Category Archives: Birds

Childhood Memories, Heron, Mayan -Leopard Priest, SAQA Blocks, Scrap Happy Quilts, Thread Painting

Young Robin

Hello,
With spring moving forward, the young Robins are now leaving their nests. We noticed one that was out near our hedge yesterday. He still had a few white tufts and lots of white spots. Saw another this morning up in one of the low branches. Wonder if he is the same bird. They grow so very fast.  My iris are blooming too.  This is a shot of Betty’s iris however.
I had a Zoom meeting with Patti this week and enjoyed talking with her.

Started the Stitch Club from Textile Artists this week. Made treasure containers with Debbie Lydden instructions. I am enjoying the process. I really liked making the grommets that she taught us.

These are the treasures.     The bracelet is  from the high school and the little turquoise hearts on that bracelet  are from our tip to Texas when I was a senior .  They re from Judge Roy Bean’s office.   The amber ring is from Mon’s Trip to Russia.  I wore it for years and it saved me from a broken finger when it stopped a slamming door. The rock is from my trip to Australia in  November to celebrate my daughters’s 50th Birthday. .

I dyed with Liz today . We had fun and I didn’t take a single photo.

Progress Report: Heron I finished this project this week and it is 18″ X 27″. It was a good stretch for me.

I like the reeds too.

 

 

 

 

Scrap Happy This is the one that I was working on and it was completed on Sunday.

 

 

 

New Scrap I started assembling strips for building a new back on Monday. Lots of cutting to begin with and then adding parts together. A good use of my extras.

 

 

 

Jaguar Priest – Mayan series I made real headway on this project this week.There is felt behind the fabric to give the work stability as I stitch.

 

 

 

Layers      Formally Black, White and Green.    I am building on the top of this quilt now. It is at the ugly stage when I am considering tossing it out. But I know from experience that I really need to keep pushing forward.   I still many need to throw it away- but it is far to soon to do that at this time.

 

 

 

 

100 Day Project I am enjoying the hand work that I selected with this SAQA challenge. I am caught up now and a little ahead as I always use the extra thread on another square instead of saving it because I always ended up with a tangled mess in the past.

Childhood Memories- 4TH Grade
Starting 4 th grade meant a new classroom and a new teacher, Mrs Wilson. Our east side ground floor class room was connected by a corridor to the high school building. I recall the sound of the high school girls crinkling  petticoats when they walked by on their way to the cafeteria. Our desks were a new design. An I-shaped floor unit supporting two poles; one pole holding the desk, the other pole supporting the seat. The top of the desk lifted up at an angle and it always squeaked. The desk itself was a metal rectangular bowl and most stuff slid to the center. I remember cleaning it twice during the year and being surprise by what I found. There was a small class library in the front of the room. I recall settling on the floor to select books. There were lots of turquoise bound childhood biographies with silhouetted illustrations. I remember being disappointed that there were only three books about girls- Louisa May Alcott, Sacajawea and Madame Curie. Despite my reading difficulties, I read all three book and several others. . I was assigned to the slow reading group with four boys.
For Valentines day, Mrs Wilson made two big white hearts that she stapled together on the bottom half and added a red valentine to the front with our names on them. We then decorated them. They hung on the wall and we put our cards into them. That year I had special valentines with heart shaped suckers as a part of the card. I had an argument with Billy on the play ground the day I addressed my cards and I decided to eat his sucker and not give him a card. When he disappointingly asked me about it on Valentines day many days later- I lied and said it must have fallen out That’s when I learned not to do things in anger and how bad one could feel about being left out. I tried to never do that again.
For Christmas we had a concert on the stage in the gym . Our Class was to represent Christmas cakes so we all wore paper hat cakes to sing our little song.
One day were standing in a line to present our papers to the teacher, when Wanda, the girl in front of me fell to the floor and started thrashing around. She was having an epileptic seizure. The teacher quickly put a ruler in her mouth so she would not swallow her tongue and sent one of the students for the nurse. After Wanda was carried out , the teacher carefully explained to us what had just happened. An electrical miss-fire in the brain- like a back fire of an engine, she said, and we were not to worry as we could not catch it. She also told us how to act toward Wanda when she returned to school.

Mrs Wilson was into science and we had lots of science lessons . I remember the Magnet lesson very vividly. There was a table with magnets and lots of objects on it. We were all given a check list of the objects and were to check the objects attracted to the magnet. I insisted that paper was attracted to the magnet until she showed me that it was the nail under that paper that was attracted to the magnet. Grandmother Ruth had a pair of Scottie dogs- one white and one black that were mounted on little bar magnets. One could make them “run away” from one anther, kiss or connect back to back. That is were I learned about north and south poles.
In the spring we did a class play . It was about Dr Doolittle -one of the stories from one of our reading books. I was the narrator. I really memorized my part more than reading it. I helped my friend Judy make her Parrot costume of wings and a tail. My first costume. Little did I know how many I would make in my life time. I have pleasant feeling about fourth grade.

I hope everyone is staying safe.

Keep Creating

Carol

Childhood Memories, Drawing, Felt Work, Heron, Mayan -Leopard Priest, Scrap Happy Quilts, Thread Painting, Yellow Ramped Warbler

Quiet Week

Hello,
This week was rather quiet after a trip on Friday to pick up my work from the Broad Street Gallery in Hamilton. Wendy and I went together and enjoyed the day. We walked the fitness trail at Colgate and saw lots of great views after climbing lots of hills. We stopped at Oriseany Falls on the way home too. It rained on us at the end of the drive but we still had a good time.

