Friday, December 28, 2007

Two new pieces




For Christmas I made to 2 textile pieces which completed today. The first is a reproduction of a greeting card to my husband.-- Moment of Silence. The image of the two young lovers meeting at the train station was especially sweet for my husband and I. My reproduction is a bit changed and only uses the little photo as a transfer. My husband has been my lover and best friend thru the last 4 mos of some pretty tough cancer issues. But we came thru together and most of our life is back ( with a few cancer pills) I'm better now, and sewing and knitting up a storm. My sewing room (31 ft long) is 3/4 done and in use. which he promised I would have.




The second one is called Falling Leaves. It is a gift for my neighbor Flory who has watched over me for the last 4 mos. She would take me to radiation therapy -- she calls on me regularly, ( I am alone so she would worry), Along with a group of friends- every time I needed transportation to get to therapy or a doctors visit, they all took turns -- thanks to Flory.




Truth is since September 2007 so many friends and even strangers have prayed and called on me when they found out my melanoma had reached my brain. The majoriity of the side effects have resolved, so you could say I am 75% back to normal. and live with it as is with continued chemo 5 days of each month. My quilting and knitting have been one of the best therapy's for me. Just before this message you would have seen the pink baby blanket and the bunting. I still have a few teddy bears to make for the kids in the cancer unit at Vassar Hospital Poughkeepsie. In the effort to move my sewing room to its new home I had to get rid of old fabric and yarn. In the last few weeks I have donated 30 very large Zip lock bags filled with fabric and yarn to several groups.




So the good news is I'm back and enjoying life every day.




Jeanne

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Catch up time







With the holidays and the cancer treatment it has been a little tough. I finished another baby quilt for niece Elise born 2 mos ago. I made a baby bunting for my first grandson Noah. Of a proud grand ma has enjoyed time with Noah. There is another wall hanging in construction and I still plan on making teddy bears for the children in the local cancer unit (tradition for me)-- Right!!! But I'm still here living life everyday. I added a series of journal quilts called Giraffe Series that you might not have seen bef0re.


Jeanne
Pleasant Valley NY



Saturday, October 27, 2007

Jeanne's Cancer Scarf

I have a pattern and photos for my scarf. Send an email to me and I will send you a copy.
www.jeanja60@earthlink.net
Jeanne

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Jeanne's Cancer scarf


As some of you may know I am coming off radiation therapy on my brain. Last week my husband gave me a buz cut and (from the mother of quilting invention) I have this scarf. It made me feel good and face glowed with the batiks I use. It is made with 10 strips but with a rotary blade in wavey bands where you iron down the curved strips and sewing them onto the next one. For me- I put moisture on , button earings, a little make up - and I can face the world. Presently I am seekings ideas to make my scarf - a gift for those ladies who are facing a difficult time with this radiation therapy. A smile and some hope is the small grace I want to give. No sales - just a gift from me.


I took the scraps of those same batiks and made them into a mosaic pattern for the last 12 post cards that are due for Art 07. Pictures will be coming out shortly.


I am a fighter, and my quilt art has helped.

Jeanne

Pleasant Valley NY

Friday, October 05, 2007

Postcards Exchange #30- 10-2007







The past month of September has been a tough with melanoma and radiation therapy, heavy duty chemo, blood clots in the bladder- (loss my hair) but I am on the mend. My quilting has been my saving grace. Last weekend I went to a quilt retreat at the Interlacken Inn in Ct from Friday night thru Sunday afternoon. There are 50 ladies who come with their machines, fabric and projects (two times year). They have known me for years and they are all wonderful and very supportive. I was only 10 days from leaving the hospital. The owner of the Country Quilter in Somers Claire and her daughter Jane Davila- made the whole weekend so special for me. My husband bought me , unloaded the van with my stuff and then he pick up me again on Sunday. Richie has made a real hit the girls in this group.


I have 2 post cards swaps that were due 9-30-07 The first batch is part of the Art2Mail Exch #30. It is called "Coral Gold"; it is done in series. The inspiration comes from a a book of detail photography of coral fish. This is my artistic representation. These are the last 12 due and will be mailed out today. The second swap is called Art 2007. It also has another 12 due and my plan is recreate a type of mosiac with layers of marine fabrics, with metalic threads green, gold, maybe tulle- just layers - I saw a similar design on another post card that look like the scales of a snake. As an aside- The "molten" quilt shown below was accepted to be pushlished in Katie Pasquini Masupust's book Creating Abastract Art. So The girls all agree- I truly have the soul of quilt artist.
I am on the mend. Stronger every day. My husband is giving me a gift of a sewing studio. It is under construction and should be near completion by the late fall. I have 2 or three projects coming off a mind blowing dreams (in color) about an artist colony- with painters, scuplture, glass, pottery, textile art. The spirit gives a a wonderful gift.






