May 29, 2015

Off the Wall, Part One

The sewing projects that I started about this time last year are at last off my design wall. I feel very satisfied about Pinball, which will be my contribution to Kaffe and Liza's 2016 quilt book and that I introduced here.
Satisfied schmatisfied, I am downright ecstatic about it! And I want to try this concept again for myself, unencumbered by the fabric choices dictated by the marketing gods. (I believe you art folks call that "working in a series.")  It has always been something floating on the horizon of what interests me, the idea of staying contained within one design form and exploring how much further I can use it to express myself.

The felted wool birds (no link: my blog is littered with them) have also just taken flight off the wall.  I thought they would like it here:
 

But they seem to prefer it here.
 
Guess they're like all the other birds in the neighborhood, suckers for Himself's latest contribution to aviary public housing. The open house has been going on for a few weeks but it appears that a nice young finch couple has moved in to the yellow center hall colonial over the weekend.

I am stitching the last bits down on the outside border with an old woven Kaffe Fassett plaid fabric that I earned by cleaning out Liza's studio.  The pattern includes 96 wool berries on the outside border. Mine are currently very happy lolling about in a ever-so-juicy basket by Patricia Spangler...
...and they will stay there as I finish my creative visualization exercise. Specifically, I am visualizing me, stitching down wool berries with wool thread, onto a heavy wool blanket draped across my lap as temperature begins to climb into the 90s....

My last project, the One Block Wonder for the wedding couple, is also off the wall and on its way to the machine quilter. It simply is not my style and the less said (or shown), the better.

Oh, right, as if I could stick with saying less about anything.

Its just that I learned a valuable lesson: while the notion of making a gift may be heartfelt (and it was) the gift itself must also be part of the maker's creative heart as much as her hand (it wasn't).

Anyway, three projects that kept me company for the past year are now winding their ways out of my life. I am happy to once again be starting a dating relationship with this:
We're taking it very slow, since neither of us wants to repeat our the mistakes of our past.

Which brings me to Off the Wall, Part Two. Its about the other walls in my house and why I want my kids to get off of them.  But it is now Friday night, Shabbat descends and I am going to go to synagogue, sit in the front row with E, admire Rabbi Diana's dancing eyes and lime shoes...

and feel satisfied and grateful for it all.

Shabbat Shalom.

9 comments:

  1. wow! your Pinball turned out a treat and the bird family are looking very bright & brilliant in all their finery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mo, they are making me happy and those colors got me through the long frozen winter we had here

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. There is still work to be done on the birds but happy work.

      Delete
  3. my word, the two finished quilts you do share with us are fabulous!! such an honour I imagine to be included in Fasset's book.
    I love both quilts, so chirpy and cheerful; I also love seeing tidbits of your garden and His creations alongside yours - which bird would not want to move into such a fine establishment - I do wonder what the bottom piece is all about and look forward to the next installment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is incredible, just 7 or 8 years ago, I wrote on one of my wish lists, "I wish I could make some money by working with my hands." Next installment will be somewhat delayed, Himself's son is getting married this weekend and I am the arm candy.

      Delete
  4. ecstatic satisfaction. yes. Pinball. for me would be a lifetime accomplishment....
    i can't imagine how it must feel. and the BeautyFull Birds. So now. That
    SPACE that is, with these finished.....maybe ecstatic anticipation? And Pixie?
    I still like thinking of her as Pixie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I changed the name to "Losing My Marbles" and I like it even better now. I am having a blast pulling out bits and pieces of fabric for the next project, a wall quilt for a beloved friend who laughs at all my jokes.

      The Boxer-Formerly-Known-as-Pixie is actually a vixen on four legs. Howls sad long notes when I pet Billy, drops her treat within seconds of receiving it just to see what I gave him, but cuddles like a dream and turns circles in the air when I come through the door.

      Delete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete