Don't Do This with Candles

But if you electrify it, that is fine. I keep seeing this over and over, twigs around an armature to mimic a chandelier. But, I must ask, how do you dust?

Enough Birthday Already

Spreading out birthday happenings just keeps getting longer. Why a day -- why not a week? Okay, I will stop. But I get to eat the leftovers for days.

The Hat and the Cat

Part of the fun of birthdays is getting presents, like this knitted hat from my talented daughter. The cat is certain other cats' hairs are woven in. She is so right.

The Next Decade

Just the zero marks the beginning of the next decade, and although there should be a six in front, this is a great symbol for starting anew. Happy Birthday to me. And thanks for all the great well wishes, and cards, and greetings. I am so happy to have great friends.

Gift to Me

With a set of old drapes, and mom's old chairs, Natalie made me slipcovers for two chairs. They look new, and snazzy, and are my gift to myself for my birthday. Reduce, reuse, recover!

Something Boro, Something Blue

Nancy, one of the Peeps, brought in a boro textile from Japan. These indigo dyed, and ikat woven fabrics are from the 1800s or early 1900s. The distinguishing feature is the patching. I love the handwork, and the fade in and out of the patterning.

New Sights (with Tenticles)

Something new at the local grocery Wegmans is this open bin of octopi. Never fails to point out that we don't live in a box.

Albert Paley's steel sculpture is shown twice -- in a maquette that is about 24" high, and outside, which is perhaps 3 stories high. Got to talk with him tonight at his wife's, Francis', opening of photographs at the Geisel Gallery at Bausch and Lomb. Enough name dropping!

Rare Sight

My friend (and personal slave), Michelle, helped me ready my house and studio for sale. My stash is folded and color coordinated -- a rarity. Don't think I live like this.

Community Quilts Project

A parade of quilts were show at the last GVQC quilt club meeting, and were made through the quilting project at ARC of Monroe County Community Arts Connection. All were hand pieced, machine sewn to connect blocks, and then hand quilted. It was the hand quilting that got me.

Stamp On

A detail shot of Pink Leaf 5 shows the stamping of those soft triangles. I think I cut a lino to use, and inked it with fabric paint. I stamped it after it was pieced. That black and brown is discharged fabric, using branches as the resist.

Pink Leaf Numero Five

The first Pink Leaf was the result of a mola challenge, and now this is Pink Leaf #5. Different mola, and you can dig back through the blog posts to see the evolution. Although, I might add some more things. But, it is faced (and finished), so it can be fairly done.

Friday Meeting Day

The Peeps got together on Friday. Nancy brought in an African batik, which Priscilla (back from her Indian cow head-butting experience) is checking closely. Glad to have us all back in the states.

Marcia and Her Talk

Yesterday was meetin' day for the Genesee Valley Quilt Club. Marcia DeCamp was the speaker, and she gave a great talk on the progression of her work. Nice to see her in the spotlight.

Thanks for the Flowers

Kindness came in many forms throughout the day. These are from a friend, and most cheering. It is a nice way to remember that we are connected.

Red Cookies for February 14

One red cake mix yields these way sweet cookies (minus the three the tasters needed) that will be served up for tomorrow's red fest. Note: my kitchen, not my concoction.

Breakfast for Dinner

Pancakes are all gone, but left are the cheese strata and turkey links. Coffee, ice cream and cookies, and  more, are all for $5 at the Episcopal Church in town. Bargain, and definitely fat Tuesday fare.

Remembering Color

It was not that long ago that color was everywhere. I have gotten used to the limited palette of black, white, and blue of winter.

Winter Sorting

Found a pile of montages of my photos, with a few cut from magazines, glued to scrap foam core. I like to go back and study the composition, and how they can be channeled into new work. So, cleaning is good.

It Gets Better

This snowfall was most  unusual. Starting with wet snow, and the absence of wind, the snow just kept piling up. What a treat to see such beautiful forms. There is a magnolia tree in there somewhere.

Staying Put

As the eastern seaboard fills with snow, my backyard takes on a stillness and tonal reversal. What was dark is white. I would miss a winter without snow.

Before Spring Cleaning

There is a break in the weather, the roads are dry, so it is time for some clearing out. Eight bags full went on to Crafts Bits and Pieces, donated to raise funds for East Rochester Seniors. (And many of my fabrics were just going back from whence I found them.)

On the Longarm

Got that mola quilt on the longarm today, and had fun with sewing it on to its backing. It is blocking tonight, then tomorrow's work is trim and face.

Leaves

This night-blooming Cereus is hidden in my hall way, out of direct light. But a new and robust shoot has formed (out of my picture frame). I never tire of the shape of that leaf. Might have to keep this plant around.

Reverse Applique

In honor of the mola's technique of reverse applique, I am adding some lines. I have cut the yellow ground fabric, and lay fabric beneath. A loose baste of the two layers, a bit of folding, and I am ready to sew.

Dye Pots

The term "dye pots" sounds so quaint. I use just about anything, here are some plastic bins. The first has some men's tee shirts with plastic clamps to resist here and there. No mystery how the pieces are dyed, and not terribly quaint, either.

The World in a Yard

A batch of hand-dyes brought this yard. To me, it is the world seen from far away. I'll bring it with me to sell this spring in Amherst, Massachusetts. Or, maybe keep it and fold it into the next work.

Toss (it away) Pillow

In the depths of the linen closet was this pillow from (I kid you not) 30 years ago. Time to toss out, pare down. Note: this is post 601 of consecutive daily posts. How I am doin?