Quilt Voices

July 08, 2008

Norma — Progress on My Recent Projects

I posted on June 22, 2008 that I bought two new patterns. I have started working on both projects. Yes, I still have UFOs to work on and yes, I have started two new projects at once without finishing either project. Oh well, this is how I work. I flip between projects as the mood strikes me.

First up, is Charm Party Tote by Penny Sturges of Quiltsillustrated.com fame. You remember, the company with the motto, "No wimpy bags". This bag has been renamed, "Charm Walker" by a good friend and you can see why by taking a close look at the picture.

I have been talking about the multiple layers of Pellon fleece in this project and how when this bag is finished it will be able to stand on its own. In fact, I think it will be able to follow me as I walk through the mall. That has advantages as I will have more room to carry shopping bags if my purse can move on its own power.

This bag is only the outer layer so far and it stands pretty well. Imagine how stiff and proud it will stand once it has the Pellon lined pockets which are attached to the Pellon lined lining added!

Last night I looked for this project to show my mother and I couldn't find it. With all the joking I have been doing about it walking away on its own, I thought maybe it had given up waiting to be finished and had walked itself right out of my studio. But alas, it was there, turned inside out and thus camouflaged against all the other fabric in my studio. What a bag--it has the ability to walk on its own, and can camouflage itself into its surroundings when necessary!

Charm Walker, walk on!

This is the progress thus far on my Halloween version of All About Me by Atkinson Designs. I have plans to make this quilt large--queen bed size. These are only a few of the blocks. I was so anxious to see how it looked that I quickly laid out some of the blocks last night so I could share a picture.

This one could be renamed, All About Fun, because that is exactly what this pattern is, FUN!

July 07, 2008

Helen Pedersen — Scrap Useage

I have started to make inroads on the scrap collection. I've made this quilt top using crumb blocks which I cut to 4 1/2" and put in an attic window setting:
The quilt is quite large, 1.5 metres by 2 metres, and has 140 blocks (10 blocks by 14). I'm calling it "Night Metropolis". It is school holidays right now and I am going out to my good friend Janice's tomorrow. I will start quilting it on her Juki and Swiftquilter. I had better have a good think about how I want to quilt it in the next 12 hours.

I found the crumb blocks really relaxing to make and quite addictive. Sadly, the scrap collection doesn't look any smaller! I think I've got enough scraps to make about a million crumb blocks.

July 06, 2008

Helen Pedersen — Drowning in Scraps

I guess I am no different from most quilters, I have HEAPS of scraps. This is my scrap corner:
Everything you see here is scraps. Everything on the shelves are scraps, in the white plastic ice cream containers, in the orange photocopy paper box lids, in the boxes on the floor. They have been starting to overwhelm me. I cannot bring myself to throw any of them out. I hear my father's voice echoing in my head "waste not, want not". I have been keeping pieces as little as 1" by 1/2" for goodness sake! One of my friends says I have 'scrap-a-philia' and I need therapy. Another asked one of her on-line groups what they did with their scraps. Thankfully (for me), of everyone who replied, only one threw out her scraps. the others are like me, they keep them. It is reassuring to know I am not alone :-)

July 04, 2008

Lesley Riley — Studio Relocation

Starting tomorrow, this artist is relocating her studio at the edge of the ocean. Temporarily. It's our annual family vacation and this year we are going to Bethany Beach, Delaware for 2 weeks. Bliss. Rain or shine, I'll be in heaven, surrounded by my 6 children, 5 granddaughters, father, sister, the sons-daughter and brother-in-law, and one serious girlfriend. At peak, when all the guys are in

July 03, 2008

Karen Stiehl Osborn

The Harbor

the silent sentries
on watch inside the harbor
ever vigilant

Anne Bebbington — All done and dusted

Strange expression that........

'all done and dusted'

It's one I use all the time, I suppose my mum must say it too - I'll have to ask her this weekend.

I presume it comes from someone completing the housework - all done and dusted.

Not much time for dusting here over the past few days. When I've not been playing taxi driver for Nick's cricket and collecting Sarah from the station after visiting a friend near Bristol I've been stitching.
Et voila - a finish:
The triangles were a pig to do - don't you just hate quilting in the ditch - don't look too closely my lines are a tad wobbly. But it was fun doing the feathers and the petals on the flowers
And finally a green checked shirting for the binding completes the job.
It seems a while since I finished something which didn't have hearts on it! :o)

July 02, 2008

Lesley Riley — I Meant to Do My Work Today

I meant to do my work today, But a little girl came by to play, And another wee one found her way, And all the granddaughters were calling me. And my heart went sighing over the land, Tossing my art plans to and fro, And a child held out her shining hand, So what could I do but laugh and go? after Richard LeGallienne

July 01, 2008

Thelma Smith — Every Voice in Action Foundation,

 Job listing courtesy of the Tucson/Pima County Arts Commission

a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation headquartered in Tucson (AZ) and serving the greater Tucson area, seeks an experienced executive who has demonstrated commitment to youth voice and innovation, and is a dynamic, motivated, and visionary leader with strong administrative, organizational, communication, community networking, advocacy, and team-building skills. Complete position description can be viewed at www.everyvoicefoundation.org . To apply, submit (e-mail only) a cover letter, addressing the position description and major qualifications, and current resume, including the names and contact information for three references (references will be contacted for finalists only), by 08/01/08 to: searchcommittee@everyvoicefoundation.org

Thelma Smith — Library of Congress Announces Pilot Training Program for Indigenous Communities

Press Release courtesy of the Tucson/Pima County Arts Commission
The American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress announces a new pilot program that will train members of indigenous communities to document their own cultural traditions, archive this heritage for future generations, and undertake the task of protecting their intellectual property rights to these recordings and the traditions they document. The project is collaboration among the AFC, the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University in North Carolina, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based in Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-095.html

Thelma Smith — Grants Opportunity: NEA, American Masterpieces

Press Release courtesy of the Tucson/Pima County Arts Commission

American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius is a major initiative to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. Through American Masterpieces, the National Endowment for the Arts sponsors performances, exhibitions, tours, and educational programs across different art forms that reach large and small communities in all 50 states. This year, awards will be offered in four areas: Chamber Music, Dance, Presenting and Visual Arts Touring. Deadlines are different for each area – but all are September or November. For further details see  http://www.arts.gov/national/masterpieces/index.html

Thelma Smith — Grant Opportunity:

 National Endowment for the Humanities: Interpreting America’s Historic Places -

Deadline August 27
As part of the NEH’s We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped American history and culture for more than two hundred years. For more information visit: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/IAHP_Planning.html or contact NEH’s Division of Public Programs at 202-606-8269 or email: publicpgms@neh.gov.

