Animal Art Quilts.

I so love birds.  It all began with my home in Maumee, Ohio.  It had a beautiful dogwood tree planted right outside  the living room window next to the patio.  I placed a feeder in it and "they came"  All kinds, red, yellow, black, white, brown.  And over head were canadian geese and ducks in the yard from the near by Maumee River.  It just fascinates me.  To fly, to be so free, to live in a little next of their making, live thru the seasons, or fly away to warmer lands, to scatter when a bird of prey comes around or my cats who make noise at them thru the window.  

A screech owl from Nature's Nursery, Whitehouse, Ohio 

 He is so adorable.

 Owls, Hawks, Grand Eagles, I love them all.

I worked at Nature's Nursery   http://www.natures-nursery.org/  for a short time, it was a joy to see the animals everyday, not so much the people.  Now that I am retired, I am picker about my workmates.

I have experimented, fiddle with, cut out fabric, painted, colored all kinds of birds for my Bird Art Series I want to make.  Nothing has inspired me until I purchased Intense Ink Pencils. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBJ7_mXw1Uo    I will be using Linda M. Poole's method for her drawing technique, so stay turn while I make something today.

One another note, I have established an Etsy Shop for purchasing of my fiber artwork.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/justforyoutoo?ref=hdr_shop_menu
 Thanks for stopping by and please leave a message.

April 9, 2016 and it snowed- 8 inches

 So (I can't believe it) Snow day for sewing.  Well, and grands sledding.  We had a very mild winter so, not much practice on the snowboard.  And late and early snows always make for great snowman building.  

 

This king size quilt found a new home in Texas from my website on Etsy.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/justforyoutoo?ref=hdr_shop_menu

I had just gotten back from Aruba and Florida winter get away and saw that it sold.  What joy!  So I've been busy making more quilts and  new items up for sale at various art galleries and consignment shops in the Toledo area.

Today, there will be an Prism Art/Literature Menu in downtown Toledo for a few weeks at the Fifth Third Building. https://www.facebook.com/prizmcreative/  The Fiber Art Group I belong too will be showcasing a large quilt made from pieces designed by individual members in our group. Art Quilt Group Quilt Foundry-ART 2 QUILT. This is a closed group so you will need to ask to join.

Other business on the horizon, is teaching at Stitch Bernina Shop located in Sylvania, Ohio. http://www.stitchtoledo.com/ 

Please check their web site for times and dates.

The Beginning of my art story!

My Art Story begins with my mother.  Jeanette (Pohlman) Smith loved crafting of all kinds.  She taught me to sew at a young age on her Singer, then a White with zig zag. I made my own clothes starting in Jr. High and thru out high school on her machine.  She was my girl scout leader and she tried to teach me and the other scouts to knit and crochet but I never figured how to do it until the book came out "Knitting for Dummies". I just couldn't figure out what to do with my fingers.  In high school, I took Art Classes with a great teacher, Mrs. Goforth.  One of my drawings was placed in the Safety Building downtown which was a big deal and I had my picture taken with the drawing for the local newspaper.  My Mom was so proud and hung it in her bedroom for about 20 years. She was my biggest cheerleader, encourager and mentor.   When my mom moved into the nursing  home, she had the horrible disease called Alzheimer.  It was hard for her to say what she wanted to say. It was difficult to concentrate on anything too long.  She couldn't follow along during her favorite show, "The Wheel of Fortune"  But I could get her to show me how to crochet.  This was her last project before she passed.  We made it together for her granddaughter Courtney.  It became a pillow with mom's mistakes and all.  

Here is Mom at 91 showing her stuff off.  Of course with her oxygen and wheelchair.  Her COPD became her downfall along with pneumonia. 

I Miss her so much.  She also crafted those beaded bracelets on her wrists if you look closely. Thank you Mom for passing your loving gift of crafting to me.  

2016, I can't believe it,

My New Years Resolutions.   Most of the time I do not like to make promises to myself that I fail later and it makes me feel like crap.  But this year is my 61st year on earth,  I am creeping into old age and I want to be active, happy and loving more than ever. 

