A fun time in Long Beach

Wonderful dinner in Long Beach with Iris and Jamie and Leslie who took this photo (I captured the photo from her blog). My room mate Cathie and I had some free time between classes so we finally had an excuse to go shopping. Before we departed, dressed for serious shopping, I took our picture in the hotel room mirror. This mirror thing has become my photography of choice. Perhaps it is because my phone looks so good from the back.

Quilt Festival Long Beach

I am teaching three classes and doing all the prep this past week. My Mixed Media Silk Quilts includes fabrics to make the project. Fortunately we are driving so it will be easy to transport multiple suitcases in the car. Part of the fun of being at Quilt Festival is
seeing friends particularly in the Bernina Booth. Have you purchased your new Bernina yet?

Why oh Why add more tasks to my day

I set up a Facebook account and have enjoyed connecting with people. Seems like being on line takes up more time than it should but one click leads to another. I have been trying to clean up my studio but that too gets put on the back burner. I have been working with painted paper lately and finally finished a knitting project. I even tried making a drawing with the Type app on my iPhone.

Bernina Celebrity (Sewlebrity) Scrapbook

BERNINA is introducing a new section on www.berninausa.com website to highlight the National Artisans called Celebrity Scrapbook. Bernina is excited about the opportunity to feature the most creative people they know! I guess I qualify and my posting will be up by June 15, 2009. I hope you check out the pattern I have offered to make a block with Bernina amazing Satin Stitch used to Machine Applique around the edges of my pattern pieces. My original quilt will be auctioned later this year on the eBay auction site for The Alliance For American Quilts crazy quilts contest. I made 3 little quilts and our daughter Suzanne made her first ever quilt for the contest.

Facebook

Our extended family seems to be scattering all over the country and what better way to at least see photos of them - join Facebook. As if I didn't have enough to do, it is still fun visit on line to see all their candid photos. While on my recent trip along the East Coast, I took a self portrait a la "American Gothic" style of Don and I in front of a mirror. Good news is my IPhone has a lovely pink case so that also adds to the concept of living the 21st Century life style. Good friend Suzanne Staud of Staudesign performed her magic with the photo and don't you love all the colors! I posted this photo on my FaceBook album and here is is for you to enjoy.

Quilt National Colonial Williamsberg and North Carolina

I just returned from a 10 day trip to Athens, OH to enjoy the 2009 Quilt National and SAQA 20th Anniversary event. It was so exciting to see the exhibit but the highlight was meeting the artists and SAQA members who attended. From there I traveled to New York to meet our son Don and he and I toured Virginia and some of the historical spots. Rain and all, it was great fun. Then on to Raleigh NC for the NCQuilt Symposium and teaching 2 classes and giving one lecture. This is a well organized symposium that travels to cities in NC. They offer great classes with outstanding faculty. Getting caught up on emails and surfing the web and I was thrilled to see my SAQA auction quilt on their June virtual newsletter, and one of my quilts in the virtual special exhibit "Three".

Alliance For American Quilts Crazy Quilt Contest

The contest deadline is June 1st to get Your crazy quilt finished and shipped to the Alliance. I just finished my third 16" square. Remember you can bid on these donated quilts on eBay later this year. Continue to check out www.allianceforamericanquilts.org.

Self Portraits

Paducah Kentucky

I just returned from serving as one of the three judges who awarded the prizes for the quilts at the Paducah 25th Anniversary Show. The museum displayed 24 of the past quilts and many of the makers were able to attend and be recognized at the awards banquet. A portion of the museum's collection was also on display and I was pleased to see my quilt "On Wednesday Morning" on display. It is always nice to visit one of your quilts and see it in the beautiful surroundings of a museum. I was able to spend part of Monday with a group of Wisconsin Quilters who graciously invited me to join their motor home trek to Hancock's and other fabric sales as well as having lunch at the famous Patti's 1860 restaurant. I didn't take photos of the Paducah show but here is the speciality of Patti's a 8 inch coconut cream meringue pie (back view of Lemon meringue is across the table seen here as a white mountain).

 

Alliance For American Quilts Crazy Quilt Contest

This is my 16 inch square quilt that will be submitted to benefit the  Alliance For American Quilt. This and many others will be auctioned on eBay later this year.

Look for the Alliance on the web or in a major quilt conference in your area.  The contest is open to all but should reflect a crazy quilt style. I couldn't resist doing one of my fantasy faces using left over fused fabrics. Buttons and stitching add to the embellishment of the block. www.allianceforamericanquilts.org 

Fabric Self Portrait

Fabric Pictures or Self Portraits Class students will design a fabulous face using a self image as a starting point. As you can see in the six quilts shown here the faces became 

male and funky and fun. Pierre, Maurice, Monty, Pablo, Elvin/URA star, Jack/Joker

are titled top left to bottom right. Send me a comment or question regarding this class.

Studios Magazine is Available now

I just receive my copy of the spring issue of Studios and my article is on page 42. The every page in the magazine is full of ideas,
delights, and creative people with unique styles. I hope you will all pick up a copy soon. You don't want to miss this! To see more
of my work check my archive list for information on my Zine.

eBooks from C&T Publishing

The time is now! Download your copy of my book from C&T Publishing

C&T Publishing is bringing back out of print titles as eBooks and they are currently preparing  Magical Four-Patch and Nine-Patch Quilts (60184) for sale on line. I will post launch date and ordering information when available.   