Thelma Smith — Cascades, Sing the City Energetic

Fantastic Public Art!  Press Release courtesy of the Tucson/Pima County Arts Commission
“The New York City Waterfalls” is one of the largest works of art, public or otherwise, of our modern era. (Let’s not get in a shouting match with ancient civilizations, where autocratic rule made all sorts of things possible.) The piece is an heir to the monumental site-specific artworks whose most spectacular examples were made (and in some cases still are being made) in the distant reaches of the Nevada and Utah deserts starting in the late 1960s and the ’70s by earth artists like Robert Smithson, Walter De Maria, James Turrell and Michael Heizer. Ever since, younger, less isolationist artists have figured out ways to do something similar in the urban environment, within reach of a large public. In this they have followed the example of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, whose 2005 work “Gates” ostentatiously swathed Central Park in orange. The four waterfalls together form a mammoth work of shoreline land art called “The New York City Waterfalls.” It is the brainchild of the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson working with the tireless Public Art Fund and a host of public and private organizations and donors. Between 90 and a 120 feet high and up to 80 feet across, they cascade into the East River from four dense, plumbed scaffolding structures on or just off the coasts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Governors Island, making some of New York’s most thrilling waterside vistas more so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/arts/design/27wate.html?ex=1215230400&en=91e37a999e7f8ffc&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Anne Bebbington — You have to eat the yuck to get the yum!

Thinking of childhood memories, especially mealtimes, a friend of mine always quoted her own mother from her childhood mealtimes.......

"You have to eat the yuck to get the yum!'

Of course roughly translated this means you have to clear your plate of the savoury course - including those brussel sprouts you've surreptitiously hidden under some leftover mashed potato - before you can have your pudding.

That's what my own little corner of the world feels like at the moment.

Not from a home point of view - but work is 'pants' at present so patchwork and quilting is balancing the equation somewhat.

However this morning as the kids left the house at 8.05am and I don't have to be at work until 9.30 I thought I'd grab a bit of yum before I tackled today's particular brand of yuck

I got the four plaid blocks together with sawtooth sashings over the weekend - lots of sitting in front of the tv watching Glastonbury gave me a home run on the hand applique


Then yesterday I put the borders on and appliqued the corner blocks in front of the tv last night

After nearly crucifying myself scrabbling about on the lounge floor this morning to get it sandwiched I thought tha,t after I'd put in some 'in the ditch' stabilising lines, I'd indulge myself with a free form feather down at least one border before I head off to the mad house! One border down, three to go - then to decide what to do in the middle - watch this space.........................

June 30, 2008

Karen Stiehl Osborn

Solitary Seagull

a sea of silence
is pierced by a single cry
a lonely seagull

Lesley Riley — QSDS Report

There's something to be said for being in the right place at the right time in your life. My week at the Quilt Surface Design Symposium (QSDS) was everything I needed and more. I hardly know how to put it in to words. It was a learning experience on so many levels. I learned techniques and I learned about myself. I gained courage and insight, reconnected with my tribe, my art and my first love...

June 29, 2008

Norma — FABs Saturday Sew-In

This morning was the FABs Saturday Sew-In. This Saturday's project was both designed and organized by Cher with a little help from LindaJ. (Linda worked out the drafting of the pattern in EQ.) The pattern was affectionately named, CGF. I'll leave you guessing what that stands for! LOL

The pattern was drafted first with a feature fabric square of 12 1/2" (cut size). The alternate block was actually a rectangle that was made up of one 8 1/2" square and two 4 1/2" squares.

Last night LindaJ came up with an amended version--8 1/2" square, one rectangle 5 1/2" x 6" and two squares cut 3" square.

I decided to make my version of the pattern, "half size". (That is half the size of the original pattern.) I had a bin of pre-cut 6 1/2" squares already cut and another bin of 2 1/2" squares. I had a few leftover partial 4 1/2" strips that I cut into 4 1/2" squares and I cut a few of my 5 1/2" squares down to 4 1/2" squares.


This was 6 of the first blocks arranged on the floor to see how this patten might look scrappy.
All the squares are now finished but not yet sewn together.


My quilt center finished at 30 1/2" x 42 1/2". Because I think my quilt is a little wild, I am going to add a border or two to rein in the colour a bit and tame things down. I have not yet added the border as I was debating on the colour. However, this bright green has won the most votes from the FABs so far.

Norma — BC 150 Years

2008 marks a very special anniversary for the Province of BC. It has been 150 years since the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. BC 150 is a yearlong celebration marking this anniversary.From June 12 to July 6, the CP Spirit of 150 Rail Tour is visiting BC communities along the Canadian Pacific rail line. Last Wednesday night the vintage CP 2816 Empress steam train rolled into our community.

The following are pictures that I took of the steam train as it sat on the tracks near our house.







The train came complete with a conductor.




These ladies looked like they were waiting for the train to leave the station as they would have years ago.



The train brought along its own live entertainment.

This engine is not quite as old as the steam engine that led the train but we suspected that it may have been along to provide some extra power for the Empress.

