Almost There - January Resolutions

A report on my quilting resolutions: The list of completed unfinished quilts is so far my most successful category of resolutions.  As a quick reminder of this particular resolution: 

2.  I will make a list* of five quilts that I will work on. 

     First list of five: Three of those quilts will be unfinished projects, and if I don't want to work on them, I will analyze why not.  If I just don't like the quilt any more, I will give or throw it away.  If I just don't feel like working on it because I'd rather work on something else, I will allow myself to do so.  Two of the quilts will be new projects that I feel like doing using either the fabrics I set aside for that project OR choose as many as possible from my stash.  If I need to purchase something to fill out the list of items needed, that's all right.

     Second list of five: The numbers will reverse - three that are new projects that I want to work on and two are unfinished projects.

The first one is "Geisha's Garden", a large lap quilt begun in 2009 (yes, you read that correctly).  This is the one I took to EC's home for our sew-in on Saturday where I completed the binding - a task that marks this quilt as finished (it already had its label).

The next quilt is a small one and was my second hand-pieced quilt.  Spool quilts are among my favorite so I had been very eager to make this one.  Even though it turned out to be one of two hand-pieced spool quilt I wasn't as enthusiastic about the actual hand-piecing.  However, I really like the way this turned out, and I bound it on Sunday.  Its label is still lacking because I am trying to figure out when it was made.

This next quilt is not completely finished, but now that I have added the pieced borders, it is ready for the quilter.  This quilt, another hand-pieced one, is made using different combinations of the pieces used to make the churn-dash block (third row, middle block).  As things go, this one is relatively new.

And the final one for this showing is the hand-pieced Carpenter's Wheel which I've shown before.  Because it was officially finished last week while D was away, it counts as a completed unfinished quilt for this resolution.  Yes, it does have a label.

Now I have to return to my second "new" quilt that I started in January.  Once that is completed, I can move on to a new list of quilts.

A Day with Friends

This past weekend the friendship group that had its beginnings in my hand piecing class (was that two or three years ago?) met at the home of one of the members.  But before I tell you about that home, the activity, and the laughter, I should tell you more about the group.

We are at a point where we no longer call our monthly meetings a "class" although from time to time a new member arrives and I go into teacher mode.  Now if asked, we try to explain how we evolved from a class to a group to a friendship circle.  The origins may have been with hand piecing, but now we all work on any hand work.  Our activities run the gamut of hand quilting, applique, embroidery, hand sewing (of bindings or even mending), wool work, hand piecing, and/or whatever one wishes to do.  We have tacitly agreed that sewing machines don't belong, but even that is not actually a rule.

The main purpose of our group is to enjoy each other's company while doing something we all love.  The bond has grown, and our shared time is precious.

So this past weekend, at the invitation of EC, we all met at her glorious Victorian home for a full day of comradeship and sewing.  None of us brought sewing machines though we had not discussed it (ME and I thought at first that we might take them but nixed that idea because conversation is such an important part of what this group does best).  EC's home is beautifully decorated, comes with three felines who are shy and cautiously friendly - but charming,  and, best of all, her home is very spacious.  After a delightful breakfast (each member of the group brought food for the all the day's meals), we met upstairs, selected seats, and began working and chatting.

EC spent the day working on an applique wall hanging destined for her Garden Room's wall.  It's a very pretty piece with many appliqued flowers (I should have taken pictures but didn't - too busy!).  If I remember correctly, she has only about two blocks left to go.  It shows her love of gardening - which is her passion.  

SR was working on something orange and green - child's quilt? - that escapes my holey memory at this time ( it will probably come to me once I have posted this).  I do remember that the back was cleverly pieced which makes me think she was working on binding the quilt.  

P was hand piecing; she's started a new piece, Grandmother's Flower Garden, with hexagons.  Her fabric is just lovely, and she is fussy cutting it - something not easy to do. Her chosen fabric lends itself to   that kind of cutting as each piece will have its own motif.  One will think she used lots of different fabrics.

SMcG was sewing a wool quilt and is nearly done.  It's primitive in design and her creative additions are super.  Her deft touch turns any pattern into something new and uniquely hers.  She makes us all want to make whatever she is working on.

ME was working on a Veteran's quilt; she had chosen a very striking pattern.  Her colors are red, white, and blue, and the fabric patterns are varied.  The two together with the pattern make for a stunning quilt.  She's almost finished with it; she was sewing on the binding.

And binding was what I was doing, also.  I managed to complete the work on a lap quilt I made for myself in 2009 (yes, really - that long ago!). Do you remember me talking about how I don't like doing bindings?  Well, I have discovered that after all this time quilting, I seem to be able to sew a little faster.  Of course, this was not a huge quilt, but I got it all done that day.  Maybe  .. . just maybe, I'll be able to face the "finishing" with greater equanimity.

I will tell you that every meal was shared in the dining room with food prepared and presented attractively and placed on the table.  Seated around the table for at least an hour, we enjoyed our meals and the company.  Stories were shared as was laughter.  It was as meals are supposed to be but rarely are in our busy lives.

