Happy Colors

I really like the colors in my newest mini embroidered art quilt, which is a part of my ongoing abstract series that I have been working on and posting in my Etsy shop. (This one is "Abstract no.8") The colors make me feel all happy, and remind me of early morning sunshine, green fields, pretty flowers, and blue skies!

A Little Bit of Vintage

Here's the 7th mini embroidered art quilt in my abstract series. My youngest daughter, who shares my love of sewing, declared this one to be her favorite. And at least one other person felt the same way, because it sold lickity-split! The black flower print is vintage, I believe from the 1930's.


I tend to hoard my vintage fabric, and only use it when I feel it is truly needed, (it's not like I can run to the store and buy more!) Below you can see that I used a strip of the same fabric in this illustration quilt I did 2 years ago. It may be hard to tell from the photo, but this quilt is completely covered in embroidery stitches, and is one of my personal favorites.


It's called "Walking to School in the Garden of Eden". It is semi autobiographical, and deals with the loss of innocence. The only part I have never been satisfied with is how I drew the snake in the grass, in the lower left panel. A bit to cartoonish, I just could not get it right. I used Tsukineko all purpose inks to color in the girl, the bird and the snake. They are wonderful as you have a lot of control over their application, and it is very easy to build up the color just so.


Other vintage elements in this piece include The red flowered fabric along the sides, the green fabric used for the flower petals, and the background is done on a vintage piece of feedsack. If you look closely you can see the printed text of the feedsack, but the embroidery stitches have somewhat obscured it. The button that represents the sun is also vintage, along with the crocheted buttons in the center of each flower.

I scrimmaged! Holy crap!

I’m elated. You have no idea.

I scrimmaged, and I didn’t fall apart, I didn’t break my neck, I didn’t break anyone else’s neck, and I also did the following:

-had no trouble at all keeping up with the pack. This was my main goal and I accomplished it. Hooray!
-didn’t get one penalty. Granted, I wasn’t terribly aggressive, but still, no penalties!
-I tried every blocking position and did something successful in each one, even if it was a small success.
-I had a great moment when my brain made my body go in for a hit before I said to myself "there is the jammer, I should hit her now". Granted, I missed, but it was like that first moment in Spanish class when I thought "mantequilla" instead of "butter in Spanish is... mantequilla". Does that make sense?

Plus, I can’t even say how much it meant to me when people told me I didwellafterwards. I was in tears by the time we started stretching because I was so happy. I feel like such a sap, but I freely admit that I totally burst into crazy "I’m so happy" sobs when I got home and told Steve all about it. It just feels sogoodto finally be able to play.

Everyday Pleasures

Note: I originally did this post with different images, but apparently the pictures were not showing up for people visiting my blog, (a big thank you to those who let me know, as I could see them fine!) I am starting over with new pictures, and will share the first batch next week when they feel like co-operating with me! Please let me know if anyone is still experiencing problems seeing my images, thanks!... And now for my post!

Last Friday I did a post on why I like the Green Dragon Farmers Market. Over the last 12 years, during the spring and summer, we have gone there almost every week, yet last Friday was the first time that I had ever brought my camera along. Looking for blog inspiration, I was encouraged to zero in on and capture snapshots of what made this a happy place for me, and that made it into something extra special. In keeping with that intent, to step out of my head a bit more, look around at my surroundings and zero in on what brings me joy, I have decided that every Friday I will do a post on everyday pleasures.

The way the farm woman around here all hang their laundry, way up high, on long wash lines.


A beautiful horse peacefully grazing on dandelions.


A mysterious old, blue lock box in the middle of a field. I wonder what's inside?

Abstract no.6

I started making "Abstract no.6" on Tuesday, Earth Day, and looking at it now, I believe I must have been influenced by the day, even though at the time I wasn't consciously connecting the two. That is one of the things I love most about the process of art, the way in which our moods, thoughts and feelings all have a way of finding there place in what we work on, whether we consciously intend for it or not. And that is also why I am so drawn to stitching. It is a whole language in and of itself. Every line, cross-stitch, and french knot is gently communicating something old and ancient, unspoken, yet understood.

Must... find... silver... lining....

Weak people give up. I am not a weak person, therefore I will take pleasure in the following positive aspects of not being able to skate right now:

1. I can spend more time working out my arms, which have gone all small and wussy since trading weight-lifting time for roller derby time.
2. I can go to scrimmages and watch so I can keep learning. Being more of a visual learner than a kinesthetic learner, this will only help me in the long run.
3. Favoring my left leg for a while will help it get stronger, and since that's the one that gets tired all the time (yay skating counter-clockwise!), this is helpful anyway.
4. Since breaking my tailbone, I never expected to bout this season anyway, so only missing out on scrimmages right now. These take place every weekend, so there will be plenty more waiting for me when I get better again.

So while I feel like I'm trying to stand up in pounding surf (being knocked down by wave, after wave, after wave just as I get to my feet), I'll get to my goddamned feet if I keep at it. I figure I'll just have really strong quads after getting up from falling down so many times.

