Time Flies when you're having fun!

I joined the Fast Friday Fabric challenge, a spin-off from Quiltart.com the first challenge was issued a few weeks ago. On a Friday morning the challenge is issued and participants have a week to finish their quilts.

September's challenge was Fall Colors with a 3-d element. Scores of ideas came to mind, but I settled on this one.

Harvest Moons

I love to free-form-cut fabric. This fabric is ArtFabrik that my mom bought me for my birthday last year. (Thanks Mom, it is gorgeous). I tightly quilted the piece, leaving half moon shapes as contrast. The moons are appliqued. I am going to take them off, make them slightly larger and re-do my edge stitching which was done at 3:00 am so I think it's a bit sloppy. My 3-D element? The moons, the stitching, hey come on, quilting makes fabric 3-d!

Harvest Moons - close up

Like Illustration Friday, Self Portrait Tuesday, Photo Friday and other creative challenges in cyber-space, the FastFriday Fabric Challenge is a great way to stretch your creative mind, execute a project on a small scale, and under the pressure of a looming deadline. What the deadline does for me is it pushes me to finish, and not continuously alter, "correct" or completely change my concept halfway through!

Don't let life get in the way of creating. That's hard to do especially if you have children, a job, a husband, a dog, or a cat! And certainly if you have a blog! Bye, gotta go make some art.

Postcards for Virginia Spiegel

I love making postcards. It's fun, fast and rewarding. This project has raised a bit of money for the American Cancer Society. It has also brought the medium of fabric to many who may not have ventured into the world of art quilts without this small format! Kudos to Virginia Spiegel for all her hard work on this project.



If you don't get to Houston in time to get a real Pamela Allen postcard, maybe this Pamela Allen Icon card will do!

"Oh, now don't you take my picture!" Guess who!

Cave Mama

Full Frontal

From the rear.

And because the theme for Houston is World of Beauty, so I made some flowers.

Hey! Where have you been?

On Monday 9/4, I sent the girls off to school, sat down in the studio and worked on postcards for Virginia Spiegel's FiberArt for a Cause.

On Tuesday, an independent utility auditor knocked on the door to tell me I had a pretty significant gas leak at the meter -- of course it was on MY side of the meter. He recommended we get it fixed ASAP.

About 1/2 hour later, there was an explosion that rocked the house! Nope, not the gas meter, the water main!


The explosion was so powerful, it blew chunks of asphalt the size of dinner plates halfway down the street. This picture was taken about 10 minutes after the blast. For the first 5 minutes the water was shooting twenty feet into the air!


The water department responded pretty quickly to get the leak under control. Thankfully it was on THEIR side. The yard is pretty trashed, and it will take them about 12 weeks until someone comes out to fix the street and lay some sod.

The rest of the week was spent on the phone. Talking to plumbers and my home warranty provider to see if a portion of the gas leak problem would be covered, and to actually get a plumber to come. Several promised to come, and never showed up. One finally came late Friday afternoon, demolished a wall in my husband's studio and then said: "This is beyond my skill. I think I need the boss to come work on this" and then he went home.

On Monday, 9/11 the plumber returned at about 4:30 pm and began to work on the gas line. At 9:45 pm he finally finished, cleaned up and went home.

Tuesday I visited the Blue Frog Gallery with Sharon. They have a Tuesday morning gathering of local artists. We all sat at the gallery and worked on our stuff. It was awesome. Several jewelry artists were there. A lady came who makes incredible lampwork beads. Sharon was working on a beautiful bracelet. Another lady came with canvas, paints and brushes. I sat and worked on Sally Sells Sea Shells. Someone asked me: "How much will you sell that for?" I just laughed and said "not for a million dollars. I've been working on this thing so long I could never charge enough." In their eyes, I think that firmly put me into the category of hobbyist.

On the way back to my house, the phone rang and Joel was calling. Sarah was sick and had to be picked up from school. I guess I didn't hear the phone while in the gallery.

For the next 3 days I tried to keep Sarah comfortable and entertained, yet productive. I didn't realize how much I missed her happy disposition, cheerful birdsong chatter and witnessing her unending creativity. The teacher now gets most of that, and what comes home after a day at school is, well, a different child. I enjoyed each and every minute with her and am sad [for me] that she will be going back to school tomorrow.

Deadlines loomed. I stayed up all night Friday night quilting a quilt for my church group which was due to be completed Saturday. At 5:20 am I still had two sections to go, but had to go to sleep. I went to the quilt meeting at 9:30 only to be told it really had to be done by October 22! Yikes.

Even though I'm not superstitious, I kept waiting for the THIRD thing to happen. First the water main, then the gas line. . . what next? Ah, the computer. In the midst of all this, my computer crashed. I never realized how dependent I am on the computer. I told my husband the other day: "Dear, I can sew with a needle and a thread, so if my sewing machine breaks I'll survive. But this, [computer crash] is unendurable. I feel like I am lost at sea."