What was the best part of the day?  For me, it was the meals when we weren't distracted by our common hobby but were completely focused on each other and the conversation.  My sense is our friendship was deepened as much in that one day as it would be over the course in several days of "class".

So to each and every one of you, my dear friends, thank you for being you.  I cherish your friendship more than I can tell you.

Valentine for E

Dear E,

How did I ever get so lucky as to be born into a family of - mostly - brothers includinag DBR.  That particular brother had the incredible good taste to convince you to marry him.  Without his persistence in beating away all other suitors for your hand, I might never have met you, a lovely, loving woman.

Why am I sending you a Valentine today, E?  Well, you sent me one.  But not just any Valentine.

Do the rest of you remember my last art quilt?  Here's the reminder:

And, here's the Valentine's Day present I received from you, E.

Girl with a Pearl Earring socks!!!  If it hadn't been such a cold day, they would have been on my feet.  If my quilt is accepted into the Vermont Quilt Festival, you can be sure I will be wearing my to-die-for socks.  Have you all notice she is wearing a pearl earring?

What an incredibly thoughtful gift, E.  You give me pleasure that will last for a long time . . .

Almost as long as the pleasure of simply knowing and loving you.

P.S. Thank DBR for me!

Binding

After various inexplicable fits and starts, I did eventually find myself in my studio to work on the binding for two quilts.  Unfortunately, although I was sure I had made the binding for the Carpenter's Star wall hanging, it turned out I had not.  So after tidying up after the last project, I squared up the quilt, cut and ironed the binding, and machine stitched it on the front of the quilt.

Feeling that I was in the "binding groove", I took out another quilt, for me a very small one at about 24" by 24", for which I had made the binding.  However, I stopped myself in time.  "You are avoiding the part of binding you dislike the most by starting in on a new one.  Finish what you have started and then tackle the next one."

Surprise, surprise, I listened to myself!  Two and a half sides of the binding have been hand stitched to the back of the quilt which means I have only one and a half sides and the sleeve to stitch tomorrow. 

A project will be finished!

San' Antimo, Second Draft - Day 5

Painting day!  I find that I am not wholly successful in photographing this painting.  Last week's edition was a bit too rich in color so that today's photo will seem palid in comparison.  It's hard to learn how to compensate for different light when photographing watercolors.  My more knowledgeable friends will have to let me know what I should do.  

Until then here is last week's work:

In the above painting, the church is very light partly because of the editing as mentioned above, but it is also light because parts haven't been painted at all.  While that might seem absurd to point out, the viewer might find the next version "dark" in comparison.  Of course, because of the addition of pigment some of the light has been lost.  On the other hand, without that additional pigment, shapes and details would be unclear.

Here is today's version with the same kind of editing as the first - I couldn't stand comparing the two in different "light".

The reality is probably somewhere in between.

I think next week will see this one finished.  That will be a certainty if I make some time this week to work on it.  As usual, it's up to me.

Baby Steps

Another Monday full of the usual once-a-week chores.  However, I did get some quilt-related time.

First, I gathered the faulty-block materials to send to a Guild member who hadn't been able to make to our meeting last week (D was kind enough to take it to the Post Office for me). Then I pulled out another pack of block materials to hand-deliver to still another member who works in a local quilt shop.  Well, you know that was fun!  I was able to pick up a crib size batting even though I chose a cotton instead of the polyester I should have remembered to purchase.  It's for hand-quilting the Improvisation quilt; poly works better for that (it's not as dense so the needle goes through more easily).

After the Guild business was taken care of, I returned home and despite the usual busy-ness of today, I managed to squeak in some sewing on the current project.  Not that I was able to finish it which would have been nice, but even an inch of sewing is an inch more than I had before.  Since I was in a frequently interrupted portion of the day, I moved on to sandwiching the hand-quilting project.  It's now ready for basting.

The rest of the day was spent doing the usual but having been able to get some things ready to work on is a big deal.  My regret is that I wasn't able to sew binding on - I have two I really need to do as soon as possible.  Okay, make that three.

One at a time, and they will be finished. Sometimes all one can do is advance via baby steps.  It's still an advance!

Super Bowl . . . I Think

D is watching the Super Bowl so, of course, I am keeping him company.  During the first part of the half-time show, I wryly said to him that I almost missed the old shows that consisted of marching bands.  At least I didn't have to worry about understanding a song whose lyrics I couldn't even hear.  No sooner had I said that than they showed - maybe one minute or two? - clips of past shows that gave me something to feed my nostalgic longing for past entertainment.

Then there was the Jeep advertisement.  Now that was pure pleasure; those photographs were stunning!

And the game?  Hmmm.  Well.  Yes, there was a game.