This is the back of our yard/house (our house is on the left with the black roof). This picture was taken as we walked across the baseball diamond between our yard and where the train was parked. The view of Mt. Cheam was breathtaking on Wednesday night.

The following information appears on CP's website and further describes the Empress.
About the CP Empress
CP's 2816 is a class H1b Hudson type locomotive built by Montreal Locomotive Works in December 1930. The CP Empress is now the only surviving H1b Hudson and is one of only a handful of preserved and operating CPR steam locomotives in North America.
Initially the locomotive ran westward out of Winnipeg to Calgary and eastward to Fort William, Ontario (now part of Thunder Bay). Locomotive 2816 then moved into service on the Windsor-to-Quebec City corridor. Its last assignment was at the front of a Montreal-Rigaud commuter train, making its final revenue run on May 26, 1960. Having logged more than two million miles in active service, 2816's fires were extinguished.

Today, after a complete three-year rebuild, 2816 is restored to the original specifications with external details from the 1940/50s.

June 28, 2008

Anne Bebbington — Teatime memories........



When I was a child my mother always made a roast dinner every Sunday without fail - we always ate it at lunchtime, never in the evening - we weren't that posh!


I have vivid memories of listening to Family Favourites on the radio and her singing away in the kitchen as she mashed the potatoes - we usually had mashed potatoes as well as roasted ones and after all the years of practice I've had I can never get my potatoes like hers - smooth, creamy tasting, white and ever so slightly peppery - that is her secret, she always adds a shake of ground white pepper to them with a little butter and milk - she reckons it makes them whiter - who knows? But they were always delicious. She would often sing the most bizarre things in that kitchen - Song of the Hebrew Slaves was one of her usual renditions - maybe that was how she felt slaving over a hot stove to serve up our Sunday roast.


Then on a Sunday afternoon in the summer time we children would go out to play with other children who lived locally but in the wintertime the whole family would all tuck up in the living room and watch the Sunday afternoon film on the television - The Dambusters, Genevieve and 633 Squadron spring to mind. One of the shops in our village opened on a Sunday morning to sell the Sunday papers and very occasionally we would have a walk up and bring back a chocolate bar for each of us to eat after lunch while watching the film, mars bar, milky way or Fry's turkish delight. I have vivid memories of walking with my mum up the lane to the shop on a windy wintry day - my mum always loves windy weather - she finds it totally envigorating, and I think I take after her because I like nothing better than a blustery walk to blow away the cobwebs.


Then tea on a Sunday would always be boiled eggs with bread and butter soldiers - not toast as I prefer now and thus always make for my children, but white sliced bread sandwiched with best butter and cut into strips for easy dipping - no matter how tight money was in our house my mum always, always bought proper butter as I think her upbringing, which bordered on real poverty, meant that margarine had always been the order of the day.

After those boiled eggs - one each but two for Dad - we'd have tinned fruit topped with evaporated milk - Carnation. Usually it was peaches or pears but very occasionally she would push the boat out and buy fruit cocktail and my sister and I would fight over the solitary cherry!

If we were really lucky the icecream van would call round just at the right time, immediately before tea, and mum would head out with a bowl and get him to put five scoops in it to store in the fridge for a short while and have instead of the Carnation - most houses didn't have a freezer, in fact there were many in the 60s who didn't even have a fridge so ice cream was a real treat only indulged in on high days and holidays and on those days that the timing was right for the chimes in the distance.

Last week after our beach visit and pub Sunday lunch I decided boiled eggs were the order of the day for tea.

So here we are - with the toast soldiers in the background just ready for dipping. But you can tell my children don't have this wondeful 'nursery food' kind of meal often because the two youngest still haven't mastered the age old art of getting into them! Now then, are you a tapper or a cutter? My father is a past-master at slicing the top off his egg with a knife, I always followed my mum and I use the more gentile tapping approach myself.


My kids are so much luckier in some ways than we were back then - everything is more affluent and last weekend they had strawberries, freshly picked and accompanied by vanilla ice cream from our freezer to follow the eggs, rather than squabbling over that lone cherry.

Next weekend is the turn of my parents for a Golden Wedding celebration - we will head off up to Ambleside in the Lake District to join my sister, her partner and her teenage son. My brother and his wife and baby son will bring up my parents and we'll all spend the weekend together. Sadly my niece, who doesn't really get on at all well with her mother, has declined the invitation and this has taken the edge of things a bit for me but I guess it will be her loss most of all.

Hopefully by spreading the celebrations over a whole weekend in a very relaxed informal manner, letting my parents' health dictate the pace, it will be less of a strain for my father who struggles with 'do's' and of course they will get to enjoy time with five of their six grandchildren which will just make my mum's year, never mind her weekend. Thinking of all this has, I suppose, made me remember how it was when I was a child - hence the reminiscing about boiled eggs!

Sarah has been at home all week chilling after her exams - next door's cat has taken full advantage of a bit of quiet attention and often kept her company on the computer!

The house is so quiet this weekend as the two youngest are away at District Scout Camp up on Exmoor. As Louise is the only girl in the troop and not allowed to either sleep alone, or with the boys or the leaders, Daddy has had to accompany them as a sleeping chaperone for her.

However as a scout of long standing, man and boy, this is not much hardship to him and he will probably be more of a clown than any of the kids. They have watersports on the programme and the three of them headed off early yesterday evening with their wetsuits and loads of enthusiasm.

With the house population reduced from five to two and Sarah babysitting last night and working this afternoon it has been very quiet - rather strange and I did feel I was rattling round like the proverbial pea in a drum last night.

We plan to have a girlie night tonight with the cinema followed by a chinese buffet meal - well why should the other three have all the fun?

I have had some lovely post this morning.

Some lovely soft pastel coloured felts I bought on ebay - you often only see bright primary shades and so I thought this would come in useful for something a little more subtle - I just have to hide it from a certain absent, blonde, small girl to stop her purloining it.

