Nothing Special

I’ve been remis in blogging for quite awhile now. I hope to remedy this. Suffice it to say, I have been working on many projects, both writing and visual art. I hope to post some photos soon. But for today, I just want to say hello to anyone who still follows me in spite of the long intervals in between posts. Thanks to everyone. More to come.

Latest News

Summertime! I am going strong on my many projects: working on the second draft of my novel (YAY!), making art for my NCWCA  Art Tag group adventure. This round’s theme is Germination. I’m also co-facilitating a 12 x 12 group with a couple months to go.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and whatever you are passionate about whether that is making things, writing, photographing, blogging or just being happy to be alive. You deserve to have the life you want. Make it happen! What have you got to lose?

If you are considering hiring me to finish your project or restore your quilt, be sure to check out the discount page at the right. I look forward to meeting you and discussing your project.

I’m Back, Again

No excuses, really.  Life has been very busy these past few months.  So, here I go with good intentions to post more regularly.

First let’s start off with my latest quilt for this year’s Berkeley Public Library Quilt Show (May 1-June 1), “Scattered Geese”

(From the Catalog) “Once again I have chosen to marry fabric and paper in my quilt. I selected 12, 12” square papers with images of leaves made by the “flower pounding” technique given to me by a friend.  Using acrylic matte medium, I glued random fabric triangles leftover from making bindings onto the papers.  The the pink triangles in each center are the exception bringing some continuity to the blocks. Each square was quilted individually before joining them together and binding the whole.I am particularly excited about the DIY circle making “attachment”(below) I made from a strip of presentation board, a thumbtack and an eraser.  Move over McGuyver!  The red buttons hide the thumbtack holes at the center of the bulls-eyes.”

It was important to make sure that the quilt will “read well” from a distance, since the quilts are hung up well above viewers’ eye level.  I think I pulled it off, don’t you?

Here are some pictures of my “attachment” in use.

If you get a chance, go to the show. It’s on the 2nd floor of the Central library. It’s FREE and you may find something that is unusual on the wall or in one of the cases.

Beginning the New Year

It’s been too long since I’ve posted. I’m glad that2014 has passed. It was a somewhat difficult year in spite of the fact that I had some good things happen.  including my renewed interest in writing a novel and a year-long commitment to making 12 pieces of art in a 12” x 12” format. (Probably the main reason I have been so remiss in blogging.) I hope to correct that this year. More blogging, more art= more happiness!

Here is a photo of a piece for the 12″ x 12″ challenge.

Map

 

One of My Finished Projects

This quilt was made by my friend Sara, her second, of a favorite antique quilt in her collection that was beyond repair.  She says this will be the last one which she will keep for herself.  I love the simplicity of the design and the beautiful reproduction fabrics she has used. The half-square triangle border lends a air of playful irregularity.  As always, I enjoyed working on Sara’s quilt.

IT’S TIME

It’s time for a lot of things in my life to change.  Spring has always been a time for me to make, or attempt to make changes in my life.  This year signals that changes in physical activity and a revamped eating plan are in order.  After two bouts of forced inactivity last year, I have lost a certain amount of fitness, which was not that good to begin with.  Exercise for the sake of exercise alone has been one of my life-long dislikes.  More so that it takes away time for other more cerebral pursuits than an inherent dislike of moving my body.  Alas, now it is necessary to forgo the reluctance to spend time on this pursuit and get with it.  Walking is my choice.  Aiming for the advised goal of 30 minutes a day is what I am committing to.  Wish me luck!

Another biggie is getting a new computer.  I am frustrated with my current computer and want a new MAC.  I’ve thought of fixing my other old G5… new power supply and mother board (new RAM did nothing).  I would spend less money but would it be worth it?  This problem has caused me to stop blogging and that is definitely something I want to change.  Everyone keeps telling me to just get a cheaper PC and be done with it.  I am in a quandary not sure which way to go.  So, I am almost through with this post and so far Safrari hasn’t quit yet. Woo hoo!  More will be revealed.

2013 in review

Thank you to those of you who visited my blog in 2013.  I have had a rough year and not posted much due to issues with my health and my computer’s health!  I hope that 2014 will be a better year in all regards and that I will be posting regularly.  So, may you have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous NEW YEAR!

OH!  Just to let you know, I have a piece in the latest issue of  Cloth Paper Scissors magazine’s Mixed Media Stitch challenge.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,900 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 48 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Sunshine Award Answers

I was nominated for a Sunshine Award and have chosen to just answer the questions posed to me instead of making my own nominations.  I don’t know 10 people who blog that aren’t already nominated.  I suppose we could just go round and round with different questions….  Anyway, here goes.

1.  What pivotal event in your life changed you for the better?  Taking care of my husband as he battled cancer.  I was amazed at how strong I could be for both of us.

2.  Oldies? Opera? Country? Hip Hop? Blues? Jazz? Contemporary Christian? Rat Pack? Polka? Other? (please specify): Rock and Roll, baby with a splash of Blues, especially my husband ‘s version of “Walkin’ to my Baby.”

3.  Spring or Fall?  Spring

4.  What is your favorite comfort food?  Make that plural: My Mom’s Southern Tea biscuits loaded with butter (she obtained the recipe from a restaurant on a road trip somewhere in Kentucky in the late 40’s).

5.  What is your favorite creative activity? Collage making; bookmaking… too hard to choose just one and more wanted to be listed!

6.  Looking back on your life, what era would you like to live over? 1978 – 1981 when I was an art student at UC Berkeley

7.  Barefoot or slippers? Barefoot

8.  How would you describe your home dec style? Eclectic (read: found furniture, clutter bordering on hoarding, art materials everywhere, lots of books, artwork hung gallery-style on multiple walls.)

9.  What evokes emotion in you? Seeing a couple holding hands, a beautiful sunset, a love story, friends who care about me, memories of my sweetie, Doug.

10. What one thing do you want to accomplish before your life is over? Living to a ripe old age making art every day having a love to accompany me on the journey.

So there you have it….and GO!

Improvement

The last couple of days give me hope.  I have been improving in spite of waiting for tests.  I am in less pain and able to walk some without the walker.  I finally got an appointment for an MRI… on November 1!  Wonder how much more I will have improved by then.  I am so anxious to get back to normal.  Working, cooking, walking… the list goes on.

Better

Today is a sunny day.  I got good sleep last night and was surprised to find that I can walk a little better!  I am encouraged that I am getting better.  My MRI is scheduled for Nov.1… really?  I will probably be healed by then.  Ah well, I just will have to go with the flow.