Progress Report: Red-Winged Black Birds This work is 18″ w X 20″ l. The background is a mix of felted work and fabric. The reeds are all added on top as well as the birds. The male, female and adolescent are shown here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Ramped Warbler This work is 12″ X 12″. It too has a felted base with the thread drawing birds added on top. It is also a stretched work. I have lots of little bird studies done this way as I picked up 7 from the gallery Friday.

The leaves are cut from hand dyed fabric and the limb is made from torn strips of fabric and yarns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heron This work is nearly complete now. I still have eight reeds to attach and the heron too. I do enjoy thread painting.

Scrap Happy This is my third scrap quilt this year. I only need to finish the binding and quilt the big squares and this will be complete. That is about two hours of work remaining.

 

 

 

 

Mayan Jaguar Priest I am  now to the cutting and assembly of the parts of this work. It is like doing a puzzle- but backward as I have put fusible on the back of the fabric so I cut them correctly  before I iron them down. .

 

 

 

Australian Reef After looking at my pictures of the Birthday trip with Wendy last year I decided I wanted to do a reef picture. The top is painted fusible and the bottom is felted. I will start the hand embroidery next.

 

 

 

9 Square – Textile Artist Stitching Challenge This challenge is from Christine Chester. I will finish it this week I am sure.

 

100 Day Challenge The SAQA group started a challenge to make a block every day for 100 days. It began a long time ago but I am just getting on board. I started Tuesday. Two done and a third on its way.

 

Black and White plus Green This work came from a dream I had about black and white. I am going to add lots of layers of greens and metallics on the surface.

 

 

 

 

Drawing I only did a little drawing this week. One is a seed pod the other is from the oak tree over our driveway.

 

 

 

 

I love the delicate leaves and small flowers or spring oaks.

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories – Camp Life
We quickly adjusted to life in the park provided army surplus tent behind the camp ground office at Colter Bay Camp Ground. Our tent faced west.      A second tent for a second ranger faced south. That tent housed Pete Nickels, a ranger from Texas who had quite a lidrawl. We called him our Texas Ranger in honor of a TV show that was popular at that time. There was a third ranger and his wife who lived in a one room cabin along the highway. They had two Siamese cats- the first special breed I had come across.
One day early after our arrival,  we walked along the side of Jackson Lake to their home. Gene threw rocks into the lake the whole distance. I got to see my first sight of a kayak. I was really taken by it. But I was far too young to do anything more then look. We walked back along the highway  after a pleasant afternoon. We came across a young buck that had been hit and killed by a car. Mom persuaded Dad to remove the antlers- only four points and they were still furry. Then Mom spent a long time rubbing them again trees before they became clean and shinny. They went home with us at the end of the season and later got sawed into buttons with holes drilled into them. She put them on her leather jacket. I still have a few. Gene used his little ax a lot, and the day that the reporter from our home town showed up he took a photo that appeared in the local news paper of the family with Gene chopping in the foreground.
The campground had about 150 sites that were on six loops of about 25 sites each. Every day the rangers had to drive the loops and check the sites in the camp truck. They stopped and talked with campers as  needed and checked to see what lots were indeed empty.  I remember playing Jacks on the wooden floor of the station on rainy days below a big map of the campground.
We did not have running water in the tent and we used the camp ground facilities.   I recall carrying water many afternoons.   The bathrooms- one for each loop- consisted of men’s and women’s sides with four sinks and four stools in each half. One of the toilets was a new ceramic stand up design. One backed over a trough and one did not sit to do business. I got real comfortable with that system as that stall was usually empty at the morning rush because folks were not aware of how to use it.
We went to the campfire talk every week. It was at the top of a little hill and had benches made from sliced longs laying flat side up. The sight  faced the mountains. One of the Naturalists usually talked about some aspect of the park. I loved to watch the sky darken and see the light creep up the mountains until only the tops were lit by the setting sun. Then the stars came out before we started our walk home.   Mom sometimes gave us little astronomy lessons while we were there.      On Wednesday nights we went to Jackson Lake Lodge. We had gone to the grand opening of the lodge two years before when we were in Yellowstone and I still was impressed with the big two story windows facing the Tetons in the lobby. There were also wonderful huge western paintings in the lobby. I remember one of an old miner that was made up of lots of little horses that one only saw up close. It was my first encounter with optical illusion. We went to the lodge to participate in the Square Dancing. Both Gene and I got real good at following the directions given by the caller and were very comfortable with “ al-la-mand left” and “ dosie doe”. It was fun for us and it sure made square dancing at school an easy A for me later.

Keep Crating and stay safe

Carol

Birds, Childhood Memories, Experiments, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Heron, Mayan -Leopard Priest, Red-winged Black Birds, Scrap Happy Quilts, Thread Painting

Temperature swings of Spring

Hello,
I hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected in this time of high stress for all of us. I continue to see signs of spring and enjoy them as they come.    We had snow on Monday and Tuesday.    Then   the sky was so very blue yesterday it made me smile as we  walk in the 54 degree weather.     More trees are budding every day as this red bud attests.    This time of year is full of surprises.
I participated in a Zoom meeting this week. It was good to just talk with my friends and see there faces. I continue to work in my studio and enjoy the process.

Progress Report: Tiles One of the things I have been trying to do is explore with old Quilting Arts Magazines. The article was by Julie Hirota in the Oct Nov 2007 issue 29, is the source for this project. I think it falls very short as a final piece as there is so little contrast. The techniques of attaching pieces with grommets, I find very frustrating and time consuming. It took me 15 min to attach each one. But as my father often said one can not expect success on the first try of something new. In thinking about the idea I may try the tiles again and use lace as the connections.

 

 

 

Flower Vase This work is 16″ w X 20″ t. I did this work in response to the suggestions from Textile Artists community stitching challenge. Ann Kelly was the woman directing this phase of the challenge. I adapted it as I usually do. I use this project to explore different ways to make flowers. Using old linens as a vase was her suggestion and I really like that idea.

