Autumn Maple

This piece is the latest on-line challenge piece for my yFast Friday Fabric Challenge group.  The challenge is revealed the 4th Friday of each month.  This month we were to choose a Haiku or write our won and then illustrate it using fabric with an emphasis on thread work in the quilt.  Haiku is a Japanese form of Poetry written with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 syllables in the last line and usually about nature.

This is probably the least variety of fabrics I've ever used in a quilt, just 4 different pieces.  A year ago I bought the hand-dyed fabric from Laura Wasilowski at the Des Moines AQS show.  Once home I wondered why, but it worked well as the background for this piece so I'm glad I bought it.  It was shades of light grey-blue, light rose-pink, and light yellow.  The first two reminded me of a dreary fall sky telling one winter would soon follow the loss of leaves.  I chose a maple tree because when I looked out my window the day the challenge was announced, my maples were loaded with gorgeous leaves that were beginning to fall.  Once started the light yellow was too light so I darkened it with a light wash of color with paints and quilting.

I quilted leaves on top of the fused pieces on the ground and then decided to do the same with the tree.  The tree's leaves actually ended looking more like oak leaves, but they'll do.  I decided to add a fence row disappearing over a distant hill to fill the space in the lower left corner.  It ended at 16" x 26 1/2".

The Haiku was written and the quilt over half completed when I decided to change the last line which I personally like better, but others may disagree.  Here are both versions:

Leaves, orange, red, gold
Gnarled maple dropping its crown
Which is last to fall?

Leaves, orange, red, gold
Gnarled maple dropping is crown
Earth's winter blanket.

Eastern Trip

We arrived home from a marathon 10 day east from Nebraska.  We went first to Kentucky.  Of course, whenever we go through Paducah I have to stop at the quilt museum.  Some of my favorites were again hung and lots of new ones, too.  Always an inspiration.  Next stop was Mammoth Cave where we went on a strenuous 4 1/2 mile walk in 4 hrs. through the cave with a very knowledgeable guide.  Last stop in Kentucky was Louisville where we toured the Louisville Slugger bat factory and Churchill Downs.  The latter was our favorite stop the entire trip.  What a great museum they have and informative tours.


Next stop was Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio.  It's quite different from the national parks one is used to seeing in the western half of the U.S.  This one is for people use and use it they do!  Bicyclists and walkers/joggers all over the old towpath.  We took the train ride from the north end to the south end and back.  Great way to be introduced to the park.  Then we visited a couple of spots after that.

Onward northeast.  We stopped overnight in New York state.  I'd hoped to visit the Roger Tory Peterson museum but it was closed Mondays and Richard didn't want to wait around another day.  So we headed on to Niagara Falls.  Previously I'd seen them half frozen in November 14 yrs. ago.  They're much lovelier with sunshine and green surroundings.  They've changed the area lots since I was there before, too.  We chose to pay big $$ to go up into the tower on the hill above the falls to eat and view the area from up high.  Glad we did.  It was awesome to see the falls this way.


After walking around the area for a bit we headed out again and stopped at Niagara on the Lake.  They have a lovely old town with a neat shopping area which we spent time walking around.   I also managed to make it to two of their wineries.

We then drove to the Jordan, Ontario area and spent the night in a hotel along Lake Ontario.  The water was calm and one could see Toronto in the distance across the lake.  There was even an old wrecked ship not far from the hotel.  The next a.m. we drove into Jordan and westward stopping at a few more wineries, tasting and buying.  At one we were introduced to the ultimate chocolate to be eaten with wine, Brix.  Try some.  You'll definitely like it if you like chocolate.

In one parish we found a  small bakery which I convinced Richard to stop at.  We walked in and I was amazed!  I haven't seen that assortment of pastries since a child.  So many cookies, tarts, turnovers, etc. that you can't imagine.  We bought a few things for samples and later when we ate them the delicious taste lingered in our mouths for quite some time.  Good thing I don't live closer or I'd be the size of a hot air balloon!


On to Michigan City, Indiana to visit some friends there.  We met their adorable new Golden Retriever puppy, Moose (aptly named for those big feet), had supper together and a nice visit.  We left later in the a.m. and managed to avoid the Chicago rush hour traffic.  We were able to drive all the way home that day even stopping Madison County Iowa to see the old covered bridges there and which, especially the 'Roseman Bridge', were brought to national fame by the book and later film, "The Bridges of Madison County".

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Stormy Night

It's been an unusual weather year in 2010.  After one of the worst winters I can remember the snow melted and then it turned dry.  Of course, being married to a farmer with dry weather and his crops life isn't the best during this time.  But then the faucet opened in late June and it hasn't shut off.  We had record amounts of rain in July and August is off to the same start.  The heat I can handle.  It's the humidity that's stifling and we've had our share of that this summer.  The worst weather seems to just go around us which is fortunate for the crops but we have 2 months to go before harvest begins.  But, the mosquitoes are here and the worst in 3 years.  They love it!

