Creating from the Heart

The events of the last month, including the snow and cold, forced me to slow down and take some time to think about things.

 

Snow - Day 1

Snow - Day 2

Like many of you, I find myself contemplating the events of the last year and making plans for the new one. In addition to other things, 2014 needs to be a major decision year for me with regards to direction of the business. By next year this time, I need to have decided whether or not to continue because of certain actions that need to be taken then.

This post at pomegranatesandpaper really spoke to the kinds of feelings I've been having about the process this time. I find I need to step back from the push to create for the market and do more to create from my heart. Whether I will end up spending more time in the studio or less remains to be seen. I plan to work on a number of things in 2014, including gifts, my book, downsizing the stuff I own, and experimenting with techniques. As often as possible, I plan to share my progress with you.

After making the quilt and quilt top I showed you in November, I pushed forward on three additional gifts. None of them was completed in time, though I showed pictures of their progress to their recipients. So, I can show you, too.

 

This is a Mill Hill Pin Whimsy kit, called "Dazzling Dragonfly."

 

This table runner, which has not yet had that border attached, let alone the binding, is from a kit by Sally Holzem, called "Tuscan Nights." I did alter the border strips. 

 

 

Finally, this table runner is my own design. I'm currently working on the quilting. I am using a variegated thread and hope it will help the border to blend more with the center panel. There were also two pot holders that go with it, but I did not get a picture of them.

 

 

In hopes of giving you a little something to smile about, I'd also like to share this portrait of a little fellow who was enterprising in his search for food he knew was hiding on our patio.

 

 

Wishing you peace and all good.

 



Autumn Activities

It has been a busy couple of months, with the birth of a new great-nephew, for whom I had to make a quilt, a niece's wedding, a quilt retreat, and completion of a quilt top my daughter and I have been working on for years.

We also experienced some "interesting" fall weather, as the tornadoes that hit Illinois and Indiana just missed our area. We did have extremely high winds. I am grateful that friends and family members in the affected areas were not hurt, and hopeful that things will return to normal for those who experienced property damage as soon as possible.

 

This baby quilt is based on a pattern in an old "Quiltmaker's" magazine. I made some changes, and resized it. The quilting pattern is my own free threadplay.

Here is a closer look at some of it.

This quilt top is the Ozark Maple Leaf quilt pattern from Nickel Quilts. We began it with the intention of hand-piecing a queen-size quilt, but after many years, I requested my daughter bring me the blocks she had finished. Between us, we had enough blocks ready to make a lap-size quilt. We were able to find materials in my stash for the first and third borders. The other fabrics used in the quilt run the gamut from leftover fabrics from my daughter's childhood through fabrics we purchased at a quilt shop in the town in which her grandmother lived. The placement of blocks and choices of colors are my daughter's. She now has possession of the top and is planning to dye the fabric for the backing. Once that is done, she will return it to me for sandwiching and quilting.

I have another couple of projects that I am currently finishing, but can't show since they are intended for Christmas gifts. I really appreciated the opportunity to go on the quilt retreat, since I was able to get a lot of work done in that time. One thing that it demonstrated for me is the value of working around other artists. This is also highlighted in this interview on Makers-In-Business-with-Liz-Smith. It gives me a greater appreciation for the idea of a studio space in a community of artists.

I hope that you have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving this year. I feel I have a great deal to be grateful for and hope you can also find things that make you happy in your life.

As always, until next time, I wish you peace and all good.

AAQI Reminder

I read an article recently about a man, whose background was in engineering, who is now struggling with Alzheimer’s. He and his wife had suspected it might happen, since several members of his family had battled the disease.

In addition, there have been a number of reports this summer of elderly people losing their way while driving to familiar places. Often they have been missing for days or more, creating heartbreak and fear among their loved ones and putting themselves in grave danger.

So, it was a blessing to receive the following information from Ami Simms this morning. I hope that you will also do what you can to support AAQI.

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative has just funded two more research grants!

The official press release is here: http://www.alzquilts.org/aaaw1foralre.html

And, the blog post is here: http://aaqiupdate.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/aaqi-funds-two-more-research-studies/

Snag anything you like for your blog from either sources.

What's on the horizon?

Well, bidders in the September auction just raised $3,154 for the AAQI. We will continue to fund grants until we have no more money!

The October online auction features quilts from "Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope" as does the December online auction. The November auction is the Celebrity Invitational Quilt Auction and then of course we will be making noise in the exhibit area at International Quilt Festival in Houston, October 30-November 3. We hope to offer more than 2,500 quilts. If things go as planned, we may reach the $1,000,000 mark in funds raised for research in Houston.

Please invite your readers to join support us by purchasing a small quilt online: http://www.alzquilts.org/quiltsforsale.html

Until next time, I wish you peace and all good.

Strawberry Jazz Festival & More

It has been a fairly quiet month around here, though that doesn't mean it hasn't been busy. I have been spending much of my time recently doing research for a book I am working on. It means I am on the computer a lot and not spending much time in the studio. I did get out to the Strawberry Jazz Festival, though the weather that day was quite cold. They have a variety of musicians, vendors, and organizations represented each year, and the grounds are lovely.