I went on to use old crochet flower forms on my piece. Then I did yo-yo’s as the centers for the blue flowers that have daisy  stitches for the petals. The big pink flowers are made from some trim that I had in my collection. I ended up stretching it to give it a stronger final presentation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granite This work is also 16″ w X 20″ t. This work has served as my hand work project for the last few months. I am pleased with how I feel it depicts the granite that I based it on. I now intend to start the 100 days challenge as my hand work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrap Happy This is a queen sized bed quilt. I like to use up scarps and that is how this piece began. It is only the most recent in along line of pieces of the same type. They all go to worthy causes or folks who I feel need them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrap Happy new I started a new one as soon as the last on was complete as I had made the squares earlier this year. There are at least two more quits like these  in the near future.

 

 

 

 

Red Winged Black Birds This is my newest bit of thread painting. I finished the machine work yesterday and now they are pinned to the board ready to have the wash-a – way removed from them.

 

 

 

Heroin I worked on this piece of thread painting at the same time as the other birds. I only now need to finish the legs and the beak and it too will be ready for the wash out step.   The wash-away has not been trimmed from this piece.

 

 

 

 

Pattering I started this work in January when I was caring for Susan. It only resurfaced a few days ago. It will get some attention now.

 

 

 

 

Mayan series –  Leopard Priest  I made on Mayan piece a few months ago and it received such a lot of positive feedback that I thought I would make a few more. This is the drawing and enlargement for that project. The orange fabric will be the background.

 

Mini   I have also been playing with small little works.  This is one of the first.

 

 

 

 

 

Drawing I did a little more drawing this week. The two on the same page are from Designs in Nature  a book published  by Dover.

 

 

 

 

This drawing of a spring branches, is from life.

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories – Serious about Camping

In the spring near the end my third grade my family got a new car. It was a white Ford Station wagon with brown plastic seats that had brands all over them. I remember the circle X and the Bar BQ most vividly. Dad had to purchase a woven wire seat that he sat on because the plastic made him sweat in the summer time. Dad also got busy building at that time a wonderful car top carrier. It was made of plywood that was 2.5 ft tall at the front end and tapered to six inches at the back. There was a hinge a few feet back form the front so items could be stored in that area and easily accessed. Beyond the hinge , Mom made canvas sides and aback panel
that allowed the back to open up, but still  be protected from the weather  inside. Dad also made a ladder that could be placed on the back of the car so Gene and I could climb up into the carrier and sleep there.   We stored all of the family sleeping bags with the air mattresses fully inflated in the   car top carrier back area during the day and removed Dad’s and Mom’s bags at night and put them in the bottom of the wagon with the seats down. We all slept comfortably with this arrangement well into my college years. Dad also built two sturdy wooden boxes to store our food as well as 4 nested metal plates, cups and pans that had removable handles. Mom painted the carrier and the boxes white. There was also a Coleman Lantern and Coleman Stove for cooking.    Both of those ran on white gas and had to be pumped up for use.   We were set for years of great camping experiences with all this great equipment.    All this  preparation was  for Dad’s Summer job as a seasonal Forest Ranger at  the Tetons National Park.
We set out for the Park as soon as school was out that spring. Gene and I both had a suit case of course and we were allowed a small collection of toys. I took my 7″ doll and her clothes, jacks , papers and crayons. Gene took a new hatchet he had been given and his football.
We started out driving west on highway 30 out of Carroll in the early morning. As soon as we reached the Iowa boarder we drove north along the Missouri  River before turning west again in South Dakota. We hit many of the attractions along the way. I remember passing lots of “tourist traps” and a coffee shop built of cast concrete that was shaped like a coffee pot. We stopped and got gas at a Sinclair station that had a life sized green dinosaur on a little rise to the west of the station. We did stop at Wall Drug Store after reading the many Burma -Shave like signs that were along the highway. We drove into the Badlands. They were so barren compared to the green of home, but held a special beauty all their own.   I know we   went to the Black Hills and Badlands on other trips with the Bell family, Grandpa Howard and Grandmother Ruth.   On that trip we did a lot of exploring and fossil hunting in the Badlands.   I just do not know what age I was for that experience.     I do know it was not a  part of this adventure to the Tetons as we had a time dead line.   The next stop   on our trip was Mt Rushmore. I was quite surprised at the size of those of those heads. I remember being impressed with the modern lunch room and visitors center. I had warm prideful feelings years later when I saw the film “North by Northwest”. We then drove on to Wind Cave and stopped and did the tour. I was awe struck by the amazing block crystal formations on the ceiling of that cave. We continued west crossing Wyoming. I am sure we stopped somewhere along the way and camped with our new equipment, but I am not sure where. I do recall the long haul up the east side of the Continental Divide.   It seemed to be  just a long up hill drive with a few descents and then more up with no real view of what we were about to see.  There were lots of trees and no real views.    But when we crossed  the top and there was a wonderful view of the Tetons. We drove down into the valley and into the park. I am sure we went to the main headquarters first but I can’t say I remember it. I do remember  the wonderful summer at the camp ground at Colter Bay, however, and I will tell some of those stories next.

Please take good care of yourself and keep Creating

Carol

Beyond, Birds, Birds, Childhood Memories, Chinese Exchange, Curvie Cuts, Hand work, Talisman Pouches, Thread Painting

Vernal Equinox

Hello,
I hope everyone is doing their best to stay safe in these trying times.
The days are in deed getting longer and the nights shorter with today being the real start of that effect in a way we can really mark as the equinox is the time when the day and night are the same leanth .     Enjoy the awakening of spring.
I did go and visit with Liz and Angela last Friday. We all sat across the room from one another, talked and shared our work and worries. Liz is doing lots of hand work in preparation for a class in Ohio later this spring.