Abstract #5

This is my fifth mini embroidered abstract art quilt. (That's why it's called "Abstract #5"... such a clever little title!) I am having so much fun with these! All of the applique pieces on this particular quilt are of japanese chirimen fabric. This type of fabric was developed in the 16th century and has a lovely subtle "wrinkled" texture to it, which comes from the way it is woven.

"You've got to find the person holding the voodoo doll, really." - Mrs. Dash

Tonight's scrimmage was filled with both good and bad things. The good:

1. I hit the opposing jammer a few times. I also made the attempt a few more times, but missed. This is a vast improvement on last week's scrimmage where I only tried to hit someone once. Hooray!
2. I booty blocked members of the opposing team a few times. I didn't hold them for very long, but I consciously said "get in her way!" and did so. HUGE improvement over last week, when I know I had the opposing jammer behind me, but didn't do much about it. Hooray again!
3. We only had nine people on our team, so I skated in about half of the jams. It was exhausting as hell, but it was great to have so many chances to improve on the jam before. Triple hooray!

The bad:

1. I gave the single worst whip of my life that resulted in both my left arm and my team's jammer getting sandwiched in between roughly half of the opposing team. That was pretty cringe-worthy, and it hurt like a bitch.
2. I took my first trip to the box. However, that's not too bad, because it means I was playing more aggressively. I suppose this could fall under "good" too...
3. I took a fall during which my legstriedto do the right thing (fall on my knees) but I slipped on something and my right leg went in two directions at once. Something popped in my knee. I don't know how bad it is, but I couldn't really walk well on it. Yes, I will be going to the doctor tomorrow.

So, while I'm proud of what I did, I'm really concerned about my knee. I know that the "pop" I felt was serious - I've sprained my ankle enough times to know a sprain when I feel one. I wouldn't be half so concerned if this were an isolated incident.... this is the knee with really bad tendonitis. Since coming back from breaking my tailbone, it's been grinding really badly, and over the past three weeks it's felt "loose". I'm really worried that this was coming, with or without the fall.

I just hope I'll be off skates for, say, a few weeks to a month or two. I think it's a possibility that I'm looking at more time than that, and I'll be so upset if that's the case....

Dash was right. I really do need to find (and take out) the person holding the little Dread voodoo doll before he or she does me some serious damage. I just want to play roller derby, godammit. I'll wait as long as I have to, but this injury crap is really starting to piss me off.

In summation, this is how I feel today, with God/Zeus/Odin/whatever as the pidgeon and the sad little boy as me:

The Green Dragon

Here are six things that I really like
about the Green Dragon Farmers Market:


The sign


The view


The produce


The timelessness


The flowers


The variety

Abstract #4

This is my newest little abstract mini embroidered art quilt. For this piece, along with the bright colored solids, I added some japanese chirimen to the mix. I really like the added pattern and texture of the chirimen fabric.


The hand stitches are what give these little pieces their personality. I never really know how these abstracts will turn out until I finish the embroidery, which I just make up as I go along. That's often the best way to work!

Pretty Pink Trailers, (Beauty is Everywhere)

Hubby and I went for a drive today, and we went past one of my favorite sights, this old pink trailer, with the wonderful curved metal porch roof. (Yes, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder!) I actually had my camera with me, (I usually forget to bring it along) and finally got a photo of this old slice of americana pie.


After I got home, I noticed this one particular artist on the front page treasury of Etsy. I checked out
Aliette's wonderful shop and to my surprise found this terrific print of a delightful pretty pink trailer! Love at first sight! Bought it immediately, and can't wait to get it, frame it, hang it, and adore it!

I quilted, I sewed, therefore I am

So I did break down last week and I quilted the background of Lara's quilt. I really like how the McTavishing turned out. I hope she will too.

Then I had to twist my arm to get myself to sew the coat. Every time I sat down at the sewing machine the 2.75 year old comes and says "See me, mommy." What can a mommy do?, but hold the boy!!

The 21 year old is working 2 jobs and trying to make big bucks, but he's frustrated because the "new" restaurant isn't filling w/customers and the other job isn't paying commission yet for the big sales he's already making! Ahhh! What can a goal-oriented post-mission kid do???

Our soon to be HS graduate daughter is getting bogged down by tons of homework and trying to keep up when she's so ready to be done. Her leadership scholarship got doubled, which means tuition will be PAID!! Yipppeee! We're pretty excited about that.

15 and 13 yo are starting soccer and getting anxious for the weather to get warm and stay warm. Actually all of us are anxious for this!

So life is pretty much wild and crazy as always!

Glorious Color!

Outside it was gray and overcast again, but inside I focused on glorious color!

A bowl of thread on my sewing table


A pile of paint chips on my cutting table. They provide wonderful inspiration for new color combinations, and the best part is they're free!


My latest embroidered mini art quilt, photographed against a vibrant piece of yellow paper.

Show me your colorful inspirations! If anyone has recently posted something bright and colorful on their blog, feel free to add a link to it in the comments section!

Whoooha! Two weeks down, and we're doing so well!!! I'm so excited at how well it's been going for us! Really, I've been struggling to get my points in. God is so good. I pray He will continue to sustain me as we walk this path.

