Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday night is here again

What happened to this past week? I feel like I just came home from Chincoteague and just started the QU class. And now I have to get ready for a new week.

Actually it's been a busy week but not quite as busy as I wanted. A lot of family things needed my time. Today is the birthday of my daughter and my son - they're not twins, just share a birthday. Friday was the birthday for my daughter-in-law and my youngest grandson. We all gathered Friday night to celebrate and eat a mixed dinner of beef brisket, veggies, mac and cheese (for the kiddos), salad -- and then steamed crabs for my daughter, son and I. All topped off with four flavors of ice cream.

I've spent some time working on Bella's birthday gift (in two weeks). She wants a mermaid outfit with a tail. I found a pattern and bought all the slippery fabric to create it and then got frustrated. This pattern is not very well written. I guess the pattern industry is taking shortcuts to save money. I have figured out how to do this, but I feel sorry for anyone who buys the pattern who has minimum sewing experience. I finished the top (it's in two pieces) and will start the bottom (skirt/tail) tonight. I know she will be thrilled to have a tail like all the mermaids in the movies.

Got to get working now. Thanks for stopping by.

Karen

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Nasturtiums

I stopped back at the arts center today and took some photos of the piece, Nasturtiums, that was purchased and will be going to a new home. The piece began with some prints using a gel plate and some actual nasturtium leaves. After a while of looking at the new leaves on the wall, I began a convergence piece that became the background. Then I added the flower petals.

Here are some detail shots that show how I cut out the leaf shapes and added the flowers.


I think it is a good piece. Thanks for visiting.

Karen

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A lovely surprise

I walked down to the local Arts Council to view the annual members exhibit. I was pleased to see that my small quilt was hanging in a great location. Then I noticed the dot on the label. It SOLD! Woo hoo! How nice to have a piece in an exhibit that has found a new home. And, of course, some positive cash flow. This is Nasturtiums - not the best photo (which I cannot find).

Back to work now.


Karen



Back home

I got home Sunday night, did my Monday job and had dinner with a dear, dear friend. And now it's reality time. I want to make time for the on-line class and my mind mapping project, but first some important things need attention.

Friday night my family celebrates four birthdays, my daughter and her youngest son, my son and his wife. I am doing most of the dinner at my son's house (my apartment is not big enough for all of us). But first, I must finish a gift for Josh who will be 11 and get the rest of the presents and food stuff for everyone.  So, a busy week and a joyful week.

Right now, I should sign off and get moving on my class exercises. Elizabeth Barton is teaching. So far, the exercises are generating lots of good discussion and many references to exciting web sites. Good stuff.

And I must take a walk - it's another beautiful September day. This time, however, I have to wear shoes.

What are you feeling passionate about this week?

Karen

Saturday, September 22, 2012

An amazing day

at Chincoteague. I went to the beach early today because I got sunburned yesterday and it was going to be pretty hot. After I walked, I decided to get my chair and sit for a while. Yes, I was going to work on my master plan and the on-line class this morning, but the day was too beautiful to go back inside. I told  myself that I can always work on projects, but I can't always be here on such a great day.

As I sat, the dolphins swam by, going south this time. That is really awesome. Once the air got hotter, I did go back to the condo and did some work with plans to return later. I saw another bonus as I drove around the wildlife loop -- two bald eagles perched in the marsh. One flew around a bit, showing off.

It would be so wonderful to live next to the ocean. The sound of the surf is so soothing and energizing at the same time, it drowns out other sounds and is mesmerizing. Later today, I went back to the beach to walk and work in my sketchbook, but the wind had picked up and the sand was stinging. So, I sat in the car with the window open on the downwind side and had a great time just working and hearing the ocean. On the way out of the refuge, I stopped to visit with this heron and chatted with a couple visiting from Colorado - their first trip to the east coast.


Tomorrow I must go home, but first will visit my friend Peg. I have lots of pictures to use for a series around the marsh. The colors here are beginning to turn for autumn to complement my spring photos. Life is good.



Thanks for visiting. I hope your autumn is off to a good start.

Karen

Friday, September 21, 2012

Blessings, blessings, blessings

I'm taking a bit of a holiday at a favorite place, Chincoteague Island. I come here to be filled, to be amazed and to get some nature time. I took a long walk on the beach last night and spent time being grateful for all my blessings. Hugs and laughter on Wednesday with Bella. A visit with Mimi as she heals from knee surgery. A beautiful day for traveling. The beach. The ocean. Good health that lets me walk for a long time. So very much. And the sky, oh my ...

then a marvelous sunset ...


 
Just amazing gifts from God.

Aside from a delicious holiday, these days away give me time to work on some "big" stuff. Last week at our regional SAQA meeting, Leslie Riley was giving a talk on making time to make our art and answered a member's question by asking if
it fit her masterplan. Talk about a wake-up call! I woke up right away and realized how much I have been drifting in several areas of my life. I haven't had much focus for a while. This time last year, I began my get-ready-for-the-ACC-show project. After the show and my disappointment, I forgot to refocus, I forgot to get moving in any real way. My time at QSDS helped as I started several new pieces. But still, I wasn't with it. The funny thing is, I used to teach this stuff and encourage people to focus and to do what feeds their hearts and souls.

Sooooooooo, I am spending this time on two 'foci'. First, to do some mind mapping and brainstorming about a master plan. I just turned 67 (still young) and know that most of my years are done. So, what's next? Another funny thing, I read Mary Oliver's line "How do you plan to live your one wild and precious life?" every day and still have been drifting. So, time for some dreaming.

The second thing for this trip is to start Elizabeth Barton's class on Quilt University on Working in a Series. I have ideas for at least three series and hope to decide which to pursue.

And, of course, these days here offer beach time and marsh watching time - look for those herons and egrets.

Sometimes I seem to talk and write a lot. Thanks for reading and visiting again.

Do you have a master plan?

Karen


blue jello


Friday, September 14, 2012

Progress on a UFO

And it's almost finished. I started Roots back in May at QSDS and then it hung on the wall til I was packing for last week's retreat. I wasn't sure how I wanted to quilt it and decided to just do something. I quilted the river, then did the rocks and leaves, and finished it at home. Hooray! It just needs binding and a sleeve.

Maybe I can enter it in my local quilt show next month.

The weather has been wonderful lately - cool nights, open windows and a brilliant blue sky. Enjoy.

Karen

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Another week has passed

and now I am home for a bit, time to sew and dye and stamp some new fabrics.

Last week I celebrated my birthday several times - with my family, with some dear friends over pizza, was serenaded by the Sisters when I went to work, and co-celebrated with another friend. I am blessed to have so many people who share my life.

The low point of the week was having to drop out of the local artists studio tour scheduled later this year. It's a long story that I cannot write about. I am saddened to leave this group of talented and good artists and sorry to lose the opportunity to share my work with others, but I had to do it.

So I got busy sewing and then went on a quilt retreat and lost myself in two projects. It is wonderful to be reminded that getting busy always helps me switch gears when I am down. I came home after making progress on those two pieces and almost finished one yesterday.

Enough of that stuff, here are a couple more photos from my Oregon trip.
Cinderella's coach along the road

Two of the Sisters mountains

Miles and miles of volcano remains from 5,000 years ago
More amazing volcano remains
 
I was enthralled with all the different landscapes and geological stuff that I saw in Oregon - so different from my Maryland home. More later.
 
Karen
 




Bella's new dress

 
and she picked it out all by herself.

Monday, September 3, 2012

A bit of Oregon

from my trip. I'm still in running around mode (visited my friend Lynn in WV the past two days, have a quilt retreat coming up this weekend) so I will share some photos from my time in Oregon.

After a couple days settling in with my friends, Lin and Mike, I took off for the coast. I am an ocean person, a coast person, and I appreciate all the differences between the Oregon coast and the Maryland/Delaware coast. Both are wonderful. The Oregon coast has mountains and forests right up to the edge of the ocean, lots of rocky coastline areas, many amazing surprises.
High overlooks:
Fog that rolls in and out daily:
Horizontal trees from the strong winds:
Nooks and crannies:

More tomorrow.

What amazed you on your vacation this summer?

Karen