi cabeza todavia hay un millon de emociones, sonrisas y nuevas ideas.

Day 1  Thursday October 30^th

Dia 1   Jueves 30 de Octubre.

I woke up at 4:00am for my flight and landed in Houston around 10:00am.  I took a cab to my hotel and when I saw the bedroom with two nice queen beds only for myself I sighed.  I was so exhausted but the excitement of being at this quilt show for the first time was stronger than my exhaustion.   I grabbed a cab to the George R. Brown Convention Center and was surprised at how nicely dressed and polite the cab driver was – not what I am used to in Washington!

As I got out of the cab the first thing I saw was giant letters saying “Welcome to the International Quilt Market & Festival” on the building - I crossed the street to take a picture of it.

Me levante a las 4 de la manana para irme al aeropuerto. Aterrice en Houston a las 10:00am.  Tome un taxi a mi hotel y cuando vi el cuarto con las dos camas matrimoniales para mi sola suspire. Estaba exhausta, pero la emocion de estar en este show de quilting por primera vez era mayor a mi cansancio. Tome un taxi al Centro de Convenciones George R. Brown y me sorprendio ver que bien vestido y amable era el taxista, nada que ver con los de Washington! 

Lo primero que vi al llegar fueron las letras del edificio que decian "Welcome to the International Quilt Market & Festival" y cruce la calle para tomar una foto.

 I bought my entry ticket and began taking some videos for my followers in Facebook as I walked into the show.  Just inside the entrance the first display I saw was the best-of-show award winning quilt and it caught my breath. 

Compre mi boleto de entrada y comence a tomar videos para mis seguidores en Facebook mientras caminaba hacia el interior. Lo primero que vi fue el quilt ganador con el premio mejor-del-show y me quede sin aliento. 

I wanted to stay and look at it for long time but I was on a mission to find the Mexican exhibit because my quilt was displayed in it.  The program said it was in Hall K, so off I went taking video and describing the scene as I walked to the exhibit.  Suddenly, there it was! My voice broke and I stopped recording.  With watering eyes I just stood in front of it for about 15 minutes. I couldn’t believe my quilt was displayed in such a show as this!  People were walking by, some standing next to me and even taking pictures.  What a feeling!   

Queria observarlo un poco mas pero mi objetivo era encontrar la exhibicion de quilts mexicanos porque mi quilt de "La Catrina" estaba ahi. El programa decia pasillo K, asi que hacia alla me dirigi. De pronto ahi estaba!  Mi voz se quebro y deje de grabar. Con ojos llorosos simplemente me pare ahi por casi 15 minutos. No podia creer que mi quilt estuviera siendo exhibido en un show como este!  La gente caminaba junto a mi, se paraba, observaban y algunos incluso tomaban fotografias! Que sensancion!!

 

I almost didn’t make it to Houston.
My son with pollen allergies, unexpected car repairs, kids’ tuition, other obligations…we were having some stressful weeks but my husband and I decided we could swing it. The last minute decision, expensive plane ticket, a hotel not too close to the convention center, it was all worth it just for being standing right there. 

Por poco y no iba a Houston. Mi hijo un poco enfermo, arreglos de ultimo momento al coche, colegiatura de la escuela, y otras muchas obligaciones, nos tuvieron en un par de semanas bastante estresados pero mi esposo y yo vimos que si podia hacerlo.  Decision de ultimo minuto, boleto de avion caro, hotel no tan cerca al evento, todo valio la pena con tal de estar parada ahi.

Suddenly, I heard an announcement “don’t miss the opportunity of having

The Way I See It

Quilts by Marisela original design. 12"x12"
For the second year, I'm in charge of the challenge called "The Way I See It" at the Annandale Chapter of Quilters Unlimited guild. Here are my creations with the themes "Nest", and with the Confetti Applique technique "House" and "Love".

CONFETTI APPLIQUES Workshop  

Tuesday, October 13th, 2015. 10:00am-2:00pm at Sew Global Quilters

 Click here for the complete list of classes and know about how to register.