Category Archives: Trees

Applique, Hand work, History, Lap Quilts, Trees, Uncategorized

New York City Trip

Hello,
I hope you are enjoying spring. I am now home from a three day trip to NMYC with my daughter. First stop was the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It was inspiring, haunting and informative. Some parts were beautiful and others brought me to tears. They have done a great job with the whole thing including information about the other two sights. The two exterior pools representing the buildings were beautiful as well.

From there we walked to our hotel in Chinatown and checked in so we could drop off our back packs as we had packed light. Then off to the National Tenement Museum. There we took one of the five different tours they offer about the early livers of immigrants in this country. Ours was about a 15 year old girl’s immigration from the Irish Potato Famine and her life here. The tour was in an actual old Tennent building- three rooms 250 square feet, fifth floor without running water. That was only in the well on the ground as well as the out houses for all the building. That space was shared by as many as ten people. It was fascinating and when the guild told us there were 62 layers of wallpaper on the walls- I was amazed.

We did a lot more locations on Thur. Started out at Castle Clinton- the first fort that was built in NYC during the revolutionary war.

Next stop was at the Museum of the American Indian. Again good history lessons and beautiful examples of tribal clothing, pottery, basketry and living implements.

There was also a wonderful exhibit of modern native American art glass makers.

We moved from there to the National Monument of the Negro Cemetery. This sculpture is made from a study of three skulls that were exhumed and then reburied. We got another history lesson. We then walked back to Chinatown and visited an old Jewish Synagogue- that is now a museum. The same area had one been populated mostly by Jews when they first migrated to the US. It too was full of history and beautifully done.

After dinner we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Lots of people were there and lots of vendors selling tee shirts and other travel trinkets.

Friday we donned our backpacks and walked to the subway where we rode up to 153 street. We got off there and walked to the Hudson River. First stop was Hamilton’s Grange, another Natural Monument. We watched a great movie about his life. We did not tour the house as it did not open for tours until noon. Wendy is on a quest to visit all the National Parks and Monuments- there are 433.

So we then walked along Riverside Dr south 20 blocks to Grant’s Tomb. The visitors center there had a great film and was full of info too. I’ve filled in lots of gaps in my knowledge on this trip! We walked from there back to another subway stop and rode down to 42 street and did Time Square. It’s a real visual overload and very crowded event in the afternoon.

Went to the Port Authority and caught the bus to come home. We walked over 19 miles over the course of our three days and I’m still a little tired.
I am slipping back into my home life feeling glad and thankful for it.

Progress Report: Confused This work is 43″ X 52 “. I enjoyed working with the metallics on this project.

Crow Calls I started this at the retreat and only got back to it this week. It is 20″w X 16″ t. I tried a new mounting technique were it is taped to the stretched canvas. I feel a bit like it is cheating, but I will reserve juidgement until I see how it holds up over time.

Lap 12 I seem to be really rolling along with these lap works of late.

Lap 13 For this lap quilt I used only leftover strips from old lap projects. I have lots more and will do this again as they are fast projects.

Lap 14 For this work I used some of the hand printed fabrics form my dye class at QBL three years ago.

Lap 15 Here is the next lap project. I used some old wipe up fabrics from print projects for this one. I now have seven completed so I will be making a trip to a nursing home soon to deliver these.

Cheery Tree Block I finished this before the trip.

Stenciled trees Block This project was my started to get back into being home.

New Project I can’t seem to go to long without a hand project. I sure love playing with texture.
Hope you are creating with joy.
Carol

Applique, Birds, Drawing, Experiments, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Paper Dolls, Raw Edge Applique, Trees

Spring Openings

Hello,
Spring is a magical time as every day brings changes in the plants around us. Each time we walk we can see differences in our the world. The opening leaves on the trees keep filling in the long views and offering beautiful delicate leaves for one to view instead. I love this time of year.
It has been a quiet week with a few Zoom meetings and a FAB luncheon.

