Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The year in Review

 
Thinking I did not accomplish much this year I went
back through the photos from 2014.
Even with 4 months out for knee replacement I find
my year was awesome and jam packed regardless.
My big project was the big quilt.
5 panels  a total of 18 feet wide and 6 foot tall.
I mentioned it to Kit from Machine Quilting Unlimited
and ended up writing an  4 page article for the magazine
that was published in September. 
 Barb Lucas and I did a joint show in Lafayette at
TAF. Her wildlife photography and my big quilt
plus another one called Minnesota Hills.
 We enjoyed many beautiful sunsets at Cedar Ridge during an extremely
snowy winter which was perfect for keeping me in the studio.
 I tried my hand at a modern quilt called
Colors of Winter.
Minnesota Hills ended up being quite large and
had 2 weeks of hand stitching on it. 
 The finished 5 panel quilt that took 5 months to make.
I entered 3  of the panels in the Salon Show in Munster
and received best of show. I was amazed.
 I made the Sunflower quilt (43 hours of stitching)
for In Full Bloom it was rejected but Kathy loved
it so it will be hers when it is done with shows. 
I thought if her when making it.
 I created several smaller quilts during the year and
sold a few at the Holiday show in November. 
 
This beauty went off to Montana and found a good home.
I need to repeat this one it was nice.
 Sumac Ridge finished off nicely and will be good
for shows. The evergreens looked good.
 Did I say there was lots of snow.
 I made 2 bed quilts one for Liz and one for Jordan.

 A donation quilt for SAQA,
I took time for class in April with Jane Dunnewold on
altering fabrics and surface design  held in St Charles
Illinois. 5 days of fun. Learned a lot. Jane is a really
special teacher, So kind and intelligent.
So 2014 was a very good year with many enriching
experiences, I met many great artist. I am so blessed
to be able to spend time creating art influenced by the
world of nature I see around me.
2015 is going to be a year of creating summer and
flowers. I look forward sharing  the new year with you.


Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Yesterdays Progress

 Love the colors in my daughters new bed quilt.
Batiks are always good. like the soft blues and browns.
 I hope to finish this top by Wednesday.
Then on to the fun one with flowers.
I also worked on my Donation for the 100's.
A fund raiser by Virginia Spiegel coming up in February.
Busy day today so  few words.
 

Monday, December 29, 2014

Winter's Contrast.

 Winter gives us such opportunities for looking at the
outlines of trees. The skies are clear and a perfect
background for all the trees.
 Whether it is sunrise or sunset the color of each highlights
the trees. Each one begs to be a quilt.
Sunday was a nice sunny day to enjoy winter's
landscape. I enjoyed a day home with my husband.
 
 I am working on my daughters king size quilt.
I had her come over and give me some input as
to how she wants it. Good thing-our ideas were different.
So hopefully I finish it today and move on to the
flower inspired quilt in browns and greens.
 I hope you enjoyed the tour of winter inspired photos
and I will remember to take the camera to the studio
today and show you what is going on in there.
Have a great Monday I know I will.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Finally a new computer.

 It is almost time to start on the Chairs show.
I will do some quick bed quilts than get into the
show mode. Chairs and flowers.
I got my new computer Christmas eve and my grandson
came over Christmas morning and got it set up.
Thank goodness for grand kids.
We had a lovely Christmas day. Lots of fun with
family and friends.
 First on my agenda are 2 bed quilts for my daughter.
I am doing the batik squares with ivory frames.
Light and airy. The leaf one will be a different matter.
I design as I go. The leaf print will be a border and
I think I will make large leaves on the solid colors.
Well I am off to the studio on a early Saturday morning
Hopefully to finish on top today..

Friday, December 19, 2014

Busy week

Time flys during the holiday season.
Jo Ann's had thread half price and with other coupons
I stocked up for the coming year.
Than finishing up bed quilts so they could be
sent by those guys in the Brown trucks.
Packages sent off on Thursday.
One more to finish the binding on by Tuesday. 
 The little quilt with the Fassett squares was so cuddly
I almost wanted to keep it but it is on it way to Tennessee.
The chenille backing made it extra cozy.
Liz's quilt of Fassett fabrics turned out nice.
Today I had an open studio and enjoyed visiting with
friends. Now you know why you did not hear from me
all week. Cleaning the house and studio so everyone
would think it is always like that. Yeah right.
At least I will have a clean start for the new year.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Progress

 I don't think I have seen the top of this surface
since February. Making some headway.
Nice to have a clean slate to start the New Year.
 This is how far we are in washing fabrics.
The bottom 2 shelves of the left hand cabinet are
still not done. Plus I have a cabinet of commercial
fabrics that haven't been touched.
Bigger job than I thought.
 I also rehung the walls to show this years production.
I am thinking of having a little open house.
Looking forward to the week-end. We are celebrating
our oldest sons 50th birthday.
Time does fly.


Friday, December 12, 2014

Some of my favorite things.

My favorite spot in my home.
Sitting at my machine.
In the studio creating new art.
Almost have it cleaned and ready to go for another year.
 The river that flows through our county.
It has been a cornerstone in our history.
Water inspires me love the reflections.
Dreamy fall photo.
Last but not least TREES,
I have always had an affinity for trees.
As a child I spent hours in tree forts up in the
oak trees playing and dreaming.
It seems like most of my art has trees in it.
They inspire me, shade me and are beautiful.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Washing all the fabric in the studio.



