What To Take Away

Quilt group is on Fridays. I readily admit myself an old fart. This was hanging on the wall where we meet. It is 1800's old, and if one looks closely, it looks like the yellow and green were home over-dyed. Each square of white (sheeting) has a different quilting motif and one is signed by the maker.

This quilt inspired thoughts about how quilts and works of needlework and fiber art in particular can emit to others waves of emotions. For instance, examining the details of this quilt I deduced a fanciful story of a quiltmaker who used old bed sheets and the little ugly scraps she had, and with a little resourcefulness, created a soft spoken beauty of great wonderment.

Producing imaginative quilting motifs and gentle curving stems, this maker must have felt some sadness and yet sought to create a soft lightening result with her work. Was it to go in a small bedroom? And why do I get such a pleasant and calm vibe from this work?

Do quiltmakers and artisans deposit their soul in works? Can this soul be recognized and transmitted in a tactile interpretation of a viewer? I get this every once in awhile with objects of art. I have this gut reaction not dependent upon a like or dislike for an object, which conveys to me the mood and character of the maker. I appreciate the window into who they were and what was important to them e.g. lots of colors, lots of pieces, overall theme etc.

I am tucking these thoughts away for later, and I will think about what my art says, how it speaks, how during the process when I create, I can factor in these seemingly imperceptible entities.

So many emotions go into our art. Is that good? I know when I bake or cook and my mind is not balanced, my product is not balanced. I also know that when I go to sew, I use that as a balancer, as a de-stressing function. Does that mean I channel that into my art for others to perceive?

The snow did fall, the rain is removing the dappled white. The hills are accumulating and I feel the bare of the trees a little sad. So I focus on my orchid, and the houseplants sheltered mysteriously from cold. The day will move beyond the grey outside and reveal color.

Pocket Full Of Wisdom

So how was everyone's turkey day? Mine was good, good defined as not having to do any cooking. Nice to have a day off from that once in awhile. I am contemplating whether or not ice cream is allowed after working out???

Here is my wondrous arrangement, I produced it just before Thanksgiving for a grand total of about 75 cents. The basket was a gift and it just begged to be filled with flowers. Rather than rushing right out to do this idea that popped into my head, I waited, and then was able to scoop up some clearance stems.

The Canadians are saying it may snow, and I got that feeling just before I turned on the radio and heard about it, but according to my weather station is it 35 degrees. Maybe tonight! It would go so well to the Christmas music that I have been working to.

Without further blathering, here is my block bad pic, but finished and posted! #2:

I was curious today as I drove home, just what role the creation of beauty plays into our life purpose. I could do something, or I could go the extra mile, and do something well and beautiful. I think of being creative and using those inspirations that assail me in quiet and busy hours alike; and I find that living out those visions is surely a way to fulfill the purpose of one's life.

Walking along the seashore yesterday I found myself gathering little bits. The water was an icy calm and the tankers where at the dock for their loads. My sweetie got lost somewhere up in the bushes picking rose hips, and I walked on solitarily and slowly with my face bowed to the gems of the beach. The drift was large and fresh from the winds not much over a week ago, and I wanted to sit, but soon required movement to keep warm.

I walked to the white rock and turned around, releasing some unknown bunch of feathers to the wind, and reaching up to sweep the hat off of my head. The beach teaches much to a quilter, a fiber artist, or anyone whom seeks to create beauty with color in their lives.

I will take these thoughts with me, if I can hold them close without the demands of the day interrupting, and I will close the door to the studio and play, pocketing the meaning of life along with the rounds smooth stones and the little teeth of glass shards that followed me home to rest in the warmth.

Grandmother's

I was happily oblivious to the conversations going on around me, flipping through an old cookbook, the neat kind that are the accumulated pile of everyone's recipes. So a little surprise awaited me, a recipe submitted by my husband's grandmother. A Grandmother which in her elder years, he was kind enough to run dinner over for.
So tonight in the oven is:

Chow Mein casserole:

1 lb hamburger (I think ground turkey would be good)
1 c. chopped onion
1 can mushroom soup (I used organic)
2 1/2 Tbs. soy sauce
1/2 c. uncooked rice (I used a mix)
2 c. water

Brown hamburger, then celery and onions. Mix with all other ingredients. Put into a casserole and bake about 1 1/2 hours at 350.

Simple and easy, and I double it just for fun, maybe that will buy me some extra time to finish that quilt this weekend so I can have it wrapped up for the nephew - who just got a new bed!

Quilts, Pace of Life

The pace today is slowed, but I still have a pace, and I suppose some days that is the best anyone can ask! Just enjoying the hours of this beautiful day. Here is the quilt that was finally pinned with help of my quilt group. It is rolled up and waiting in the studio, until I finish up the last bit of my other one. And it will happen before Christmas.

Details






The tentative plan is to do some tiny circles or stippling around the house in the center to make it stand out, and then I think I will design a free flow rose motif to quilt in the square area of the chain. This quilt is a cal-king coverlet size. So it is large, and I worry it may be more like years and years before I finish the machine quilting on this puppy.

I'm getting some strength back after the harsh cold that everybody all over seems to be getting.


