Change of pace -- Aprons

I'm sewing with cotton for a change. It seems easy by comparison and presses out so crisply. I'm also having fun finding companion fabrics from my stash.

Thomas thinks these cartoon cats are curious creatures with their funny colors.

Ironing Board

I just can't put it away.

To-Do List

The in-process quilt. Yes, I will photograph everything as finished, but I just ran across this snap and thought I would show the Quilting Assistant as he assesses the coral squares. "They need buttons," he says. "Buttons it is," I reply.

Opening Reception

They came to say HI and to see what the new work was all about. I overheard little conversations, such as "but it could go in the entry by the..." or "my favorite is...." and so it was all very promising, with two sold and one commission and another one or two in consideration. Stay tuned...

Synapse

"Impulses transmit along nerve fibers, arriving at a synapse, a junction, that is actually a gap, where neutotransmitters must cross to their waiting receptors. That's where the magic happens. From the Greek "sunapsis," or point of contact."

Penny on the Tracks

"Industrial detritus surrounds the train tracks where we used to see the train roll a penny out like pie dough. Do kids get to pull pranks like that anymore?

Centered

"It's the core in Pilates, the breath in yoga, the calm in self-assuredness, the faith in spirituality. It's the clear source of strength, so we can handle the ragged edges."

Bounty

"Harvest colors combine in color displays, hinting at baskets of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and seasonings. We give thanks for our agricultural bounty."

Amish Bubbly I & II

"Where can one find this thick hand-made felt? Ocean Shore Hardware, of course! And the bubbles? A necklace from Tokenz on Main Street. Simple Amish quilt color blocks hold escaping bubbles."

Vacation

"Quadrants of paradise. Dark exotic locations, tropical landscapes, clear azure waters, sun & surf & beach, speak of island getaways."

You can see the quilts on display in this lovely hair (and more) salon. Also shown on the right is the quilt  Breakthrough.
"That wonderful Aha! experience. We roll along, consciously thinking and struggling to solve a problem. Bot now and then, we get a glorious breakthough from the deep, that bubbles up and solves the puzzle. Clarity!"

Welcome to Bamboo!

Entry of Bamboo Hair + Body, the venue for my show True Colors.
Left: Serotonin - "The dance of peppy colors and blips of surprise all connect in a composition of wellbeing. Life is good!"
Right: Hot Flash - "A Basic Amish quilt block, redux, with flashes of brilliance and intermittent sparkles."

Pimento

"Log Cabin is a classic quilt pattern. This quilt uses nine log cabin blocks, turns them wonky, and ends up in a martini. Cheers!"

Pimento: 12" by 12" framed quilt installed in Bamboo Hair + Body.

8 MORE DAYS TO PARTY TIME!!

Thank you Yasmin for the beautiful Bamboo to showcase these wall hangings. Wonderful lighting and ambience, but then, what would expect from a Feng Shui consultant applying her principles to her own studio?

And Flavor Restaurant will help with the refreshments! Francisco has such a good feel for what people love and and then he adds his clever twists--classics with flair. This will NOT be a diet-as-usual day for me.

And! And! Stevan Pasero on guitar. What a nice man, who is selling out concert halls around the country, and has agreed to support local artists and play for my party. He will bring some of his CDs for sale. Please support his artistry, too!

I can't wait!

EEEK--There's a spider in my quilt!

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a spider phobia. You can imagine my surprise to see one IN my quilt, thankfully not ON it. I hadn't seen it till I looked at a photo I took of Tom on the landscape quilt I've been working on since mid-July. Yes, it's been that long. I participated in the Sandra Sider quilt critique, showing one of the in-process pieces. It's had several iterations since. Anyway, when I looked at this photo in Photoshop I was shocked to see a tarantula. I can hardly type the word, even the word itself in print now having almost the same sway. I hadn't seen it before, just knew that the one area wasn't working. It took a photo to show me what I had--legs. Eeeuw!

My solution solved two problems: eradicated aforementioned "T" as well as improved the composition by repeating both a shape and a color. My friend Bridget calls these "happy accidents."

  BEFORE -- see it?

AFTER  -- all gone! 

Vantage Point

I put some finished quilts on top of a bookcase for safe-keeping, meaning safe from Tom. He tries to bite off the beads. Oh, that's right. Cats can jump up on top of bookcases.