How does any of this relate to art? It doesn't really, except this is life. The best laid plans to accomplish much are often interrupted by urgent life events that must have your attention. And by the elimination of something that calls to you too loudly (like the computer and email), other things start to happen. Without convenience of my computer, I spent more time in my studio. I was more productive and focused than I have been in a few months. Oh, maybe it is that time of year when after a summer of directionless children we regain our focus.

But as the weeks pass, I miss my computer less and less. I can use the computer in my husband's studio. It's not as convenient or accessible, but it is there and I have to really plan a time to sit down at it! Now back to my own studio.

Postcards for Virginia Spiegel Fiberart for a Cause

Gotcha! Ha!

Yesterday the Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Arts Alliance and Fiber on a Whim hosted a postcard making party at the studio of Fiber on a Whim. We had a great time sharing techniques, talking and sewing. Many had already made postcards and came to make even more. Thus far our count to go to Virginia Spiegel is 67. We're keeping our box until September 21 and will ship it via Federal Express. If anyone wants to bring postcards by Fiber on a Whim, we'll add them to the box and pay your shipping! Deadline is September 20.

I spent most of my day gabbing and giggling. The only thing I accomplished was finishing one of my derieres and coming up with this little lady. She needs eyeballs! I've had the breast fabric for a while. I bought it at a local quilt show, it was bundled with two other fabrics I didn't want, but I had to have it!




One of our members is the regional Janome representative. I have a Janome 6500 my mom gave me for a combo Birthday/Christmas present TWO years ago. After spending the day sitting next to Karen, I realized I had been given a big rig truck, but I only have a learner's permit! Man, the things this machine can do that I never knew. So I took out the M foot and did a little bit of satin edge stitching on this piece. Beautiful!

A color altered macro shot of a coneflower head. Printed on fabric. I thinkI'll bead each little "head."

I marvel at the work of several of our members. Unfortunately I was so busy running around I didn't take very many pictures. . . . but more pictures will follow in the next few days as I ask members to email me some shots!

Here is Heidi Miracle-McMahill with her incredible illustrations.

Fiber (art?) postcards and my Play Date with Sharon!!

Today was the second day of preschool for my youngest daughter Sophia. And on the first day of preschool, I wandered the house and wondered what I should do first. Laundry? Dust? Vacuum? Wash dishes? Unpack suitcase?

Nope. I read Quiltart.com and was reminded that in less than a week, the Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Arts Alliance and the wonderful Fiber on a Whim is having a sew-in to make postcards for Virginia Spiegel's Fiberart for a Cause. Suddenly dressing out of the dryer didn't seem as dire as planning this event and having no postcards to show for it!

And, reading Jamie Fingal's question on Quiltart.com -- "What are you going to do this coming week that is going to stretch you artistically?" prompted me to go outside my box when creating this batch of postcards. The rest of the first-day-of-preschool I sketched and went through old sketches looking for old brain farts to air out.

So on Sophia's second day of preschool, Sharon came over and we both worked on postcards. Sharon had done her homework and quickly was able to produce 6 postcards -- not finalized, but put together and next steps mapped out. I really admire her for that ability.

I was moving a little slower -- mulling over my pile of batik scraps, wondering if these sketches would work, having a bit of trouble with my hi-tech light box (a Lite Brite Deluxe). . . oh gosh I was procrastinating. Is this what working outside the box does to you? I just didn't have the confidence to put my ideas on fabric. So I just decided to jump in and go for it.

Here's what I came up with -- these are works in progress, still needing quilting and finishing. Beads on many, I don't know what on others. In the end it was fun and now I have three more sketches resulting from this playdate which I hope to execute on Saturday.

This was started at a previous playdate with Sharon. Using Model Magic by Crayola, I made the base on top of acrilyc felt. Let it dry and then painted with Lumiere paints. Next will be stitching, beading and finishing.

These are puff paint, painted with Lumiere, then heated with an iron to let it puff up, then painted again. I will stitch and bead these.

And then back to what I love to do RAW EDGE FUSED APPLIQUE. Ah but(t) these were fun. Sorry I couldn't resist.

My parents bought a painting in Paris of a nude lady from behind. She is on her side and has the most beautiful bottom in the world. It is entirely blue with only one spot of yellow, which as I remember is a flower. Inspired by that painting and a recent viewing of my own bottom (which looks nothing like these) I thought I'd try this.

And for fun a different color combination with a butterfly batik. Interesting tattoo!

Adam and Eve? John and Yoko? Joel and Becca?
Heck I don't know, but I like the nekked people.

Detail of stitching.

LAST YEAR'S POSTCARDS. I haven't made postcards for a while. They are addicting, and I really wanted to work on larger pieces. But here are a few I made last summer.

"Margie's Damn Robot" - my buddy called to ask me a question about where to get nuts and bolts fabric for a robot she was making to applique on her son's jacket. I offered her my stash, but she declined. For the next two days, I worked on this little Robot. The nuts, bolts, and washers made it fine through the mail. NOT HAND CANCELLED. I just stick stamps on and drop them in the box. I've never lost one yet.


