Kaye England overheard one of the students mention that she was a Vietnam vet.
The wheels sprang into motion and in just a few hours a Quilt of Valor was on its way with Rita Pennington, who is the Land of Lincoln coordinator for Quilts of Valor here in Illinois.
Rosemary Dawes was the recipient and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as she was surprised during one of our evening events. I made a small video and I’m happy for you to share it with other vets and indeed your quilting community.
My personal view is that every person that creates something is an artist. An Artist is a collector of imaginings and experiences. They are selective and only collect the things they enjoy the most and it really depends where you put yourself to receive those things… you’re not necessarily going to get the experience or be influenced if you are home on the couch.
Lets indulge the child in us and create whimsical images.
We discussed the images and how to create them after first making a ‘reminder’ list. Write down the things you see. Create them as you see them, not as others do. This is your design.
My list was the grass blowing in the breeze, Elephants, patterns, Zebras, Lions and hippos.
The trees with the weaver bird nest, the river and the texture.
It’s so nice being home. I have another day of teaching today with a group of ladies who honour me with their presence. I’m always humbled and I still have the feeling of amazement that someone actually waits in anticipation, prepares and packs their supplies to come to one of my classes. When those ladies arrive laden with their machines and large overflowing bags of fabric, notions and the latest equipment I do a little mental dance.
I’m not a photographic purist. I just love taking photos. From the drips on a coffee cup to the textures in wood and beyond, I find it interesting. I know some of my friends look at me a little strange when I suddenly become pre-occupied in the midst of a conversation and I turn my head to capture just the right image…then out comes the camera.!!
My friend Lisa and I are in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a rare 3 days of R&R. Its impossible not to be influenced by the color and ambience of this town. Its hot and almost mid summer, and I’m reminded that this time next week, it will be a little grey and very cold in my home town of Aldgate.
No, it’s not how to take a super photograph with all the bells and whistles, It’s a down to earth look at how to take an image and use it to create a piece of Textile art.
I have a rather romantic take on life. The good times are carefully filtered through my bright rimmed glasses.
The bad, and the sad (and there have been many) are filed in boxes in my mind and are dealt with in their own time.
But whatever our circumstances I know that we can all make a difference in the lives of others by sharing our talents for kind rather than money.
Repetition creates a pattern, which consequently and naturally grabs our attention at first and then creates the comfort of familiarity. I used the Andy Warhol theory and then of course Kaffe did one with bowls in each block.
It’s not fancy, but its interesting and its a unique way to create your own fabric by drawing on the fabric then quilting it.
