"Barn" Quilt

This is my "Barn" quilt! It's a huge thing in Western NY to make these painted wood quilt blocks to hang on a barn, or garage or house. My house is small. So my Barn quilt is small. 22" x 22". (it is snowing as you can see in the pic)
My friend Tracy J and I have been talking about these for awhile. Her family owns a company and her son, Jamison, was able to program our quilt blocks of choice into a machine that routed out the design onto a pre-primed sign board. I think it's 1" thick. Awesome, right? No measuring. No taping. That is the hard part for me. The detail stuff. So a few weeks ago Tracy and I set up to paint. We had to prime the routed lines and the edges. Then onto painting! I chose a crimson red, a cream and an almost black. My block is called Winged Square II. We used an old 70's book of block patterns. I love wings. I love this block!

Here it is naked. A 22" x 22" routed, ready to paint board, your choice of block, would be $50.00 plus shipping. Tracy is making one that is 2 4' x 8' boards for her garage. That, of course would be more. Jamison is willing to make them for anyone that is interested. You can contact me and I will put you in touch with him.

This is Tracy's 2 board Star block. I cannot wait to get a picture of it installed!
Mine will be on my front porch, next to my red door.
I just may need another one!

My sweet Fiona. What a face.

Tomorrow I meet with one of my art quilt groups. We are changing our name from RiffRaff to a more appropriate fiber-y name. We will spend time making a group blog tomorrow. I will be getting some pointers from my friend Thearica in a bit. We are starting our Whisper Quilt RR tomorrow. The participants made an 8.5" x 11" quilt to pass to each person to serve as inspiration for them to make a piece based on it. In the end there will be multiple quilts that will be inspired by each quilt done by each member. It will be interesting to "read" them at the end. Looking forward to it.

My friend Janet Root, one of the most talented women I know, as well as a very gracious and giving woman, is featured on page 62 of the current issue (#60 Dec/Jan 2013) of Quilting Arts magazine! She could be a featured artist in QA. She has quite a body of work from traditional to art. Her quilt Jam & Jelly was the reason I made my Jam & Jelly.

Brought Melissa's favorite pizza joint's delights to her and Dave's last night for dinner. Their little apartment is really cute. Brought her 3 Christmas tree's. One for them and one for Sophia's mom and a friend. More cleaning out! I left with all four wheels still on my Trailblazer!

I have learned:

1. Michael was awarded a 1-Star Coin from a General that was visiting his COP. He was recognized, along with two other soldiers, for their leadership so far in AFG. The big deal is that a General actually gave it to them. Anyone that knows Micheal is not surprised by the award.
2. How to use Photoshop Elements to resize a pic to a specified requirement for submission of a quilt to QuiltCon. Yes, I am taking a shot at getting into the first QuiltCon show. All they can say is yes, or no!
3. I am devouring a jar of homemade Camponata. So good.
4. A new junk store is opening in Batavia. I was alerted by my little favorite, Ted, that I would love it. I stopped in today (not even open yet, but we can look around and buy!) and purchased a treasure. It is an 1800's small dresser with a small mirror...all layers of paint distressed. It will be placed in my bathroom. When I get it in (need help) I will get a pic. I saw so many cool things there. Ted has a train lantern and an old tube radio waiting for pickup. Junk heaven!
5. BRUCE, by Peter Ames Carlin. Great read for any Springsteen fan.
6. Argo. Excellent movie
7. My 15 year old nephew made this video for Michael. It is awesome. 

Just a Leaf

A pretty picture, taken a few weeks ago, before the snow covered them this weekend. Not a lot of snow. 

Had a great time with family in Cincinnati. Thanks to my cousin, Tracey and her husband, Tommy, for the delicious dinner! Aunt Terry and Uncle Sam came up from Florida and Jenn drove up from Fort Campbell. We sat out on the patio, a perfect day.

Jenn called yesterday to tell me Michael fell off a Max Pro military truck. He told her he bruised his hip and cut up his hand. Those trucks are over 6' high. I haven't heard from him, so I don't know how it happened or how serious the injuries are. I am sure I am over thinking this. I do that. 

Hoping tomorrow is a more productive day. 

I have learned:

1. My foot fibroma's are not shrinking yet. Keep applying the Verapamil as directed.
2. How to kill a zombie, thanks to my 15 year old nephew, Ian. Apparently going through the cerebral cortex is involved. This is unofficial I might add.
3. Using YLI silk thread to quilt on my ice crystals piece. Like the thin line. 
4. IKEA. Love that store.
5. "Luther", another BBC detective show, is cinematic. Excellent show.
6. My friend, Emmy, has posted a few youtube videos showing some chipboard books she has made. Take a look. Nice work. 

Ice Crystals & Empty Nest

After playing around in Photoshop Elements, this pic taken with a Blackberry two years ago while walking cross country lines at work, turned into a work of art! Apparently I didn't save the original, but it looked very similar to this one...

