What’s Been Happening Today?

I think it is about time to get Mr. Bunny gourd out of the cupboard or Easter will be here and gone and he’ll still be in hiding.
Never one to share negative happenings I will have to say my IT company did an awesome job getting my computer back where it was when I messed up EVERYTHING while cleaning the keyboard with a paintbrush.
You may or may not know I have joined Facebook Anonymous. I think they want me to come back as they are sending me links to people I should friend. This includes just about everyone who I have ever had a conversation with, the nurses at a large medical facility,  a Dr. who I once saw, just about anyone who I do or have done business with, anyone with a name similar to the last name of one of my friends, anyone on my contacts list, or anyone of my friends family.

This picture as taken the very first time my friend Robbie Porter Payne came over to visit.
While I was writing this my neighbors came over and checked all through my garage and assured me the 3-4 foot long snake that was in my garage when I opened the door earlier is no longer there since I left the door open for him to escape. How lucky am I to have such great neighbors.
Since I didn’t want to go out in the garage and meet the snake I accomplished a lot of things on my To Do list!

You may or may not remember when I was looking for the CC? Well I guess the bunnies have been standing guard.
So it is a great day even without talking about the beautiful weather today.  Of course lunch was out on the screened porch and that should make my middle child happy as he says it is not a lanai!

No, not on the lanai. Fine dining at La Cuisine a while ago.
So lots of Happily Ever After Stories today.
If you are wondering why I am posting all these photos that seem to have no connection, they all were taken today’s date but in different years.

Words I Live By

This title may not sound very exciting.
Will you keep going and see what I have to say?
I am currently on a hiatus from Facebook. You may have asked me for how long? I do not know the answer.

The word is SIMPLIFY!
One reason to use a computer is to simplify our lives and make it easier. It is easy to fall down a rabbit hole and waste precious time. And when they work smoothly that is true. When they don't, not true!
Although this quilt may not look simple I used the fabric to it's advantage and created a shaded very complex looking quilt quite simply.

Then we also PROCRASTINATE
That is another way we can waste time.

I had to make a decision on what to do with these pieced diamonds and it only took me 18 years to decided this was the one!

 





Two positive words I live by are SERENDIPITY and INTUITION.
They both come from very similar parts of who I am.
I am not one to make long range plans and goals. I found it is too easy for me to get sidetracked if I do and never achieve them.
But if I let SERENDIPITY take over my life goes forward and many wonderful things happen.

I needed something to help deaden the sound in our sunroom. All of a sudden a bolt of lightning hit and I thought maybe this quilt I had made years before and had planned to display in a totally different way might work. I played with it on the tables in my studio to see if I could make it fit the space. It worked perfectly. It is a 2 sided quilt so I was able to loop it around the pole I used to display it.

INTUITION may send me on a journey that I have no idea about why I am heading in that direction, yet when I make that journey the result is often a great reward.

Lest you think my life is only about quilts, my family and friends are a most important part of my life. I had great friends from years ago when we lived in Ohio. We had lost touch with each other for over 40 years. I did remember they had moved to Ocala, Florida so I let my intuition and a little bit of detective skills go to work and I found them. This is the "My Florida Family" I mention often.

Not only did I find my friend Sally (on right) but with a little more detective work we found our other BFF from Ohio....Grace, who lives in Nebraska on the left. What a great feeling after we hadn't been together for 50 years and find it's still the great friendship it was many years ago.

There are some exciting new things that will be happening in my life that I will be sharing with you soon so stay tuned for some announcements when I am allowed to make them.

Yes, Something Is Going On!

This is just a teaser showing some of the Good Stuff as I sew things together.
I still haven’t chosen a direction where I am headed but that is par for the course.
Each and every composition is a new adventure for me.
If it weren’t then why would I do it?
I can think of so many ways I could go with this.
It is an exciting and fulfilling way to work.
When I began creating quilted/pieced things years ago I did start like this.
But somewhere along the line I chose to go off on the journey of traditional quilts.
I don’t regret that journey as it allowed me to learn more about color, design and technique.
It could be said I am back where I started but this time I have the confidence. design knowledge, color mastery and access to fabrics that were not even dreamt of over 40 years ago.