I want to make this quilt. Am I the only weirdo that takes picture of the T.V. screen during movies? Can anyone guess the movie? I'll type it at the end of the post. What I like about this quilt is the worn look that the color gives off. It has a nautical feeling, but also a heart of folk. I have been looking for the right blue for the background, and then I realized that it was probably an original navy that has worn and faded. With such a large block it would go together quick and be a great gift for a guy.
I however have projects to finish before this, and want to spend more time on some fabric painting/stamping/coloring. Maybe I could dye some fabric this summer for it? This could be a time when E-Quilt comes in handy.
As I write, the cows are headed into the barn, a giant black and white one stopped to munch a little. Now he is hustling to catch up. The clouds hug the mountain low at the foothills, but all around it is clear and blue sky. The fields are damp and wet and a deep chartreuse. I am grateful the wind has left and I am starting to think I would like a little snow around the homestead.
(Little Women)

Quilt A Long

My block!

So this is my first Quilt-a-long. Crazy Mom Quilts got me inspired do to the challenge. A coincidence occured due to me looking at my stack of thirties prints the day before I read her blog and thinking I need to do something with those. I took it as a sign to take action, so I did. (I just watched the Celestine Prophecy if you are wondering.)


So much has been going on in the studio. My machines have been humming, the lights hungrily burning fossil fuels to illuminate the tall space. I am really pleased with all that I have been accomplishing, most of it in small chunks of time when they become available. During the power outage, I made the pattern for the storage cart covers, and got all the pieces cut out. I can't wait for some extra time to sew, and my goal is to have these done, along with another quilt which only requires a couple more rows of quilting before I will post the product.

You can see the clear plastic I used to draft the pattern on. This allowed me to see where I positioned the piece on the pattern of the fabric. That way I also have a record if I ever want to make another in the future. I fold up all my used patterns, put them in Ziplocs and then file them in their correctly labeled tub. The pattern covers the Costco wire shelving that is on casters.


I have also been achieving small steps on my art quilt project which has been hogging the design wall, whispering to me that it is feeling neglected amid all my other utility projects.

Product Review: I was surprised to find these at my local art store, so I put them to the test:


I want to get to stamping some more fabric, I feel something coming that I will want to do with them, but I haven't defined what it is yet. Anyone have ideas? I also have some new embroidery cards that I want to try and specifically some Christmas ones.
In other news, the homestead is quiet today, Moby plays softly in the background and I am all dressed up to go over to relatives for dinner. I must say that my hair looks really good, which surprised me it has been wild lately. I'm looking forward to the drive and some time with my sweetie.

Workmanship

I have had some good times in the studio lately, and will post the pics when I get some time.
However overall I have been contemplating workmanship. My grandmother is preparing to leave her house of many years and looking over some of the contents I can't help but notice all the "Made in the U.S.A." Then we look around today, and that is almost non-existent.
What happen to workmanship and craft? How do I focus on this during my studio time? I live in this rush rush world, but I go in my room and try to slow, and to focus on artfully arranging and constructing something original, and yet I find myself wanting to hurry it up? How does the artist balance the need to produce with the workmanship required to do their best?
Is this because studio time can be such a precious resource that when one has it there is a need to accomplish? Is it because so many things in this world are expedited and instant?

Generations

I'm noticing all these smart, talented young women who are rejecting their mother's idea that it is possible to have it all. These bloggers are forging ahead with their own ideas of how to live a life, and struggling with opposing viewpoints which neglect how important it is to run one's own race.
We each have our own experiences growing up, and all families are different- but there is a common thread here, a swing back to the 50's if you will so to speak, and I am intrigued.
Is it because our generation grew up with no clean towels, a father and mother that if they were together were so stressed out, lonely after school times, fast food, lack of mentoring and guidance, and the idea of the Boomers that to be a success one has to have career success, and the beautiful clean home and great marriage as well? I've been looking around at these women who are the mother's of my generation, and I can't help but not want what they have.
Why is that?
To me so many seem tired, worn out, overweight, depressed, regretful, and frustrated with their children and spouses. Is this just reality? I know there are lots of women in the Boomer generation who have made choices NOT to have it all. I just don't personally know very many, and so perhaps my viewpoint is off.
It saddens me, (almost had a minor in women's studies)that women have come so far, and yet there is this great divide. And we seem to judge so harshly (yup, I'm guilty) and I wonder if there really is an "all" anyway, and will we reach a day where these communications are more open and the Boomers can talk with us, really talk, and maybe a whole cynical judgemental generation will go on in new/old directions because for all our flaws, we are a sharp bunch us youngsters - even if outnumbered.
Run your own race...thoughts?

Collect? Who me?

“No one expects the stamp collector to actually mail letters with his stamps. No one expects the coin collector to use his coins in a vending machine for soda. So why does everyone expect me to use my fabric collection to actually sew anything?” I’m not a fabriholic; I’m a fabric collector!"

Can't remember where I came across this statement, but it definetly has me pondering. There are untold hours of joy created from collections, and specfically merely the viewing and enjoying of them.

While I use my fabric, I know that I am not alone in possessing more than I will ever use. Quilting has definetly surpassed a subsistance art and crossed into nutzo hobby territory.

But hey, I need lots of colors!