Folk Art Quilts

Just before the holidays I thought it would be a good idea to make 2 quilts for my upstairs hallway.  This small space was previously devoid of decoration.  Then  I found this cute snowman to hang on the hall closet doorknob and the space needed more.  So, out came a wreath that hadn't been used in a few years, and while the wreath and doorknob thingy looked cute, it clashed with the garden pic on the wall and a set of 3 handmade tiles, also with a garden theme.  I thought I could wrap christmas wrapping paper or cloth around....then it hit me....make wall quilts.  I thought ... whip up those babies in time for the 25th.  What was I thinking!
 
It took a few days of playing around with ideas but I finally settled on pine trees as my subject. And I'm glad I did.  Trees, especially the Christmas type, have a special meaning in our family.  Our sons are both Eagle Scouts.  The one and only fundraiser for the troop they belonged to (I should say 'we' belonged to as we were all involved!) was to sell Christmas trees.  They've been doing it for over 50 yrs from a location not far from their meeting place.  Being a small troop, my husband and sons would brave the December weather on evenings or weekends to sell trees.  This fundraiser provided enough money to support summer camp and other camp experiences, jamborees, etc.  The secondary benefit was that we all learned how to tell a blue spruce from a Frazier fur or a white pine. It also filled our noses with the delightful smell of pine that is so synonymous with Christmas that we are all forever connected with trees. Just the scent of a pine scented burning candle takes me right back to cold rainy nights, or a bit of snow, and my guys coming home to hot chocolate and  memories of my boys in their early-mid teens.

So, 6 weeks after the original thought, the quilts are finished.  Pics to follow...as soon as I can teach myself how to post photos on a blog!

Here we go again....

Well, so much for keeping up with this idea of blogging! Having a new computer and constant internet connection may help. Our old computer died at 9pm on New Year's eve....the new computer was in place less than 24 hrs. later. Are we hooked? Yes!

I spent a good bit of time in the studio this fall weaving and making paper pins for fall shows. I was suppose to do one and ended up with 4 and had a few sales between shows. It was a good season and enough activity to keep me happy and inspired to do more.

This year's resolution: Spend more time in the studio! No matter what might interrupt me! And get pics posted on the blog. Folks keep asking to see my work and in the past I've been reluctant to show it...kind of shy, I guess. But how can one be an artist and stay shy? It just can't be.

So, I'm going to put myself out there. I will keep track of what's going on in my studio by posting on this blog.

Will it last? Time will tell!