Block #6: Aspen leaves done in fall colors. I love the shape of the aspen leaf; quite round and cute. The bent looking bare trees represent the "quaking" aspen tree, and the oval shapes are cross sections of a cut log. I did this block just a short time ago in autumn when the leaves were turning and here it is winter weather outdoors already. The trees are covered with snow and the lake is frozen. There were about 2 dozen Canadian geese hanging on for a bit yet in the open river but today on my walk I didn't see them. Maybe they headed south. I did spot 6 otters running and sliding across the lake this morning; they "skated" right across a makeshift ice rink I've created on the lake.
While posting the aspen block photo, I couldn't help remembering other winter times spent skiing in the mountains. Well, "Aspen", Colorado started me thinking. There is nothing like winter sports, being outside in the cold and then enjoying the winter views and ambiance from inside. I've traded my downhill skis now for cross country and snow shoes and ice skates, but that thrill has always been there. Aspen here, and there.
Here's mandala # 5 for you: Dusty Miller. A little hard to see the delicate, greyish blue flowers but it looks really nice in person. Very subtle and adds another wintery looking element to the quilt. Dusty miller has beautiful yellow buds as you see - I've never seen them on a plant, but I did found images of these and recreated them in this design.
Dusty miller really dried nicely and it is just so neat looking!
The Mercer Public Library (my favorite place in town) had asked me to do a display of my quilts, an the artist of the month. Yesterday, I piled up a bunch of my quilts and headed there to put up the display. The fun part was getting up on scaffolding to position some of them up above the desk area. If you go, don't forget to "look up" - kind of like a tourist in New York City (on a slightly smaller scale)!
Pineapple Sage - at the very least - sounds delicious. I love to grow and use fresh herbs and sage is one of my favorites. But, this plant and it's blooms is just plain beautiful. My sister who lives in southern Missouri had tons of it growing last summer. It took over her garden and those red flowers were spectacular. During a visit there, I took some cuttings, pressed and dried them and created this block #4 for my 'Power of the World' quilt. The finished block looks like winter with greens and reds even though pineapple sage strictly a summer plant, but it balances the other blocks nicely.
Dried and pressed Pineapple Sage:
One of the many (no make that one of the few) perks of being a census taker last spring was driving around the beautiful northwoods, getting to places I've never seen before. The lupine was in full bloom and just amazing. So, here is block #3 for my Power of the World quilt. Yes, I pressed and dried lupine blooms and leaves and used them for the design. I needed some pinks and purples in this quilt anyway.
The Applique Artists group met for the first time last night at Your Arts Program gallery. Five lively ladies who love applique attended with me, and are very enthusiastic about this group. We plan to design and make an appliqued lap quilt to donate to "Comfort for Alzheimer's Study Volunteers." Participants of this study who have mild to moderate cognitive impairment will be given donated quilts. We meet the first Wednesday of the month from 6 to 8 pm; see the web site for further details: http://www.yourartsprogram.org/
It was a thrill to receive my quilt "Flower Power" back today from the Treasures for Tomorrow quilt show which was held last weekend in Marshfield, WI. The show was great and my quilt did win second place in it's category, but when I opened the UPS box, there was the coveted "Viewer's Choice Award" ribbon- those votes were not tallied until Saturday afternoon so I didn't know. To me, this is more of an honor than the judge's award - fellow quilters (and viewer's) liked my quilt enough to vote it as their favorite. And I just say, Thank you.