It's interesting to me as we study through the spiritual gifts, that I identify with portions of all of them. Certainly as we covered the negative aspects of "service" I could relate! But I'm also pleased to note that I'd already identified some of those negatives, and have already taken steps to correct the negatives. It's nice to see where God's been at work.

My SS class continues to grow. We had 14 in attendance this morning, and of the 14, only 3 (including myself) were on the roll when I first took the class. It's so exciting to see God at work! I pray He will continue to use me.

Tina & I are considering throwing a bi-monthly tea party. Doesn't that sound fun?? I love the planning and preparing...I hope we do some kind of theme! Yummy, yummy, yummy!

Jocelyn graduates in just over a month. Wow. I'm *so* incredibly proud of her.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to bed I should go!

Buenos noches!

:)

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring has sprung, or at least is in the process of sprunging, (yes I know that it not a real word, but it should be.) All of the colors around me are changing and I simply love what I see! The two little art quilts above are the first in a new series of small abstract works where I have fun, (it is all about having fun, you know) with playing around with simple colors, shapes, lines and textures. The wonderful crisp clear newborn colors of spring inspired these two pieces. The baby blue of the sky, and the lovely yellow green colors of the leaf buds forming on the trees, excite me each and every year as if I am seeing them for the first time. It's nothing short of magic.

Growing Older

Molasses, my beloved pooch, and I are growing older. She turned 11 this past December, and I hit 45 last Sunday. I generally shy away from the camera, but today I thought I would take a few pics of us and pay tribute to growing older. (Note I say growing "older" not "old". There is a difference!) Ever since I was a little girl I was determined to view the aging process as a thing of beauty. I loved the dignity and assuredness of Georgia O'Keefe. I adored the spirit of Ruth Gordon, especially in her role as Maude in "Harold and Maude". (If you have never seen this movie go rent it now!) As a 10 year old girl I vowed that I would be a woman who embraced what ever age she was, and who wore her wrinkles with pride. As a 45 year old woman, this is proving a bit more difficult to master than I had thought it would. The changes that I see in each passing year have alarmed me at times. Things aren't as toned, and it seems that age spots are appearing everywhere. I wear bifocals now! But it's all good. I look forward to each birthday. I love that I am still here! I really enjoy the process of growing into myself. Maybe it has to do with being fortunate enough to have a birthday that coincides with the arrival of spring. It's all about hope, rebirth, renewal and joy. That's how I view birthdays. I sincerely hope that I get to celebrate another 45 birthdays, and I wish that Molasses could, too.

Ugh!

So I haven't gotten to any quilting this week!!! I said I would sew a costume for an upcoming choir/play thing at our church and should be getting that done, but I don't want to and I know I need to get it done before I quilt anything. Frankly, I've been procrastinating!!! My quilting buddy came over last night so we could sew together, and I forced myself to cut out the costume. At least it was more fun to do with her here than it would have been on my own. Cutting out is always my least favorite thing to do. So at least that part is done and I can get it sewn and out of the way. She told me that she felt guilty sewing on her quilt while I had to work on the costume. She didn't really feel bad, she was just rubbing it in!!

Here's a picture of Niquie's blocks up on the design wall. We took the picture because sometimes it helps to look at a picture to see where some thing isn't working. Even on a design wall if you can't get far enough back it doesn't show up, but it usually will in a picture.
I was reading this interesting article by Jerry Johnson on LDS Living this morning and he ended his article like this. I thought it was WAY cool!

God is the quilter.

The spirit is the thread.

We are the scraps of cloth, joined into a layer of warmth, tradition, beauty and strength.

We form a "whole" much greater than the sum of our parts.

Hope you have a GREAT quilting day. I will be stuck sewing a costume, but hopefully will get back to quilting SOON!

1970's Boob Tube (They Just Don't Make Them Like They Use Too)

Our 1970's boob tube died last month. We knew that it would eventually have to go to that big appliance store up in the sky, yet it was a sad day when it finally happened. It was a mammoth boxy thing with fake wood veneer, and ugly silver plastic dials. Conspicuous looking amongst our more refined retro items that stood nearby, like my cool 1920's Westinghouse copper heater, my sleek 1930's art deco Paymaster machine and our lovely old 1950's Smith-Corona typewriter. I admit I was horrified when my in-laws gave us this old set of theirs. It was back in the 80's when we were super young, newly married and barely scraping by. The folks took pity on us, as all we had was a tiny black and white TV that I brought to the marriage, (and which I still have!) The big boob tube was a dinosaur, even back then, and just screamed ugly. My husband was in heaven. At the time, I figured it was bound to die soon, I mean how much longer could it last? And we'd either go back to the tiny old B&W, or save up and by a new set. But it didn't die soon, and after a while it just became a part of the family. And after a while longer I grew to find it beautiful in it's own hideous way! When the day came to put it out for the trash collectors, I had to turn away, I couldn't bare to watch. And when we went shopping for a new TV, I turned my nose up at every ostentatious looking big screen and flat screen I saw. Finally we settled on a small retro looking new TV, and with each passing day I like it more and more, but I know I must refrain from getting too attached, as they just don't make them like they use too.