Quilting on the Edge

New Artist Trading Card: Try Something New challenge

2010-03-12T00:00:00-06:00

Andso I did. I decided to use paper instead of fabric for this months challenge. I had purchased a package of different colored tissue paper that bleeds color when water is applied. I tore off bits and pieces of the tissue in different colors, put it on watercolor paper, then added water with a brush. Here's a sample of the surface with the tissue paper on it. As expected, the colors bled onto the watercolor paper under it, so when the tissue paper dried, it came off and the paper underneath had lovely colors on it. This photo is just one I did, I actually did two different ones. When dry, I cut the watercolor paper into the size needed, 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, then finished off the design with an added rectangle and strip of the watercolor paper which I attached by sewing them with the machine. Below is a photo of all the cards I made and will be trading. This was fun to do, a welcome change from always using fabric, and seems like I will do it again! What do you think?

Tuesday's Two Cents on Thursday! Computer Crash!

2010-03-11T00:00:00-06:00

doesn't this remind you of how the web must be.....reaching all of its' tentacles around? this is what I missed when our computer crashed last Thursday........all that web of people, places, and things. It's Wednesday now and I'm posting for tomorrow........I missed my Tuesday post obviously. I already knew that the computer was a major part of my life, but in case there was any doubt, and there wasn't, now I know for sure. I was lost without being able to keep up my fellow art quilters on line. See their new work. Read their remarks. It drove me crazy. I guess I am spoiled, so that's okay if you want to say that. Many times over the last five days I've said oh, I'll go check that out online, or words to that effect. Fortunately, I stopped myself before I actually went to the vacant desk. I'm glad to be back again........I have lots to share coming up. I'm working on a new art quilt about places on Anna Maria Island, I'm nearing completion of the first piece. I hope to do a series. I did some experimenting with tissue paper that has bleeding color when wet, for my ATC trade this month, and that was very interesting as well. I cleaned my studio really well ........well, sort of really well. I see I'm already taking it back to its' normal state of disarray. Now I can finally get to my photos for my next island piece......that drove me crazy most of all. I'll post something more tomorrow with pics! Ah, good to be back.

Video Appreciated by Those Over Forty Years of Age

2010-03-05T12:00:00-06:00

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/video/video.php?v=1095581365241&ref=nf A woman goes back to work after 30 years....be ready for a good laugh!

A Poignant Story in my Mailbox Today

2010-03-04T06:33:07-06:00

The Rain

Date: 2010-03-03, 9:10AM

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share with you. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Be Yourself

2010-03-03T10:56:58-06:00

We have probably all heard this expression countless times since we were young. Just be yourself. Wear what suits you, decorate as you choose. Do what makes you happy. Go to places that you want to. Read the books you like. Style your hair to your liking. Be accepting of your weaknesses, and celebrate your strengths. Remember that among the people you meet, those who matter don't mind what you do or wear or how you live. And those who mind what you do, don't matter. Just one of my favorite expressions that came to mind today.

Tuesday's Two Cents: Sideways Day

2010-03-02T00:00:00-06:00

I am having what I call a Sideways Day. Nothing motivates me. While I have many things I could be doing, none of these things hold my attention. I took this photo of post it notes once for what must have been a good reason at the time. Today, I came across it and it sort of fits my mood. There's nothing written on any of them. Maybe this means I can just coast today and not commit myself to anything. I did accomplish a few things. I filled two bags for Goodwill out of a closet upstairs, I've had this on my mind to get ready and altho it only took five minutes or less, I did do it. I took my daily walk, altho I don't really think that counts as anything since I do it everyday, it's sort of like taking a shower or some other routine activity. One other thing I did was take a white rocker off our deck outside to scrub it........it was filthy from sitting out in rain and wind storms, and to adequately clean it, I needed a bucket of soapy water and a hose. Done. Then I sat down on a chair on our patio and telephoned my great friend Jan in Indiana and caught up with her life. I was relieved to hear she was supposed to be cleaning house but instead was reading a book. Kindred spirits! I encouraged her to not clean. Misery loves company. I've always had a difficult time dealing with these sideways day.......I guess my work ethic or standards are expecting me to have accomplished something major each day to qualify for the end of day reward of thinking my day was worthwhile. But I know, that is not so. It is okay, even good, to have days like these. Perhaps it means the mind and soul need a break to rejuvenate and catch up with myself. That's what I'm going to try to remember the rest of the day. After I finish this, I'm going to go downstairs and put away some yarns that I've been meaning to for a long time. I guess it's that kind of day: picking away at small tasks. Those I don't usually take the time to do since I'm doing bigger things. Hmm...maybe not such a sideways day after all.

