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 Zealand Quilters

New Quilts In Solids

...Exciting Book News!

Collaborative Quilting has joined Mary Schafer; American Quilt Maker in the gift shop at the Smithsonian!

The Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery, housed in a historic architectural landmark across the street from the White House, in Washington, DC.

...Gwens Newest Books

... Books are available from Gwen at Books 

...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

At Home With Gwen

I'm home and the Phoebes are back on their nest on my front porch providing just as much entertainment as they did last year.

Their job is raising a family. I see my job as doing everything I can to make their job easier. So just as last year, a sign on the back of my pickup, which sits in the driveway blocking the path to my porch, reads "Use back door, Phoebes on front porch."

Last year I inadvertently discovered something helpful I could do for my guests. I'd been cleaning up after the winter and my truck was full of brush. One particularly long dead branch was sticking three or four feet out of the bed of the truck and the Phoebes started sitting on it right way. These perky little birds belong the family of flycatchers and they like to sit on a bare branch where they can get a good view and a quick take off when a meal is sighted. Later that day I took all but the long branch to the recycling center. The branch stayed in my truck as long as it was needed. Knowing how useful the branch had been to these busy parents last year, again this year a long dead branch is sticking out from the bed of my truck.

Other big news from my island home is that my lilacs are blooming and my rhubarb never looked better. Go outside and breathe deeply. The sweet smell of rhubarb pie is surely in the air.

Ah yes, and now that I'm home again, I'm back at the quilt frame working long hours to get my new crop of quilts finished for my quilt retreat this fall. This is a special year because it's the 25th anniversary of the Beaver Island Quilt Retreat so I'm making special plans. You might want to check my webpage in late August for an announcement of my new book showing 28 abstract quilts in solids. It's going to be a nice one!

On The Road With Gwen

May was a busy month beginning with teaching engagements in lovely East Jordon, Michigan and then further north, to Indian River which is named after one of the two rivers that run through the area. Then on to Florida to meet with the members of the Tampa Applique Society where I made new friends, ate great food and celebrated the joys of applique. From Tampa I went to Sarasota, a guild I've visited many times over the years. Going to Sarasota is like going to my family reunion.

Early June took me to Columbus, Indiana, a town where I have quilting friends that have come to my quilt retreat for at least 20 years. These are good friends and extremely talented quiltmakers. It was there that I saw the most impressive appliquŽ border I've ever seen. The words Surprising and Stunning come to mind. Nice work Pat Probst!

I managed to get in and out of Indiana between the floods and tornados. The White River was already over her banks when I was on my way to the airport. Parts of Columbus were flooded and the hospital had to be evacuated. Not good.

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