Winter Scenes

The first snow of the winter arrived late in December and is composed of a few inches of lake-effect snow drifting our way from Lake Erie. The stone patio outside the studio door creates a very interesting design matrix. Looks like a future quilt feature.





The cottoneaster and their berries are covered in fluffy snow. The small red globes will soon be consumed by all kinds of critters who come looking for food!










Our fall gourds age gracefully. We had a small crop this year, but they will add color even as they slowly decay.











One of our orchids begins to sprout. Last year we had only one stem, and this year there are at least a dozen. Each stem will produce a wonderful long-lasting white bloom. We don't remember the name, but the plant was purchased many years ago at Fairchild Gardens in Miami.

The Florida "stuff"

The items in Miami that we boxed and set aside in November for shipment home were picked up by the movers two weeks ago.

Within the estimated delivery time, the items made it to our garage, all in pretty good shape for the most part. One salad plate and one soup bowl were in pieces, but all the rest of the dishes and even the glass lamp arrived safe and sound.

It was like a mini-Christmas, going through all the boxes --- and we were so intent on going through all the items, that we forgot to take more pictures.





The king-sized mattress and box springs, just wrapped in their plastic shipping bags, also survived the trip.





Bill's Yukon holds the tables, the bike and a couple of boxes of things for the trip to Geneseo to Jim and Doreen's house.














Winter has arrived with some much colder temperatures, and it was time to put the heater in the fish pond. Even in the coldest weather, the heater keeps the pond from freezing over. The fish like to spend their time pretty close to the heating element.

Pat Pauly's Trunk Show

Our very talented friend, Pat Pauly, was the featured speaker for this Sunday's Trunk Show at the Schweinfurth Museum and Art Center in Auburn, NY. The trunk shows are part of the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit which runs through the beginning of January and includes two of Pat's quilts.


Pat gave us a wonderful PowerPoint presentation on the many phases of her work and then showed us some of her quilts that she brought with her.

Here are a few of those quilts:












Her "Pink Leaf" quilt is from the recent mola challenge that she organized.














"Beijng" was based on a photo taken during the Olympics.













"Plank and Feather" is based on two photographs.






This is one of Pat's quilts done in the early '80's.










Pat has been creating hand-dyed and shiboried fabrics (which she has available for sale) and made this quilt from 3 pieces of her fabrics.













Pat designed and organized the creation of the recent raffle quilt for Genesee Valley Quilt Club. This sample quilt features the center medallion that is the focus of the raffle quilts.














This quilt is based on a photograph of an outcropping of rocks in Jordan.

Compositional Conversation - Stage 15

Terry Jarrard-Dimond's project, Composition Conversation, is now back in her studio, after being worked on by 14 fellow artists.

Here is the project as she received it.

And the picture below shows the project in its final form. Be sure to see Terry's blog to read about her thoughts as she added her revisions.

http://www.studio24-7.blogspot.com/


She plans to add a final wrap-up about the project on her blog in the near future.

Trunk Show at Schweinfurth

As part of the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit at the Schweinfurth Museum, trunk shows are presented on Sundays.

Today Aafke Steenhuis shared her quilts with us. Aafke is from the Netherlands and has lived in the US for 30+ years. She resides in the Ithaca area and is a member of the Thompkins Cortland Quilt Guild.

We noticed her lovely orange jacket and her use of many orange fabrics in her quilts, and she pointed out that orange just happens to be a favorite color of hers. (I think we need to invite her to join the orange jacket challenge!)





She's made many quilts since she started quilting in 1998 -- some based on traditional patterns, along with several art quilts.

This red and white beauty has fabrics that Aafke brought from the Netherlands. Some of the fabric patterns are based on bed linens used on farms in her homeland.





This is a very recent quilt that grew from building out from small blocks.







This quilt is based on the design of a napkin from the Netherlands.

These are a couple of her more traditional quilts.

Aafke has had treatments and surgery for a giant cell tumor on her right wrist, and she showed us some of the many "giant cell" quilts she has created.

