Now I Have Three

In 2014, when the Museum Quilt Guild last had a show, they decided some of us had entered too many quilts and asked us to choose which ones we most wanted to hang.  Many of the pieces I had entered were very small; a purse, a couple of the "creative girls", the piece I made in the Wendy Butler Berns class.  I withdrew all of those, plus I think my most recent challenge entry- which had been exhibited previously.  So this year, I decided I would not put too much effort into getting a lot of pieces finished for the show.  I have been trying to whittle away at the UFO list, though.  I've decided I will only show new pieces, as in things that I have never shown in another guild/ local exhibit.  I should have four ready by the registration deadline (Aug 20).  At present I have three.  The first is my fish, which was just in the AQS "Quilt week" event in Syracuse but has not been shown locally.  Second is my One Block Wonder.  And this one. 

 I made this using leftovers from a class I taught- bonus half square triangles!- and the borders were done for a demo using the double diamond ruler.  I got stuck- as so many of us do- deciding how to quilt it.  I decided just to doodle on it. 
 I have a big piece of clear acetate I can lay over quilts to help me audition quilting ideas.  (Be careful not to go off the edge with the whiteboard marker, though!!!)

You probably couldn't see the quilting in the picture above where I hung the quilt on the wall.  I couldn't, so I took it out and laid it in the sun.

 Much better!  

It's finished, I had fun doing the quilting, and feel  like I get a bit better at it with every quilt.  (at least I hope I do!)


Whether or not you agree, plastic bag bans are making a difference! It takes some planning and requires creating a new habit, but if you can switch to using your own bags,  you may find yourself wondering why you waited so long!  Don't forget that you can also recycle most of the plastic bags food is wrapped in at the grocery store as well. 

I am grateful for:
The kittens aren't hissing at me any more.
Reaching the halfway point of the hottest part of the year.
Chatting with Guy and Anna on my birthday.
Time spent chasing Jonathan around the back yard.
Kiara trying to get chickadees to eat from her hand.

Altered quilts

My recent success with the duffel bag gave me the courage to try and improve a quilt I made some years ago but never really liked. 

This is the original.  It was a project from the ArtCGirlz way back when the group was sort of in its infancy; called an "Instant Art Quilt".  Kathi brought the idea after seeing it on Ellen Lindner's blog or in a magazine.  I painted a piece of muslin with a sort of greenish yellow- which is way more yellow than I was hoping for at the time- with accents of pink and teal.  Once I arranged the bits, I decided it would be a plant growing out of a stone wall.  I thread painted the design on it and titled it "That Which Survives".  I ended up enjoying the process, but didn't love the quilt at all.  So, as I mentioned earlier this year, it went into the box of unloved quilts. 

I recently came across it and pondered how I could have made it a more successful piece. So I dug out the paintstiks, and this is how it looks now.

I added a subtle layer of light green over the whole thing, then used the darker green at each rock edge, hinting at moss growing between the rocks.  It's more interesting, but I still don't love it.

I apologize to anyone who tried to comment on the giveaway post and was unable to.  I did check the comment settings before doing that post.  But apparently I misunderstood the options. I chose the one that I thought meant you had to have a name and email address- not specifically a gmail account.  I wish I didn't have to do any of that, but you get spam posts if you don't make people prove they are people.  Sad, isn't it?

So last weekend we were talking about the hot dry summer we are enduring here, as well as some of the weather anomalies around the country.  I said "*#^!! you, climate deniers!"  But one of the other people at my table pointed out they had similar problems during the "dust bowl years", while another repeated the idea that climate change is cyclical.  I admit, I had no responses to these comments.  So I did some research.  I don't like to sound ignorant (as I often do) by trying to debate without facts.
I found out that, aside from the drought conditions, the dust bowls were due in large part to man's misuse of the land: (Excerpt of this article)
The Drought alone did not cause the black blizzards. Although dry spells are unavoidable in the region, occurring roughly every 25 years, it was the combination of drought and misuse of the land that led to the incredible devastation of the Dust Bowl years. Originally covered with grasses that held the fine soil in place, the land of the southern plains was plowed by settlers who brought their farming techniques with them when they homesteaded the area. Wheat crops, in high demand during World War I, exhausted the topsoil. Overgrazing by cattle and sheep herds stripped the western plains of their cover. When the drought hit, the land just blew away in the wind.

Some scientists are comparing climate change to the dust bowl.  
I also read some interesting articles about the cyclical patterns.  This one is very long, but has some interesting sections, especially this point:

Where are we currently in the natural cycle (Milankovitch cycle)?  The warmest point of the last cycle was around 10,000 years ago, at the peak of the Holocene. Since then, there has been an overall cooling trend, consistent with a continuation of the natural cycle, and this cooling would continue for thousands of years into the future if all else remained the same. But since 1750 however, the CO₂ content of the atmosphere has deviated from the natural cycle. Instead of decreasing, it has increased because of the fossil-fuel burning. Methane and nitrous oxide have also increased unnaturally because of agricultural practices and other factors. The world has also warmed unnaturally.  We are now deviating from the natural cycle.

