Making Art

After the week in Laguna Beach, my creative juices were overflowing.  But when I got back over the mountain?  It was 107.  Not a lot of incentive there to get excited about anything.  I plowed through the things that had been set aside for a week, and by Tuesday, I was ready to finish quilting my quilt.  Here it is, finished and faced.  It still needs a label and a sleeve:

 "Shalom," by Suzanne Kistler  August 2019

Here is a close-up, where you can see the hand quilting.  It is also hand appliqued.  I'm very happy with the results, and plan to enter it in PIQF.  It remains to be seen whether or not it will be accepted.

 One of the things that I was really drawn to in Laguna Beach was the collage art.  I came home and bought 2 small stretched canvases and acrylic medium.  I prepped the canvas, and set them aside.  A few days later, inspiration struck.  I had planned to use paper, but I have all of these fabric shred scraps.  I wonder if...?

 Well, look at that!  They do work well.  This was after two layers.  Today, I added a third.  I don't think it needs much more than that.  I just need to decide what to add to the foreground.  I imagine a starfish draped over the edge.  If nothing else, it is different from the sailboat that I'm sure everyone expects me to add.  :)

Several states away, my son and daughter-in-law gave birth to our 3rd granddaughter/4th grandchild on Monday, August 19.  Here she is, quite a beautiful little thing.  She weighed in at 6lb 6oz.  Tiny compared to my kids, but right on target for the grands.

I believe she is less than 24 hours old in this picture.  Such a beauty!!

And that's all I've got for you today.  I'm thinking of jumping into a MAJOR hand quilting project, so I doubt I'll have many more finishes before the end of the year.  Then again, you never know when I'll feel the need to make another baby quilt.  We have another grandchild due in November.  Stay tuned for that.  :)

Happy, happy, joy, joy!!

Escaping the Heat

This past week I've had the chance to escape the heat of the valley.  Funny, that, because the triple digits dropped to the 90's as soon as we left town.  Triple digits are back for our return.  go figure.  I guess that's what happens when you book a summer week in January.  No control over the elements.

Have you ever heard of the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach?  I hadn't.  But the friend I rented from told me to check it out.  Not only is there the Sawdust Festival, but there is the Art-a-Fair, and the Festival of the Arts.  wow!  I made it to Sawdust, and Art-a-Fair.  If you like art, crafts, and creativity, this is definitely the place to be during the summer.  It was a blast!

There aren't many quilters in the mix.  Actually, not too many fiber/textile artists either, but what there was?  Lovely!

I took a couple of pictures, but for the most part, there were no photos allowed.  Here is an example of the felted work available.  Loretta Alvarado allowed photos, as long as I credit her and include her website.  I loved her work!!

 Laguna Beach began as an artist's colony back in the '30's.  Everywhere you go, you see art.  This mosaic just blows me away.  Little pieces of glass and ceramic combine together to decorate the side of a building.

 Here is the plaque beneath it.

 Here is a close-up.  You can click on the image to enlarge.

Even the jewelry stores have original art installations.

 After so much inspiration, all I want to do is make art.  I came back to my room and went back to my hand quilting.  After all, I am a quilt artist.  Quilting is my medium.

But don't be surprised if I start dabbling in mosaic work and collage.  I saw things that almost made me hyperventilate, they were so exciting.  Soon, very soon - probably once I move another 12 yards of bark - I will begin making art in earnest.  Goals are good!  Goals are very good!  And I do love setting them!

So Hot

I spent the last couple of weeks moving bark.  Then I bought 1.5 yards of dirt, and moved that, too.  To date, I've moved 12 yards of bark, and 1.5 yards of dirt.  whew!!

I'm thinking that I will need to purchase at least another 12 yards of bark to finish the backyard, but with the temps in the triple digits?  It can wait a while.  I'm taking a break.

Unfortunately, I have not had much sewing time to fill that break.  I've made a couple of birthday cards, and that's about it.

 This second one looked a bit plain,

 so I added some embellishment.  It looks better in person.

When looking at my photos, I realized that I have done other mindless sewing, as well.  Way back in '06, I cut too many bias strips to make bias squares.  I wanted "plenty" for my Hoffman Challenge.  I had enough for that challenge, enough for a second wallhanging, and still more that have been languishing in a shoe bin for years.  I decided I wanted to empty that box.

Here is the result:

 And here is what I have left.  I still have that bin of odds and ends, but it's not quite as full.

 And, in case you were wondering what the bark looks like?  I have finished the front yard.  Mine is the blue house, the Tudor is the neighbor's.

And that's about it around here.  Next week, I am hopeful that I will have a lot more to share.  Goals are good!!