Impressionism at the Everson Museum

It was a gray day, but we had clear roads, for driving to Syracuse to the Everson Museum of Art. The building is known for its distinctive structural design by the noted architect I. M. Pei.






The special exhibit, "Turner to Cezanne", comprises 53 masterpieces from Renoir, Monet, van Gogh, Turner, Cezanne, Manet, Pissarro, Whistler, Daumier, Corot and more. These pieces are part of the Davies Collection, which is considered one of the National Museum of Wales' most remarkable treasures and one of the great British art collections of the 2oth century.

The exhibit is open until January 3rd. If you'd like more information, see http://www.everson.org/ .






A view out of one of the glass walkways.

Compositional Conversation - Stage 14

Our last guest artist has taken her turn with the project. Marina Kamenskaya added some new colors and interesting shapes to the composition.

It's now on its way home to Terry, and she will be putting the final touches on.

Check Terry's blog for the details on Marina's process and watch for Terry's update on the final composition.

http://www.studio24-7.blogspot.com/

Sewing Day continued

Priscilla also worked on some strips of flying geese that she had made in the past that were orginally intended for a jacket. Now that she's become a quilter, however, she re-assembled the strips for a quilt.






Nancy cut out and sewed together a new jacket. It came from a pattern she was trying for the first time. It turned out great, but I think she's ready to try making a kimono-style jacket next time.










The main fabric is a Lonni Rossi fabric.















Priscilla brought in one her Hmong story quilts that she buys from their makers in Vientiane, Laos. This one depicts the people fleeing the soldiers in China and Vietname and going to the refugee camps -- and from their moving to other countries. See Priscilla's blog for Nov 15 for more story quilts. www.PriscillaKibbee.blogspot.com

Sewing Day

Nancy Hicks, Priscilla Kibbee, and I decided to sneek in a little sewing before the Thanksgiving holiday.







Priscilla brought lots of work in process. She found this beautiful needlepoint parrot on ebay, and he's destined to be adorned with a few beads. A quilt is in the planning stages, and many lovely fabrics were auditioned, including some scrumptious silks.












This is Priscilla's Vegetable Man quilt, which features a beautiful hand embroidery that she found in Vietnam a few years ago. She's added interesting piecing and borders, highlighted by her signature seminole piecing along the side.













The Vegetable Man was inspired by a painting of Rudolph II, painted by Guiseppe Arcimboldo in 1591 and called "Vertumnus, God of the Seasons."

Pear Mincemeat

Our neighbors gave us extra pears they had from the tree in their yard. We don't make pear mincemeat every year, but decided this would be a good use for all this extra fruit.

First, the pears are peeled and quartered.
Then they are crushed in a food processor, along with lemons and raisins.


The mixture goes in the pot with sugar and spices, and is cooked until it thickens.

Then it's put in jars and put through a boiling water canning bath for 20 minutes.

We like to mix the mincemeat with apples for pies -- it's pretty yummy!!

If you're tempted, here's the recipe:
3 1/2 # ripe pears (about 1/2 peck)
or enough to make 8 Cups smashed pears
1 lemon
1 15 oz pkg raisins
3 - 3 1/2 C sugar
1/2 C white vinegar
1 1/2 tsp each cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger

Peel, quarter, and core pears. Wash and quarter lemon, removing seeds. Put pears, lemon, and raisins alternately through the food processor. Combine fruit mixture with sugar, vinegar, and spices in kettle. Bring it to a boil and simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, 40 minutes or until thick. Seal in sterilized jars or pack in freezer boxes. A double batch makes 6 quarts.

RAFA trunk show continued

One more artist who presented today was Nancy Hicks. Nancy (in the center) showed several of her "faces" quilts.













My high school friend, Mary Ann Cocola (in the center), and her friend, Liz (on the left), came for the show and were checking out Barb's quilts.







Genie Barnes came for the show and showed us her newly-completed butterfly vest. While she wasn't officially part of the "orange jacket" challenge, she managed to work in some orange strips which add wonderful highlights to her vest.

RAFA Trunk Show at Schweinfurth

Members of the Rochester Area Fiber Artists presented a trunk show at the Schweinfurth Art Center. Pat Pauly (in the center) organized the show and introduced the artists.