Sunshine as Inspiration for Quilts

2010-02-26T00:00:00-06:00

Isn't this interesting? This is a climbing piece of equipment at a playground.......I took this photo of the sun coming through the holed floor while visiting there about a year or more ago......I thought the patterns it created were interesting and perhaps with a little cropping could turn into a nice subject for an art quilt. I often take photos around the house too, in the morning when the sun is reflecting on the walls in unusual ways. The following photos are of that type of thing.

The next one is the sun on the closet door in my studio.

One day, in the afternoon I had a bunch of my quilts lying on my sewing machine table, and noticed the sun coming through the blinds onto the quilts. So I took a picture of that too. Just for future reference. Those photos are next.

See what I mean? These in particular look good for cropping out a section for an art quilt design.

The last photo is a cropped section that could be used as the basis for an art quilt. Kind of like a study in value of the various colors. Maybe using your camera can be a source of inspiraton for you as well.

Shadow Quilt Ideas

2010-02-24T00:00:00-06:00

This is a picture of some kids' blocks I stacked, then I took a picture of them against a white wall to also show the shadows created. This was quite some time ago, and I was playing around with my digital camera to add to my file of quilting ideas. Pretty neat.......I believe this photo has also been altered in photoshop. This is something I do now and then, usually on a day I don't feel like quilting but still want to be creative. A photo such as this can also be further altered in photoshop, here's another picture when I believe I used a filter to create a wavy picture from another stack of blocks.

Then, you could keep playing and crop out a section so it doesn't look like stacked blocks anymore at all.

Imagine what you could do with this photo in terms of color. I had forgotten all about these photos until today, when I decided to look through my photo file for creative interest. Just decided to share the idea with fellow creators today. What can you be taking photos of along the way? Even photos of things you admire for their beauty, can be used, especially if you crop out an interesting section and see what ideas are sparked. Enjoy the process!

Tuesdays' Two Cents: Ode to What I Take for Granted

2010-02-23T00:00:00-06:00

My shower was warm, the towel was fresh. I had soap and shampoo. My hairdryer worked as it should. My hairbrush was sitting right where I left it. I could choose clothing appropriate for the weather. I exercised without difficulty, I took a walk without giving the ability to do so a second thought. I did it for health, not for necessity. I enjoyed a warm cup of coffee and cold glass of orange juice. I ate vanilla yogurt with dried cranberries, it was all right there in the frig and cupboard. The sun was shining, the palm trees swayed and filled with air with swishing sounds. People smile at me while I walked, and I smiled back. Nothing hurt me. My body worked easily and carried me where I wanted to go. I saw a closet with fabric and threads, needles and paints too. I could create whatever I wanted. Or, I could read, or listen to music. I could hear from friends online, and or read interesting articles there too. I could contact anyone I wanted to by telephone. Yes, just another ordinary day, full of routine activities that I seldom notice. I take them for granted. I think this falls under "things to be grateful for". For some reason today it hit me while walking that I usually describe these things as ordinary, and for me I suppose they are. I can imagine those for whom this would not be ordinary. Some could not take that walk, or enjoy that shower. Some without something to eat. I don't know why these thoughts came to me today, but I guess I was due for a reality check about life. So, I've taken a step back and posted about it. As we all know, it's the little things, not the big events of celebrations. I hope I remember that more.

New Group: TAFA Textile And Fiber Art List

2010-02-22T10:15:23-06:00

I've become a member of TAFA......Textile and Fiber Art list.........you can view this site if you're interested by going to the link below. If you're a textile or fiber artist, you may consider joining it as well! go to: http://tafalist.blogspot.com.