Wednesday, August 22, 2007

New quilts completed




I havent sent much in lately due to some health issues but I do have 2 quilts to show you. The first one is a baby quilt for Noah my first grandson born 7-20-07. The second one is called Molten and started out from a 2"x4" painting and became this enlargement 40"x28". The paint swirl gave me the i nspiration to consider lava rolling and broiling. The rest was just finding the right yellow and red fabric. Inspiration for these comes over time but this one was completed using a new technique that I learned from Katie Pasquini Masopust (class in June 2007) Let me know what you think.


Jeanne Pleasant Valley NY

Thursday, July 19, 2007

New set of postcards


Here are two more post cards I call the "Bird Cage". They came out suddenly after looking at a fat qtr pack that I have had forever. They have a Mexican flavor and all 8 are different. They are part of one of two post card swaps I am now involved in.

Jeanne

Pleasant Valley NY

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Batik Abstract


I just finished the second Women of Valor quilt which will be sent off to New Mexico.

It is a twin bed quilt and uses an abstract pattern with batiks I have stashed away. I enjoyed this project.

Jeanne

Friday, June 22, 2007

Latest work


I just finished the latest piece for a Journal Challenge 12" x 12" ; this one was due in May but here I am - better late than never. It is called "Old Tree at Waimea Canyon". It comes from 2 photographs taken in Kauia maybe 15 yrs ago. It took a while to decide how to construct it. It is difficult to show the rough brown/rust and vibrant gree of the canyon walls. It feels like painting more than sewing. The theme of this challenge is Photo vs Textile Art. It takes advantage of my own photography which has been a real creative part of me. Hope you like it.

Hawaii has many fond memories for me- We were there for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Jeanne O

Pleasant Valley NY

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Finished post cards







Well the last batch of post cards is done- "The Tree Series" This was fun to do since the ideas



kept coming. Hope you like it. I hope to make a larger version of the birch tree for the Journal challenge now due

Monday, May 14, 2007

Latest post cards


I started the latest series of post cards and I thought you might enjoy it too.

I call them the Tree Series" The batik background and the great spring weather

gives me inspiration.

Jeanne

Saturday, May 05, 2007

April Challenge piece


So I completed the April Challenge piece- 12x12- called Skyscraper. It comes from one of my
own photos taken in January 2007. It incorporates a photo image and a free form tree that was in the original. The building glass on the right side was added so that the two would blend. My theme for this challenge is to join a photograph to textile art. Again my pieces only work if there is some inspiration. Lately I have been devoting my time to charity quilt tops. There is a post card swap which I have to start now.

Jeanne

Pleasant Valley NY

Friday, April 20, 2007

Rainbow Garden


This is a quilt donated to the Quilt Studio as part of their donation for women
of valor-- 40 Service quilts It will be forwarded to a quilter and then returned
to me for the binding. It is a twin bed quilt and utilized my batik stash. There
is lots more and another quilt is in progress. I still have my 12x12x12 to do
for April and a few post cards as well.

Monday, March 26, 2007

March 2007 Portfolio 12x12-- Lily

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Lily- 12x12 portfolio March 2007

I completed the journal portfolio piece for March ( a little late). It comes from one of my photographs from my garden. I transferred the image onto cotton thru my printer. It's the first time I have tried this method. I hope you like it.

Recovery is going good after surgery on my foot last Thursday. I gave up the crutches and the walker today and with just a padded boot on my right foot I have hobbled around the house. This is faster than I had originally thought. This quilting project has taken my mind off my problems. Yesterday I spent time on EQ5 designing another for the 40 Quilt project - girls coming home from trauma. (see Quilt Studio)

Friday, March 23, 2007

Same Day surgery

Here it is Friday and my life has changed again. I had same day surgery yesterday (a very long day) for melanoma. The surgeon did excise the 2 little spots on my right foot but he found another little spot on a lymph node in my groin. The good news is he got it all out and there is none left. The bad news is I have to return to my oncologist for more therapy. Melanoma is very tiny and doesnt always show up on a Pet Scan (mine was negative) so when it re-occurs like mine did, you have to progress to a type of therapy which wipes it out for good. My body is
strong and in good shape right now. I had to resign my job as a bank teller since he didnt think I could stand on my right foot for many hours. He wanted me to concentrate on the therapy first.
This surgeon doesnt hold back and tells you straight out. Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Ctr in NYC is known for fine care and so far they have been good to me (two times now). I resigned my job this morning and somehow it feels like I have released the stress; I have been
trying to juggle new job and cancer issues at the same time. Later when I am better I will look for another job.