People who don't want to believe man is destroying the planet will not be convinced.  To them I ask this question- Why risk it???
If even the smallest possibility exists that that we are damaging the ecosystem that supports life on this planet, Why risk it? 

I am grateful for:
Rain yesterday- an inch in my rain gauge!
Spending time with some friends.
Some sewing time over the weekend.
Perfect timing.
Making someone else's day.

When patterns fail

So yesterday I had an hour or so of free time before going to the shelter.  As I have mentioned it is not a good gardening year, plus yesterday was the hottest day we've had in years- so I wasn't going outside until I had to! Recently I've been cutting out some new summer clothes since it looks like they are going to get plenty of use this year.  (plus I'm just tired of the old ones!)  So I dug out a pattern and fabric I got several years ago for a very fun looking skirt.

The fabrics are by Art Gallery, and are the softest cottons since Liberty of London!
The pattern is one I picked up somewhere along the line- either at one of the major shows, or from a magazine ad.  Note it says you can use fat quarters?  I bought the collection of fabrics in a half yard pack, and figured they would be perfect.  They have been waiting and waiting until yesterday.  That's when I found yet another designer who thinks fat quarters are bigger than they really are.  Needless to say this is not the first time I have had this problem- and not only with a garment pattern.  18 x 22 isn't very big. And many of them aren't even 22 inches wide!
Check out the picture from the fabric layout page:

Umm, how do you even produce a pattern saying to use fat quarters then use a picture showing you're lying???  I was not happy- that I now have to find a new pattern, or use for the fabrics, but mostly because I wasted my precious sewing time trying to follow the worthless directions!!  I went to the designer's website and told her my experience.  I'm sure she'll tell me I did it wrong.  sigh.

Meanwhile, I finally finished another page in my coloring calendar.

I haven't done much coloring since I started making the ornaments, and really enjoyed getting back to it.  I have to get better at backgrounds, though.

I did this one at work one day when I had no work and no boss. 

I had only my cheap dollar store pencils in 12 colors, but made the best of it.

I had only a few comments on last week's entry and one didn't want to be in the drawing as she is making her own ornament and needs the incentive to finish.  :-)  So both of the other ladies will get an ornament!  Like I said before- the fun for me is making them!  Although seeing a picture of Paula surrounded by them made me "need" a lot more than I have.

No long rant or advice this time.  Just this quote:

We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to."

— Terri Swearingen

I am grateful for:
Air conditioning!
A bit of rain.
I got to see my tiny kittens again as "grown-ups" before they were adopted.
Kiara believing in magic.
Jonathan's joy over the tiniest things.

When it's too hot outside...

Summer is in full swing here in western New York.  In fact, it seems it has been summer for a very long time already, as it has been hot -off and on- and very dry here since May!
I don't tolerate heat well at all anymore (if I ever did), so once it gets near 80 outside, I go in!  Lucky for me, I always have something to do inside!

I may have mentioned the guild's biennial quilt show is this October.  I haven't registered any quilts yet, since I don't know how many of the unfinished ones I might stand a chance of finishing by the turn in date!  (I know this year they won't be asking me to withdraw anything because I entered too many!)
I'm happy to say I have one ready- only 4 years late!!  This is called "Jack (in the pulpit) in (One Block) Wonderland)"  The fabric is from the "Sunshine and Shadows" collection by Jane Sassaman.

I had thought of doing a wondrous free motion quilting design using the jack in the pulpit from the original fabric.  But, in the interest of finishing it, I used the Daisy Chain design I found at thequiltingboard.com.
I think it shows better on the back.

For the border, I found a complimentary design at The Inbox Jaunt.  As you can see, I hadn't washed the blue marker out before I took this one.  You can also see the faux piped binding I did.  LOVE this technique!

I am still hooked on the Opulent Ornaments! 

 I found a fun green batik with concentric dots, and used several colors of green beads and sparkly stuff to embellish it.  This is on a 5 inch ball.

I loved the medallion fabric I started with, so I got some more of the 2 or 3 inch balls to do some more with that one.   On this one, I decided to try using bugle beads.  The pattern suggests using staples, but they are too short to stay in the foam.  So I used beading wire.  Kind of labor intensive. 

 I've discovered it's much easier to use either a different part of the fabric, or something plain around the "equator".  Once again my sparkly stuff comes in very handy!

 

 


I really need to find the right light for photographing these, as they look kind of dull here. 

