Judith Phelps - Water Works
Solitude
A photograph by Jimmy DeBacker was the inspiration for this quilt. I love the way he captured the sky, water and boat. Solitude instantly came to mind with I saw the photo (used with permission).
Techniques: White cotton was hand painted with design and then thread painted. The quilt is made to be viewed from both sides.
39" x 47"
Judith Phelps - Name That Tune
Warriors by Imagine Dragons
Original design is based on the book: my grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry by Fredrik Backman.
I loved the fairy tale land that the writer described in the book and designed my quilt from it. To get to this land one rode in on cloud animals. The six kingdoms or towns and are represented by different color combinations and of course there are always castles, warriors and dragons in fairy tales.
Warriors by Imagine Dragons lyrics for ‘Name that Tune’ theme:
“We are the warriors that built this town
From dust
Will come
When you will have to rise
Above the best and prove yourself
Your spirit never dies”
The lyrics of this song represented what I was trying to portray in the quilt, and it doesn’t hurt that my grandson loves Imagine Dragons music.
Techniques: fused raw edge appliqué stitched with invisible thread, mountains, man, guardian dogs (wurses), and river were hand painted on another fabric and appliquéd on, sky and water were painted on the quilt top.
42" x 48"
The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell
I took a class from Dianne Kane (great teacher) to learn to make the pieced kaleidoscope circles and decided to applique them on a white quilted circle background. The pieced circles resemble what a carousel might look like if you were looking down on it. You never can tell where it begins or ends.
I love the carousel reference in The Circle Game lyrics:
“And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time…….
And go round and round and round, in the circle game”
Original design made on a domestic machine
24" x 40"
Blackbird by The Beatles
“Black birds singing in the dead of night….
Blackbird fly, black bird fly
Into the light of a dark black night….
You were only waiting for this moment to arise”
Original design made on a domestic machine.
Techniques: pieced, painted, fused raw edge appliqué machine stitched
39" x 41"
A Horse with No Name
"I've been through the dessert on a horse with no name."
I love horses, the song A Horse with no Name by America, and the photography of Christa Merk who was kind enough to give me permission to use one of her photos for inspiration. The horse and sky were hand painted on white cotton and then thread painted. The quilt is made to be viewed from both sides.
31" x 37"
Judith Phelps - Seeing Red
Remembrance
This quilt was made for two challenges: Storyteller’s - Seeing Red and Thread Tales – The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah).
The story takes place in France during World War Two. A young woman ties three red ribbons to an apple tree in her front yard: Antoine – taken as prisoner of war, Rachel – a Jewish best friend loaded onto a cattle car and Sarah - a young Jewish girl shot and killed. The stone wall around the apple tree had been torn down by the Germans. The ribbons represent a promise to never forget!
Original design, painted and thread painted three-layer quilt.
45" x 50"
Negative/Positive Trees
This quilt started with painting negative backgrounds with the white tree being the focus. The positive- the trees are individually quilted.
Two challenges: Storytellers - Trees
Art Group - Improv Quilting
24" x 29"
Red Flower
This quilt was started in a Susan Brubaker Knapp class a couple of years ago and was finally completed this year. based on a photo of Susan’s, it was painted and then the thread was added to enhance the painting.
17" x 19"
Mr. Wilson
Love the beauty that roosters often display. ‘Mr. Wilson’ seemed to suit this one for a name. The flowers and leaves in the border are the same flowers and leaves that created Mr. Wilson in collage.
Original design, fusible raw edge appliqué.
53" x 43"
Winter Raven
Quilt made for two challenges: Storyteller’s – Seeing Red, Thread Tales – The Snow Child, (Eowyn Ivey)
A child’s red winter scarf had disappeared.
“Ravens….and other wild birds had been known to snatch things.” This is the sentence that I designed this quilt from.
Appliqué, some paint and thread painting, scarf 3D, original design.
42" x 41"
Kaleidoscope Trees
Quilt made for two challenges: Storyteller’s – Trees, Book – All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)
Marie-Laure lost her eyesight at the age of six but in her imagination and dreams everything has color. Trees in her imagination are shimmering kaleidoscopes full of light.
Original design, completely thread painted. The quilt was made to be viewed from both sides.
39" x 41"
Judith Phelps - Architecture
"Times Past" by Judith Phelps 39" x 44"
Old buildings in ghost towns are interesting and beautiful. The give you a feeling of isolation, or time passing and of hope and dreams left behind.
Technique: Flower pounding, 3D leaves and vines, appliqué, paint, trapunto, stump work embroidery, metalwork on windmill.
"Exit Glaciers" by Judith Phelps 34"x 34"
The architecture of the one room homestead was a straightforward design and provided security and shelter.
Technique: Raw edge appliqué, paint, machine quilting.
"The Beauty of Past Architecture" by Judith Phelps 37" x 26"
If photos could talk, I am sure this one would have a story to tell. I am not sure if it is a school house or church, but the bareness of the landscape tells a story of the perseverance of the human nature!
Photo used with permission from Namajamphotography.
Technique: Painted and thread painted.
"The Villa" by Judith Phelps 21" x 25"
Architecture often includes strong angles and soft arches.
Photo by Jonathan Schwarz used with permission.
Technique: Paint and thread painted.
