Beware of Darkness

This is a wall hanging that I made for my son recently. It's about depression, which I have a problem with from time to time. Some of the fabric is fused, some appliqued, there is some embroidery embellishment and some light beading. It didn't turn out as I had pictured it in my mind, I need to experiment with other fusibles, as the stuff I used was hard to sew through.
I finally got my husband to take a day off and we went to Shipshewana, Indiana. A large building in the center of town that housed several shops burnt down 2 years ago and just reopened recently. They had their grand opening this weekend. On the top floor they're building a wonderful carousel, a local artist is handcarving all the horses (and some other animals, too).
The people who own the building have something like 25 grandchildren, so they asked for their suggestions as to what to put in the building for children's enjoyment. The top floor also has a puppet theatre, but they passed on one grandchild's suggestion to put a slide that goes from the top floor to the bottom, hah! Aren't they wonderful? The woodcarver is Al Bontrager, a pamphlet handed out at the grand opening says he learned to carve from his grandfather when he was a young boy (he's Amish). The painter is Cheryl Kellet.

Journal Cover

My quilt journal was such an ugly book, I've needed to get a cover made for it for a long time. These are not my usual colors, but I fell in love with the swirly pink/green/purple/yellow fabric & thought it would be great for embellishing. And I realize that it's not a good thing to get into a rut with my favorite colors all the time, and I'm really happy with how this is turning out.
I was REALLY hoping to use those cute little colored eyelets, but, of course, I can't find my little eyelet puncher tool. Searched everywere, but I'm sure it will turn up as soon as I get back from the store with my new one.
I did some embroidery and beading, I don't think it's completed yet, but I have to think about it.
If someone can explain to me how to make the pictures bigger and still be able to keep the jpgs low enough so the pic will post, I'd sure appreciate it.

Grandma Glenn's Quilts

These quilts were all made by my husband's grandmother, Marie Glenn. She really inspired me, I had always wanted to quilt, but had only tried little projects. Grandma Glenn's quilts just bowled me over, though she was such an expert hand quilter that I don't think I'll ever be able to master stitches as little and even as hers. She started quilting when she was a young girl, her Mom had made some "comforts" (I believe these were hand tied utility quilts) but Grandma Glenn said she pretty much just taught herself to make quilts. Grandma Glenn was a prolific quilter, the family really has no idea how many quilts she made in her lifetime. She gave away and sold many, and also did hand quilting for people that had quilt tops they wanted finished.
It was quite a treat to visit Grandm Glenn's house, she loved to show her quilts and would open this drawer and that cupboard and make all sorts of lovely quilts appear, it was like a treasure hunt to me. Though Grandma never got a chance to see the internet, I think she'd get a big kick out of people seeing her quilts this way, she loved showing them to people. I wish you could get a closer look, her stitching is amazing!

Batiks & more batiks

Yummmmmmmy...new batik. Unfortunately my camera won't get the color right, it's a deep purple with greenish hues swirling around. I had to take my husband to the airport yesterday, he has to work in Mexico for a few days. So of course I was feeling sorry for myself, and luckily there are two fabric stores right by the airport, it's kismet!


I actually AM using some of these. Just made this new purse, it's called the X Bag, by Four Corners Designs. The color isn't right, dammit, it looks much better in person. The pattern was kind of confusing, I thought it might just be my addlepated brain, but I ran into a lady at the fabric store that said the same thing. I had to make some changes, of course. I added bunches pockets and attached the sides differently, did the binding differently, and I'm really happy with it. Could be bigger, I just carry SO much stuff.

MUST!STOP!BUYING!FABRIC! But who could resist these wonderful batiks? I also got the most beautiful deep, deep, red. Didn't bother with a pic, you know the color wouldn't be right, but it's great, I need to go back and get more. Not sure for what project, but something is brewing in the depths of my mind, I've been on the lookout for this red.
This pic is of a quilt I'm making from last year's $5 block of the month, made of Civil War repro fabrics. I hadn't played with those before, but I've got a bit of a stash going now. Still trying to figure out how to finish this, thought it looked kind of cool with the light shining through it.

I've been doing some hand quilting, when my bad shoulder permits. Geez, what kind of weirdness is it to have "quilter's shoulder". This beautiful quilt top, below, was made by my husband's grandma, Marie Glenn. She made many lovely quilts in her lifetime. My mother-in-law gave me this top for Christmas, and I didn't want to put off quilting it, we want to encourage that sort of behavior!

I finally got The Nature of Design by Joan Colvin. Her work is just so awesome. Also reading Pioneer Women, Voices from the Kansas Frontier by Joanna L. Stratton and Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington.

Amish Quilts &c.

We usually go to the Mennonite Quilt Auction in Goshen, Indiana in the fall. I saw the most beautiful Ocean Wave quilt there made with a black background and solid colored triangles, very Amish. It was the most striking quilt I saw there, so of course I want one! Unfortunately I didn't have an extra couple of thousand dollars on me, but I have a good stash of vintage solids so I've started on it. This will take a while. In the meantime I made this miniature, I believe the pattern is generally called Shoo Fly. I get frustrated with big projects, so it helps to make miniatures from time to time, I like getting something finished!

Deadly Jungle

This is my favorite quilt so far (of those that I've made). I call it Deadly Jungle; some of the fabrics reminded me of a jungle for some reason and the flower border is Deadly Nightshade, or at least my version of it. Daisies or tulips wouldn't really work on this one. I made this one for myself and it hangs in my sewing room. Wouldn't you think that outside border would have used up most of my batik scraps? Nah, not even close. I am a total batik addict.

It's really not at all crooked, I have nowhere to take a good quilt picture, so that's hanging on the clothesline.
Today was a pretty decent day, we had some sunshine and the temp was around 40 degrees. Man, I wish spring was closer.