When in Doubt, Cut It Up

You may remember these blocks (here just hanging on my design wall) from a few weeks ago. Never could see them to like them, so I cut them up. Feel much better.

Large Scale and Plaid

Radka Donnell's piece "Demeter's Return", made in 1986, had me stop and look when I last visited the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell this past fall. The quality of large, unafraid pieces layering over and over are so self-assured.

Accessorize, Accessorize

Have we talked about these hair clips? My friend Jeanne tipped me on to these. And, no, they are not on the specialty rack at the quilt shop. Just off the shelf at the grocery store. They make sewing on the binding a snap.

Birthday Bundles

I loved seeing my fabric "scraps" used to wrap little birthday gifts waiting for me today. This day was introspective, low-key, and lovely. Nice start for my new year.

Exhibit Smells-o-rama

Yesterday, a quick trip through the Wild Center, a museum in Tupper Lake, brought me to this display that promised exotic and natural smells, as well as sounds, if I cared to try them out. Can't think I needed to; maybe save something for a return visit.

Line Quality

This weekend I circled Hart Lake in the Adirondacks. While not a perfectly exposed shot, it serves to record how those trees just spring out of the snowpack. The repetition may surface again when am working with shape and line.

Golden Goddess

Back in January, I passed this slot machine in the Las Vegas airport. Speaks volumes on perfection. Kinda how I feel about quilt perfection -- appealing to that super star quality, youth, blemish free. Glad I am not 20 anymore.

Dye for Warmer Days

A friend decided to leave her supply of fabric dyes to pursue other painterly interests, and I purchased her stash. I've already tried a bunch of the colors, with success, and there are a few resists and surface design techniques that await spring, and warmer weather.

Bald is Beautiful

An old doll, seen at the Big Springs Museum, is perpetually happy. And not at all worried about her lack of hair. What you don't have, you won't miss.

The Peony

The classic three color quilt is worth a study. This one, on view at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts, slams red peonies together, that when seen in the whole quilt, become a dominant four-image-made-one.

Installing Casey Key

No, these are not very short men, just one large quilt. Three men with a scaffold are installing Casey Key in its permanent spot in Florida. Thank you to its owners for sending this photo, and thank you for letting me watch the installation remotely .

Blocking on the Design Wall

More dangling threads will wait for me, for now I have it pinned to the design wall and sprayed it with water to block. Tomorrow I will add the binding and have a good sit and sew.

Under the Needle

I am past the halfway mark for quilting this Skinny Line Leaf quilt. Should have known I'd have so many colors. All those dangling threads will get "woven" or tucked back into the quilt. Good to do with a bit of T.V.

Can You Say Stalactites?

Dinner guests called for decorating with what was around the yard, or better, hanging from the eaves. Got some for you, if you want.

First Quilt from Katy

Katy bought a kit for her first quilt, and the colors are bright and bold. She had a choice of color in the small squares, I believe. Looks like a good start to many more bold quilts.

Pickins

Today I brought my hand dyes to sell to my fellow Genesee Valley Quilt Club pals. Here, in the foreground, is Judy Warner picking something out. No body really needs this, but it is fun to have a piece for inspiring that next work.

A Visit to Ithaca

I am often not often able to get to a meeting of my other quilt club, the Tompkins County Quilt Guild, but last night I made it. Many members (me, too) brought their first (or almost first) quilt, and then the last one that they made (or recent, anyhow). What a hoot! This is Nancy Ostman with her work, and hidden is Aafke Steenhuis -- both organizers of the evening.

Magic and Illusion

My new phone/camera does this every now and again.You might find it as amusing as I do.

In the Details

There is that skinny line. This quilt "Pink Leaf 2" is the one now on view at RIT's Shop One2. Sure was fun to make.

Side By Side

See at the Big Springs Museum was this tandem bike made by the Punnett company of Rochester, way back when (earliest was 1896). It was called the companion side seated bicycle. You can ditch the side car for another time.

Color for a Winter's Day

I am developing a new set of fabrics for a new class. And, I will also take these with me to sell at my hometown quilt club this week. Love to be immersed in brilliant color when the sky is so gray.

Embroidery for a Voting Machine

How odd to see this wonderful fanciful curtain used to block the voter while using this antique voting machine. The letters can be seen -- US SVM which stands for United States Standard(?) Voting Machine. On my journey today to visit the Big Springs Museum in Caledonia, New York.

Snow Day

If you regularly visit here, you know my head planter. So, you know that we got snow up to our eyeballs. They don't call it winter for nothing.

Roll of Fun

Fabric was delivered yesterday -- 100 yards of prepared for dyeing cotton. Already took about 20 yards off and washed it, then I will start to dye it. Think what will become of all that white.

On the Street

On the way to a reading at Writers and Books here. Event is called "Two Voices and Two Pages" with 10 mini plays. I find listening to words is all I can hear when working. Hearing tonight's offering is a treat.

More is More

The rows are set, now to join those. Had to just keep going to see what would come of more skinny line leaves. Hope you like this version, cause it is off to the longarm next.

Super Milestone

I know that most of the world is looking at the Super Bowl, but my day was celebrating mom's 100th birthday. And my daughter, born after mom reached  78, shows how we feel about her. BTW, the tiara is 50 X2.

Ironing

There is something I like about ironing. I used to hate it as a kid, but now, seeing the colors appear in the hand dyed fabric is a great bonus, and something akin to magic.