Sniff Test

It's part of checking out a new addition. I think it was the ribbon embellishment. This long skinny quilt of pastels, reminiscent of the beach, turned out to be SO time consuming, with all those little beads and hand-dyed ribbons and threads. Perhaps it has too much now, but it took hours and hours, and I don't want to feel those hours are in vain, so I don't want to remove some of the trims. It feels more like a party than it does the beach.

Lap(board) Cat

Here I am, set up with my lapboard, quilt, needle & thread, and box of pebble beads----ready to hand-stitch! But wait, a visitor has discovered a new surface to explore....

Petta on Metta

Metta means "Loving Kindness" in Buddha circles. This quilt outlines the Eightfold Path and also has a Metta Meditation: "May I feel safe, May I feel happy, May I feel strong, May I live with ease." Little Petta lives his little Metta life....

Another red

No title yet. But it has Tom's blessing. He hunkered down and wouldn't let me near the color strips I needed to fuse. The concept isn't fully formed, but it may end up fairly simple. Quilt blocks redux. That may be enough.

Black & White & Red all over

How to make a red quilt that isn't just red? First, I drew out the composition on the back of an old architectural drawing. Then I cut out all the fabric pieces and made sure everything balanced. Fortunately the Quilting Assistant was taking a nap when all these little pieces were laid out. Toward the end of assembly, however, he emerged and decided to check things out. I've never made a quilt without my helper. And a camera.

Color-coded

I can either match Tom's eyes or match his fur. Here's one of each. Tom has learned to not look at the camera for photos, alas. Even though I no longer use the flash, apparently there is the anti-red-eye light that flashes, so he won't look at it. Smart kitty! He really is friendly, even if he doesn't smile and look into the camera with those big baby blues.

How to create a quilt?

Assemble the parts. Move them around. Take out the colors that don't want to be there. Add embellishments that want to join the party. Does it dance? Does it tell a story? Sandra Sider, president of SAQA (Studio Art Quilters Association) and professional critiquer, encourages us not to make "just another pretty quilt." I'm still processing her challenge and what that means for my creations. I guess I just want to make a composition that pleases me, and that makes me feel good when I see it. I want to have an emotional reaction first, and then think about what is drawing me in as I study it. Is that what she means? It's not just pretty to look at?

Time for Purple

Quilt production is in full swing in advance of my solo show coming in November (through mid-February). Purple has made a big showing, but color, color, color is bursting out in unusual combinations. It's been great fun to be surrounded by all these colors. Tom seems to agree. He likes to plant himself on each project, adding his little kitty blessing.

First, Something Happens

What  makes a doctor leave a 9-to-5 position and take off for distant, often dangerous places, to help The Great Unwashed and suffering? I suspect that something happened while growing up. Some kindly adult said to a would-be doctor, "Did that touch your heart?" That led to a new Compassion Filter through which that future doctor interpreted new relationships and interactions. And instead of a regular, plush life, that new understanding led to journeys of colorful experiences and surprises.

Here's to Doctors without Borders!

Doctors Without Borders

Art for a great cause!. 41 artists will donate pieces to raise funds for these brave medical humanitarians. The theme is "Journeys." It's almost finished...

Paper Beads

Dee Danley-Brown has the cleverest eyeglass/cell phone case that hangs around her neck...truly hands-free. So I am attempting my own version. Hers has paper beads that she made, taught to her by Judith Content. I found an online YouTube tutorial, gathered some old wrapping paper, and now I have paper beads for the outside trim. I made up a pattern. Now to select fabrics and assemble. Oh, yes, and this little pouch also serves as a nametag, since I keep forgetting to bring one to the meetings. That's my goal for next meeting: a quilted nametag.

Where do ideas come from?

Often from the materials themselves. And where did I find extra thick wool felt? The hardware store, of course. There's a great little arts supply section at Ace Hardware in Half Moon Bay!  Thus, a new medium. It will still be a quilt: three fabric layers stitched together. Just how that will happen will unfold.

In the Meantime

Thomas found a handy perch. He's just occupying the ironing board until I need it for the next quilt.

It's always landscapes

They pour out of me. It comes from primordial outdoor images. Those Sunday drives in the Iowa countryside. Hills and wooded riverbanks, planted rows of corn, farmhomes, and gravel roads. It's Grant Wood everywhere. And it's my place to start: my entry for the SAQA trunk show "This is a Quilt." A little 8" x 8" landscape.