Using old stuff, good news and the wagon rescue

I believe it was last winter when I posted about this green piece of shirred fabric I rescued from a thrift store pillow sham cover.  It's alway easy to use a green and sure enough it is going to work with this RR block..  The miracle was that I knew exactly where it was! 

This piece is coming along nicelyI should be able to finish it up today when my  CQers are working.

Yesterday on the way home I stopped at the new  needle shop "Lovely Little Stitches" to show the owner some examples of crazy quilting and she was very enthusiastic and there are now two blocks on display and she'll have a sign up sheet ... hopefully we will get enough to start some classes..... I'm excited about it....

This is one of the pieces I left.... "The Rose."  I did this piece for my mother who nurtured and loved roses all her life.  The beautiful embroidered rose is an antique applique given to me by Cathy K. Lots of lace here and notice the "button nest" for the bird upper right..

Remember from last week the poor wagon buried in  overgrowth?

Well the shrub was severely pruned and the old wagon is again a focal point in the garden.

Another tune-up on an old RR Block.

I pulled this block from my UFOs because it doesn't need a whole lot to go from lovely to spectacular... Many times I may remove a little from a block but as a rule I always add a whole lot more....which will be the case with this block...  It was a Fabulous First Timer block and I was "mama" to this group.   It didn't mean the stitchers were novices, just that they were new members  to Crazy Quilt International...

You can see I have cleared a couple patches because the overall effect of this block is lacy and delicate and that is what I want to build on.  There's a lot of delicate seam work that I want to echo as well as something lacy in the bottom patch that picks up the color of the lace seam on the left. Also probably some lacy dragonflies in the upper center patch... and  I plan on adding many more pink buds to the vine on the right.  Also I'll stitch some white french knots to lighten the upper right corner.    There's gold beads in the frame and on the left so I'll add it somewhere else as well..  I'm having to stitch "on the road" tomorrow so since this piece involves a lot of french knots and no beading, it is perfect...

I'll be glad to get this block finished and bound with velvet.  I've always loved what Nicki Lee did with the frame on the silkie.  She couched satin cording around the image and then wove pink and green beads around the cording..  She finished two sides with beads and ribbon work...

She was first to work on this block and set the mood and colors for the block..  What is done by the first stitcher is so critical...

Had company for dinner yesterday and fixed Polynesian spare ribs in the slow cooker...(8 hrs)  When I chose my apron for the day I wasn't aware  I was going to be coordinated with the pineapple garnish..

One guest brought a fabulous polenta dish.  He had one layer of polenta, a layer of taleggio cheese, a layer of polenta, a layer of  gorgonzola cheese topped with another layer of polenta.  It was heaven.  He also brought homemade raspberry-lemon sherbet for which I made a huckleberry topping... yummy.

A little tweeking on "Crazily Cream" RR

As I mentioned in a previous post I am tired of working on black and white.  While not ready to take on a larger project I pulled an old (2008) RR  that I wanted to make a few changes...  I remember this RR well because I was spending 3 months with a cast on a broken leg.

We had a horrendous storm and DH was trying to get the truck out and was stuck...  I was pushing him and when it took traction he lunged away and I fell on the ice....leaving me on the ice with a badly broken leg...I had to crawl to the house.  The road had drifted over by the time he returned and he had to walk in.  We needed to be plowed out to get me  to the hospital..  Now when there is a big snow everyone chides him with "Don't run over your wife again."  I did a lot of stitching that winter....

I love this block but it has been on the shelf all that time so I want to get the changes made  before I add a border and do the finishing.  Repeating myself..."When a RR block comes home it is yours  and you should not feel guilty making changes that you feel are needed..". Likewise when you work on someone's block and send it off... let it go and don't fret if changes are made when it gets home.

Just a few things on this block... upper right the plastic heart was a harsh white.  I just used a little paint to soften and antique it.  Lower left  the flower basket had a very dark brown yarn woven into it.  It was easy to remove... Now the harder part... the brown bead trail upper center... I had planned to just remove it but the trail had been marked in pencil on the fabric so I will have to cover it with a "cream" bead trail... Bead trails and sequin flowers were the CQ rage that winter.. I hope you look at this block closely as there are lots of ideas here... The diagonal seam across the center was done by Jo N. in NZ... This block is an excellent example of RR teamwork.

Where do I get my ideas.....

Where do I get my ideas is a question I'm often asked...  Well it's usually more like "Where do you come up with this stuff."   When I started my art education eons ago one of the first thing required was starting an inspiration file... this was not only for inspiration but to help students define their likes and dislikes... their style...  I've added some ideas on making an inspiration file on Block Talk today.  Now 50 years later I have a large computer file of things that tickle my fancy..  It's hard to beat Google images for a sources.

