Last week my cousin's daughter posted a photo on facebook of an old oak tree in Spring Lake Park in Santa Rosa. Several years ago, I took a similar photo, and using that image, combined with a couple of others, as inspiration, designed and made an art quilt I call Spring Lake Evening. It is about 24" x 34", not large, but I like it a lot. It was a challenge, and fun to do, to figure out how to represent the different textures. I think it must be time to start on another such project. But which photo???

Coincidentally, I spent several hours yesterday at Spring Lake Park, visiting with friends I hadn't seen for years. For about 15 years, we all camped there together for a week or so each summer. It was great fun to reconnect.

Not Quite Square

The inspiration for this small (17" square) came from an article in Quilting Arts mag a couple of years ago. Finally doing it was so rewarding! Makes me want to start another. 

Phone Man

This morning I found myself with time on my hands, waiting to collect my brother-in-law from a medical appointment in another town, so I took myself to Peet's Coffee for refreshment. A pleasant-looking fellow was seated at a table for two, and I asked if I might join him. He welcomed me enthusiastically, telling me (phone in hand) that he was just working on his blog. As I sat down and took my notebook and pen from my bag, I urged him to continue; I was looking forward to writing my usual morning outpouring.

Well, instead of writing (me) or continuing with a blog update (him), for the next hour or so we chatted. We covered lots of ground, and it is because of his encouragement that I am finally getting back to this blog.

I had intended to include a photo of my latest Art Quilt project, but I am having technical challenges, so that will have to wait. Not long, I hope. My intention now is to post more diligently. To engage your senses, however, I am including a photo that I took last January, near Crescent City CA.

I haven't forgotten

Okay, so it has been almost two years since I posted anything here. What can I say? Life gets busy, and my creative impulses have tended in the direction of theater, which makes less interesting posts. I guess a photo? But it's not like a watercolor, or an art quilt.

But I'm visiting a friend in Münich, and I brought my watercolors and painted a little postcard. I hope I can remember how to post a picture if it.

New Art Quilt Group

How can it have been April when I last posted? That's months ago. Life is good and busy.

So here's the news: There's a new art quilt group in town, Rag Tag Quilters, and we are going to have a small show in the local co-op gallery. In case the poster isn't quite legible, here are the details: August 5, 2011 opening during the First Friday Art Walk, 5-8 pm (or so). The show will be up until August 26, 2011. Location? Corner Gallery annex, State and Church Sts, Ukiah CA.

We sure hope to see you there.

23 April 2011
Have you wondered where I've been? Is anyone still reading my feeble little blog? I love to write, and when I started this venture I thought I would contribute much more than I have done. Life sometimes gets in the way.

Since my last post there have been some challenging changes in my life that have gotten in the way of my "being here". But I'm back. And still doing watercolors and trying to keep an illustrated journal (but I use more words than pictures still). But I have been concentrating more on art quilts. SMALL art quilts. The quilt in the picture accompanying this post is about 9" by 12", and is a sort of reverse applique. I put 5 layers of fabric together, stitched the design, then started cutting through the layers to reveal what was beneath--some hand-dyed (by ME) fabric, some commercial fabric. And then I framed it with dupioni silk. I love it. Hope you like it, too. I plan to do more of this, maybe even some a little bigger. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Visiting Germany

Yes, I am in Germany, Muenchen, (Munich) to be exact, staying with a friend for a bit. After a challenging summer and fall, I felt rewarding myself with this trip a good idea. Winter in Germany is a lot different that winter where I live, in Northern California. It is colder, although the first few days here were quite pleasant, almost spring-like. The snow returned, though, and yesterday we took a ride to Starnbergersee and strolled in the snow on the shores of the lake. Lovely. Snow on the ground, and light snow falling. Dressed for the weather, it was quite wonderful. I took pictures, but cannot upload from here. Later! I promise.