Let's see; I looked through Willyne Hammerstein's Millefiori Quilts book and tried to figure out if I had chosen the correct fabrics for "Pasacaglia", the one I plan to attempt (not English paper-pieced but hand-pieced instead), did some work on the jigsaw puzzle, read a book (Sally Green's Half Wild, the YA fantasy sequel to Half-Bad which I read last year), ate some shrimp and cheese, played some Hearts and solitaire, and am now writing my blog.

And the second half just started.

What will I do now?

Looking Back

Today is the day I report on how my resolutions are holding up against the test of time. This year I approached the entire idea of resolution-making differently.

The first one was "I will try to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen".  And that is exactly what I have done.  My weight reflects some moderate success in reducing intake and resisting foods I shouldn't eat, but even more than that, I continue to make healthy choices more often than not.  I walked, but given the mild weather, I really could have walked more than I did.  Appointments also came between me and a walk several times; January was a busy month.  Here I rated a C for average.

Number two was to make a list of five quilts I would work on.  Here I give myself an B.  With everything else going on, I managed to start and finish a quilt top.  An unfinished project received some attention.  A large bag of patterns was sorted with some being given away, and the same is true of some successful fabric sorting.  However, I did succumb to the siren song of some fabrics, but they were purchased with projects in mind.  And I also took on another challenge even after being reminded of one I had forgotten about.  Stupid!  Oh well, if I make, great; if I don't, no problem.

Working on my art as often as I can was the third resolution.  No grade being assigned on this one as I really didn't have blocks of time.  I did put all my spare time on that quilt top.  Let's see what I can do about that this month.  Finding a better balance may be difficult.

Most important was number four - spending more time with my family.  The subtext there is,"Don't say yes to everything; be more conscious of which commitments you take on."  That's hard when many of the commitments are to spend time with dear friends.  Where I can, and I think I have pared down for this month is in the category of classes.  And I have resolutely kept vacation week free so we can spend time with our daughter and grandson.

All in all?  I'm working on it.  It's been on my mind, and that's better than the fate of resolutions most years.

San' Antimo, Second Draft, Day 4

ME reminded me tonight that I hadn't reflected on the "resolutions" I made in January, and she was right.  Her reminder was welcomed because I had totally forgotten.  Tonight, I told her, tonight I will write about how I did and reflect on what I need to do this month.

And that was my intention until I reflected on today.  It was painting day, and how, I reasoned, could I not discuss the painting when it is so fresh in my mind?  So, with apologies to ME, the discussion will be on the painting.

Last week I turned my attention from the first study (disaster) to the second.  By the end of the painting day last week, things were looking up.  Here's what I had at the end of last week (I'm showing it so you don't have to try scrolling back and forth):

This week the progress was slow.  Very slow . . . and that's one of the lessons for today.  Architectural painting is not something I can do quickly.  I am able to paint things like the background more loosely now than when I began watercolors, but I find it almost impossible to transfer that loose brush stroke over to the building.  I'm inhibited partly because, as always, I want it to be perfect. But also because this is relatively uncharted territory - painting a complex building in a way that gives a sense of its mass as well as the architectural details.  All that and its simple beauty.  I want to capture it all.  And while trying to do that, I also want to comvey my sense of its importance to the community as well as its solitude.  And how the heck am I going to get this all in one painting?

Here's today's work.  The building is coming along, but I'm not so sure about all the rest.

Tomorrow?  The easier stuff, I promise, ME.

Monday is Wash Day

Monday is a day of house work; at least it usually is for me if I remember, a. what day it is and, b. to do it.  Today we were up early so D could take the car in for a check up.  That got me started so the laundry was well on its way to being finished by noon.  

Once the car was available, I was able to go off to the grocery shopping (oh joy).  Actually, I don't mind grocery shopping - as long as I can find the items on my list.  Today I didn't have much luck with some of the more common items.  When I asked about that at the customer service desk, I was told they stock what sells.  Well, that makes sense to me, a store can't stock everything.  But milk without flavoring or sugar (I wanted plain Almond milk - not coconut flavored, vanilla, not chocolate)?  It wasn't a big deal or many items, but it was surprising and inconvenient.

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig.  After lunch, it was time to make the crust-less quiche for tomorrow night's dinner.  Like any custard, a quiche's flavor develops with time (a little time, anyway).  And it is crust-less because it doesn't need one, and neither of us want the calories or fats especially when one considers what else is in a quiche.  This one is made with onion, broccolini, cherry tomatoes, and cheddar.  See what I mean about the need to eliminate excess calories?

Then it was time to return to a chore I had started earlier.  I sorted patterns.  Sound easy?  Not if you consider the categories into which I was sorting them:  1. time to start/or time to finish, 2. I really want to do this - sometime, 3. maybe someday but definitely not now, and 4. get rid of this one!   Not easy decisions to make, but I feel virtuous because I got through the pile.  They are all now filed where their category placed them.

Then it was time to finish writing some letters to family members which didn't take much time. That ended the list of things I hoped to complete today; for once I didn't have unrealistic expectations.