"Crayon Architecture" by Judith Phelps 46" x 47"
The skyline of a city shows the diversity in architecture.
Technique: Applique
"Jonny's Photo" by Judith Phelps 52" x 40"
Fair-Haired Dumbbel building at Burnside Bridge's east end. (James Jean - building designer.) Jonathan Schwarz took the great photo at a corner of the building looking up. (Used with his permission.)
Technique: Painted and quilted.
Judith Phelps - Cities
"Who's on First, Vaughn Street, Portland, OR" by Judith Phelps 26" x 50"
Portland had a baseball field on Vaughn Street from 1901 to 1956. Jim Thorpe, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams were a few of the players who played there.
Inspiration of this piece came from a photo "I Was a Portland Kid" on Facebook (with permission). Circa 1940s.
Technique: Applique, painted faces and hands.
"E Burnside & Sandy Blvd" by Judith Phelps 38"x31"
I attended the Foursquare Church a block from the Tik Tok restaurant (building on the left). My sister and I would skip church to have French fries and hot fudge sundaes there. The church bought the property and the Tin Tok is no longer there.
Technique: Applique, glued collage, some paint, all edges sewn.
"Vermeer's Delft" painted by Judith Phelps 35"x45"
The cityscape is inspired by "The Art Forger" by B. S. Shapiro. The book deals with the forgery of famous paintings. I wanted to see if I could paint a section of Vermeer's Delft on fabric. I loved seeing this "city" through Vermeer's eyes and trying to replicate it. His attention to detail was amazing. Notice the lightning rods on the buildings!
Te
A Few of Judith's Favorites
"Blue Moon Fantasy" by Judith Phelps
35'w x 31" l
2018
Pattern: original
Clark County Quilters Quilt Show challenge: 'Once in a Blue Moon'
Love horses so decided to make a fantasy scene with a 'Blue Moon' and horses. The horses are thread painted and the rest of the scene is painted and heavily quilted. It is made to be viewed from both sides. It is quilted on a domestic machine.
"From the Ashes" by Judith Phelps
45" w x 60" l
2107
Pattern: Original
This quilt was made after reading the book, 'My Kitchen Year' by Ruth Reichl. She was the editor of Gourmet Magazine when it was decided it would no longer be published. She was devastated. Her life went in a new direction. The forest fire scene represents how from the ashes there are new beginnings - a new hope. Some pine co
"The Value of Gears" by Judith Phelps
51"w x 51" l
2013
Pattern: original
Quilt was made for two challenges. A book club challenge: 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' and an Art Quilt Group challenge of a series of three. The drawings are original, but based on the book. The densely hand guided thread painting in this quilt is on a 'value scale' from black to white. The quilt is made to be viewed fr
"Butterfly" by Judith Phelps
27 "w x 27"l
2017
Pattern: original
This quilt was made for the Art Quilt Group challenge: "Green Line."' The butterfly is fused appliqué, some paint, some ink, some thread painting and embroidery. Background is the confetti technique with tulle over it. The lettering 'Butterfly' is the Green Line challenge and extends into the binding.
"Horses, Hounds and Guns" by Judith Phelps
2016
Pattern: Hand painted original design
This quilt was made after reading 'Gone with the Wind'.
I never realized the importance of the flags on a battle field. The original Confederate flag is on the bottom left. The similarities between the flags of the north and south caused confusion for the Southern troops when they had to rally. A new flag was
"Images in the Mirror #1" By Judith Phelphs
35" w by 38"l
2015
Pattern: original designs
Book club challenge for 'Not a Girl Detective'.
The story talked about 2 paintings by Salvador Dali which is what these quilts are based on.
#1 This quilt represents the 'Image" that we show the world, innocent and beautiful. This is how Eve was in the garden. The apple tree is in the background.
Techniques: appl
"Images in the Mirror #2" by Judith Phelps
35" w by 38"l
2015
Pattern: original designs
Story: Book club challenge for 'Not a Girl Detective'.
The story talked about 2 paintings by Salvador Dali which is what these quilts are based on.
#2 The lady has stepped into time and she tries to hide from the world what she truly is. The zipper in her leg allows her to slither in and out of her skin. She is
"Rainforest in Color" by Judith Phelps
2014
Pattern: Original
A book club challenge for the book, 'Dreaming in Color' by Kaffe Fassett.
Kaffe Fassett painted several wall murals surrounded by large flowers in the beginning of his career. This is my interpretation of a rain forest surrounded by orchids and other flowers that would grow there. The quilt is an original design and made to be viewed fr
"The Word, 'Horse'" by Judith Phelps
39" x 35"
2015
Pattern: original
This quilt was made for three challenges. A book challenge, Clark County Quilters Show 2015 Challenge 'Word in a Quilt', and an Art Quilt Group Challenge, "An Element and Animal."
This quilt was made to be viewed from both sides. It was designed and then hand guided thread painted. On the inner border the word 'horse' is thread p
"Zentangle Horse" by Judith Phelps
32" w x 32"
2012
Pattern: original
Quilt was made on a domestic machine for a Zentangle Challenge. The horse was drawn with the intention of his mane being thread painted zentangles. Shading in this quilt is done with thread painting in the face and mane of the horse and some light color pencil shading on the mane. Background is white on white zentangles.