Progress Report: Confused This work is going well. I have appliqued down all the parts and the quilting is done too. I am working away on the binding and will finish it soon.

Lap 11/26 In my usual fashion I moved directly into the next lap quilt as soon as number 10 was done.

Unicorn I have appliqued down the silk head for this project. I added color with markers and colored pencils. I hope Alexis will be pleased with the results.

Jean’s Challenge This is the forth and final piece for challenges. It is not due until September, but I felt inspired to work on it. I may add more as the deadline gets closer.

Crows This is the second bird work I planned to work on at the Spring Retreat. I used a mix of the raw edge applique and some seaming on this background. It is almost ready for the applique of the birds. I feel I may play a little more with this style and make my own. On to the birds next.

Doll Pins I continue to assemble these little gals. I have put together 104 at this point. I still have lots of bodies to add to so I will go forward. I am shooting for about 225 for QBL with some to spare.

Walnut Shell Drawing The squirrels have been busy eating up their winter supplies and dropping the shells in my path. I came home with a pocket full earlies this week and so I did a little sketch work.

I will be off in New York City with my Daughter next week so there will be no post. See you again May 14.
I hope the spring brings you delight.

Keep Creating,
Carol

Applique, Experiments, Lap Quilts, Trees

Warmer Weather

Hello,
It has been a joyous week. A the days grow longer and warmer the local pants are responding with more green and flowers.
Over the weekend I attended teh Schweinfurth’s spring retreat. It was a small gathering this time with only 6 of us in the dry studio and two working in the wet studio. We did have fun and got a lot of work done.

Sharon worked on a three unit landscape.

Susan did a lot of handwork and displayed her response to the Sisiterhood challenge.

Victoria played with lots of projects and this work with tea bags is one of them.

The made in New York show was up in the main gallery. Julia had this work in that show.

I was specially taken by this work with all the great detail and machine work.

Progress Report: Confused This is one of the projects that I worked on at the retreat. I am doing the applique work now.


Sea Gulls This work is 20″ X 16″ and stretched . I tried a new way of building the image for this project. It was very freeing to stitch down the background with fancy stitches and then add teh birds on top.

Lap 10/26

Cherry Blossom Tree Block I did not do much work on this projects this week because I was away from home so much.

Doll Pins I just put in time when I can on this on going project.


Alexis Project I asked my granddaughter what she would like for a new wall hanging. She said a “Unicorn”. So I have a base and I am ready to start building the head now.

I hope the spring is filling you with joy.
Keep Creating
Carol

I seem to having a technical problem with the first image. So sorry . Now that Patty had moved away I do not have teh help I once did.

Finger Lakes Fiber Artists, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Paper Dolls, Trees

Close Call

Hello,
I hope everyone is enjoying the wonders of spring as much as I am.

Driving home I nearly hit a squirrel.     It made me recall the time I had a close call with a dog as well.  Just how many times in the course of our lives do we experiences these near misses with disasters, both big and small.   We delude ourselves into thinking we have control, and we do to a degree.   Like I can choose to linger a bit by putting the cup in the dishwasher and in doing so, my trip down the usual road to an event may mean I miss the big accident at the cross road.    One will never know for sure.    The  choice to take this class or that may mean that we miss or meet a special person  who could change our lives.   We can only go on faith and past experience that good and positive things will continue in our lives.
I directed the Finger Lakes Fiber Artists meeting on Saturday. We had a good time and enjoyed some great work.
Ann provided this great abstract pieces for us.

Jean M did this strong photo like image of a harbor. It has amazing detail.

Sharon also presented a photo like wall quilt of some birch trees. This is in progress.

Linda is doing thread work with her personal photo images that she blended.

Karen, one of the new members shared this piece along with six others.
It was a good meeting and folks left feeling inspired.