But there are still a couple things from the old days that might surprise you..... one is children's books.  I have a large collection from my own children and from the years I taught school..   Also when I was the graphic artist for Spokane's library system I got to review all the new children's books from publishers..  What a treat that was....I love the simplicity, the whimsy and the graphic quality of the illustrations in children's books...  I never go to the library or bookstore without browsing the children's section.

I also used to use an old college text on Art Deco era... Again it's the simplicity and the graphic qualities of that era that I've always found inspiring... But that book is not used anymore and has been replaced by Japonisme.  This is a huge, heavy text of which I have hardly read a word.  Even still the pages are worn and riddled with page markers..  Every page exudes energy and is focused on the influence of  Japanese art on European art... the impressionists painters and eventually Art Nouveau and Art Deco.  To quote the book..."Artists were especially affected by the lack of perspective and shadow, the flat areas of strong color, the compositional freedom in placing the subject off-centre, with mostly a low diagonal axis to the background." 

Artists I've always admired who were greatly influenced include: Toulouse-Latrec, Cassatt, Degas, Renoir, Monet, van Gogh, Gauguin etc. 

I have found this book has greatly affected how I personally view and use space....  My mantra is always "Do more and keep it simple."  So now you know how I come up with all this stuff!!!  Below are some examples from this book.

Skunks and another GREAT treasure for dotage!!!

Since there is already snow in the foothills we have probably been spared the frequent autumn skunk trauma...  Skunks don't actually hibernate but they like to "den" up in a warm spot for the winter and they are usually a group of females together... And they are usually pregnant.  Years ago they had actually burrowed under our house before we realized what had happened and we had a heck of a time luring them out without them spraying scent.  Now every fall we are super alert to any sign of their presence,  Usually their odor is a dead giveaway but not always... so we are continually  checking for any sign of them tunneling under the house in the fall..

Here is my work so far on the block about Morris and the skunk trap... I'm working these "off block" and will applique them on later.   I'm posting it so you can see how I use guidelines when doing contours...

Now today my dear friend picked me up for a thrift store run... Our first clue of the success to come was getting  a "movie star" parking spot right next to the door...  Always a lucky omen for us... Sure enough I found this gorgeous 40" tall jewelry armoire that will be ideal to take to my dotage domicile for my stitching supplies... The sides open out also but I still have them tied while I figure out how to get it into the house...very heavy...  Not only did I get it for a song, there were two of them so my friend got one also... Her's was a different style and not as large but equally lovely and functional...

"Lovely Little Stitches"

We used to have a thread shop in Spokane proper but it was a good long drive for me...I use the term "thread store"  loosely here as it was actually a store for counted cross stitch.... But several years ago I approached the owner and showed her some of my crazy quilt blocks and asked if she would post them for a couple weeks... If anyone showed an interest I would gladly do a workshop for free...  She not only declined my offer, her exact words were "she couldn't possibly imagine any of her cross stitch customers being interested in crazy quilting.." Her focus was counted cross stitch, she wasn't interested in catering to any other form of needlework and she didn't want the bother of stocking inventory for other forms of needlework..  Since then she has gone out of business...

Now much to my delight we are not only getting a new needlework store (Lovely Little Stitches), it is only five miles from my house...The grand opening is this Saturday... I haven't been there yet but their internet shop shows they will eventually carry a nice variety of threads, beads, yarns etc... I'm sure they are also  focused  on counted cross stitch but I'm hoping that the owner will be open to at least thinking about crazy quilting... I do have my "CQers in training" coming to the house on Wednesdays but I would love to reach a larger audience and promote CQ locally.  I see she has stitchery samples hanging high on the walls and I think there is enough room for a couple pieces of CQ... Right?  I can always hope!

Have I mentioned I love photo editing.....

While I'm working on the November block for CQJP, I'm also looking forward to the Dec. block  on which I want  an image of Morris and me..  I have dozens of pictures of  DH and Morris but none I would want to use of Morris and myself.. Since DH has a propensity to cut off heads when he uses a camera I enlisted the help of a friend who came to dinner yesterday...

He took about a dozen pictures and in almost all of them Morris was moving his head.  I only found two of me that I wanted to think about using.. I loved this one of Morris so I moved him into one of the pictures I liked of myself.

I also moved Morris into the other picture of myself which I liked...the one on the left but the photographer had cut off the top of my head in this shot.  So I took the top of my head from another shot and added it on the right and cleaned up the background a bit...

Since Morris is handsome in both pictures, the final decision  will come down to me with "teeth showing or no teeth showing".  I prefer the one on the left but DH likes the one on the right. I've plenty of time to think about it as Nov. block is going slowly.