Jeanne Simpson (on the right) is showing her quilts to Julie Brandon.











Marcia Eygabroat (in the center) is showing her quilts to Liz Anderson (on the left). Marcia's mother, Sally Hershberg, came with her.

Notice Marcia's recent quilt in the foreground that features her mother and father.


Barb Seils (on the left) is talking with Carol Soderlund (center) and Sally Dutko (right). In addition to sharing several of her quilts, Barb showed us her silk scarf made in Carol's class.










Diane Miller, who is a machine knitter as well as a fabric dyer and quilter, wore one of her sweaters with dyed fabrics.

Holy Moley Exhibition and Celebration

And the winners are.....

Pat Pauly, challenge organizer extraordinaire, arranged for the participants to have a catered dinner with a private viewing of all the mola quilts and the announcements of the awards.

Pat talked about her quilt, which won the Viewer's Choice vote and was given a beautiful mola donated by Priscilla.

My quilt to the left was the "Winning Mola" (!!) and I won a free dinner.


Bev Kondolf talked about her quilt. Priscilla's quilt is to the left, and Ren's is to the right.












Liz Coccuzi described making her blue mola quilt. Linda Bachman's quilt is to the left, and Pat Berardi's is to the right. Pat's quilt won an Honorable Mention.












My apologies to Jeanne Simpson for her blurry picture. The quilts behind her (from the left) were made by Val Schultz, Beth Brandkamp (who also won an Honorable Mention), Jeanne Simpson, and Barb Seils.

For pictures of each quilt, see Priscilla's blog http://www.priscillakibbee.blogspot.com/

Holy Moley Mola Challenge

Pat Pauly issued a mola challenge over the summer and 19 of us signed up. The rules specified that we design a quilt that was inspired by a mola that we had purchased from Priscilla. The mola could not be used as part of the quilt and had to be kept so it could be shown with the quilt.



Nancy Kelly, who was manager of the Memorial Art Gallery's Gallery Store for more than 25 years, was charged with the task of selecting the quilt that best reflected using a mola for inspiration in a contemporary fiber art work.



Here's the progression of the building of my quilt, starting with the mola I selected.

I decided to concentrate on the "U" or "C" shapes and to make the shapes in different colors and sizes.




I wanted the quilt to have ascending and descending columns and some additional spots of color on the sides.











And here's the finished quilt. It was machine quilted with invisible thread in a "burst" pattern.

Update on Compositional Conversations

Three more stages of the Compositional Conversations project have been completed, and it's fascinating to see each artist's voice expressed in the piece, as well as to read about their processes.

See Terry's blog for the details on the construction of each piece www.studio24-7.blogspot.com .

This is Stage 11 by Valerie Goodwin. Note that the piece told Valerie that her name was Mary.

Stage 12 by Kathy Loomis

Stage 13 by Leslie Joan Riley

Good Bye Florida

We are selling our Miami townhouse. Marcia and sister-in-law, Doreen (pictured), flew down last weekend to close up and make necessary arrangements, requiring phone calls and personal contacts. Doreen is the serious sun-lover, so of course, would be on the phone outside!









The two-bedroom, two-bath unit is in a retirement community, where all the single-story buildings contain 4 apartments and are surrounded by a lot of green space. It is 15 miles south of the city, and we started using it in 1979.

Doreen and brother Jim created the attractive flower garden in front of the sun porch windows.







Some items were selected to be sent North, including "Grandpa's bike" which will be passed on to Doreen's son for its sentimental value.












Other items were boxed and placed together for pickup and shipping by a transit company. Some interior furnishings were gifted to a neighbor, and our realtor took some things for distribution to area needy families. If you are in the market for a warm weather condo, give us a call!

Quilt Club Meeting

The November meeting of the Genesee Valley Quilt Club had its usual great Show and Tell of member quilts.

I'm sorry I didn't record the names of all the quilt makers, but here are a few pictures:

This is a raffle quilt being offered by Compeer.

This is a new quilt by Julie Brandon.

The pattern for this quilt is by Nancy Murty.

