New Color, New Work

I hope everyone had a lovely long holiday weekend. I know that for a lot of folks in the New Orleans area, the only thing lovely about it was that they weren't hit as hard as originally feared. Thank goodness for that, however they still got slammed pretty good, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that all future storms spare them. They have been through enough. And by the way, thanks to everyone who left such thoughtful comments on my hurricane quilt from the previous post.


We spent part of the weekend giving our kitchen a much needed paint job. I choose this pale sunny yellow color, and am delighted by how cheery the kitchen now looks. Seeing as it was on my to do list for the last 5 YEARS, (!) I am thrilled that it is finally done! Hoping to tackle the dining room next week!


And this is my latest mid-century inspired
table runner/wall hanging/art quilt, which I posted a few days ago here in my shop.


I am really enjoying designing and constructing these pieces, and am looking forward to doing more!
(But now I need to go blog hopping and catch up on everyone else's weekend!)

Spell Check My Brain

This is a little art quilt I did. I thought it would be clever to take a remnant from an old kitchen dish towel that had once belonged to my mother, and machine doodle stitch the needed ingredients to make a chocolate chip cookie.

The problem is I am a horrible speller. I know this, and use, on a regular basis, my trusty Webster's Dictionary. It is the exact one that was given to me in the 4th grade and is now totally falling apart, but it has been with me for such a long time, I don't want to replace it.

However, there were no tricky words for this little project, so no need to worry about looking up the spelling of anything in a dictionary!


So have you noticed? I spelled "sugar" incorrectly! (And you know what, I always do!) Ugh!

By the way, I really do use an old fashioned SunBeam mixer! I actually have two, both from the 1930's, each belonging to one of my Grandmothers. Someday I will pass them on to my girls, so they can make there families chocolate chip cookies, too.

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.

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.

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!

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.