I hate to admit that DH might be right but at the moment the comments (+ emails)  are me (0) and DH (16)

Morris is a two-pillow dog - CQJP block No.11

Morris loves his creature comforts and pillows are at the top of his list... He is a Corgi so is a very long in the body...  He really needs two pillows to be comfortable..  But in a pinch he will make do with one..

Yesterday   I vacuumed the couch and I piled the pillows in the corner... Morris was there in a minute or less.  If I hadn't had this block almost complete I would have loved to use this photo....
Maybe I'll use it on the story cards that will go in the back of the book.

Anyway it's done and here it is without the peek tabs........... On a good day Morris tries to make do with five pillows... Of course he has his own pillow on my bed but he prefers mine...

And what it will look like with the peek tabs.

I've had little in the way of embroidered motifs on the last two pages but will make up for it one the next one... I had been mulling over this coming block for some time...

 The story is SO Morris but the only picture is not very good and it would be impossible to retake... But while working on my current block at Mom's therapy session a possible solution came to me and now I'm eager to start... I'm also going to make a slight departure from my ongoing color scheme.... in fact no other colors except the black and white on this coming block..

Big winds brought down the remaining plums on our four plum trees and deer and other critters  are eating non-stop...  It look similar under all the apple trees... The freezer is full of plums, I've made about a dozen plum tarts and cobblers, and given away plums to everyone I can... But our deer and other critters  will go into winter well fed...

Lost wagon found plus lovely surprise!!!

In 1984 I acquired this old wagon on the left and planted that small beauty bush next to it.. I fully intended it to be the focal point  and the beauty bush was to be a backdrop...  Well on the right you can see by 1998 the beauty bush was consuming the wagon (see arrow).  As years went by I had all but forgotten the wagon was even there...

But Thursday when we were cutting out plum trees which had self-seeded throughout that area I came upon the wagon and it immediately has gone to the top of my "to-do" list for rescue...

But as I came closer I made a remarkable discovery..  leaning against the wagon was an old leveling bar and a piece of decorative metal gate.  I must have put them there years ago with every intention of using them in a project but obviously had forgotten them all together.

Here it is leaning against the garage where I will mount it to support a newly planted clematis.  It is a handcrafted piece.  All the ends are either hammered and tapered or carefully folded.  Many sections are wrapped... Of course after this period of abandonment it is wonderfully crusted and rusted.  I have absolutely NO idea when and where I acquired it...but what a delight to find it.

And speaking of metal work be sure and stop by Block Talk and see how the black lace used by Rengin is reminiscent of wrought iron work of Victorian times...

Morris and the long runner...finished

As I mentioned when I started this block, one of Morris's favorite pastimes is to pull the 8' long kitchen runner into the living room...  Since Molly is terrified of walking on linoleum, having the runner removed takes away her lifeline to the door, water and the kitchen in general..  Moving this runner requires enormous effort and leaves Morris totally exhausted.  Besides the runner being heavy, he has to drag it the length of the kitchen, around a corner and through a door.

And what is under the peek-a-boo tab which says "Would I do that?"  Not only does Morris look guilty, he looks like he loves doing it...

 Remember those articles that say "101 things to do with vinegar"?  I feel like "101 things to do with black, white and jewel tones"?  I am definitely tired of this project and eager to go on to something else...

My helper and I finished the section of snow fencing where we get the worst drifts.  I ran out of the black snow fence and could only get orange to finish it.. Looks like we are decorating for Halloween... I should stick some pumpkins on the posts..

 You can see my neighbor plowing that day and every time he passed we were in a cloud of topsoil... All the way to the arrow  is our drive ...1/2 mile.... It is so delightfully quiet and peaceful at my house....except for an occasional plane (or neighbor plowing)  there is nary a sound....  I love it.

Hope you pop over to Block Talk and see Hideko's gorgeous block...

Fabulous Veggie Recipe

I was gathering recipes to send to the retreat ladies and thought I'd share this one.... On the first day I baked a ham and served roasted potatoes ..  Everyone wanted to know how I did the potatoes... And the secret is..................... this seasoning packet.

 I use either yukon gold or red potatoes - unpeeled - cut up, put in a plastic bag and add enough olive oil to coat and add this packet.....spread on foil in a shallow pan and roast at 400 degrees until tender... I'm not much into seasoning packets but I LOVE this one and not only use it on potatoes but other roasted veggies and fish as well...

My favorite veggie recipe for holidays and large groups is  a  mix  of butternut squash, peppers, carrots and onions all fixed the same way with the seasoning packet and roasted.. a real winner.....

Block Talk post.....

I'm finally back to posting on Block Talk and on Lorraine's dilemma I added ...............................