Progress Report : Near Misses This work is 33″ w X 43.5″ tall. Again I am using the crystal block as my pattern. I realized this week that although I was very careful to increase the size of each piece of the pattern, I did not figure in the fabric consumed by the number of seams when I made them. Realizing that I know understand why the points did not meet. I have enjoyed working with the pieces none the less. I will have to ponder on how I can make alterations if I want the blocks to meet in future designs.

Lap 10 26 This top is all done. I will follow through on it next week.

Cherry Blossoms tree block The flowers are filling in on this tree ever so slowly. I need to add a trunk as well.

Little Doll Pins I am making these little doll pins as gifts for QBL later this summer. I have given away all but 10 of the Creative Assistants and this is my new attempt. There are lots of parts to these gals so I many only do it once.

I am off to the Spring Retreat at the Schweinfurth tomorrow so there will be some new starts next time.
Keep Creating
Carol

100 day Challenge, Experiments, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Stretched Works, Trees

Spring

Hello,

We are feeling the warmth of the spring and days of longer sun shine.   My little brother died this week and that event has brought home how important it is to care for ones health.   I sometimes want to avoid my exercises in the morning and not take a walk,  but I know those actives and eating healthy are an essential part of  being able to continue my creative life.    For me that is my joyous goal in life.  With that in mind and the spring  weather, I feel I can push forward.

Progress Report: Ocean Organisms   This work is 24″ X 18 ” and stretched on canvas.    It is highly textured and has lots of found objects.  I am preparing for a solo show in Aug and the space is not conducive to quilts.

 

 

It also has lots of texture on the surface.   I crouched the urchins for another project, but decided that did not work there, so they became the jumping off point for this work.

 

Shore Line Tree Block  I finished off this  block this week.  The tree crown is all created with turkey work stitches one on top of another in various greens.

 

 

 

 

Cherry Blossoms Tree Block   I started this work yesterday . I pinned down a pink woven organza and I an building  flowers on top .

 

 

 

Block On Block  This is my experimental project.   This became my  new 100 day project.  I was trying to find a new way to use scarps, so I places several on top of one anther and stitch through them with an X or cross stich with the machine.    Then I stitched them together with the raw edges up.   It is all in the washing mashing fraying out now.  Or I hope that is what is happening.   It may be a disaster, or a wonderful success, you will have to check next week.

 

 

Pins   All the pages of fabric layered papers  are cut into the dresses of my pins.   I have started building the hair and head units.

 

 

 

 

 

Lap 10 /26  I pulled these fabric for the next lap quilt.  I wanted to do something a bit more masculine this time.

 

 

 

 

Close Calls   This work is one using the crystal block that I invented.   Ready to layer and start quilting.

 

Make wise choices this week and keep Creating.

Carol

 

 

100 day Challenge, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Trees

Quiet Week

Hello,

Things have quieted down this week.  I only had to pick up my three works from the library show .   The 100 day project continues.     I did finish up  Flowering Field.  I enjoyed working on all the radial designs for this one.

 

Then I started the next piece for the challenge.    I’m calling it Red Rings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress Report:  Lap 9/26   I only need to do the handwork on the binding and this work will be complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Organistic   I am doing the handwork on this project  and it is slow, but present work.

 

 

 

New Crystals  This new crystal block project will have twelve blocks instead of the nine of the previous three.    I am rotating them too. Hopefully it will give a very different look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shore Line tree block    I have not put in much time on this work yet.     It will grow as I fill it in.

 

 

 

 

 

pins   I thought I would  make some little doll pins as gifts for QBL this summer.  I machine stitched down scraps and bits on water color paper and have started cutting the bodies.

I hope spring is bringing joy and delight to you.

Keep Creating

Carol

 

100 day Challenge, Experiments, Lap Quilts, Trees

Busy March

Hello,

This has been an event filled week for me.  Last Friday I went to Marcia’s on Friday with Susan and Victoria.     Kathy had two bed quilt tops she shared with us.   This one sure lifted my spirits on that rainy day.