Also in the post something much more exciting.


My mini quilt from Lucy Locket..............


and it's a real beauty - understated and elegant - thank you Lucy I just love it!!!

As for my own stitching I've been quite busy this week.


From a batik New York Beauty block........... for Kate's Birthday Block Swap which needs to go out in July - ahead of myself there. This is the first time I've ever attempted this kind of thing and those curved seams were a real b*gg%r! I even drafted the pattern myself - with more than a little encouragement from Kate I might add :o)


............. to something a bit more homespun and ever so slightly 'prim'


I've always liked four block quilts - so dreamt up this. Lots of plaids and shirtings - Sarah's not keen on it, thinks it's far too busy, but I rather like it.


Three blocks done - one to go and then lots of HSTs to make the sawtooth sashings between and around them.


That's what I'll be doing this afternoon while Sarah's at work.

Helen Pedersen — Honey Bunch Hair

He, of Honey Bunch fame, isn't too fussed about having his hair cut. I think he last had it cut at least 6 months ago, maybe even 9 months. Last week the back view looked like this:
I have fine, straight, brown (well, it used to be brown) hair. I would have given an arm and a leg to have hair like this. How did my child end up with thick, curly, blonde hair? (I blame his dad, who had flaming red hair as a child)

It is such a shame we can't inherit our kids genes.

Alas, the hair is gone. Mowed down by a 'number3' head shave. I suppose it will be back in 6 or 9 months or so.

June 27, 2008

Maggie Hannigan — new class sample



2 shots of my latest quilt top. I'll be teaching this class in the fall. Its a pattern called Knotted Bouquet by Shawna Case of Quilter's Clutter in Alberta - I'm not doing the bouquet applique part on the outer border - why because I don't want to - yes that is the sound of a grown woman ( H. E. double hockey sticks - grown? nudging on half a century old ) stomping her feet like a 3 year old!! I just don't wanna!!!
I really enjoyed doing it. I love the secondary pattern created by the four blocks. To me that is the magic of quilt design - those secondary patterns.

June 23, 2008

Karen Stiehl Osborn

Monday Morning Displays

Martha's Vineyard Roses, blooms galore in the front rock garden


Purple Clematis, blooming wildly on the arbor

Elle — Cutie Patootie

Awww, who's this little cutie? No, sorry, this one's not mine, but is my 1st cousin's new baby Justin. He's trying to eat my shoulder nahm nahm nahm...

Elle — Self-Belief

I was sitting here thinking about creativity. I have a close friend living in the paradise that is Hawaii and working in the arts. She is so talented and creative and one of the most supportive, positive persons I know. She recently emailed me saying that she put her head down recently and cried, thinking "What am I doing wrong? Why am I not succeeding?"

I wrote her back saying that I have done the same thing.

Mind you, both of us are talented artists. Both of us are creative as hell. I think the problem isn't even our art. It's everything else but...but it's affected us. We've both had a rough, but very interesting, past 2 years. I think all creative types struggle with it. We know our talents have value--not even in just a monetary way--but the outside forces involves in our lives such as bills, illness, etc. can often make us doubt that value. I wrote her back saying..."So many others believe in us. It's just a matter of us believing in ourselves as well again. We can and will do it!"

And I believe we will.

June 22, 2008

Norma — My Patterns Finally Arrived

I ordered two patterns from my local quilt shop on May 3. The shop called Thursday to say that they were finally in. Whoo hoo! (That is Pamspeak for Yahoo!!!)

The two patterns were, "All About Me" from Atkinson Designs and "Charm Party Tote" from Quiltsillustrated.

This picture is not my quilt, it is from the cover of the "All About Me" pattern. I plan to use my collection of Halloween fabrics to make this quilt.

This is a picture of the tote from the cover of the "Charm Party Tote" pattern. I have 4 Moda charm packs--two from their "A Little Romance" line and two from their "Sonnet" line.

The "A Little Romance Line" is the softest purple/pink/green collection of fabrics. I started on that tote last night. I am determined to stay as close as possible to the directions on this first tote that I am making. I know the next time I make this pattern I will be making some modifications. The pattern lists fifteen 1/2" buttons in the supplies required, but if it weren't for the picture of the finished product, you would have no idea there were buttons on this tote. No where in the pattern directions does it mention when these buttons are supposed to be applied or where. I am applying buttons before putting the lining in the bag so I can hide my threads from the back of the buttons. Also, the pattern designer claims their motto is, "No wimpy bags!". This bag is anything but wimpy if you make it according to the directions in the pattern--there is fusible fleece applied to the front and back of the bag, fusible fleece applied to the lining, fusible fleece applied to the inside and outside pockets. This bag will definitely be able to stand by itself when I a m done with it. Also, there is no closure on this bag. I am thinking of applying one of those magnetic purse closures to the bag this time. I am looking at other purse / bag patterns to see if there is a way that I can apply a zipper if I make this pattern again in the future.

Today, I am taking a break from working on customer quilts. I have been working on the WFC--that is Wacky FAB Challenge. I can't show pictures as this is totally secret. It is a secret for the person that I am exchanging with and for everyone else. On the agreed upon date (or sooner if everyone is finished ahead of time), all FABs will log online at the same time and open our exchanges. This should be fun. There has been a lot of teasing and hinting going on--but no one is revealing what they are making.