Quilt Club Speaker

Our guest speaker for the November meeting was Paula Schultz, who owns a fabric store in the central part of NY near Oneida, "Cottons, Etc." Paula is a wearables artist, and she showed us several of her garments.

Our large meeting room was filled with members, so volunteers brought the outfits through the audience so we could get an up-close view.






This is our friend, Nancy Hicks, modeling Paula's coat and showing the matching vest.




Nancy showing the back of the coat.













Diane Jessop modeling one of Paula's vests.

Jacket Days - 3

In addition to jacket making, there was some final work being done on our "mola" quilts. We're involved in a "mola challenge" that is due by November 15. The dinner and awards ceremony is November 20, so there will be a report following that event.





Since I had a lot to do to finish my mola quilt, I concentrated on that and didn't get to start a new jacket.

I can at least show you the mola I chose as my inspiration piece for my mola quilt.







Priscilla and Genie are consulting on Genie's work.









I'm not sure if Beth and Priscilla were considering the progress of their work on their design walls or taking a break!

Jacket Days - 2

Beth is putting together her turquoise fabrics for her jacket.

On the right you can see Genie Barnes, who joined us for jacket making. She's working on the butterfly vest pattern.












Genie brought several ethnic fabrics with her that she got from Priscilla, and started putting some of them together to create fabric for the back of her vest.










Beth got a lot done for the back of her jacket, including a nice strip of seminole piecing. It sure looks like she'll be the first one to complete the current "turquoise" challenge!














Priscilla worked on creating fabrics for a new jacket that she started at a recent retreat. While it includes some turquoise fabric, we're don't think it qualifies for the turquoise challenge....

Jacket Days - 1

Priscilla and Beth and I got together with the plan that we would work on more jackets -- specifically, our "orange" jackets were to be completed and a new challenge for "turquoise" jackets was issued.












Beth showed us the piece she has been working hard on, and that's almost done, that features her lillies. It includes several of her hand-dyed fabrics, along with some commercial cottons.





Priscilla brought her completed orange jacket that I got to model for her. It includes lots of wonderful fabrics that she has striped and pieced, as well as bands of seminole piecing.












The back of her jacket features a beautiful embroidered Chinese flower collar.

Around the farm

Our friend, Monica, stopped by to pick up some hay. She and her partner, Mark, raise beef cattle and are getting several of their stock ready for market.








We currently have no resident horses, and the hay is better used for current needs than sitting in our empty horse barn. The pickup truck nicely carries the 25+ bales for transport.









Inspector Suki is adjusting to her cool weather routines. The wool shelf rests on a window ledge and sits above a heat run -- it's a favorite spot for winter naps!















The old faithful Christmas cactus plants welcome the holiday season. Like merchandising advertising, these plants seem to blossom earlier every year.

More from Schweinfurth

Another picture from the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center:

I'm pleased that my quilt (on the right) is hanging next to the quilt that won the First Prize Award.

This is "Chutes & Ladders" by our friend, Leslie Riley, from Skoki, IL, and is made from hand-dyed and commercial cotton fabrics.

Quilts=Art=Quilts

Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center's 29th annual juried quilt exhibit opened October 31st and will run through January 10, 2010. The Center is in Auburn, NY, which is close by, so several of us from this area attended the opening.

Photography is not allowed, but I did get to have my picture taken with my quilt that is in the exhibit. (And I got to wear my shaman's coat that Priscilla brought back from her trip to South Asia.)







This quilt was submitted by our friend, Terry Jarrad Dimond -- "Wrestling Jacob's Angel." It is the winner of the Schweinfurth Award for Design Excellence.

To see several views of the exhibit, use the following link:

http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits/current.html

Terry's blog updates

This is Stage 10 of Terry Jarrard-Dimond's Compositional Conversations project which was recently completed by Paula Swett.

Paula did a terrific job of moving the Conversation along. To read all about it, see Terry's blog at http://www.studio24-7.blogspot.com/ .





This is Barb Seils working on her last composition in Terry's class at the studio last week.

Check out Terry's blog to see her pictures and what she wrote about our class.