I didn't know why I needed to own Mary Lee's ice dyed fabric so badly at the time of our silent auction at the quilt show last month, but I realized how perfect the colors are for working with this piece. I had Julie Brandon, of Red-Dog Enterprises print in 30" x 40" for me on cotton. Under $20.00! Such a deal. (Look at her site to order your own manipulated or not photos!)(Julie was wearing a vest yesterday made from her printed fabric. New idea's!)

So I started working 1/2" hexi's up from the dyed fabric. I have 400 now. I started to see what they would look like on the piece.

See the little bunch I have set out at top edge? Looks so good! Of course I have no idea where or how I am going to get them onto the piece. I need to do some quilting first, then figure that out, but I am excited about it. It will be called Ice Crystals for a show with RAFA group; theme Winter's End.

I realized I never posted a pic of "Empty Nest". It was the quilt that was to have been for a challenge that involved using a picture of a falling down old small home. I thread sketched the house and found a poem online by Stephen Spender, called the Empty House. The poem is really about the empty nest, very pertinent at this time. I didn't make the deadline for the challenge because stamping the poem took hours. I used acrylic paint and I could only kneel so long, let it dry, then back for some more. I used invisible thread to quilt lines across horizontally. This is one of my favorite pieces I have done. It will hang in my living room.

I am almost finished with a small piece for a Nature Behind Bars show. I will get pictures and post soon.
Working on my literature challenge from guild. It's the annual challenge due in January. Even though it is announced in March, we all put it off until now, or later! I know what I am doing.....almost.

I have learned:

1. After my heal release surgery in June, I developed a large lump in my arch. After the MRI, I now have Plantar Fibromatosis. Now I have two lumps. Got the special Verapamil cream to apply 3 times daily. It, in theory, will penetrate to break down the matter. Still troublesome walking and standing. 
2. Getting a good amount of contact from Michael via FB messaging and phone calls. Makes for a more sane mother.
3. My sister has a 13 yr old girl and 15 yr old boy, who are in the throes of teenage attitude and inconsideration. Noni has to work 3 jobs (nurse) to pay for their private education. (not great public school system). Her phone call this morning brought back memories of Melissa! I got it all with her. I yelled, grounded, physically altercated and cried through those years. But it all comes around many years later. I am so glad I am over that. Was oh so hard.
4. My little art quilt group has a show at GoART! this month. Free.Nice. Go. See. 
5. I am in love with my newly reupholstered, old, heavy, solid wood, French Provincial couch and chair. Upholstery Unlimited did a truly wonderful job.
6. Blood tests show I am menopausal. Right on schedule. Yay:(
7. Bruce Springsteen is 63 years, 1 month and 17 days old. He still rocks. 

Hey Michael! & RiffRaff Group is Born!

I am not a fan of pictures of myself, but this is like a "Hello" to my son Michael. He can check my blog to see what's going on in my little life! So with my precious chubber, Fiona, sleeping at my back, while I stitch away on 1/2" inch hexi's (total to date: 265!) as I was downloading pics from the first meeting of a RAFA subgroup, I thought I would do the long-arm-pic all the kids do for their phone pics. Yes, Michael, Jenn, Melissa & Dave...I admit Fiona is, well, fat!

Along with myself, Sue, Stephanie, Frances and Beth met up for our first time at Beth's lovely house. We did a show and tell that acquainted us with each other. We are going to make a group blog at our next meeting and calling our group RiffRaff. Love it.

Beth is multi talented. She has made jewelry and books. We were all in awe at a bin full of great handmade books. I was especially partial to this Celtic knot cover. I know she told me how she did this, but I was so involved in looking at it all that I forgot!

This was a page inside. I love the glass monocle type bit over the eye. I have a couple of them. That would be a great idea for a pendant.

Stephanie had many inspiring pieces, but I especially loved this guys head! It is from a small art quilt that has actually inspired our first group project. She is lucky to have a mother and sister that do what she does. This piece was her quilt that she passed to them to make a small quilt using it as inspiration.
We are calling it a Whisper Challenge. Each of us will make an 8 1/2" x 11" piece that will in turn inspire the participants to make a piece using it as the inspiration. I love it. Depending on how many end up doing it, we have 7 committed right now, it will be a story. It's an exciting project!
Stephanie also took a class in Arizona with Liz Kettle and showed us the things she made there. Using a picture printed on fabric, various fabrics and hand stitching, as well as machine stitching and overlaying a sheer, they are awesome. This was my favorite.

Frances is the most traditional quilter in the group, but she is ready to stretch herself and start working smaller and artier. So you can imagine how delighted we were to see this...

Frances showed this awesome quilt at the last RAFA meeting. I love this quilt!

Sue is in another subgroup I visited a bit ago. We made copper necklace and earring using alcohol inks. (need to get picks of those) She is moving from traditional to arty. I loved this flower piece she made using a photo.
Notice the gems on the petals to signify dew drop.

I was very happy to get the feeling that all at the meeting yesterday are dedicated to making a Saturday group work. It would be nice to see a few more come on board, but it is a wonderful group of women!
One of the best things that I have done is to actually join RAFA. Thanks to my friend Elaine for letting me tag along! I am finding people that love what I love and make it happen. It's like finding your home.

I have learned:

1. Don't miss cancelled cable at all. I have Netflix. I am very into the BBC shows....Doc Martin, George Gently, The Book Group, Vera, The Commander and Inspector Lewis. I am talking to myself with an English accent!
2. Rented the first season of Empire Boardwalk. Very, very good. 
3. Writing an artist statement for a show of my little art quilt group at GoART! in November. No time to make new pieces, so going through some things now. We did a show there a few years ago. We have more people in our group now, so it will be a bigger show. 
4. Sarah, my best friends daughter, is living in NYC right now, working for HSBC. Hurricane Sandy is heading her way. Media frenzy. I am a bit concerned. Hope it all looses steam on the way up the coast.
5. You can get a free scanner app for your iphone for many agencies in your area. Like. Reminds me of when I was a kid. My dad had a scanner in the kitchen. He would get crystals that would let him listen to area police. He would have loved that app!

SPC Michael Everett 24 Today! (Quilt show album link too!)

My favorite picture of my son and daughter, Michael & Melissa. Michael turns 24 today! No cake, no special dinner in Afghanistan. At 8 this morning I missed his call....at 8:05 I was so happy he called back. In my quick swing from disappointment to elation and our subsequent full conversation, I said to him," there was something else I was going to say"....of course it was Happy Birthday~! But that dawned on my cobweb brain after we hung up! Ugh. His first review went well and as I expected, he is doing well all around. He loves to strive to succeed. Always has. He's nursing a cold, as the weather turns cold there also.
Melissa turns 30 in December. Wow. 30. Such good looking specimens I created!

I made a Snapfish album of our entire quilt show if you want to take a closer look. It is worth a few minutes!

My Quilt Show

Our quilt show was a raging success! The new venue was perfect, despite a water service break at the end of the show Friday, which was repaired and toilets ready to flush Saturday morning!
My jacket won a ribbon for best garment. Martha lead a class in the "fabric" making months ago. I used a Marcy Tilton pattern.

"Spring" won ribbon for best visual impact.

"Smog" won one of the judges choice ribbons. These last two quilts were made for a Project Runway type challenge one of the girls is running on HGTV message board this year, so I owe Lori a thank you for being motivating!  In fact the black and white fabrics in Smog are from her stash.

CQ pillow won ribbon for best home decor. Pam was happy to see that since this pillow is hers now!

And Jam & Jelly won for best large quilt machine piecing! This one is the stretch and surprise for me. This was started for Melissa's wedding gift, so when wedding called off, this quilt became mine. It was a lot of piecing. I got in a groove with it though and found I enjoyed doing it. I sleep under it and love it.

I had a lucky day.

Tracy & I ran the silent auction for the first time. All went well and we raised $1070.00 for the Batavia VA.

I love my guild. We are truly a talented, generous, kind, caring group. Next show October, 2014!

Now on to some projects that have been ruminating in my mind!

Pockets for Melanie Testa!

"your story, lets tell it!" The first pocket for Melanie Testa's Flattie Awareness campaign. It kind of brings in to the picture that her husband is so supportive. Silk pocket and vintage lace.

Velvet pocket with thread sketched writing.

A cut from the UFO art quilt that made an appearance on Quilting Arts TV for some advice for finishing....I love it in pieces!

I needle felted a pretty rose chiffon scarf to felt and hand stitched this one. It's the one for my mom.

I will be mailing these tomorrow to help Melanie make her 1000 pocket goal. I loved making these pockets and the sentiment they convey.

My friend Tracy showed me how to do English paper pieced hexagons. I love these! They work up so fast...great TV watching project...easily transportable. I made 35 last night using the fabrics I hand dyed myself in our resent guild workshop. They are gorgeous.

Hexi's are everywhere right now...in many sizes from small to very large. I found this link to print your own in 2 sizes, free, from Texas Freckles. I used regular copy paper, works great. These are addictive!

I have heard from Michael enough to keep the dots of safety connected in Afghanistan. he has asked for Christmas twinkle lights and fake mustaches! Ok. He has his own shacky room now. I do miss him much.
Jenn, his wife was here last week. She kept me company for a few days. Home to Fort Campbell yesterday, to start her middle school art teacher job tomorrow.

Melissa and Dave moved to Buffalo over two months ago. They love it, despite waking up Thursday morning to her two driver side tires removed, wheels and all, from her Cobalt. They even left the jack. Could have been worse....all four. The police said happens all the time. Sucks.
On a good note, she loves her teaching job in Buffalo! I'm very proud of her.

MRI on the foot this past week. The lump is still there.

I have learned:

1. I have good, caring friends. My art quilt group, in adopting Michael while on deployment, filled an entire box with goodies this week at our meeting. I received the second block for the quilt that I will put together for him once he's home from Elaine. Martha made last month's block. It is a way for me to count the months as they each make a block a month. I truly appreciate them.
2. My sister has enlisted help in getting Michael what he needs over there as well. Truly appreciated!
3. How to play Canasta. I love it. I want to play right now!
4. Cancelled cable. Too much negative, moron television on. Not worth time or money. Do have Netflix.
5. Love Doc Martin, a British show. Disappointed when I finished all of them. New episodes coming soon.