COLOR ON MY CARDS

ordered
new
cards 

painted
papers
collage -

NANTUCKET COLOR

back and front proofs 

STUDIO THIS MORNING

3 pictures of the studio this morning before I started to work. 

I'm happy to say the bindings are done and I'll add ribbons, rik-rak, and buttons, tomorrow. 

But before that I want to put away the excess of materials covering every table top. 

Hard to think in the middle of such a mess! 

click on photos to enlarge

FITS IN A SUITCASE

Nelson designed a PVC pipe structure for hanging 3 quilts during presentations. 

It breaks down into pieces that fit into a suitcase and is simple to put together. 

This morning we put the parts together for the first time to see how it worked.

It sagged and was too long. Back to the workshop.

Third quilt - heading towards completion. 

Machine quilted squares and clouds.

Sewing on the golden 'rope'.

Tomorrow, sewing on the binding.

STUCK

   

I was stuck yesterday. I did not like the cross and took it off. Now what!!                             Lord what is the answer-how do I do this cross?                      Early this morning at 5am I went through my Peru papers and quilt notes. The answer dawned on me as I read.                              The teaching I offered to do is all about the story rope-why, how, where, experiences and let's do it!   Of course. I drifted into complicating the simple!                                            Back to the story rope on the face of the quilt-ribbons and all.                                 Went out for more ribbons and other notions to finish it up.                                  More hours ahead but I know what I'm doing now!

THIS MORNING

Status on quilt. 
Adding the Cross.

Assembled bag of story rope and story heart materials.  My new friend, Janet, is helping me prepare for Peru. 

TONIGHT

Just 2 pictures to show. 

Making progress today into tonight.

Gran historia de DIOS. 

Sure would like to complete it this week! 

STUDIO AT REST

Pat and Martha are coming. 

I'm putting the quilt aside until Monday.  

It's coming along. 

Often it is good to be away from working on an art project for a couple days.

It helps me be more objective.

Working on center: 

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.   
Isaiah 9:2

WORKING ON GOD'S BIG STORY

BIG

Finished up creation section. 

On to time following the fall

Simple people.

Pictures from today.

WORKED TIL DARK

Pictures dark.

Artificial light.

Taken late in day.

Binding on

Machine quilting.

Small creation scene. 

Dark landscape.

Much to do ahead.

"WHAT DO I DO NEXT?"

Nelson liked the top photo he took. It looks like I'm saying, 

"What do I do next?"  

Yes, that was the question of the day!  

I'm still figuring out the surface design that will 'tell' the story.

Decided to keep going and let the surface design perk. I moved on to the binding. 

This is usually the last step...but with the looming deadline, I just went ahead.

Chose a starry heavenly fabric and sewed it on.

NO GIFT FOR ADMIN

Came up to my studio to put away the last of the story rope workshop. 

The women left some ribbons for me to use in Peru. 

Then I brought out ALL the emails! I'm looking for some info about our stay in Lima. 

Overwhelmed here! 
I do not have the gift of admin!

Photoshop-stylized-edges
click photos to enlarge

A VARIETY OF RIBBONS & BUTTONS

Today reinforced for me the importance of teaching the story rope in Peru.  Yes, there are other important topics we're prepared to cover but the story rope remains at the top of the list. God uses this simple hands on process, to open tightly locked doors of the heart.   

Friends came to learn how to make story ropes today. Each made their colorful timeline, beautifully and creatively put together, storying both deep pain and great joy.  REAL LIFE. 

As they worked, I observed how a better variety of materials improved the process and outcomes of their ropes.  It was fascinating to hear why they chose a particular patterned ribbon or a shiny metal button.  What a difference with great materials!

Choose a good variety of ribbons:  different widths, colors, patterns, textures, transparent, solids etc.

Choose interesting buttons and beads: colors, shapes, metal, plastic, wood etc.and needles and threads for sewing the them on.
• today in studio
• end of day remnants

click on photos to enlarge

SETTING THE STAGE FOR A CLASS

The frenzy of activity is put away. The quilts & Peru are on hold until Monday.

Tomorrow morning a group is coming up from Madison, CT to learn how to make story ropes. 

I think they have plans to use it in an inner city mission. 

A couple more chairs and the room will be ready. 

Beth Dry, the organizer, is a friend from way back - the very early days of Walnut Hill, then Grace Community.  That would be over 30 years ago!

I'll take pictures tomorrow.

BOOKS BY MY GRANDKIDS

Last month we had 3 more books by our grandchildren, published by Blurb. All 7 are on the great room shelves.  I am one proud grandma.

The grandkids made the art sign for me for Christmas. They each painted a letter. It actually hangs on the wall of the kitchen, where I can see it all day, but Nelson moved it to take this picture of me with their books.

Oh...and those are my 2 books that Blurb published, Rain and Chance of Snow.
click on photos to enlarge

QUILTS ON THE COUCH

Today I skyped with a dear friend, who I've partnered with overseas. Though not an artist, she is very perceptive about communicating ideas. I've benefited greatly from her insight and input.

It was overcast today so the studio was a bit dark - not a good place to look at and talk about the quilts. So I brought them down to the great room and put them over the couch.  As we skyped, the looking and talking worked. Click on photo to enlarge.

READY TO QUILT

Good progress today.

Finished the 2nd quilt top. 

There they are on the work table. 

The 2 quilts are ready for machine quilting. 

More work tomorrow. 

click on photos to enlarge

PONDERING POSSIBILITIES

Today I wrote some emails to new friends I'll be working with in Peru, partially in Spanglish.  Then on to the quilt top. 

Went through my fabrics and picked 2 that I thought would work on the back of the 2 quilts. 

I cut the low loft batting for both and ironed the backing fabrics.

I decided to work more on the first quilt, God's  Story Rope.  I moved aside the quilt top and moved over God's Story Rope quilt. Quilt-top on left side of table in lower photo.That one needs to perk some on surface design.

Photos of me working. Challenge is to finish this top, keeping it simple.  The fabrics will tell some of the story. 

The choices are still in flux but here are two shots working today. 

QUILT TOP FINISHED

Quilt top finished ....now to baste 
and machine quilt.

That will be next week. 

Will add buttons at end of process.

No title yet.

Quilt 'framed' with strips of felt. 
A way to 'clean up' edges for a crisper look while still in raw state.

I THINK THIS FABRIC 'SAYS' MESSY.

I was in and out but I did get the 9 blocks sewn together. I do like these colorful blocks and enjoyed using the machine. It's been a while. The piece of sky up there (pardon the pun) seems to work well.

This is a process to 'say' what I want to 'say' through this quilt. 
So much material.  I mean 'thought' material. 

It's messy, we say around here.
How does God get anything done, using us imperfect though forgiven mortals !? 

There I am with some 'messy' hand painted fabric. Maybe I'll use it.

Now I'm making a 2nd quilt before I finished figuring out the first!  How did that happen?

I just looked at my studio. It's messy. 

9 BLOCKS

Today in the studio.  

Right side of
God's Story-Rope Quilt.

BEGINNING THE QUILT

Yesterday I began the quilt I'll be taking to Peru and other countries.  It will pair up with making story ropes. 

Working title:
God's Story Rope

Organizing 'sky' fabric. 

Sewing first pieces together.

Golden roping.

More work on the quilt this morning. 

Explanation of the quilt ahead. 

PREPARING FOR PERU

This was Monday:

• reading my notes

• making more notes

• pondering a quilt

Lord! 
May I hit it exactly right!!

yesterday in studio:

rearranging space

'sky' fabric 

gold cording 

postcard size ?