Quilting Earth Mama

Leaves made with scraps? I think, yes!

2012-02-20T11:18:00.002-05:00

I've started adding leaves. Everything is fused thus far with wonder under.

If you notice in the picture below the template is lifted back. I have pinned it to the quilt and I am lifting it when I iron a leaf or apple down, but using it to help me get the leaves in the right place. The template is on stencil paper I picked up from the local art supply store. It comes on a roll and is quite larger than stencil paper that comes in drawing or sketching books. Because it is bigger I find myself taping sections together less often. (For me, this is a big time saver and makes working with the pattern much easier.) I will try to take a picture of this next time I have to tape sections together.

Here's a slightly closer image.

and even closer. You can see here pretty clearly that I'm using lots of different prints.

Fabric is expensive, and since money is a finite resource in our home right now, I have challenged myself a while ago to use what I have in my stash and only buy fabric when I REALLY need it. That's a bit of loaded challenge since we quilters seem to ALWAYS need more fabric. I have a wonderful stash that is beginning to show the signs of me not replacing fabric as often, but it is totally fun to see how far I can stretch a piece of fabric and how little I actually end up wasting - which is next to none. The biggest perk of all is learning how I end up not needing fabric as often as I think I do!

Now, I save all my scraps and put them in color coordinated baggies. These are even beginning to emerge into shades as I collect scraps. When I'm needing smaller pieces I just pull out the baggy with the color I need and viola... this time, I had enough green to do the leaves in a slightly darker shade than the grass! If the scrap is under 10" X 10" (or there about) then it goes into the baggy and I save scraps down to 1" X 1". I use a lot of small pieces of fabric in my work, so it's fun to sift through these little bags and pull from it. All the leaves have come from this small stash with the exception of two of the prints. There are 9 different fabrics all total.

Until next time!

Sarah

Tree of Peace

2012-02-16T08:26:00.001-05:00

The initial idea for this quilt was to focus on forgiveness and with forgiveness - true forgiveness comes peace. We are all doing the best we can at any moment and harboring resentment has lead to unhappiness over and over in my own life.

This past weekend was the weekend of the coyote that I am doing where I am learning to be a mentor and community builder under the model of the 8 shields - a concept from the 8 shields institute. Evan brought in an Odawa Elder, Paul Raphael, to come and speak to us about how community works on his reservation. My heart is still overflowing from the wisdom he shared with us about rebuilding the community to bring about peace. With this wisdom comes a lot of forgiveness and a letting go within ourselves of how attached we are to how people should act or how people shound have acted in the past. In his community, they focus less on the me and more on the we. I find myself returning over and over to that statement trying to see it becoming a reality in my own life. Are my actions and thoughts good for the whole and not just myself? This feels so contrary to our culture.

In his culture there is the Tree of Peace. Oh... how I love the sound of that.. In his culture that tree is the cedar tree - not the red cedars that we have in Georgia, but the "real cedar tree" as he says. (The red cedars we have in Georgia are actually in the juniper family.)

I love the sound of Tree of Peace and how it rolls off my tongue. I am making an apple tree and not a cedar tree, and I am still deciding to call this new quilt Tree of Peace.

I'm seeking forgiveness both for myself and my own actions as well as offering forgiveness to all those who in my mind have wronged me over my lifetime. I am re-writing my life story to see peace in all my nooks and crannys. I am letting my heart song shine so I can continue to be a strong voice in my community and truly serve my community in the best capacity I can. I am seeking peace in my heart, peace in my life, peace in my community.

Thank you so much Paul for all that you shared with us this weekend (in spite of the wind and the smoke and the cold) and thank you Evan for bringing all this goodness to my home town and guiding us towards the true gift of peace.

Until next time,

Sarah

Some grass and flowers

2012-02-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

If you follow me on Facebook, then you have already seen these, but I've added grass and I've added some flowers and then there will be a tree and yes, another woman (i do love women archetypes) added on before I add more grass and more flowers.

I'm working on trying to create more depth in my pieces.

And after I've added a few flowers...

Until next time!

Sarah

These last few months

2012-02-07T11:51:00.001-05:00

Thank you all for bearing with me. What a crazy 6 months this has been in my life. We started our homeschooling year out with a big bang. India began a school that she goes to one day a week and the rest of the week she works at home. Turns out there was a tremendous amount of homework we were signing on for - more than we ever thought. Kalib is continuing to do the Grey Fox Wild Intelligence program and between working, homeschooling, kid activities, something somewhere had to be let go of. Unfortunately, quilting and blogging seems to have fallen into that space.

Thankfully, with a lot of support from a wonderful husband and willing children, I am back on track and back to quilting and hopefully, working my way back towards blogging. I'm not making any promises that I will get here every day. I've been totally hit or miss since September, but what I AM promising is that I'm working on getting back here more and more often.

What have I been up to?

Well... I believe in constantly reinventing myself, so that's what I have been doing. Trying to figure out what I want to do with my life and what direction I want to take in the future.

Many of you know I study homeopathy pretty consistently, so I explored going to school to do that "officially," but when I saw what it would take - like 8-10 years of schooling - I thought... well, I won't tell you what I thought because it would be inappropriate... so I kept having to dive in deeper to figure it out - and I still haven't, but what I do have is a clearer vision of where I want to be.

A few months ago, I had the great opportunity to see a movie called "Mother Nature's Child" and while watching it I found myself coming full circle to many of my own childhood dreams of becoming a teacher. The movie was the beginning of a workshop being held at Orange Twin, in the woods with writer and mentor Jon Young. He spoke about community building, nature connection, grief healing, transformation and the mentoring work he does. The lights began to come on inside of me and connections began to get made within my heart about my life. The sparks really began to fly!

I had the opportunity offered to me to join in the Year of the Coyote Program through the Institute for Wild Intelligence (this is the adult version of what Kalib does weekly.) Evan McGown is the director of this program and he was mentored by Jon Young and co-wrote the Coyote's Guide with Jon Young. He took the lessons he learned at the 8 Shields Institute and has brought them to the South.

In the coyote program, we go to the woods one weekend a month and immerse ourselves in community building, nature connection, and earth skills. It IS the most transformative thing I have ever done in my life and I feel lucky to be sharing the experience with many dear friends and most of all Jason. It is a mentor training program and through some seriously good fortune, I'm getting to put that training into practice with the Grey Fox program that Kalib attends each week.

On Tuesday mornings I also get to go and spend my day tromping around in the woods learning with the children and learning from the other mentors how to be a better mentor. It is a dream come true. All day in the woods, playing, exploring, and learning... I'm not sure who learns more - me or the kids.

And now... I'm looking forward again and seeing many options for my future and I'm excited to see where they take me...

So, what does all this have to do with quilting? I've been busy working on myself. Seeing myself as that swan I made so many months ago. I gave a lot of thought to transformation and the story of the ugly duckling. I wanted a new beginning - a new path. I wanted to transform myself and do something different with my life and it has taken a lot of energy - more than I ever imagined it would - and it will continue to take a lot of energy, but I'm re-inspired and I'm ready to get back to quilting and creating works from the earth that inspires me so deeply and where I'm going.

The future is uncertain, but I'm not spinning in circles, I have direction and vision and that's all that matters...

Now, my vision is turning towards forgiveness and further opening of my heart... something I will get into another day...

For now, I'm a bit obsessed with this weaving one might say... I've woven a sky...

And I wanted ground, so I wove 3 different shades of brown and cut them up to create ground that has a little movement. I see this going somewhere in the future, but I just don't know where yet - future projects.

And a close up... For those who are really curious about my insanity... Yes, this is only the background. The strips are 1/4" in the two darker browns and the lighter shade I combined 1/2" and 1/4" strips.

Until next time,

Sarah

Day 50

2012-01-20T11:06:00.000-05:00

Back sometime in December - well 50 days ago - I set the goal of going to a sit spot in the woods for 30 days in a row for at least 10 minutes a day. Most days I am able to sit for an hour. Today, I'm on day 50 and continuing to look forward to the continual joy I get from sitting in the woods watching the birds and animals as they do what they do best - strive to survive.

http://a1gaurav.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/292/

As I sat in the cold rain this morning this is something I wrote...

"The rain is a symphony of sound. Each drop its own unique voice singing in time with the sweet songs of the chickadees and titmice as they dance under the canopy flitting from branch to branch."

Until next time-

Sarah

Thanksgiving

2011-11-19T14:07:00.000-05:00

The chill in the air has my skin vibrating after my time out in the woods today. I am always amazed at the mushrooms and how they grow and the sound of the last leaves as they break loose from their trees. A few weeks ago even as all the leaves fell the woods sounded less noisy than they do today. The leaves are working hard to make it to the ground. I am so grateful to have woods behind my home to inspire me to come in and quilt on a cold and breezy Saturday.

I haven't been around much because I have been busy working on some big life things that haven't quite come to fruition yet, but will in some capacity. I haven't had much time for quilting, but I've still been walking in the woods everyday - well as often as possible - almost everyday. I'm still paying attention and learning - a lot about myself and a lot about the environment around me. I'm eager to get back to writing about it and how what questions and answers I get about it.

I have started a new quilt and I'm feeling excited about it... I am working towards getting back to blogging as the days grow even shorter and as the temperatures beckon me to get back into the warmth. I was feeling a bit guilty for not writing more as I sat down to type out a hello and an I'm still here, but as I write I realize I have spent a tremendous amount of time outside and with my kids rather than worrying about writing and I don't regret that at all. I think there is a way to find an avenue for both...

So, hit or miss, I'm still here and my creative voice is calling to me, so I'm off to touch fabric and listen to a good audio book and end my day in the cold around a fire with my 3 favorite people eating s'mores - though they don't know that yet.

See you next time!
Sarah

Come play with fabric WITH me

2011-09-12T10:10:00.002-04:00

I am going to host a very small quilting class in my home on Oct 8 from 1 - until we are done or you need to go (Ideally we will end before 8ish) and you should bring snacks to share so we have plenty of delicious food to eat through out the day. I will provide drinks like juice, water, and tea.

Beginners are more than welcome and if you are beginner, I would like to stagger when you arrive so I can give you more attention as you get started. If 1 does not work for you, come when you can - I am very flexible.

You MUST e-mail me (the address is at the bottom of this note) to get on the list as I want to be able to find out what your goals are, what you want to make, what your experience is, and I would LOVE to get a copy of the pattern(if you are going to use a pattern) before Oct 8 so I am prepared for your project. I can host 5 people possibly 6 depending on the projects.

You do not have to be a beginner to come. If you want to explore the techniques I use, you are welcome to come, just let me know in the e-mail what your needs are.

I will have a few of my own projects around and we can talk about my process, what products I use, which are my favorites and what REALLY excites me and gets me going. I can share with you how I stay connected to my creativity and how my projects formulate in my mind and what I do when I am in a "creative drought." There will be lots of talking and sharing as that is what I enjoy most about creating WITH other people. I feed off your energy and hearing about your process and then I feed you by doing the same. SO... let's get creative together!

The suggested price is $25, but I prefer to let you decide what you think this time is worth to you. I will have a small basket for your donations.

I am very excited to be in a place where I can offer this energy up! IF I end up with more people wanting to come than I can host, please don't worry. You will be first on the next list as I am hoping to continue to be able to offer up my space and my time.

My e-mail is quiltingearth@gmail.com

Looking forward to it!
Sarah

Where I am...

2011-08-15T08:13:00.000-04:00

Well, I am sure many of you have realized I missed my Friday post. I have sat down over and over and over again to start working on it, but right now, I have no spare time for blogging, so I am going to give myself permission to do it when I can and let it work it's way back into a regular thing.

We have started our homeschooling year and India took the leap to Master's Academic Partners and though everyone told us it would be a lot of work, I didn't realize how MUCH work. It's an insane workload (far too much work I think) and until she grows accustomed to it I have to give her a lot of attention to help her move through the tremendous amount of work she now has. At least until we fall into a rhythm with it, other things have to take a back seat unfortunately for now.

Also, my grandmother is having a lot of health problems and is requiring a great deal of my energy so if putting more energy into India's schooling wasn't enough of a temporary distraction, I now am helping to take care of my grandmother and her ailing body. There is only my mother and I to do this and as her body functions and abilities fade she needs to know we love her and support her during this time in her life.

All this to say, life is busy and I'm still paying attention, but I have to find windows to write about it and they are few and far between, so until things slow down, I may not be here 5 days a week for a little while.

