Creative Life Sampler

Forgotten Fish Panel One of the really cool things about quilt guilds is a philanthropy component which is incorporated in their mission to foster the art of quilting. Creating quilts for a organizations which will find homes for them is a wonderful opportunity to share guild members' skills with their community and beyond.  Recently, I was looking through my stash for some inspiration to create a crib quilt for one of our guild philanthropies when I ran across a small panel that I put together many years ago. This was an experiment with the flying geese block on a blue background of sea coral and fish. It remained unfinished for so long because, to be honest, it came out rather "wonky" and I didn't know what to do with it. But that was before I acquired the very handy Bosch GTL2, a laser light square which makes it so easy to square up the edges!  Though I had to lop off quite a bit on every side to make it work, I decided the abstract fish would be a cute focal poin...

Matching Aprons It's been a busy week and I'm just now getting the chance to share a project! I needed to get these cute aprons finished for a wedding shower this weekend.  This is one of my favorite gift giving ideas. We've known this bride all her life, so I wanted to give her something that she wouldn't get from anybody else. The best way to ensure that is to create it yourself.  She likes the "modern farm house" vibe, so I chose a farm animal print and matching checked fabric. I planned to switch out the pockets with the opposite fabric but found that the darker fabric could be seen through the check fabric so I lined everything with a white. This also gives the apron more layers to protect cloths from really messy stains.  Can't you just see the couple working side by side in the kitchen to prepare a meal? What a great "togetherness activity." I'm wondering: which apron will the bride wear and which will the groom wear?  Thanks to my rec...

Castles in the Sand Last week I posted a piece about the textures and aesthetics of an east coast beach. It isn't difficult to make comparisons between that beach and the one we enjoy here on the west coast on our beach walks. They are very different environments and they inspire people in different ways. When I'm traveling, I'm drawn to any example of creativity, especially when I find them in places like the edge of an ocean where people are using whatever they find about them to create. On the west coast we frequently see people constructing cool structures with beach rocks. (For some examples of rock sculpture from our Ventura beach walk, check out "Blank Canvas" under Labels in the sidebar.)  So I was pleased to run across #sandcastlelady and have the chance to chat with Lynda about her work. I found one of her castles on an early morning walk, but I didn't have my cell phone with me. A few hours latter I went back for a picture and was momentarily disapp...

East Coast Beach Last month I shared some textures from our west coast beach walks. So I thought I'd share some recent images taken during a visit to an east coast beach. It's interesting to compare and contrast the two locations, or at least the beaches at these spots on opposite sides of the country.  The first thing to notice? No palm trees, . . . but lots of green, and weathered wood. Our California beach has sand, but rocky textures as well. By contrast this beach is sand as far as the eye can see. Nevertheless, there are textures to appreciate. At water's edge, the debris in receding tides create some cool patterns on the surf.  And then you occasionally run across an opportunity to get down on your knees and really look at what the ocean has brought to the surface. There is another big difference between these two locations: the weather. Sunny Southern California is extremely predictable; east coast weather is variable. You're likely to have a few thunderstorms i...

Labeling Quilts This week I was refolding a stack of quilts that had been piled up on an extra bed and I noticed there are quite a few that are not labeled. It seems lately I've been so focused on designing and executing new ideas that, as soon as the last binding stitch is tied off, I move on to the next project. No wonder I had this nagging sense of unfinished business with these quilts! Very often when I've run across an unsigned, unique, and appealing quilt in a history book I'm left with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I'm grateful to have documentation of quilts from all moments in time. It's wonderful to be able to draw inspiration and lessons from generations of quilters for our own work! Still, it leaves me wistful that historians are left to play investigator and speculate on the quilt's origins and creator. Today it is recommended that quilters label their work with their name, date, perhaps a title or an indication of the pattern name, and even the ...