I'm interested to know who -how many people- read(s) my blog.  So I'm going to give one of these beauties away.  Just leave a comment.  I'll have hubby or Kiara draw a name for me.  You have a week. 

In case you missed it, there was a small bit of good news regarding our climate last week! The hole in the ozone is healing!  Remember when we all had to stop using aerosol deodorant and such?  This is why- and it proves that we CAN make changes if we really want to save this planet. 

I am grateful for:
The recent cool night we've had so I can sleep with the windows open!
A day with Kiara.
Sewing time!
How very sweet the formerly hissy kitten is!
The new raccoons aren't causing as much damage- so far.

So just what IS "Modern Quilting?"

Note: I have started and stopped on this post several times since late April. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get it finished, but I think the fact that many of my saved links were on the iPad had something to do with it.  (I don't like posting from the app!)  Anyway, even though it's maybe a bit outdated, I hope you will enjoy my ramblings.  (Assuming you ever do? :-)

Members of the Western New York Modern Quilters came to the Museum Quilt Guild's April meeting.  It was a great  meeting, with lots of inspiring quilts and the ladies themselves are just a fun group!!!

Oddly enough, this neutral quilt was one of my favorites!

The use of solids and graphic prints is part of modern quilting

This one is what is called "modern traditionalism"

I think this one uses what is called "Alternate grid work"

So at the next meeting of the ArtCGirlz, we continued the discussion- to learn more about what exactly makes a quilt modern.  I did quite a bit of reading in the few books I have, and on blogs.  Do a search for "What is Modern Quilting?". Many of the results contain this statement, from the Modern Quilt Guild:
Modern quilts are primarily functional and inspired by modern design. Modern quilters work in different styles and define modern quilting in different ways, but several characteristics often appear which may help identify a modern quilt. These include, but are not limited to: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work. "Modern traditionalism" or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting.

 (They have a nice gallery, by the way, so click on the link to read and see more!)

This post was very interesting to me as well.  I loved that she seemed just as confused as I was/am.
And there are several opinions over at Generation Q, from an essay contest. 
And this one seems to think there really isn't anything new under the sun.
Oh, and more eye candy here! (Jacquie Gering is one of the pioneers of Modern Quilting, I think)
So, whatever.

I saved a few pictures in my travels, but didn't save the maker's names or websites.  (I'd feel worse about that if many of the pictures I found weren't uncredited at pinterest) 
I like off center log cabins.  And I like when they kind of make the whole quilt one big block.  I think I'd like to play with the alternate grid work thing, too. 

One thing I could not find anywhere was information on the way "modern" quilts are quilted.  They all seem to be heavily quilted; with lots of straight lines and textured patterns. 

One thing I love about the modern quilting movement is that they are making what seem to be functional art quilts.  I like making art quilts, but how many of them can I hang in my house?  (My family also has limited wall space).  So making art quilts that go on a bed appeals to me!  However if I have to use solids and "modern" prints, my stash is completely inadequate.  sigh

I recently ranted on Facebook about the phonebooks tossed along the roads by me like someone's empty McDonald's bag. I'm appalled by the lack of concern for the environment shown by Frontier Communications.  I posted such on their Facebook page and got a polite "thank you for your feedback."  When I specifically asked if there was a way to not get the phonebook, I was given this link: https://www.yellowpagesoptout.com/
Seems great until I realized I had already opted out- most likely the last time they tossed one in the vicinity of the mailbox.  At this site, they proudly extol their efforts in reducing waste and sustainability.  And yet, they still dropped TWO of their unwanted books on me.   I'm sure the people who pay for ads want to make sure they are getting their money's worth. So, once again the wishes of the people are overlooked in favor of the corporate machine.

I am grateful for:
So far our heat waves have been relatively short.
We got some rain the other day.  (I went out in it to make sure every bucket I could lay my hands on was filled before it stopped!)
Keeping in touch.
Lucas is picking up the slack.
A lap full of happy kittens.

My Visit to Portland

I went to Portland for a few days to visit Guy. It was long overdue, as it had been 4 years since we had last gone out to see him.  (It has not been that long since we've seen him- he has come here!)
Anyway, he had to work for part of the days I was there, so I explored on my own.  Thank goodness for the Google maps app on my phone!  I didn't carry my "real" camera with me so some of these pictures are grainy (note to self- time to upgrade the phone)

I flew out of Buffalo, and we got a nice view of Niagara Falls after take-off

I always sit by the window, in part due to mild claustrophobia.  But I also love looking at the scenery!  (even if at times it's just the other side of the clouds)









 I wish all airlines provided a way to track where you are, especially for views like this one!  What the heck do you suppose the dark area is (the area that looks like the top of a skyscraper to me)?  A landing strip for aliens?  A giant shopping mall??