Anne Bebbington — Non-stitching weekend

Well Lou returned from the Isle of Wight on Friday evening in one piece having had a great time

Sarah's final exam (Physics) went well - she's now finished for the summer apart from a morning's intro session at her new 6th Form college on the 1st July and her little sister has two days on the 2nd and 3rd at her new secondary school
Nick had an inter-school cricket match against a neighbouring school on Wednesday evening - he was a last minute 'make-up-the-numbers' addition for the year above him as they are a very small school. They were playing the secondary school adjacent to the primary school where I work which has a pretty formidable sports reputation and Nick's team won - Nick caught one man out and made a partnership of 32 runs with another Year 7 friend.
The offshoot of this is he's now decided he'd like to play cricket for a team and has been trawling the net pricing up the kit which is a bit more expensive than a pair of football boots - but I like to encourage all of them to play sports - after all nothing's better for growing kids than fresh air and exercise - unfortunately he has the same tendency as his father of not letting go of something once he has a bee in his bonnet so we've been nagged to death all weekend. I'm totally sure my son invented 'pester-power'.
Saturday morning - a celebratory breakfast of 'bake your own' croissants and pastries from the freezer section of our local farm shop - now if I were a proper blogger these would all be nicely laid out on a china plate with smiling husband and children waiting patiently at the table and a beaming proud mother in her frilly apron waiting on their every need - instead you see it like it is - chez Bebbington - dressing gowns and all.
It's down to this aforementioned obsessive tendency on the father's part that I've got absolutely no sewing done this weekend and precious little computer time either.
The height of the ironing pile had obviously got just too high for himself to bear and the corresponding nagging became too much for me to bear so I gave in and stood for the best part of 6 hours yesterday and cleared it - phew!!!!!!!
But then some little rotter, probably himself in between still digging for Australia, had put some more washing through the system and just after I'd finally put the ironing board away I discovered another mini pile in the tumble dryer - grrrrrrrr!!! A woman's work is obviously never done!
I decided to draw a line under all this domestic bliss today and insisted we went out to lunch - a sort of joint celebration for belated Father's Day from last weekend and the end of the exam period for Sarah.
Then a minor miracle, I managed to drag my beloved away from his mistress (the pickaxe - well he's spent considerably more time with it than me over the past wee while) and we popped up to Burnham on Sea, our nearest seaside about 20 minutes away to blow away the cobwebs.
I've never actually lived this close to the coast before and the novelty hasn't worn off yet by a long way.
We parked the car near to the church which must be built on very sandy foundations - it had a distinct list to one side.
The weather was exceptionally windy so the rugby ball we'd taken to throw about wasn't such a good idea.
You can see just how windy from the flags on the top of the mini pier.
However the man with the kite and the skateboard type contraction was having a terrific time.
The sands were virtually empty - Nick found his own particular brand of treasure, but Nigel wouldn't let him bring it home despite the fact I thought it might go quite well in the garden somewhere.
Along the beach in Burnham is its most unusual and distinctive feature.
I guess it must be an old lighthouse from earlier times.
It's painted black on one side and red on the other, presumably for navigational purposes.
Then Louise and Daddy discovered a dead fish - the kids reckon it was a stingray - I think more likely a skate, still almost perfect except the seagulls had taken the eyes.
Finally an ice cream rounded off the visit.


Then we called in at the 'Pick Your Own' place on the route home.
Rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries the order of the day - everyone looking more than a little windswept after the beach
Who knows I might sneak in a little stitching this evening.

Helen Pedersen — I didn't even break the needle!

I was busy sewing the binding onto a quilt the other day. I don't pin the binding on, I just line it up as I sew and do the continuous corner thingy. As I was sewing along I felt a 'bump'. Hmmm I thought, what was that? Well, this is what 'it' was. I has sewn straight over a safety pin which was close to the edge of the quilt- and I didn't even break the needle! Clever me! I thought I had taken out all the pins but there was still one left (well - obviously.)

This is what it looks like with the binding folded away from the top of the quilt:
This is what it looks like with the binding folded back up:
I took these two photos at the same time. I don't know why the colours are so different. I'm such a total klutz at photos. The second photo is more true to life colour.

Now all I have to do is unpick it! It has been sitting, looking at me for a week. I have hand sewn the binding down around 3/4 of the quilt. I feel kind of reluctant to undo my really clever achievement :-)

June 20, 2008

Karen Stiehl Osborn

National Take Your Dog to Work Day

Today is National Take Your Dog to Work Day, so I thought I would post a photo of Zeke visiting me in the studio. Of course, Zeke is with me every day in the studio, but today he gets his picture posted on here. His usual spot in the studio is curled up sleeping under this work table.

Anne Bebbington — And back to stitching

Back to normality - well for a week or two anyway - that is until my parents' golden wedding weekend in two weeks time.
Louise has been in the Isle of Wight on a school residential trip all week. Amazing how much difference it makes to the chemistry of relationships in our house when we're missing one. To be fair it makes not a bit of difference which person is out - the house runs more smoothly with four than five - less arguments, less bickering! Not that I'd wish anyone to be away permanently but it is an interesting observation - I wonder if it makes that much difference when I'm not there.
Anyway peace will be shattered again tonight as she is home around 7pm - I have missed her really!
Sarah has also taken her last GCSE exam this morning - physics - a subject she wasn't looking forward to at all. However she said it wasn't too bad at all - easier than the chemistry on Wednesday which is a little worrying as she's selected chemistry over physics for one of her A level choices. Now we just have to wait for results day on 21st August - she's done all she can, now it's in the lap of the Gods, or should I say examiners!
We've had some lovely clear evenings lately - just the weather for hot air ballooning and we've spotted several from the garden slowly drifting over Taunton Deane - it's something I'd love to have a go at - maybe one to put on the list for my 50th in two years time.

