Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Three weeks of stress
Last Saturday there was a funeral for my Aunt Betty who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer-- only 3 weeks ago. Since I am a recovered cancer patient - my family thought I was the right person to help her. Between the medical information, the doctor visits and providing moral support to my beloved Uncle Dave-- I was wrung out. In the middle of all this I received the registration numbers for the quilt show in Somers NY -- great news- and a photo of my new nephew Nicholas laying in the baby quilt I recently made for him.
So on Sunday I went back to my sewing room and made the Journal Quilt for April. It's called flight for obvious reasons. In my sewing room with my classical music, the world goes away and I can escape. This little "quiltlet" has been sitting there in pieces and I couldnt concentrate until the other family stuff was done. The pieces were moved around and around till it felt just frustrating. Nothing looked right. My husband gave me a quick sketch of what the fabric was saying to him and I went with his idea.
There was a quilting class in the last 3 weeks which was completed last week. It utilized the fruit and vegetable fabrics which I won at the quilt retreat. That should be put together this week.
In addition there are fabrics waiting for me -- these belong to the post card swap which is now in progress. The proposed theme is Fairies"" and I do have an idea. The plan is to work a panel of layers with Angelina, silver film, sequins, beeds?? , tulle and metallic thread. My hope is that it will look like fairies wings; the next step is to sew along a grid - measuring 4" x 6" and cut them apart. These cards will need the edges to be finished off with a zig zag edge and also the backing will be applied with the name and address. In one of my previous emails I was asked how did I embellish my work. Last year I took an Art quilt class at the Country Quilter, in Somers NY. Several of the classes addressed embellishments which can be done in several mediums. --- beads, metallic thread, Angelina, stamping, foiling, overlays of tulle, filming, painting, resist dyeing, collage, applique or couching of other substances (branches, leaves, paper, yarn), iron on photo images on fabric. Your imagination can just go for it.
This week starts a formal schedule at the local hospital - volunteering 2 to 3 mornings per week.
It allows me to be helpful providing information at the front desk and using my Spanish. My hope is to one day to work there.
But quilting and sewing is my therapy. I really need this creative release. The sad part is over and now I can enjoy the spring. The trees and flowering bushes are in full bloom. My yard is so colorful with all the flowering plants that my husband has prepared.
A friend told me that it is not wrong to sew artistically on one piece per week and then go back to quilting and make something pretty and classic. Thinking back over the last month - it seems to me that is exactly what I have done. One thought is that I should take one of my creative ideas and try it again and again with improvements. My quilting ideas jump from one thing to another depending on the fabric or the latest class or the latest mood I'm in. Does it seem like flitting around? The stash is large enough - that I could run with various ideas for months to come.
I heard there was snow in Colorado this week. The weather has been a bit strange all over the US. But here in the Northeast - this has been a glorious spring. Today the temperature went up to the 70's!!
So on Sunday I went back to my sewing room and made the Journal Quilt for April. It's called flight for obvious reasons. In my sewing room with my classical music, the world goes away and I can escape. This little "quiltlet" has been sitting there in pieces and I couldnt concentrate until the other family stuff was done. The pieces were moved around and around till it felt just frustrating. Nothing looked right. My husband gave me a quick sketch of what the fabric was saying to him and I went with his idea.
There was a quilting class in the last 3 weeks which was completed last week. It utilized the fruit and vegetable fabrics which I won at the quilt retreat. That should be put together this week.
In addition there are fabrics waiting for me -- these belong to the post card swap which is now in progress. The proposed theme is Fairies"" and I do have an idea. The plan is to work a panel of layers with Angelina, silver film, sequins, beeds?? , tulle and metallic thread. My hope is that it will look like fairies wings; the next step is to sew along a grid - measuring 4" x 6" and cut them apart. These cards will need the edges to be finished off with a zig zag edge and also the backing will be applied with the name and address. In one of my previous emails I was asked how did I embellish my work. Last year I took an Art quilt class at the Country Quilter, in Somers NY. Several of the classes addressed embellishments which can be done in several mediums. --- beads, metallic thread, Angelina, stamping, foiling, overlays of tulle, filming, painting, resist dyeing, collage, applique or couching of other substances (branches, leaves, paper, yarn), iron on photo images on fabric. Your imagination can just go for it.
This week starts a formal schedule at the local hospital - volunteering 2 to 3 mornings per week.
It allows me to be helpful providing information at the front desk and using my Spanish. My hope is to one day to work there.
But quilting and sewing is my therapy. I really need this creative release. The sad part is over and now I can enjoy the spring. The trees and flowering bushes are in full bloom. My yard is so colorful with all the flowering plants that my husband has prepared.