I miss writing and the sharing of my path so I know I will become regular again, but somehow telling you all gives me the true freedom to be easy with myself during this time of transition and I know I enjoy it so much it will work its way back into my flow...

I will, however, continue to post India's pictures, so you can still expect our Tuesday posts to continue unless she runs out of them because she has no time to take them. Hopefully, she will find a rhythm and the work will flow more a little less effortlessly.

And I will still be here when time allows.

Until next time... send me love and see me moving at a moons pace... slow and steady...

The show!

2011-08-11T08:19:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get any pictures of the opening reception myself as I was busy chatting it up with the good folks that were able to make it out, but my good friend Richard did and he gave me permission to use them on the blog! Thanks Richard!

Shakti Project danced in the directions of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Dancing with these ladies is pure bliss!

Jason did shoot a video of both performances, so if the other girls of Shakti are agreeable, then I will share it and Killick is patiently awaiting me getting the video of him uploaded to share.

As Above, So Below...

Killick played some wild music and whether you like it or not, you can't help but to experience it. Each piece he plays is original. It's a wild ride!

A small group of folks checking things out.

There was a great turn out - better than I could have hoped for and SO many nice words about my quilts. I even met a male quilter who makes his own wool fabric with lint. Sounds so cool. I hope he hunts me down and we can connect again since I didn't get his name!

The show is up through August. You can drop by when the space is open or make an appointment to get in to see it OR you can go all out and take a class. There is a lot of wonderful movement happening on that floor with some great teachers!

I am FINALLY ready to start starching my next background. I've been stuck on colors, but I think I'm just going to jump in with both feet this weekend so stayed tuned! And hopefully, next week I will have a slide show of my latest quilt from beginning to end for you!

Until tomorrow!

Hanging the show

2011-08-10T11:20:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are some photos from the day we put the show up at FloorSpace. India took most of the photos (except the one she is in) while Jason and I got the show up. Jason did most of the really hard work of climbing the ladder and hooking the wire while I adjusted and straightened. I am always shocked when we hang up art work by how long it takes to get it all right and even on the walls. It took about 3 hours and one trip to the store for more wire.

I laid all the quilts out like I wanted them to hang on the wall while Jason got the wires ready on the rods.

India did the same.

We were eager to see how India's pictures would look on the wall and get an idea of the spacing so we hung one of India's photos up. Looks pretty good doesn't it!

Can't just hang out on that fantastic dance floor without a little dancing while mom and dad work!

Quilts are up and now the job of getting the photos up!

Wiping them down one last time to make sure there are no smudges on the glass.

The last time to walk through and straighten.

viola! All done! Looks great!

See you tomorrow!

India's Tuesday Photo 8/9/11

2011-08-09T09:44:00.000-04:00

Today is a big day in our house! India has officially started "school." She's going to Master's Academic Partners one day a week - an accredited tutoring school for homeschool students! We are excited and nervous at the same time! She's in the seventh grade and made the choice herself to transition to a more formal approach to her education than we have taken in the past! GO INDIA! I love that she cares so much about her education that she spoke up and let us know what her needs are AND that we were able to decide what the best plan of action for us was! I will let you know as the weeks go by what it is like and how she likes it. It meets one day a week and then the rest of the week she works on her assignments.

In the mean time, it is Tuesday and it's India's turn to share a photo on the blog. Her photos look great at floorspace, so if you get a chance go by and check them out and let her know you did!

To see more of India's photography you can visit her facebook fan page!

There is always room for Rumi on Monday.

2011-08-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a wild weekend. The show opening was wonderful with a great turn out. If you made it out, thank you so much for coming! I hope you enjoyed the work, the space, the music, the dance, and the community. I certainly did!

I've got pictures to show you of us hanging the show, and pictures of the reception, and I have plans to make another video of Transformation from beginning to end, but today, I'm going to keep things simple because I have had a very long weekend and am feeling the need to rest up a little rather than jumping back into blogging today.

So, today, I'm going to share a Rumi poem as translated by Coleman Barks from Rumi, the Big Red Book. I was lying in bed last night after a very exhausting and mentally challenging day reading the beautiful and soulful words of Rumi and was quite taken with this one...

KEEP MOVING

Do you hear what the stringed instrument says about longing?

The same as the stick, I was once a green branch in the wind.

We are all far from home.

Language is our caravan bell.

Do not stop anywhere.

The moment you are attracted to a place, you grow bored with it.

Think of the big moves you have already made,

from a single cell to a human being.

Stay light-footed, and keep moving.

Turkish, Arabic, Greek,

any tongue is a wind that was formerly water.

As a breeze carries the ocean inside it,

so underneath every sentence is,

Come back to the source.

A moth does not avoid flame.

A king lives in the city.

Why should I keep the company with owls out here in the empty buildings?

If you donkey acts crazy and will not work, apply the bullwhip to his head.

He will understand.

Do not try to love him back to his senses.

Whack him.

Observation Medication 8/5/11

2011-08-05T08:05:00.001-04:00

Today, I want to talk about noise and humans.

Tuesday morning, I headed outside for my normal morning routine to feed the cats (we have 4) and the chickens. When I walked out the door, I heard the sound of a chain saw very near by. My mind started spiraling into fear that the land near ours was being logged again or the neighbors had finally decided and got permits to build something on the land that butts up to ours.

At one time, there was some talk of a warehouse to store chemicals. It should come as no shock to you that we don't want that near our home. Thus far, there has been no sign of it, but whenever I hear noise like a chain saw coming from somewhere close to us, my head immediately goes there.

When the kids were just babies we laid in bed and watched the land next to ours being logged. It was, by far, one the most violent things I have ever seen. They had no compassion for the land that was being torn and up rooted. I hope to never have to be witness to that again. It sounds so dramatic, but I am certain logging can be done without destroying everything in the path of the tractors.

That land is still recovering. It is thick with briars and poison ivy and slowly but surely the trees are beginning to reach for the sky. It takes land a very long time to recover from being logged. I walk by it every day when I am walking Pepper and I am watching it make the effort to be a healthy wood once again.

I couldn't see the folks with the chainsaws, so I came inside and kept my fingers crossed it was the power company working on the swath of land they own just up the road from us.

I continued on with my day trying to not concern myself with all the noise, but then the sound of tractors began to grow closer and Pepper was getting antsy to investigate. I decided to take her for a walk and in my own yard - well not quite my yard, but behind my grandmothers house, were tractors and chain saws. I had no idea what was going on.

I gave my grandmother a call as she is the neighborhood investigator (she always seems to have the low down on what's going on around us) and she told me the power company was cutting all the limbs and trees away from the power lines.

Whew! Relief.

So, what does all this have to do with my observations?

Well, Pepper and I proceeded into the woods for our daily walk and they were silent.

There were no bird calls, no squirrels running to and fro. Even the trees seemed to be standing perfectly still. Everything was quiet except the awful noise of the chainsaw and tractors. I guess the life in the woods was afraid that the humans were coming to take their homes again.

We live on a highway, so there is always noise pollution when I am in the woods, but the life back there doesn't seem too troubled by it. There are always pretty songs being sung and much life running to and fro in the tree tops. We frequently see deer and I know there is a rather large raccoon nest just off my path. There is the occasional big truck that makes a lot of noise that quiets all the life or a plane goes over and the birds stop singing until they are sure it has passed.

I often think about all the noise that humans make with all of our technology and machines and wonder what the "natural" world thinks of it.

Tuesday, there was so much noise from the tractors and chain saws it was hard to simply enjoy being in the woods. Pepper ran off into the brambles and I worried whether she would be able to hear me call her over the racket?

I am grateful for the technology we have as humans and for all the machinery we have. I know we all benefit from it - we have roads that take us to and from, we have computers that I can type out my words on, refrigerators that keep our food cool, so many luxuries we take for granted.

I simply wish we were more conscientious about how we use it.

I wish our development and ways of building and producing were more in line with how nature does it.

You know the adage, do no harm...

I think we can have the best of both worlds with a little effort on our part and a lot more respect for the earth that provides us with so much goodness. We should make more of an effort to remember that this place we abuse is what we call home and without it we wouldn't continue to exist.

If we spent a little more effort to protect it and work with it, then we might all be a little happier and less stressed. The simple act of paying attention to what you are doing and doing it well can bring immense joy and couple that with a little mindfulness in our work and we have a recipe for helping to heal our planet and finding our way back to our connection to the source from which we come.

I seem to be on a roll lately with the soapboxes.

The way I see it, I am a passionate person trying to be the change I want to see in the world.

My challenge for you is to sit quietly - you can even do it inside - turn off your tv, radio, computer, mp3 players and simply be quiet for one hour and listen to the sounds that you hear. I'm not saying meditate unless you want to, just be quiet. Read a book, draw a picture, something that doesn't require technology (unless of course reading means using your Nook just turn off the pandora station.)

I bet you will hear a few different bird calls, maybe some bees buzzing, cicada's singing. Who knows! Try it and see. The only thing you lose is... well, from my perspective you only stand to gain from it.

See you on Monday! (Unless of course you are heading out to FloorSpace to the opening reception tonight and if you are then I will look forward to seeing you there!

Athens Banner Herald article

2011-08-04T08:28:00.000-04:00

As most of you know, India and I have a show opening tomorrow at FloorSpace. (It is hung and I have photos of that process I will show you after the opening.)

I was fortunate enough for Julie Phillips to come to our home to interview me before hand.

Here is a link to the article...

I pulled out all the quilts I would be hanging for her to see. Some have hung in shows before, but YabYum nor Transformation have. I am excited to show these two quilts for the first time in public.

My dance troupe, Shakti Project, will be performing a sweet little piece, then Killick! will be working his magic on his many instruments. He's a one man band with tunes that will leave you speechless. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us. I feel certain it will be out of this world.

The event is free and opens at 7:00 with the performances beginning at 7:30. There will be some light snacks and wine after the performances.

We would love to see you there!

Until tomorrow!

Beads, Roving, feathers, oh my!

2011-08-04T08:13:00.000-04:00

When I got the poppies finished, I already knew I was going to sew down some wool roving over the yellow to give a look of pollen when you are standing back from them. I also knew I was going to sew beads for the seed heads.

The embellishment stage is often my favorite time with a quilt. I get to hold it and cradle it and spend some time touching it in a different way than I do when it is going back and forth from the design wall to the sewing machine. I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to explain it, but I really don't know how. It's all a tactile thing. Maybe the quilters who read will understand.

I sewed the roving down on the sewing machine, then I got out all my black bugle beads. I ordered these specifically for this project. (Ornamentea also has great prices on wool roving.) I put everything out in front of me and one at a time I sewed down the beads over the centers of the poppies.

I also ordered these crystal looking beads thinking I would do something completely different than I ended up with for the ballerina. I never loved her head piece, but in studying ballerina's it was appropriate - more appropriate than her having long flowing hair and the idea giving her a bun was just yuck so, I figured I would dress it up when I got to the stage of handwork and embellishing.

A while ago, right after the beach, someone gifted me some swan feathers from a lake where they were found - it was on the property of a camp where the swan had lived a good life and died leaving behind some feathers. I felt honored to have them since I have been working with the swan. When they were given to me I thought for sure I would find a way to incorporate them into the quilt, but they are HUGE and didn't fit. Even though they were too big they still inspired me to use some feathers anyhow.

I ended up just using some feathers I had from a project the kids and I have did a year or more ago. A good quilter holds onto everything that might be useful in a craft, right? Certainly paid off this time!

I'm all done with the top. It feels a bit bittersweet. I better get busy on those new ideas I've got floating around in my head!

Until tomorrow!

I'm off to quilt!

India's Tuesday Photo 8/2/11

2011-08-02T08:24:00.000-04:00

Today's Tuesday and it's India's turn on the blog to share a photo.

For those of you who may not know, India is my 12 year old daughter who more often than not can be found with her camera in her hand taking photographs. We are so proud of the work she does that we share it here on the blog! When India is not taking photos you can find her reading, watching zombie movies, chatting with her friends, and listening to music.

To see more of India's fabulous photos visit her Facebook Fan Page.

AND don't forget you can check them out in person at FloorSpace the entire month of August or at the opening reception this Friday night from 7-10pm. Shakti Project will be giving a sweet little performance to kick off the night, then cosmically inspired music by Killick! 7-10pm. We hope to see you there!

