Surprise Art Finding

Well the big news is I'm going back to school.  After 30 years of being out of college I decided to take a college course this fall to learn something new for work. I'm a bit nervous...  Not sure about keeping up with all those young ones!  And it has been so long since I've had homework and tests!  The class is only one night a week, but 3 hours long.  Will I fall asleep after working all day?!!   I went today to pick up my text book and check out where my classroom will be.   The few times I've been in the building this month, it doesn't matter what door I go into, I never find it to get back out!  Last thing I wanted was to be trying to find a way out and my car at 10:00 at night!

So I figured out my route today, but the big surprise was some awesome pictures hanging on the wall between the old part of the building and the new technology building!  The depth isn't large, but they have this really awesome 3D look.  I snapped some pics, but of course pictures don't capture the 3D effect.  Enjoy!   I've also included some information on the artist and this collection below. 

Passages by Steve Waldeck

“Passages” is an interactive artwork that features images combined with sound and music composed by Peter Gena. The work consists of a series of 16 three-dimensional wall-hung imagry units located in the link between the Library Atrium and the Technology Building at the Grayslake campus. The spacing between the units varies accordingly in proportion to the their widths. The subject matter is an actual American gothic farmhouse and its surrounding environment that stood until recently in Lake County, Illinois. This homage, installed at the College of Lake County, consists of small glimpses of a single reality, filling a corridor that is 96 feet in length. Passages uses actual photographic processes, as well as bas-relief forms, painting, lighting, motion and sound to create a convincing realistic presence. The series of the farmhouse interior is presented on one side of the corridor, while the exterior views cross to the opposite side.

In the artist’s statement, Steve Waldeck wrote that “Passages conceptually evolved from my 35 years spent here in northern Illinois. It is during the course of this time that I have learned to appreciate the passing beauty of this farm-rich heartland. Grayslake, the home of the College of Lake County, has been part of this classic transition from farmland. This piece is inspired by this passage. Parts of this piece are an actual representation of a local site, just a few miles from the college campus.”

I did it!

Last week my daughter called from Oklahoma.  Her best friend was visiting and was talking all about this car garbage bag another friend had in her car.  So K wanted to know if I could make her one.  Since K is not a sewer, her description left a lot to be desired!  So I asked her if she could borrow it once she got back to IL so I could see it.

K dropped it off a few days ago.  I thought on it some and finally dove in last night making it.

How do you like it!  Pretty on the outside.  Functional inside!  Completely washable!  Easy to empty and adjustable straps gives you lots of choices of places to hang!

Now to write down the sizes and order so I can repeat the process!

Another kit ready!

Spent some time today getting another kit ready for camp!

Now if I could find the fabric I need to finish an UFO!   Found everything bit the background fabric. Looks like I will be doing some cleaning tomorrow. 

What a treat I have for you today!!!!!!

Did you see the above page in the Fall 2013 Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine?  Did your eye go right to the center right picture and that ADORABLE basket of Diane Knott's?  Well mine did and I just HAD to have one.  I contacted Diane to see if she remembered where she found that basket.  And I got a lovely note back and she did know! 

So of course I had to order 2 for me and 2 for gifts!  And get this!  The maker's name is Dawn!  So we have been chatting and calling ourselves "The Other Dawn"!  (Dawn just isn't that common of a name)

I bought the Sewing Cabin Boy (back) and the Small Spindle Sewing Basket (front) in purple for me!  The small spindle basket I plan to use like Diane does in her picture.  But for now I just had some Fat Quarters handy and put them in for decoration!

Then I bought a blue and a maroon small spindle sewing basket for friends for surprise gifts!  One right away for a birthday and the other for Christmas (can you believe I just bought my first Christmas gift for this year!)

And in the background is my new old Singer 401A.  A friend at work mentioned he had this old sewing machine that his grandmother used when he was growing up and it has been collecting dust in their house.  He was throwing it out but knew I quilted, so asked if I wanted it!  Did I!  Yes I did!  So I told him I would be more than happy to take it off his hands.  I offered to pay for it and he kept declining!  What a find.  So the day I picked it up from him at work I had gotten a gift certificate for his family to go out to dinner at a nearby restaurant.  No way was I not thanking him for this baby!  She needs a bit of oiling and cleaning, but otherwise is in excellent shape!

So - if you want a basket like this - go visit Baskets by Dawn!  You can tell her "The Other Dawn" sent you! 

Getting ready for camp!

Camp may not be until September, but I'm busy cutting out things to work on!  Spent today cutting out pieces for 6 mixer blocks!   This quilt is just too cute (http://www.etsy.com/listing/152088626/mixing-it-up-quilt-beater-block-runner?ref=shop_home_active)!  Can't wait to make it. 

Woo hooo! I played today!

Thanks to Tonya from Lazy Girl Quilting and Lynn from Klein Meisje Quilts I started playing with my scraps today.  I have a pile of old fabric left over from quilts I've made in the past, but they are primitive, girly florals, brights, you name it!  So when I saw Tonya's Lego's quilt I liked the idea.  I let it stew in my head some.  What was stopping me was all the different lengths.  I waste way too much time stressing over them!

So when I saw Lynn's version it was just what I needed!  And the constant solid was just what I loved, for a bit of stability!  I also got a ruler to make pineapple blocks at the Chicago quilt show a few weeks ago and that ruler uses the same size strips! So I can start cutting away!

Here are my first few blocks. Of course they will be more scrappy once I get more fabric cut, but I just had to make a few!  Do you like?

Busy Day

Spent my holiday in the cooool basement finishing some projects!   I finally finished my Bull Run quilt!  And made 2 Christmas tree skirts!  A great completion day for me!

Bull Run is from clothesline quilts:  http://www.clotheslinequilts.com/civilWar.php

(Sorry can't link, I'm on my iPad)

Progress Made!

The surprise new block.....

What it looks like so far....

And a big surprise coming up!

And a little more.....

And a little more.....

A little sewing... A little progress...

Oklahoma Disaster

My oldest daughter called me today. She lives in Oklahoma and her home was missed by the tornado on Monday by just a few miles. I've always thought she had a wonderful talent for putting things into words, and the sadness of the recent tornado is no exception.  I usually keep this blog for quilting related eye candy - but how can I not share her emotional story about Monday, especially when her husband says to her - "tell your mom to share your post.  All those middle age women will want to help."   How could I not love him for considering me and my friends middle age; when I am probably far from middle age!  OK, maybe not far from, but old enough.  To visit her post click here.

So grab a few tissues and visit her post about the ending to our wonderful weekend in Des Moines to celebrate our middle daughters graduation - congrats Dr Jenna (doctor of pharmacy)!

Finally - I started a new project!

It's been awhile, but I finally started a new project!  I bought this fabric back in September for a small wall quilt!  I'll keep the pattern a surprise for now!  Otherwise you won't have anything to look forward to!

Only in Oklahoma!

Do you find a pig grill in the middle of a shopping mall!

A Quilt Finish!

I posted a picture of this quilt top back in January when I worked on it at retreat.  But now I can say it is completely done!  In fact it already is on its way to its new owner, I just haven't had time to post pictures! 

Isn't it gorgeous!  I love how my long armer quilted it - she is truly a wonder with my quilts!  I love her sooooo much!