I adopted 2 new kitties a couple of weeks ago. My senior cat is not impressed...so she's pictured here taking an early morning moment to pray about her predicament!
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| Morning Prayer (c) 2023 12" x 12" with hanging sleeve. |
The Annual SAQA Benefit Auction kicks off tomorrow at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (noon here in the Mountain Time Zone). September 14, 2023 is 'Diamond Day', when ALL pieces will be available for $1.000 each.
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| "Morning Prayer" (c) 2023 12" x 12" Commercial and self-dyed fabrics Fused raw-edge applique, machine quilted |
May is slipping through my fingers, and I can't seem to hold onto it. That's probably a Good Thing, though, because it's been three weeks of very dry, very cold, sometimes snowy and at least one (good) day -- yesterday -- rainy. Just enough to frustrate the 'Gardener' in me and delight the 'Stitcher'. Sheesh!
So...what have I been doing while waiting for Spring to actually arrive?
Outdoors...
I've managed to baby a few tulips into blooming. I've planted some seeds in my raised beds -- ones that don't mind the cold (lettuce, mixed greens, dill, zucchini, carrots) -- and some in those two 'wildflower islands' I talked about last year. Under the big willow I transplanted daisies and yarrow -- and they survived the winter! I also planted some narcissus (deer don't like 'em) -- and they're coming up. No blooms, yet, but no matter. I'm just glad they made it!
I've removed the burlap from my baby apple trees and they're putting out leaves. The Parkland looks like it might even produce some blossoms, and where there are apple blossoms, can apples be far behind?
I set up a mini green-house over the herbs (thyme and oregano) and greens, to protect them from both the cold and the deer, and they seem to be happy. I think I'll get another one of these to protect my carrots when they start to come up. 😊
The wee Sasaktoon bushes are leafing out, and show signs of growth and spread, which is another Good Thing.
I've mowed the East Lawn and might get to the West Side tomorrow -- if it warms up and stops blowing!
Indoors...
There's much more going on. Lemme see...where did I leave you a couple or three weeks ago?!
1. "Hearts of Hope" -- well now! All seven rows of seven blocks are together, and I've begun to add borders.
The inner border is "the called for" -- 1" finished -- but not the next one. I didn't have enough blue to make strings for a cross-cut pieced border. What I do have is 98 half-square triangle (HST) blocks that I constructed when I was trimming the yellow heart shapes. I dug out one of my last suitable (i.e. large enough) pieces of "blue" fabric -- geometric blue-and-white -- cut squares to match et voila! A border is born! I'll put the same on the other sides -- with solid royal blue cornerstones to make it "pop". It should probably still have another border to make it large enough; I'll cross that bridge when I come to it! 😉
2. Cross stitch continues to hold me in its thrall. In fact, it's taken hold so firmly that I was inspired to create a few project bags to accomodate it.
Now then. Those of you who know me, know that I "don't do fiddly" -- or at least, I do it only under protest, and then I don't do it well. On the other hand, I had these linens and "samples" that needed homes...weren't being used...shouldn't end up in the landfill. And I wanted nicer packages for my stitching projects.
What to do? Suck it up and make project bags!!
I started simple: take an old linen 'hand towel', an old linen napkin, a bit of batting, some ribbon and a button. Hearken back to six years of Home Ec and what you know about Putting Things Together...et voila!
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| Finished Project 'Envelope' |
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| Damask lining -- a recycled napkin |
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| What's in the pockets? |
I liked it so much, I thought I'd try my hand with two more.
First...(drum roll, please!) one with a zipper! Note: I've not put a zipper in anything for decades -- since I left garment sewing behind to follow the siren song of quilting. And I'd certainly not tried out the zipper foot on my current sewing machine -- bought a mere 3 1/2 years ago! But I had this odd piece of "art" created in a Craftsy class with my favourite teacher, Joe (the Quilter) Cunningham. I don't even have a photo of it from when I made it in that class -- but it's composed of two colours: deep purple and knock-your-eye-out yellow. It wasn't going anywhere...till it became THIS:
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| Front - with 14" zipper |
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| Back |
But...folded and quilted and stitched into a 'project envelope'? It has new life, new purpose!
Meanwhile, the purple one travelled with me this past weekend to Edmonton, and handily housed my "House of Cooking" cross-stitch piece, the zip-lock bag of floss, my scissors, my magnetic board, folding stand and magnets to hold the pattern, the pattern itself (of course!), the project in a 7" hoop (it could have accommodated a 9" one) and my clip-on magnifying glass. What's not to like?!
I've made good progress on that piece (sorry, no photo -- birthday gift for a friend who's an Occasional Reader of this blog!)...and on others since my last post.