Last month I decided to wash all my fabrics to remove
the chemicals used in processing.
What an endeavor.
One I have too much fabric.
It is making me think twice about going into a fabric store.
I will need to live to the ripe old age of 100 to use it all.
Two it has been a challenge not to stop and start creating
something. The beautiful fabrics give me ideas and they
flow under my iron. The urge to stop and start making
is hard to resist. I am about half way now.
I am determined to finish by the end of the year.
After all January 1st is when I start next years quilts.
I have a flower theme show and the Chair show in
August. Today my helper and I will do the Christmas
stockings. We will stay away from the irons for a week.
While off to stuff stockings.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

93 years young

This is the new painting my friend Doris B. Myers did for
the winter décor in the Farmhouse Restaurant. Doris is 93
and she still has it. This is a 48 by 40 painting.
Huge.
Not an easy size to handle.
I hope someday I can paint this good.
If you are in Indiana and headed south on I-65
look for the Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure.
The Restaurant is part of this property.
Stop in for a good meal and take a look at the art.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Christmas Quilt

 I finally have my laptop back. Happy.
My desktop needs to go back to the tech.
Computers!  how dependant we become.
This is a new quilt I made for the Farmhouse Restaurant.
I used a photo of my backyard pond as inspiration.
To add that holiday sparkle I used gold leaf.
I especially like it on the edges of the oak leaves.
Notice how wonky my quilt is.
I find that piecing is difficult for me.
I am too hyper to do the meticulous work required
for precise joining. Must work on that, slow down and
be more careful. I took my show with the big quilt
down yesterday. Brent and Brandon  my grandsons
helped me. What a joy to work with them.
They also helped  Barb and a couple of other artist
carry their work to their cars.
They know how to work and only need to be told
once what to do-then they took charge.
They will do well in this world.
Than I took them to Red7 a awesome restaurant in
Lafayette.  I try to meet with them and Brad down
at Purdue University  once a month.
Red7 is our meeting place.
Great memories.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Found a home

This beauty found a home with a friend of mine.
I am so glad Bonnie likes this.
Its always a pleasure to create art and have it find a home.
I have been in computer hell for 10 days.
My desktop is back home but not working like it should.
I cannot get into lot of my programs.
This morning I should get my laptop back.
A weld had come loose and the tech was able
to re weld it. This is my go to computer.
Today is the AQS deadline for Puducah and
all my photos are on the laptop.
Hopefully I am back in business today.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Still having problems

 
Finished putting up the decorations
I put up less each year.
I am still having problems.
I got the desktop back and it will not download pics.
I think it is time to replace my equipment.
It is all more than 10 years old.
I have no patience with problems.
Anybody got any recommendations for a good
simple machine, Laptop or what ever.
I am open to ideas.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Thanksgiving


Trying to do a post on my tablet
In frustrating.  The key pad obscures the post.
 Looks like I may need to get a new laptop.
New technology is a challenge.  I guess I will have to
Try and conquer the
tablet.
I finished the Farmhouse quilt and almost have a second one done.
Tomorrow I will try and photograph the quilts on my tablet to show them to you.
Bear with me. THANKS

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Progress on Farmhouse Christmas Quilt.

I got a lot accomplished yesterday,
I should be able to finish up on Saturday.
I added the gold leaf to the mid ground trees and
that made it pop. Than a large tree in the foreground
should make it work. The quilt is about 36 inches tall
and 45 inches wide. I am going to add some gold to the
large tree and sew a few gold leaf beads on the branches.
I will make one large gold oak leaf and put the on the
lower right side and sign my name under the leaf.
Than to make another one this size and a smaller one.
Need to be done by December 1st or sooner.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Farmhouse Christmas Quilt

 I was able to squeeze an hour in on the Farmhouse quilt.
Now a day of ironing fabric.
I am determined to wash and iron all my fabrics
to get rid of chemical smells in my studio.
I have a helper coming on Wednesdays until we are done.
 I have to decide which border I want on the quilt.
Both will be used as I will be making 2 quilts.
The border fabrics are winter theme fabrics.
I am adding a touch of batik in the border.
The walls of the restaurant are orangery red
so I thought a hint of color was good.
Another cold day in Indiana.
A soup day I think. Must go to the freezer and
pick out toady's meal.
Rough life I have isn't it.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

New Quilt

I got a good start on the new quilt yesterday.
Today I will start adding the borders.
I will then add a couple of trees bleeding into the
border. I think this will make it a more interesting
quilt. Today is bitter cold and I don't want to go
outside but I must. Massage day.
I think this will be a cold winter.
It is starting too early.
Have a good day I am off to the studio.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Snowy days ahead.



 It came early this year.
Cold and snow.
I am ready to hibernate in the studio though.
Saturday I blocked in two new art quilts.
I need something larger for the Farmhouse Restaurant.
Nice winter borders and a snow scene in the center.
One will probably be my favorite view here at
Cedar Ridge. The western border.
Will change the art over the first week of December.
I usually don't get going until January so I am
getting an early start on new project.
My next show Chairs keep running through my head.
Lots of cool ideas.
Our FibR group is also doing a Flower theme the same dates.
Lots of pretty things to design.
Well off to the studio this cold Monday morning.