Oh, and I should add that my entry form for the Vermont Quilt Festival was mailed today.

Quilt, Quilting, and Painting

Much has gone on since the last entry.  Today will be the day of photographs and little text.

Four of us showed up with our almost finished Mystery Quilts on Sunday.  The fifth person forgot, and I forgot to send a reminder.  Here are the four in the order they were shown.

The first is a lovely blue and green version made by E.  Like most of us, she didn't like it until she added the borders.  The rest of us just swooned (the photos are from my cell phone and the colors are as vivid as I remember them).

ME did this version, and it is being held by two relatively short people - hence the sagging.  The borders made it for her, too.  Generally speaking borders bring a quilt together.  To me the most important border is the narrower striped one with all colors pulled in.  Stroke of genius, ME!

This one is mine.  It's larger than the others, and my borders include left over pieces from the quilt because I didn't have enough of the striped purple to go around.

S McG made a Halloween-themed version, and she is planning to do some very creative applique on it as well.  

During our Hand-piecing "Class", I worked on a project that has been hiding, unfinished, in my  studio closet.  This is the third of a planned four hand-quilted blocks.  I enjoy hand-quilting very  much, but this particular one is my least favorite - which may be why I set it aside.  But I also wanted a variegated thread for the center.

Finally, a brief look at one study I started in Saturday's class on how-to paint birch trees.  Mine are definitely not birches but as it is the most successful of three dismal studies, I show it.

Unfinished - but then they all were.  It was a four hour class which I found exhausting but full of information.  The studies will continue until I can produce some semblance of a birch!

Mystery Quilt Closer to Being FInished

Sewing on the Mystery Quilt took much of my day - that is after an entire morning spent putting the pieces in what I hope was a pleasing manner. Thought I had it all done and whipped out my cell phone to take pictures.  This time the pictures were solely to help me make sure the sewing was being done correctly as the quilt was on the guest room bed (the better to see if it would be the right size!) ,and I had to carry the pieces to the sewing machine.  Usually I forget the orientation and need something to look at to make sure the sewing is correctly done. 

Naturally, half way through the stitching I discovered that sewing it the way it was laid out presented a real problem.  I had overlooked the fact that the large pieces I cleverly (I thought) laid out in such a way that they linked the pattern together much like interlocking logs made it almost impossible to sew.  It's hard to attach a 12" x 12" square to a 6" x 6" square.  How to solve this?  I had already sewed a third of the quilt together, and my options for moving pieces around had diminished.

Of course, there was a way to do it; it was simply difficult and had to be done carefully.  Right angle sewing is tricky.  And time consuming.

Ah well, that part is finished, and tomorrow I hope to get the main part of the quilt done with time left over for the borders.

Wish me luck!

Painting: San' Antimo Day 3

At the end of my last painting day, two versions of Saint Antimo (aka San' Antimo). The first approach was less than successful as a painting, but I think it was (and is) quite successful as a study, a practice sheet.  If I needed it, it certainly proved the importance of practice.  Intellectually I know that practice is always worthwhile, but being slow to learn, I have to have it proved over and over.  Someday I will automatically start a painting knowing that it is a study only.

And maybe my hair will be wrinkle-proof nylon when I wake up!

Anyway, here is proof if you need it.  Revisiting what went before so one doesn't have to scroll through entries to find the earlier works:

 This is the first study.  I did forget to show the third pass from the weekend, but I didn't take a picture of day 3.  I will continue to work on it as long as what I do on it helps me with the second version seen below.

               

Second Draft, Day 1

Second Draft, Day 2

Second Draft, Day 3

As far as I am concerned, this version is much closer to what my eyes see when I look at the photograph plus what my emotional eyes see.  That's always an important part of what one paints.  That is something else that I am learning.  For a long time I have been focused on making an accurate representation of what is in front of me or in a photograph.  Now that I feel that I can do that reasonably well, I have to work on trying to infuse what I feel or felt when in a particular place. 

What I don't know is whether I'm doing that.   

Improvisation #1: Your Opinion?

I've searched (albeit quickly) through my photographs, but I could not find an early photo of the texture art quilt.  Now I can't even remember when it was begun, but now it is very close to being finished.  Not to long ago I showed you this picture:

At this point I was beginning the embroidery of - well, of a weed.  Now it the weed is as far along as will be until backing is added (or not) and the quilting is finished.  At that point I will attach the leaves, give it a last pat, and put it  . . . somewhere.

However, I am currently on the horns of a dilemma.  Should I put a background fabric on in such a way that it can be seen or just use a backing that follows the shape of the front (and can't be seen)?  Thinking that the first idea might be the correct one, I am going to ask for some help.  I will show you three possible backgrounds, and, if you will be so kind, you will tell me which one you think looks best.

I love fabric with script, type, or numerals.  The above has that as well as plants and birds - more favorites.

This selection has "duck" cloth as a background, and the fabric is virtually the same color as the quilting cotton on which I worked.  I haven't ironed the duck so that is a fold crease on the right.