Fall Arrives

We had eight visitors here for our five-day class last week, and Inspector Suki tried to adjust.
Here she curls up on the cutting table and tries to help.

While many of the students were among her favorite people, the total dissruption of her schedule was a bit much.

There was much stimulus (maybe she has a touch of autism), and she spent a good part of the week away from the hubbub and commotion.





Priscilla took this picture of Suki watching over everyone coming in the studio in the morning from her vantage point on the roof.













The maple trees in the area feature a portrait of yellows, oranges, and reds. Our little tree in the backyard contributes to the tableau.












The rear of our house is graced by a "burning bush" in full color. Our new waterline trench to the barn has been filled in and new grass covers the evidence. We'll store the hose and make final preparations for winter before it gets much colder.

Class - Day 5

Some work on our final pieces:

Nancy's two pieces are on the end wall and Priscilla's piece is to the right.







Pat is arranging the sections of her piece.

Bev's work is to the left and Barb's is to the right.










My piece was inspired by some "southwest" designs in my paper sketches.











This is Barb's piece and the paper sketch that was the inspiration.

Class - Day 4

Terry reviewed the black and white paper sketches we created, as we considered how we could use our compositions as inspiration for a new piece.






Terry brought a few of her new smaller Textile Constructions to show us.






Some of these pieces have been finished with bindings or facings. Some of her other smaller works are matted and framed.

See more about her weekly textile constructions on her blog at www.studio24-7.blogspot.com .








The group was hard at work on their final projects.

Class - Day 3

Black and white sketches using paper to represent opposition

Class - Day 2

Cutting shapes:



My piece




Priscilla's piece









Bev and Barb working at the wall.

Linda's work is between their pieces.

Class with Terry Jarrard-Dimond

We were very fortunate to have Terry at the studio for a week-long class: "What If? Building Pathways to Creative Work."

Our first exercises dealt with line work.






I think Pat was making a point ---
and not just waving at me!






Priscilla was getting ready to photograph her piece.










Pat and Nancy covered the end wall with their pieces.










Bev is hard at work.



Jeanne's pieces are on the left board.

Barb's work is on the left board and mine is on the right.

Compositional Conversations - Stage 9

This is an update from Terry Jarrard-Dimond's on-going project, which will involve 13 other artists before it makes its way back to Terry.

My Stage 8 composition is followed by Gayle Vickery Pritchard's Stage 9 piece.








As Terry said, "...like several of our other artists, Gayle has put herself into this project. Now how in the world did she do it?"

Please see Terry's blog http://www.studio24-7.blogspot.com/ to read more and find out.

And we hope you'll add your comments and join in the conversation!

Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching

"Black and Blue Moons" has been selected for the Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching exhibition -- the 14th annual international exhibition of art quilts at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Chandler, AZ.

The opening reception is November 20th, and the show runs through January 2, 2010.


Black and Blue Moons is machine pieced and machine quilted cotton fabrics.

It is 56" X 67" and was completed in 2009.


The exhibition is produced and juried by Diane Howell and is overseen by the City of Chandler's visual arts staff.

To see the roster of artists who are participating, go to http://www.sweeteasyfeeling.blogspot.com/.


Detail

Autumn

We harvested our experimental multi-colored carrots, and they presented an interesting variety of visual images.







They were cleaned up and cooked as usual, and tasted like their normal carrot cousins. With a little honey added, they made several very nice servings of dinner vegetables.












Our gourds are ready, and we are studying and preparing arrangements. Last year was a huge harvest, and we came no where near that number this year, but did get a nice variety.









Our visitor, Jeffrey, used the point-and-shoot camera, focused through our large telescope to capture a few of the hundreds of geese on our large several-acre pond that borders our property. The geese stop here twice a year-- in the spring headed north and now in the fall, resting on their way to their winter home in the south. It is entertaining to watch these large flocks take off and land. They hang around for a couple of weeks and then are gone..

Cleaning

Our spring cleanng was a little delayed this year, but better late than never.

Our long-time friend and "daughter", Monica Thomas, headed up the effort.











