Machine quilting/commissions

For any inquiries about machine quilting services please contact me. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks!

 martha@delsolquilts.com 

512.638.3843 (text)

"Machu Pichu" by Martha Tsihlas  (detail)

Quilters of Mexico

View from my hotel in Mexico City

I arrived in my hometown after being in Mexico city for the Patchwork and Quilt Expo 2014. It was really great to meet old friends and make new ones. The quilt exhibit had beautiful quilts, the theme being "Flowers of México" I'm sure it was a challenge for the juror, Pam Holland, to pick the winners.  I did not participate in the contest part but I did have a quilt in the general exhibit. It won viewer's choice! The prize: an iron, ruler and cutting mat, certainly  a quilters necessity.

Here is Eduardo Ramirez Cato, one of the Expo organizers giving me the prize!



I also taught a couple of classes. I love my Mexican students, they are so enthusiastic!  I am looking forward to next year's exhibit. See you in 2015 México city.

Martha Tsihlas, Carolina Flores, Eduardo Ramirez, Pam Holland at Parque España

Cathedral Windows- UPDATE

UPDATE:

I will be teaching a second class at the Expo. Just scroll down to see the class sample!

I'm very excited because my trip to Mexico City is just around the corner. In March I will be teaching a class at the  6th.  Expo Patchwork & Quilt Mexico 2014.

 I chose this class because I really like the technique to make Cathedral Windows, it kind of reminds me of Origami. The other thing is that you can make it as small or as big as you want, not a lot of fabric is needed and scraps can be used for the "windows". It can
look traditional or modern depending on the fabrics chosen. Also, it can be done by hand or by machine. I prefer to do the first phase by machine and the second phase by hand.

This is a great take along project. The other day I went to a meeting and  I had already heard the speaker at another meeting. I worked on piecing some of it while he gave his presentation on how to dye with natural dyes.

For the square below, I used hand dyed cotton for the background and an Alexander Henry Mexican themed for the windows. The sampler for the class is 12" square but I'm working on 3 other squares to complete a 24" square when I'm done. One  12" square would make a beautiful pillow, 4  12" squares
would make a wall hanger and if you keep adding you just might end up with a full size quilt!!

Finished Cathedral Windows (12" sq)

I will continue adding but for my class I'm using the 12" square

TAL-   Triangles, Applique and Linen.  12" sq. for class

For the TAL class I will be teaching how to make HST (half square triangles) using paper foundation. There is infinite ways of arranging the units to create a pattern. This is just one of many. We will also explore the use of linen for piecing and applique, which I loooove!  

A little Picasa and voila:
Believe me, I tried to rotate the squares to make it look more random but I just could not make them align so I just gave up.

 

-Happy New Year 2014 !!

"Peace on Earth"

Wishing you a Merrry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014! 

"Peace on Earth" made by Martha Tsihlas

I WON A RAFFLE QUILT!!!

Last Sunday I was on my way to a Christmas Party when I found out that I had won the raffle quilt made by the Buda Bee for the benefit of the Onion Creek Senior Center in Buda, Tx. I was so excited I couldn't stop smiling every time I thought about it. I called Monday morning to claim my prize and the ladies that pieced this beautiful quilt invited me to their Christmas potluck today in Buda. The quilt was quilted by Carolyn Hessy and she did a beautiful job quilting it!! I purchased the lucky ticket at the Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild from when the quilt was making the rounds visiting guilds. I can't wait to hang it in my home on the wall over the fireplace.

Thank you Linda Stavlo and the rest of the Bee for such a beautiful quilt and a great luncheon. I will take care of your creation!!   Love it, love it, love it! 

CELESTIAL MORNING-  The quilt won a 2nd. Place ribbon in the group category  at the San Antonio Quilt Show "A Rainbow of Quilts" 2013
Pattern, Cascade by Stitchin' Post.

Fiber, Metal and Paint- EAST 2013

What a couple of weekends! The firs weekend of EAST (East Austin Studio Tour) the temperatures roared to the 90's, We were melting.!!  The second weekend just the opposite, temperatures dropped 50 degrees, which compounded with the rain and wind didn't make for pleasant weather. The last time I remember being this cold  was when I lived in Michigan. C'mon people, this is Austin!! we don't freeze here so I had to dig in a closet to find my winter gear, leftover from my years up North. Despite the crazy cold, throbs of people came by the  ARTPOST to visit with the artists, which I'm super grateful for it. It made the days more bearable.  Thank you friends and family for stopping by!! See you next year at EAST.   XO

My wall at EAST. "URBAN DREAMS" on the upper left hand side found a new home!

Close up of "MYKONOS" by Martha Tsihlas. Still available.

"MACHU PICCHU"  17" x 61.5"on the left. It found a new home the first weekend.  "CROSSCUT" 56" x 56" on the right.
is still available. 

Close up of "MACHU PICCHU"

"CAIRO",  found a new home the second weekend of EAST.

"FRANCES AND I" found also a new home.

Metal Tree by Foster Talgae. It found a new home the second weekend of EAST Studio Tours. I wanted to take it home myself. He makes hard materials like metal and steel, etc. look so organic. For more information contact Foster at:   ftalgae@gmail.com

This painting, which I LOVE, now hangs on a wall in my house.  Paul Meyer does textural and sculptural paintings. To see more of his work go to:  www.paulmeyerstudios.com

Self-portrait by George Silas (Acrylic on canvas)

Latest News- "Chaos Within" will also roll North of Austin

UPDATE: Due to personal reasons Paloma and I had to withdraw our entry from this exhibit. Feeling sad!

I came home from International Quilt Festival to find an envelope with the following information:

"Congratulations! Your work titled, Chaos Within, has been selected by our juror, Judy Gordon, to be included in the 2014 Materials: Hard and Soft exhibition".

This exhibit will take place February, 2014. Organized by the Greater Denton Arts Council , Denton, Tx.
Needless to say Paloma and I are delighted!!

Photo of Chaos Within in the post below.

"Chaos Within" rolling down south!

I'm so thrilled that "Chaos Within" has been juried in to be shown at the Fiber Artist of San Antonio 2013 Exhibit.

 "Chaos Within" was a collaboration of Paloma Tsihlas and Martha Tsihlas (moi!). The opening reception is on Sat. Oct. 12 at 6 pm. We hope you can visit! For more information please visit this link:  FASA

Gallery Nord

2009 NW Military Hwy.

San Antonio, Texas

October 12-30, 2013

Add caption

Dougherty Arts Center, AFA "FIBER ON THE EDGE" Exhibit 2013

Austin Fiber Artists 2013 "Fiber on the Edge" exhibit at the Dougherty Arts Center. Julia C.  Butridge Gallery

"Chaos Within" by Martha Tsihlas and Paloma Tsihlas

Inside of "Chaos Within" before completion

"Ethiopian Madonna" by Anne Beaversdorf

"New York City Easter Parade" by  Victoria Simmons

"Never Enough" by Dee Merrell

"Planned Parenthood" by Marge Carson

"Wall of Roses" by Doerte Weber

"Idolatry" by James Edward Talbot

"The Giving Tree" by Barb Forrister

"Sparkles" by Janis Hooker

"Reflection on the Sea of Tranquility" by Jayne Gorup

TEXAS sampler

It has been a crazy couple of months, busy with family, quilts, short trips and just life in general. For the last few weeks I have been quilting this beautiful Texas sampler. It is perfectly pieced and the embroidered elements are exquisite!
The quilting is going slower than I thought but it is one of those quilts that can't be rushed. I will post more photos once it is quilted.

Thanks for visiting!