Oh Sweet Trillium... I how I love thee.

2011-08-01T17:28:00.000-04:00

After getting the lady's slipper finished (or what I thought as finished) I decided to make some trilliums for the bottom of the piece. There was a lot of negative space at the bottom. To me, it just felt like it needed more.

While making the trilliums I realized the lady's slipper was still not quite right, so I made the leaves a more muted green to make them blend in a little better.

Before:

After:

Better?

Onto the the trilliums...

When I was in college studying horticulture was the first time I had the pleasure of seeing a trillium. They are small and inconspicuous and as with all flowers that I truly love - one has to be paying close attention to see them. For some reason, the simple almost hidden flowers are my favorite, but I've told you all this before.

The trillium in the woods, much like the maypops and blood root or wood sorrel remind me of a world of life we can't imagine going on in the woods, or the floor of the earth. I think of fairies and magic, pixie dust and glitter. I have stories upon stories built around the life of these sweet little plants.

Trillium were the first "woods" flowers I came to know and they will always have a special place in my heart for opening my eyes to the world of flowers that bloom only a few inches above the soil.

Some trilliums can be rather large, but you have to get to slightly cooler climates than ours to enjoy them. When we were at Joyce Kilmer I saw some of the biggest trilliums I have ever seen. They were fantastic like all the life around them they grew big. Maybe that's the land of the gentle giants... much like the sequoahs - that's the story I made up for myself anyhow.

I recently read in The Maiden King something along the lines of the reason we connect to fairy tales is because the story is full of all this fantasy that excites us and we can't imagine it, but the feelings behind the action speak to our very core. Fairy tales are ageless and we hear them over and over and we experience the same feelings each time we hear them as though we have never heard them before. We relearn the lessons until they stick with us, then we need a new story with new lessons to hold onto.

I believe this and think it is why I am as drawn to archetypes, folk lores, and mythology as much as I am. There is much to be learned from those who have come before us and how they related to their world through story - something we have gotten away from.

The trilliums have added the last element of the fantasy of the moment these two beings are sharing. It has become unimaginable to me, yet the lesson of the beauty of transformation is one I will continue to learn.

They are now between the worlds of the red poppies and the simple trilliums sharing a moment in time. Looking at them I find myself asking what brought them to this moment? Why are they bowing to one another or are they bowing to the lady slipper? I start making up a story of characters and magic and laughter. The story deepens in my imagination and I find joy in telling this story whatever it is.

Until tomorrow!

I'm off to quilt!

Observation Medication 7/29/11

2011-07-29T22:28:00.000-04:00

First off, I want to thank India for helping me out with these photos. I had a long day of work today and she edited them for me and got them ready for this post. It was a big help, so thank you.

This week, I noticed the light is beginning to change and the days are beginning to shorten, but it is still HOT. It won't be too much longer now. The nights are beginning to have a tinge of hope to them as fall approaches.

AND I'm still thinking about the rain a lot.

I was sitting on the front porch last night listening to the song the cicadas sing and Fred, the rooster, wishing the big rain cloud over my head would just burst. I was praying for gravity to work its magic and let some drops of precious water fall to the earth, but alas... no rain.

Summers are always dry in Georgia. Winters are always wet. We complain in the summer when there isn't rain and in winter we wish it would stop.

I once heard a wise person say we should try not to complain about the weather because it's never perfect and we always want something different than what we are having. We should be grateful we are having weather.

Such simple truth. Wish I remembered who said it to me.

I guess I should work on my attitude towards the heat.

Humans talk about the weather all the time.

Isn't it a funny phenomenon?

When we can't think of anything else to talk about there is always the weather. It's the most unpredictable thing most of us have in our lives that we can wrap our heads around - and here I am... talking about the weather, when what I really want to tell you about are:

Cedar Trees

I want to learn to recognize the different trees in our woods so I can learn their cycles too.

There are obviously easy trees like the cedars which is my starting point, but as I was reading up on them last night for this post I discovered the trees we call Eastern Red Cedars are not cedars at all - they are actually junipers. Did you know that?

The bark is reddish brown and peels or shreds off the tree.

They are considered pioneer trees, meaning after a fire or when land is recovering from a disturbance - be it natural or man made these trees are some of the first to grow. Pioneer trees are not as shade tolerant as other species so they grow first and provide an environment in the landscape for the second succession of trees. The second succession of trees are more shade tolerant and slower to grow than pioneer trees. Pine trees are another example of pioneer trees.

There are a few critters that eat young cedar trees like the white tailed deer and rabbits, but it is better known for the food its berries and cones provide to birds and other small critters - especially in winter.

Cedar is a wood often used for its durability. It is used for fence posts, furniture, and its insect repelling abilities. (I keep a little cedar in my yarn stash and clothing drawers and especially around my fabric stash. It helps keeps my clothes smelling good and the moths from eating the fabric and fibers.)

Through out history people have understood the many uses of cedar and have chosen not to burn it as fire wood because it would be a waste of good lumber.

In the far east, cedar is referred to as "deodar" which is derived from the sanskrit word "devdar" which means lumber of the gods.

It is also associated with being the home of many gods. It was used in ceremonies for purification, cleansing, healing, and protection. Burning it or the oil is supposed to help with interpreting your own inner voice and to promote peaceful thoughts.

There are hundreds of stories through out history that mention cedars and their connection to humans and life. In almost every religion they are mentioned at some point. I read so much information about them in stories it is all running together in my head.

So, here are two stories I liked if you want to read them:
The Legend of the Cedar Tree
Origin of Fire (has music so turn volume down, but great story)

Personally, I love how it smells and use it often in my oil diffuser as well as my bath water and will appreciate it a little more each time I walk past it in the woods and remember to be grateful for all it provides us with.

Take care and I will see you on Monday!

references: Easter Red Cedar

Meaning of Cedar

A day spent with a lady's slipper...

2011-07-28T21:37:00.001-04:00

There seems to be a point in every quilt that I reach that brings me to a stuck place. That eternal hump I just can't get over.

When I started this quilt I thought for sure the center point between the ballerina and the swan would be a pomegranate, but as it turned out, when I cut the pomegranate out it just did not fit at all.

I never actually made it with fabric, but I did get to the stencil and when I put that on there it just didn't look right. It needed to be something delicate and soft, something fragile.

What to do?

This was how I spent my day...

I started thinking it might cool if it was a wild flower...

Went down my list of favorites that might fit.

Lily of the valley? They are white and delicate small flowers, but the white would be just too much white.

Solomon's seal? Too complicated.

Trillium? maybe....

Lady's slipper? Definitely yes.

EEEKKKK what color?

We usually see pink one's around here. It can NOT be pink. Major clash with the red.

But, no harm in trying it, right?

Stare at it.

LOVE it, but hate the color.

What am I going to do? I'm totally attached to the lady slipper.

Google them again...

There are yellow lady's slipper.

Now, that could work...

Remake the flower in yellow.

Stare at it.

Absolutely cannot stand the leaves.

Re-make the whole thing with different leaves and slightly different flower- same yellow.

Stare at it - get a little frustrated. It's still not right.

Think the flower is too big - it's distracting.

Re-make flower.

Stare at it some more (as though I haven't stared at it enough already.)

FINALLY... got it.

Except, the flower is a little too big.

So, I re-made it - a little smaller...

And viola, SUCCESS!

Whew - that was a close one. I was beginning to think I was going to have to go with a different flower.

Now, I'm on to those trilliums. I think I can make those work too...

See you tomorrow!

The Face

2011-07-27T09:40:00.000-04:00

There was a time when I was afraid to put faces on the people in my quilts. The human face has a lot to say in the expressions it puts into the world.

Faces are unique to each of us. Even identical twins don't share exactly the same face.

Wrinkles tell the story of a person's life, the twinkle in the eye expresses joy or lack of it. The direction of the lines around the eyes can tell you a lot about how much a person smiles.

The way a person's skin stretches in any moment reveals much of what they are thinking in that moment. Even little twitches of the mouth and nose, or the speed at which one blinks can tell us something.

We don't hide our emotions as well on our faces as we think we do.

All of this has been running through my head over the years. How would I ever be able to truly express what the imagery is thinking in my quilts?

Well, I still don't have a solid idea of that yet, but I am learning to experiment with thread and finding more confidence each time I work up the nerve to put one on.

I'm off to quilt!

Enjoy your day!

India's Tuesday Photo 7/26/11

2011-07-26T07:51:00.000-04:00

Today's Tuesday and it's India's turn on the blog to share a photo.

To see more of India's fabulous photos visit her Facebook Fan Page.

When inspiration hits

2011-07-25T09:38:00.000-04:00

I have begun to think about what my next project was going to be as I get closer and closer to finishing Transformation.

I keep thinking about what I want to do, the colors I am feeling these days, but nothing was coming clearly.

No solid ideas.

I have 4 quilts in mind that I want to make, but none of them have come through the channels to a concrete plan.

YET.

http://www.pompomemporium.com/content/how-make-fabric-flowers-organza

Usually by the time I get to this stage of a quilt, I know pretty well what's up next and I've started gathering drawings and fabric and I'm starting to work on stencils, but thus far...

NOTHING.

This lesson on transforming seemed to be sticking with me and I was beginning to hit that stuck place - that creative block we all dread.

What more do I need to learn about this medicine?

Instead of letting myself go there and it bring me down which blocks typically do I know in my heart that this lesson is one I will always be learning.

We are constantly in a state of transformation.

In every moment.

So, instead, I put my energy towards realizing the lack of flow may have more to do with the speed at which I have been making quilts. They are coming out faster than ever before. Especially since I have been more committed to making time for it.

Isn't it amazing how that works.

Who would have thought? Make time for quilting and you quilt faster.

It's rocket science, I tell you.

I should have know the inspiration would hit. I just need to hold on to the faith and know it never really leaves me.

http://teresacollins.typepad.com/teresa_collins/2010/06/fabric-flower-tv-segment.html

I have had a hard time working on this quilt all weekend. I have found tons of reasons to procrastinate. Some worthy of procrastination, some... not so much.

I found myself wanting to do everything but quilt. It was one of those times where my idea wasn't happening like I imagined it and I was having to make the same piece over and over and over and over to get it right. (I will be showing you this process a little later this week.)

http://diyfashion.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=diyfashion&cdn=style&tm=37&f=00&su=p284.12.336.ip_p504.3.336.ip_&tt=3&bt=0&bts=1&st=32&zu=http%3A//mysparkle.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-rolled-flowers.html

After 6 tries, I finally got it like I wanted and that seems to have helped open me up to receiving some new inspiration - not to mention I made a vital connection to some thoughts on transforming a part of my personal pattern I am feeling needs some serious attention. I say, let the lessons begin! It's work personal work I am hungry for.

http://www.reesedixon.com/2009/03/organza-flowers.html

It's all very exciting - it stays exciting because I love personal growth as it never fails to bring with it endless joy.

This is how I work my magic.

The part of self that needs some polishing awakens and the inspirations come flowing.

http://www.msawesome.com/blog/2009/11/fabric-flowers-dont-die/

Laying in bed last night I was trying to go to sleep and like so many times before couldn't because ideas for new quilts were streaming into my head. The imagery for the next quilt has started to take shape, but I have also got some ideas for a new dance costume and some belt ideas.

I've got some thoughts on an Etsy store - which exists, but has nothing in it.

I stayed up WAY past my bedtime writing out my ideas and taking notes on everything that was coming through.

I made lots of lists of stuff to look up - some how to tutorials (AHHHH!!! the simplicity of the interweb) I have lists upon lists of things to look for to use as inspiration for these upcoming exciting new projects.

http://someartfabrictalk.blogspot.com/2010/05/fabric-flowers-for-mothers-day.html

For now, I've got to get this quilt finished, but when I'm overwhelmed or not inspired over my next three days off from work, I'm going to be looking for some fabric flowers, trees, wool roving for dying, and so much more! I am feeling a trip to the fabric store on my agenda towards the end of the week.

Ahhhhh.... I'm feeling inspired! It feels so good.

If you have good links or know of a great book to make flowers I would love to hear about them as well as inexpensive sources for wool roving.

Until tomorrow!

I'm off to quilt!

Observation Medication 7/22/11

2011-07-22T08:48:00.000-04:00

This week I have managed to get outside a little more. We got a nice little reprieve from the heat with some sweet and much needed rain, but with the rain continues the humidity. Ahhh.... Georgia summers.

