Contemplating 65

2016 was a tumultuous year.

I know; I know -- I write that knowing how trite that sounds on this second-last day of the year.  There were many high and low points for the globe, on which I won't elaborate; that's already been done by pundits, analysts, and most folks on Facebook.

The year held many blessings for me personally, and for my family.

In April, I sold my first large piece at the Lacombe Art Show and Sale

Edging Toward Spring (C) 2015

In May I travelled to Stratford, Ontario to see my first successful entry

into a major SAQA exhibit, My Corner of the World: Canada

and My Corner of the World: International

It's Still About the Sky (C) 2016

In July my son Marty married his lovely Chereena

The Alberta Blanks, July 23, 2016

In October, I had several of my 'minis' and many of my larger works

accepted into the beautiful space at Bonavista Fine Art in Sylvan Lake -- and several have been sold.

That same month, my first solo three-part installation opened

at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.  Up for a month, with a companion book, to date Mark on the Body has raised $456 for Canadian-based research and education about the nature, cause, treatment, cure and prevention of Type 1 Diabetes.

In September, I crossed into my 65th year.

How will I mark 2017?

I've been pondering a different approach to my work, involving more abstraction, "improv" and sampling of "Modern" quilting...both as artwork and utilitarian pieces.  This will influence my minis and my 15 x 15 Group contributions.

I have a hand-stitch project underway, with the working title, "I Shall Wear Purple".

I want to do some serious practicing with my spinning wheel, my embellisher and my "new" treadle sewing machine.

I'm celebrating my 65th Birthday with two trips: first as part of a panel for SAQA Western Canada's first-ever Regional Retreat in Kelowna, B.C., in early May; and second, on a quilting tour to Scotland with friend and SAQA colleague, Mary Wilton, in September.  We are taking sketchbooks and supplies to record what entrances us...with plans for new work inspired by the trip.

Of course, there will always be knitting, making for others, a bit of making pour moi, and the ongoing blessing of relationships inside and outside this blog.

Linking this to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday, and wishing you all a

Happy New Year, Gentle Readers!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo,

for auld lang syne,

we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

- Robert Burns, poet

In the Middle

My creative focus for the past while, as you know, has been the JTQ (Japanese Taupe Quilt), also known as the WQ (Wedding Quilt)...and the wedding is now only four weeks away...!!

The quilt is being constructed in sections, quilt-as-you-go, which is reassuring because each time a section is finished, I can remind myself that it really is -- finished, that is -- because the quilting is done.  That's a relief when one's on a deadline that's looming ever nearer!

So.  There are four square 'corner' sections, each measuring 45" square (finished) -- here's a sample:

Section 1 (as in first one I made)
 - before quilting

Three of the four of these are now completely finished; the fourth is sandwiched for quilting.

The top and bottom two square sections will be joined together with pieced and appliqued mid-sections that are 18" W x 45" L (finished):

One mid-section, sandwiched for quilting

First two mid-sections, assembled

Both of these are now quilted -- the pieced sections by machine and the applique blocks, by hand:

Quilting motif close up

One of the applique blocks, quilted

The last part of this project involves attaching those mid-sections to their respective corner sections, creating a "three-patch" top and bottom section.  I still have 12 pieced blocks to cut out and assemble for this bit...

These will be joined by a long middle piece that consists of two more of these 'mid-sections' (pieced and appliqued), and an 18" square centre block:

18" square (finished) centre block

I apologize for the poor quality of that photo -- it was taken over 2 years ago, and I had trouble getting the lighting right.  :-(

While all of the blocks I'm using for this piece come from Sue Briscoe's Japanese Taupe Quilts, the layout and quilting have been of my own creation.  Once again I've been reminded of the challenge of quilt design -- that it's not any easier creating a bed quilt from scratch, mainly from stash fabric, without a pattern, than it is designing a landscape. :-)

So...I'm off to do some piecing...leaving you linked from here to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday.   This week she contemplates picking up where one leaves off...which is what I'll be doing with my next 15 x 15 Group piece...after the wedding!

Pinch Me!

The past week has been (insert favourite excitement laden adjective here).  I confess I am at a bit of a loss as to how to describe it.  Exciting?  Surprising?  Glorious?  Remarkable?  Fantastic?  Encouraging?  Thrilling?  Joyous?

Perhaps I should just roll all those descriptors into one:

SUPERCALIFRAGELISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

Let's start with last Wednesday, shall we?

That day I had lunch with Maureen MacKenzie of the City of Lacombe, and two of her colleagues on the Art Collection Committee...and ended up with a venue booking for Mark on the Body -- which will hang at the Lacombe Memorial Centre Gallery from October 20 through November 17...including an Opening Reception set for October 26 (time to be determined)...and press...and etc.
Stay tuned to the MOB blog for details!

Through Facebook I made a connection with the local Fundraising and Development Coordinator for the Central Alberta chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)...and we'll be chatting next week about the Project.  Meanwhile, I've done up some kits for stitching MOB II squares, and have permission to give them out at the meet-and-greet in Stratford, to anyone who might be interested...

MOB II Kits

I'm not particularly adept at shameless self-promotion...but I'm learning, and willing to keep trying, as this project means a great deal not only to me, but (I hope) to everyone touched by Type 1 Diabetes.  There is a good deal of misunderstanding about this type of diabetes, which is distinctly different from the much-more-prevalent Type 2...and it is my hope this project will help not only with much needed funding for research into a cure, but also with educating the general public.

On Sunday I travelled to Edmonton to see my kids, and to attend a shower for sweet Chereena, my son's fiancee.  I got the Grand Tour of their new rental -- a condo apartment that is absolutely lovely!  -- met my newest grand-cat, Yami, and then drove off to the shower with my daughter, Gina.