Late yesterday afternoon the clouds began to form and gradually it got darker and darker so that it was more like 9 p.m. than 5 p.m.  When it began to rain it dumped!  We got over 2" in less than an hour.  The winds blew but no trees fell.  I just have sticks to pick up all over the yard before I can get on the lawn mower yet again.  I'm surprised the poor thing hasn't given up and died after the workout I've put it through this summer mowing every 5 days.  Anyway, we were lucky in the wind department.  All around us big trees were uprooted some falling on cars, houses, and campers in campgrounds along the river.  We lost power shortly but not for long.

The summer of 2010 has already surpassed the summer of 1993 for the most rainfall ever and we still have most of August to go!

Scrappy Stars

I have waaaayyyyy too much fabric stashed away.  I think I could make a queen-sized quilt for everyone in my small town of 1,200 people.  So I decided one way or another I'm going to start using some of it up so I can justifiably purchase some of those luscious new fabrics out there right now.  I have a scrap quilts pattern book and found this lovely stars pattern.  It went together rather quickly and I like the way it turned out.  The only problem is that one has to purchase all the background and border fabrics to finish the quilt.  I decided to make this one longer and wider than the twin size quilt in the book.  It's a dorm size quilt that in the near future my granddaughter can have to take to college with her.  Her friends there can autograph the yellow border strip and anywhere on the stars.  Hopefully she'll like it.  

Spring Thaw

I just finished this 22" square quilt today. An on-line acquaintance gave me permission to use a photo he'd taken. I constructed the Eastern Bluebird way last winter and then put it aside until a few days ago. After I got started once again it went quickly. I decided to try a bit of realism using a real tree branch stitched onto the quilt. Easy to remove and replace later or omit entirely. I will donate it to the Nebraska Ornithologist's Union to use as a fund raiser. Hopefully it will make them some creditable dollars and make someone happy.

County Quilt

Memorial Day weekend a member of the Nebraska State Quilt Guild called to see if I would make a block representing my county to eventually be on permanent display with blocks from Nebraska's other 93 counties at the Nebraska State Fair. Sure, I didn't have anything else pressing to do and how hard could a simple 12" block be? Well, a week later when she sent the specs on the 'block' I found it was to be 28" square! A rather large block but much easier to work with. Next to come up with something that represented Dixon County where I live. The only historical importance I found was we are the only county in Nebraska to lay claim to having had a volcano. But, it wasn't really a volcano just a chemical reaction from iron pyrite and the limestone bluffs along the river. How would I show steam coming from a river bank anyhow? But, we do have the Missouri River as our northern border and there are some pretty spectacular views from those bluffs. So I chose to show the view one might see looking from the oak tree covered bluffs meeting surrounding farm fields and both eventually stopping at the Missouri River below. Across the river is the flat flood plains and farm ground of South Dakota. The area also teams with wildlife. I've included our state bird, the Western Meadowlark, and mother and fawn White-tailed Deer.

I'll keep it until after I do my trunk show for a guild in Iowa on July 20th and then send it off to be framed by wrapping 2 inches of the quilt around a wooden frame. This is the reason for no binding on this quilt.

High on Fungi

The latest challenge for my on-line Fast Friday Fabric Challenge group was to choose a fungi, depict it abstractly or stylish, and choose either a complimentary or split complimentary color scheme. I am usually one who does very realistic art quilts so this time I stepped out of my comfort zone and went completely abstract with my fungi. I chose to do a split-complimentary color scheme and used purple, yellow-orange, and yellow-greens. I decided to look at a typical fungi from beneath. I broke the head into various waves alternating them with the folds seen under the mushroom with spores. I quilted in either a circular design on the center and outer rings to swirls on the middle purple ring. To simulate some spores on the orange and green I added some beads. When completed I couched different yarns along each wave for a more funky effect. I used a simple decorative stitch over the orange/green seams beading on top of them. The binding 'fell' from a shelf and I decided to use it since although black it contained the colors of purple, orange and green. This was left over from a larger quilt I'd made last winter. The quilt was pieced together using freezer paper and registration marks. No fusible was used in this piece. The quilt measures 15 1/2" x 18".

Retired!

As of today, May 21, 2010, I am officially retired from teaching! It was hard to walk out the door yesterday for the last time and know it will be harder still when everyone else returns to school in August. But I'm sure I'll quickly get over that when I realize I can sleep in and come and go as I want anytime during the day and week!

I'm still hindered by my foot surgery. The doctor says I have to wear this lovely, hot, knee-high, steel-framed boot through next week yet. That makes 7 full weeks! Then I'm to try to get into an athletic shoe. That should be interesting since my foot and leg are still swelling. I can't drive until mid July since braking the car would put too much pressure on the ball of the foot and hinder proper healing of the tendon and ligament. Ah well, at least I'm halfway there. But it's not a good time to be dependent on my farmer husband. I'm stuck here at home since he's out farming and doesn't have time to take me anywhere. I'm in desperate need of a haircut and am beginning to look like a shaggy dog!

