inhale...exhale...relax your shoulders...repeat as often as needed

Sunday, October 30, 2016

meadow's ebb

"meadow's ebb"
completed october 8, 2016
Do you remember the "ebb" workshop I took with Carolyn Friedlander in July? I hadn't taken a class or workshop in ages, and I was so excited to gather with friends and learn some new techniques! I remember the fun of packing up my sewing supplies and setting off for Burlington early in the morning. You can read about the beginnings here. What started out as a practice piece for her class has turned into a 30"x 40" quilted wallhanging.
Ebb tide is the time between high tide and low tide, 
when the water drains away from the shore.
I tried to create a bit of that with some denser quilting (above). 
It was fun creating negative space (a common feature of modern quilts)
by piecing neutrals from my fabric stash.
(hello ginkgo leaves!)
I even incorporated a worn out bit of Marimekko bed sheet.
(The light grey and white).
Some old linen found it's way in to the wallhanging,
adding a bit of texture.
 
It's no wonder the ebb wallhanging and the table runner 
I stitched a while back get along so nicely,
They share some fabric bits and pieces.

Earlier this fall, our Vermont Modern Quilt Guild was invited by the Champlain Valley Quilt Guild to mount a special exhibit at their show. Thirteen of us had quilts hanging at the Champlain Valley Expo Center last weekend.

I struggled a bit with the decision to show my wallhanging. I'm still haunted by an experience I had in high school. I had worked for ages on a collage made of tiny squares, each hand painted a different shade. I was really happy with how it turned out, and was delighted when it was selected to hang in a show at a local mall. Then I had one of the greatest disappointments of my young life.  My art teacher, Mr. Quincy (we all remember the special ones, don't we?) called me in to his office. He said, "Karen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that your collage piece was stolen. The good news is that someone liked it enough to take it with them". I'm not sure I actually agreed with Mr. Quincy's take on things, but I know he was trying to soften the news for me.

I did hang a piece in July and it stayed put, so I am working on this trusting-the-public thing.

Long story short...check out this wonderful piece from our Vermont Modern Quilt Guild website. You will be blown away by the stunning beauties that "meadow's ebb" hung alongside. Be sure to scroll through and read about all the talent in our guild! 

Monday, October 24, 2016

triptych 37





-batman brought me a cheery bouquet of rose hips from our grey and gloomy gardens on saturday.
-snow flurries fell in the wee hours of the morning on sunday and we woke to the first blanket of the season.
-this morning, as the sun rose, our view to the west was spectacular.

These autumn-to-winter days overwhelm me with their beauty, their urgency and their grace. Caught up in their magic, I'm once again reminded that there is no where else I'd rather be. 

Just here.

At our bit of earth in central Vermont. 

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

oh, love...

henry snickerdoodle in connecticut
august 2014
wilma in vermont
june 2016

i was looking at old pictures yesterday
and my heart skipped a beat when i put 
these two together.

old love and new love.
our capacity to love just keeps expanding, right?

(my gramlowry, a huge cat lover,
was born on this day in 1901
i still miss her. xo)

Thursday, October 13, 2016

oh, vermont...*








yesterday was bright and sunny.
this morning is foggy and grey.

which shows off vermont's foliage better?

you decide.
:-)

*this post is especially for simone. xo

a gentle reminder...i am now replying to your thoughtful comments on the post where you left them.
thanks!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

girl time

At my Mumsie's with my cousin Kristen. Such a relief to see my mom improving. xo "Stringing the crabapples" by Jill Barklem. 

Monday, October 10, 2016

refulgent


no camera can do it justice. no words can describe it. 
it's the light. the foliage. the air. the breeze.
and it's not quite peak yet...

these days are magical.

right here.
right now.


Wednesday, October 5, 2016

full steam ahead in october!

home grown
a fine dose of sheep herding pups
ready for the root cellar
some of the last of our garden's gifts

These full and busy days are what I crave. The autumn shift in air and light. The bounty from the gardens. A quilt show deadline. A parade of house guests (my brother and sister-in-law and a big project...an old college buddy...and a friend and vendor at the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival). An application to a juried market (!). Newish volunteer work that is helping to weave me into the local community (via the hospital chaplaincy program).

The foliage here in Vermont is happening!

I'm living in an alternate universe right now.
On purpose.
For self preservation.
How about you, dear readers? Are you avoiding the news?

(I'm off to respond to your comments on the last few posts. Thank you for keeping in touch. xo)

Tuesday, October 4, 2016