I have decided to get over the heat for my mental well-being. When I don't take the time to walk in the woods and get outside I miss so much that is happening and I slip into disconnect a little too easily. So, I am making myself get out and get over it.

Walking in the woods the other night. Jason noticed a tree where deer may have rutted. We looked for signs of fur, but there weren't any. I, being the naturally curious person that I am, looked it up to see when deer rut and why. (Though I was pretty sure I knew why.)

http://www.rgisbc.com/Deer.html

Deer typically rut in Autumn and it is definitely not autumn in Georgia yet, so these marks were probably from last year and we just noticed them this year. The place where a deer ruts on a tree is called a rub and they rut to leave behind their scent for females. The thing I found most interesting about rutting when reading about it was that male deer are generally pretty weak after rutting. I guess all the noise and energy they use to get the ladies to pay them attention wears them out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hard-rain/298253000/

Something else I have noticed this week (well, really last week) was the yellow finches have shown up in the yard.

They are so sweet and so tiny.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id

They are chowing down on the seed heads from the purple cone flowers and black eyed susans in the yard.

We used to have nanking cherries in the front yard and we would have just tons of them every summer, but the nankin cherries outgrew their home in the front yard and have gone to live in other areas of the yard and other gardens.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id

In reading about finches it says they show up in Spring and Early Summer, and I guess mid-July may still be considered early summer, but I'm just now seeing them in the yard and I don't remember them being around in Spring. What about your yards?

They always catch my eye because they are such sweet little birds and I love watching them.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id

I've also been hearing more of the mourning doves sad call more in the mornings when I am outside feeding the chickens.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id

I have to listen hard since our rooster, Fred, lets me know repeatedly I'm in the chicken pen - as though I don't already know that! Silly bird.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id

This morning I actually was able to sit and watch it sing for a few minutes before Fred started. Such a sad mournful song they sing, yet it speaks so deeply to my heart.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id

Lastly, I've really noticed - I mean how can you not? - the cicada's song.

http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/homoptera/cicada/17yrcicada.html

They chirp morning, day, and night.

I know to some it is pure heresy to say I love it, so if you are one of those people just remember I am a nature lover and forgive me because I do!

http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/profiles/insects/homelg/cicada.htm

It's so LOUD, but it brings back the feelings I had as a child in summer and the taste of childhood joy.

They have just started singing most of the day. It wasn't that long ago they were just gearing up from time to time when I was out in the woods and now no matter where I go in the yard I can hear them.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2007/09/29/cicada-exoskeleton/

In some cultures, Cicada's are considered a sign of rebirth. I guess this is because they live underground and then emerge. You know, some can live under ground for up to 17 years? I wonder if there are other insects that live that long - in any stage. Guess I will have to go look that up!

Have you noticed anything interesting in nature this week?

Metallic thread, I've got your number now!

2011-07-21T09:28:00.000-04:00

After the tedious work of getting the swan and ballerina sewn down came the delicate work of thread painting.

I love metallic thread.

Well, what I mean to say is I love the way metallic thread looks on a quilt. It's all sparkly, and well, I love all things sparkly.

However... I have not enjoyed using metallic thread in the past. It has always been a love/hate thing when using it. For me, the outcome is always worth the hassle (I keep on using it), but the process brings out the worst in me. It constantly breaks. You get a few stitches made and snap, it breaks and vulgarities explode out of my mouth.

NOT THIS TIME!

Metallic thread, I've got your number now!

After taking the thread painting class a few months ago, I have found a new love of metallic thread. We didn't do any stitching with metallic thread in that class - though we were supposed to get to it. Time ran out, but we did talk about it.

In that class, I learned some things to make it easier to use metallic thread and was reminded of some steps I had forgotten.

The outcome?

Minimal cursing (my kids were thrilled), minimal frustration and successful metallic thread painting.

So, for you quilters out there, here is what I did this time that worked for me and what I will be doing from now on when using metallic thread.

The very first thing I did was to change the needle in my machine to a metallic needle. My machine prefers Schmetz needles and so do I. They are the ONLY needles I use. In case you don't know why a metallic needle - the eye is a bit larger than a regular sewing needle and it has a special coating to help the thread ease through the eye. The thread doesn't have to work so hard to get through the little eye and it helps reduce the thread stretching which ultimately is what leads to it breaking.

Secondly, I used a 60 weight thread in my bobbin case. I like bottom line made by superior.

When loading my machine with the metallic thread I dropped it into a coffee cup behind my machine once it was threaded and the key to this for my machine is to have the spool unwind with the thread unwinding over the spool rather than under the spool. So, the thread spins counter clockwise verses clockwise. For my machine this seems to take some tension off the thread and the less tension on it the better. Something else I noticed about making sure it came from the top of the spool was that the spool never jumped or jerked which can also cause the thread to stretch and break. It never got too tight. (Hopefully, it makes sense to you.) This one little detail made all the difference for me this time. It took a few tries, but once I took the time to figure it out my thread didn't break anymore and I was able to just sew - with metallic thread - That has NEVER happened for me before.

Lastly, I set the speed on my machine to pretty slow. Not the slowest setting, but just above it. Some machines don't have this as an option, so if yours doesn't then you need to practice your machine quilting a lot so that you can control the speed yourself easily. I have never used this feature on my machine before, but I will be using it from now on. By setting the speed, I was able to sew the same speed no matter how hard I was pushing on the presser foot. Again, this just helps keep a steady amount of tension on the thread helping to reduce the amount of stretching and ultimately less thread breakage.

I also noticed sewing at a slower speed my stitches are more even because I had more control.

Now I can just enjoy using metallic thread and hopefully, you can too, without all the vulgarities.

Until tomorrow!

I'm off to quilt!

So many pins... oh my!

2011-07-20T08:45:00.000-04:00

The next step towards getting this quilt done is sewing down the swan and ballerina.

First, I have to figure out exactly where they are going to go on the background and make sure they look straight.

Then, I pin them down. I used to baste everything down at this step and it took forever and wore my fingers out. Now, I just use a lot of pins and I am able to accomplish the same thing.

I also used to pull all the stabilizer out and I don't do that anymore - except where there is a fairly large piece of it. When I do the thread painting over it I have found that having the stabilizer in there helps make the thread go down better, so I just leave it in. It's not like anyone is going to be sleeping under them anyhow. When I make them for a bed, I do pull the stabilizer out, but I seldom make bed sized quilts anymore.

I must have cussed at least a dozen times when sewing down the swan and ballerina as I kept poking myself with all the pins. No pain, no gain, right? What's quilting without a little blood anyhow?

With that step done, I'm off to do the thread work on the wings and tutu!

Until tomorrow!

India's Tuesday Photo 7/19/11

2011-07-19T09:10:00.000-04:00

First of all I want to wish a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Favorite fellow. My wonderful husband who only gets better with age. I love you more than I would ever be able to write on a blog post and it would probably embarrass you and the kids, so I will refrain. Thank you for being such a light in all the lives of everyone you touch and thank you for always being true to your own inner nature. You are a wonderful man and father, friend and partner. I am the luckiest lady in the world to get to live out my life with you.

So...

Today's Tuesday and it's India's turn on the blog to share a photo.

To see more of India's fabulous photos visit her Facebook Fan Page.

The Ballerina...

2011-07-18T11:16:00.000-04:00

The story of this quilt is starting to take further shape in my heart.

I wasn't quite clear on why a ballerina until I finished her up.

When I start a project I usually have a pretty good idea why I picked the subject matter I did, but this quilt is different. (This seems to be a recurring theme with this quilt - it is different from the quilts that have come before it. It has come to represent a new way of doing things - a new potential.)

I woke up and knew this quilt had to come immediately. I knew all the pieces of the puzzle and elements I wanted, but the why's I didn't know.

When I start working on a piece I already have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to walk away from it knowing about myself, but all the personal contemplation still comes. I usually have an idea of what part of myself needs a little work and attention.

I started this quilt without giving the first real thought to why I would want a swan or a ballerina. It wasn't until after the stencils were done that I gave any real thought to the swan or the ballerina.

The swan imagery made sense quickly.

I started reading about swans in mythology and why I would be drawn to the imagery.

I couldn't connect with the ballerina.

I just knew it had to be a ballerina.

But why?

Then, I saw the movie Black Swan and I almost decided to not make a ballerina. The pressure of being a ballerina was just too much.

Each time I sat with it trying to figure out what to do in place of it - if anything - nothing came.

It HAD to be a ballerina.

Now I know why I had to persevere and make one. Her imagery makes sense to me after spending a week piecing her together and forcing myself to think about it.

Ballerina's are graceful.

They are beautiful.

They look like angels when they dance and they work SO hard to look like the air carries them across the dance floor.

They never stop striving to be better dancers.

They dance because they have to.

But there is that dark side of being a ballerina.

It is hard on the body.

It is hard on the mind.

It is a difficult practice to be a ballerina.

There is a commonality of everyone looking the same.

The dance moves don't change.

The practice remains the same, yet somehow, they have to stand out.

They have to continue to work hard.

They never give up.

They are always pushing themselves to the next level.

I think life is a lot like this. We work so hard to have the nice family house with the white picket fence and all the latest gadgets inside. This is not what brings us joy, but we certainly think it does. We are blinded by consuming and we have to work hard to shine or to even feel like we shine.

There is the potential for suffering every moment, but with a lot of hard work and practice, we can learn to appreciate the hard work of being different, of standing out.

We have to train our minds and our bodies to rise above our weaknesses and dance through life with the beauty of the ballerina.

We have to have discipline and train ourselves to see living in a new way.

We have to train hard.

The outcome, is stunning...

We transform into something beautiful.

We learn to see life as a gift of grace.

And the dance becomes easy and fluid.

For me and for now, the ballerina represents the discipline and skill it takes to transform from the ugly duckling into the beautiful swan.

It is the willingness to DO THE WORK.

And when we do, we look like angels dancing and skipping along our path of life.

The story will continue to evolve and the magic continue to flow as I further learn to embrace the work and the discipline.

For now, I'm off to quilt!

Until tomorrow!

Observation Medication 7/15/11

2011-07-15T10:25:00.001-04:00

WHEW! It is HOT!

I'm going to be honest today and tell you I haven't been outside much.

Maybe it is aging, maybe it is global warming...

I don't know what it is, but it is just hot and I am not enjoying it.

What I am enjoying is the bounty that is coming from the garden.

Jason made pickles on Sunday from our cucumbers.

I have started freezing the green beans as they come in from the garden.

Jason's grandfather has assured me when his lima beans start coming in I can come over there and pick all we want. (Kalib will be thrilled)

I'm hoping to can some tomatoes this weekend. (There is nothing like opening a jar of homegrown diced tomatoes for soup when it is wet and cold outside or making fresh salsa from tomatoes that have flavor rather than from out of season tomatoes.)

We have a watermelon on the vine. (YUMMMMYYYY!!!!) Hopefully more to come. We made Watermelon and cantelope juice last year and it was delicious. You just puree it and then strain it if you don't like pulp. You can add sparkling water to it if you want a little fizz too. Talk about refreshing a sweet. MMMMM makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

I've got the ingredients for fresh pesto on my grocery list, so I'll be making some pesto to freeze sometime during the week. (You know, in all the spare time I have.)

We've (well, Kalib) has started taking clippings from the herbs we use in teas and cooking and they are starting to dry for us to save for the year.

My kitchen is in a constant state of MESS, but its a good mess and one I can definitely live with and enjoy.

Fresh vegetables?

OH! YES!!!!

And best of all, we've been able to share our abundance with friends!

I grew up eating fresh vegetables or canned vegetables from the garden, so to have them flowing through my home to feed my children brings me immense pleasure and satisfaction. I hope it makes my parents feel good to know their love of growing food when I was a kid has filtered down through me.

I appreciate the work that goes into growing good food and my taste buds appreciate it even more.

There are few things in this world as good as a ripe tomato straight off the vine.

We've got to make some plans to go pick blueberries! Blue berry pie in winter? PLEASE!!!!

One day, all these blue berries Jason has around here are going to really begin bearing fruit and we are going to be covered up in blue berries. I say, bring it on!

Have a great weekend.

Try to stay cool and hydrated!

See you on Monday!

Swan, Swan, and more Swan

2011-07-14T08:25:00.002-04:00

Every spare moment I have I am putting into working on Transformation.

