Times Flies

Today I was messing around with paint and pens and discovered that my thoughts about time seemed to be showing up on the paper.  Recently someone I know died way too young, I've been trying to catch up with a backlog at work, had to be on interminable hold taking care of unavoidable personal business, losing track of time while reading or watching television, enjoying relaxing, unstructured days off from work,  and pondering what I'd like to accomplish in the new year. Too little, too much, rarely does time seem just right to me lately.

PIQF 2011

Our fiber arts group, Fibervision, had an exhibition at Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California over this past weekend.  This is a picture of my piece, Filtered Light.  I took a picture in the redwood forest at the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve in the Santa Cruz mountains last October when Jim and I were hiking in that area.  The quilt is meant to celebrate when the sun broke through the overcast and, as the light filtered through the trees and warmed them, allowed the release of the magnificent balsam odor which is a signature of redwood forests.  I am very pleased with this piece and overheard lots of positive feedback from viewers at the show.

New Views II

Today was the ingathering of the pieces that will be in Fibervision's latest exhibit, New Views II, at the Cabrillo Pavillion Arts Center beginning tomorrow. We've got 60 pieces, almost all of it new work waiting to make its debut. Hope you can join us this Thursday, September 29th, from 5:30 to 7:30pm for the artist's reception.

Progress on Baby Trips Around the World

Last month I posted a photo of the fabrics I am using to make this quilt for my grand-nephew. Today I spent a lazy Labor Day reading magazines, watching an old movie (Above Suspicion with Joan Crawford and Fred McMurray) and sewing a bit on this quilt. All the "blocks" are finished, it is just a matter of sewing them all to each other now and this is the first complete round. It is one busy quilt!

If I had to do it over again I think I would have paid more attention to the value changes and less attention to the prints on the fabric.

September Paper

Lately I have been drawn to playing with paper and paint, perhaps doing some collage. I have also been thinking about my next quilt and using some kind of repeating circles and/or scallop shapes. So, I pulled out some paper, paints, bubble wrap, stamps and a purple marking pen and made this background. I may do some writing and collage on this paper version at some point, but will definitely do some sketching, planning, and fabric auditions based on this background tomorrow.

On The Fence

Photo of the Day

Lavender & Tree

Photo of the Day

Something about this tree with the lavender growing around the bottom of it really appeals to me, but haven't been able to figure out why. I'm sure it has something to do with the juxtaposition of lines. Thanks, Pammy Jane!