Doings

It's really Spring! Most of the trees are leafed out, the dogwoods and azaleas are nearing peak blooming, and I've seen a hummingbird at the feeder.

Here's the view from the window this morning. It's a little dark because the sun has moved so far north that the garden is still in shadow at 9:00AM. Compare this to the view from mid-March, when the first daffodil bloomed. Now the daffodils are done and all that's left of them are the straggly leaves.


And here below is a picture of Determination. This little dogwood 'bush' used to be a beautiful tree, about 20 feet high and wide with deep pink blossoms. It had a friend nearby that had white blossoms and the two of them together, nestled in the pachysandra and surrounded by azaleas, would take your breath away. Until about 2 years ago when a wind storm took out an 80 foot tall pine tree and dropped it directly on these dogwoods. All that was left were some broken off stumps, so we cut them off evenly and thought about how to replace them. But the pink one will not be silenced and here you see it as it struggles to return. Maybe in 15 years it will regain its former glory.



And what have I been doing with myself? A little gelatin printing, some screenprinting, some yardwork, and alot of web page rewriting. I've done enough to upload and reveal the new look to the world. I took out the guestbook feature because I was getting more spam type postings than I was of admiring posters. It's bad enough that they come into my mailbox, but to leave them on my website? How rude. So if you want to leave a comment, you will have to email me. Please let me know if something looks funky or doesn't work right.

Postcards for Mary Beth

I've been making postcards for Mary Beth Bellah's postcard exhibit. It's open to all; if you want details, email Mary Beth at mb4q@virginia.edu

This 'n that

I have not been keeping up with my blog, shame on me. But I have been busy. Last week another trip down to DC to see the Cezanne exhibit at the National Gallery again with Janet who was visiting from Washington (State, not DC). We also visited the Matisse cutouts, and an entire section of the East Wing of the Gallery that I never knew even existed. Lots of contemporary art there and I need to go back and spend more time there.

On Saturday we drove up to Philadelphia to the Brunch and lecture for Art Quilts at the Sedwick, which is not at the Sedgwick any more, and is being renamed Art Quilts Philadelphia. After the brunch Rebecca Stevens of The Textile Museum in Washington gave a lecture. She was one of the jurors for the show. Then over to see the show. Because it's in a smaller space there were fewer quilts than in past years. The show has a wide range of styles and techniques, and as usual there were things I liked and things I didn't.

Next, over to Snyderman-Works to see the Fiber 2006 Invitational Show. More than 90 pieces of fiber art and it runs from quilts to weavings to beads to wire and on. Lots to see, much too much to absorb in just an hour or so.

And then there are all the shows we missed. Either we needed to stay over, or we'll have to go back.

And here I hope I'm not jinxing myself before this deal is finalized (i.e. I have the check): The DC Commission on Arts and Humanities has purchased Cinnabar for the Art Bank. This group places artwork in reception areas and offices of Cabinet-level officials in the Government. The selections have been made but still need to be approved by the Commissioners. It sounds like it's just a matter of protocol. I've tried uploading a picture but Blogger is acting wonky and won't take it. Maybe later.

Other tasks to work on include the homework assignment for Michael James' class at QSDS, photographing recent work, updating my web page (I'm rewriting the entire thing), planning the Purdue commission. If I think about it I can come up with more stuff, too. Probably need to make a list.

Great weekend

Two days of nearly nonstop sewing and being with great friends - what could top that? Well, I do have something but first - the weekend.

We arrived Friday afternoon and the weather was beautiful, but who pays attention to the weather? Everybody had projects ready to work on, some that have been to quite a few previous retreat weekends.

Here are Linda and Mary Beth all set up. Notice how efficient we have all become - supplies are neatly packaged and stashed underneath the tables.
Floris is very intently studying her yellow water bottle, hoping the genie will pop out.

Dale is always in a good mood and her infectious laughter keeps us all smiling.

This is Elizabeth's work area. Notice how she has neatly stowed her fabric in a milk crate. Each piece is precisely folded. She doesn't even iron them. I wish my fabric were as well behaved.
This is what I'm working on. I'm using some of my soy wax batik fabrics.


The Canada geese are feasting on all the worms that have come out during the heavy downpour.
This is the view from the porch of the cabin. Very peaceful and meditative, except we're all facing the other way so we can see our design walls.


Good news #1: I have a new great niece, born last week. Named Julia Rose, 9lbs 2oz (ouch). Here is the postcard I'm sending to her and her family. It will have to hold them until I make her baby quilt. Julia is my 12th great niece/nephew. Isn't that a beautiful name? I just love it.


Good news #2: The guy from Purdue called and I now have a commission. Whoopee! Good news all around!