A Little Peek at Some of My Quilts

During my time at the downtown studio today, I got the bright idea I'd give you a little peek at some of my quilts. I think you may have seen most, or even all, of these quilts at one time or other, but today I thought seeing just a 'snippet' of each might just tickle your fancy. So to speak.

These quilts are all hand-quilted. At least one is pieced. Some are appliqued. Some are crazy quilts. Some are embroidered. And, one is embroidered with silk ribbon. Some are a 'mixture.'
In this bunch....there are doll quilts, bed sized quilts, small, medium and large wall quilts. Some are beaded, but you may not see that part in these photos. One is really 'whole cloth' but looks pieced.

I've used cotton prints and solids, muslin, neckties and one of them was made with fabric from a relative's stash....the fabric as old as I am. Lots of DMC embroidery floss, cotton batting, and original patterns I have drawn over the years were used to create these quilts. No telling how many needles I've gone through. I used to quilt with a size twelve needle, but had to change to a nine as time passed by. I do needle-turn applique and use a size 10 Milliner's needle for that. I do hand embroidery. I love to write on quilts.

I haven't finished a quilt in two years or so. So much to do....so little time. I do have an appliqued quilt in the quilt closet that really needs to be quilted. It's a big one. Maybe I'll get to that this year. But, for today, it is fun to have a tiny look back at some quiltwork I've done. If you want to see more of any of them...just let me know....it doesn't bother me at all to show these quilts again.

And, look closely....on one you will see tiny embroidered hearts...remember, I will be showing you how to do those close to the end of February.

Hope you've enjoyed the 'peek' and that your 2012 is going well. take care, pat

Some Beautiful Flowers

You've heard me say, on this blog, that rainy days are my favorite days. They really are...I should probably be living where it rains a LOT. But, no, I'm here in Arkansas and today looks like one of those rainy days....only it's not raining. I think it has affected my 'mood' for the day...as I'm just not on top of the world at the moment. So....I came out to the Nest to try and cure that. I've ended up looking at some of the 20,000+ photos I have here in iPhoto. (Yeah...crazy!) Anyway, it turns out I'm in the mood for some colorful flowers today....so...I began looking through my photos to find some. These seem to fit the bill perfectly...here's the story:

A couple of months ago, one of the artists at our downtown studio, brought in some flowers. They were her birthday flowers, if I remember correctly. Well, they were just gorgeous and I took pictures of them. Aren't they beautiful? It's nice to see such beautiful flowers...even though these are just photos and not the real thing. Reminds me of this...."God gave us memory so we could have roses in winter." I don't know who actually said that...but I like the quote. And, I guess those memories we have (of everything we treasure) is what keeps us going on a gloomy day like today.

So, I hope these flowers bring you cheer, as they did for Cheri when she received them, and for me, now, as I remember them through my photos. ENJOY! pat

A Mixed Media Clipboard

Well, I intended to have my first post of 2012 posted much sooner than this....and here it is January 6th already. The first week of the year is just about over and here I am....behind on posting! Yesterday, in a conversation with friends, the subject of time passing by quickly came up. We all are just amazed at the speed with which our hours and days are flying by. So, I'll just say I'm sorry to be late....but I'm here now and that is about the best I can do. I know you are feeling the same way.

I don't know what year this photo was taken of my Mother-in-Law...I'm sure she is a very young girl in this photo. She's the one on the right. She told me once who the other girl is, one of her friends, as I remember. But, unfortunately, I didn't write her name down, and now I don't remember who she was. Aren't they cute? My MIL's name was Alleen. She lived to be 91. And she was very cute all her days! I really like this photo, so I made a copy to use for this crazy idea I had for a clipboard. Seems I am trying to think of how many different ways I can use papers and gel medium to make art. Who knew?

Anyway, I decided I had to feature Alleen and her friend on this clipboard. Now, naturally, after finishing this project...I have decided I can never clip papers on it as I don't want to cover the girls up, preferring to enjoy that one moment in their lives. So, I will hang it on the wall and consider it artwork and smile every time I see them. (I was inspired to make this by some clipboards I bought at our guild retreat...the idea of my friend, Shannon. I bought five of them and have them hanging in my little Nest right at this very moment and I love them dearly. I'll show them to you soon. I also have two others I've made...I'll show them to you soon too.)

At the top of the clipboard, I fastened a rose and leaf made from paper clay. They were fun to make and I'd like to do more with the clay. There's a bit of painter's canvas and some cheesecloth there too. I gessoed, then painted the whole clipboard, including the metal. I used scrapbook papers, paper napkins, text from old books, and, of course, that copy of the photo, a permanent pen to draw dots, and then gel medium to adhere everything. I do love that gel medium!!! I highlighted parts of the papers with oil pastels, and then put a couple of coats of gel medium over the whole clipboard. As you can see on the back...there is an edging of dots....I want to put a few flowers in there, but just haven't done it yet. You know, of course, because I've said it often...I never know when to quit!

