Over the rainbow

A local tv station use to televise Wizard of Oz annually. Always on a Sunday because I'd always missed a section due to the family dinner hour. That movie started me on a reading adventure through every Oz book at the library.

The local jazz station (publicly supported  & you can listen over the web) recently played Somewhere over the Rainbow - though sung by Eva Cassidy, not Judy Garland. Nevertheless it stirred up an old memory once again.

I am on the roof of my parent's house to hang laundry on the clotheslines. It's a beautiful San Francisco mid morning with sunshine and a mild breeze. But I am very sad and long for a happier place. I wish for ruby slippers . . . to click three times . . . to be elsewhere.

I don't remember why I was so unhappy but my childhood was not the best. I've had this vision many times. And the same emotions with it. Everytime I hear this song. Such is its power.

Possible madness

I was just there in May. But in less than two months I'd be off to the Crow Barn once again. I'm taking a dip in the dyeing waters with True Colors with Carol Soderlund followed by a week of Strip Piecing & Restructuring with Nancy Crow.

Last time there I got a very clear message: make pieces between workshops and concentrate on tops rather than finished quilts. So I'd started here with a black and white study. Then I got off on a tangent. 

First circle was shown here. Yes! a circle is piece-able with only straight lines. (Don't listen to naysayers calling it a multi-sided figure.) The struggle with bulky seams around a second smaller circle showed I needed a little more method for this madness. 

I draw the circles with a compass and then locate equidistant points for the tangents. Points too close together mean struggles with bulky seams. Points too far apart call the naysayers out of the woodwork.

With a little math, I pieced two more circles, one smaller, one larger.

Ooh boy, possibilities!

S*** happens

S*** happens. It's one thing when s*** happens to your worst enemy. It's another when s*** happens to good people.

If you've been to the Crow Timber Barn, you'd know Margaret Wolf, the chef, not only feeds us so very well with her wonderful meals but also delights us with her good humor and supportive spirit.

Last May I met her husband, Dale, when he joined us for a few days. This is one couple I'd say has no better half. They're both terrific.

Margaret and Dale were recently in Germany where she has a wonderful piece in the Color Improvisations exhibit. She's the one in the graphic b+w dress in this photo. More about the multifaceted Margaret on her website.

Upon their return they received bad news. Read more about their son's accident and ordeal here. Just breaks my heart. Please send lots of good wishes their way. Nathan died on 8/4/2010. You can send your condolences here.

Inspirational Color Improvisations exhibit

Color Improvisations is an exhibition that opened on July 11, 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany. 50 large quilts from 26 artists.

Nancy Crow had invited artists to submit pieced tops which had to be new and large – minimum 6 feet in both directions. Upon approval, the artist finished these tops – all the while keeping these works under wraps. I awaited the unveiling with high anticipation.

Twenty four of the artists, as well as Nancy Crow and co-curator Ginie Curtze, were at the opening reception. The excitement is palpable in the photos. Oh, to have been there to bask in that creative atmosphere!

Here are links to postings from a few of the exhibition artists:

Lisa Call posted her two works, but was unable to attend the opening.

Kathy Loomis was the first artist at the opening to report. You can see her two magnificient contributions and a link to her photos.

Bonnie Bucknam posted her three beautiful painterly pieces.

Terry Jarrard-Dimond posted most recently. Not only can you see her two fantastic pieces, she also provided great photos of other artists' works and their statements too. ***7/27/10 update*** Terry added photos of her three pieces and describes her process in another post.

What an inspirational work! Congratulations and kudos to all! These works will contribute immensely toward perceiving quilts as an art medium.

There is a catalog available through eBay.

Two prayers: may I have a chance to see this exhibition and may it travel in the United States.

Hole-lee, mole-lee!

There I was in the middle of my b+w study when an idea took hold. I was off and running with options and variations before cutting any fabric before taking a stitch. It's all I can do to keep the idea in check and stay focused. Do you have that problem?

I love skinny lines. Kathy Loomis' Art with a Needle posted about an art date with skinny lines. I also want to make circles or curvilinear lines. Together they resulted in a sketch of a circle made only with straight lines.

The sketch looked familiar - where have I see that before? I was channeling Andy Goldsworthy!  Here is his work for comparison against my pieced piece on the right. Maybe I was subconsciously influenced. Or maybe it sprang from my love of math, particularly geometry.

Going for the goal / goad!

Such a delusional belief that over a three-day weekend I can get a lot done. I visited SFMoMA, worked in the garden for about 12 hours, did three loads of laundry, and went to the gym twice. Among other stuff. But I did not wash the car, bake a cake, clean house or reduce my pile of paperwork. Unless ironing fabric counts, I did no work on my art either. Ahh, so much for ambitions.

Here's what I've been working on. Only one more seam for my black and white study then I can square it off. Except for one spot nagging for a redo.

How little – only this one thing - I've done since returning from the Crow Barn in May. I need goals as a gauge. But I also need goals to goad me into action! You know I love 'em, so here they are.


One small to medium project each month until I go back to the Barn in the fall. That means four projects total (including the one above) to work improvisationally, experimentally and artistically. That's realistic. Then I have the more ambitious goals: one additional project each month. Lest you think I'm crazy, I'm playing loose-ee goose-ee with these. They could be anything – even following a pattern! As long as it involves fabric and sewing, it counts!


Lately, I haven't been posted frequently. That will be the case for the next few months. But stay tuned! I'll be back when I have something to share. Until then, à la Captain Picard, make it sew!