Still Under the Weather

I am still under the weather with a bad case of bronchitis.  There hasn't been much stitching going on, or much of anything else for that matter.  I have had difficulty with bronchitis for most of my life.  The only reason I can subscribe this to is the fact that I have allergies.  Of course, I lived with heavy smokers for the first thirty years of my life, and that probably plays a role, as well.

This is a little block that I wanted to post.  It later became a small quilt, or quilt-lette, if you prefer.  The fabrics that make up the block were all painted with oil-based paintsticks applied directly to solid black fabric.  I remember that I really had a ball painting that fabric and making that block.  

There are many reasons to quilt.  Many writers have probably expressed why they quilt better than I can, at least right now when I am so under the weather.  But, I do remember very well making this block and the sheer joy I felt when making it from fabrics that i had painted myself.

My wish for you today is that you experience great joy in your quilting and other creative endeavors.  Creating is truly a joy!

Back To My Project

Here is a picture of a finished point for my 8-pointed star project that I wanted to share with you.  I have been piecing the points and have five of them done so far, but thought it was time to start embellishing one of the points.  It was great fun to do, and I came up with a new stitch combination.

Of course, I could not wait to see how it would look against the center block, so here is a picture for you to see, as well:

I still have a long way to go, but it is so exciting to see progress.  Now my thoughts are beginning to turn to a background color.  My son was home this week end for my birthday (the big 60!).  We had a great time together, although it was only one day.  Because he is a professional visual artist working in advertising, I told him what I was thinking and asked for his suggestions.  I'm afraid he was not too sure. Hmmmmmm! I think I will have to go it alone on this one.  I am considering a dark purple or a shade of green.  Of course, I am also considering picking up the black accents and using a black background with a variegated thread for the quilting.  Hmmmmm, again.  Definitely something of earth-shattering importance to keep me awake at night, LOL.

Yesterday  dove into the new issue of Quilters Newsletter.  I saw that the Alliance for American Quilts has announced it's new contest, so I checked it out.  The theme is "Something new from something old", which is giving me many ideas to consider.

I love the holidays, but, oh, how good it feels to be back to routine and into the quilting rhythms of my day/night!  Keep quilting in peace and happiness.

Documenting Progress

I thought I would post some progress on my current block.  I have been working away and have added some black seed beads, as well as another fly stitch spray.  Progress is slow, but it is good to have something that goes slowly when most of life goes by so quickly.  I also wanted to write about why I have fallen so in love with crazy quilting.


First of all, for me, crazy quilting is an abstract form of quilting.  I find it very much like trying to create an abstract painting.  You can incorporate a theme, if you wish, but you are essentially creating your shapes from no preconceived notion or pattern.  I do not  mean to imply that no thought is involved, either in abstract painting or in crazy quilting.  There is plenty in both mediums.  But it is definitely more free form than formal or traditional quilting patterns.  When I have finished a project in crazy quilting, even a small one, I feel as though I have finished a small painting.  For me, the two are closely intertwined.


Secondly, I love texture and, let's face it, crazy quilting is so much about texture.  In Sharon Boggan's class she writes that the techniques are not so much about encrusted crazy quilting, as they are about creating "deep visual texture."  I love that!!!  I have not yet mastered layers in Photoshop, but I can grasp the concept of layers in this art form.  The layers in crazy quilting are fabric, laces or braids, layers of stitching and beading, and more.  Building up the layers is like building up a painting, one layer of small brush strokes at a time, only embroidery stitches, ribbons, lace, beads, and more substitute for paints and brushes.


I love the beauty of crazy quilting.  I love that people try and put beauty in the world when there is so much ugliness and sordidness that surrounds us all of the time.  We are forever bombarded by images in modern life, many of them cheap and meant only to appeal to the lowest common denominator.  To use threads, needles, and fabrics to create a piece of beauty is, to me, a wonderful gift I give myself whenever I work on a project.


Well, I think that I have spoken my mind about this topic enough for one day and hope that any readers do not mind my musings on the topic.  Keep quilting in peace and happiness.

A Great Trip and Project Pictures

What a beautiful day today was!  After a lot of rain on Friday and really grey skies on Saturday, today was filled with blue skies and brilliant sunshine.  I was so lucky to be able to spend the weekend in Pittsburgh visiting my son and his DH.  Despite the grey skies, we had a fabulous time.  I wanted to visit a quilt shop in their area, The Quilt Company, and both were very patient with me once we got there.  

It is a wonderful shop, filled with great lighting and one of the best selection of fabrics I have ever seen.  Did I buy anything?  Need you ask?  Of course, although a tight budget restrained my spending to some extent.  I bought a pattern to make a stitch'n'flipped small bag and the hardware to attach it to.  The bag can really be as elegant as you want it to be, although the picture of the bag made up is fairly plain.  I plan to embellish mine like crazy.  Future pictures to come!


I also bought a bundle of ten Moda fat quarters, all in soft, taupe colors.  I have always wanted to try this color scheme ever since first being introduced to it in Quilter's Newletter many moons ago.  I love the Japanese quilters' work and how intricate it can be within a restrained color pallete.  The fabric is all so beautiful, I will have to plan very carefully when I use it, otherwise I will fear that I might ruin it.


Despite the grey skies on Saturday, we went to a wonderful fall festival at Sorgen's Market.  It was a great time, despite having the day turn colder as it went on.  We had hot, spiced cider, saw plenty of pumpkins, and watched all the little ones having a great time at the petting zoo.  One little goat kept butting his head against a little boy's hand, making him laugh with delight.  We finished up the day with a wonderful dinner in a beautiful little town north of Pittsburgh called Zelienople.  It was so much fun to spend the day with them.


The beautiful sunshine got me out today to take a picture of a finished project that I have posted pictures of in progress previously.  It is one of a planned series of four small quilts that will use pictures I have taken of flowers and printed on fabric.  This is the quilt that spoke to me so vehemently about removing the cranberry colored stitching I had used on it.  I hope you enjoy seeing it finished at last.

If anyone reads my posts, you may remember that I am taking an online class from Sharon Boggan on Encrusted Crazy Quilting.  I have made a lot of progress on this project and wanted to keep you posted on its progress.  Sharon is a wonderful teacher who can take complicated design principles and explain them clearly and make them easy to understand.  Her class is given through Joggles' web site.  I highly recommend it.  Here is a picture of the progress I have made since I posted the pieced block without any seam treatments or embellishments.

I hope any readers who stumble across my humble efforts, both at quilting and blogging have healthy, happy coming week.  Keep stitching in peace and happiness!