And, you'll remember, that I love putting words on everything....so these were cut from one of my collection of old book pages. I can't say exactly what these mean as they were cut from two different pages....but they sounded really sweet and old-fashioned when put together and I thought Alleen would have liked them. If you can't make it out in the photo....the text says: 'the dew of their memory...in a midst of a flowery mead.'

So...there you are....another of my projects. I'll be showing you the others soon and you will let me know what you think of them....I'm always interested in what you think of my work...and I like to think I might inspire you to try something you've got on your mind but might need a little 'push' to get started. As I always say....I don't really know a thing about doing these projects, but challenge myself to TRY, so I hope you will do the same. It's FUN! Take care out there...see you soon. pat

PS. The green here is really a not so bright lime...looks darker here!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Well, here we are! 2011 has only a few hours left. I'm ready to look forward to a Happy New Year and I know you are too. As you can see, I must not be going 'out and about' to celebrate. No, the old navy man and I are in for the night. He's watching football and I'm out here in the Nest wishing the New Year in...well, not yet. I have to talk to you first! As soon as I press the Publish button on this blog post, I will join him. We'll be cheering at midnight, just as we always have....together! Well, that's a great start for a new year right there~~

I've chosen to show you some buttons. As I know many of you do...I collect them. No, I'm not the type of collector who sorts them into files and photographs each one and find the value of each, entering those numbers in a notebook. Not even close. I have buttons, as you can see, in all kinds of containers and I have FUN with them. I have plain ones, fancy ones, old ones and new ones. Some of the nicer buttons live in my old green 'button cabinet' which in reality is a vintage cardboard box with three segmented drawers in it. All the rest live in all kinds of containers in just about every room in the house and lots of them in the Nest. (Well, there aren't any in the kitchen right now, but there has been and probably will be again. And, there are some in the bathroom, but I forgot to take a picture of them earlier when I took these other photos.)

For some reason....well, mostly on a whim, I thought I could use buttons to celebrate tonight. I've no idea what that means about my mind....but you know me by now....so I know you 'get it.'

There is a compote full of buttons....it's there with my Happy New Year sign, made just moments ago. As you can tell, I spent no time on it....but thought I needed to include a sign wishing you a Happy New Year! I have an old toy pickup truck. One day I plunked some buttons down in the bed of the truck and there have been buttons in it ever since. They get changed once in a while.
There is a photo showing where that pickup 'lives.' It could be moved at any time...we just never know how long I'll leave something in one place, but for now....this is where it lives. Same for everything I've got, really. I have an old compote filled with buttons on my coffee table. You see it here with a vintage bowl with a bird sitting on the edge and a pink rose. Love it so.

There is a tray of buttons sitting on an antique oak chest in my living room. In that photo, you can also see buttons in the little glass cabinet. Some of my friends and relatives kinda think I'm a bit 'over-the-top,' but I don't concern myself with things like that. These all seem perfectly logical places to keep buttons if you ask me.

I've recently set up a workspace in the living room. No, there really is no room for it....it's crowded in there....but I'm sensing we might have a bad winter and on really cold days (and especially cold, frozen nights) I will not want to spend much time out here in the Nest and also will save that heating expense. So....in one of my photos you will see the work table. There are three glass containers there...vintage....holding an assortment of odd buttons. As you can see, there is room for MORE in those containers. Do you know what those containers were used for?
I thought they were old aquariums, but someone said they were used to hold batteries. I don't know, but I do know that I will put buttons in just about any container.

So....hope you've enjoyed the button 'tour' and later tonight when we are welcoming in the New Year, I will also be sending you good wishes for a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thank you so much for going through 2011 along with me and I hope to hear from you often as we make our way through 2012. You make my day!!! Stay safe, warm, cozy and HAPPY....hugs, pat

Blue Collage

Tonight I wanted to post something that had nothing to do with Christmas, the New Year, eating, presents, or the usual things we talk about this time of year. I wanted to just show something restful and not do a lot of talking. So......here are two collages I made week before last at the downtown studio. All I'm going to say about them is they were fun, didn't take a lifetime to make, were made from an assortment of paper napkins, some paint and two pieces leftover from our backyard fence. They were great fun to do and for some reason - ended up blue with a touch of green.....an unusual color combo from me, as my faves are red, pink, and green. I find them restful. Do you? (No, I didn't say 'boring'...I said restful.) Hope you enjoy seeing them and I'll see you later in the week....and I hope you get some well-deserved rest before the next busy weekend holiday coming up! stay warm, safe and cozy...pat