Quilting with Big's Help

Now how's Tiffany to finish her quilt with Big perched comfortably on the work-in-progress? Believe it or not, she kept on quilting with Big in tow. Not sure how she did it, but when I lifted Big away from the quilt and she started quilting again, she remarked how easy it was. As you can see from this picture, Big's paw is rather close to the presser foot. He just wanted to help. And the biggest news is that Tiffany is sooo close to having all the quilting done. Just one more partial block to finish then it's on to squaring it up and doing the binding.

Not Sure About This Sketch

Thinking to make some simple sketches of the essence of spring--in this case tulips, I believe this one looks a bit like a coloring book image. So I'll go back to a different composition, but I want it to be rather free cut with an essence rather than an exactness.

Hibiscus Blooming, Indoors

Although it was outdoors in the back of the house all summer, my Hibiscus plant--now that it has been inside for several weeks--has started blooming. There is a bud that should be in full bloom in a few days. It's nice to have some vivid color in the living room while the back yard is covered in golden leaves.

Confused Climbing Rose

John noticed that three roses are blooming on the climbing rose by the lane. Although it was dark already, I had to get a photo before the petals fall or cold weather ruins the color.

She's Got the White Gloves On

Today Tiffany made impressive progress with her T shirt quilt. This being her first day of the free-motion stitching portion of the quilt, and this being her first free-motion experience, I did not expect that much progress would be made today; however, after putting together a small practice piece which she mastered quickly, she declared herself ready to begin--although with some apprehension. By the time she put the quilt back in its bag to wait for the next day of quilting, she had completed nearly one third of the free-motion stitching on the inner block designs--and this with rather frequent thread changing in order to keep with the color of the blocks. Oh, and I should not neglect to mention that her stitches were much more consistent than I would have expected from one doing this for the first time. As I said, I'm impressed.

Fresh Covers for Sketchbook

This weekend Sarah Beth and her friend Rachel visited. Sarah Beth is studying art along with psychology, her major. I purchased a sketchbook and applied gesso to all sides of the front and back covers, hoping that she would apply paint to them with a design of her own. Last night after dinner we got the paint board out and, with the help of Big, she starting putting down color.

I went to sleep before she finished, so this morning, this is what I saw. The white cover with plum-colored lines has copper highlights and the shapes of the lines remind me of free-motion quilting. I won't touch any of this, although I really want to apply matte medium, dry them with a hair dryer and put the sketchbook back together--but I'll wait to see if she considers these as finished.

Crossing Paths with Uncle Sam

While in the Shenandoah Valley over the weekend, my Uncle Sam and I crossed paths at a local bagel eatery. I have come to favor going to this particular place for Sunday breakfast knowing that there is a good chance of seeing him there at his corner table (yes it's his table, complete with his name), greeting friends and acquaintances who happen to come by before going to church. On this morning, we met him as he was reading a book, sipping coffee and eating an unadorned bagel. Commenting that he was looking rather trim, he explained that he has shed twenty five pounds--at age 79. Impressed, I too consumed my bagel sans toppings and fat-making innards, and have carried with me this week the thought that if he can do it, I can too. Thank you Uncle Sam, I want the inspiration to stay with me.

Ah, the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Ah, the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, where I was this weekend with my Mother for the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale--particularly to see the auction which comprises mostly quilts, some furniture, wall hangings and other miscellaneous items such as a 1973 MGB convertible in pristine condition. This year I did not bid on any of the quilts, but enjoyed watching the auctioneers and the process of sometimes highly competitive bidding. As always, the freshly made donoughts were the highlight of the day from the food perspective, with the freshly made potato chips as the runner-up. And of course, it was a treat to run into folks that I had not seen in years.

Not Much Time, Another Small Piece

Still not having much time for my textile projects, I have snippets of time to make these small 4x6 compositions. Pictured here is today's piece.

Another Fabric Composition

Having little free time recently for textile projects, I continue to find satisfaction in the little 4 x 6 compositions to which I have a commitment to make at least one per week. I had turned to using white (gesso) as a contrast in a few of the pieces, and this is an example of that. I enjoy the hand work on these small gems, almost as much as the process of designing the piece.

Fabric Composition for a Birthday Card

This may be my most-liked fabric composition so far. In the past year, I started making my own greeting cards using card stock I purchased from Plaza Art Supply, and have done this enough that I no longer like to purchase commercially-made cards. This particular fabric composition is attached to what will be a birthday card for a friend I have not seen in...well way too long. I hope that she will like it as much as I do.

Continuing with 4x6 Compositions

Continuing with the 4x6 compositions, here are two of four that I've done since the last blog post. The top composition is made using the hand painted fabrics from the Elizabeth Busch workshop several weeks ago.

As I looked out my window from my work area, I noticed the configuration of the leaves on the rose bush, and decided that would be this morning's composition.

Fabric Compositions

While at QSDS, taking Elizabeth Busch's Inside/Outside workshop, we did fabric compositions on 4x6 index cards daily for the last four days--some black & white, some b&w with one color, and some any colors. It was a useful tool for learning more about composition. Collecting the compositions from us, she initially posted some that worked, some that maybe worked, and some that did not work. We would then discuss why the compositions were in each category. It was quite interesting to hear the reasons and to attempt to learn from them in such a way that these discussions affect how I look at my own work. Elizabeth had, for a period of time, done a fabric composition every day, and she had a notebook of these which was rather bloated from the thickness of the pasted cards.

She suggested that we make a practice of creating these small fabric compositions or sketches. On our last day there, I made a commitment to some of my fellow QSDS-ers to do a fabric composition at least once per week for a year. I have kept my commitment, and I have to say that when I do one, I actually enjoy the process--not that I particularly am thrilled with the resulting composition, but it does feel like I'm practicing the process of attempting to make a composition that "works". The photo is four of the compositions I have made that I'm willing to share.

It's Stephen's Quilt Now, Not Mine

After establishing a bond with a work-in-progess, it's always a bit difficult to say good-bye to it, even though the heart is completely into the giving. Knowing that I will see the quilt again is good enough though. Here Stephen, on the right, holding his quilt, is seeing it finished for the first time as his Mother helps hold it and his brother watches. While there, I saw his brother's quilt, which I had made when he graduated from HS and it was like seeing an old friend. I hope that Stephen and this quilt have a long, happy life together.

Tractor Show Find

Looking through photos I snapped several years earlier, I came upon this one taken at a tractor show in Richmond. I like the flaking paint, the rust, and the repeating pattern. Not sure what it may inspire so far as a fiber piece is concerned, but I know that it appeals to me.