 

 

Angela is working on a piece where she is using quotes from folks about memories where they wish they were invisible or felt that way.

Progress Report: China Exchange This work is 15″w X 21.5″ l. It is the first of the challenges that Regina and I are doing. We traded three works we had started but did not know how to finish. Regina sent me this one with only the background done. I added the glove and gold work, plus the Chinese coins.

 

 

 

Beyond This work is 39″w X 35″ t. It too is part of the exchange with Regina too. She sent me the printed pink  dyed fabric with the lace pattern. I added the curvy cut fabrics to create the background. Then I embellished with the pink circles that were added with free motion work in a metallic thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talisman Pouch: This work is going well and I am almost done adding handwork on the outside. I will add a lining and close the sides and then  be done.

The stone button is the closure.

 

 

 

 

Cowls I just seem to keep creating these guys. I think I am done and then I find I have pulled out a new mixture of yarns to try. I did send two off to some friends this week as well.   I am enjoying the process .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring Blue This project is nearly done. I have been adding buttons to break up the surface a bit. I am at the “look carefully” stage  toi see if I am done.  Then I will  I do the final work.

 

Thread Painted birds. I have added the birds to a background now and I am just about ready to stretch the work. I do not have the correct size stretchers so I will put it on hold until I get them.

 

 

 

 

Felt Dryer Balls I saw an article on line about how to build these guys. I have three of my own and I love how they work so I am trying to see if I can use up some of my roving to create some for my friends. These still need a lot of rolling and “water shocking ” to get to the stage of completion.

 

Painting  Fabric    This is the last piece of fabric from the Regina exchange.   It was too plane for me so I added paint yesterday.    Now to use it as a jumping off place for the last piece.

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories-  My Bed Room  in Carroll

The House in Carroll was designed by Mom and Dad. They did research in the form of visiting lots of open houses and collecting lots of house plans from magazines. They then drew up their own plans based on what they liked and what they wanted.    It was a great house for us.
To approach the house,  you would climb the stairs on the north end of the lot and follow the cement path to the small  poach and front door. The house was sided in cedar shake shingles. I loved the smell and even though they were stained red they faded to a beautiful rusty gray color with time. Upon entering the front door one would see a door to the left that opened onto a cloths closet for coats. The next opening  was an entry  to the den where Dad had a built in desk and we kept the new stereo. The third opening on the left lead to the kitchen. If you continued froward past the piano you would enter the living room. Opposite the piano was the door to the basement stairs followed by a hall that lead to the back of the house and the bed rooms. Gene’s room was the first room on the right. The next door was to Mom’s sewing closet and that was followed by the door to my room on the front north corner of the house. If you continued to walk forward you entered the bath room. Across the hall from the bathroom door was the door to the attic stairs. Lastly  and on teh right,  was the door to my parents room. They included a small bathroom with a shower in there plans and it was rather cool I thought.
My bed room was above the garage so I always heard Dad come home late at night when the electric door went up and down. My room had light yellow walls with a coral red ceiling. I loved it. I had a corner room and had corner windows looks east and north . The east window look out a cross the front yard and across Adams Street to an apple orchard. The north window looked out across our dive, the ceder trees and the picket fence to the Lightings house. They continued to live in the finished basement for many years and I had an unrestricted view down the street past two houses and onto an open field.   Mom made curtains with ruffles for the windows in a pink and whited stripped fabric. The bed spread was made with the same fabric. She also make pillow shams with a solid pink center and the ruffles there were in the pink stripe. That bed was long the left wall as you entered the room. Next was the book case, under the north window. My chest of drawers was along the east wall. Dolls had a place of honor on top as well as a black lacquer musical  jewelry box that I had gotten for Christmas. The closet was around  the corner followed by Dads old desk. It got a coat of yellow Emanuel for my room. I loved the desk and did my homework there. I stored lots of paper doll in one of the four   file drawers. The desk had a center compartment where Dad’s typewriter had been stored.   I used that secret compartment to hid my candy from Easter and Halloween there. It was a room where I did a lot of day dreaming too.

Stay healthy and keep creating

Carol

25 Million Stitches Project, Birds, Childhood Memories, Collage, Drawing, Sandpipers, Summer Robins, Thread Painting

On the Go

1 Comment

Hello,

I am home from my travels to Florida to help with Susan’s recovery. In the fifteen days of my stay I saw a lot of growth on her part.

 

She progressed for a support forher broken wrist on her walker to using a cane some of the time. She mastered use of the stairs with the walker on her own. She went form house bound to an outing where she went nine blocks. I am quite proud of her.    This is a shot of her with the stamps she made and printed one afternoon.

 

 

Laura came many times and we worked in a parallel fashion.  She is and excellent water color painter in my mind and this is her painting of me one day.

 

 

I started the Childhood Memories project because of Susan’s suggestion so I  brought them along so she could see them.   I had never laid then all  out before and was a bit surprised  by the size.

 

I enjoyed the green and all the flowers as well as the bird song during my visit.    We worked every day on art of some sort. Chris came   one day to visit and we did collage.

 

 

 

 

I did a lot of collage work at Susan’s.    Here are about half of them.

 

 

 

 

 

On the Friday before I left I went to a play day at Barbara’s. Beth had all the fixings for making knows and we had a good time creating the little guys.

 

Here are the finished little guys.   Left to right – mine  Barbara’s , Beth’s,  Georgia’s.      It was a fun day.

 

 

 

 

Georgia also shared her paintings. I like what she is doing.

 

 

 

 

Tue was the first one of Feb so there was a QuEGs meeting. Sue Ellen was busy and made this great pillow case that will be for sale in Cazenovia at the Artisans.