The garden is coming on a treat - the area we removed the cherry tree from has welcomed its new residents with open arms and so far, touch wood, everything we've planted seems very happy in the new home.
This clematis has flowered for the very first time - it was a cheap and cheerful one from a local supermarket - they're usually much younger and take longer to get established. Although I knew, when I planted it a couple of years ago, that it was one of the smaller flowering varieties I couldn't for the life of me remember the colour from the long since mislaid label. The deep purple was a very pleasant surprise and as it's awash with buds there's a lot more to come.
This was a good bargain buy the other day from the local WI market - £9 for the entire planter - you could barely buy the pot and the compost for that!
As for stitching, I've been working on my Summer quilt for the Four Seasons Round Robin - versions one and two!
My swap partner is fond of red and I thought that red roses would be fairly apt.
I merrily stitched the outlines of a spray of roses complete with leaves
I then coloured them with wax crayons and stood back to think what to do next
Nope! they just didn't hit that button - back to the drawing board
So here it is...............
the centre of my Summer quilt MkII
I spotted an applique design on Knot Garden's blog and worked out a simplified version
I've since added the outer border and it's almost ready for sandwiching - I hope my swap partner likes it.
I've also completed all the piecing and binding on the japanese folded patchwork piece from the workshop
A front view - in hindsight I do wish I'd used a deep navy blue instead for the areas with the pale aqua fabric ...........
and the back view. Now to play around with some beads and sequins to turn it into a winter wallhanging.
Finally my Spring Fling Round Robin quilt arrived - thank you Laila and the three other stitchers who worked on it before her - it is truly beautiful!

June 19, 2008

Karen Stiehl Osborn

Paste-Up 2008

Urban Landscapes #2
(click here to see the entire series)

Paste-Up 2008 is a juried exhibition of small format collages currently at Ayer Lofts Gallery in Lowell, Massachusetts. The exhibition will be on display from June 3rd through June 29th, and it includes the piece above from my Urban Landscapes series.

June 18, 2008

Thelma Smith — The University of Arizona School of Art -

Photo Technician - The University of Arizona School of Art - July 15
is seeking an Appointed Professional with skill and experience in both wet and digital photography and in organization and management. This position will assist in the operation, supervision and maintenance of facilities, equipment, supplies and instructional support in the Photography Division. Applications are only accepted through the University of Arizona Human Resources website.  Application review begins July 15, 2008.  Please visit http://www.uacareertrack.com and apply for job #40972. Be prepared to electronically attach a resume and letter of interest.

Thelma Smith — Pilot Training Program for Indigenous Communities

Library of Congress Announces Pilot Training Program for Indigenous Communities
The American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress announces a new pilot program that will train members of indigenous communities to document their own cultural traditions, archive this heritage for future generations, and undertake the task of protecting their intellectual property rights to these recordings and the traditions they document. The project is a collaboration among the AFC, the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University in North Carolina, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based in Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-095.html

Job opps:

Thelma Smith — Grants Opportunity: NEA, American Masterpieces

American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius is a major initiative to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. Through American Masterpieces, the National Endowment for the Arts sponsors performances, exhibitions, tours, and educational programs across different art forms that reach large and small communities in all 50 states. This year, awards will be offered in four areas: Chamber Music, Dance, Presenting and Visual Arts Touring. Deadlines are different for each area – but all are September or November. For further details see  http://www.arts.gov/national/masterpieces/index.html

Thelma Smith — Art of Democracy Posters/Political Art -

Call to Artists - deadline September 30
Open to all artists living in Arizona, California Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. For the exhibition of the Art of Democracy posters we will be show original print posters, e.g. screen prints or other traditional printmaking. Submit unframed and the Union Gallery will mount in a uniform way. These posters will not be returned. and/or for the Political Art original prints is the primary focus, but we will also accept a variety of work in different media as well. For artists exhibiting original work (who will want it returned) we will need to have an exhibition application. Download it here or at the website  http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/gallery/exhibiting.php deadline September 30. Artists who would like to submit are encouraged to contact Holly Brown at brownhb@email.arizona.edu or at the gallery, 520-621-6142.

Thelma Smith — Grant Opportunity: National Endowment for the Humanities:

Interpreting America’s Historic Places - Deadline August 27th
As part of the NEH’s We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped American history and culture for more than two hundred years. For more information visit:http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/IAHP_Planning.html Or contact NEH’s Division of Public Programs at 202-606-8269 or email: publicpgms@neh.gov.

Thelma Smith — The City of Casa Grande seeks artist –

Application deadline - August 15
The City of Casa Grande Arts & Humanities Commission seeking an artist or artist team interested in designing, constructing, and installing a memorial for fallen city employees.  The location of the installation will be in a tuff/open area, located at 204 N. Hermosilla, Casa Grande, Arizona, and is approximately .25 acre.  A site visit is highly encouraged.  The budget for this project is $25,000.00.  The deadline for submitting an application is August 15, 2008.  Application guidelines and design information can be found at www.casagrandeaz.gov. or by calling the City Clerk Office at 520-421-8600.

Thelma Smith — VIVA ARIZONA! Hispanic Performing Arts Conference-

July 30-August 2
Will present workshops, fiesta & concerts at The University of Arizona School of Music & the UA Centennial Hall July 30-August 2, 2008. Music & Dance Workshops will be hosted at The University of Arizona School of Music: Flamenco, Salsa, Hip Hop, Folklorico, Mariachi, Tejano, Guitar Trio, Classical Flamenco Guitar, Zumba and Voice. This year’s mariachi workshops will be directed by Jose Hernandez from Mariachi Sol De Mexico. VIVA FIESTA will be held in front of UA Centennial Hall on Saturday, August 2 from 3pm to 6pm. The AHS will conduct a Storycorps program at the fiesta, modeled on National Public Radio’s oral history project of that name, where the attendees can reminisce about how music and dance has influenced them in their everyday lives. Authentic Mexican and Spanish food and drink will also be available at the Fiesta.“VIVA ARIZONA!” 100 Years of Hispanic Musical Memories CONCERT at the University of Arizona Centennial Hall Saturday August 2,  2008 at 7:00pm. A Musical and Dance Production- showcasing the History and Evolution of Tucson’s Hispanic Musical Heritage. Featuring: Special Guest Jose Hernandez and Mariachi Sol de Mexico, IMAS,Hermanos Perez Trio, Olga Flores, Viva Orchestra under the direction of Jesse Tovar, the Viva Arizona Dancers and much more. Tickets available at the UA Centennial Hall Box Office 1020 E. University Blvd. (520) 621-3341 For more information you can visit www.vivaazworkshops.com

