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.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A WINTER

It's been quite a winter here, as I talked about a few days ago. How do you like the big 'cupcake' on the patio table? I love winter if I don't have to drive on icy roads. But I am ready for yellow flowers and going for a walk without boots and my hooded coat!

Working on my Baby Jane

I've been working on my Baby Jane quilt again, even cutting some solid triangles and completing my first top row triangle. Sometimes it goes well as these results show, and sometimes it just don't.

A 4-SHOVEL WINTER

Today the temperature is in the mid 50's and the strong wind is from the south melting the snow, but the piles of icebergs from the snow plows are still standing. This was a 4 shovel winter: narrow shovel, wide shovel, old fashioned scoop, and extra shovel. We had lots of snow this year but it was so cold it was the powdery light kind. We had one snow deep enough and drifted enough to contract the plow man to clear the driveway. Hubby still refuses to get a snow blower but he's getting one this fall for his birthday if he wants one or not so we don't have to use a shovel to dig a 'you know what'. 

CREATIVE SPACE

Lately I've been doing some rummaging, sorting, shifting, and moving things around. Like my thoughts, "stuff", priorities, and my spaces. Last week I discovered my beloved Ikea work table would fit in the room I call an office (it is), a study?, mini-library, and now my sewing room. This table is 36" high. No bending over to cut or press fabric. Fabulous! Here's a photo of my room in transition, or expansion, or whatever. This is where I plan to spend as many hours as possible in 2009 working on quilts, especially my Baby Jane, in my creative space.

A Timeless Past-Time Anyway

Quilting. A timeless past-time. Cloth in hand. Thread through cloth. Sounds simple. Is not.

This evening I finished block A-13 Starlight - Starbright on my Baby Jane patterned after the amazing Jane Stickle original. Google "Dear Jane quilt" if you're not familiar with it. Anyway, this completes the first row of 13 blocks, each and every block different pattern and fabric. Now only twelve more rows, a dizzying array of border triangles and corners, then assembly and finishing. Quilting. I must live to 150 to finish this baby.

Anyway, here's the baby pictue of A-13. It will be all of five inches square when trimmed and 4.5 inches square in the quilt. I love this one dearly.