 

 

Susan is working on these four 12″ pieces for QSDS this summer. The challenge was/is 1 2 3 4.

 

 

 

Progress Report: Sandpipers  I got this work nearly completed before I went away. The birds are all stitched down and I only need to stretch it.

 

 

Summer Robins I finished the machine drawing and washed out these too. I am not happy with the placement yet and may even need to create an additional bird to be happy with it. I am still shifting and testing.

Drawings
I did draw every day and have a lot on new work. There were two specific evenings where that was the soul purpose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did lots of little collages too,

25 Million Stitches I am glad to have finished this work while I was visiting. I will press it and add the label and then it will be ready for shipping.

New work I did purchase some beautiful linen while I was away and started this bit of hand work as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories- First and Second Grades
The early school years for me meant that we made a special trip to the local drug store to bye workbooks along with new pencils, tablets  and crayons. I stared first grade with a bad case of Poison Ivy. There were lots of weeping soars on my skin and the teacher sure made me aware if how repulsive she found that. I did wear a lotion, but by late morning before I went home for lunch it was really bad. My parents did take me off to Iowa City to see a specialist and that really helped and cleared up the problem.   From that experience, I learned it is really hard to get beyond first impressions. My only other memory of first grade was the difficulty I had with word regition and spelling. I did the work in the spelling book and Mom spent time quizzing me. She even made red construction paper flash cards. I especially remember straggling with “ What – Where -Were- When and Why”. The reading technique in that school at  that  time that was used was one of shape recognition- not individual letters or sounding out  the words.  I am sure that did not help me at all. The teacher was so frustrated with me that I got spanked in front of the class for each word I misspelled on the spelling tests. I was so shamed by the whole thing I did not tell Mom until years later and she was appalled. Mom worked with me on addition and subtraction too. She made up games with playing cards were I had to add every two cards that were turned over.  The game  was modified for subtraction, having to always subtract the smaller number from the larger one. Later the game changed to one of color to determine the process. If I drew red first it was addition and if I drew black first it was subtraction. I really got the logic of mathematics and did well in that subject all through school.
Despite my trouble with spelling I was advanced to the second grade. That class room was up stairs on the left. We learned cursive that year and I was so very proud of myself even though I did not think it was fair that Joe Fox got the same red star for his name that I did for mine – Carol Mc Elhinney. An early lesson on the” fairness factor” in  life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood Toys
I have good memories of the toys that we got as we grew up and where we lived when we got them. Gene and I got a little red folding table and  a two chairs set while we lived in the Junction. We had a few meals on it and played many a game at that table. Grandfather Howard made a wooden cupboard with a pullout drawer that was painted blue for Christmas while we lived there. It was so very sturdy that it survived through my child hood and Wendy’s. It was here in the house when Alexis was little but I do not think she played with it. I recall two different “Play School” products. One was a red plastic clock with white hands that one could adjust. The numbers were pale blue and could be removed to show minutes underneath. I got that concept quickly as a result I think. The second Play School toy was a balance scale with hooks on both ends. There were lots of blue plastic numbers with loops on the tops of them that were all of increasing size and weigh. The goal was to teach values and have the arm of the scale be strait. We also had various games like Kootie and card games. My first memorable baby doll was a Betsy Wetsy. She came with a beautiful white dress, eyes that opened and closed and wonderful short, soft, curly brown hair. She took a bottle that was filled with water and then wet her diaper. I remember wanting her – perhaps due to TV adds- but quickly tired of the novelty. The doll bed soon gave way to a home for my Tony Doll that I loved. She had a stiff body and limbs with eyes that opened and closed and hair one could comb. She could even stand alone if one balanced her correctly.   Mom made lots of changes of cloth for her and I still have that doll. Mom made soft dolls too. Gene had a sock little boy with green stripe pajamas that was called Mousy. I had an Aunt Jemina made with a pair of Dad’s brown socks and she had a red poke-a-dot dress and scarf along with a white apron. Both of them survived to recent times and although gave Jemina to a friend who collects dolls, I still have Mousy.

Keep Creating

Carol

3X3, Diva Meetings, Forest Flock, Label Cards, Quilt Exploration Group (QuEGs), Sandpipers

Upcycle

Hello,

It seems like this time of year one tends to do a bit of clean out and reevaluation.  I found lots of my friends using what they had to make new work this month.

I  spent my Saturday  last week working as a part of the Bed for Kids project here in town.  Sadly there are many children in our community who do not have beds.  So this group is working on bedding as a part of the goal to meet this need.  I started this quilt and the top is almost complete now.   It is made of a project that was passed to me.   Many other women worked on creating pillow cases.  Girl Scouts and a girls basketball team also showed up and created polar fleece no sew blankets.   It was a lively and fun project to be a part of.   I also contributed 13 quilts to this worthy project.

Both of the groups that I belong to meant on Tues.   At QuEG’s , Sue Ellen showed up this top that she created  as she tries to work down her stash.   IMG_2715Dori   is doing hand work on this witches hat to  use up some of her trims.    IMG_2716 Victoria is also using up available materials.  She is cutting up all her angora sweaters that have small wholes and making a throw with them.   Susan is  going through her scrap bag and building units with raw edge applique and embroidery.  She has also set the limit of using red and turquoise as her main colors  for this pursute.   I think limiting like that  can make one be very creative with other tools.   Liz continues to happily quilt away on her  school days piece.   IMG_2727  And Sally is making cards with one of her new sewing machine patterns.  She is also experimenting with water soluble colored pencils that she had on hand.   I like the directions she is exploring.

At Diva’s, Alice  shared her new  series.  She is experimenting with India ink painting on fabric.   To good effect I would say.    IMG_2736 Regina in her wonderful way completed  this indigo piece  this month.   She really challenges herself I think.   Both meetings were full of inspiring talk and interesting works.    I came home all fired up again.