 

 

 

 

 

The third in the Landscape series was due.   Deb out did herself and had work on both of the last two.  All the works are based on the creek behind her home.

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria presented her landscape all done in organza.  She is planning on adding more to it.

 

 

Jean is also still working on her piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mine was completed too. I plan to include my works in the trees quilt.

 

 

Susan brought along her second scroll.     I really like the colors she is exploring here.

 

 

 

 

 

There was a reception at the Cabin Fever quilt show on Sunday.   I enjoyed talking with the fellow quilters.    Tuesday was the final meeting for Social Art this season and we have a art show as a part of that event.

 

 

Rina did a wonderful paper relief.  It was all built from a map.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diana shared this wonderful painting.  I really like the colors.

 

 

 

I also enjoyed Judith’s spring piece.  The transparency of the daffodils is wonderful.

 

 

 

Progress Report: Natural Crystals   This work is 40″ X 40″ .  My quilting patter is the same as the block shapes only enlarged to fill the whole space

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Crystals   I want to try one more work using this square were I rotated the directions of the blocks.  So I have pulled these fabrics to use in that next  work.

 

 

 

 

Lap 9/26 Having finished the last lap quilt I have pulled and made the strips for the next one too.

 

 

 

 

 

100 Day work  This 100mday challenge is building.  Io try to do a blossom every day.   It is starting to fill up.

 

 

Tree Blocks -Crochet tree    These blocks are building and I am enjoying building the textures to complete them.  

 

 

 

 

 

Bubble tree   I used the bubble technique to  create the texture of the crown for this  new block this week.

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Organics  Work is going forward slowly on this project.  I find the 100 day handwork  gets my attention first.

 

 

Block on Block  This is a new project were I am trying to use up the little bits and pieces  The seem to get cut of of lots of work.   I am layering three to four pieces on top of one another and making an X stitching across the center,  I will add them together with the seams side up and then wash it all so things fray.  It may not work – but I don’t know until I try.

Hope you are enjoying longer sun light days.

Keep Creating.

Carol

 

 

 

 

 

100 day Challenge, Lap Quilts, Trees, Vernal Equinox

Spring

Hello,

Friday will be the  Vernal Equinox and the first day of spring.   I am glad to see the sun for more of my day.     This week has been a quiet one.  On Monday I went to the Schweinfurth and helped take down the  Rainbow show.   I really like this collage for that show.

 

 

 

I always enjoy seeing what the children are doing as well as the older adults.  I had to share this Medusa as I  have done many drawings myself of this subject.  This work is by a high school student.

 

 

 

 

 

The 100 Day change for SAQA is still going forward too.   Only 23 day remain on that project.    I am building elaborate flowers  using some of the embellishment techniques from the first 50 days .

Progress Report Natural Crystals   I am to the quilting stage on this project now.  I decided to make my quilt design the same as the block pattern only enlarged to fill the whole surface.

 

Lap 8/26   This work is in the quilting stage too.    I am ready to fill in the big shapes now.

 

 

 

 

Organic Organisms   This is the newest of the to be stretched handwork pieces.  I had so much pink and purple stuff pulled for  Leaf Litter that I did not use that I decided to keep going with the same color family on this new one.

Tree Blocks  The crown is the only part done with this newest tree block.  I plan to built the stump and branches soon.

 

I hope the longer days bring us more warmth.

Keep Creating

Carol

 

 

 

100 day Challenge, Fabric Collage Constructions, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Hand work, Natural Elements, Trees

Spring Feelings

Hello,

It has been warm here for several days.  I notice the longer days light and I am adjusting to daylight savings time.  I went to   Ithaca with Sharon  last Friday to shop for new fabric.    Great fun  and I  only purchased some fabric for my Alexis project and back grounds.   Yesterday I was out for the FAD meeting.

I continue to work on the 100 Day SAQA projects.  I finished #2 on Friday.    I did more exploration of the fancy machine stitches here and added buttons for more embellishment.