Cloth Paper Scissors Stitch Magazine

The Spring issue is now available for pre-order. It will be sold on select newsstands March 31. See my studio. To pre-order http://www.interweavestore.com/store

/p/2518-Studios-Spring-2009-Pre-Order-.aspx

Here We Art On The Set

Thanks to Pokey for sending a photo of us on the set of Quilting Arts TV show taping.

Quilting Arts next Season

Great fun to visit Quilting Arts TV studio to tape a segment for the next series. I arrived in Cleveland Sunday afternoon, drove to the studio Monday morning with Jeanne Delpit, who was the Bernina support manager on set. After makeup and set up in the green room, I did my segment taping with Pokey Bolton, had lunch and left for the airport, arriving back in CA at 11 PM. 

Here are photos of what I would look like if I were taller and thinner. I couldn't resist taking my own picture in the mirror propped up on the wall. The distortion was perfect, I think I look at least 6 inches taller. Helen Gregory was Pokey's support team along to help  the star of the show. Thanks to Jeanne for taking this photo of Helen and I. This is what the set looks like when you walk in the room - big cameras and lots of cords. Challenge is not bumping into or tripping over anything.  

New Bernina 830 Launch

What excitement to actually be able to stitch on the new Bernina 830, the dream machine. Bernina has identified National Artisans and over the years we have suggested new features we would like to see in a machine. And here it is! Also check a new web site

dedicated to the 830 launch. 

http://www.berninausa8.com

February is my month in the Bernina Sew Red 2009 calendar supporting the American Heart Association. Last fall I blinged a Bernina! Imagine taking a wonderful sewing machine and embellishing it with treasures. Check out the calendar at your local

Bernina store. Red is one of my favorite colors so finding things to add to my bling-ing was easy. Hearts are also another favorite symbol, what could be better? I will be teaching at the Honeybee Quilters retreat in Jacksonville, FL for their quilt stampede, wear your cowgirl hat and boots was the request on their web page, come and be prepared to line dance. What a great opportunity to show off my wearing of the hat and boots by doing a photo transfer on a denim apron, decorated with red of course. 

Chartreuse Muse Reception

Chartreuse Muse opening reception, my quilts are on the back walls to minimize sunlight from the front west windows. Scroll down for more photos.

www.TheChartreuseMuse.com 

Porcella's quilts at Chartreuse Muse gallery

January 2, 2009 Modesto Bee newspaper had an announcement of the exhibit at Chartreuse Muse gallery opening on Monday. Such a nice way to start a new year, finding your photo in the Art Scene section of the paper.

http://www.modbee.com/scene/story/550852.html

Come to Modesto to see the 

exhibit.

Studio News

It is always nice to have a clean studio and just the right time for a photograph. The box on the wall  to the left holds my ironing board. The door opens and the board is lowered to ironing height.  The room behind me was my studio when we moved to this house and eventually we added on a bigger room. What a luxury to have two rooms of my own. Fabrics, books, computer, batting, class samples are in this room along with a large design wall currently holding small art quilts. The big room is reserved for making art quilts. The table is high so I can stand to work or sit on my chair. The chair is on rollers so I can move it around to all sides of the 4 x 8 foot table.  Windows are all along the north wall to provide light. 

January 2009 Exhibit

I am showing approximately 20 art quilts and a few of my dolls at the Chartreuse Muse Gallery in Modesto, CA. This is a wonderful space at 917 10th St. in a renovated store in the downtown area. The gallery is near the new Gallo Performing Art Center. My show will open on January 5 with artists reception Saturday January 10 from 5 to 8 PM. Shown on the left are three quilts on the south wall. All the art work is for sale. Come and see great art, jewelry, art glass and MY quilts. Exhibit up until Feb. 27, 2009

Visions Gallery San Diego, CA

Current exhibit at Visions Gallery includes Playing With A Full Deck and small art work by artists who are part of the collection of 52 quilts that make up the Full Deck exhibit. Visit the Visions gallery web site for more information. Shown here is my small quilt titled "Always" featuring mixed media collage with silks, paper, and hand colored photos.

We're going on a Cruise

Deb Roberts is organizing a Cruise around the British Isles

and I will be teaching while we are at sea. Save the dates,

August 25 to Sept. 5, 2009. This cruise benefits the

Quilters Hall of Fame. Please visit the web site

for all the details http://worldofquiltstravel.com

and click on Quilt Cruise for a Cause. Be the first

to get your reservation in.

Rendezvous

International Quilt Festival, Bernina Fashion Show Rendezvous. It is a great  show "A Body of Work, Essence of Me"  is the title of my entry.  To see more quilts and visit the show room floor go to http://www.quilts.com/fqfo8/enVivo/ and click the link to the Festival. 

Have you ordered your Zine?

