My apologies!!

I don't know WHERE the time has gone! So many, many events in the family, but the bottom line is, I've neglected the blog!

So....


I finally finished the Spirit House quilt! Here's some photos, although since it was taken, I have gone in and added 3 more little houses on the hill, just to really finish it out. I wrote the haiku myself, and when I finally decided on the hands, it all came together really quickly. I'm very pleased with the results.


I've had fun at some craft shows, and whipped up some little monster pouches from recycled thrift shop sweaters. Zippers for mouths, buttons for eyes....they are so funny to play with!


I've been getting rid of all the Red Panty clothing, and have stopped sewing up any new cashmere kitties....I feel the need to change directions. I'm not sure if I'll still make clothing to sell: I'm still looking inside myself, figuring out where I need to go from here.

I've been winnowing out the Art Barn, because it's becoming quite the dumping ground...between moving Dear Daughter home this summer after graduate school, friends making "donations" of various items, accumulating vast amounts of supplies, whatever, it's just TIME to clean it up! I looked at photos of the Art Barn, after I finally got it all fixed up and situated, and I long to return to that state of cleanliness! So that's my goal, to get it finished by New Year's.

What's YOUR end-of-the-year resolution?

Red Panties on Parade

The show is UP and looking....okay, I guess. Artwork that I "pin", or admire, or really, really like is so much better than mine. I feel mine is rather cartoony, which isn't a bad description considering my life is very much like the Simpsons! But, it IS mine, and for what it's worth, it's on display at the bottom of the stairwell in Courtright Library at Otterbein!


I was happy to get the Panty quilts out in public again, it's been awhile!

I do feel happy with this particular piece, Watch What You Say. The shiny bits are the inside of a chip bag. The open mouth is printed on vellum, and the old diagram lines connect to my sewn lines leading to the words "hate" and "lies", which have the big red "NOT" circles on them. Click on the photo to see it more clearly.


Lots of other words on this one, too....."mirror, mirror"; "mind your tongue"; "do you like what you see?".

I also finished the central piece in this grouping...I don't consider them a triptych, but they hang together nicely. "Redbuds" because I love them in the spring!


There will be a little reception on Sunday, April 19th 2-4pm, so if you're around, stop by! The show will be up until the middle or end of June.

The ice dam has broken...New Artwork! (a little morality tale)

One week from today, I'll be hanging a little show of my work in the basement of Otterbein's library. I so wanted to have all new work to hang, although I certainly have more than enough already to have a nice selection.

I tried to make the little houses piece work; I thought about it, I fussed about it, I dreamt about it. This morning, I did embroider the moon....



....but I finally realized why I can't finish it right now. Too dark, to Halloween-y! That's not where I am, especially today, the first lovely day of the year, temps up to the 60's, not sunny, but not rainy. So, I decided to let Mr. Moon rest for awhile, til I feel more like fall, and start something else.

Success! Two little pieces halfway finished, one of wisteria and one of cherry blossoms. They're each about 21" tall x 10" wide.

I've decided to make a much larger piece as a companion, with flowers in it. Foxglove, maybe coneflowers, maybe lavendar. I can decide tomorrow. But as I watched the news showing photos of the Ohio River cresting and beginning to recede, I feel the same way, that dam of frozen ideas has finally given way to some warm, flowing inspiration!



What is the moral of this story? Don't force it. Don't try to jump and stomp on the debris blocking your flow....just relax. Put it away. Give yourself permission to go in a completely different direction, one that is open and unimpeded by expectations or the baggage we bring. You'll find your way back by coming at it from another side, later, when you're ready. In the meantime, you can still find joy and create beauty in other ways!

Altar Cloth & Paraments: Dedicated!

Sunday was the dedication/blessing of the completed parament set for First Presbyterian Church! I think they looked really good in their new home. I hope they bring lots of joy to the worship there for many years to come.



(CLICK the photos to see them bigger & better!)

Done! Liturgical cloth with applique

Yay, I'm done! This was actually quite enjoyable, and felt really great to be contributing to the overall worship experience. Here's photos: of the sketch for the applique to go on one side of the altar drape.


Then there's the photo of the applique pieces I created from fabric.....



There's the completed applique, waiting for the gold thread embroidery....



and here's the finished cloth! The church will use them for the first time next Sunday, and they've invited me to attend their worship service. I'm so glad, I wanted to get a picture of the whole set in place, so I'll share that next week.

Happy New Year 2015!

It's a New Year! Yay! Another chance to keep all those resolutions (didn't make any) pay all those bills, (working on it!) achieve all those goals! (sooo many goals!)

After lots of crafting for Christmas, I have started a sweater for ME, but I've had to take a time out...

Working on a commission for a local church, for a new set of Paraments (altar cloth, bookmark, and lectern scarf) for their Ordinary Time. That means, Green! Lent & Advent are purple, special days like Easter & Christmas are often white, Pentecost can be Red, etc.

So, after a very fun day at the fabric store, and about 10 different 1 yard samples of green fabrics, I settled on a combination of a cool green & gold brocade paired with a printed textural cotton. I'm thinking about the juxtaposition of the mundane and the divine, the ordinary and extraordinary, our daily, imperfect lives, and the sacred, holy ideal life we strive for.

This is a pic of the Lectern scarf, prepared as the sample for the church committee and it shows the style of patchwork I'm doing. Here's a sketch of the altar cloth, which is now actually a finished top, ready to be appliqued this weekend with grapes and wheat instead of a cross and flames.

Many yards of fabric, to be sure, but it's been kind of fun. I did have to switch from my beloved Bernina 1120 to the 1948 Singer Featherweight my mom gave me a few years ago when the Bernina started to protest last weekend. Squeaky, clunky noises are not good! So she's in the shop, getting a "super head cleaning". I'm sure she needs cleaned & oiled, because I really put her to use.

Next up: working on the new quilts for my exhibit at Otterbein, and trying to sneak in more clothing to sell.