There was a buffet of amazing food -- and the obligatory shower game.  For this one, the guest were divided into teams of four to create the perfect wedding gown and slippers for Chereena's big day -- out of newsprint!

Then came the gift opening -- during which our lovely bride-to-be received a multitude of fabulous kitchen and bath items, and gift cards to add to those items on a shopping trip or two with her DH-to-be.   I had two gifts for her: one for her up-coming graduation from U of Alberta, and one for the shower.

The first, the shawl, was definitely a success:

"MoMarg, I think I'm going to cry!"

As were the chickens!

The looks on her face were enough to fill my heart for a good long time.  

On the way home, I delivered my Fort McMurray quilt tops to Tara at Trinity Quilts in southwest Edmonton.  She gave me a tour of her studio; I was very impressed by her fine quilting -- both over-all and customized designs.  What a blessing that Beaver Creek Mercantile of Caroline, AB, donated a bolt of batting to help Tara get all the donated tops quilted so they can be sent where they're needed!

The rest of this week has been spent Getting Things Done so that I can leave tomorrow for Stratford* with a clear conscience: everything from laundry to mowing the lawn to cleaning the cat box, to doing the dishes, to actually quilting...!

My 15 x 15 Group piece is finished -- except for the accompanying Artist's Statement -- as the "Reveal" for the "Circles" theme is only ten days away.  Here's a hint... ;-)

The collection of my work at Gracie D's Antiques, Collectibles and Giftware has been changed over to minis with a 'summer' feel, just in time for the Victoria Day weekend activities.  Gracie will be open extra hours, so I hope something will sell!

Now about Stratford (Ontario): the twin exhibits for SAQA's "My Corner of the World" -- the International and the All-Canadian -- open there this weekend at the Stratford Perth Museum.  I am so excited about joining many of the other artists and the SAQA President, Lisa Ellis, as well as Micaela Fitzsimmons and Bethany Garner, the curators, for the Opening Reception and SAQA "Meet-and-Greet" to follow, that I could probably fly there without much help from Air Canada!

It's Still About the Sky
(C) 2016

Before I go, I'm linking this up to WIP Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network...hoping you pop over there to see what other Canadian stitchers are up to...and wishing you a wonderful Victoria Day weekend!

I Meant to Post This Earlier...

Except for a couple of stubborn drifts in shaded areas (like close to my front steps which are on the north side of my house), our snow is pretty much gone here.  That may not last -- it's 60% POP for snow on Monday, and we're still getting some pretty chilly days and downright cold nights -- but essentially, with my tulips popping up, it's Spring here.

Cedar Wax-wing

A week ago, I decided that if I was going to do any snow-dyeing at all this winter, I had to do it then.  I found a drift of clean (as in not covered by berries, twigs and leaves left from a wax-wing party) snow, and dug in.  This was Very Old Snow, and so very crystalline.

  

Dye-covered
Very Old Snow

I'd prepared the basin with an old baking rack on the bottom (to prevent pooling), on top of which I'd laid three scrunched up fabrics: one printed white-on-white with snowflakes; one plain cotton sheeting; and one poly-cotton blend scrap.  I piled the snow on top, and sprinkled on MX dye powder (from Dharma Trading) in 'Sky Blue' and 'Turquoise' -- mostly the former.

I brought it into the house, placed it on top of my washing machine and closed the sliding door to keep Miss Pookie out.  :-)

Then I forgot about it till later in the evening.

There was still quite a bit of V.O.S. left, but I could tell from the sloshing on the bottom of the tub that it was time to clear it out.

I emptied the V.O.S. into the sink and washed it away.  I then did something I've never done before:

1. I didn't rinse the fabric.  
2. I put the fabric into my washing machine, and poured in the dregs on top of it.
3. I set the machine for a small load on the "Hot/Cold" -- which is the hottest setting it has.
4. I set the machine for a short wash cycle - 8 mins. at most before spins and rinses.
5. I put in a measure of Synthrapol, according to the directions on the bottom, and let it go.

Wash cycle completed, I through the fabric into the dryer...and ended up with this trio:

Top to bottom:
the snowflake white-on-white print;
the poly-cotton blend; and
the 100% cotton sheeting remnant.

I'm thrilled!  

While I usually go for a more 'serendipitous' look for skies, I can use this quite well...and love the way it evened out because I left it so long under the snow, and then did the washing machine routine.

I was fascinated by the snowflake fabric, as the print, essentially 'stamped' on top of the fabric, acted as a resist.  I find I can use on both front and back:

(L) Front; and (R) back.

I think I prefer the back, though!

On other fronts...

I've had 2 volunteer knitters for the MOB Project: Part III, for which I am very thankful.  I am nearly finished my first contribution to that part of the project.  One of the knitters is making her second contribution to MOB: Part II as well.  Such support is so helpful at this stage, over 2 1/2 years into the Project.

I'm plugging away at the Japanese-style Taupe Quilt...I will start the machine quilting of Section 2 this weekend.

Marty and Chereena's wedding invitation arrived last week:

I found myself digging into my stash...and starting a purple silk shawl.

I may not finish it in time, but I'm giving it a good try...

Pattern: Seashells on the Sand
free on Ravelry, written by Anna Yamamoto
Yarn: Hand Maiden Fine Yarn - Sea Silk 
(a Canadian company :-) ) in "Purples" colour-way

Linking this up to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and getting out the door to take 4 pieces to Red Deer, where they're to be hung in the Central Alberta Quilt Show (April 1-2)...

Have a great weekend!