Quilt Sampler Update

As promised in my last post, here is "something about quilting." This is a small quilt approximately 24" square and one of my UFO's. For some time, I have meant to finish the quilting on this little "sampler." My original thought was to applique a quilt resembling a cross-stitch sampler. This is what I came up with. There is a cow, as we used to live out in the country and raised cows. There is a cat, because Ethel, our cat, allows us to live in his house. (Yes, Ethel IS a male...it's a long story!) There are birds because this is Bird Nest on the Ground! And, there are chickens...well, I am deathly afraid of them since I was attacked by a large rooster when a small child....I guess I'm trying to face the fear! It is a combination of applique and embroidery with yo-yos used as flowers. I made the alphabet using my own handwriting. The tree has an appliqued trunk and embroidered branches and leaves. I mixed the strands of DMC floss to help give the leaves some light and dark color. Notice that I quilt on a Grace Quilting frame...my favorite way to quilt. This frame was purchased when I received a commission from the Dept. of Arkansas Heritage to design and make a 10'x6' quilt for their office reception area. The quilt would never have been finished without this wonderful quilt frame. I love the quilting process and would have had this sampler finished long ago, if not for a couple little things such as eye surgery, a hysterectomy, and other things making the water a little rough around here. But, as happens if you are patient....the waters smooth out. So, with any luck at all, the quilt should be finished just in time for the guild quilt show this fall. Ya think??? Pat

A Good Week Wish Tonight...Stitching Later

It's Sunday night and I feel like I should post something......and it should be about quilting, embroidery, beading or all of those things, but I've nothing ready at this moment. So, I am sending you a "good week wish" and posting some gorgeous rose photos I took this a.m. while it was lightly raining. I promise there will be stitching shown here in the next few days...so please come back soon. Pat

My Red Clover Story

My friend Sharon and I both shared a love of red clover......anytime we were driving somewhere we'd always have to admire it and wish we had a camera to take some photos. For those of you who have no clue what red clover is......it grows in pastures and along the roads and highways here. When it blooms and covers large areas...it is just gorgeous! My husband and I used to raise cows and they loved to eat it....however, sometimes they would overdo it...not a good thing. (Sort of like people!) Red clover grows wild and Sharon and I saw it at it's best when we would drive to Paducah every spring...it would be so thick along the sides of the road. Sharon passed away last year, so this weekend, when I noticed that the red clover was blooming, I mentioned to my husband that I'd like to take some photos of the clover because, at some point, I want to make a quilt with dogwoods and red clover to remember Sharon. He left to go on some errands and was gone quite a while. Later, he came into the studio and said "Look what I brought home." He brought his hand from behind his back and showed me a handful of red clover, roots and all! He had driven down by the river to get a "sample" for me. He's a pretty good guy, don't you think? I immediately put the clover in a glass of water as it had already started to droop as you can see in these photos. I took some pictures, as best I could, then decided the clover might actually grow...so I planted it in one of the galvanized tubs I have planted some daisies in....doubting that it would live. The next day I looked and it had perked up considerably...who knew? If you look closely, you can see the dew on the leaves. I took that photo early this a.m. Sharon would get a good laugh out of all this for sure...and me, well, I'm remembering all those great drives we took! And, really, I don't have to make a quilt to remember her......who could forget? Pat

Knot Crazy Beaders/Quilters Monthly Meeting, April

Thought I'd show you all what goes on at a typical meeting of the Knot Crazy Beaders/Quilters group. A great bunch of folks who enjoy and learn from each other. We have a great time and hope you enjoy seeing some of what we do. Be sure to check out all the photos (there are a lot), plus my post describing this meeting. More to come in times ahead, I hope. Thanks for looking! Pat

More Photos of Crazy Beaders/Quilters

More photos of our monthly meeting. We all have different sized dining rooms, living rooms, etc., so sometimes we are cozier than shown here, but we like each other a LOT, so we always manage to have a great time!

Knot Crazy/Beaders Photos

Here are more photos......we certainly do have fun and learn a lot too!

Knot Crazy Beaders/Quilters Photos

Knot Crazy Beaders/Quilters

Of all the groups I have been involved with over the years, one of the most enjoyable has been the "Knot Crazy Beaders and Quilters." It all started on 9-11-01. Remember, we didn't know from one minute to the next what was happening, whether to try to drive anywhere or not, what was going on - we were in shock. Three of my friends and I made a decision that no one was going to tell us what we could do......so the first thing we did was start a new group, invited some other friends to join us and we started this "crazy beaders/quilters Knot. (Knot, because at the time, our quilt guild was forming satelite groups called Knots and crazy because some of us enjoy making crazy quilts). We have been meeting ever since. The core group has remained the same and even though some have left and our very best friend passed away....others have joined and we continue on in our very determined way. We meet once a month in each others' homes. Since we don't all live in the same town, it takes effort to meet and, nowadays...costly gasoline, but meet we must. This month we met in Little Rock at the home of our friend, Carol Ann. You will see her home in one of the photos.....her irises decided to bloom the day we met, how cool is that? We had one member absent, Sherry - missed you! And, we had one guest, Linda. We usually bring something to work on if we are so inclined, bring our own lunch, have a great Show and Tell, and talk, talk, talk. Looking at the photos, you will see Carol Ann and her long arm quilting machine and an example of her quilting (great!!) and two of her baskets made with strips of fabric on her sewing machine. Bibi showing her appliqued cupcake pillow, Kelley sewing on a quilt binding, Susan, her mom Jean and Mary Lou are knitting. Then, there's Jim, he is telling one of his "stories" and also showing a handmade book he received as a gift from a friend in Oklahoma. He also brought a box of buttons, a gift from another friend...he is always the one with the "mostest" at Show and Tell time. An example - he is also showing a needlepoint purse that I gave him. I found it at the flea market and as he collects needlepoint and petit point purses (among many other things) I thought he should have this one. In another photo, you will see a beaded purse he bought. It's fabulous! There is a close-up too. Sometime I will have to do a post on Jim and all his "stuff." Carol Ann also bought something...this really gorgeous bowl. She and I share a love of bowls...don't ask us why...we don't know. Keri is learning to bead from me and you will see her hand sewing the beads on an edging. We try to get a month's worth of talking/sharing/learning and catching up at each meeting. You see us all in the dining room, each talking at once. What fun we have!!! Next month, we meet here. Maybe I'll share more group photos then. Pat

End of Studio Tour

Here you have the last two photos of the studio tour. I should have begun with the last and ended with the first...but I am learning this blogging thing the hard way, it seems. At any rate, I hope you enjoyed seeing my Bird Nest on the Ground. Come back to see me sometime! Pat

Tour, Part 3

Here you will see more photos of the studio. I never know the order they will appear when posted, so I hope you get the general layout of the room from these photos. Not being a "real" photographer, the photos are what they are, hopefully good enough to do my little nest justice.

Tour, Part 2

Continuing with the studio tour, you will see my fabric "stash," all my junk which I consider my treasure, shelves of buttons, bangles and beads, the storage drawers which hide a multitude of sins and all my "ingredients," lots of books, my little "office," tables and chairs for friends or students, and my most favorite thing in here....the 4' x 8' table built especially for this studio by my husband, Richard. It is just the greatest work surface I could have and I love it dearly. There are eight light fixtures (four tubes each) with daylight bulbs here.......as I have some vision problems....it makes seeing so much easier, but I took these photos with all the lights off to cut down on the glare.