A friend told me that it is not wrong to sew artistically on one piece per week and then go back to quilting and make something pretty and classic. Thinking back over the last month - it seems to me that is exactly what I have done. One thought is that I should take one of my creative ideas and try it again and again with improvements. My quilting ideas jump from one thing to another depending on the fabric or the latest class or the latest mood I'm in. Does it seem like flitting around? The stash is large enough - that I could run with various ideas for months to come.
I heard there was snow in Colorado this week. The weather has been a bit strange all over the US. But here in the Northeast - this has been a glorious spring. Today the temperature went up to the 70's!!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Pretty Pooches in a Puppy Pen
Block pattern is called Fabric Fling from Ginny at The Danbury Quilt Shop (work in progress)
Quilt Retreat
This was a wonderful 3 day retreat where I finished two small pieces (seen here previously) and started another basic block pattern called Fabric Fling. My quilting friends were so good to me and it was great seeing every one again after a short absence.
It has been my practice to venture out to new colors and approaches to my quilting and quilt art. Pink and black are not my favorite colors. So I intentionally brought a bucket of my most playful bright colors and let it talk to me. Sometimes as artists we become accustomed to the same family of colors- gold/browns or blue/green/purple or black/white or cream/tan. You get it. My really favorite color combo is blue/green/purple. My sewing room has many buckets of quilting or batik fabrics which cover that family group. So I will be showing you this example (which is a work in progress) It is called "Pretty Pooches in a Puppy Pen". My husband and only 'at home critic' states I should return to working with quilt art pieces which I will do but this one was fun and there is a strong color contrast and movement.
In the discussion there is a thought- to quilt or to do quilt art. As you may know from previous emails, I am still a traditional quilter but quilt art is a new venture. Sometimes your confidence or your inspiration may not be strong. As an artist you need to feel in your heart that piece works. I havent really found that - but I'm getting there.
Good news! About two weeks ago I went to my favorite quilt shop where owner/friend told me it may be too late to enter my latest two pieces in the quilt show in Somers NY on May4,5 2006. She gave me the name of the coordinator who told me that the registration was moved back to March 1st. So we ended our conversation that I should plan on it for next year. An hour later she called back and assured me that if there was room-- my two little quilts would be added (just not in the catalog) Judged too. I was so happy. My last 6 mos have been a test - entering these little quilts was so important to regaining my life. The two choices are "The Many Moods of Chico" and "Ripples". Both of these have been on this blog previously. The point is not that I am expecting big awards or recognition, it means more to me that this is the first time for this show (which is pretty big around here) to take courage and show my work. The first time ever was 6 weeks after my surgery and I rolled around the quilt show in a wheel chair. So this is progress. I'm walking-- no wheelchair. Anyway many years of quilting and preparing quilt art have gone by and no one (other than family) has seen it.
Spring is glorious. The forstheia are in bloom. I'm off to my sewing. By the way I volunteered at the local hospital for 3 days a week. That felt good.
It has been my practice to venture out to new colors and approaches to my quilting and quilt art. Pink and black are not my favorite colors. So I intentionally brought a bucket of my most playful bright colors and let it talk to me. Sometimes as artists we become accustomed to the same family of colors- gold/browns or blue/green/purple or black/white or cream/tan. You get it. My really favorite color combo is blue/green/purple. My sewing room has many buckets of quilting or batik fabrics which cover that family group. So I will be showing you this example (which is a work in progress) It is called "Pretty Pooches in a Puppy Pen". My husband and only 'at home critic' states I should return to working with quilt art pieces which I will do but this one was fun and there is a strong color contrast and movement.
In the discussion there is a thought- to quilt or to do quilt art. As you may know from previous emails, I am still a traditional quilter but quilt art is a new venture. Sometimes your confidence or your inspiration may not be strong. As an artist you need to feel in your heart that piece works. I havent really found that - but I'm getting there.
Good news! About two weeks ago I went to my favorite quilt shop where owner/friend told me it may be too late to enter my latest two pieces in the quilt show in Somers NY on May4,5 2006. She gave me the name of the coordinator who told me that the registration was moved back to March 1st. So we ended our conversation that I should plan on it for next year. An hour later she called back and assured me that if there was room-- my two little quilts would be added (just not in the catalog) Judged too. I was so happy. My last 6 mos have been a test - entering these little quilts was so important to regaining my life. The two choices are "The Many Moods of Chico" and "Ripples". Both of these have been on this blog previously. The point is not that I am expecting big awards or recognition, it means more to me that this is the first time for this show (which is pretty big around here) to take courage and show my work. The first time ever was 6 weeks after my surgery and I rolled around the quilt show in a wheel chair. So this is progress. I'm walking-- no wheelchair. Anyway many years of quilting and preparing quilt art have gone by and no one (other than family) has seen it.
Spring is glorious. The forstheia are in bloom. I'm off to my sewing. By the way I volunteered at the local hospital for 3 days a week. That felt good.
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