Visit my website, contact page for information to order

a copy of my new zine. Information is also posted on this

blog. Thanks

STITCH Magazine Nov. 11

Visit www.quiltingarts.com  to order a copy of

a new specialty magazine. Cali Nicole, is featured

on top of her new quilt in an ad for Mistyfuse.

Cali, age 10 months  is the daughter of our grandson.

High Fiber Under Five

High Fiber Under Five, November 7, 2008 6 to 11 pm, San Jose Museum of Quilts

and Textiles, 520 So. First St. San Jose, CA For details about this sale and opportunity

to purchase fiber art by 92 artists, go to www.sjquiltmuseum.org

Pictured is one of my pieces, 

Bloom Bloom

Fabric painting

I love using bright colors in my art and I also am 

happy to use a softer palette when I paint  my own 

silk and cotton fabrics.  In the late 1990s I authored 

two painting books using different techniques. My 

new mini quilt series is fun, easy to do, with a focus 

on  family stories.  Titles  top to bottom: Paris View, 

Lou and Who, Two + Two.

Peak inside ZINE

Here is one of the page spread inside the zine. Each page has

a different design style including full view of quilts and details.

On the left is page 17, on the right is page 18

Yvonne

Zine is available

Copies of the new Zine are available by ordering from this blog. Checks or money orders only. Leave a comment on this blog and I will send mailing address for Yvonne Porcella. Cost of one Zine to U.S. residents is $10.00 plus $2.00 ship and handling.
California residents add .75 cents sales tax. Zine is full of color, 26 pages, small format, text and photos of  art quilts. For 2 or more retail copies, add $4.00 ship and handling. For wholesale orders, please leave a comment on this blog. 

Mixed Media Self Portraits

Mixed Media Self Portraits book published by Quilting Arts 

should be available for purchase this fall. Check the web

for availability. Two small quilts of mine are included.

Studio News

Tomorrow the proof of my zine will be ready for approval. I am so 

excited. Suzanne Staud, the graphic designer already made her 

minor corrections and said the project looks fabulous. Continue to 

check this blog for news on when you can order your personal copy. 

To pass the time, I have been busy in the studio making art quilts 

that are due for fall exhibits. I will post photos and information later 

about where you can see the new work. Since I have learned  how to 

use Mistyfuse in my work, making new art has been such a fun and a 

quick way to satisfy my need to be creative. Our family reunion this 

summer renewed my interest in ancestors, family history and memories. 

I have been revisiting some of the photo transfers I made for my  book 

"Six Color World" published in 1997 to use in the new work. 

I am having so much fun!

Yvonne

APNQ Quiltfest 2008

I just returned from Seattle after working on the judging panel 

for the 2008 quilt entries. There were 289 quilts from which

to select the top winners in each category. After one day to

enjoy shopping opportunities in downtown Seattle, we had

3 days of teaching. This was the first time Quiltfest added

classes and they were very successful. Check out the website

for APNQ to read about Quiltfest and plans for 2010.

www.apnq.org

The ZINE is in progress

Suzanne Staud has been working very hard to create a beautiful zine of

my art work. I have seen all the pages on her computer. What a gem.

I can hardly wait to see it in print. It will be available soon and you can

learn more about pricing and availability by checking this blog.

Quilt Festival Long Beach

I just returned from teaching at the first Quilt Festival held in Long Beach. 

Many quilters from all over California visited during the 3 day event. 

The brand new Bernina 830 was the hit of the show. This new machine is

amazing. It will be at your local Bernina dealer in the near future. 

www.bernina8series.com

Bernina has raised money in the past for breast cancer, this year they plan

to raise money for the American Heart Association by auctioning off artist

"Blinged" Bernina Sewing Machines. Twelve artists were

invited to Bling a Bernina. My Blinged Bernina was on display at the

Long Beach festival. Such fun to do and to make the whole surface

 "Red".

Two Friends

Suzanne Staud of Staudesign is a very talented artist. She is designing my ZINE.

Her web site is full of graphic art, fine art, book art. Her home/studio was featured on HGTV. We love to show each other funky clothes, great shoes, art jewelry and artist web sites.  In the photo, Suzanne and I are at the local ceramic painting studio, decorating vases to use as centerpieces at a luncheon. www.staudesign.com

Iris Karp owns Mistyfuse and sells her product at quilt shows. 

I have made several great projects using Mistyfuse, it is fun, easy, and leads to unique creative art. www.mistyfuse.com 

Iris and our son Don, enjoying dinner in New York.

Coming soon - ZINE

Great news! Later this summer Yvonne will have a new ZINE available for

purchase. Check out this blog for ordering information. 

Link to Don Porcella

donporcella.blogspot.com

Who is in the picture?

July 2008 we had a lovely reunion at the family ranch in California. Relatives and friends came from all over the US and we had the opportunity to take photographs. I selected a great photo seen here of our 4 grown children. Suzanne, Greg, Yvonne, Bob with Kiri, Don, and Steve. 

Yvonne

Visit Don's Blog

Visit our son Don's blog to read about this talented artist. He shows his work in galleries in
New York and in August will have work in San Francisco, CA. His blog is wonderful, so colorful
full of great photos of his work.  donporcella.blogspot.com