The Good Stuff

I am sharing some thoughts on how I work in this post. It applies to all of my work no matter what the technique or medium is.
Now that my show is over it is time for me to work on new pieces.
I had an very general idea for a very simple work.
It is turning out not to be so simple but I hope it will be beautiful.
I started by pulling some pieces of beautiful hand dyed fabrics from my palette of fabrics. As I work on this I am continually adding more fabrics that will enhance the flow of this piece.
These are fabrics some people might feel too precious to use!
What you say? Use those gorgeous pieces of fabric? I can’t get any more of them and what if I want them?
They will never reach their potential sitting in a drawer because one is afraid to cut them up.
Remember, it is ONLY fabric and more can be created!
The fabrics you see here are just the beginning.
It is not going to be a quick project but I hope it will be successful.
When I start something, I have a very general idea of what I want to do.
As I work I watch when is happening and change course as necessary.
It is only then that a piece can hopefully reach it’s true potential.

My Way

 And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain

It’s Magic

I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway

Iris Spring

But more, much more than this
I did it my way

Garden Party

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention

Glory Aura

I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption

Good Vibrations

To think I did all that
And may I say - not in a shy way

Mystic

Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way

Chasing Rainbows 1,3,4,5

 

I planned each special work
Each careful step along the byway

Ice On Fire

And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Sacred Spirits

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew

Chasing Rainbows 7

But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out

Perfect Harmony

I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way

Karma

  It’s time to shed a tear or two….
But I’ll be back and so will you…

I DID IT MY WAY!

For what is a woman, what has she got
If not herself, then she has naught
To say the things she truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

YES IT WAS MY WAY
  P.S. This is the longest blog post I have ever done but it deserved it so I could include some of your favorites and mine from the show.

Bittersweet…………..

With only today and tomorrow left before my show closes the feelings are bittersweet.
So much has happened on this journey and it has all been good. I found strengths I never knew I had. It has been a wonderful time of creation in my life.
But seeing it end may be hard to face as it has been one of the all consuming things in my life for several years.
I’d like to share a few more pictures of work from the show as I wind down for almost the last time.

Rosey Future, Soft Touch and Jewel Box

Unforgettable

15 Flavors of Sorbet

Ice Dyeing board

All above photos by Marge Barlow Martin

My Elusive Dream

Jewel Box

Fresh Salsa

You can still see the show today and tomorrow at the Anderson Arts Center, 121 66th Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin from 1-4 p.m. and the same time tomorrow.
Hope you can make it to give the show an exciting send off as it closes.
I also would like to thank the others who took pictures of the show: my Daughter In Law Julie Sorensen, my granddaughter Jessica Sorensen, my grandson and granddaughter in law Blake and Stephanie Sorensen and coming all the way from Florida to see the show and take pictures Sally Bedford and Andy Bedford.

Beginning The Final Countdown To The Conclusion Of My Show…3 days and counting down………..

Yes, I am counting TODAY as one of those 3 days.

I love this photo taken by Marge Barlow Martin. The Ice Tapestry is Tranquility and the scene of Lake Michigan, snow and the tree are a perfect setting for this piece. As I looked at the quilt I could just imagine someone playing the piano. She said someone did come in and play it while she was there.
 
Whisper is another photo by Marge. What does this one make you think of?

Limenosity and Crystal Clear

Marge got a great picture of Karma.
All the pictures on this blog post were taken by Marge with her iPhone 7
Thank you for allowing me to share these Marge.

Can You Say 4?

Counting today that is the amount of days you have to see my solo show and brighten these dreary winter days.
Yes, only 4 more days.

Yes, that is me…..the official Queen Of Ice!

This vessel Chasing Rainbows 7 is sold and will be heading to art collectors in Florida when the show closes.

This is one of the pieces that is available in the gift shop. It is a double layered piece.
All the pieces in the show are for sale with the exception of those that have already been sold.

Mystic Spirit 1    40 x 40 inches

One of the upper galleries

Monet’s Garden 4, 5, 6

Red Delicious

Walk, run, drive, fly or teleport yourself to the Anderson Art Center to see the show before it is too late.

 

Have You Seen It, Have You Seen It?

Time is running out…5 more days to go.
I hope you enjoy these photos from the opening of the show.
I am concentrating on family, friends and visitors to the show with a backdrop of quilts in each photo.

If you look carefully you may even find a couple of pictures of the Queen Of Ice herself!

If you haven’t made it to the show yet I sure hope you do.
I have a very few more books available with studio high quality photos of some of the show quilts for $25 & $7 shipping. Send me a PM or a message if you would like one.