This choice is one my very favorites of all time.  I bought a lot of it, wrapped on a cardboard bolt form, and sigh over it from time to time.  A bit of it has been used, but I hang on to it thinking I will use it for a quilt for our bed.  

The photographs were taken in natural light - no flash - so you might be able to see which looks best to you.

This is a close up of the weed's seed head (and my needle!).  I took four strands of raffia and of different embroidery threads to make the stem using my oh-so-rusty macrame (hadn't done that since - well, a very long time).

Once again, I'd like to know what you think about the possible fabric choices.  Or would you rather I don't use any and let the central piece stand on its own? 

Serious Assessment of My Day

Another good day, but one with no pictures. Let's see:

1. Laundry - two days late, but there was still clean underwear in dresser drawers.
2. Grocery shopping - one day later than scheduled, but no one starved (I'm the only one home).
3. Banking done - unscheduled errand.  Score one for me.
4. Bought more ink cartridges.  I printed a lot of photographs, but they're for painting. No demerits for that purchase.
5. Bought ribbon, beads, and background fabric for finishing touches on Improvisation #1 in White.  Background fabric was a remnant on sale.  Points added.
6. Made a birthday card. I remembered before the birthday passed.  Double points.
7. Cut fabric for extra pieces to enlarge Mystery quilt and sewed some additional blocks, BUT I still cannot get my head around that first block!  Both plus and minus points on that one so it's a wash.
8. Thoroughly enjoyed making this list

I win!!!

Painting - San' Antimo

Today painting was as usual; a wonderful, happy time full of serious work and lots of laughter.  Even when our numbers are down as they were today (some have flown south and others have family obligations), we have a tight-knit group and know we are lucky in our support for each other and very fortunate in our teacher.  

Sharon was quite kind about the first go at San Antimo including the background wash! She pointed out that it was too early to make rash decisions (though I wasn't thinking about discarding it - yet!).  Still and all, I wasn't happy with it as I've said, but I was determined to continue and learn from it as a study for the second attempt.

Here is the study before today's work and after:

I could tell you what I think isn't successful, but then, you could probably tell me!  It clearly isn't finished, and we'll see what can be done about its shortcomings.

Next is the new San' Antimo painting.  In this version, I put the perspective back to the way it is in my photograph.  In the first go, I thought I could give the building a more straight forward look but forgot what I had decided and angled the forward part the way my photo showed it.  Sigh.  Another reason to start taking notes!

Today all I did was work at getting a very light color for the walls which are nearly white in the photograph.  I thought I had it with burnt sienna and Antwerp blue which gave me quite a pale restrained green.  Then Sharon pointed out that in this version my background is mostly cool so I might want to use a warm color for the church.  And of course,she was right.  I did.  Back to the palette box I went and managed to mix up a batch of  a pinkish color that I thought looked like putty.

Don't judge it yet, and I won't either!  The roof  and windows will add a punch of color as is evident in the first painting.  That may work magic in this one.  We'll see.

Mystery Quilt - Again

This quilt has me changing my mind several times a day which is not a usual thing for me once I've started a project.  First, I was quite excited about the idea of making something I knew absolutely nothing  about.  Second, I chose fabrics I really liked - a lot.  Third, when I signed up to take the class, I didn't pay any attention to the finished size of the quilt.

The first point - the enthusiasm came and went as I worked my way through the process.  That's easy to explain. I like to have a clear pathway from the selection of a pattern to the fabric, to cutting and sewing. Through all those steps, my imagination works throughout the process picturing how the final product will look.  Having occasional anxiety about my choices was normal given my usual desire to make all decisions and have a way to put my personal stamp on a piece.

The choice of fabrics was the second item I mentioned.  I find making decisions about fabrics very easy, and I rarely second guess myself.  When I do, it usually rights itself as I continue with the pattern. Here I found one fabric really stuck its tongue out at me and just kept blowing raspberries at me.  Last night I went to bed trying to figure out what I could do with a quilt that I thought was definitely on its way to "unattractive" at best.  This morning I got up and looked at my design wall, and while I still was not a fan of that particular fabric, I found I really like the way everything is falling in place.  It's bright and cheerful as you can see from the last five blocks I made:

It turns out that the third "problem" - the finished size - was the real issue.  This pattern is for a wall hanging measuring 48" x 60".  I don't need another wall hanging and don't know anyone who does.  At first I thought I'd make it into a bed quilt for our full size guest room bed.  Okay, not such a good idea; that would take a bit of work and fabric.  Next I thought I'd make a twin-sized quilt for D's cousin's baby girl.  But that would mean the parents would have to store the quilt for - oh, maybe two years?  Another not very good idea.  Yes, it could be a donation quilt, but,well, I do like it.  Finally, I asked D.  He likes the idea of a second guest room quilt.

It'll be bright and cheerful if you come for a visit!

