PURPLE TREES

redbud, heart shape leaf

native, too small to harvest

or it would be gone

C.S.

String Star Quilts

Last November a dear friend issued a "quilt challenge" to a group of about 90 quilters. She showed a small child's quilt from the late 1800's and challenged us to create something, not necessarily duplicate the original, but to Create with a capital C. Six months later, next quilt retreat, and two of us did Create. In this photo the original which measures about 31" wide and 44" long is on the bottom and my little quilt is on the top. I sewed it from strips of Civil War reproduction fabrics that measured 3'' long and 3/4'' wide which finished to diamonds 1'' in height. Lots, and lots, and lots of pieces!

Since I began shortly after the 2008 Presidential election, I dedicated this to Barack Obama and included one piece of cotton I printed with his name on my ink jet printer. But it is more than that. For me it is a symbol of the validation of the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." Now we can work on equality for women and children!

When I showed this quilt at the show and tell of the quilt gathering, I thought, "There's so much controversy, it just may be art!"

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday 2009. A long and cold snowy winter. A cold spring. Yet today we have sunshine and the promise of the coming season of growth. Last week we had snow on the forsythia. You might say YUK and I did, but then when I took photos I realized it is all a matter of perception. After all, how often do we get to see brilliant yellow blooms frosted with ice? It melted quickly, no harm done. And I realize much of what I perceive is from the fears of my own heart. May spring flow to summer and the bounty be great for all. Here's a little Easter haiku.

Nucleus

sharp breeze from the east

warm western sun on my face

I am the center.

c.s.