Tuesday, December 31, 2013

 Looking back on 2013 I must have made about
50 of these small art quilts.
I had a show in May In Harmony with Nature IV
with Bonnie Zimmer and Doris Myers at TAF.
I was part of the FibR Show at TAF where I
showed the Creamery Quilt.
 I participated in the Jasper County Members Show
in October with 3 pieces. Than I was part of the Salon
Show in Munster, In.  where I received an award.
A milestone for me.
 I made 40 hot pads for stocking stuffers  from my
UFOs and failures. Never say failure The ufo's
 turned into great hot pads. they were a hit.
 I got some great fall photos.
 Tried something new with Katie PM in Michigan.
 Nancy and I did a play date and this
lovely golden tree quilt was the result of that.
 I did a series of Minnesota Prairie quilts.
 This is the newest quilt I am working on love the
inclusion of red in the fore ground. Sumac.
 CHAIRS. This is the basis for a show in 2015.
The whole solo show will be about chairs.
Art quilts, painted chairs, and photographs.
This small quilt was made for my sister Nancy.
This was her Christmas present.
 In 2014 I will be making 10 bed quilts for Christmas
gifts for the women in the family. 2 done so far.
This is the nest and quilt I made to get considered
for the show with Brab.
Barb Lucas and I will have a show in October 2014
combining her wildlife photography and my quilts.
I will be doing a 12 foot wide by 6 foot tall landscape quilt in
5 sections featuring Barb's photographs worked in the quilt. 
 
Another Minnesota quilt. 
 Robin in springtime from In Harmony with Nature show.
 Silk birds nest from In Harmony Show.
Reflected Pines. 
 The Creamery from the FibR Show.
From photos I took in Minnesota.
The best art comes from things around me.
Experiences and places that I love.
 The studio where all this creativity takes place.
Finally one of my best quilts that was in the
AQS Show in Grand Rapids this summer.
Now that I do this retrospective I am amazed
that I got so much done. I even took a month
off to spend a month in Battle Lake Minnesota.
I am so grateful that I am having this time
in my later years to finally be an ARTIST.
God is good to me and I hope I have many
more years to create art from the beauty
I see in the world around me.
Peace to you in the New Year

Monday, December 30, 2013

2014 Goal


Yesterday I picked out fabrics for some family quilts to
make for Christmas gifts next year.
I thought it would be a wise idea to have them
speak for a color combination before I start
taking the time to make them.
I already have the 2 strip quilt tops done.
So I will need 8 more.
I am moving the spare machine up to my
bedroom so I can work on them in the evenings.
Television is boring anyway.
It takes about 10 to 12 hours to make a top.
So it should be doable to have then done by
the middle of the year giving plenty of
time to have them quilted.
This is one of my goals for 2014.












Saturday, December 28, 2013

Bed quilts

 During the holidays I have been playing with
color. This is the second top I made in a week.
I love the Kaffe prints and color. This celebrates
Purple. I decided to make some bed quilt tops
in hopes they can be Christmas presents for
2014. I am allowing myself to do this fun
strip quilting until the end of the year.Then
it is back to the art quilts.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Chrisrtmas

Christmas Morning and just the right amount of snow
to make the kids happy,
The food is all cooking.
I am resisting the urge to go to the studio
just for one hour.
What could it hurt? 
No NO No
Not a good idea.
I think I will get everything wrapped up
Clean myself up and sit and read a
book if there is any free time left.
Much safer. 
I will work on the purple quilt Thursday.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Kaffe Prints on the bed.

 I could not stay away from the studio.
I had cut a bunch of 3 inch strips and the
week-end was spent putting together this bright
orange Queen size quilt.
 I just love the Kaffe prints.
I have another cut out in purple.
I will wait for after Christmas for this one.
Today is the final preparations for the Holiday.
I will make stuffing and set the tables today.
Than kick back for the rest of the afternoon.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Sunset at Cedar Ridge

 Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Creative New
Year to all my friends and fellow artist.
Here at Cedar Ridge we will gather to celebrate
the birth of a King.
Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Enjoy this special time with friends and family.
Sunset seen two ways here at the Ridge.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Christmas color

 Stopped at the farm stand yesterday and they
had their poinsettias on sale. Buy one get one free.
Could not resist adding some color to our sun room
I said something about giving some away and
my husband wanted to keep them.
I think I will go to the stand on Monday and
see what they will take for what is left and
have them bring them to the local nursing home.
That would make Christmas special.
Have a great week-end.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Christmas

My sister should get her gift today.
She liked the red chairs so I made her one.
I sent it off with the Brown people.
They are so good about getting things done.
Finishing up the last minute  Christmas today
Than I will go shopping tomorrow just to
 get out of the house before the big snow.
I hope we don't have.
I need a fix of Indian food.
Some hot curry and rice.
Just a day for me.


Monday, December 16, 2013

Another snowy night.

Today was a pleasant interlude.
Claudia and Abbie fellow artists came to
my studio this morning and visited for awhile.
Than we went to Gail's Studio for lunch.
Gail has a fireplace in her studio.
Gail lives on the farm.
She has a studio building that  is off by itself.
Two large rooms to create in.
They are remodeling the kitchen in their house
right now so they are eating their meals in
in the studio. How pleasant to sit at the large table
in a room heated by the fireplace and have
lunch with some fellow artists. We talked art.
What else do artist do?
A cold winter day with the fire crackling
talking about what we love.
The first of many lunches I hope.
 


Sunday, December 15, 2013

Snowy Saturday

 Yesterdays 7 plus inches of snow created a winter
wonderland covering everything with snow.
I took all these photos out of windows or doors.
I am so blessed to live surrounded by beauty.
 Today we celebrate our middle child's birthday.
Mark is 49 today. We are having a carry in and
watching the Bears football game. A perfect
man birthday celebration.
I have a casserole of garlic cheesy potatoes
baking in the oven that and hot dogs
good football food.
This tree was 5 foot tall when I planted it
so I could put Christmas lights on it
now it is too tall to decorate. Around 15 ft.
The snow is the decoration this year.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Winter on the hill

We were gone overnight for another concert.
We both agreed that it is better to have more
time between events. We did not enjoy this
one. Both of us  agreed that a 3.5 hour trip one
way is too long a ride just for a concert.
I remember saying this the last time we
went there. Need to post a big note to remind me.
NO MORE CONCERTS IN ANDERSON.
 
 I usually see lots of cardinals but not this year.
So I have to content myself with looking at
some of my cardinal art. We are supposed to
get another big snow. :(  11 days until Christmas.
Time to finish all the little details.
You may not hear form me as regular until after
the holidays just too much going on.
Saturday I will take all my boxes to the UP
pick up and than get my Christmas cards
addressed and out. :) glad we only do this
once a year.