I've spent quite a bit of time lately worrying that I'm not spending enough time with the kids since I'm so focused on getting this quilt done in time to hang it up for the August show.

Thankfully, towards the end of the day, the kids are usually willing to hang out with me while I work on it. We listen to music, watch So You Think You Can Dance (we all know how much I LOVE dancing) or we listen to Harry Potter. India is making bracelets these days and Kalib has reconnected with drawing so it is fun for all of us.

I love their willingness to spend time with me while I create. It means more to me than they will ever know I am sure.

Onto the quilt update:

I'm making great headway.

The feathers of the wing are some of the smallest pieces I have ever made. I had to change them a little because some of the pieces were just too small for me to try to piece. (I did try, so I get credit for it)


If you click on the image it will get bigger and you can really see the pieces.

The swan turned out even better than I thought it would in my imagination.

I have thought a lot about whether lack of shading would be a problem.

Swans are only white, stark white - no off white, no dirt, just white. This quality is what makes them such incredible birds. How many creatures in nature are just purely white?

I was a bit concerned about how the wings would look pieced next to the solid body.

Would the piecing be enough to truly make them look like wings do when you stand back from it? With everything being stark white it is hard to create movement and shading.

Before starting the wing I looked up swan images hoping to see some shading on the wings, but nope... they are just pure white.

I think piecing the wing and nothing else has worked in my favor. It makes the bird a little more three dimensional and adds some texture to the white and I am thrilled with it how it turned out.

I'm ready to start the ballerina. Let's hope she goes together as easily as the swan!

See you tomorrow!

I'm off to quilt!

Swan piecing begins!

2011-07-13T08:49:00.001-04:00

Naturally after all the hard work of getting the swan and ballerina the right size I was eager to get to work piecing. Not to mention, I have to have this quilt done in only 3 more weeks.

The clock is ticking...

I set straight to work on making my templates for piecing the swan.

Part of the process of getting the template right for this quilt is to reverse it which my handy dandy copier does not do. (Note to self: when this copier wears out get one that will copy a mirror image.)

What that means for me is once I have my stencil the right size I then have to trace it onto tracing paper and turn it over, then trace it again onto the Sulky Totally Stable. I tried just turning my copy over, but even with the light box under it the lines were too hard to see through the paper and the Sulky.

Thank goodness for my light box.

Tracing is so simple now.

Once it is on the Sulky Totally Stable, I'm ready to go.

Cutting one piece at a time the swan began to take shape.

I was a bit nervous since swans are stark white that it would be a bit boring, but it definitely isn't going to be.

I didn't make a lot of head way into piecing before my quilting time ran out. Especially since it took me so long to get there, but I'm focused and determined to get it done and I'm loving how it's coming together.

Until tomorrow!

I'm off to quilt!

India's Tuesday Photo 7/12/11

2011-07-12T12:34:00.001-04:00

Today's Tuesday and it's India's turn on the blog to share a photo.

To see more of India's fabulous photos visit her Facebook Fan Page.

We'll see you tomorrow!

Just the right size

2011-07-11T11:34:00.000-04:00

The swan and the Ballerina...

Jason had drawn the stencils for me of the swan and the ballerina long before I started this quilt.

But he drew them different sizes and not together.

I wanted the ballerina to be bowing over the swan.

What to do?

I used my handy dandy copier and started by blowing up the swan to the exact size I wanted it and then once I got the swan I would be closer to knowing what size the ballerina needed to be.

The key detail was I wanted them to be UNDER the poppies. To give it a more magical feeling.

Transformation of any kind is rather magical if you ask me and that is what this quilt is ALL about.

Here is a picture of the first copies I made trying them out on the background.

There's progress. They were face to face, but she definitely needs to be bigger.

In this next one I was getting there, but she still needed to be bigger.

After about an hour and a half of shrinking and enlarging I finally managed to get her the right size.

She is gracefully bowing over the swan, under the poppies a bit, and the proportions don't look too off.

After this photo I actually ended up shrinking the swan just a little bit since the ballerina can't be any bigger and still stay under the poppies.


close up of swan stencil

I have to admit that this stage of the process was much harder for me than it ever has been before. I have always had the subjects drawn on the same page before and I have always started with them and knew what size they were going to be before ever starting a quilt.

This step caused me a lot of frustration - especially since it came while I had PLENTY of time to work on the quilt and was eager to be sewing and get this out of the way.

Now that I am through it, I like knowing I can work both ways and I know what to do and not do.

This is an aspect of quilting I truly appreciate it.

It always pushes me to figure out something and then on the next quilt it is much easier and there is always something else. I always get through the frustration and end up with a product I like. I don't stop working on it until I get it just like I want it.

I do not settle for less than I am capable of.

Close up of ballerina stencil (yes, I will be piecing her skirt.)

I also have learned I CAN actually work without necessarily knowing exactly what the finished product is going to look like. I have told myself for years I have to have it all together beginning to end and now I realize I really don't. This stuff flows out of me because it is my greatest teacher.

I'm off to start piecing the swan!

Until next time!

Be well!

Observation Medication 7/8/11

2011-07-08T08:18:00.001-04:00

This week my observations have turned to water.

photo credit: http://cindrellaforever.blogspot.com/2011/04/rainmy-special-love.html

In Georgia, during the summer, rain gives us a break from the heat and humidity.

The humid air draws the sweat from our bodies. Which then causes the dust to stick to our skin.

The air feels thick because it is.

We hear thunder in the distance and we begin to crave the rain.

It stays on our minds.

We long for it.

We pray for it.

photo credit: http://theshopatvictoriagardens.blogspot.com/2010/07/rain.html

I was laying in bed last night listening to the thunder off in the distance.

It brought my thoughts to the rain and the effect it has on me.

photo credit: http://duckburg-gazette.blogspot.com/2007/12/rain-we-got-some-much-needed-rain-last.html

In the winter, the rain drains me. I want it to go away.

Downpour after downpour keeps us even more inward because it cold and wet and who wants to get out in that?

In the summer, I love the rain.

I beg the skies to let it fall to us (without the violent thunderstorms)

photo credit: http://sands7.wordpress.com/2007/05/page/2/

I love the smell of the damp.

Since I was a little girl I have loved mud puddles and playing in the rain.

You will seldom see me with an umbrella as I almost always prefer to walk in the rain.

photo credit: http://tallgreengrass.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/rain/

A good summer rain brings chills to the skin.

Every time a rain drop hits my skin it surprises me.

It's like I never expected it even though I know it is raining.

It still sends a shock wave through my body stimulating my senses until the next one hits.

I love the sound of the rain dripping off the leaves of trees as they drop down leaf by leaf the the ground.

photo credit: http://7art-screensavers.com/free-clipart/7art-00002_big-leaf-rain-drop.shtml

Walking in the woods right after a big heavy rain is my favorite time to be in the woods. It is a different backdrop to the bird song and the birds have to sing louder to be heard over the drops. Yet, somehow it is still so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a good rain, I love how fresh everything smells and looks.

The plants stand tall and proud when the sun comes back out - replenished.

The fruit in the garden ripen before your eyes.

photo credit: http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-wallpapers/788.html

Remember after a good summer shower to look up. The possibility of a rainbow is much higher in the summer since the sun never truly hides behind the clouds for long and who doesn't feel full of joy seeing a rainbow?

Have a good weekend!

I will see you on Monday!

Notes on finishing the background (With a minor soapbox)

2011-07-07T08:53:00.000-04:00

After getting the leaves sewn down, the last step on the background was finishing the poppies.

I needed to sew in the petal veins (I did the leaves as they were sewn down.).

And, I needed to make and sew the poppy seed heads and flower buds.

I decided to use the variegated Red King Tut thread I have and got busy.

I used red Isacord thread in my bobbin.

This piece isn't layered yet so it doesn't matter yet what the back looks like.

(Quilt judges... close your ears.) I am not of the quilting mentality that the bobbin thread has to match the back of the quilt - especially if it is going to take away from the top of the quilt in ANY WAY - as in if you can't get your tension exactly right. Even if you do then there are still going to be times it pops to the surface. I just don't think it is possible to be that consistent on your machine that the top thread never shows on the bottom or that the bobbin doesn't come to the top, so why give yourself an extra hard time? Use thread that matches.

Most people that even bother to look at the back of a piece want to see what the stitching looks like on the back to get a real idea of how much there is. My experience is that people are usually excited to be able to see it well. Most people can't imagine the amount of work that goes into a quilt and it helps them connect with it and the process.

Now, I will step down off my soap box and continue with this post.

Because I left this step out BEFORE sewing down the leaves and stems I was able to hide the stems under the flowers.

Jason and I drew some poppy buds - different sizes and I put those on.

Lastly, I made the seed heads.

I had to decide whether to show the very tops of the seed heads with fabric or with beads.

I decided to hold off and use beads at the very end.

Now, that the "background" is all finished until it is time to sew down beads and roving (which I have ordered and hasn't arrived yet) I'm onto the foreground!

I'm starting to think I may actually get this quilt done before my show with India in August.

I'm off to quilt!

See you tomorrow!

Leaves, Technology mixed with Dance

2011-07-06T09:50:00.000-04:00

Making the leaves for the poppies turned into really pushing my brain to figure out how to make them look "natural," but without too much work - especially since there is still a foreground coming.

When I last showed them to you, I had begun sewing them down. In the process of doing that I realized they had to go down one at a time, sometimes over a stem, sometimes, under a stem. Sometimes they had to be sewn completely down before even another leaf could go on.

In order to keep them from looking flat, everything had to go down in a certain order.

Here's a photo of where I had left off when I last showed you the leaves.

When I got off work on Friday, I was foot loose and fancy free as my Aunt Geri would call it. (I have always loved this saying as one of my great southern favorites.)

The kids had gone to my parents, Jason was still at work and I had almost 3 hours to myself. OH! YEAH!!!

I often take time when I am home by myself to dance and I did on Friday for almost an hour. I find that when I dance it opens up the creative juices even more and I can work in HYPER speed when I get back to an art project. Problems I may have been encountering suddenly resolve themselves very easily.

Dance inspires me in so many ways...

I knew I had quite a bit of work to do on those leaves.

I needed a way to do them without having to spend time in between each leaf to figure out where the next would go.

I needed to figure out how I wanted it to look completed without having to stop each time and rework the leaves.

You can see here, I pinned them down how I wanted them to look finished.

I was doing this between every. single. leaf. I would sew the next one down and re-pin the leaves to figure out where the next would go.

How dancing inspired me this time:

When I sat down after rinsing off the sweat from dancing I realized I could make a picture of how I wanted it to look finished, then print it out and use that as a template.

AHHHH.... the simplicity of technology - sometimes.

So, I set to work IMMEDIATELY...

I made three photos. One of the whole quilt, one of all the leaves and stems, and lastly, a photo of the section I would be working on close up. I made the last one close enough that I could see the patterns of the fabric very clearly.

I took the SIM card out of my camera plugged it into the computer and viola - there they were.

I clicked PRINT.

Now, what size?

I went with 8X10" rather than smaller then I could pin them to my design wall and see them easily while I was working.

Easy Peasy.

I then took the one which focused on the leaves the closest and numbered them in the order I wanted to sew them down.

After I knew how they were going to go down, I took the leaves off in the order I would be sewing them down and made a small pile by my sewing machine.

I pinned the other two(also numbered) directly over my ironing board on my design wall so I could make sure I was ironing them down where I wanted them finished.

I set back to work sewing down one leaf at a time.

Because I didn't have to figure out where the next leaf would go in between ironing them down and sewing I was able to get them finished before Jason and I went out for dinner and music.

They are not exactly the same. I found myself wanting to change them a little, but at least I had a general game plan and they managed to go down and look natural in a fraction of the time!

I will be filing that step in my folder of things to definitely remember to use in the future and I will be working on remembering sometimes the simplest things to do are right in front of us. I don't need to make things harder than they need to be. Sometimes, they are quite simple.

See you tomorrow! I'm on to the next step!

India's Tuesday Photo 7/5/11

2011-07-05T10:09:00.000-04:00

On Tuesdays, I share a photo by my daughter, India who is 12. She has quite the eye for photography as well as some pretty mad skills at editing her photos. If you like what you see, you can visit her Facebook Fan Page to see more.

I almost forgot today was Tuesday after that wonderfully long weekend. If only the weekend didn't have to end today...

Here is this weeks photograph!

I'm off to quilt!

See you tomorrow!