 

Progress Report: Forest Flock    This quilt is 39” w X 35”l.    I have been enjoying doing the thread painting of birds for a while and this time I tried doing them for a quilt.   IMG_2765 It is a bit different type of approach for me but I like to mix my techniques.   IMG_2766  The more I play with this process the more I seem to enjoy it.   I keep learning little things with each attempt  too.   With  these birds, I  explored  not only using the the  two layers of wash away but  a layer of nylon netting in the middle.  I had noticed that   the  shapes I had created before could easily  be distorted in the pinning and drying stage.     The nylon net seemed to make the work more solid  and helps  to avoid that  distortion problem.    Now there may be a time when that is undesirable desirableIMG_2768 but now the  nylon netting   really helps maintain  the shapes  that I am building.

 

IMG_2744Sandpipers  The birds are attached to the shore now and I am doing some intense looking as I am not really happy with the appearance   of this composition.   It seems to need something in addition.  I will study it over the course of the next few weeks and hope that I can find a solution that I am happy with.

 

3X3   This is blao B-3.  The third block in row b.   I finished it for the most part and placed block C-3 next to it so I could make connections.IMG_2750  Pressing and  a little more work should do the trick.   The I went ahead and worked on block C-3.IMG_2752I have been putting in about an hour  every day on this project.  

Label Cards: Tied Up  This week I realized how I get myself in worry knots about nonsense.  Being away from the studio and  such  helped me get a better perspective.   I hope I can continue to recognize  the unimportant things and let them go.

Color Wonder In this gray time of year I am always surprised by a sudden splash of color.   I could not get the pink nose of  my a friends dog’s nose out of my mind so I made this card to remind myself to look  with care at the world around me.

3X3, Label Cards, Sandpipers

Oaxaca Adventure

Airport ArtHello,

I had a wonderful time in Oaxaca Mexico.  Susan was a great guide and the city was a visual feast.   Every where one looked there was art.   This pony sculpture was at the airport and shows a modern twist on the Alibris’s we usually connect  with this area. I did visit a family workshop where they did that beautiful work.  As one can see here the  painted  detail is amazing.

Susan, Carolyn  and I went to many museums.  We did the Print Museum Indigo 9and the Fiber Arts Museum the first day.   There was a great display of Indigo stilt walker costumes   there.  The museum also had a  display of hand stitchery on shirts from the areas in the state of Oaxaca.    Each area had a unique style of clothing with unique stitching patterns.     I found  that  specially interesting after my slow stitch class last fall.     Each language group has a unique style.   Susan and I went to the  market and it too was a visual bombardment.    Susan’s land  lady brought her fresh flowers every day  and after this visit I can see why.    We had lunch at a Chocolate bar that day.    The shake was delightful, tasty  and very filling  along with a chicken burrito .IMG_2637This shot shows how big the drink was.

IMG_2648I took a day trip to the ruins at Monte Alban  and enjoyed the wonderful carved images  and buildings.    The guide explained a lot of history  and was very knowledgeable.    I was epically taken  by this little god image in the museum  and think he may be a jumping off place for some new work. ( this shot is life sized) IMG_2674 The tour took us to  a village that makes Black Pottery.   Many villages in this valley  specialize in one type of craftor another.   This woman who is in her late  80’s has a sure hand and a good eye.  She stated doing this type of work   nearly 68 years ago  so the fact that she does it all by eye and does not use a prepared pattern is understandable.

Cutting at Susan'sSusan and had a play day.   I  cut some of the organza we got at the market and made stencils. 

 

Susan worked on her long Lincoln and Washington projects.   The garden in their compound  was beautiful.   Poinnsetta 2I had never seen Poinsettia that were 10 feet high before.

IMG_2711I drew almost every day on this trip and this is a banana plant Susan’s  garden.

We visited the Stamp Museum one day and there was a good display of work using a big stamp as a base   for artist interpations.   Stamp collageI liked the idea of using stamps as units for a collage too.   There was also a large collection of stamps from all over the world for ones viewing.   It was a great museum. w

We went on a field trip to the Print Studio/ Museum  too.  It was an old  weaving  factory, that  has now been  converted for artists   studios.  The display space was huge and there where over 100 huge prints there.  Text Print 1Many were woodcuts that were done  on 4’X6’  sheets of plywood.   Old woman and reflection Big windows and reflective glass made taking photos very hard. Grafitti 1  I did like how their definition of prints included stenciled graffiti.    These were done on the walls of the gallery and were pristine.      There was also a wonderful  video  show in the gallery upstairs from a South African artist.Wood cut 1This woodcut block was also a part of the show.

Susan and I went to the Museum of Modern Art and saw a wonderful show of collaborations.  An artist was paired with a craft person  and  they filled a room of the gallery  with their collaborations.  A weaver and embroider were paired for the text exhibit.     Colloabation stitchersThe results were wonderful.  This    second paring  was  of women appliques and  a  poet.   I went in search of the stitchers works and purchased one of my own to bring home.

Dyed YarnWe  took another fiend trip to a village that specialized in woven rugs.   This shot shows hand dyed yarns drying on a balcony.       The men did most of the weaving and were very pleasant.   His loom was huge and as the photo shows he did it all standing.      There were rugs everywhere even  in this village – even in restaurant  where we ate lunch.  Church walls 2 We spent time in their  local church too.  It had just be restored and in the process it was discovered that may stones from the native  temple that was destroyed for the church construction were reused in the building of the church.  I love the mix  and the fact that the restoration left the  underling stones exposed.Church walls 1  

I went on a tour of the Botanical  Garden in Oaxaca  on my last full day.  It was very informative and  beautiful.  Epically when we learned that it was only 35 years old.  Elephant treeI really  like this Elephant Tree and

this tree they call the Rock Crusher. The roots are amazing.   The guide  said it was going to be cut soon as it was destroying the old abbey wall that surrounded the garden.   I took tons of photos here  and enjoyed myself.   Later that day Susan and I visited the Museum of Oaxaca and had a good history lesson.   It was a wonderful trip and so very colorful.   I am very glad I went- especially when I got back to cold central NY.