On May 1 I made a tiny start on Jeannette Douglas' mini-bouquet for the month, having added to the horizontal border between the first and second rows:
I've not got back to it since, being preoccupied with "House of Cooking" -- and with the other May start: Ruth Gibb (1866) from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. I started it on Mother's Day because -- you may recall -- "Gibb" was my mother's mother's maiden name. It's a pretty piece and an easy stitch -- if you can get the border right! (Yes, I did. I paid attention to the note that points out the replicated 'error' in that border, made by Ruth at age 11.) I've set it aside for a bit ("House", remember?) but will definitely stitch it again on June 8, my mother Ruth's birthday (she'd be 106 this year)...
Part of my time in the past few weeks was taken up with the wonderful SAQA Conference, an annual event organized by SAQA and a 'local' committee -- this year, working out of St. Petersburg, Florida. It was to have been in person, but changed to 100% virtual at the last moment -- and so many more of us were able to attend.
Now, Gentle Readers, I've mentioned before how I'm prone to Zoom Fatigue -- as I know many of you are, too. But this was so very well done! It was stretched out over 10 days, with many sessions recorded, so that if there were concurrent ones you could go back and watch them later, and you didn't have to be up at 2 a.m. to watch everything in real time (depending on your time zone).
I skipped several sessions to work in the yard and take a break, but always enjoyed the ones I did "on schedule". The "Coffee and Cocktails" (with a nod to time zones!) were delightful (if too short!) break out sessions. There were meet-ups organized for special interests -- and I took in one on working with rusted fabric (which I love to do), that was great fun.
I've gone back to watch at least one keynote over again, and here's the best part -- I have until the end of July to re-watch any of the recorded sessions that I want. Lovely!
During the sessions I worked on my knitting or hand-stitch as I listened and made notes.
I met new people and connected with old friends -- and extracted promises from many that it would be "next year in Toronto" -- in person -- for all of us!
My wee SAQA Auction piece sold...and I was outbid on the ones I wanted, but that's okay. That was a fun thing too.
And yes! Like all good conferences, there were goodie bags! Mine arrived in the mail yesterday...
Perfect!
To end this "All SAQA, all the time" segment...well...there's another fund-raiser coming in the fall: the Annual Benefit Auction. I've donated almost annually since 2008 and have had all but 3 of my contributions (thus far) find new homes -- and bring funds into SAQA for promoting the art quilt and its exhibits.
The last couple of years (as you know) I've been low on art-making mojo. My 2021 contribution (made a bit earlier) didn't sell, and it's back here at home. I had no fresh ideas for 2022...but as you might recall, I had this stack of green fabrics...and a vague idea:
One thing a conference with like-minded colleagues will do, is provide energy and motivation. After the conference ended, I went into the studio and made this:
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| Prairie Spring II - 12" x 12" Assorted self-dyed and commercial fabric Machine pieced and quilted, faced; hanging sleeve. |
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| Prairie Spring II - detail |
Of course, through all of this there's been knitting. It's how I begin each day: coffee, Morning Pages (journal), knitting to the news.
I'm attempting Socks from Stash (yet again) and making a bit more headway, as I'm on the foot of the first sock. Here's the start, but of course I'm 'way past that now:
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| Pattern: "Grandma's Socks" Designer: Amanda Bourke |
I finished the "Dissent for Ukraine" cowl -- using the 'Dissent Cowl' pattern from Carissa Browning on Ravelry, and the yarn combo (fundraiser) from Fleece Artist in Nova Scotia. It's very cozy and even though these aren't colours I usually wear, I just might keep it:
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| From the front, lining folded inside |
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| From the side |
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| On my rather short neck! |
What's a 'hap'?! Well, 'hap' as a verb is Scots Gaelic for warmth -- and "a hap" (as a noun) is a large shawl -- square (to be folded) or triangular, with a lace border, often featuring a "shell" or "auld shale" striped pattern.
I made a one-colour hap some years ago, using a pattern designed by Sidna Farley for Knitter's Magazine -- and it's been a faithful companion, especially on frosty winter mornings:
Yarn: Harris Tweed Textiles Shetland 4-ply'
Colour-way: #14 (Brown -- but it has red overtones)
My new hap is the Hemu, and has a main colour and a striped border. Though the pattern calls for four colours -- a main one and three others -- I've decided to use only three, two of which are yarns from sheep raised here in Alberta, and one from a yarn shop in Edinburgh, made by a company with my family name (Rennie).
My progress is slow, but I'm nearly finished the main body of my chosen pattern. Again, the photo shows the early days; I'm much farther along now.