Thoughts on Camping by myself

2011-07-04T09:43:00.000-04:00

I know many of you were eager for me to get to this post last week, but I needed to process the trip myself first before really sharing how it was for me with anyone.

It will come as no surprise if you know me that it was easily one of the best things I have ever done for myself.

I had a lot of emotional buildup to going. And a lot of anxiety about it.

I cried a lot.

It was terrifying to think about being alone in the woods - by myself - knowing there are bear, coyotes, mountain lions, raccoons, who knows what else out there. And then, there was the element of being all by myself with no other human to talk to.

I was scared.

Jason, being the ever supportive husband, held me and reassured me I would be fine, but I didn't have to do it. I could wait until I was ready.

Thinking about it now, I don't think I was ever going to be "ready." I was doing something most people would never do by themselves. Something most wouldn't want to do.

I knew in my heart it was something I had to do or I would never be able to look at myself in the mirror again with the same confidence I see myself having.

So, Thursday I got all my stuff out and made the decision if I wasn't able to be on the road by 4:30 I wouldn't go until Saturday.

Everything worked out wonderfully - even with a long day of work and arriving to work almost an hour late I STILL managed to get home by 3:30. I finished getting my stuff together and you would not believe the anxiety and excitement I had coursing through me all at the same time.

At 4:30 I was ready to go.

Jason and the kids walked me to the car.

I started crying... again. We all embraced. He gave me my last out, but I knew there was no turning back.

I HAD to do it. Even if I chickened out during the night, I at least HAD to get there and try.

About half way to the mountain, the bottom fell out of the sky. There was thunder, lightening, and heavy rain. I couldn't believe it. I mean, come on, I was doing it, I was overcoming this awful fear I have and it's going to rain on me? GIVE ME A BREAK! I pulled over for a moment and had to decide to persevere or go home. I decided worse case scenario, it was raining in the mountains and I had to sleep on my friends porch or in her house and Saturday would be my night.

I had worked out this theory that Friday night would be my night of fear. I would get next to no sleep because I would be afraid of everything and then Saturday night was when the journey would really begin. So, I figured, I was there to overcome the fear, not so much the journey the second night, so one night in the woods would be ok with me - at least that was what I told myself to feel reassured that I should just GO ON.

It rained the ENTIRE drive. I mean not drizzle or mist, but RAIN...

When I got to Catherine's around 7:30 was when the sun came back out. I felt blessed, but I figured it was still too wet to sleep outside, but she said she thought I should go on and told me how to build a fire with wet stuff and sent me on my way.

I was not expecting that. I had reached a point of relaxation knowing I would be sleeping on the porch and of course I could have, but I couldn't. What would Catherine think? This woman whom I hold in this really high place of honor when it comes to Earth Wisdoms? Would she still respect me the next day?

So, I unloaded the food out of my pack and left it in my van - there are bear in those woods and I was trying to be as safe as possible and I headed down the mountain to find a spot to pitch my tent.

Stupid insecurities. The things we tell ourselves, right? Of Course, Catherine would still love me the next day no matter what I did.

It was so wet. EVERYTHING.

I decided to pitch my tent a little more than half way down, next to the spot she has her sweat lodge built. There is a small fire ring there and it is about the only flat place to pitch a tent.

I was pretty proud of myself because I was able to get it done quickly with a tarp under it and over it to help keep me dry.(I stayed dry the entire time.)

Then, I went to town building a fire.

My dearest friend, Holly, made the suggestion I take a starter log to ensure I had a fire. When she made this suggestion she was just trying to help me curb some of my anxiety because she only recently had done the same (She was my inspiration for this trip) and she knew what I was getting myself into. Jason told me I didn't need it, but boy was I glad I listened to Holly and not Jason.

I have never been so grateful for such a small piece of advice before. With the help of the starter log I had a KILLER fire - even with all the wet wood. It dried out super fast and kept a glow for most of the night.

I laid my little blanket out beside it. I had my knife and my dog and I waited to get scared.

Naturally, I heard every sound in the woods and so did Pepper, but I just kept waiting for the fear to roll in.

I tended my fire well. I kept it going and blazing until about 1:00 in the morning when I was just plain tired. I didn't sleep well the night before due to anxiety and I had had a super busy day of running around and working, so I was just tired. I didn't understand why I wasn't scared and was going to bed acceptable if I wasn't scared?

EVERY lady I talked to told me how awful their first night was. I believe none of them slept and here I was so sleepy and so tired and not scared. Was something wrong with me?

I decided forget it, I probably won't sleep if I get away from the fire, that's when I will get scared when I get away from the safety of the fire (although it was only a few feet from my tent). I banked it, made sure it was safe for the night, called Pepper, and into the tent we went.

I laid there, listening to the roar of the river, listening to the water drop from the leaves on the trees above me and waited to hear the wild animals and I drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to Pepper growling under her breath. I put my hand on her and reassured her through my sleep that we were ok and I listened. I heard feet, but there were quite a good many feet and little to no noise. It was probably deer. I peeked through the tent to look at the fire, it was still glowing pretty well and I went back to sleep.

I awoke again to Pepper dreaming. The second time I woke up I was a little more aware of where I was than the first time. I listened intently to the forest and all I heard were rain drops. I started feeling a little scared, but then I reassured myself that there were all these women who had gone before me and done this and they all came out just fine. They paved the way for me to be here now and not be afraid, so I went back to sleep.

I slept until 9:00 am - when I heard some paddlers going down the river and Pepper having a fit about it. We were not near enough to the river for anyone down there to be able to see us, so I let her out of the tent and I just laid there and listened and thought what is the matter with me. Do I not have the sense to get scared when I should? I was having a hard time with the fact that I felt cradled by those woods.

I felt calm and serene.

I was thoroughly enjoying the silence (once Pepper stopped barking at the folks on the water) and the lack of conversation and technology. I had a radio with me I could have listened to, but I loved the song those woods sang.

I hopped up out of bed and decided to go ahead and gather all my fire wood for that night early in the morning. By doing all my work early on, I could just enjoy my day laying around and reading and walking...

I worked on my pile for a while then Pepper and I made the assent back up the mountain to get some food out of the car. (It was quite a trek back up the mountain)

When we got back to the tent after eating, I gathered a little more fire wood and then put on my bathing suit and headed to the water. It was REALLY cold. I always forget how much colder mountain water is. I didn't swim. I washed off. Pepper got in and almost got taken by the current. She had never been in the water before and didn't know what to do with herself. I'm going to have to take her to a slower moving river or a lake for her to learn to swim I think, but she enjoyed splashing around in the shallow water once we got her back to it.

We didn't stay on the water very long. There are a lot of paddlers on those waters and to be honest with you, I was more afraid of the humans on the water than I was of the wild beasts in the woods.

I went back to my tent and wrote some on the thoughts I was having. I got my book out and read, but mostly, I just laid there and listened to the sounds of the wood. The silence was all the stimulation I needed.

It was AMAZING!

The day went VERY slowly. I built my fire back up from the coals of the previous nights fire and kept a small fire going most of the day. That was one of the goals I had set for myself. I wanted to keep a fire going the entire time I was there.

All of sudden, I started coming down with a headache. I had not had any caffeine and I am a coffee drinker. I knew I was in trouble. I tried to tend to it best I could, but I knew what was coming. I could feel it in my stomach. I was going to come down with a migraine because I had forgotten that one vice.

I decided to pack my stuff up and head home. I wasn't going to be able to beat the headache - even if I drank something with caffeine in it (which would entail asking Catherine for it) I would still have a headache because I am so prone to them and I had gone too long without caffeine.

I'm pretty proud of myself because I didn't give myself a hard time about it.

You live and learn and I had done what I came to do.

I overcame my fear of the woods.

I officially know I can stay in the woods by myself and I thoroughly enjoyed both a day and a night in the woods by myself.

I also endured my mind, which didn't give me any fits, and I was ready to go.

Catherine gave me some tea and that helped. I also took some medicine for it. Then, I headed home.

It rained on the mountain right after I left. I made a good decision to come home. I have no regrets about cutting my trip short.

Coming home was awesome. I listened to lovely music and Pepper was so tired she laid right beside me the whole way. We are bonded because of our trip and I look forward to many more with this little companion. She loves the woods as much as I do.

No one was home when I got here, so that was also a big plus for me. I came in and got cleaned up and was able to enjoy just a little while longer with no noise.

So, what did I learn?

I learned I put a lot of energy into anticipating how I am going to feel and how something is going to be. I think this be a pattern in myself I really need to examine and spend some time working with. I would like to learn how to not build things up so stressful in my mind and learn to better enjoy the process.

I also learned I love being by myself. (I already knew that as I am an only child). I had thought I had become pretty co-dependent on J and the kids for stimulation and enjoyment and I was able to see that I really like me and my thoughts. I like hanging out with me. I'm a pretty all right chick.

I learned I have WAY more confidence than I thought I did in myself, in nature, and in others.

And the biggest lesson... that I trust at the end of the day, EVERYTHING will be ok. It always is no matter how hard the lessons or struggle.

Will I do it again? ABSOLUTELY.

Will I have anxiety about it? Probably, but I'm just a work in progress.

Until next time!

Be well!

Observation Medication 7/1/11

2011-07-01T08:38:00.000-04:00

This week I have been paying VERY close attention to the ground.

The weather has been humid and hot. We've gotten a few really nice showers to soak the soil and feed the vegetables, but with it comes the humidity.

With these great conditions the woods and garden are alive with mycelium popping up all over the place.

Mushrooms, Mushrooms, Mushrooms... EVERYWHERE!

OK, that's an exaggeration. They are not everywhere and you do have to be paying attention to see them, but they are popping up all over the place.

Unfortunately, I don't know a lot about mushrooms.

It is something I am going to work on and study in the coming years/lifetime.

I was even trying to identify the ones I took photos of, but the mushroom book we own is hard to use and I googled it and no real luck there either.

I am going to have to be on the lookout for a good mushroom book.

Mushrooms are a lot like the early spring flowers I love so much.

They are only above the soil/humus layer for a few days IF you are lucky.

You have to be paying attention to see them.

I appreciate most things that cause me to pay closer attention.

Mushrooms are the reminder of the never ending cycle of life.

They remind me of the ongoing story that happens behind the scenes. There is a lot of work that happens for us to enjoy and reap the bounty and beauty of flowers and vegetables and the shade of trees.

They play a big role in decomposition and renewal.

In order for something new to be born and fertilized to grow, something has to be given up. In order for life to continue, a death of some kind has to occur.

Here are a few facts I did find when I googled them trying to identify the ones in this post.

There are approximately 10,000 different species of mushroom. Each growing only under its own specific conditions. Much like us. Mushrooms are pretty choosy about where they grow and then when they find the just right environment to grow in, they go to town.

They often grow in symbiosis with their host plant, but there are also plenty of fungi that cause as much damage as they do good.

Mushrooms are present often weeks before they pop through the surface of the soil and a baby mushroom can grow a tall stock in a matter of hours.

Mushrooms are complicated. They are so specific in their needs and in the action they serve.

I've got a long ways to go before I can claim to know much about them, but for now, I'm happy to see them in the woods and I am thankful for the color they bring to the forest floor as well as the hard work they do in the ever spiraling process of death and rebirth.

Got a mushroom book recommendation? Tell me about it, PLEASE!

I will see you Monday hopefully with some great quilt progress to share!

Be Well!

A Leaf Here and A Leaf There

2011-06-30T09:29:00.000-04:00

I've started making the leaves to go on the poppy stems and through the process of working on the leaves I am now able to better envision where the poppy seed heads and the poppy buds are going to go.

It does not look like it is going to need very many as the top of the quilt is looking pretty full thanks to the flowers, but it definitely is going to need a few.

In the process of figuring it all out I realized I will have to sew one down at a time and do all the stitch work individually or they aren't going to look very "natural."

I'm trying to achieve a bit of depth with the leaves and stems. It's slow going, but I feel certain this small amount of extra effort will pay off in the end - as it often does.

There are so many little details I have to think about and this is only the background!

No one can ever say I am not a detail oriented person.

Thankfully, working on this quilt is all I have to do this week and we have NO plans for the weekend as of right now. Thought, I must admit since it will be a four day weekend I wouldn't mind heading off for a hike somewhere with the kids.

See you tomorrow!

I'm off to work on my quilt.

Just trying it... Sometimes that's all it takes.

