Louise Naples Quiltmaker

To continue my “stash depletion” quest, I embarked on my third charm-pack quilt. Using earthy colors disbursed with many cream prints, these simple blocks came together quickly. I used all the small bits left over to create quad units to be used in the border. I introduced a muted red to give some pizzaz to an otherwide mild earthy quilt.

I was honored to be invited to have a month-long exhibition of my art quilts at the Center at Maple Grove, in Kew Gardens, NY during April 2025. The venue is modern, spacious, and well lit with natural and incandescent light. I had lots of help mounting the twenty-five quilts: my daughter Larisa and her family from California, local artist friend Jennifer Lambert, Jennifer Hayes, and Helen Day and Carl Bellinas of the Center. Here are some photos of the exhibit!

The concept for this quilt came from a package of coffee filters. I ironed them flat, and dumped my scrap bag on the table, and began sewing the strips onto the filters. The filters are practically indestructable, so worked as a strong foundation. After making a dozen or so, I had to decide what to do with them. I tried many backgrounds and settled on a medium grey all-over, but it needed something to pull it all together. So I used my large roll of black bias binding and laid out lines in all directions, and sewed them down. I arranged the circles for balance and color distribution, cut a few down to a smaller size, cut some halves and quarters, and after a few tries, said ‘There!” I stitched them down in raw-edge appliqué, quilted them across the strips, and free motion quilted in all the open spaces. It is a rustic and fun quilt.

This is a classic quilt block, Jacob’s Ladder. Again, using my collection of five-inch squares, and cutting them either diagonaly, or into quarters, these blocks came together swiftly. Arranging them on the diagonal moves the eye, and creates direction. For the binding I joined strips of fabric the colors used in the quilt.

I began this quilt in an effort to depleat my enormous stash of fabrics by starting with all of my charm packs. Using many colors and contrasting creames, I used whole, halves, quarters, and eighths of those five-inch wonders to create this colorful and traditional quilt. Those stars just pop!

This pattern called “Blue Onion” inspired me, but I wanted it to be multi-colored. I chose background fabrics from several Paula Nadelstern fabric lines. VERY careful cutting using a specialty ruler, and precise directions, garnered all the curved pieces. It was helpful to have experience sewing curves. Lots of colors, lots of movement. I am delighted with how it turned out.

This quilt was created with a bundle of 10″ calico squares, and an Accuquilt Clamshell die, making precise point matching possible. It was a real challenge with curved quilting, and sharp points. A soft blue print is the backing, and narrow black binding finished it off. A charming child’s quilt.

This wall hanging was made for my friend Linda for her June birthday. First drawn up on graph paper, the design was then printed out on freezer paper which adheres to fabric when ironed. I sliced and diced the sheets into pieces, ironing them onto patches of Indonesian batik fabrics. Cutting 1/4″ margin around all sides allows for easy joining. The completed wedges did not come together perfectly, so I added two half wedges to make the 360 degrees I needed. Added some antique lace, and placed together on a rich dark blue poured color background for a perfect gem setting. A very Zen project.

I made this piece for my sister Sylvia who is a serious birder. Using a technique called Paper Piecing, I fashioned birds soaring. It was fun to do, and my sister was so pleased. Out of the leftovers, I made another small piece.

As a thank you gift for the members of my Womens’ Club of Forest Hills Board, I made 38 of these mug mats. Two inch wide cuts in a variety of colors and patterns, they went together quickly. Quilting was a breeze in such small pieces, and the ladies loved them. Small practical gifts always please.