Painting - Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy

The painting I was working on for our friends who took us on a whirlwind tour of Tuscany is not only done; it is also in their hands as of early this week. They called and were very pleased with their gifts including the painting.  I'm very pleased both that they have it - finally - and that I can now post the painting.  So here is "Castelnuovo di Garfagnana" (couldn't remember the name of the town so it's not on the painting - there wouldn't have been room for it anyway as it's a very small painting):

It's hard to see the painting clearly because it is photographed through glass.  Below is another attempt to get a better picture.

The landscape in the foreground is exact.  It consists of rows of grapevines, the grayish olive trees, and the typical-for-Tuscany cypress.  I did take liberties with the olive trees close to the town; they are much to large, but I love the color and wanted the mass so I painted them that way.  Where I really took creative license was in the town itself.  The tower was there and so were buildings, but the size, shape, and number are strictly imaginary. 

It was fun to paint, but I haven't decided if I will do another one for us.  What do you think?

Pine Bush and Mystery Quilt

After eating a very tasty luncheon, three of us headed out to the Pine Bush where we spent a happy time exploring the exhibits (and gift shop, of course).  Our main purpose was to gather some information and possibly some inspiration for the next challenge.  It's a small "Discovery Center", but it manages to pack a lot of hands-on, interesting exhibits in that small space.  It was too cold to take advantage of the many hiking trails, but when the weather is a bit better, I promised myself I would return to explore further.

Once back home, I spent the rest of the afternoon organizing the materials and the blocks made this past weekend for one of the "new quilts".  There was just enough time to finish a set of blocks started last Sunday.  It was the first free time to sew, and while not a lot was accomplished, it was still forward movement.  The blocks that are completed are:

"Evening Star"

"Broken Dishes"

"Turnstile"

"Pin Wheel"

Each block was made five times in different combinations of five fabrics for a total of twenty blocks so far.  Of course, after choosing the initial five fabrics and while cutting them, I decided to enlarge the quilt.  There wasn't enough left of the original fabrics so another five fabrics were added.  The "mystery" was that until near the end of our sewing time last Sunday, we had no idea what the finished quilt would look like.  We had no picture to go by or sample to look at.  

It will be interesting to see how this turns out with my ten colors and enlargement.

Quilting and Painting with Photos!

Picture Day!  The first is Improvisation #1 that I have been working on - again - after discovering what I want to add to it.  You can see the beginnings of the embroidery in the "big empty space".  This is only one day's work, but maybe you can tell that it will be what is left of a flower head in the fall.  It's not a Queen Ann's Lace but another weed that looks like it.  During the fall it has a lovely skeleton which I am trying to capture.

Today was also painting day, and I started an experiment.  Keep that in mind as you look at this "beginning" and wonder, "What on earth was she thinking?"  I really enjoy pen and ink work, and I also like watercolor.  So I decided that I would lay down a wash of color, do a bit of ink work, then paint the image followed by heavier ink where needed.  Complicated?  Maybe, but I think I could really enjoy the end result - if I get it right.  Here is what I did today:

This is St.Antimo's Church in Italy where we listened to the monks chant.  I think I hate the background wash; it was an attempt to be completely free and uninhibited.  However, I will continue working on the church itself; studies are an important part of the process for me.  However, while I work on this, I will probably do another wash.  Just to have it ready for the next trial.

Art Quilt Time

Surprise, surprise!  No photos today because I was having too good a time hand sewing and celebrating a birthday with my art quilt group.  We met here and discussed - oh, a lot of things. 

One member had an older, unfinished landscape quilt with stunning colors as well as a new project with circles on a golden background (I mentioned this one in an earlier entry).  Her work on the landscape project consisted of trying new adhesives and seemed to be meeting with success.  The circles project also had a new approach; she asked me to place the circles on the background (I over thought the task as usual).  She then took a photograph of my placement.  Then the second member of the group was asked to do the same thing.  It will be fun to see how she uses the three (hers included) ideas on effective placement.  

The second member had still another in her on-going series.  That led to an interesting discussion on the value of working in a series.  In each one, she has approached her subject in a different way - tried new techniques, perspectives, colors, materials - you name it.  Today was no different.  She was trying out a new fusible to which she could adhere tiny pieces of fabric.

It's such an education just watching what those two are doing!

I picked up my Improvisation piece and started filling in the large empty space with free-hand embroidery.  Wait, that's not totally accurate.  I did draw some swooping lines with chalk which were intended to be merely an optional guide, but when I couldn't see the chalk line, I went over it with mechanical pencil.  The darker line that resulted made it far less optional (if I didn't sew on it, it would be visible).  Another lesson learned.  

I still like where mine is going and continue to be both inspired by and fascinated with the work of my friends.  Photos will come of what I am doing, but I'd better not promise when they will appear.