Progress Report:  3X3  This is block 2C of the 3X# challenge.    I am currently doing my daily practice on this block.     I took this one and block 2B with me to Oaxaca to work on  while I was away.

IMG_2691This is a shot of the whole background with all nine parts.

 

IMG_2692This is block 2B, the center of the 3X3 set and it is more or less complete.   As I build other squares there may be overlap that needs to be added.

 

Forest Flock  I am to the point where I am stitching down the birds with the sewing machine and making that the quilting IMG_2611step  of the project.   The trees are also part of the quilting.

 

Lily IMG_2706  I painted this  lily on pillion with Susan on one of our play days.    It was one of the flowers that her landlady had brought to her.

IMG_2707Sweet  Peas    I painted these with Susan too.   I added the background  color yesterday.

Sandpipers   I finished the thread painting of the three birds yesterday and they are washed out and drying now.   I go inspired to work hard on them after receiving payment in the mail for the sale of Black Capped Chickadees at the Associated Artist sale.

IMG_2713This is the shore background for the birds.   It is a felted background.

Jeanne’s QuiltIMG_2702All the rows are now built for this project.   I will move on to the next step now.

Label Cards Joy    One day while I was away Susan and made cards.   I used one of the many colorful magazines I had picked up to create these three cards.

 

ShootIMG_2697 They represent what was on my mind at the time.

Land  It was a great experience and I am so glad I went.

Keep Creating

Carol

Aplique, Cockle Burs- Noogoora, Collections, Label Cards, Meadowlark, Sky, Totem Fox, Waterfall

End of year

IMG_2457Hello,

I had to add this photo of my grandson’s creation for his mother for Christmas.   I am so very proud of his creative welded  work.

We are reaching the end of 2018 and reflection on all that has transpired over the course of the year seems to be apart of that ending.   I have had a wonderful year with lots of shows and lots of creative work.  I continue to be healthy and the ideas keep flowing out of my brain while the fingers do the work.      My New Years wish for you is that you too will find new beginnings and joy at every turn.

Progress Report:   Gathering Storm This work is part of the elements series from Corrine’s online class book.   I have done all the palmary work and I am now doing the finishing up of the four works  as the instructor suggests. IMG_2498I have learned a lot as I have follow the instructions.  It has revived my interest in Angelina too.IMG_2499

Cockleburs/Noogooras  I thought that this work was done last week, but upon further reflection I realized that it was not quilted enough with just stitch in the ditch work.  So I added more steams in machine drawing.  They add the quilting to make itIMG_2515avoid sagging and a quiet interest.   Do that however meant I had to re-square the work so it has become a bit smaller as well.   IMG_2514I am happier with it now.

 

Meadowlark  This work is 12” X 12” and it too has a felted base with machine drawing on top.    I really like this process and can see more works in this style down the road. IMG_2506  There is a bit of recycling in this piece too.    The fence post is made from some of the leftovers of the rock piece that became   Rain Puddle.  I added brown nylon netting on top to quiet it down a little too.   IMG_2507  I made the barb wire from yarn as it frayed like the little spikes on the wire does.

Waterfall  After adding batting  and backing I am now stitching down the parts and quilting at the same time.   I’ll finish this like Gathering Storm as it too is from the Elements class.

Forest FlockIMG_2455  I built this quiet background this week.  I am making thread painted birds to add in on the top.    I will create  felted  trees to add yet another layer of depth to the work.   This will be the biggest work that I have done using the thread drawing as a part of the process.

IMG_2508  These are some of the birds.  There are two shades of gray and red threads on them.  They need black beaks, eyes and feet to be complete.   That will be my next action.

SandpipersIMG_2519 I also did the research and some palimony drawings for the next machine drawing  bird piece this week.   After doing all the solo birds I want to do groups for a piece or two

Jeanne’s quilt   This work got about an hour’s worth of work every day that I went to the studio this week.   Some rows even got connected to the ones next to them as they got completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totem Fox   I am done with the quilting and I am adding the facings to this work now.  I think I will have it finished by tomorrow.  I have enjoyed this project.

 

IMG_2510 Collections V  This piece did not get much attention this week.   I am still collecting things that I think go together  here.   But now that Totem Fox is done I will need some hand work.

Label Cards: Rework    The new beginnings of the season  even became a part of this challenge this week.    At the same time I do not think one can leave the past behind so using some parts of an old project to build upon was a natural way to move forward for me.

The  Thing IMG_2484The future is like opening a door when you do not know what you will find.    What is” the thing “that is in your future  that will change everything that follows.   We can only move forward doing the best with what lies a head.

IMG_2486Another Thing  At the same time I can not think that good things are out there too.

Enjoy the holidays and ay your heart be full of joy.

Keep Creating

Carol

Aplique, Collections, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Label Cards, Meadowlark, Noogora/Cockelburs, Plants, Shows, Totem Fox, Waterfall, Wildfire

Everson Show

Hello,

The big event in my life this week was the opening of the Everson show: (Re)Generate.   It is a show of women’s work from  gals all over 60 years old.  I was invited to participate and this is my Wildfire piece that is there.   The show is up until Jan 15.   I am very happy to be a part of this show along with so many friends.     The other event this week was a FAB meeting.  We went to Nancy’s new home.  It is wonderful with great views and splendid rooms.   In the basement there is a wonderful old pool table and some very old billiard   balls.BillardsI could not resist this colorful shot.