And then...there are a couple of new starts. I made a "Millie" pullover some time back, and decided I wanted a spring/summer version, so cast this on a couple of weeks ago. I'm now well along the increases for the raglan sleeves:
And just today, watching the Woolly Thistle YouTube, and seeing them talk about a new unspun yarn in their shop, I got to thinking about the Noro Rainbow Rolls I'd bought back when The Crafty Lady had her brick-and-mortar store. I got them for needle-felting but, truth be told, there's far more yarn there than I could ever use for the occasional art piece. I've thought about spinning with it (and I might, yet) but...today I found a pattern for a simple shawl with it, and cast on. So far, so good, so stay tuned for photos!
It's all designed to keep me sane in these challenging times -- and so far, so good.
I'll close with my usual connection to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday, and wish everyone a great weekend. Here in Canada it's the "May Long" -- i.e., the Victoria Day Weekend -- a time to relax, plant gardens (weather permitting), have family gatherings (pandemics permitting) and so forth.
Whatever you're up to in the next few days, stay safe, be well, and take time to stitch!
Trees
Joyce Kilmer - 1886-1918
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
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| March Trees (c) 2019 |
I did -- and though I don't remember exactly when, I'm thinking it's got to have been close to sixty years ago now. (How did my childhood become that long ago?! Sheesh!)
But I digress.
I just know that for as long as I can remember, I've loved trees, walking in woods, sitting in a sunny grove...And when I create my landscapes, there are often trees included -- even if they're in the background.
Now then. This year's SAQA Benefit Auction begins a month from today -- and every year members are asked to create a "Dream Collection" and share it online. Last year, I wrote about the pieces I'd purchase "If Money Were No Object" -- work contributed by some of the 'big names' in the studio art quilt genre. This year...I was taken by the pieces with a focus on trees -- hence the poem, the memories and these pieces, which I think show trees in an assortment of shapes, sizes, colours and settings. I hope you enjoy it!
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| Mel Beach - Dancing Leaves of Joy |
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| Annette Boncek - Finding Peace in Nature |
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| Libby Cerullo - Sisters |
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| Ethelda Ellis Erasmus - Bluebells in Corrig Wood |
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| Ann Flaherty - Cathedrale Naturelle |
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| Cat Larrea - Solitude |
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| Annie Smith - Moment of Serenity |
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| Gay Young - Treescape |
What about you? To preview all the Benefit Auction contributions and to create your own "Dream Collection" -- maybe even make note so you can put in a bid! -- visit the Auction Preview HERE.
One of the reasons -- at least for me -- that the weeks have flown by thus far this month, is that I've been busy.
"Busy" is valued in our culture, though it's often used as an excuse to not do things one doesn't really want to do. But this month, this year, the last couple of weeks, I really have managed to fill my days -- and happily, for the most part. And being 'busy' has gone a long way to keeping the 'demons' at bay -- the Blues, that is. Those little blue critters that want to sit on your shoulder and whisper Ugly Nothings into your ear every time you try to go to sleep, or sit quietly with a good book, or as you go to answer the phone.
I decided to flip through my calendar and share with you some of my "busy-ness" since my last full update:
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| View from the Train Mary Wilton - 2020 |
Then the hands-on exercises began. For the first one, Joe had us create a grid using two fabrics -- one for the focus and one for the 'grid' (sashing). The key was that the sashing strips attached to the blocks had to be in the shape of an "L" -- on the top (or bottom) and along one side (whichever side you wanted). I put strips on the top of each square of fabric, but changed up the sides.
I've added outer borders to mine to make it a bit larger, as I've decided it will be quilted up and given away to a local youth centre for its new moms program. The fabric is a poly-cotton (the orange) and a cotton. The latter is left over from years ago, when I made my daughter a pair of pyjama pants one Christmas, while the poly-cotton was given me some years back by my late friend, Joan, and is left from making other charity quilts (the was a large chunk of it!)
The next exercise? Joe illustrated how he inserts grids into his artwork without disturbing the original lay-out of the piece. Here's my sample -- a small block. And yes, there is a bit of "interference" with the original lay-out...can you tell where?
The final exercise: make a 24" (or so) square out of 3 to 5 pieces of fabric (some can be the same fabric, just in pieces). Cut the fabrics free-hand, assemble with sashing -- either as an "L", as in the first exercise, or by inserting strips, as in the second. Here's what I ended up with -- approximately 23" square once I added the outer strips and a pieced border:
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"Is it a cushion cover?" |
Yes, actually, it is!
In addition to this roster, there have been sunny days when I've been out in the yard and garden. I've now put up a second raised bed to match the first. I've transplanted a wild rose that sprouted up near one corner of my house, out in the lawn, just doing its thing, to a spot where I hope it will add beauty to a grove of shrubs -- lilac and honesuckle. I've split out my irises and agapanthus (again!) and transplanted those bulbs to the edge of that grove too, adding some new bulbs -- croci and daffodils -- that I hope will show up in the spring.
