Celebrating the 'New'

A new quilt that's been coming along very quickly!

A new woodblock based on a drawing from an art quilt I did in Jan/Feb of this year. Still needs a bit more tweaking... this is the first state printing.

Easter table before the feasting! Yes, those are paper cups, they look so tacky but I was feeling lazy about clean up. May have to commit to doing dishes next year :)

The egg coloring happened on Easter this year and ended up being a great 'craft' for all the kids.

Well, the leaves and blossoms are finally coming out little by little... I'm so glad. We're starting to feel the newness of spring! I'm working on new woodcuts and hope to share more this week. Happy Wednesday :)

A Touch of Orange

On my birthday, my mom took us for lunch (daughter & moi). After, it was off to a very cute and well-stocked quilt shop. We were just going to 'check out what's new' but the fat quarters beckoned! Here's a little collection I couldn't live without, the orange really appealed to me... plans for a throw are in the works. Happy Friday y'all.

A Quilt and a Nap

I'm starting to incorporate my woodblock prints on linen in this velveteen and linen quilt. Love a checkerboard pattern... very simple and classic! As usual, it's all unplugged - sewn in the garden and on the deck :) This summer has been pretty crazy, harried and full of upheaval. We've had a full house of kids... quilting and knitting seems to be all I've been able to summon up creatively. Mostly, these arts are a comfort and really good therapy. Someday, the tired little girl in her daddy's arms will be sleeping under this quilt!

A Little Blouse...

I'm jumping into the deep end, attempting to make this little blouse for my daughter. Don't laugh

but I'm sewing it all by hand... because I don't know what I'm doing. Not using a machine helps me chill out. It's going OK but some of the directions are confusing. It's so much fun making something little, tiny and cute!

Come Together

Even though I just posted about this quilt... I thought I'd show progress. I've been assembling it and it's coming together pretty fast. That is the part of quilting that's so addicting -when it's starting to look finished. (All the cutting, piecing and hand sewing goes so very slow. Kind of like the beginning of a long road trip, but then, suddenly you turn a corner and you've almost arrived!) There's still the border to do. It's a very meditative, calming process that's been a part of me since I was about 9 or 10 years old. We'll be going to Seattle this month and there will be a mandatory trip to Ikea ('cos I said so :)... hopefully they'll have something for the backing of the quilt.

In the coming days, I'll try to show some new things that are getting started.

The Bay Bridge and a Quilt

That's what's on my mind lately... above is the pink chocolates quilt I made... I took it apart and laid all the blocks on the bed to see what to do next. (there was just too much brown - which made it too dark and geometric. So, I'm adding several pink print borders around each square... hand sewn of course!)

Our anniversary is coming up this month and in the flurry of painting last month, the idea came of doing a portrait of 'us' as a gift to my hubby. That's us up there in SF, shortly after we were engaged. I painted over another painting since I was too lazy to build a fresh canvas for this one. Only one problem... it's 28 x 36". Do you think I'll get it done by June 8th?! :) Happy Monday.

Quilting on a Historical Morning...

My daughter and I played and hand sewed while watching the inauguration yesterday... I found myself getting choked up as soon as I saw Obama walking down the platform waiting to be announced. What a day, I'm so glad I was able to watch it live. Hopefully, this quilt will be completed soon. I'd really like to hand quilt it, but don't think I'll be able to put in the time. (although it is not a bed quilt but 'throw size') Still not decided on that. I'd like to enter it in a quilt show that happens out on the Palouse in late August.

I'm still adding little bits here and there to make it look more special and finished. The shapes represent dark tunnels... and where they lead to... coming out from the darkness and discovering what's on the other side. I like the idea of tunnels, especially the ones that were blasted out of stone mountains. I've seen many of these in France and the US and am intrigued by the shape of it as you approach and exit. Being inside also creates an interesting 'viewfinder' to see the world through. Anyway, excuse the ramble!