Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the river and through the woods to grandchilren's house we go.  They don't come to us so we go to them. therefore this week has been devoted to making two sweatshirts for my teenage granddaughters.

Fourteen years ago when our first granddaughter was two and her Mother was pregnant with a second child I made them matching sweatshirts for Christmas. Of course, my granddaughter has outgrown her shirt but she is now wearing her Mother's shirt as is the granddaughter with whom my daughter was pregnant.. I love this!

Soooooo, this year I decided to make new one's for the girls. I've added a few things since these photos were taken like, catch lights in the eyes and berries to the holly but these photos will give you the idea. \

Wouldn't it be nice to think that these will last and my great granddaughters will wear them?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

This post is linked to  www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

Background for Hydrangea Finished

I have had a little time this week to work in my studio and was able to finish the background for my hydrangea. I still have high-lights and shadows to add the large flower but otherwise the top is finished. Now to the hard part, quilting.

I took a little time this week to make this little 3 x 5 piece in memory of Lisa Quintana. Kathy Loomis posted a gentle reminder on the SAQA Yahoo list that friends of Lisa's were putting together a presentation to give to Lisa's family. I knew about this and had planned to make something but, as often happens, I hadn't gotten to it yet. Yesterday I had a few minutes and decided that I wanted to do this and if I didn't do it now it might not happen.

Many of my readers knew Lisa, if not in person then via the internet. The internet was my only connection to Lisa yet I feel that I can call her my friend. I never posted a question on the Art Digest Yahoo List that Lisa didn't respond to. She was so helpful, talented and a beautiful writer. Lisa lost her battle with breast cancer in October. If you knew her, even just as a friend on the internet, honor her memory with a little piece of art. You can send it to:
Chris Landis
2110 Germantown Liberty Rd.
New Lebanon, OH 45345
chrisquilt00@yahoo.com

this post is connected to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

It's A Busy Time of the Year

 My new web site is up, please check it out. 
www.marilynwallfiberartist.com

This isn't exactly the post that I had in mind creating today but when your email server is the pits and won't allow you to get into an email that has photos you need then you ad-lib.  I really did do a little work in the studio this week and that was the photo and post I wanted to write but.......

 I made this Pere de Noel years ago when we lived in AL. Two friends and I got together and created an armature for the body. My friend had ordered the faces and we each dressed our Santa in our own style.

Let me tell you the story behind the quilt that I used to make Santa's coat. Our guild in Tuscaloosa was very active and we always had some kind of auction or raffle going on to raise money. One meeting this old quilt came up for auction. It wasn't in too bad shape but for some reason someone hadn't cut a 12" square  out of the middle of the quilt.

I didn't mind the hole as I thought I might make a jacket out of the quilt. I was outbid by another member.  This member was an older lady and she attended the meeting with her DIL. Later that year the DIL created an art quilt in memory of a niece who had died in an automobile accident.

I thought it worth a magazine article so I talked to her about the girl and the quilt. I wrote the article, took photos of the quilt and sent it to a quilt magazine that is no longer published, I believe it was called something like Quilter's Gallery. They liked the article and published it. My friend was very excited and pleased when it appeared in the magazine. At the next guild meeting she shows up with this quilt and gives it to me as a gift. She remembered me bidding against her MIL and she talked her into letting her give it to me.

When I were going through my fabric stash looking for just the right fabric for Santa's Coat  a light bulb went off and I remembered this old quilt. What more appropriate to make the garment of one of the biggest giver on earth?
This post is linked to  www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com