2011-06-29T08:28:00.000-04:00

In my last post regarding being Stuck at the Stems I couldn't decide whether I wanted to move the stems of the poppies around a bit or leave them as they were. I was feeling pretty frustrated. I wasn't angry I was just wanting to keep the creativity moving (or so I thought), but now I realize sometimes in order to move forward sometimes I have to move backwards.

Thankfully, I was away from them for a couple of days and coming back to them gave me a fresh perspective and a little internal movement.

I decided I could move the stems around and see whether I like them and if not. If I don't like them, no harm done, I just put them back like they were to the best of my ability.

Now, my question to myself is, why didn't I think of this when I was in the moment rather than having to stew over it for days.


BEFORE

Who would have thought it could be so simple? Yet, here I was holding onto what I had already done. How often do we do this in life?

I often put things off because I don't like to back track. Always moving forward is my "motto", but then... moments like this help me remember we often have to go back to the beginning to figure out how to break patterns that slow us down in order to keep the momentum to grow and change.

AFTER

Naturally, the placement of the stems is only a little different from the original stems, but the beauty is that the simple of act of trying it out and letting go of my attachment to the work I had already done and the willingness to change when it came time to do so.

And best of all... I like them better. Especially with a new perspective.

Just stepping out and trying it. Sometimes, that's all it takes!

Until tomorrow!

Be well!

India's Tuesday Photo 6/28/11

2011-06-28T07:54:00.000-04:00

I made it home safe and sound from my solo camping trip. I learned a lot about myself and will share it with you sometime soon. I haven't gotten all my thoughts together yet since life is as busy as it is and I have been eager to get back to my quilt, but hopefully in the coming week sometime you will get to hear all about it.

In the meantime, it is Tuesday, and here India's photo for the week!

See you tomorrow with a quilt update!

Be well!

Observation Medication - 6/24/11

2011-06-24T10:09:00.000-04:00

This weeks observations turn more from the outside inward.

Naturally, I have noticed the increasing heat outside as we entered into summer on Tuesday with the Summer Solstice, the longest day of light in the year.

If you pay close attention you will notice the light beginning to change before much longer as we now move towards fall. Of course, this is not without our most intense heat of the year yet.

In my walking and thinking and paying attention this week, I have noticed a lot of fear of the natural world in myself.

I am acutely aware of snakes in the woods - though I haven't seen any yet this year.

India and her friend Grace saw a large black snake on Tuesday, but we've known that one lives around here for a while. We usually see it a couple of times a summer.

As I walk in the woods I have become increasingly aware of how much rattlesnakes look like fallen pine tree limbs. Talk about perfect camouflage for a pine forest like ours.

I have noticed in myself how as it grows warmer outside how much more aware I am of paying attention to my hope of NOT seeing snakes.

I am terrified of them and I wish I wasn't.

I have been told countless numbers of times to not worry about them and how they have no interest in me. I even know there are very few bites that happen each year, but I am still consumed with the thought of them and my fear of them.

I also assume much of my paranoia and mind drifting into fear is coming from anxiety about the camping trip I leave for today.

I have never been camping by myself.

Not even in the backyard, so there is a lot of anxiety for me around it.

Will I be able to keep my fire going? Will I be able to get my food hung in a tree? Will I see a bear and will it eat my food? Will Pepper (our puppy) run off? What will I do with all that time on my hands other than think myself to death?

The truth is, when I get real with myself and stop letting the fear move in, I KNOW this is what I want to do.

I KNOW I will be fine.

I am going to land belonging to a dear friend and she will be keeping a gentle watchful eye on me.

Everything will be just perfect for my experience.

This is something I have never done before and I really struggle with the letting go of the control and because of it I tend to build things up with anxiety trying to find things to worry about.

The truth is, I am afraid of the unknown.

I mean, WHO isn't?

Is this not the reason we should push ourselves to do things that make us step into the unknown and out of our comfort zone?

So, here I am... off to conquer another fear - actually, many fears and to learn a lot about nature and myself.

Two nights in my tent, in the woods, on the river with my dog.

I feel sure it will be an experience I will never forget.

Until Monday! Have a great weekend and send me lots and lots of good vibes!

Stuck at the Stems

2011-06-23T10:51:00.002-04:00

I don't know if it was because I was so tired last night or if it is because I am at another standstill with flowers that I can't seem to move forward again.

I'm going to hope it was simple exhaustion and that I will be moving on in a day or two with clear ideas on how best to proceed.

I made the stems out of three different shades of green wool roving. I first used the wool roving on my last quilt, Yab Yum for the pink day lillies over the lovers heads.

I like the texture it adds to the quilt.

So, where is the hang up this time, you ask?

It's a myriad of things.

I like the stems like I have put them on, but Jason was suggesting not making them so straight. (The stems will have leaves on them.)

Looking at poppies on the internet, their stems are relatively straight while they bloom. They have a bend at the top of the stem when they are in the bud form. Then, when the blooms open up to face the sun the stem straightens up. Naturally, the weight of the bloom creates a gentle curve, but they stand more or less straight.

I have to decide to keep them as they are, or take his advice.

This time, I will probably leave them as they are.

I also have to keep in mind, before putting a ton of work into it, that the stems and the leaves will be behind the foreground, so does it really matter that much?

I have gotten a bit hung up on the buds and seed heads too. I'm just not sure if I really want to add them or leave them off as they will be a subtle detail. I made one as you can see in the picture below. (There is a small green bud, but you have to look closely to see it.)

I think my plan for now is to go ahead and make the leaves for these flowers and see where that gets me and see where it leads.

Often times, I just need a subtle distraction and then it will become crystal clear.

I'm off to pack for my first solo camping trip this weekend - talk about subtle distraction!

See you tomorrow!

More Poppies

2011-06-22T09:56:00.000-04:00

I have finished up fusing the poppies and am moving on to the stems, leaves, and buds.

Once I get the rest of the plant down then I plan to go back and add some more shading and petal veins to the flowers. I am holding off on that for now because I want to wait until I have everything down. Who knows how it will come together once I am sitting at my machine and fusing the leaves.

I like the idea of being open to letting it evolve on its own while I am working on it. My ideas change moment by moment when my hands are touching it and feeling it.

To me, Poppies represent potential - and a LOT of it. They produce a tremendous amount of seed in one seed head. There is so much possibility in one small poppy seed head.

And the plant itself is astonishing in that such a beautiful flower can grow from something as small as a poppy seed. It reminds me of the potential of even the smallest things happening around us that can blossom into beauty and joy when given the right conditions to grow.

Poppies are also flowers one cannot help but notice in the garden or on the roadside. They make such a statement when you pass them by.

They are sweet, but passionate.

I'm keeping my eye on the sky today as it keeps trying to burst forth some sweet summer rain. If we get it without the thunder and lightening I may get outside with the kids and play in the rain today.

Until tomorrow! I hope it rains!

India's Tuesday Photo 6/21/11

2011-06-21T12:21:00.000-04:00

Happy Solstice Everyone! The longest day of light in the year! Summer Begins today! What plans do you have for summer?

Today India's photo is from her rose garden. Actually, from her first rose ever.

Until tomorrow! Enjoy!

Observation Medication 6/17/11

2011-06-17T17:31:00.001-04:00

Today's observation medication I'm taking directly from my journal with no editing (although I must admit it is VERY hard to rewrite this without doing so.) I wrote this after spending many hours just wandering and enjoying the beauty of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest with Jason.

There are no words I can write to describe what a magical place it is. I felt like a child trying to savor everything and I ended up taking over 200 photos while in the woods so I wouldn't be able to forget it.

6/11/11 entry:

Joyce Kilmer is beautiful.

The trees are large, but not as large as the sequoahs, but mighty and wise in their own right.

The forest has magic.

The Floor is lined with wild flowers and ferns.

It is an old wood.

A loved wood.

There are these two trees that stand near the center, side by side.

I imagine them as the grandmother and grandfather trees.

They gave birth to all that we saw and became today.

These wise trees know the humans come and marvel at them and wonder what they think of them.

They have no words for the humans.

In their silence, they teach them to STOP.

Be fierce.

Stand firm.

Be able to sway with the breezes that blow.

Be flexible and always growing.

To always reach for more.

To reach for more joy.

The trees are wise.

They understand the cycle of living and dying and never living on your own, but in communion with all that is around you.

They understand dying and leaving this world to become something new.

They know how to bring up what once was inside of themselves.

They remember all they have ever known.

They understand standing still.

They welcome the life that grows all around them and they teach that precious life to stand up and reach for the sun!

They teach those sweet plants their role in the cycle of life so they can grow to be whole and appreciate the opportunity they have been given.

The trees have no secrets because they are pure.

They act from their heart and when they are hurt they don't look for something else outside of themselves to do the work of healing, they do it themselves. If they aren't able, they fall over because they know this is how life works. We fall over until we get it right.

The trees understand that branches have to sometimes be shed when they are no longer serving their purpose to help them to continue to reach for the sun.

They fall away to become something old becoming something new.

These wise trees have strong limbs that are always reaching for more.

These trees understand the importance of reproduction and life being given and repeating and teaching what is important.

Trees know life is a gift that can be taken at any moment, so we must always be ready and creating so that we can leave an image of our love here for us to remember and to help others to stay awake!

The trees understand stillness.

Of quiet.

Of listening.

They understand when we breathe and when we reach we open our hearts to become.

Grandmother and Grandfather tree taught me much today.

May this be a reminder for all the beauty and joy I experienced and may my light shine brighter and my spirit sing the lessons the trees have taught me.

Aho.

Poppies! Oh my!

2011-06-17T15:44:00.000-04:00

I was too busy at work yesterday to make this post and even though it is Friday and I am due for Observation Medication (which I am also about to write) I wanted to share the poppies I have started because... I LOVE them!

I'm using raw edge applique on them since they will be in the "background" of the quilt! I've traced them onto the wonder under and have placed them on the design wall to see how they are going to look.

Then I pulled out my red fabrics I want to use and stacked them up by gradation.

And then, I went to work trying to take into consideration where the lightest petals and darkest petals would be.

So far, so good.

Quilting from the back

2011-06-15T11:43:00.001-04:00

I started stitching down the weaving on Sunday and finished it up last night while Jason and the kids were out of the house.

Oh the joy of being home alone with the animals, good music and my thoughts...

On to the stitching...

I wanted the stitching to be subtle on the background since it is so busy. I don't want to do anything else that will make it stand out from the foreground when I get there. I went with simple black thread. (I used black Isacord).

When I started stitching I realized I couldn't see where I was going. I had to turn the piece over and work on the underside where I could see where I was going.

This was a huge leap of faith for me to take. Machine quilting is hard in my opinion. Practice, practice and more practice really just leads to more practice and then there are still always stitches that don't catch quite right (at least for me - and I practice a lot). I decided to trust myself and go with it.

When I finished a bobbin, I turned it over to make sure everything was looking ok and it looks just fine. It is subtle and looks like it was done neatly - just what I wanted.

Jason actually ask me why I was putting so much work into something you can barely see, and my answer was that I know that it is there and that's all that matters. I know I put the effort to do my best into it.

Now, I'm on to the next step. Making poppies!

Tonight is the reception at the Oconee County Library! I hope some of you can make it!

See you tomorrow! (or maybe see you tonight!)

From our studios

2011-06-14T12:52:00.000-04:00

Two posts in one day...

Tomorrow is the reception at the Oconee County Library from 6-8pm. It is an opportunity to meet the other two lovely women whom I have the great fortune of sharing wall space through mid-July. If you are around, please come on out to meet me and check out their works too!

Here's the article from this weeks Oconee Enterprise. I couldn't link to it, so it was scanned in (sorry), but in case you wanted to read it...

India's Tuesday Photo 6/14/11

2011-06-14T12:32:00.000-04:00

This week India has another photo from our trip to the beach to share with you.

Heading down to the water in the evenings to watch the sun set was a big part of our vacation. Watching the sun go down over the water is always breathtaking and India took plenty of beautiful pictures of those moments.

Sunset over India Shores, FL.

Keeping up with my Images

2011-06-13T20:25:00.000-04:00

I have been working on getting all my drawings ready to move from stencil to fabric and thought I might share how I keep my images organized - both on paper and in the computer.

When I decide to do something like a swan or a poppy, I google images of the subjects I intend to make.

