Gwen Marston's
Liberated Quilting Page

Freddy and I have decided to sell many of the quilts shown in our book Collaborative Quilting, Sterling Publishing, 2006. Our second Collaborative book will come out June 2009 with yet more quilts and frankly, we are running out of room. The Collaborative quilts we are selling have had a terrific run with exhibits at the MAQS in Paducah, the LaConner Quilt Museum in Washington State, New Pieces in Berkeley, Back Porch in Pacific Grove, and in Sisters Oregon.

Here is how the sale will work:

• Our book will serve as your shopping catalog
  
• The collaborative quilts for sale exclude the cover quilt, and the 4 Lady of Guadalupe Quilts. All collaborative quilts are priced at $5000.
  
• We are selling most but not all of our individual quilts. Prices vary.

You may contact us by mail or phone:

• Freddy Moran, 85 El Gavilan, Orinda, CA 94563. 925-254-6123
  
• Gwen Marston, Box 155, Beaver Island, MI 49782. 231-448-2565
  

...New Book Alert!!!!!

            Freddy Moran and I have a new collaborative book coming out any day now and it's a good one!  Freddy and Gwen Collaborate Again is a follow-up of our Collaborative Quilting (Sterling 2006). This second book follows the same format as the first book featuring full page color photographs of all the quilts, 40 individual quilts and 30 new collaborative quilts. Just as in the first book, we tell how all the parts that make up each quilt are made, and cross reference them with all the quilts that use that particular part. It makes the book easy to use and encourages quilters to make their own design choices.  In this second book we focused on creating bold, modern interpretations of traditional quilts and we explain in detail how to go about it. This book has 192 eye-popping pages and we think it has something for everyone.

The new "Collaborative Quilting" book with Gwen & Freddy is now available, from Gwen. Books 

...Gwens Newest Book

Ideas and Inspirations
Abstract Quilts in Solids

Gwen has written a new book and this one is especially designed for grownup quilters. It's a book for the many accomplished quilters who are not looking for yet another project book with pages of detailed elementary instructions on how to make someone else's quilt. Rather, it's intended for quilters who are seeking ideas and inspiration for their own work.

This 67 page book begins with a seven page discussion about working with solids and Gwen's fresh approach to design concepts. The remaining pages are in full color showing full page photographs of 28 quilts with close-ups and captions of each on the opposite page. Gregory Case did the photography and it is first rate. He also did the photography for the Freddy Moran/Gwen Marston 2006, Collaborative Quilting book and the upcoming Marston/Moran quilt book to be released July 2009.

Ordering information:
... Book is available from Gwen at Books  or Gwen Marston Storefront 

...Gwen Marston Quilt Designs on Tile

Now you can own permanent images of Gwen Marston's delightful quilts in the form of art tiles with which to grace your home.
Visit New and Improved Gwen Quilt Tile web store at Loudeac Tile Studio

New Zealand Quilters

At Home With Gwen

Coming back to Beaver Island after being out there in the fast lane, visiting major cities, mingling with people who are up to speed on the latest this and that, I find myself re-entering a quieter life with different pleasures. When I pulled into my drive way I could see that the floor of the woods next to my house were still completely covered in snow. I had carried one bag into the house when my welcome home committee arrived: a pair of Red Tailed hawks that have nested in my woods for years circled overhead and called down to me. I stood still and watched and listened. To me, the screech of a hawk has the same wild quality as does the howl of coyotes or wolves. That's been a surprising and wonderful discovery for a girl who spent many years in major cities before I moved to this remote island.  Who would have known that Red Tailed hawks could be so thrilling? These birds are pretty impressive: they are big serious birds of prey and they are perfectly designed to do what they are supposed to do.
              In the man-made world, it's increasingly rare to find something that actually does what it is designed to do. For example, several years ago I bought a plunger. It looked for all the world like a plunger, but when I got it home and tried to use it, it turned itself inside out. It was so flimsy it just didn't work at all...not even once.  So, it went directly outside and into the garden where it did a much better job of performing the duty of a birdbath. Mother Nature is far better at getting it right.
            And so it is that whether you live in the city or in the country, each has it's own delights and our job is to pay attention and hone in on the ones that most enrich our lives. Often it is the very simplest things that bring the most enduring happiness, so heads up everybody!
 

On The Road With Gwen

I was on the road for the longest period of my "on the road career" just recently and I'm now reporting in to you on how that all went. I was actually away from home for 6 weeks straight and I found out that being gone 6 weeks is a really long time.  The good news is that I did have a good time everywhere I went.  I also realized that in this economic downturn, if the economy were to catch up with me and I were to find myself homeless, I would never notice. So that good don't you think.
            I spent most of February in Florida teaching classes in Jacksonville, Sarasota and Venice. In Venice I stayed with a friend of many years.  We had a great time discussing Red Work, since she knows more about it than anyone I know. One day we went down to the beach and I got to witness something quite wonderful.  It seems that some months ago a young woman had started doing Yoga on the beach and stopped to watch, she invited them to join her if they wished. Interest grew and more and more people began coming down to the beach to do Yoga with her. Eventually she set up specific times on an almost daily basis and began teaching classes. More and more people came. Everyone was welcome. No one had to sign up, show up, or pay in advance. Imagine that!
            Her teaching style was relaxed and encouraging. It was very impressive to watch her conduct class. It was so nice to see how well it worked out for everyone. Here was a young person with something to offer. She offered it and people accepted it and showed their appreciation. Off to the side was a hat where people could make a donation if they liked.
             After Venice, I headed directly for northern California and then to southern California, both very nice places to visit. Even though this was a long trip, I certainly managed to mix work with pleasure. Most of the places I visited were places I'd been to quite a few times before so I had lots of friends to hang out with. And it's always true that I meet great new people everywhere I go. I also was treated to some wonderful meals and had more than my share of fresh seafood skillfully prepared and much appreciated.          
            And by the way, in California, Freddy Moran and I team taught again at Empty Spools Seminar, a wonderfully run event right on the Pacific ocean at the Asilomar Conference Center in lovely Monterey, and that was fun. Check it out as we will be there again next year. We will also be teaching together at this coming July at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon and this is also just a fabulous event. It is very well organized and it is in a stunning part of the country. Both of these events have been going on for 26-30 years and they have all the wrinkles ironed out. Life is good in the quilt world!
 

How to contact Gwen
I'm not wired up yet here on Beaver Island, but please feel free to contact me at:

Gwen Marston
Box 155
Beaver Island, MI 49782
231-448-2565