Her friend, Karen Decontie, joined Monica as they applied cleaner and oil to our extensive paneling -- throughout the whole house, upstairs and down.
















The women maintained their high energy and smiles (even at the end of the 3rd day) as they tackled the tile in the upstairs bathroom.














Monica's son, Jeffrey, did much of the heavy lifting and also cleaned some of the sun porch cushions outdoors on the deck. We forgot to ask him why he preferred to work with bare feet!

Scholars Exhibition at Cornell University

Jeanne Beck, Nancy Hicks and I drove back from the Tompkins-Cortland quilt show and made a stop in Ithaca.

We found the Fiber Arts & Wearable Arts Scholars Exhibit, which was in the College of Human Ecology and the Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design. The exhibit is open until October 17th, and is sponsored by the Barbara L. Kuhlman Foundation, which provides annual scholarships to students in fiber arts and apparel design.


"Monsters Under My Red" by Nhu-Thu Nguyen
(complete with plaited snakes)





"Red Skies" by Nicole Castelli

This gown had two "front" sides, both lovely.















"Vibrato" by Laura Kung


















"Re-Creation of the Rose" by Krista Speicher

Project Iron Quilter

The Tomkins Cortland County quilt show featured the Project Iron Quilter contest, which was great fun for all. To see lots more pictures and description of the action, see Priscilla's blog http://www.priscillakibbee.blogspot.com/ and Beth Brandkamp's blog http://www.quilterb-bethsblog.blogspot.com/.

This is Sally Dutko, one of the Ithaca Quilting Divas, and Susan Marshall, the Canandian contestant. At the end of Sally's table, you can see the Mood Fabric shopping bag that each contestant was given.



After the contestants were given the theme, "To curve and not to curve", they had a few minutes to shop for (grab) fabrics from the table.











Here's Pat Pauly sewing in her favorite and famous "stand-up" position, and Priscilla Kibbee is working at her table.
















Pat shows her finished piece, complete with hanging sleeve, and done before the end of the time limit. We like her use of her hand-dyed and discharged fabrics.
















Pat used her discharged fabrics on the back of her piece.

Susan Clark was declared the winner of the contest.

Priscilla's outfit, "Thanks Kaffe" won first prize in the Viewer's Choice Wearable Art Category. It was in the 2006 Bernina Fashion Show and was made from 135 Kaffe Fasset fabrics and 5 long beaded bands from Guatemala and beaded bands from India.

CC - Stage 8 now posted

Here is my contribution to Terry Jarrard-Dimond's Compositional Conversations project, which has now been posted on her blog http://www.studio24-7.blogspot.com/.

I decided that I wanted to add a color structure and large shapes for the remaining artists to react to and work with.

Please see her blog for pictures and details of the changes I made to the project.

Compositional Conversations - Stage 8

This very interesting project was designed by Terry Jarrard-Dimond and is described on her blog www.studio24-7.blogspot.com.


There are 14 artists in all that will participate in our Compositional Conversations project. Seven of the artists have taken their turn, and this week it was my turn!


Check out the grid to see how the project has been evolving.

My contribution (Stage 8) will be revealed on Monday, and then the picture of my composition will be added to the grid.

All of the participants in the project would welcome your thoughts and hope you will leave your comments on Terry's blog. Please visit!

Autumn scenes

As the old saying goes, "Time waits for no man" (or woman). The inexorable rotation of seasons moves silently and seamlessly from one to another. Here the old tractor faithfully pulls the bush hog mower through the large horse pasture. It is a good four-hour job and hopefully will hold until spring growth.

Some pears join the canning parade. There are only a few pears left for eating out-of-hand or in a fruit salad. So we think this might (finally) be the end of the canning work for this season...









The wonderful "Autumn Clementis" reaches full flower as it covers a garden pergola with a ceiling of shade and beauty. This plant grows some 20 feet in a year, and once established, thrives in just about any growing situation.










The "Japanese Anenome" is both delicate and sturdy, and finishes up the flowering season in fine style.

The sedum plants grow in the shade and wait all summer to release their distinctive blossoms. If left, they will dry to a deep brown on their stems as winter arrives.