The next give-away will be April 1, 2012. Don’t worry, I won’t play an April Fool’s joke on anyone. To enter, please leave a comment about how you met a challenge creatively , fixed something in an unusual way, or came up with a creative solution to a problem.
Look to the right under General Information: New Year’s Special for information on discounts for the month. It’s not too soon to start thinking about graduation!
Have a Happy New Year!
Giveaway #1
These are the giveaway items won by Sara C. of Scrapbasket in my first ever Giveaway. I just thought that you might like to see them in their finished state. Sara, as it happens, is a fellow quilter and creative type whom I have known for quite a number of years. Her quilts are a mix of traditional and contemporary and everything in between. She has an eye for color and imaginative use of prints. In fact, I just finished quilting one of her quilts last week shown below. Now, don’t get the idea that the drawing was rigged. In truth, I know many of my subscribers personally. Who knows, one of you whom I don’t know could be next. Let’s see those comments!
My quilt “Sunrise” will be shown for another month in a group show at the Alameda County Administration building on 1221 Oak Street, Oakland, CA. For many years the Alameda County Arts Commission has invited our Guild ( East Bay Heritage Quilters or EBHQ) to hang quilts for a show to be enjoyed by the many visitors and staff. Please see the link to EBHQ at the right for more information and for a slide show of the quilts on display. There is also a slideshow of members’ quilts from our annual Show-and -Tell meeting in November as well as information on upcoming speakers, workshops, and our own guild show, Voices in Cloth, Spring 2012, etc. We are a great bunch of people so come to a meeting for a visit!
OK, so it is another year. I have decided that this blogging thing requires more attention than I have been giving it. Intentions are great, but blogs don’t write themselves! While my life is in turmoil as my husband battles cancer, a few minutes blogging won’t make a difference. So, I have decided to commit to writing a post a week. Consider this post #1, slightly behind. I may not add photos for every post and a post may be short. I won’t agonize over content only over being consistent; showing up each week. As I write this I am watching Julie & Julia and can’t believe that it is 2:25! Seems appropriate.
And now, my word for the year. I have decided to keep last year’s word: FEARLESS and add ACTION. Fearless action! They go well together. So, 2012 will bring more art making, less hesitation and more DO IT NOW WHILE I AM THINKING ABOUT WHATEVER ‘IT’ IS. I am hoping that by the time 52 weeks are over, I will have succeeded in my endeavors.
First of all, thanks to everyone who subscribes to my blog! I plan to run more give aways in 2012, so stay tuned.
And now, drumroll please!! Congratulations! The winner of the Coffee Cup Holder and a beautiful, inked Book Box complete with a blank accordion book inside is Scrapbasket.
Please get in touch with me within 5 days to arrange receipt of your gift. (If I don’t hear from you , another name will be drawn) I will post a photo after delivery so as not to spoil the surprise.
Winner was chosen by random drawing.
Rosemary's Churn and Dash
The past couple of months have been difficult. I have spent most of the time taking care of my husband and not making much art or doing much quilting. And, I have forgiven myself for not posting. My priorities shifted when they discovered my husband’s brain tumor and a subsequent suspicious area of his liver (low density is good, right?). Today he had yet another CT scan. Next week he sees the oncologist and we will know (hopefully) what the outcome is and whether he will need more treatment. On the good side, his hand is getting better and his writing is starting to become legible again.
The photos are of the two quilts I did manage to deliver before Christmas. I cropped the red one pretty heavily since it was not bound and the other I tried an automated crop and straighten tool in Photoshop.
2012 is around the corner. Let’s hope that it is a healthy, happy, safe and prosperous New Year!
Combination T-shirt and Memory Quilt
Another Box for a Book
Today, after having getting to the studio I set my timer for 15 minutes. I needed to add to the sides of the box lid to have my idea complete. These boxes have a life of their own. I find that when I allow my mind to play with the pen without much serious thought, wonderful images happen, mostly. My previous box was not so successful, but I had a good time doing it. When I tire of the outsides, I may just begin to make the books that will dwell within.
The holidays will be here before we know it. I have started making some items for my December sale. I’m not waiting until the last minute this time! I’ll have tote bags, theraputic body warmers(a.k.a. “rice bags”) and bibs as usual. My newest addition is a reusable coffee cup holder made with fabric and a product called “Fast-2-Fuse.” I’m having fun picking out cool fabrics for these. Here’s a shot of a completed one and 8 others in the works.
Coffee Holders in Process
I believe that cooking is an art form. When I went veggie shopping at Berkeley Bowl West, I came across a bag of Key Limes from Colima, Mexico for $1.89. I have a friend, ( Hi Diane!) who lives in Colima so I had to buy them. Now, I’ve never made a Key Lime Pie before. I used a recipe by Emeril Lagasse on the Food Network site. I don’t care for Graham cracker crust so substituted regular. My crust slumped, so it is now “rustic.” It took quite awhile to get the juice out of those tiny limes! Baking is an art, and playing photo shoot was my “Make Art” for today. Oh, the pie was absolutely delicious! ( I also made a Barley and Mushroom ‘Risotto,’ Pasta with Garlic and Kale, and something I call Mexican Lasagna made with chili, flour tortillas, cheese and sour cream – a big hit.) Whew!
The First Piece
Key Lime Pie
Today in between working on my quilting projects and other duties, I finished decorating a box I started several days ago. I have a large supply of these blank boxes, well mostly bottoms, which come from a ceramic ornament business in my building. They are perfect canvas for me to do my art. I use Faber-Castell permanent India Ink pens for drawing on them. It is very meditative to just let my brain do what it feels like without trying to over think everything. FUN! I plan to use these to house my small accordion books. I may even sell them with blank accordion books inside. too. What do you think?
Inked Box
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