tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74281930967082552392008-07-06T23:10:07.394-07:00zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comBlogger389125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-78506076138370001202008-07-06T10:49:00.001-07:002008-07-06T11:07:52.741-07:00

This is one of those books that takes my breath away! Martha Sielman , who is a wonderful art quilter as well as the executive director of SAQA, did an outstanding job of editing this book. Although I think there are other artists who are worthy of inclusion in a book like this, I think that the artists who were chosen are, truly, masters of the art quilt. Who knows, maybe there will be a sequel

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-78566592992631155192008-07-04T09:10:00.001-07:002008-07-04T09:21:39.609-07:00

I enjoy learning about lesser know facts in history - so here are a couple of things I have recently discovered about the 4th of July celebrations. 1. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2nd, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later. 2. I discovered the following

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-82377286796538342412008-07-02T09:56:00.000-07:002008-07-02T09:56:26.627-07:00

Last week I began an online class with Sharon Boggins through my favorite craft class place, Joggles. The Class is called "Studio Journals; A Designer's Workhorse" . This is the first page. Although I am not sure that it is exactly what Sharon had in mind - it is what hit me when I thought about beginning, at last, a more visual way of charting my days. I have journaled for more than 20 years

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-32004930515511721542008-07-01T08:25:00.000-07:002008-07-01T08:25:16.673-07:00

You've seen some of the other visitors to our yard. Lately though, I had been wondering what was happening to all of my flowers - well I did find one hidden peony blossom - and now I know! I finally caught the culprit ! Notice how 'frightened' he is as he stares right at me and then goes back to his leisurely grazing! Isn't he beautiful? What a glossy coat he has - hummmmm must be all the peonies

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-22664984268490375372008-06-29T18:47:00.001-07:002008-06-30T08:40:28.664-07:00

Plums. I have plums on the brain. Who does not love plums?! Lauren, friend & recent provisioner, gave me a l a r g e bag of plums last week. I can't say that I had planned to spend as much of the weekend in the kitchen as I did, but I can't bear to see good fruit go to waste. We were in the midst of a heat streak so I had to have fans blaring away as I cooked. I made 18 pints of jam. Plum &

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-51737403187063266472008-06-29T08:58:00.000-07:002008-06-29T09:07:20.094-07:00

"The summer night is like a perfection of thought." - Wallace StevensYesterday was our first HOT summer day. It was glorious. It was hot. It was everything that a summer day should be. Perfection. The warmth made the blossoms explode, and the bees buzz, it made the colors of the flowers seem other worldly. The heat brought the butterflies out to flutter about the heated blossoms. I was

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-68965081514565561982008-06-27T19:13:00.000-07:002008-06-27T19:35:19.084-07:00

"Finding Your Way": Acrylics & Ink on Cloth, Machine Quilted, Hand Beaded I am so pleased to say that, for once so far this year, I have finished something ahead of schedule! I sent this piece, entitled "Finding You Way", off yesterday for the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) Second Annual On-Line Auction of One Foot Squares. This is a major fund raising event for SAQA and I would encourage

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-9627887718129271982008-06-26T11:14:00.000-07:002008-06-26T11:14:45.685-07:00

When I'm at my day job I seem to fall behind. Generally, by the time I get home there is not much "juice" left for the other, most enjoyable, parts of my life! It's a blessing to be fortunate enough to have the ability to enjoy a balance of work, work & home work. I have been considering aging a lot lately though - and I have to say that I think it's a great thing - albeit having a bit less

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-14944134105466656952008-06-24T09:02:00.001-07:002008-06-24T09:19:01.248-07:00

Rose DeRescht - Old World Damask At one point I had ,naively ,thought I would make a large rose garden. I adore roses - what can I say?! Unfortunately , care & love were no match for the vagaries of aging combined with rocky, clay-like soil and a lack of sufficient sun. My rose garden is, once again, just a dream, but I did manage to save one of my favorites. Rose DeRescht - an old world

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-56301490817951489832008-06-23T08:42:00.001-07:002008-06-23T09:00:57.230-07:00

My plans for yesterday included sewing & just a tad of housework. All plans are subject to change of course, and yesterday was no exception to that rule. Last week a friend had generously given my almost a half case of nectarines - one of my favorite fruits. Looking at this bounty I realized that I had to use them or they would go bad before I could gobble enough of them up! So ----- yesterday (

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-1573071908676534102008-06-22T08:28:00.001-07:002008-06-22T09:00:15.277-07:00

Robin Atkins showing with one of her framed series of 'beady journals' Yesterday was a day for being 'sew-cial'. The 'sew-cials' are probably one of my favorite things our guild does since I get both a day of relatively uninterrupted time to sew as well as time to visit with friends I don't get to see all that often. I love being able to catch up on what everyone has been doing and what they

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-25231563206424673632008-06-19T08:41:00.000-07:002008-06-19T08:41:04.308-07:00

"Qui-Felt" is my newly coined name for the process I love to do - quilting on felts. This is the beginning of a new project. Last summer at the County Fair I happily acquired three fleece. One of the fleece was cream colored - shorn before my eyes in the 'sheep to shawl' demonstration. The other two were a dreamy mocha color & a nearly black brown - both thanks to "Our Lady Of The Rock"

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-80341464313344574192008-06-18T07:30:00.000-07:002008-06-18T07:40:38.161-07:00