I AM GOING TO RIDE MY BIKE MORE.  LET THE WIND BLOW IN MY HAIR.

 Yes, as I write I am thinking if I should join a gym with a pool so I can swim more or just buy a treadmill and set up a nice gym in my basement.  So more exersize to give me strength to sew at my sewing machine and give me thinking times for my artwork. 

I want to do more contemporary designs with layering colors but I want it to be framed like "real art"  I will also make more kingsize quilt.  Why not,  for prosperity.  

SO STRONGER BODY, STRONGER CREATIVE WORK, STRONGER LIFE AND LOVING MY FAMILY.  

The Loll between Christmas and New Years.

Christmas Light Display welcoming young and old.

  

Sleeping Casper on a Cold Winter's Day.

Display of my fiber art quilts.  

More Street Fair Display of my Fiber Art 

In the Loll (is that a word) of the silent world between Christmas Holiday and New Year's Eve. usually brings reflection on life and dreams of hopes for the next year.  Well, this is no exception for me.  I am always reevaluating where I am spending my time and how am I handling the time that I have left on this earth.  My 91 year old mother passed away this year and also a 45 year old dear nephew suddenly who left a 5 year old child, just like his dad who died early.  Life is a blip on this whirling planet that has been in existence for millions of years, so they say. 

MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT!

What is under some of my sewing machines!

Hello there out in blog/internet land.  Sometimes I feel that no one hears me and then I look and had one person find me.  I know, some of you are so very famous from blogging, on others websites, in magazines and in blogging parties, but I am enjoying my own skin in what I do in the privacy of my own home with a lake and nature just outside my window.  This week will be busy with sitting with my two grandboys while mommy and daddy go to the oldest's kindergarten teacher's meeting.  Then on Wednesday, my two oldest grandgirls will help me with the Thanksgiving Turkey and cleaning my house.  I love my grands.  On Friday, I do not shop but wait for Bonnie Hunters Mystery Quilt directions for this month.
But now I will show you want is under my machines today.  Enjoy.

On my new Bernina 780, I am embrodering a Let It Snow Snowflake table runner.  This should be finished this week and it will be put up on my Etsy Shop.  Look for it soon.

On my New to Me " Red Eye  Singer" treadle that my son in law found, I am making hand dyed napkins for a friend.  I just finished cleaning it, oiling it and my hubby found a lost screw for it and she (Rosebud) is my favorite today.

Under my Sweet Sixteen sit down quilting 16" throat is a queen size quilt that I made about a year ago and finally finishing.  This will show up at my Etsy Shop too.  

Below on my design wall is hand sewed hexies using Kaffe Fasset fabric.  I love the crazy colors and the black makes it pop. I am not sure how big I will make this quilt.  I suppose until I get tired of it. 

I purchased a better camera this year and have been having alot of fun with it.  Nikon Coolpix P600.  Below is a Blue Huron that stopped by our property every morning for about a month hunting for small fish.  I love how their necks for a "S". 

So for a art quilt, I am creating by version of the big birds.  I am also disguising a two small of a bird underneath the larger one.  We will see how this turns out.  Needs lots of thread work, beads and decisions to me made before I like it, I guess.   

Please leave a note that you stopped by and go to my Etsy Shop    https://www.etsy.com/shop/justforyoutoo?ref=hdr_shop_menu    Thank you for visiting.  

Colors I love! AQS Quilt Week!

Paducah, Kentucky: Home of The Quilt Museum

 RAINBOW COLORS:

Favorite Art Quiltist- Caryl Bryer Fallert Gentry

http://www.bryerpatch.com/

 The following quilts are from various fabulous quilters who were admitted into the show or Museum.  I am sorry I have not gotten all their names but please look at the websites and your will find the artist and quilt.  www.quiltmuseum.org/  &   aqsshows.com/AQSPaducah/

 Beautiful Alex Anderson of the www.thequiltshow.com & tired feet Christina 

Color, color everywhere, blues, greens , yellows, reds, etc. 

And Even Fairies.  Oh my!

WILD, SWIRL, MOVEMENT.

PUT MORE COLOR INTO YOUR LIFE