PIN BASTING

 Pin basting....oh yuck...first you spend all that time pinning, then repositioning them as you quilt. Ya, I know some can figure out where the best placement for the pins are in the first place.....but I pin A LOT to assure there is no movement of the layers so that's a futile exercise for me.

Marking lines with painters tape helps me maintain a straight stitched line, however it sure does add a lot of extra work. Okay....I'm done complaining.  

Now onward...and oh ya GO PACK GO....especially today!!

JASCO WAX BLOCK PRINT

 Oh boy, do I have my work cut out.......what on earth to do with this African wax cotton block print by Jasco Premier??  

This isn't much of a start is it??  As always, stay tuned, I'm pretty determined!

BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUME EVER!!

 I rarely post family news or photos, but this is way too good to not do so.  Our son had such a Wow, Wow Halloween costume this year.  Wonder how many of you are familiar with it??

SWEET DREAMS

 I've been hoarding some small pieces of this rare vintage indigo fabric by Kashmeri.  And......finally decided it shouldn't be hidden away in my stash any longer.  It was printed in England, mainly for the South African market.  Both the right and wrong sides are featured.

SWEET DREAMS - 13" X 13"

AVAILABLE

Genuine Vintage Rare Kashmeri Indigo cotton print. Made in England.

Wool felt, pieced & appliqued. Wrapped on canvas covered frame and secured in white wood frame.

REACHING PEAK COLOR

 Peak color is perhaps one or two nights away.  Again, a totally unedited photo...snapped on our early morning 'forced march'.  Note the famous "smoke" (left) that gives this area the name, The Smoky Mountains! 

It's the trapped moisture coming out of the forested mountains that provide the appearance of smoke.

JAPANESE GARDENS

 

JAPANESE GARDENS - 53" X 53"

 View online my gallery shop for availability

Japanese & hand-dyed cottons, machine pieced and quilted.

Prepared for hanging with fabric sleeve attached.

AS THE SUN COMES OVER THE RIDGE

Our home is located in a mountain valley......shaped sort of like a big oval dutch oven.  Longer than wide, with mountains on all 4 sides.

This photo (without any photo editing) was taken during our morning forced march about 7:45 AM....just as the sun's light was reflecting on the upper forested mountain range to the West.  

The contrast with lights and darks will be a good color study for me as I continue to create small landscape art quilts.

THE EXCITEMENT OF......

 .......the day you begin a new quilt and the day the quilt is finished is the best part of the quilt making process.  In between can be frustrating, exhilarating, satisfying, puzzling, mentally exhausting, or times when a happy dance is required.

And I have begun......so far, so good.....

FALL COLORS NOW SHOWING OFF

 Early this morning during our daily 'forced march', we were rewarded with views of our mountain fall colors.  Yes.....stunning!

MAPLE LEAF - 3 SEASONS

This was my inspiration.....just a simple fall leaf found fluttering about on the ground.  It got me to thinking about how this one simple leaf had transformed from summer green, to fall yellow, and then to the dull  browns of winter.

                           MAPLE LEAF - 3 SEASONS - 18" X 15.5"

Artist's hand & ice-dyed cottons, appliqued, hand and machine embroidered.