I know. I know. I need another learning challenge like I need a knock on the head - but hey ! inquiring minds just need to know ! Sharon Boggins had a wonderful group called 'Take A Stitch Tuesdays' through her web page. One embroidery stitch to learn every week. I never learned how to embroider but had always thought I would like to, so I was disappointed to find that I had discovered the TAST

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-29129211370649779882008-06-17T06:15:00.000-07:002008-06-17T06:23:39.368-07:00

Michelle Ward posts monthly challenges - or mini art projects - that she calls Crusades. All of these little mini projects are quite easy - and all are fun. Last month's 'Crusade' was paper casting. This month's 'Crusade' was all about making rubbings. I made this one using Shiva paint sticks on a batik fabric with some of the areas lightly inked in. Sometimes I feel rather scattered in my

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-66644436766289337492008-06-16T13:09:00.000-07:002008-06-16T13:09:38.555-07:00

I've been in the middle of a spate of mini baskets & have been really enjoying them! I am using a small, chalk line cording for and am still trying to figure out how to vary the stitch width to get the cording definition that I want. It's difficult on this small scale. The middle basket with the handle is the smallest one of this batch. I used a mixture of chocolate & safari gray procion dyes on

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-44733963152649431042008-06-16T07:30:00.000-07:002008-06-16T07:30:00.558-07:00

Once upon a time (early Spring 1989) in a large kingdom called Tejas a "patio kitty" was born to parents of indeterminate origins. He was a tiny little mite and although I already had one large male Maine Coon kitty I could not resist this soulful little face. He was so small that I thought he should eat pablum and I protected him from Bunk (the Maine Coon) while he ate. One weekend I had to go

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-15282872391582056282008-06-15T08:00:00.000-07:002008-06-15T09:09:28.151-07:00

"...You're Safe..." First of all Happy Father's Day - to all of the fine gentlemen in the world who are active partners in parenting... and to all of the wonderful 'pet Fathers' out there too ! I have been enjoying Paulette's Organic Dimensions class and have been following along with the lessons - working on two different backgrounds. I almost tossed this canvas in the trash several times.

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-70023105214491937362008-06-14T08:00:00.000-07:002008-06-14T08:31:21.432-07:00

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Deeply The theme for this month's TIF challenge was " Stories That Are Told: Stories That Are Possible". The Om sign symbolizes the presence of the divine in all things; and , in my opinion, that represents the concept of peace. Stories have indeed been told about this symbol and what it represents. In my naive moments I like to believe that peace is possible, and

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-46948078804434855062008-06-13T08:54:00.000-07:002008-06-13T08:54:45.827-07:00

My adventures in soap land are continuing. Here is this month's "mad scientist" rendition! This batch was another of Vicki's recipes for "Shea Butter Soap". Is smelled wonderful and looked so creamy & perfect that I can't wait until it has cured. I can't say that I anticipated I would become quite as enamored of soapmaking as I have. Home made soaps just seem to be so much better on your skin -

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-47436369832734751572008-06-10T16:14:00.001-07:002008-06-11T09:07:36.564-07:00

"Happiness Runs In A Circular Motion": Front This is the 15 inch block that I made for the Alliance for American Quilts auction. They are having a contest to celebrate their 15th anniversary ! The concept for the auction block is "My Quilt/Our History". Donated 15 inch squares must "express something about the maker's personal quilt history". The deadline is July 15. Information about the

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-42062994691184829322008-06-09T10:26:00.001-07:002008-06-10T09:37:40.458-07:00

I admire the work of Michelle Ward & just had to join in the fun of the GPP (Green Pepper Press Street Team "Crusades". Last month's Crusade (#20) was paper casting. It was one of those things that looked fascinating & I had to give it a try, albeit the "due by" date is long gone. I am, at least, on schedule for Crusade #21! Paper casting simply requires tiny bits of bathroom tissue - or a mix

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-81455202602076483702008-06-09T08:48:00.001-07:002008-06-09T09:11:00.413-07:00

As I have mentioned in the not too distant past, I am dangling my toes into the Mixed media arena - slowly and not too much since so many tings are calling to me lately! Must be a late bloomer for sure! I am finding that mixed media is much more interesting & enticing than I used to think it was. Thanks to fiber arts, I am developing my own spin on what "mixed media" means to me though - and

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-6554564407542356962008-06-08T07:56:00.000-07:002008-06-08T08:20:20.463-07:00

Yesterday's mail brought me an envelope that contained Bernina's magazine "Through The Needle", Issue 25. The best thing, for me, is that my article "Fun Felted Bags" is in this issue!! Bernina did a really fabulous job with the layout - colorful & beautifully designed. I was thrilled with the way they presented the article! What good company I was in too ! Artgirlz has the cover bag called,

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-27076094192447959942008-06-06T20:32:00.000-07:002008-06-07T11:13:33.222-07:00

Full Of Grace Friend Robin over at Bead Lust tagged me for a meme and, while there are so many of these going the rounds, this one is more interesting than most I think. Plus, since it was Robin that tagged me I decided that I had to play along! I will informally tag some folks that I would love to know more about at the end of this post - but please don't feel obligated. I totally understand it

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428193096708255239.post-7996572375269367512008-06-06T15:22:00.001-07:002008-06-06T15:47:26.432-07:00

"Chance" attacks a post - or is he admiring the bleeding hearts?! One of my summer time favorites Here is that awesome orchid I got for my birthday! What a color ! Mercury is retrograde from May 26th through June 19th. There is a plethora of information about this roughly thrice yearly phenomena on the web. In general, however, a mercury retrograde can really impact communications, and

zquiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099656264060749484noreply@blogger.com