Mystery Quilt

Sunday, the end of a terrific weekend. I spent both Saturday and Sunday at LC working on a "Mystery Quilt".  There were six of who spent the weekend laughing, talking, and oh yes, sewing.  One woman (a new friend) talked less than the rest of us so she actually finished her quilt top. Two others worked very hard while listening, laughing, and talking (though not as much as the last three!) and are very close to being finished.  The last three participants, talked more than they should have (if they wanted to finish the quilt top in one weekend), laughed as much as they could, and sewed with the best intentions but possibly less well than the others.

I'm one of the last three.

Of course, you knew that already.

We have a deal to meet at LC at the end of January with our completed quilt tops, and I expect to be there.  Over the next few days I will show various parts of the quilt that I am working on, and at the show-and-tell when we display our work, I will show as many of the finished ones I can.  I think you'll really like to see how very different they all are.

Good Days for a Quilter

Yesterday there was no entry because I returned home from the Guild meeting rather tired from a long day.  It was a long but good day in my quilting life.

First, the sew-in at my other Guild was a smashing success as far as I was concerned.  Two of my art quilting friends were there sharing the table with.  C was working on a really wonderful art quilt consisting of fabric scraps in the shape of very thin, very long isosceles triangles with William Morris designs that she had cleverly crafted into circles.  She then scattered them on a rich background  . . . well, you'll just have to see it some time.

KR was beside me mending an older quilt she had given her daughter.  Ten or so years of love and dogs had had their toll, and KR said she'd do the mending.  Don't even think of asking me to mend a quilt!  It's a job times 10 to the nth degree.  But she did it; that's devotion to family and to craft!

One of my five "resolution quilts", the donation one, went with me, and I made 24 nine-patch blocks.  Then with the very last half-hour we were there, I managed to sew complete one row of six blocks with sashing between.  I was very pleased with that.

At the night-time Guild, the Snowman block ME had made was a smash hit - even at $3.00 per block because of the included embellishments.  We could have sold 27 Snowmen if we had had them; they were really super!  The Pine-Tree-in-the-Snow blocks all sold also because they make a good accompaniment for those snowmen.  I hope no one has problems with the construction of them and that all blocks are returned on time.  With 27 blocks, we are going to pull three winners from the hat so three people will have great wall hangings.

Today was the other Guild's meeting, and I think it was a real success.  Our speaker had almost 30 quilts, some antiques which she discussed and then many, many of her own.  There is a woman who is prolific and who does not turn her back on any opportunity to stretch her mind and ability.  I think she's successfully tackled just about every new technique out there.  What an inspiration!

Quilt Resolution Report

Here is the "Official" list of the five quilting projects I plan to complete before starting anything new.

Old Projects:  

1. B. A. Bag #2:  Okay so this one is a bag, not an actual quilt even though it requires quilting.  It's on my list because I really don't enjoy making bags although I sometimes like the finished piece.  This way it will be finished and off my studio floor.
2. Biggest Binding Project lying around:  Here's something else I truly don't like doing - even if I now do it on the sewing-machine.  I must, must, must get started on my pile of non-bound items.
3. Off the Beaten Path:  This is the art/story quilt I started making for the main bathroom upstairs.  It got pushed to the side when other more urgent projects claimed my attention.  This will a fun thing to do.  

New Projects:

1. Boy's Quilt: This is the donation quilt I've mentioned this week. It qualifies as new even though my intention to make one is old. It's new because the actual work on it started this month; I got the fabric out and organized, cut all of it out, and am taking it for tomorrow's Guild Sew-In day.
2. Mystery Quilt:  Even though I signed up and purchased fabric for this one last year, I cut out all the fabric for it this week, and it will be started this weekend.  Once started, my goal is to finish it.

If you've thought about this, you now realize I will soon be juggling five projects in the air.  That is part of the balancing act this will require.  But, you see, it really isn't any different than what I already did except that it is minus the "Look, there's a chicken!" anymore.

I will report on my progress from time to time.

Next I need to organize my approach to my art.  I'm not sure it will be quite as easy, but I hope, that now one part of my life is on the road to organization, the other will join in more easily on the trip.

Crazy Art

Art class was crazy today; or if the truth be known, it was crazy for me.  I was delighted to be there, but my brain hadn't gotten the news.  Even though I packed my bag for class, I didn't check my photo folder (try saying that several times in a row!) carefully enough so I got to class without the necessary reference for the painting I had started.  Okay, I thought, I'll use a similar picture from a different angle and make up what I can't see.  What???  Clearly, the brain was strolling down a bougainvillea strewn boulevard without me.  Finally I had to admit it and tell everyone that Noel wasn't present; they were seeing a hologram.  Maybe next week she'll return.

After class I went to my favorite art supply store to purchase materials for a new project.  I am eager to start a painting of the Grand Canal in Venice, but I needed some different supplies for it.  It was exciting to get what I need so I can start - oh, wait.  I have the supplies, but do I have the time?  Tomorrow I have to cut fabric for a two-day weekend quilt class, Thursday I have a sew-in, Friday there's a Guild meeting with a possible free afternoon, Saturday and Sunday = class, and Monday?  I believe Monday is completely free (except it's laundry day).  That means I have one-and-a-half days minus laundry time to work on the Grand Canal with the newly purchased supplies.  Nope, the brain was since not in evidence.