Karen Stiehl Osborn

New Work in the Series

Primary Lines #2
12" x 12"
$175

June 17, 2008

Lesley Riley — Tuesday June 17th

Come, sit a spell. The heat wave has broken and the breeze is gentle this morning on my front porch. Iced tea? The official start of summer is only a heartbeat away but if you have kids at home you know it really begins when school gets out. How do you define the beginning of summer? The solstice? the heat? the day you suddenly realize that the year is half over, or is half-completed? What does

Maggie Hannigan — quilting community

This wonderful craft/art/skill of quilting has always generated so much more than comfort cloths. building community. From quilting bees with generations sitting side by side to the internet we connect over fabric and thread. blogs have made it easy for everyone to share their journey.
The hottest place right now is Quilting Gallery. Add YOUR blog & watch the numbers grow.

June 16, 2008

Anne Bebbington — Where did my baby go?

This past ten days or so has been a time of reflecting on our family.

The Saturday before last was my parents in law's golden wedding anniversary.

We all headed up to Worcester to help them celebrate with an afternoon open house in their lovely back garden.

Fortunately the weather was good and kind to us - not guaranteed by a long stretch here in the UK.

Not only have Brian and Judy made 50 years together - after all some people aren't even lucky enough to get to that age - but both their bridesmaid and their best man were also there to celebrate with them.

Between us all, their three children and partners, we've given them 12 grandchildren aged from 22 down to almost 3. Sadly because the celebrating couple didn't announce their arrangements until quite late in the day three of the grandchildren couldn't make it but here are the other nine who did - not often we get them all together for a photocall. It just made me realise how they are all growing up - the two girls sitting to the right of Sarah on the chairs were bridesmaids for Nigel and I when they were little dots.
And here are the happy couple cutting one of the two cakes (misunderstanding on arrangements between bride and bridesmaid meant a duplicate but the kids helped them demolish them).
Then last Friday it was Sarah's Year 11 school prom.
The hair took the best part of two and a half hours at the hairdressers - yes you read that correctly!

Our neighbour is a beautician in a local department store and kindly offered to do Sarah's make-up for her.

This picture was taken in front of our side gate as Nigel is still endeavouring to dig to Australia outside the front door in readiness for the new driveway, and as she had cream satin shoes on I thought trecking across the lawn to pose in front of the flowers probably wasn't a good idea either.
Her dress came from Sassi Holford - a local dress designer whose most recent claim to fame was designing and making the dresses for the royal wedding of the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips.

She has a shop in London and one here in Taunton - we're not ones for extravagant overtures and wouldn't normally have even considered looking somewhere like this but we were passing the Taunton shop during February half term as she was having a pre-refurbishment sale. This was one of the bridesmaids dresses which was a real snip at £50 - the bargain of the decade. It's a beautiful quality with buttons and loops down the back of the bodice and an invisible zip in the back of the skirt. Not your usual off the peg quality - some of the other girls had spent upwards of £200 to £300 on their dresses and they weren't a patch on this one.
Sarah travelled to the do, at a local golf club, with the rest of her group on a converted fire engine.
But despite looking like a cross between Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly (ok I know I am a tad partisan!) she still kept that typical Sarah sense of humour
And here she is sharing a joke with Stu her prom date - I just love natural photos taken when the subjects aren't aware they're being snapped.
Finally a more posed shot outside the golf club - lucky with the weather yet again.
This morning I've waved off her younger sister on a school trip to the Isle of Wight until Friday and next week we have Louise's induction evening at the secondary school ready for starting in September - they're certainly all growing up so fast.
Now we only have my parent's Golden Wedding to go to at the beginning of July and we can then relax for the summer.
On a last note no doubt you want to know who won the strawberry 400th post hanging.
We used a very technical method to pick the winner - the other four members of the household were asked to each select a number from 1 to 69 and I averaged them out and rounded to the nearest number.
This turned out to be Meggie in Australia , a blogger who usually makes me think and often smile at her witty observations on life, so it has a long journey ahead of it once she lets me have her postal address.
Thank you all for your lovely kind comments - I only wish I'd had 69 of them to send out.

Norma — Graduate

This Friday was our daughter's Convocation from UCFV. Our daughter graduated with a certificate in Applied Business Technology.

As parents, we couldn't be prouder of our daughter than we were on Friday.

Congratulations Dana!

She looks pretty pleased too, doesn't she?


Proud parents!

Dad and the graduate.



Mom and the graduate.
Proud grandparents!
Dana insisted that she was going to be comfortable under that gown and so she wore her blue jeans and cowboy boots.
A celebration in our family usually means a family meal. We were all together for dinner on Friday night to honor the graduate. Dessert was an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen--a cotton candy flavored Blizzard cake.

I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known. ~Author Unknown

Norma — Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Today was such a nice sunny day, we celebrated Father's Day by grilling and eating outside.

Because the weather has been so cool and rainy lately, today's weather was a welcome change.

This is (from left to right) my mom, dad, husband, daughter, and son.

Norma — Table Toppers

While in Oregon, my mother spotted the perfect fabrics with lilacs on it. She bought enough for me to make three table toppers--one for my aunt, one for me, and one for herself.

I managed to finished the topper for my aunt in time for her to take it back with her to Saskatchewan. A week ago I finished my mother's.


I have not yet finished the topper for myself. What is it that they say about a mechanic's car--a mechanic never has time to fix his own car, always busy fixing everyone else's. I think the same is true of quilters. I seem to find time to finish everyone else's quilts, but don't have time to finish my own! LOL

This past week, it has been very busy here--i finished quilting 7 customer quilts from Monday to today. I am now officially caught up--at least for a couple of days. I am anxious to work on some of my own projects in the next few days.

