In the Limelight: Andi Perejda

It has been a while since I wrote an In the Limelight. It's not that nobody inspired me, far from that, but it's just that so many others things were happening at the same time. And then the permission to ask for the use of photo's and all takes a bit longer. On my side, that is. Usually I get an answer in 2 days...

In the Limelight is about those people who inspire me. Who do something that makes me want to go back quilting. A special technique, a great style, a unique idea, something, somehow that inspires me. And that can be a lot. This time it's Andi Perejda, a quilter, teacher and certified quilt judge, who I met in Paducah.

When I first met Andi, she told me she was hired for hand classes, like hand applique and hand quilting, but was working more and more in the art field. Let me show you some of her hand quilted quilts. Name a hand quilting prize, she has it.

Burnished gold

Homage to Provence, Boutis

When I saw this on the Internet, I was in awe. I was giving a hand quilting class, and there she was with this kind of work! She even has a Craftsy class on hand quilting. Humble pie on my part.

She told me about her art work, and I looked for it. Now this was a whole different field of the quilting world!

Night windows

Musée d'Orsay

Climate Change III: Final Destruction

I was impressed how somebody, who could make such beautiful tiny hand quilt stitches, also could make such beautiful art quilts! A combination of the two is seldom there, and she had it. Please check out her website, most of all her gallery for her beautiful quilts. She has so much more than I can show here!

Andi inspired me by urging me to start a new project, to make something for show. I needed that push, and after seeing her work, her urge meant so much more to me. And last, but not least, we had a week with a lot of fun and laughter, great discussions, and I hope to meet her somewhere again!

Enjoy her quilts and have fun quilting!

Annemart

p.s. Andi does know me, and we had a lot of fun in Paducah, but she didn't promise me free quilting classes or a quilt to write about her. Nor did she promise me money or any other benefit. When asking for the use of her pictures, she even was surprised that I inspired her. It's just that I like her quilts, her following of her own quilting path, and her personality. That's all. She inspired me!

Keep calm and quilt on

Last week some big decisions have been made in my life. Remember that my Word of the Year is

authenticity? Well, it definitely is. Decided on an intensive course I will start following in September, started a new quilt project (no, not found the way to get it appliqued yet, will find a way) and continuing on losing weight.

The losing weight goes great. This week 5 pounds, total of 13 pounds of the 40 to go. Love it! And no, nothing strange, no shakes, no pills. Just Weight Watchers and a lot of kickbiking. And I am adding some Pilates to that, which might be replaced by Yoga, as that is less painful to my back. It will work out!

Losing weight is easy when I see things like this in the local store. On the can it says something that to me just sounds gross: Chicken stew with eggnog and whip cream. No kidding. That's what it says in Dutch.

I thought it was a mistake. But no, even in the ingredients it stated specifically that. I think I will pass this time. The idea alone makes me want to... well, you get it. No thanks. Who thought of this???!!!

Tomorrow some quilting, some studying and some kickbiking. Now back to my study!

Have fun quilting!

Annemart

Notion Alert! Barnett's laptop hoops

For hand quilters (as I am) there are a few things that make us drool. Things like great needles, lovely thimbles and precise scissors. I have loads of hoops and even 2 frames. I have thread, pins and different gadgets for the underhand because I can't live further without them. And still I haven't enough. And no, it's not about fabric. I am not a fabric fiend. But here is something I will need to have. Thanks to my friend Trina Schellhammer, who pointed me in the direction of Barnett´s laptop hoops.

Thank you Trina. You're an enabler.

It's not about the hoops, though these are great. Love the bean bag bottom. The greatest sewing centers in the world, hand made of wood. Magnets make it possible to put different options on your sewing center.

Look at this one. This is what I need to have when I grow up. The middle piece can be replaced with different options.

Like this one...

Or like this one.

And Trina even has her own devices, custom made, including room for Ted's Thumb Thimble and a big spool of thread. Love it.

 

And you know what? The big spool of thread can be taken out, and includes a magnet for pins and needles. You gotta love this.

There is just one thing I can say: Can't live further without it. When I'll be in the US, one of these sewing centers is mine. No question about that.

Would love to hear what you think about these!

Have fun quilting!
Annemart

p.s. Mister Barnett doesn't pay me to write this. Nor did he promise me a sewing center. Wish he would, but he didn't. If I would go skydiving on the moon, he would live happily ever after. It's just that I love the thing. A lot. A big lot.