Then I went to crazy class.  You probably thought I was the teacher since I was so obviously highly qualified, but no, I was a student.  The class was Crazy Quilt, and I felt right at home.  Finally!

Some Success

Yesterday I wrote about my new approach to resolutions and made a list of this year's "to do" list.  While writing about my quilting and most especially about my "stash", I said,

 . . .  although my stash has a lot, it doesn't have everything . . .  If I need something to add to what I have, I will purchase it.  If I find something I can't resist, that's because it speaks to me, and I call that inspiring fabric so - 

Today I had occasion to test my resolve.  I was cutting out fabric for a donation quilt, this one for a boy, when I realized that I really needed an appropriate fabric for the large blocks.  So when I went out to run some errands, I stopped at the dangerously-convenient-quilt-shop and looked.  I found fabric with dogs and some with cats. Both were perfect for a young child (cartoon-ish but not babyish).  I bought some, but here's the good part.  I bought only a fat quarter of each (that's a piece of fabric 18" x 22").  It allowed me to cut 3 blocks of each to add to the quilt with a only a little left over.  

Did I stop there?  Well, no.  I saw some packets of "fabric samples" That were less than $5.  Did I buy them all?  No, I looked at them very carefully and chose three.  One I've already used in the boy quilt I'm working on.  The other two both have birds in them and the colors quite pretty.  My plan is to use them in a donation quilt for a girl.

The boy quilt is all cut out and ready to sew on Thursday.  This doesn't count as one of the "unfinished projects" to work on because it was pre-resolution.  I am determined to get it finished, though, so I can donate it this year which will take care of my obligation to my second Guild.

It's been a good day with a successful foray into a quilt shop.  Spending was kept to a minimum!

A New Year = A New Approach

This has been a lovely, long break from writing entries, but I'm back again!  With everything we had going on, I just didn't have the energy at the end of the day for writing.  

Once again I have decided to make a few resolutions for the new year, but resolutions with a difference (for me, at least).  In the past, I've tried to make what I thought were reasonable, attainable resolutions, but my resolve never lasted more than a month. In hindsight I realize that I was going about this all wrong, but I thought resolutions and/or the making of them was the problem.  Last week on one of the news programs on BBC, I heard a few things that may help me change some behaviors more easily. What follows is the type of resolution I would have made in the past with the what-I-hope-will-be-more-successful type I'm making today.

So - instead of: I will lose 10 pounds (or whatever specific number) or even I will lose weight (a more general resolution), here is this year's version:  

1.     I will try to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen, but if I decide to eat something not usually acceptable or skip my walk, so what? It's not the end of the world (I've had experience and know that to be true!).  "Tomorrow is another day."

Instead of: I will finish my unfinished projects and use only my stash on new projects; here's this year's more realistic version:

2.  I will make a list* of five quilts that I will work on. 

     First list of five: Three of those quilts will be unfinished projects, and if I don't want to work on them, I will analyze why not.  If I just don't like the quilt any more, I will give or throw it away.  If I just don't feel like working on it because I'd rather work on something else, I will allow myself to do so.  Two of the quilts will be new projects that I feel like doing using either the fabrics I set aside for that project OR choose as many as possible from my stash.  If I need to purchase something to fill out the list of items needed, that's all right.

     Second list of five: The numbers will reverse - three that are new projects that I want to work on and two are unfinished projects.

    If something comes up and I have to deviate from this plan, that's all right, too.  Both opportunities and inspiration arise; I'd be a fool to ignore either.  I can always return to the plan after dealing with the opportunity or inspiration is dealt with (notice I didn't say "completed").  Also, although my stash has a lot, it doesn't have everything.  If I don't like what is there at all, I'll give it away.  If I need something to add to what I have, I will purchase it.  If I find something I can't resist, that's because it speaks to me, and I call that inspiring fabric so - 

Instead of: I will spend 2 hours every morning on art; here's a better statement:

3.  I will work on art as often as I can.  If I can work everyday, terrific!  If I can't, I won't just give the resolution up, I'll continue to keep the idea of drawing, painting, planning (what have you) in the forefront of my mind so I can snatch the moment when one becomes available.

And here's the one that should be first:

4.  In order to spend as much time with my family and friends as possible (as well as keep the above three resolutions!), I will work my hardest to keep my calendar from getting overfull.  I will honor commitments, but choose wisely those that I accept.  If a time comes when there is too much on my plate because I've ignored wisdom, I'll accept those that I cannot change, but I will also remind myself that I am retired and do not have to do everything.

Finally, Keep the list as short as possible.  I have left things out that in previous years I would have listed.  It's the old, "Keep it simple."

*My list of projects will be exchanged with ME, and I will have her list.  This way she and I can encourage each other and make working on projects more fun by working together when we can.