Now I have time to quilt and do textile art. There are projects piled up in my sewing room. So much I want to do- journal quilt 12x12 and post cards. I have a quilt retreat in April - a quilt class with Laura Breitman in May and another class in June. I think I have a twin bed quilt due in May for young girls (Quilt Studio) too. All this is possible.

Any one had melanoma? Let me hear how you are doing.
Thanks to all those who sent good wishes.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Lighthouse at Kauai 1992


For my 12x12 Portfolio submission here is the actual photograph which I took. Someday I want to try this one in a larger format. Hope you like my rendition. Posted by Picasa

Kauia Lighthouse February 2007 12x12


This is definitely late but my intentions were good. What follows is the actual photograph I took in Kauia in 1992. This is my 12x12 submission. The delay occured with another bout with melanoma and the start of a new job. Life always gives me ups and downs. But I am still here marching. Now I am pushing to catch up with the work I had planned on doing. Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Baby Confetti



This is the top for the baby quilt I have prepared for the 40 Service Quilt Project. The
quilt will be donated to the Children's Home in Bethesda Maryland. The outer border is slightly larger so that it can be wrapped around to the back and thereby become the binding. The batting should be cut maybe a half inch smaller than the top. I have fabric for the backing and alkong with the top, it should go out this week. The pattern came from a book called "Tried and True -New Quilts from Favorite Blocks" the actual pattern is called "Nine Patch Nuance" by Lynn Ahlers. Posted by Picasa

Saturday, January 20, 2007

New year starting

Well this year started with a visit to the oncologist in NYC and he agreed that I had 2 little spots of melanoma on my right foot. (same place as before) These last 2 weeks have been tense and frightening. The PET scan and cat scans were done this past Monday and on Thursday my doctor called to tell me they came out negative. Great news for the start of 2007!!! That means those 2 little spots will either be cut out (same day surgery) or there will be a therapy using a serum prepared from the antibodies in my own blood- immunotherapy. It is much easier and there are no side effects because they use your own blood. It has a good success ratio.

So now I can look forward to starting a new job and waiting for my son and his wife to have their first baby- I'll be a grandmother!!! This year should be a great year.

The pictures I added were taken on the second day I went to the city and it was a glorious sunny crisp day. I was using my new camera Nikon D40 digital SLR and it worked perfectly. As you may have noticed from the past- my photography is a part of me and has been for many years. This camera finally brings me up to the present digital camera standard and of course after shopping around this was the best buy for money. It is not hard to use since it has several automatic features. My prior camera was also a Nikon SLR but it used film.

At present I am sewing a baby quilt for a donation for a Childrens Home in Maryland. My art quilt work is in between things looking for a new inspiration. Maybe these NYC photos would help. There was a 12x12x12 portfolio challenge which I sent in 1-12-2007. There is always something.

NYC streets- near Lexington and 53rd street


"Relections" Posted by Picasa

NYC streets- off Lexington-- Reflections

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NYC streets- near Grand Central Station

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NYC streets- Chrysler building


This was recently done in January 2007 with my new camera Nikon D40- digital SLR. This gives me ideas for another piece. I have a few pictures taken that day- more to follow Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Detail photo - Fall Tree January 2007 12x12x12 challenge

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Vanderbilt photo for 12x12x12 challenge


Since the theme of my challenge is Photo vs Textile Art , I believe these next two pictures are of some value. I was at the Vanderbilt Mansion in the late fall with a photography group. This comes from my Nikon camera FM2 which uses regular film. In this age of digital cameras, it's odd that I still use a regular SLR camera but it has been with me for more that 20 yrs on many vacations and field trips. My photography is as much my art work as the textile work is which is where the idea for this challenge comes from. As textile artists we should utilize the camera for those special moments and creative ideas. Posted by Picasa

Detail photo of Fall Tree- 12x12x12 Challenge January 2007

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12 x 12 x 12 Challenge January 2007


Fall Tree is my first submission to the 12 x 12 x 12 challenge. It was based on some photographs taken at the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park NY. In addition another smaller version of this piece was done as postcards last year. Let me know what you think. Posted by Picasa