 

 

 

Then on Sunday I started the third project made with Angela’s fabrics as my base.

I am doing fancy thread and such embellishments on this one.   I put in an hour a day on this project so I can work on other things  too.

Progress Report: Leaf Litter  This work is 24″ X 18″.    The leaves are ones I dyed in Pat Pauly’s class in the fall.

 

I  enjoyed working with Angelina and felted cut offs to fill in more on  this work.

 

 

 

Lap 7-26   This work is almost completed.  I only need to finish the binding along the bottom, so I am calling it done for this week.    All the print fabrics are from a bag full of fabrics that my friend Linda passed to me.   I made a person assignment to do several lap quilts with her fabrics as starts.

 

 

Lap 8-26   This project also started with Linda’s fabrics.   All the prints are hers.

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Series- Night Tree block This block is all but done too.  I know I have a  pearl moon that I want to add to the sky and I know I will do so when I find it again.

 

 

Natural Crystals   This is the third work using the crystal blocks.  Each block is a different layout of the fabrics, but all are facing the same direction.    It is ready for quilting, but  I have no idea of what I want to do for that yet.  Ponder time.

 

 

 

 

New Handwork   I had pulled a lot of pinks and purples for Leaf Litter, so I used them as my start for this work instead of putting them away.

Easter Pins  I went off  on a bit of a tangent on Monday and played with attaching scraps to paper with the machine.  The I cut the project into eggs and added pompoms as tails .  I will pass them out to friends

I hope  you too are enjoying the crazy weather shifts of spring.

Keep Creating

Carol

 

100 day Challenge, Broken Blocks, Hand work, Trees

New Beginnings

Hello and Happy New Year,

I enjoyed the holidays, but now I am into the new things this year requires.    Last Saturday was the first full moon of the year- a Wolf Moon.

I was busy over the last three weeks and I did finish up the muffler I was crocheting.  I have worn it with all my shoveling of late.  The double quilt is done and I am working on a second with that broken block.  The Tree project is going forward nicely and I am on day 8 of the SAQA 100 day challenge.    My job for yesterday was to go and pick up my work form the QAQ show at the Schweinfurth.  I also dropped of the entries for Sharon, Marty and myself for the Both Ends of the Rainbow Show.   Then I stopped at Bett Library and dropped off three works for their Cabin Fever Quilt show that opens in Feb.      So on to the progress report.

Progress Report: Polk Berries    This quilt is 29″ w X 41.5″ l.   I finished it just after I posted last in December.   The base squares are my Broken Block pattern.  I really like how they work.

The berries are made from ribbon my friend Marilyn gave me in the spring.    I really like how it came out.

 

 

 

 

 

Graffiti      This is actually a shot of the back of this quilt .   The front is done of course and it is made  with the broken block pattern that I created a last year.   I finished this yesterday and will based and quilt it next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jetsam   I can not let this technique go, especially when the Joyous Embroidery class is starting a send run.  This shot is about one third of the work.

 

 

Tree Project   This tree square was completed just before Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 I was so inspired I moved right along to do a second Christmas tree with more jeweled beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I moved on to doing a bare tree that I finished just yesterday.     I want to try a more abstract applique tree next.

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Crystals    I am quilting this project now and will finish this week I hope.   This is my second attempt at this block .    I still have a lot to learn here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAQA 100 days   This year for this challenge I decided to do all the suggested projects in the  “Fabric Embellishing  The Basics and Beyond ” book.   I purchased the book in 2010 and never really focused on it so here goes.    I am on day  8 and so far I am only building backgrounds as the  book suggests.

 

It has been enjoyable to review process like fabric weaving  and crazy quilt squares as starters.  A new one for me is fabric scrunching.   That process involves wetting the fabric and twisting it and allowing it do dry that way.   I am still waiting for it to dry out so I can unwrap it .

 

I am feeling happy about next year and hope you are as well.

Keep Creating

Carol