portrait of a golden oak leaf

So I am certainly not the first person to take a photo of a beautiful fall leaf. But I did try to capture a unique view.

Quilt top is finished!

 That's half the battle – right?

I am going to piece the back together with an extra row of pink blocks (mid-quilt design changes you know), a large piece of dark blue that might have once been a curtain, some solid pink, and perhaps some spare blocks in other colors.

I am quilting in straight lines with threads to match the blocks, but shifted slightly. So the pink threads will kind of leak into the yellow band, if you can picture such a thing.

I am thinking I will end up doing a scrappy binding but I haven't settled on that mentally yet.

Amanda at ArtPrize 2014: Cathedral Square

Kind of a self-centered title isn't it? Hee. Like I'm a celebrity or a famous art critic. You do have to admit there is a bit of confidence in even writing a blog though. Or at least a crisis in confidence. As a writer, you do wonder if you have anything worthy to share. Of course, 500+ posts later, I guess I've gotten over that!

At any rate, with a toddler and a baby in tow, my strategy is going to be drive in, hit a "big one" (ArtPrize calls them "exhibition centers" and "showcase venues") and get back out before anyone needs a diaper or a snack. I've done this only once so far but it seemed to be a successful method.

My favorites at Cathedral Square involve fabric – but of course!

I was surprised and delighted to see a magnificent quilt "Random Thoughts" by Elizabeth Brandt who I just wrote about after visiting the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Loved it very very much! I really think I am up for something experimental and abstract like this in the future.

And, a close-up.

I also admired this quilt "Rooflines #15" by Collen Kole as well. There is so much about the piecing and the quilting that I don't even begin to know how to do. And the time. Oh, I cannot imagine the time put into either of these. Even my 3-year-old was a fan.

And another close-up. Must admire the quilting.

The installation "Place in History" caught my eye. As a parent, I appreciated the generous "ok to touch." As a home decorator, I pondered the delightful sense of hidden space created by the hanging fabric panels. As an artist and quilter, I admired the tiny details sewn on each panel. The piece was just interesting to me.

Although I don't have a photo to share, I also want to give a shout out to photographer Megan Sinderson and her lovely portraits of pinecones titled "Passerby". You know I can never get over the surprise and delight to be found in our own backyards time and again!

farewell to summer

Oh my lovely Lake Michigan how I love you!

pretty little bathroom bunting

 

 A dear friend passed along this treasure. It's made of vintage quilts and adds a sweet touch of old to my otherwise fairly modern styled bathroom. I noticed that each triangle is 2 layers sewed flat with a raw pinking shears edge. The bunting I made before sews the triangles up inside out and then flips them out. I am rather inspired by the light, bright, summery look of the vintage florals. I may have to sew up a full size bunting to drape across the mantel in my living room!

Speaking of vintage sheets, which I have been gathering here and there at thrift sales, look at this lovely quilt made with them! Aren't you inspired?