Wednesday, September 29, 2021

The Vignette Quilt Along

 I stumbled across the Vignettes Quilt by Heidi Parkes on Instagram.  I immediately purchased the pattern.  I love  Heidi's work and also welcomed the idea of learning more about the principles of art.  I have been exposed to some of the terms and basics in other classes but never have had a good understanding of them.

Whether designing intuitively or approaching a design with a plan we all use the same six elements of art.


Line, color, shape, form, texture, value and form.  I am using this quilt along as an opportunity to reframe some childhood moments and memories.


In this vignette, there is some oriental fabric representing Naha, Okinawa where I was born and Taiwan where we also lived.  The dark blue fabric represents  depression, mine and other family members  The drunkard's path quilt block reflects a family predisposition.  On a happier note, the gingham represents dresses loving sewn by my mother for me.



Misty was the first movie I ever watched in a theater and the only one I remember going to with my mother.  I was five and cried hard for Misty!


Sunbonnet Sue is an example of appropriation.  I found two blocks at a flea market in Asheville recently. I slept under a Sunbonnet Sue quilt with royal blue sashing for much of my childhood.


This remnant from an old quilt was a gift from the class I took with Helen Geglio.  I chose this to represent my father.  It is made from shirting fabrics and his favorite color was red.  You can also see some vintage lace trim. 



Some indigo dyed lace trim for more texture and the tape measure fabric on the left for growing up and for always being the tallest in the class in elementary school.

I am enjoying this QAL and especially all of Heidi's prompts that encouraging sharing our images and commenting on each other's work.  Looking forward to adding some intuitive embroidery and hand quilting to this.  Quilt on friends.



Wednesday, September 8, 2021

The Unknown Quilter

 Today my work took me to Durham.  Instead of eating lunch I went to one of my favorite places.  The Scrap Exchange is an arts recycle and re-use center.  I love this place, whether you are a knitter, weaver, quilter, basket maker or just a curious type it is a great place to explore.




Today, I was so excited to find these.  There are only six and the mint green background fabric looks a little dingy.  I would love to know how old they are.


Hexies carefully handstitched.  In the pictures below you can see the needle and thread still tucked into the fabric.


What happened?  Did the quilter lose interest?  Did a family member sort through a loved one's belongings and donate them?



Last but not least are these star blocks.  The stars look to be made of men's shirting fabrics.  Again, how old are these?  What is this quilter's story.  Somehow it gives me pleasure to honor these unknown quilters by finishing these.




Sunday, September 5, 2021

Big Emotions and Small Comforts

 Last week was a very long work week.  It had the requisite 5 days but instead of forty hours it was sixty and felt like one hundred.  I spent the week in far western NC.  We were in court all week in a contentious hearing.  It was emotional and stressful.  Made worse by the flash flooding and leaving my suitcase back home in Sanford.  Oops!


I as usual was in awe of the mountains and the beauty of Haywood County.  However, that did not solve the problem of no underwear, medications, toiletries or craft supplies.  I shopped for the necessities but had no opportunity to grab any craft supplies.  The night before leaving, I had prepared some hexies and packed all the sewing basics.  I was looking forward to this relief after each day in court.  I missed the small and not so small comforts I use to ground myself each day.


My people, my animals and handwork of some sort.  I bought a quilting magazine at a local grocery store.  That was as close as I got to crafting all week.  We finished up Friday at 1:00 pm and I prepared for my five hour drive home in Labor day weekend traffic.  I knew a soul restoring stop was required.  Asheville Cotton Company



Measuring and Folding Nine Yards of Fabric



This store is definitely worth going out of your way to visit.  An extensive fabric collection, friendly and knowledgeable staff and lots of notions and books.  It restored me for the trip home.  Never again will I underestimate the importance of craft to my day to day sense of wellness!  Quilt and weave on dear ones!


I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown