a rainy walk on the sound

antique-ing in the OBX

Last week I went down to the OBX for a few days. It was lovely to escape to the ocean for a few days. While I was down there I went to a few antique shops with my family and I found some great things. The hats above were in a room in one of the stores, stocked from ceiling to floor. I thought they were beautifully composed.



I got this 1930's baby quilt at one of the stores, it is in great shape, the fabric is so soft it feels like soft cream. The colors are not fading which means that someone took care to keep it out of direct light. This is the kind of find that makes me excited!



All the pretty fabrics sewn in a crazy quilt motif.



The fabric on the back, sweet blue flowers on a creamy white background, so pretty and delicate.

It's finished!

"10,000 Stiches to Understanding"

After a year and two months this circle quilt is finished. I have sent my entry form into a quilt contest and will see what happens. I have decided that even if it does not get into this show I will not be upset, because it is the first thing I have sent into a show in a long time, and that is just as important to me. The artist statement that I wrote for this quilt entry is as follows:

This quilt is inspired by traditional "women's work." The history of quilting dates back hundreds of years in this country,
and with it comes a history of women sitting around stiching. Sometimes waiting for a loved one, other times waiting for a
wedding, a birth or a trip, etc. Women used the stiches as a way to pass moments until the next thing
in their life happened. With that in mind, I created "10,000 Stiches to Understanding", with the only tools to assist me
being a rotary cutter, circle templates, a needle and thread. My hand in the work is important and relates back
to the notion of "women's work". I worked on the quilt for a year, at a time that was full of change, and decision making.
With each stich I thought about life, the people in it and my goals. Now with its completion, I see that I am at a peaceful
place full of understanding about myself and my dreams. As in all of my work, this quilt is made with the past in mind
but looking at the future, while standing in the present.




I can't believe that it is finished, I am ready to start the next intoxicating project...

paper-maids

Every year it is a challenge to make a birthday card for one of the most creative people I know. One that is new and that I have not made before, and of course it has to rivel the ones she makes me, my friend Meri. This year, I decided that I wanted to do something with mermaids, since she loves them! I ended up making a mermaid paper doll chain. The initial idea involved adding decorative details to the mermaids and making them very intricute, however once they were completly cut out of paper I loved their silhouettes by themselves.





The other day I went out on the Potomac river with my family, we went to see the new National Harbour, in Washington DC. It was a nice evening out on the boat, and I could not help but share this picture of the eagle's nest next to the marina. If you look closely you can see the eagle mom in there. How cool is this HUGE nest! Wish I could have one to take home.

where is ana?

Where is Ana?? Looking at Mayan ruins..? Sitting on the beach with a book and a limeade? Touring the Mediterranian in a smart car with only the horizon as the guide? NO NO NO silly... Ana is working and finishing the quilt that has taken over her life!! I just wanted to drop by and tell anyone that may read this, that while I wish I was off doing all those things, I have actually been sewing billions of circles together to finish my quilt in time to send it off to be juried for a show. The deadline is approaching and since I do not have a house elf to help me, I have been working vigorously to finish. I will return to more intersting new posts once I am finished with it. There are a lot of projects that I have lined up, once the quilt is done.
At this point I feel as thouh I should call it a "quilt" not a quilt... Because it is so abstact from the traditional. We will see in the end. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

my mothers favorite place

I went to my mothers house last night to see how the renovation was coming along, and I could not help but notice the small but beautiful details in her garden. The stone path that is slowly being covered in vines and plants, looks as if it has always been there, and the lettuce in her vegtable garden. The color of fresh lettuce is the most beautiful green, and tastes delicious as well.

change for a ten.

Finally I sat in front of my sewing machine again. With my favorite nude shades of thread, and a rainy afternoon outside. I was asked to make a piece for a local art organization in honor of their tenth year. It is for ART 180 an organization that brings artists and the community together. They are looking for 1000 artists for this, so if you are interested check out www.art180.org/ten or call 804.233.4180.



The show is called change for a ten. You have to design something the size of a dollar bill and submit it with a ten dollar donation to the organization. The pieces will be sold in october at an opening at the art 180 building on hull street.



This is my piece... "Acceptance without Judgement"