I did sit outside by the pond and soaked up some much needed sunshine today. Some birds were skeptical about my sitting there but eventually came to drink and bathe. Others scolded me the entire time. I also
took some pictures of my flowers that are so pretty right now.

Surgery

Last week I finally had surgery on my foot to determine what was causing the pain I've had for years but had become more pronounced the past two years. Since inserts, alcohol shots, and taping didn't offer any relief surgery was the last resort. The surgery lasted 2 hrs. and fortunately the cause was found. I've had little pain the past week and get the stitches out next week so then I'll be free to shower again!

I had my foot surgery follow-up appt. today. Once unwrapped I was surprised how little swollen the foot actually was. I also got a better explanation as to what Dr. Eilts did to my foot vs. what Richard 'thought' he heard from him last week after the surgery. He removed the small bunion and then put a pin in the big toe to move it over and get it into better alignment to keep my foot from rolling inward when I walked. But the big surprise was what was causing all my pain in the first place. Dr. Eilts said it's the first time he's ever seen this even though he'd heard of it. Anyway. at some point in the past I stepped wrong and the tendon pulled jerking a 'chunk' of bone about the size of the push top on a ball point pen from my second toe. He said it could have gone un-noticed for several years. The last 2 it's really been bothering me and that's when it probably moved into position to drill a 1/8" hole in the ligament beneath the toe. So, he removed the bone chunk, shortened the tendon, and repaired the hole in the ligament. I get the stitches out next week with a splint remaining on the toe to further heal the tendon and then I should be good to go he said. I still have to wear my lovely knee-high boot for a few weeks and use crutches, but hopefully the pain will be gone in the future. The pictures were really interesting to see.

Sounds like I may be able to travel a bit after all this summer IF I can walk on the 2" incision on the ball of my foot.

Latest FFFC Challenge

Each month I try to do the 4th Friday challenge for the FFFC on-line group. This month's was undersea, thread painting, with a non-traditional binding. Needless to say, the sea is quite foreign to a Nebraskan. So I came across a book I forgot I'd owned, photocopied a page of sea stars, added a batik border that fit with the colors, added color with thread painting and wetted colored pencils. My attempt at thread painting white coral in the right corner didn't show on the quilt so I used Solvy stabilizer and made a new one that I attached loosely making it dimensional. The green plants coming in from the left with a seahorse hanging on helped to add depth to the piece. I rather like the outcome coming from a landlubber.

Winter's Creations

Being snowed in LOTS this winter has really given me time to create different quilts. Once I retire in May I'm hoping to get back into drawing, painting, photography, and whatever else along with my art quilts. Yesterday I finished a 14" x 40" quilt that I plan to give to the elementary for my retirement. The two children are students in my class this year and both very sweet kids. I'm 'hoping' the school will like it enough to hang somewhere in the office area where those coming into the school for business will see it, but who knows, they may choose to roll it up in a drawer someplace. Even though it's completed I won't give it to the school until early August since I have been asked to do my first trunk showing for a quilt guild in southewestern Iowa. I'm in the habit of giving away many of my quilts and will need to keep them now so I'll have plenty to share with this guild in July.

Weather

What a horrible winter we're having here in northeast Nebraska! After 2 major blizzards since just before Christmas and after dropping over 2 feet of snow coupled with the previous 9 inches, daily fog, cold, and an ice storm last week that has left people without power since last Wednesday everyone is hungry for some sunshine no matter how cold it is. Late yesterday the snow started to fall again. Although we only got 2-3 inches we're having 40-45 mph winds which has managed to fill in the roads with 3 foot drifts again and the seventh snow day from school. We'll be going all summer if this continues.

But I have gotten all my UFO's (unfinished quilts) done and started some more. One I even tossed after having it half completed for the last 5 years and decided it wasn't that good anyhow. The biggest quilt I finished was one I'd started in a class with Scott Murkin. I arranged the blocks in a dark to light format putting varied width strips from top to bottom and left to right of purple in-between the blocks. I quilted it in a wavy pattern to complement the wavy blocks. I finally took pictures of it this a.m. and hope to work out something with vining Morning Glory over the quilt to resemble it climbing on a trellis. If I don't get it done it will look fine as is, too.

I also belong to the on-line group, Fast Friday Fabric Challenge, in which we are challenged on the 4th Friday of the month to create a small quilt to fit the challenge in one week's time. Teaching doesn't always give me time to do these but the past two I've completed since I've been snowed in so much. December's was to choose a commercial package from our cupboards and use the colors on the product to create a still life quilt. I used a Jolly Time popcorn package and created the little orange and green 8" x 10" quilt using the package colors. This month's is to choose 3 colors, their shades, values, and tints, use a 'winged thing' as subject matter, and fracture or break up the design. 'Fairy Blues" is the result of this challenge.

Today I'm working on a commercial pattern that I bought several years ago. I've not used one of these for a long time. I'm so used to creating my own that following someone else's design is different. Good thing I have such a big stash of fabric so I don't have to worry about not having a particular color to use.