Keeping Jayden Warm

It was inevitable that my one and only grandaughter, Jayden, would find her way to my blog site. She's four months old already so I think I've shown great restraint. This was a fun quilt project I worked on while she was still in her mother's womb. Monica, Jayden's mom, wanted the set to match a rug she'd been saving, so we had our design. She needed to keep busy while on maternity leave so she stitched the flowers on the pillows and designed the black one and it all came together nicely. After those few cold, winter nights, wondering if Jayden was warm enough,it seemed like a good idea to crochet an afghan for her too. Yes, I know, I worry too much.

Dazzled With Fabrics!

When my sister, Sandra introduced me to the world of fabrics, I was dazzled beyond repair. I had been so involved in different types of painting for so many years that fabric only seemed a dim memory of simple dresses made from patterns for the working world. Sandra had made a number of quilts by then and, lo and behold, I began to take notice! She had such a wonderful sense of putting patterns and colours together it struck me that I just might be able to make pictures with fabrics. We went to Napanee to visit an old friend and neighbour of Sandra's whom just happens to be a professional quilter and embroiderer. Linda spent the weekend teaching us the basics of making a fabric wall-hanging and showing many of her fantastic works of art. The project I chose was quite a simplistic picture for Christmas, and I get a warm, happy feeling every time I look at it. Sitting by Linda's wood stove, hand stitching and gabbing while her rotweiller, Zoey layed on her back with her legs in the air will always be one of my fondest memories.

Beginnings

Ever since I could grasp a pencil in my hand, sketching has been a beautiful, cathartic pastime for me. I remember having my younger sister, Brenda stand out front of our childhood home as my model. Come to think of it, she was really patient about it considering she was only 3 years old at the time which would put me at 5 years of age. Over the many years since then I've been soooooooooo fortunate to have been able to delve into other mediums by taking an abundance of different art courses and classes. I still haven't decided what I love best. Lately I haven't been able to decide whether to paint or make pictures with fabric. My sister, Sandra introduced me to the beauty of fabrics and I thought I'd lose my mind over the amazing array of patterns and colours. Doesn't it seem like the more you learn, the more you know you need to learn? I just can't get enough of it all! Anyway, here's a sketch I did while at a dear friends cottage two summers ago on Stoney Lake. Chris has been so kind as to invite our girls group there for four days every August. I was in need of a time-out, and sitting on a rock sketching Chris' cottage was just the medicine.