There is always something interesting in Portland.

These are made from tarps by a local artist named Wynde Dyer.

I had never seen one of these statue guys in person before. 















My Hotel was right on the waterfront, and only a few blocks from downtown.  Good and bad, since it was loud at times, but I did enjoy the view.














It was Rose Festival time, so the city fair was on the waterfront.  I enjoyed watching the light show on the ferris wheel.









I visited the Portland Art Museum one afternoon.  I guess even when it comes to art, I'm attracted to the brighter colors.  (shocking)  They have a nice collection of modern art.

Chevreulet, by Wendell Phillips Brazeau

They had an exhibit of "Native Fashion", which was very cool.  My favorite piece was these boots, by Jamie Okuma, which are completely beaded!

I went to the Saturday Market, which is an amazing arts and crafts bazaar.  (yes, I came home with a few interesting things!)

There are also a lot of food vendors.  I could not pass up frozen chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick!  ( I paid for eating it the rest of the day, but it was worth it!)

I even got to see bits of the Rose Festival Parade.

 Part of the festival is "Fleet Week", where Naval and Coast Guard ships come up the Willamette River. It was a pretty awesome sight. 
There were sailors in dress whites all over the city.  My favorite encounter was passing a group of them going into a liquor store.  What else do you do when you get shore leave.  :-)








Pioneer Square Park is a pretty great place in the center of the city.  There was a neat floral display set up.  I went down one morning to knit for a bit and watch people.

We visited the Rhododendron Garden.  The flowers were pretty much all gone, but it is a beautiful park, nonetheless.

Blue Hydrangeas are everywhere in Portland!

 We took a Segway tour of downtown.  I have always wanted to ride one of them- and they are a BLAST!!!

Here we are in front of the Portland Building.  The statue is called Portlandia.  (now you know where they got the name of the show)









While on the tour, we got a nice glimpse of Mount Hood.....

....which was a good thing, because here is what we saw when we drove up to Mt Hood the next day.  The clouds are where you should be able to see the top of it.

But we had a nice time touring the Timberline Lodge.  Does it look familiar?  They used the exterior of the building in the movie "The Shining."







It's pretty amazing inside- it was completely handcrafted!- and we had a nice lunch there.











One thing I was impressed- but not surprised- by in Portland, was the number of solar panels to be seen around the city. On approach to land at the airport, I noticed many buildings had almost full roof top installations.  While on the segway tour, we learned about the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building.  Among the elements that won this building an award, naming it one of the top ten examples of sustainable architecture in America is the huge cistern that collects all the rainwater to be used for flushing of toilets and use in landscaping.  One thing I didn't see in either of these articles, is that the parking garage is on 5 stories below the ground!  There is a park on top of it, and you'd never know!  This is what is possible when we commit to reducing the damage man is causing to this planet!  We MUST demand more of this, not less!
Meanwhile, in some ares of New York, there are people trying to slow the movement to sustainable energy, as mandated by Governor Cuomo last year.  I'm sure it all has to do with certain persons or entities wanting to make sure they get their slice of the pie.  It makes me ill how few people care to look past petty issues and embrace the larger issues involved- namely the fact that you can neither breathe nor drink money!

It was a great visit!  And now it's back to my real life.  Much less interesting.

I am grateful for:
Guy and Anna giving me so much of their time!
Realizing I actually like to fly, even though it means sitting in one place for ours! (kind of like being at work!)
My three-day weekends
Air conditioned bedroom
Getting back into my comfortable rut.

Quilting in the rain!

OK, I wasn't really out IN the rain quilting.  But over the weekend when it was rainy I had some time to spend in the sewing room.  I actually finished something!! 

It's not the most beautiful thing I've ever made, but I'm hoping it will bring some child in treatment a bit of comfort when it is donated to a Ronald McDonald House later this year.  I used leftovers from this quilt, which I pieced in February, and a design I saw here.
(I like her version much better)

To keep the whirligig effect, I used a quilting design I found in Angela Walters' book.  I think she calls it sunburst or sunrays.

OOPS, I didn't realize this was turned wrong. Stupid technology. I wanted to show the stitching on the back.  I used the back to front machine binding technique.  (Click "show all steps)
My favorite stitches to use on the front are a feather and this wavy line.  True, this one leaves small places where the folded edge isn't sewn down.  But I still think the outer edge will be the first thing to wear out.









When I say we have to stand up and make ourselves heard regarding protecting our planet, I mean guys like these!!!

Two of the men holding the sign are actors from Star Trek!
It's always nice to get someone to help who can get their picture in the paper.  :-)

I am grateful for:
A weekend with the kids!
Sewing time.
Cool nights so I can sleep under my quilt!
Only two more sleeps!
The heatwave in Portland happened before I got there.