Another long neglected WIP

I have a limit to the number of  CQ projects I can be actively working on....  Over three and I seem to lose my direction and focus on all of them..... BUT I do like to have things "in the wings" so to speak, to mull over in the odd moments I'm needing to exercise my brain as well as my body... This piece is on the top of my WIP basket now. I was very excited about this block and can't remember why it has ended in the basket for almost three years.

This WIP was part of a 2010 challenge and had twelve VERY precise specifications it had to include..  The challenge was the brainchild of Cathy K.  I'd have to go back and check but among other things, it had to include: colors outside of our comfort zone, Asian theme, landscape, framing a silkie, layered seams, fans, paisleys, and birds etc.  The lovely turquoise fabric were sent to me by Nicki Lee as turquoise was not in my color palette at all.

I did have a rather vague plan which I see included a moon.  At one time I had something  in the sky which I took out. But I'm having to think about the rest.  I know I had visions of  ultra extravagant  peacocks tails  and it involved lots and lots of beading.  There are two peacocks bodies there...you have to look closely to see the one on the right. He will be sitting on that branch and his tail will hang down and "puddle" on the ground.   I had gotten as far as the stitched stumpwork rocks and also to the tree behind the pond which is partially completed  and then I stopped...I also remember doing a tutorial on the beaded fan by the silkie.

It is kinda fun being away from a project like this and seeing it with a fresh perspective... By NO stretch of the imagination will be this be a project to be carried about hither and yon....

Lace Cottage

Today I have an absolutely, totally delicious day all to myself and have tons of things I should be doing but have already spent about an hour playing with Lorraine's newest CQJP in photoshop...fun fun fun.. Since I will be focusing mainly on the Morris blocks and suffrage blocks, I needed a smaller block for a change of pace and lighter colors.. I went through my WIP basket and found two and I settled on "Lace Cottage."

I started this a couple years ago at least...maybe three.  I sketched the cottage on silk with black ink and put a light colored wash on with alcohol inks...  I had intended it for use on a bag but when I got to this point I could see that it would be entirely too fragile and stopped working on it.... The lace on the cottage wall was a fragment of very, very old lace...damaged but too exquisite to throw away.

It would be a good block to tote about because it is mostly french knots and could be done anywhere.....I always need a totable block because I spend so much of my days waiting for something or someone.  But I see a few design things to change right off... The door is too small and the walk is weird...it looks like a ramp to the front door (or maybe a long brown tongue)....both fixable.   Now I can see it as a wall hanging and doing the border in laces and pearls blocks would be a great CQJP project next year and a real change of pace...

I need to be doing non-moving tasks today as yesterday my helper was here and I overdid it.  My whole body aches today.   This section of our road is the worst in the winter because if we have a south wind AND snow, it drifts against the bushes about 3 to 4 feet deep.  So we're putting up  fence to support snow fencing and hopefully that will help....

Now that I've played on the computer another hour doing this post I REALLY have to do bills and paint buttons.  Tomorrow I will show you what my second choice for a WIP project was.....

And the Golden winners are.............

Nicki Lee and Judy in MS.....  send addresses please.

Something for my dotage!!!

The Morris blocks are perfect to carry around because they don't soil easily and they're relatively simple in design... BUT I'm always asked if they're going to be a quilt and when I say they're going to be a fabric book people just don't grasp the concept...  And if they do, they assume it's for a grandchild and then they are perplexed when I say it's for me to take when I go to a nursing home...  I lose them altogether at that point or they think I intend to read it to nursing home patients.  So I have a little card now  ...  and the text reads... 

"Without a doubt I’m approaching my dotage... the dreary decline to decrepitude and dementia.   I might even be deposited in a desolate domicile where I'll sit depressed and drool...

But if that’s my future, thankfully I shall have my book of Morris full of happy thoughts and memories.  And if I can't read it, someone can read it to me....".

On Dec. 23 last year I signed up for the QCJP and posted a tentative plan and at that time I thought I would attach the pages back to back in an accordion fold with a pocket in each for a narrative... Now that the end is in sight I'm thinking I will attach them with a spine and have one pocket on the last page for all the narratives.

At that time I immediately could think of enough themes for a dozen blocks and several left over...  Now that I'm down to the last 3 blocks I had to choose between six fun themes  left...  So I thought maybe I would carry over into next year with 3 more pages...  But right now I'm in no round robins, winter is coming, and there was no law which said I had to only do one block a month..  So for the next three months I'm doing two blocks a month so I can use them all AND finish at the end of the year.. One page I especially didn't want to leave out was "Morris and the Skunk Trap"  Then I can begin the new year getting back on track with my suffrage quilt.