Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative - Sept. Auction

Unleaving, the art quilt I made for AAQI is in this month's auction!  I wrote about it here, in a December post, before I mailed it in.  The photo isn't too good, but the colors in the eco-printed and dyed quilt are monochromatic and not very dark.

I'm thrilled that one of my quilts was selected for the auction!  There are some wonderful quilts in this month's auction, and you can bid on them here.  I'm trying to choose which ones to bid on because I'm building a collection of these quilts.  All quilts are donated and all profits go to Alzheimer's research.



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We've had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend, even if we didn't get to go to New Orleans as planned.  Bryce Eleanor visited and entertained me for three days.  And my best friend Suzie came over to spend some time on Sunday.  We have been friends since junior high, and although we don't get to see each other but once or twice a year, we always pick up right where we left off.

AAQI Quilt Collage

Finished the new AAQI quilt I've been working on, except for the label.  I just began putting items from the odds and ends basket, embroidery scraps, eco dyed scraps, etc. onto a piece of linen that Debra sent me.

The worst and most time consuming aspect was my mistake of using a thick fleece instead of batting.  The needling was difficult, and when I was ready to bind it, I just couldn't face needling through it again.  I usually love applying binding by hand, but not this time.  Thus, a pillow case kind of backing/binding.

I won't make that mistake again.  Other than that, I love using scraps and left overs, the experiments for the fun of it that have no purpose at the time, recycling what didn't work somewhere else, and I had fun with this quilt and all of the running stitches that work as both embroidery and quilting.

Several years ago, I discharged lots of fabric, experimenting with the process, then bundled up all of the smaller scraps.  I made the little "brooch" in the bottom right-hand corner at that time and have kept it on my design board (which is really a place for things I like, but don't know what to do with at the time).  Now that little discharged and embellished piece has a home.

Here is a quilt from 2005 using some of the discharged fabrics.   I made a bunch of post cards from some of the discharged fabric, too.

I now have 3 little quilts ready to register for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.   Maybe one more?

You may have already seen this video, but it's mighty catchy!

If you like cats, you will love this video of Henri. A cat with a serious case of ennui.  I think I'm in love with another cat.  (via Ms Uncertainty Principles)

I have half a dozen projects in the works at the moment and at least a dozen more things I want to try!

Have a great week, y'all!

Prayer Flags in the Garden

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time sweeping the path, cleaning up leaves, pulling weeds, and trimming up the Confederate jasmine on the arbor.  It was such a nice day for that kind of work, especially in the morning.

Then I went upstairs and gathered the prayer flags, took them out, and strung them up.  After I had them hung, I realized there were two more that I'd finished and left upstairs, and one more in progress--I'll have to add them later.  Right now, though, there are 17 prayer flags offering prayers and good intentions to the breeze and 3 more to be included!

Here is a review of some of them a little closer.

In the afternoon, I went to a little nursery in Benton and bought some plants including two butterfly plants (milkweed) to go with my butterfly bush, 3 more basils, parsley, dill, begonias, sweet potato vine, verbena, etc.

Today, I have to get busy and get them in the ground.

I bid on two quilts for the AAQI auction, lost one (Michele's) but won the other.  So here is a pic of  Moonbeam by Cheryl Jordan of Corvallis, OR.   I love it!

 Materials/Techniques: Design created using discharge paste; outline quilted with metallic thread and beaded.

Cheryl's quilt was made in memory of her father, who suffered from AD.

Aside from the fact that I'm contributing to AD research by buying these quilts, I'm accumulating them for another purpose, too.

AND I'm finally working on another quilt to donate.  I have 2 that never got mailed and want to finish the work in progress and make one more before registering them.

I'm trying to catch up on my blog reading...being away means getting way behind!

March Auction and Good Mail

I have my bid in on this month's Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative Auction, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  There is always something exciting about an auction!  Especially an auction where the profits are dedicated to funding research for this awful disease.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I'd won a give-away.  Well, my package arrived yesterday!  Oh, the lovely things I received from The Warp and the Weft!  Now, I have to put my mind to making something with them!

 So many goodies!  Tags and papers and ephemera all wrapped in beautiful toile tissue!

 This is evidently a new line from Jolee's Boutique for French General.

Yesterday, I ran errands all morning, spending most of my time at Michael's and the grocery store because all the other errands were quick ones, except for the one I looked forward to the most, the library-- which was CLOSED!

I had intended to check out a bag full of mysteries to read in between all of the nonfiction.  I needed a fix.  Frustrated.  So when I got home, I downloaded The Snowman by Jo Nesbo on my Kindle.  And read the entire book.  Which was, as usual, far-fetched and graphic; but I continue to read Nesbo because I love Inspector Harry Hole.  Those Scandinavians have dark imaginations for a country that looks so bright and cheerful.

Not a stitch taken all day!  And I was supposed to finish the latest prayer flag using the running stitch.  Did not happen.

Maybe I'll get it done today.

What does your weekend look like?

February Auction (with addendum)

Debra has two lovely art quilts in the AAQI February Auction.

 Michele also has one in the February Auction.

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative™ (www.AlzQuilts.org) is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. The AAQI auctions and sells donated quilts, and sponsors a nationally touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's. The AAQI has raised more than $690,000 since January 2006.

Read more: http://www.alzquilts.org/aboutus.html#ixzz1krpjFXuU

And I forgot to mention my latest purchase, which was not an auction quilt, but one of the quilts for sale on the site.  How could I have forgotten to add the maker:

  Artist:  Nancy Sexton, Rye, CO

Artist Statement: This is Dedicated to Ms. Irene DeDe a " Scrappy Ladies Quilt Guild " member, who passed away ,The Alzheimer’s Quilt project was her pet project, she introduced it to us, so we do this to honor her.