One of my friends, an artist who was a vendor at the event, designed a line of fabric with In The Beginning Fabrics that will be coming out in December. You can see more of her work at
http://www.mooncookiegallery.com/.

I also wanted to remind everyone that time is running out to donate Priority Quilts to the Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). Michele Bilyeu has a great reminder about that and information on other ways you can still help.

Living with Joy

Years ago I maintained a very large garden, growing vegetables, fruit, flowers, and herbs. It was during a time in my life when I was a SAHM and had begun building the business, making, at the time, primarily useful items and some dolls. In the intervening years, I went back to get my degrees and ended up working full time until I retired. Also, during those years, my allergies got so bad that I could no longer work the garden. There are some leftovers of my gardening years, however, and yesterday evening I took the chance of an allergic reaction and went out to take pictures.

 

 

apple blossoms

 

lilac bushes

 

hosta

 

 

rose bush

 

 

lilac close up

 

 

even closer

 

 

When I graduated with my MA, my brother and his wife gifted us with two beautiful bushes. One of them has done well, since it gets full sun. The other sits unhappily in the shade of the fruit trees (pictured below). I want to have it replanted elsewhere, but do not remember what it is or know when the best time is to uproot it. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

 

 

One of the reasons I decided to go out to take the photos is that I lost a cousin, suddenly, last month. She and I were born in the same year, and so far as anyone knew, she not only did not have any health issues, but was doing everything right to stay healthy. I had expected she would outlive me by many years. While my first reaction, after concern for her family, was to dwell on the probability of death, it finally hit me that what I really need to do is live with joy. None of us knows how much time we have, but we need to make the most of whatever there is.

 

That spurred me to make some decisions about my creative work. I have several things in process, now, and hope to share them, soon. One is a new art doll prototype. I have also been designing some prayer flags. Perhaps of more significance are the decisions I have been making about priorities and incorporating more time for items I have started or have materials to make for family members. At any rate, it has had the result of kick-starting my creativity, again.

 

I hope that you will find ways to live with joy.

 

Until next time, I wish you peace.

 

Book Review

I recently read an interesting new book called Overheated: The Human Costs of Climate Change by Andrew Guzman ©2013 (Oxford University Press). I have no stake in the book, financial or otherwise, but feel it is important enough to be worth writing about.

Rather than describe the science, Guzman looks at the results that would occur (and in some cases are already happening) if a conservative estimate of global warming proves true. He uses analogies throughout the book that are quite effective in describing a variety of the basic issues. In addition, he provides clear examples of the various scenarios that are possible. Guzman also gives an account of the support for claims on both sides of the issue so that the average person has a better understanding of who is on each side. One point that he makes is an answer to those who feel we should wait to respond or that there is significant time to make changes. His response is to question whether the person is saving for a child’s college education or for retirement because many of the changes that are projected will likely occur within the next two to thirty-five years.

While I would have liked to have seen more prescriptions for ways in which individuals can impact the situation, Guzman keeps the book short enough to be readable while covering a significant amount of material.

I heartily recommend reading the book whatever side of the issue you are on. While he certainly takes the position that the climate is changing, the ramifications in terms of its impact are spelled out clearly and may surprise you.

As always, I wish you peace and all good.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative News

I received the following information from Ami Simms about the AAQI and want to share it with you. As I posted in this important announcement from AAQI, this will be the last year for this fund raising effort. Please check out the links and help if you possibly can.

 

1. The May auction quilts are up! AAQI is offering 27 beautiful quilts from the Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt project. The online auction starts on May 1st and runs to May 10th.

http://www.alzquilts.org/quiltauction.html

2. Participants in the AAQI's annual Celebrity Invitational Quilt Auction are confirmed for the November online auction. They are Charlotte Warr Andersen, Alex Anderson, Karen Kay Buckley, Linda Carlson, Pepper Cory, John Flynn, Diane Gaudynski, Renae Haddadin, Pat Holly, Libby Lehman, Patrick Lose, Marsha McCloskey, Sue Nickels, Barbara Shapel, Virginia & George Siciliano, Mary Sorensen, Ricky Tims, and Laura Wasilowski.

Whose quilt do you think will go for the highest amount?

http://www.alzquilts.org/ciqa.html

3. The AAQI will return one last time to International Quilt Festival in Houston (Oct 30-Nov 3). They hope to bring 2,500 little quilts to sell and still need help reaching that goal. There is still time to make a quilt. The deadline isn't until August 1st. Details are here:

http://www.alzquilts.org/paq.html

Be a part of the fight against Alzheimer's!

 

 

On another note, the Brown Thrasher returned yesterday and I was actually able to capture a few pictures.

 

 

Looking for a hiding place

 

Hiding out in the bushes

 

Finally, a clear view.

 

As always, until next time,  I wish you peace and all good.