Progress Report: Noogoora/Cockleburs   All the parts are attached now and I have even done additional quilting in the form of more branches to fill in.  I will add the facing and finish it this week I hope.

Totem Fox IMG_2452I continue to do the quilting on this piece.   I am just about half way done with that step now.

Waterfall   I added the painted dryer sheet for the water fall yesterday and a bit of silk paper.   I will now free motions quilt it all down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meadowlark IMG_2444 All the base machine drawing is done now and I am ready to wash out the stabilizer.   Then on to the  felted  base.

Jeanne’s Project    I keep building away on this project.   It is slow because,  I audition a piece of fabric, look and then decide if it should be stitched on.     The if it works I stitch and move on to the next row.   I think she will be happy when it is complete.

IMG_2451Collection VI    I started a new work in this series this week.   There is not a lot on the surface yet but the building is part of the fun of these projects.

Cards: Inspire Be aware and open to the world around you.

IMG_2438 We never Know      One never knows what will spark a new direction or work.

I hope the holidays bring you joy and delight.

Keep Crating

Carol

Birds, Daily Practice, Deep Jellies, FOX, Label Cards, Scrap Happy Quilts, Sisterhood of the Scissors, Southern Crows, Word Forms

Fall Retreat 2018

Hello,

The Schweinfurth Fall Retreat was last week end.   I had a good time and got a bit of work done  along with lots of old friends. IMG_2260Janice, a friend I made at the  fall retreat two years ago, made and appearance and worked on this baby quilts.     Her child is due in April.   IMG_2252Sally finished up this top.   One of her children gave it to her.

IMG_2265Victoria returned to work on this piece that has some hand dyed stuff in it that she created in the wet studio last fall.

IMG_2261Susan made three Christmas stockings( yes, that is an opossum on the one above her head )  and quilted on a piece that she started at QBL two summers ago.

IMG_2262Sally F worked on this wonderful soft colored piece that is a jump off from a Kay Facet design.

IMG_2250  Randy quilted with the quilting machine in the front of the class room and made progress on this quilt.

IMG_2251Janet worked on creating these diamonds in Cherry wood  strips and she got all the blocks done this weekend.

IMG_2248Liz worked away on this piece using some of her hand dyed fabric.

IMG_2230I started playing with some trapped cut yarns just to see what would happen.       Then I also started to assemble a top using the crows I printed at Susan’s in Florida in March.   IMG_2229   Everyone had fun and made progress.   There was so much going on it was rather exciting.

 

  Sisterhood of the Scissors meant at the Schweinfurth today and looked at the the Q=A=Q show.   We  decided to use this  nine patch  quilt as the basis for our next challenge.   The wild piecing and applique work  appealed to us.   Not sure about he rules- but I think it will push folks to some unique work.

 

 

 

After checking out the Q=A=Q show the group went upstairs to view the Members  Show.   This is my piece, Deep Jellies  that is in the show.

Lots of my friends are in this one too.     There is work by Victoria .   I know she dyed  this in a workshop with Pat Pauly.

 

IMG_2301Lori’s piece from Danalia was displayed.

IMG_2303Angela’s felt work was shown too.  I  regret to say that my shot of The Crows Of Auburn, by Regina ,  is too fuzzy to post- but it was there as well.     NOel had a ceramic piece too.    It is a strong show with lots of variety and very enjoyable.

 

Progress Report: Purple Study  I enjoyed building this little  11” X 11” piece.    The hand work class is still resonating with me.

 

 

 

JacketIMG_2274As   further proof of that the  handwork  classes  influence, I started altering this linen jacket this week.   I took out the shoulder pads and added a few patches of color.   I have even done a little hand stitching here as well.   I can see this is a long term project.

Black Capped Chickadee  I did some tread painting of Chickadees this week as I want to keep building  the free motion skills.

 

 

 

Earth –  WaterfallIMG_2271  I have not touched this piece in awhile but I got back to it this week.   I am building in the trees at this point.  The water over the rocks will come later.

IMG_2321Scrap Happy   I am assembling the rows through the backing and batting in a sew and flip fashion.   I will quilt over all of it later to add strength.

Rework FOX IMG_2317   I thought I was finished with this work a few weeks ago.   When I took it to the QuEGs meeting folks like the colors and the layout- but said it needed more quilting.   This is a case where  in my rush to finish I did not really look at the work to see it’s flaws.   It is easy to repair this one- I merely took off the sleeve and labels and pealed back the facings so I could add more machine quilting.   I am building up the new quilting in a diagonal pattern.

 

 

Daily Practice      The hand work continuers to fill in on this work.   I need to finish that step and then live with it a while to see if it needs any additional embellishment.   I am trying to allow for the looking stage.

 

IMG_2278 Southern Crows    The top I stared at the the retreat is all assembled now.   Pressing and basting need to come next so I can begin to quilt it.

Shredded  Color This is a close up  of the other piece that I started at the retreat.      I have plastic bags of  shredded yarn in color groups that I capture between the felted background and various colors of nylon net with free motions stitching.IMG_2318  It is an experiment and I am leaning lots.   I may or may not keep the piece as a whole unit.      Got to do the careful looking and living with it – but first I need to finish the work.

 

Label Card:   Beyond     In this crazy fast pasted world, it is difficult to look beyond our  next step or the next day.   I fear we are losing lots of joy and wisdom by not looking a little bit beyond the immediate  events.    So this card is to remind me to slow down and think about the future as well as the past.

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving so there will not be a post next week.    Enjoy your blessings.

Keep Creating,

Carol