These were made for my mom the week of her birthday. She had just recovered from an attack of diverticulitis and so I was inspired to make this series of postcards for her.

Fortune Cookies.
Each of these fortune cookies contained
a removable fortune about food and health.
Remember to add "in bed" at the end of your fortune.

Box of Chocolates

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Daily Special: Surf and Turf

The Power of Art

Here we are at The Cascade's restaurant enjoying a meal together. From left to right: Charlie, Alice, Sharon, Karen, Me and Dorothy (my Aunt).

On Wednesday I made my annual pilgrimage to Nashville to see the AQS Quilt Expo. For the past 5 years I have been meeting my aunt (who lives in Louisville, KY) and my mom (who comes from Carlsbad, CA) in Nashville and we stay at the Opryland Hotel, go to the Expo, shop and look at quilts. This year my mom, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, was not able to join us, so my Aunt and I went to the Expo without her! We missed you mom.

The installation of the quilts at the AQS Quilt Expo was disapointing. Quilts were hung too close together and you just couldn't see them. Some big name quilters submitted works to this show and I think if they saw how their quilts were displayed, they would think twice before submitting work again.

In both photos, viewers are straining to see a quilt.
The quilts were not displayed very well by AQS.

The exhibit which takes the grand prize was Ami Simm's Exhibit, "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece." This is an exhibit of art quilts which interpret Alzheimer's disease in some way.
THE POWER OF ART quilts was evident by the number of people viewing the exhibit, and the many conversations of viewers talking about the exhibit.

Viewers stopped to read artist statements and view the work in the Alzheimer's: Forgetting a Thread at a Time exhibit.

This Exhibit is very moving and I had to view it in three separate sessions it was so emotional. The hostesses for this exhibit were Ami Simms and artists whose quilts were on exhibit. They took the time to talk to viewers and listen to countless stories, as everyone is affected, either directly or indirectly, by this disease.

Viewers take their time as they move through the Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece exhibit. It was hard to make it through without becoming overwhelmed by emotion and many people were crying. The quilts and artist statements were very moving.

Another aspect to the discussions among viewers was the curiosity of traditional quilters. They wondered how some of the artists made their quilts. When I explained to one group of traditional quilters that the main feature of the quilt they were looking at was Tyvek, painted, then ironed or burned, they looked at me like I was from outer space. They had no idea what Tyvek was and had never thought to burn something and put it on a quilt -- but they LOVED the results.

Bravo to Ami Simms and everyone who participated in this exhibit. It was excellently installed, the works were fabulous, and the impact was profound, on many levels. I purchased the CD of this exhibit which features pictures of the quilts and a voice over of the quiltmakers telling their stories. I encourage you to find out how you can support this project by visiting Ami Simms website.

Extolling the brilliance of Sarah

Does every parent think their child exhibits extraordinary talent? I hope so. I hope every parent finds the special talent that each talent posseses and then extols that talent.

In the wee hours of the night, Sarah woke up, came downstairs, found the digital camera and went OUTSIDE for a nighttime photoshoot. Joel found her a few hours later playing in the yard.

Here are a few of the pictures she shot. We think they are pretty darn good.

Creatub activity

This Mommy loves when the girls paint with watercolors. We have a box full of trays of paints, brushes, and paper. Whenever the girls want to paint they have free access to the supplies.

On this night they painted themselves right before their tubby.

How fun is that?

A visit from Oma

Monday we drove back from Hunting Island, SC. We pulled into the garage at 7:00 pm, unloaded the car, then drove to the airport to pick up Joel's 93 year old grandmother, whom we call Oma.

I hope at 50, I am as spry and mentally agile as this 93 year old dame. She has her daily scotch (or bourbon, because we didn't have any scotch) and enjoys her cigarettes. Every day she gets up and does her morning stretches and exercises. She loves to walk and remain active. She enjoys travel and has been around the world a few times.

The girls absolutely adored her. And she adored them back.

And she says: "Like fish, guests begin to smell after three days."

So on the third morning she went home.

Come again soon Oma!

Summer's Over -- Our Last Hurrah!

For the second and last time of the summer, we went camping again on Hunting Island in South Carolina.

If camping is not your thing, perhaps there are areas on Hunting Island that are not as rustic. But no matter what, do not miss a chance to see this awesome place.

We camped again with our dear friends, on our favorite campsite which is right on the beach.

We had so much fun we didn't take many pictures. But here is a picture of Sophia rinsing her toys. This spigot is at the edge of our campsite -- see how close the ocean is?

The two boys, Lars and Finn, caught a baby black tipped shark in a tidal pool. The kids were thrilled to touch and examine the shark up close. The silly parents (that's us) put ham in the water in the hopes that the shark would eat it. But it didn't and rather than let the shark die, the kids released it into the waves.

On the last day the water was as calm as a lake. As we swam, we saw pod of dolphins about thirty feet away. For more than an hour we continued to swim with the dolphins. They came as close as ten feet. It was a beautiful and magical experience and the perfect end to our summer.