I started this blog over 11 years ago with the intention of encouraging me to paint daily and then ultimately market the results. I had a huge desire to commit to improving my art, and that discipline of painting daily was a proven way to reach that goal. It evolved into an occasional social commentary, a sharing of our farm and a way to communicate with my family.  My mother loved the blogs, especially those that included reports on the cows, horses or chickens. I also quoted a Bible verse that somehow seemed appropriate for that day's report.
Sadly, my mother passed away this past June, after complications from diverticulitis. However, I still find myself thinking about writing to her in this blog and being impatient to hear what she thought of the day's commentary. She ALWAYS gave her opinion, and it was usually favorable. She was my biggest fan and rarely wasted any time before telling everyone she met about her artist daughter.
I can thank her for bringing me back to quilting.
The year before Momma died was spent on doctor visits, hospital stays and recovery at her house, home health visits and a routine of me encouraging her to eat and keep moving...with her continuing reassurance that she was fine. Not wanting to be a "burden" she became quite good at concealing her growing weakness and deterioration. She was determined to stay in her home and I promised I would do everything in my power to keep her there.
I stayed at her house frequently. I could not paint there, BUT I COULD SEW! So I set up my sewing machine snd sew I did - over 10 quilts and sampler quilts - which delighted her.
Just like painting, there are as many varied techniques and designs and materials associated with quilting and I am exploring many of them.
This little quilt is  a result of "string piecing" using a 10" paper template and a variety of scraps from other projects. And again I have free-style machine quilted it on my sewing machine. I know Momma would approve.

Nodp

Tilt-a-whirl - "Of Mice and Men"

I am having the absolute BEST time dyeing fabrics and trying out new techniques and patterns. Surfing images that other quilters have posted is a great way to get inspiration. I never use a pattern although I frequently doodle on graft paper with colored pencils. Often, however, the final product looks nothing like the original drawing...rather like life, I suspect.

"The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men 

          Gang aft agley.."  nodp

from "to a Mouse" by Robert Burns