The February auction begins Wednesday, February 1.  The previews are up.  Check it out and see if you can't find a great gift for Valentine's Day that will honor those who have suffered from the disease and help provide research money for a cure.

Have you had a family member or friend who has had Alzheimer's?  

Prayer Flags, AAQI, and a Give Away

Some other prayer flags that have been getting some attention and awaiting new TAST  stitchery magic:

I'm just playing with them right now, but will add weekly stitches as we move along.

I was able to get two more Alzheimer's Art Quilts on the latest auction.  I have an idea for using these and will fill you in later if the idea is successful.  Here are my latest purchases:

Forgotten Places donated to AAQI by Brenda Krause, Sandra Spicer, and Nadine Bird

Strength of Heart - donated by Erin Martin

My thanks to the ladies who made and donated these quilts to the auction!

 And thank you to Ami Simms and her team of volunteers for the efforts they put into raising money  for AD research.

I'm proud of my latest acquisitions and am hoping that my idea will give them a suitable setting.  However, I also need to put aside some current projects and get to work making some more quilts of my own to donate.

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Visit  Victorian Motto Sampler for a chance to win beautiful hand dyed embroidery floss!  If you drop by, please mention my name/blog so I can get an extra chance at winning.  The same will work for you, too, so spread the word.

Have a great day, y'all!

Unleaving

As I've been working with eco dyeing and leaf printing for the last month...

my thoughts have continued to return to Gerard Manley Hopkin's poem:

Spring and Fall: To a Young Child

Márgarét, are you gríeving

Over Goldengrove unleaving?

Leáves, líke the things of man, you

With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?

Ah!  ás the heart grows older

It will come to such sights colder

By and by, nor spare a sigh

Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;

And yet you wíll weep and know why.

Now no matter, child, the name:

Sórrow's spríngs áre the same.

Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed

What heart heard of, ghost guessed:

It ís the blight man was born for,

It is Margaret you mourn for.

The child Margaret is sad about the autumn leaves dropping from the trees (unleaving), and the poet appreciates her innocent sorrow, but knows that other sorrows  will eventually cause her to weep.  Death and loss are part of the cycle of nature, and in the end, with each loss it is ourselves for whom we mourn.  

As I outlined the leaves on the eco prints, I kept thinking about the term "unleaving," and decided to make an Alzheimer's Art Quilt using leaf prints and the word "unleaving."

Memories fall away from our loved ones as the colorful leaves fall away from trees in autumn. Our loved ones recede from us gradually...

  Unleaving.

As their memories ebb, the singular, distinctive persona also fades because experiences, memories make us all who we are.  The unique individual, the person we remember even if they no longer remember us, begins to disappear, to retreat, to unleave while the body remains.   And, yes, it is ourselves for whom we grieve as we contemplate the loss of a parent or loved one.  

The habotai silk on which the leaves are printed was dyed in a leaf dye pot, a variety of leaves went into it.  The muslin was dyed with rosemary (just long enough to knock down the white a bit) and so was the cheesecloth which covers portions of the quilt like a web.  The beads represent the brightness, the uniqueness of the memories that are being lost.

I think I'll make another quilt or two before registering this one, and oh, I have one left over from September that I hadn't quite finished when I mailed in the others.
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I've been reading again, after a month or more of a pretty dry spell in the reading category.  I've ordered a few more bargain kindle books from Amazon and have an order of real books that should be delivered soon, but I need to get to the library!


What's on your agenda today?  Any good book suggestions?

In the Studio

Plunked some cheesecloth in a rosemary dye bath and added it to this piece.   All it did was add enough color to make it blend a l a little better.  I've been working on making this a small art quilt for AAQI...and have some definite ideas for it.  Making progress.

 Planning another small linen block and auditioned some blues.

Morning in the studio with my favorite Ho Tai Buddha.

I've got an appointment with my eye doctor for 10:30.  I've had some difficulties with my right eye for the last few days and want to find out why the these disturbing, filmy floaters have appeared.  Gotta' get ready.

Have a great day!

Selling, Giving, Donating, and AAQI

I just read an intriguing post by Rice Freeman titled "Why I Don't Sell What I Make" -- check it out.  Every time I consider opening an Etsy shop or selling at craft fairs, I've faced the dilemmas she mentions.

When I had a small antique shop years ago, I sold some handmade items and crafts that my husband and I made.  We had a booth at a local flea market once a month, and it was fun because we made a lot of friends.  Was it worth the effort?  Not financially, but we were younger and more energetic then and other rewards were worth it.  As we were already selling antique and vintage items, adding the crafts to the lot was no more trouble as we were already keeping inventory and tax info.

Now, however, even though I sometimes want the validation that someone would want to buy an item, it seems like an awful lot of trouble to determine price (which would never be worth the investment of time and energy) and go to all the effort of selling and keeping track.  Dilemma.

On the other hand, making art quilts for AAQI is definitely worth it because the money goes to Alzheimer's research.  I love that (!) and all of the generous people who are involved in making, donating, and buying the quilts.  It makes you feel good about your work and the purpose it serves.  I'd certainly donate dolls in the same way, if it were to raise money for a good cause.

Right now, the Alzheimer's Art Quilts Initiative December Auction is underway, I've already bid on a couple!  The money raised on each quilt goes to research; can't lose, you purchase a little art quilt and the money goes to research for a cure for Alzheimer's.  Win/Win.

One reason I'm working on my studio re-arrangement is so that I can make some more AAQI quilts.  I need to have my cutting table available--so my other crafting must be transferred to another surface (at least temporarily), and the table given a new orientation.

Where has this week gone?