June 13, 2008

Lesley Riley — To Paint or Not to Paint

I found this drawing yesterday while cleaning out a closet. Did you know I could draw? Sometimes I have to remind myself. You may have assumed, because I use photos in my work, that I don't draw. Well you are right in a way. I can draw, but I don't draw because it just takes me too much time. I want/need a more instant result and gratification. I know if I practiced daily that I would become

Karen Stiehl Osborn

Primary Lines

Primary Lines #1
12"x12"
$175

This is the first piece in a new series, inspired by a piece of blue, red and yellow painted cloth that has been pinned to my design wall for a few years. I love the lines and interplay of the primary colors in this piece of cloth, and I finally cut it up and started a new series of work that incorporates some of this fabric in each work in the series.

June 12, 2008

Anne Bebbington — I've not been ignoring you all...................

.............. honest!

It's just that it's Sarah's prom tomorrow night and the week has been manic with preparations.

I should be back over the weekend with lots of photos of THE social event of the century!

So until then don't forget there's still time to add your comment to the last post to have a chance of winning my 400th post draw

Until the weekend.......................................

Lesley Riley — Are You Reading Something Into This?

From your comments I've already received on my last post, if appears that some of you are under the impression that the fabric in the photos that I was talking about is part of the giveaway. No way, baby - that's mine, all mine. I'm not that crazy. It's what I set aside for a special project when I did the big fabric purge 2 weeks ago. Yes, many of you missed the chance at some of my stash

June 11, 2008

Lesley Riley — When Fabric Talks, I Listen

This weeks giveaway has been expanded to allow for 5 winners. I'll choose 5 random numbers from the comments I get on this post between now and noon next Wednesday, June 17th. Sorry folks, you cannot choose which book you get, but rest assured, they are all chock full of copyright-free images. Send your friends! Yes, the more comments I get, the less your chances are to win but, here's an

Maggie Hannigan — saying something

with that vocabulary was interesting. more cutting & sewing. Robin next to me, is an experienced Nancy Crow workshop student. She cut her units directly from the fabric & made a beautiful piece. Kim worked quietly in a corner space and has her thoughts and work posted in her blog.
my strips were large so there was no 'unit' without additional sewing & construction.
4 was enough! After trying all the predictable stuff -Nancy helped me with this setting.
I like it. 2 full days of work plenty of blood sweat & tears went into this little piece.

June 10, 2008

Thelma Smith — Library of Congress Announces Pilot Training Program for Indigenous Communities

The American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress announces a new pilot program that will train members of indigenous communities to document their own cultural traditions, archive this heritage for future generations, and undertake the task of protecting their intellectual property rights to these recordings and the traditions they document. The project is a collaboration among the AFC, the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University in North Carolina, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based in Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-095.html

Thelma Smith — Call to Artists - Art of Democracy Posters/Political Art -

deadline September 30
Open to all artists living in Arizona, California Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. For the exhibition of the Art of Democracy posters we will be show original print posters, e.g. screen prints or other traditional printmaking. Submit unframed and the Union Gallery will mount in a uniform way. These posters will not be returned. and/or for the Political Art original prints is the primary focus, but we will also accept a variety of work in different media as well. For artists exhibiting original work (who will want it returned) we will need to have an exhibition application. Download it here or at the website.

http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/gallery/exhibiting.php deadline September 30. Artists who would like to submit are encouraged to contact Holly Brown at brownhb@email.arizona.edu or at the gallery, 520-621-6142.

Thelma Smith — From Our Perspective,

a national women’s art exhibition – deadline August 1
Sponsored by the Oakland Community College Womencenter, Farmington Hills, Mi., From Our Perspective is accepting digital entries, with a deadline of August 1st. This juried exhibit will feature women artists and will include two- and three-dimensional works of art.  The Juror, Susan Goethel Cambell, lives and works in Detroit, Mi. and has work in many public and private collections, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, The New York Public Library, The Detroit Institute of Arts, The Toledo Museum of Art and The University of Michigan Special Collections Library. Fee: $25 for up to 3 works. Awards: Best of Show $800.00, President’s Award $250.00 and a Purchase Prize of $250.00 (for smaller pieces).  To view full prospectus, and to upload images online, go to www.oaklandcc.edu/womencenter/artshow.htm.  Exhibit runs Sept. 18-Oct. 10 2008.  Please contact Arlene Frank with any questions at womenart@oaklandcc.edu

Lesley Riley — Playing Catch-Up

Oh where to begin. We lost our power last Wednesday, for a total of 36 hours, then had to wait until Monday am to get our Internet straightened out and back online. I didn't mind being incommunicado, I'm used to that when I teach/travel but it was interesting to be home and realize how dependant I was on it for the simplest of things. And of course my husband was unable to work at all which

June 09, 2008

Karen Stiehl Osborn

More Black & White

Yesterday I started working on the next two "name" collages. After I had the names printed in black ink on white paper, I realized that I didn't have any other black & white papers to include in the collages. Into the paint studio I went and painted some white papers with black paint. Above is a scan of four of the designs that I painted. I will only use one, or possibly two, of these in the collages I am currently working on, but the rest will go into my paper stash for future collages.

June 07, 2008

Karen Stiehl Osborn

Black & White in the Garden

As much as I love all of the color that is emerging in my gardens, I also love the simplicity and drama of black & white photography. This photograph is a tulip bloom, taken with a macro lenses.

Connie — June Quilting Bee ~ Thursday Quilters




I'm sharing some eye candy with you today.
All these photos were taken yesterday at quilt bee.
Don't you just love Phyllis' collections!



I quilted this for a customer recently
Kathy's going to deliver it for me


Bonnie showing us her chenille & Minkee quilt
~*~*~
This morning I received a comment from a blog friend who had difficulty leaving a comment on my blog and a few months ago another blog friend expressed that this happened to her. Both suggested that the cause may be the many links I have on my blog. I have elimi