A Preservative Free Treat

Tonight I am speaking at a Quilt Guild meeting, and decided to make fruit and nut bars.  A non-sequitur?  Not exactly.  When I need to think, I cook.  Usually.  The two quilts are challenge quilts to commemorate the U.S. space program for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.  I am speaking on my approach to challenges, so this seems appropriate.  I haven't ever laid out my actions in a sequential manner, so this will be a first too! Not quite on the same scale, but....

Borealis

This is a teaser for one of the projects I am currently working on, and its FUN!
Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America! A small group of women thought it would be fun to do a quilt challenge based on that, so they agreed to choose one of the 320 songs the Beatles recorded as a group, and use the title as inspiration for their quilts. Well, that small group of five has grown to well over sixty! The quilts will be displayed at the Quilt show in Hampton Roads next year, and there is chatter of a book. I have the first bits done on mine, and much work to do yet.
I chose a little known song whose name instantly put a picture in my mind... It is called Only A Northern Song and while the song itself is of little consequence, the mental image is lovely. I can't wait to work on it when I get a chance, though I am also trying to get a norse hat done by tonight. I figure I may need it! Of course, if it is done, the snow won't materialize, but I can always hope.

I must say, I have become a real fan of the Superior line of metallic threads... I used two others, and had real shredding issues every few inches, to the point I called our Bernina Head and threatened suicide, but when I changed to Superior, the problems melted away. I wouldn't have thought it would be so dramatic. There are organza, dupioni,Angelina Fibers, Shiva oilsticks and foiling involved too. Not your granny's quilt!

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Many things...

Well, it has been a busy few days. I got to see my sister, which I don't get to do too often. It was a wonderful day, and by the time I got home I didn't want to do anything but rest. She too, I would bet. But I did take the time to complete a small piece for the Gothic Arches Challenge, whose theme is music or lyrics. Today, I did my piece for the Skinny Saturday challenge on friendship. Now my next task is to figure out how to add link lists to my site. If I figure it out, you'll know!

Outside Your Box Saturday Rusty Things

Here is my rusty things piece... I used steel wool and vinegar to make a wonderfully fine, tightly woven cotton fabric very colorful with lovely swirls of rust! I then attached a map fragment and a piece of shrinkfilm stamped with a map along the top and side. In the lower corner, I glued a pic of Madonna & child ontop of a card atop a domino. As a final touch, I added a tiny stamped celtic bee onto the map. What fun!

My First Challenge

Well, I did it, with over an hour before midnight! I used a card from a deck of zodiac illustrations, cut it into an arch, and covered it with bright tangerine nylon organza. I found a picture of a gypsy, made a photo transfer with matte medium (thank you Lesley Riley!) added some fibers, a ribbon, some trim and a sun button. Thanks Patty for inspiring me to try a challenge... I can tell I will love them from now on. A little intimidating at first, but, by golly, I can do this! And thank you Gothic Arches for the challenge!