When I am going through images on the web I am looking for a wide variety of pictures to use together to form exactly what I want. I'm looking for shape, color, and shading. I usually download and save 10 or so images at a time, then print them as guides for the final images. (I put all the color images I will be basing my colors on up on my design wall to help me choose fabrics and as a guide for shading.) I try to ONLY use non copy written images for my images - even though my stencils are not direct replicas. It is always better to be safer than sorry later.

I have a big file I save them under on the computer named quilt images. This is where anything I download for a quilt is saved in case I loose the picture or it gets messed up or I need to redo my initial sketch. This way I don't have to go looking for the original picture I was using all over again.

Then there are sub-files for specifics such as flowers, birds, trees, shapes, ect. Again, this just helps cut out time. If I know I have already used a hawk picture and it is in the bird folder; I can cut out a lot of useless web browsing and spend more time working on my quilt. BIG plus for me!

I even took it one step further.

Under the flower folder there are more sub-folders of the specific types of flowers, birds, and trees. (For example, there is a folder for each of the following: poppies, iris, daisies, ect., or under the birds sub-folder there are the following specific birds: hawks, eagles, hummingbirds, swans, ect. )

This last step makes finding what I'm looking for specifically VERY easy.

Then folder that contains hummingbirds, for instance, has them flying in varying shapes and directions as well as sizes so hopefully, my starting point will be something I have already found and if I am really lucky, something I have already drawn.

By having it organized this way, I know when I need something I have used before there are images already there for me and I have to spend less time searching the web for the "perfect" ones to pick from.

Less computer time means more sewing time.

I also have an accordion style folder that I keep all my drawn images in organized the same way. By keeping my already made images I may or may not have to re-create something for the project I am currently working on. It may need blowing up or shrinking for the desired size, but that is a lot less work in the long run than having to start from scratch.

I seldom use an image just as it is when I download it line for line. For one, that is illegal, and secondly, I'm only looking for inspiration with the images I am using. I may trace wings of one bird and put them on the body of another bird. (unfortunately at this time, I don't have an example of this.)

Another reason I print images of the pictures I'm using is to help me translate the colors and shading. Making my quilts look like the real thing isn't all that important to me right now, but translating the over all plant properly is. If I am making an image up from my imagination completely, then the sky is the limit otherwise I like having something to reference.

I have my poppy templates drawn, but I have now run into the obstacle of needing them to all be around the same size which they are not right now, so my next project is to attempt to get them all relatively proportional in size with the scanner and editing software. I've never had to do this before, so we will see how it works out.

Once I accomplish that, I will heading to the print shop to have them blown up to the size I need them all to be.

Until tomorrow! I'm off to scan my poppies into the computer! Wish me luck!

Observation Medication 6/10/11-

2011-06-10T10:20:00.000-04:00

This weeks observation medication was going to be all about birds again this week along with the great things we saw in the water. While I was at the beach we visited the SunCoast Bird Sanctuary and I took a ton of pictures and I intended to share them with you, but they seem to have been erased from my camera. I am so bummed because we saw some truly great birds up close.

All the birds at the sanctuary are rescues and if they are rehabilitated and able to be released they are.

So, even though they aren't my pictures which is pretty disappointing for me, I still want to share some of the highlights of what we saw.

There was a barred owl.

http://duncraft.atom5.com/barred-owls-3542.html

To see this bird was really great timing because I have been on the lookout in our woods to see one since the kids found a few barred owl feathers along side some blue jay feathers. Now that I know we have one hanging about in our woods I have been looking for it in hopes of seeing it in the wild.

I was reading that they hide their nesting spots during the day time very well and they only hunt at night, so maybe I need to look for it closer to dusk.

There was a great horned owl.


http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id

I don't know how I would feel about coming up on one of these in the wild. I was reading they can be rather aggressive and intimidating.

I had never seen a peregrine falcon up close, but I was truly taken by the markings over their eyes... (I had a good picture of this, but alas... they are all gone...)


http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/id#

These birds were on the brink of extinction, but they are now making a come back which is great news to us bird enthusiasts!

There was the most wonderful red bellied woodpecker.


http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id

This little bird kept "modeling" for me while I was taking its picture making sure I got all of its angles. Too bad those pictures are gone too, but I have the memory, right?

Kalib and I found one of its feathers a couple of months ago and it jump started our study of birds, so it was nice to see one really close. And it turned out when I was paying attention again, I saw them all over the grounds of the condos we stayed at.

There were great egrets galore along with the snowy egret. I've never been so close to a great egret, but they were very docile and welcoming and equally as interested in us as we were them.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/id

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Egret/id

AND the pelicans... All shapes and sizes... AND pelican babies...

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Pelican/id


http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Pelican/id

The kids actually found what we are pretty sure is a pelican skull. We brought it home and are planning to take it to the Natural History Museum to find out.

Then in the water (not at the sanctuary) we saw all the following in a span of about 10 minutes.

A Manatee


http://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm

Holly actually touched it - I naturally got out of the water to get my camera to get a picture of it, but right behind it was this:


http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/creefshark/creefshark.htm

There was just one and it was about 3 feet long. Seeing it was enough to get most everyone out of the water until it swam back into deeper water. Touching the manatee and swimming with suddenly became a little less appealing.

While watching the shark and manatee we saw stingrays as well as golden sting rays.


http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/stingray/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/kool-kini/3127576060/

All in one day. All in about 10 minutes time.

I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of it all and it all happening so fast and the looks on my kids face I broke into tears of joy that we were having this moment together. And that they understood how lucky we were to get to see all this life before us. It made me proud of our values and proud of our kids.

We ended the day with a fancy dinner near the bay and there we saw dolphins.

What a way to end the day!!!

On Friday, our last day at the beach, there were two schools of sting rays swimming through the waters we were swimming in. At first they scared the kids and they didn't want to be in the water, but after being told how docile stingrays are by a few different people, they ended up swimming with them for about 2 hours. Now, I know there are plenty of you out there who will think me crazy for letting my kids swim with sting rays as they can sting and hurt, but it was a truly beautiful thing to watch. The sting rays were so curious about the kids and when they would swim through, the kids would stand perfectly still and let them pass through and then get back to their games.

This one is a photo I took (I did have some photos left on the camera) while standing in the stingrays.

India says it was the best vacation ever - Take that! Disney World! (No offense mom)! There is nothing like experiencing life in its own habitat.

Jason and I are off to the NC mountains to visit Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (some of the largest trees if not the largest in the Southeast). We are celebrating our 15 year wedding anniversary!

I can't wait to see what I end up learning and observing there. I've already downloaded a bird watching guide as well as a mammal reference to my nook!!! Oh the things I will learn!!!

Until Monday! Have a great weekend!

Transformation through Swan

2011-06-09T13:52:00.000-04:00

When I got home from the beach, other than seeing Jason, I was most excited to get back to work on the quilt I had started right before leaving.

I had a crazy dream about a swan and it immediately moved me to want to make one.

Anytime I am inspired so profoundly by a dream I try to pay attention to the why it stood out for me.

While I was at the beach with all that free time on my hands I did a lot of thinking and reading about swans. I looked into their stories, mythologies, and how they live.

For me, swans are all about transformation - much like a butterfly short of metamorphosis.

Most of us know the story of the ugly duckling who becomes the beautiful swan and that story resonates with a lot of people. They start out as relatively ugly little chicks and become giants of the water, yet they are graceful and peaceful. The ugly duckling has to over come his being different and finally he leaves his family where he finds his own beauty. When he returns, he is changed and he is beautiful.

I'm not leaving my family, but much like the ugly duckling, I have truths I believe about myself that I am working on transforming and leaving behind to see life as more beautiful and to see myself as more beautiful.

The growth is the process.

Swans are strong birds - yet they don't appear to be on the outside. To me, they seem gentle and peaceful. A swan could easily break an adult males arm with their strong wings and beaks. They are typically not aggressive birds although when disturbed or threatened (especially in protecting their young) they can be.

Another interesting fact about swans is that they tend to mate for life. There are not many animals or birds that mate for life.

Throughout mythology they are associated with shape-shifting. Another form of transformation. The ability to change in various circumstances.

I am eager to get to the piecing of the swan, though I still have quite a ways to go before I get there, I've finished the weaving and am ready to move on to the next step of this quilt which will be poppies!

I am working full time for the next three weeks so quilting will be coming in extra short spurts, but thankfully, I have momentum and drive on my side. Hopefully, there won't be too much lag time on this one.

I was planning on calling it Momentary Grace, but I have decided to call it Transformation. Feels like the medicine this quilt has in store for me.

Until tomorrow!

Enjoy your day!

India's Tuesday Photo 6/7/11

2011-06-07T09:28:00.000-04:00

We are home from vacation, but we came to home to no air conditioning, so we have been caught up in dealing with that. It was 92 degrees in my house when we got home on Saturday. Poor Jason, he was here trying to get it going, but with no luck. He's such a good man.

I have so much to write about, but haven't had the energy because I have been HOT - it got hot in Georgia while we were in Florida. What I want to know is who let that happen?

I thought I would write on my blog while at the beach since my heart always opens up so widely there, but alas, no wifi (can you believe it?). Honestly, I didn't miss it at all. Very little internet action left me so much time to engage in my thoughts and the simplicity of quiet - just what I have been asking for. Now, the goal is to carry that on into my everyday life and learn how to continue to integrate stillness in this fast paced world we live in.

I am eager to share my thoughts and experiences with you all and some new pictures of the great moving and mysterious mama ocean, but today I'm going to do laundry and clean now that our air is back on and the house is cool enough to move around in.

NOW... Onto India's photo this week!

India was the featured Whiz Kid on the Athens Patch last Wednesday and because I had little internet opportunity I wasn't able to share that with you. You can learn quite a bit about her HERE.

India's photo today is one she shared on her FaceBook Fan Page. (if you haven't already and you are on FaceBook, go there and like her page. Not only will she be thrilled, but she shares more pictures there than I share here.)

Cow (the name they gave this bird on the Inter-coastal waterway)

Friday announcement

2011-05-27T20:52:00.000-04:00

Sadly, this week I have no observations for you. I have seen and learned plenty this week, but in trying to get ready for the beach I have had no time to write it all down. I am certain next week will be filled with pictures from the ocean.

I do want to share with you that I have hung a show with Robin Faye and Rene Shoemaker at the Oconee County Library in the community room. The exhibit will be hanging through June. We will be having a small reception on Wednesday June 15 from 6-9pm. If you have time, stop in and say HI!!!!

And for an update on the recently started project... It is still in the same place it was when I showed you last :( Time has just not allowed me to get back to it this week...

Until next time!

India's Tuesday Photo 5/24/11

2011-05-24T12:34:00.000-04:00

On Tuesdays we spend very little time behind the computers and more time together. We craft, create, talk, and play. So, rather than writing a post I share a photo taken by our daughter, India.

Idle is not in my vocabulary

2011-05-23T08:47:00.000-04:00

I am supposed to be getting ready to go to the beach. I'm taking the kids with my friend Holly for a week to the beach this upcoming Saturday, but I can't see past getting started on my next quilt.

With a show coming up in August, I want to have some new work to hang and since quilts take such a long time for me to make I have to stay busy - not to mention I love it.

As I was finishing up YabYum I was already deep into the process of dreaming up what the next quilt was going to be and as soon as I had the spare time I got right to work - but not without a quick trip to my local quilting shop, Dragonfly, for a little fabric first.

Being idle makes me a little crazy. I can't stand not having something to work on.

I am a project oriented person. I like to always have some project I am working on and a project to dream on. I typically work from start to finish without starting a new project in between - except when I have to and even then I tend to work a little slowly because my energy is too spread out.

Friday, just like I had planned, I starched my next big piece of muslin and worked out the approximate size of this next piece and gathered all the fabric in the closet I could find that read as black and got started.

I have decided to stick with weaving at least for this next project. I haven't started developing the next idea fully so I don't know how long this part of the process will stay the same.

I worked on it off and on all weekend, but not without taking a break and going to the river with some of my favorite women and spending time in the sunshine and water. MMMMM....

Right now, I have finished about half of the background. I will be working on it some this week, but getting prepared to be gone for a week is my priority now.

Must. Focus. On. Something. Else.

I'm thinking of calling this one "Momentary Grace" but I'm not committed to that yet. We'll see. It will evolve like everything else as the lessons of Grace begin to pour in.

I'm off to the ironing board as I've used up all my first round of strips and to make my lists of what to carry to the beach.

See you tomorrow!