Addicted to Red and White

My attention has been taken hostage by an exhibit that is being held at the Folk Art Museum in New York City. The exhibit is called "Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts."

http://www.folkartmuseum.org/infinitevariety

(there is a Flickr link on their website)

I've been working on my red and white Drunkard's Path quilt (top is almost done!) and have fallen in love with it. I have been inspired by seeing the hundreds of red and white quilts showcased at this exhibit. Each one simplistic in their two color arrangement. Their blocks may not have been too complicated but the red and white placement makes them each magnificent in their own way.

I'm planning on spending the rest of the evening drafting up some of these quilts, so that I'll have then available for some future projects. I don't know just how many I'll be able to accomplish, but it's still fun to fantasize!!

Jane

Camera Working?

Not sure if the camera is fixed yet. I had purchased a brand new (very expensive) battery for my camera. Once it was charged, I placed into my camera and I was able to turn it on : )! I was able to take a few photos : ) and then...it suddenly turns itself off again : (.

For the time being, it still refuses to turn back on when I needing a photo, even with the new battery.

But I was able to take a quick photo of the baby blanket before we took the gift over to the new mommy-to-be.

Then I realized that the new computer, that my dear husband gave to me for my birthday, had a few upgrades that the older computer didn't. One being that I do not need to use my camera when downloading photos from my memory stick. He's so clever! Gotta love him!!
By using one of those upgrades, I'm able to bring this photo. It's the optical illusion quilt that I had mentioned about in the post from a few days ago. The top is finished. I need to mark the top for quilting- planning to machine-quilt. The backing fabric has been purchased and is patiently waiting its turn to join the top.
I have another quilt close to completion and I hope to be able to bring some photos of it...if the camera feels like working for me. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Jane

Brrrrrrrrrr!!!

Boy, is it cold today! And I mean COLD!! When I woke up yesterday, the temperature outside was already at 70 degrees! Couldn't have asked for better! But when it was time to get up this morning, I found that it was a chilly 36 degrees. We had gone from beautiful May-like weather to February-like weather within 24 hours. What a shock!

Since I'm not going to find myself doing anything outdoors today, I think I'm going to start reading the next book in the "Elm Creek Quilts" series, The Union Quilters. Today will be a good day to curl up with a book.

I had just finished a baby quilt for my next-door neighbor's daughter. She will be having her baby girl on Tuesday (will be induced) so I called it really close in finishing it, time-wise. I can remember when the neighbors moved in and the daughter was still in elementary school. Where did all that time go?!

And again, the camera refused to work properly, so I wasn't able to get a photo of it. I made it with a minky/plush lime green fabric and edged with a pink binding. And with the same fabric from the binding, I had appliqued the baby's name on one of the corners in 3 inch letters. A simple yet personalized gift for the baby. I thought it turned out really cute and I hope she and her new baby will enjoy it.

Gonna have to keep warm today!

Jane

Spring Is Here!

Good bye Mr. Snowman! Hello Springtime!!!

Today is the first full a of spring! And I can feel it in the air when I step outside. Currently, the sun is shining and the temperature has reached seventy and it's not even noon yet! It couldn't be better! But in a few days, we will be slammed by a cold front that will bring some cold air back into our area and the temperature will plummet to the 40's again. YUCK! Hopefully, it won't stick around for very long.

During the time I was away while my old computer was down, I had started reading again. The latest "Elm Creek Quilt" novel was not out yet, so I decided to dive into the Marie Bostwick's novels. I started out with her first "Cobble Court" novel, A Single Thread. As a bid fan of the "Elm Creek Quilt" novels, I didn't have high hopes, but I was wrong. I was very pleased with the storyline and enjoyed it enough that I've just finished the second novel A Thread of Truth. Two books in just over a month is incredible for me!

One of the quilt top I had finished was the optical illusion quilt. I love the idea of it being an illusion. but I'm not sure it it works on such a large scale. There is another optical illusion I'd like to try out as a quilt, but I just might wait until this one is totally finished.

*Was planning to include photos with this post but now it's my camera that's giving me problems. I hope that it's a quick fix (unlike the fiasco with the computer) and will be back to business soon!
EDIT: a photo of the optical illusion quilt can be seen in the March 23, 2011 post.


Jane

Happy National Quilting Day!!!

Well, it's not a Hallmark holiday, but it's still one of my favorite days of the year.

My plans for National Quilting Day (which is designated as the third Saturday of March) is to visit my local quilt store for their annual sale!! And then to come back for a day filled with more quilting (good excuse to tell the family to take care of dinner tonight because "I'll be busy!!")

Regardless of what day it is today, I hope that you are able to set aside a day for yourself and fill it with what you love to do.

Jane

I'm Back Again!

It's been a while, but we feel that there is light coming from the end of the tunnel. I should be back really soon again. We've got the nasty viruses out of the computer and will have the new updated, faster computer up and going in no time.

Meanwhile, I'll be getting my photos up-to-date so that I may be able to show off some the projects that I been able to accomplish while on hiatus.

So until then, I'll be back soon!

Jane