And on the rainy days? More quilting, of course! I finally finished the "Unity" Sewing-in-Place top from Bonnie Hunter, which I've entitled "Star Crazy!" The wide backing I ordered for it is on its way to me, so I should be able to get it to the long-armer sometime later this week. Meanwhile, I had it outside on a sunny day for its photos -- Pookie-approved, of course!
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Miss Pookie approves! |
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"I think I'll just stay here, okay, Mom?" |
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Some of the starry details |
This week, I also finished the second of my "Chaos" pieces -- 12" x 30" mounted on painted stretched canvas. I started these some months ago, and stalled...just part of the 'chaos' that COVID has wreaked in my world. Here is the pair, which I hope to have framed in plain black 'floaters' (as usual):
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Coping with Chaos (C) 2020 |
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Sometimes You Can Cope, Sometimes You Can't (C) 2020 |
I've some ideas for additions to this 'series', in assorted sizes, but nothing under construction at the moment. My creative 'mojo' remains a little shakey...but it will return...I hope!
The two balls of Queensland "Perth" are the birthday gifts -- "Tasmanian Bay" colour way on the left; "Royal Blubell" on the right. (Yes, that's how the 'blubell' is spelled by the manufacturer!) That one will be paired with the absolutely delicious lace-weight blend -- "Ekiko" -- 74% baby suri alpaca, 26% mulberry silk, in the "Dragon's Egg" colour-way from Dragon Strings -- for a Christmas gift.
The pink-purple skein on the left is fingering-weight superwash merino and silk (50-50) in the "Crushing It" (as in grapes!) colour-way from Numana Yarns. It may or may not be combined with the "Tasmanian Bay" on the upper left. I'm thinking each of those will have its own project...pour moi! 😊
And so, Gentle Readers, it's time to close this out and think about a walk on this fine morning -- the last day before the Autumn Equinox arrives for 2020. There was a brisk wind most of yesterday, that has blown away the smoke that travelled all the way up here from the fires in the US' Pacific Northwest. I only hope those of you who live there are safe and well, and that the weather is turning so that the fires can be quenched.
There are branches to prune and flowers to gather, and more of the garden to put to bed. There's quilting to do and knitting to start for Christmas...and blues to chase away!
And for those of you watching the 2020 SAQA Benefit Auction...Section 2 is open for bids today. Section 3 -- where you'll find my contribution -- opens a week from now. Bid if you can, so that art quilts can continue to be exhibited around the globe. And if you can't, just pop on over and enjoy the eye candy, eh? 😉
Leavning you with my late-as-usual link to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and a wish for a Good Week, all autumnal reds and golds, or spring-time fresh greens, wherever you are. Thanks for reading!
That's the title of my "Dream Collection" for the 2020 SAQA Benefit Auction, which starts online on September 11 and runs into October this year. There are just shy of 500 pieces of 12" square artworks "on the block" this year -- and if money were no object, I'd bring home even more than the eight I've selected! Never mind the fact that besides loonies and twonies being in smaller supply this year, with art shows and sales cancelled, I have precious little wall space in my wee haven! I'd have to start rotating pieces like they do in galleries and museums!
Some of my selection have been created by people I've met -- either in person or on line -- who are not only colleagues but also friends. Others are by 'big names' in the studio art quilt world, whose work I admire and whom I'd love to meet one day.
With a limit of 8 per "Dream Collection", it was a challenge to pick and choose, but for this year, "If Money Were No Object", I'd want to bring these home...
| Deborah Boschert Across and Through |
| Judith Content Seeing Red, Feeling Blue |
| Karen Hansen La La Land |
| Bev Haring Autumn Grasses |
| Jayne Himsl It Dawned on Me |
| Katie Masopust Puzzle |
| Holly McLean Nostalgia in the Time of Quarantine |
| Sarah Ann Smith Under Northern Stars |
An eclectic collection indeed -- but each and every one of these pieces make me smile! I hope you'll tune in to the Benefit Auction this year. You have to create an "account" and ensure your encrypted credit card information is on file if you intend to purchase anything. But even if you don't, you can peruse the art and create a "favourites" file...just in case... 😉
It's first come, first served when the auction opens each day, which makes it so much fun. AND it's a 'declining' auction, which means the prices drop over time. It's a race to see who can get the piece(s) they want at the best price! 😊 Check THIS LINK for all the information you need to know, to get in on the fun.
I'm linking this to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and wishing you a great week. "See you" at the Auction!
Also linking to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network...
