I'm Turning the Page!

OK, I'm through cleaning. Well that's a little misleading. I've been cleaning/sorting/purging for months and feel as if I've made no progress at all. If I keep this up, I'll still be cleaning the day I die! So I'm turning the page - leaving mundane tasks in pursuit of creativity! The cleaning can wait.

This futile exercise has been extremely frustrating and exhausting. I have to remind myself that I've accomplished a lot; it just doesn't seem like it! There is SO much more to do.

I began my studio revamp November 3. It's January 23 and I have yet to use the room except for one mending project! The space is ready for me - all I have to do is make working on my art a priority.

Below are before and after pictures of the studio and guest room. Yes, they really were that bad.

STUDIO AFTER

Freshly painted studio with fabric shelves in place.

Studio Entrance

Studio with my new Horn cabinet set-up.

The newly built cutting table is visible in the lower left of the photo.

STUDIO BEFORE - COMPLETE CHAOS!

The desk was given away.

Everything was removed from this wall which will eventually hold
an attractive bulletin board. I'm still looking for one I like.

You might remember I emptied my studio completely prior to having it painted. Everything that was in the studio was moved across the hall en masse. I've been going through each and every single box - one by one- culling and organizing. Ugh!!! The guest bedroom has gone from this:

Now this is disturbing. Yes - that is a Singer featherweight machine on the bed - one of five I'm restoring to sell.

If we hadn't had houseguests last weekend, I'd still be trying to find the bed. Believe me - it's in there somewhere!

There's nothing quite so calming as a freshly made bed.

The stack to the left of the dresser is for ebay. It may be some time
before prices rise on the auction site. Until then............

I developed the "ninety percent syndrome" when I got to this corner. Things are sorted, but there's no place to put anything. Amongst the plunder: three boxes of old records - some quite collectible, a Rubbermaid container of solid color fabrics, a box of vintage linens, a box of dolls I created in the 1980's, slide trays, photographs and vintage Fisher Price toys.
Mercy me.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Matthew and our DIL Suzie

Matthew and me one year ago.

Yesterday.

We were in very chilly Greensboro yesterday to celebrate the 16th anniversary of our son Matthew's life-saving heart transplant. He looked fabulous!

Suzie joined us for a divine lunch at Thai Bangkok. Matthew then drove us to his favorite trainspotting locations - click on triadrailfan.blogspot.com We had a great afternoon visiting, then headed back to Charlotte. It was a wonderful day.

A New Beginning

I took this of our tv screen election night - Nov. 4. Although it was shot digitally, I was able to get a very interesting double exposure looking image.

We've spent hours in front of the telly today watching the inauguration of Barack Obama. What a truly awesome day it has been!

My Other Blogs

If you know me at all, you know I am passionate about quilting. I'm also passionate about politics. But not everyone is. I try to keep Occasional Threads apolitical. But sometimes I fail.

If you are a political junkie like I am, go to my other blog: http://yellodogdemocratrants.blogspot.com Fair warning: It is what the name implies.

I also have a blog about women's heart health issues coming soon.

Let Freedom Ring!

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

Today, as we anticipate the inauguration of Barack Obama, we stop to honor Dr. Martin Luther King. When searching for images of him, I ran across a wonderful photo essay from Time combining photographs of Dr. King along with his powerful words. To view them, click here:
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/mlk/

Seeing the images and reading Dr. King's words brought home the awesomeness of what is going to occur tomorrow, when we inaugurate our first African American President. Below is a bit of MLK's eloquence. (Please note some of the quotes are cut off on the right. My apologies. Blogger would not let me change them in any way. ) ( To view everything in its proper light, click on the site linked above.

ON BLACKS IN AMERICA (From Birmingham jail, 1963): "Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson etched across the pages of history the majestic words of the Declaration of Independence, we were here. If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands."

ON THE DREAM OF FREEDOM (1963): "So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed . . . that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true."

ON FREEDOM (1963): "So let freedom ring. From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire, let freedom ring. From the mighty mountains of New York, let freedom ring. From the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania, let freedom ring. But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. And when this happens, when we let it ring, we will speed that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last, free at last/Thank God Almighty, we're free at last."

ON HIS OWN FUTURE (April 3, 1968): "We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. I won't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. "

Manifest Hope Exhibit

Note: After I posted this I found an article on the exhibition in the Charlotte Observer. It's really unfortunate that it's only a three-day show!


The about portion of the Manifest Hope website reads: "Art plays a critical role in creating cultural momentum. The MANIFEST HOPE DC Gallery celebrates that role and shines a spotlight on artists who use their voices to amplify and motivate the grassroots movement that carried President-Elect Barack Obama to victory."

Art from three areas of concern - health care reform, workers' rights and the green economy can be viewed here: http://manifesthope.com Go to click here to view winners.

Artist: Derek Gores, Melbourne FL

His is one of five winning posters on Health Care Reform.

Thankful Charlotteans

Front page of this morning's 'Charlotte Observer'

There are many thankful Charlotteans today. Several were passengers aboard US Airways flight 1549 which ditched in the Hudson River Thursday. Today's news was filled with interviews of the very, very grateful survivors who all had nothing but kudos for the pilot and NYC rescue workers. A couple of guys at cardiac rehab this morning were talking about friends who'd been on the plane. So many in class are bankers and businessmen.

Plane photo posted to Twitter by Janis Krums via cell phone. Krums was a passenger on one of the ferryboats responding to the rescue.

Civil War Fabrics

The Civil War Diary Quilt
by Rosemary Youngs

Civil War reproduction fabrics.

More reproduction Civil War fabrics.

My sister Patty is lucky to be in a very active quilt group in CA. Their current project? Civil War quilts. Using Rosemary Youngs' book, The Civil War Diary Quilt, each quilter will make a block for each participant as well as herself. Some have chosen two or three different six-inch blocks. That's a lot of blocks and eventually a lot of fabric. Since there are nine participants, Patty will make nine of each of the blocks she's chosen.

Patty is using reproduction Civil War fabrics for her blocks. I'm sending several quarter-yard pieces of Judie Rothermel (for Marcus Brothers) designs from my stash to California so that my sister can use them. I'd purchased them seven or eight years ago so they are completely different from the ones Patty had. Hopefully she'll have fun with this expanded palette!

The Opening

The opening for Quilt Evolution last night was fabulous! And crowded - way too busy for proper photographs. My DH did manage to capture the few images shown.

Here I am with my pieces Shrimp Creole, Toast with Jam and Orange Slice. All three have food names. Is there a subliminal message here?

My friend Jan Bode Smiley with Full Circle: Old Growth
Jan is the author of: Focus on Batiks, Scrapbooks on the Go, The Art of Fabric Books and Altered Board Books. jansmiley.com

Close-up of Jan's beautifully framed work. Don't you love the colors?

A Study
by

Susan Woodall
The piece is fused and machine quilted.

Harriet, Gayle, Louise, Ann, Dee
A very few of our many friends who came out to support us and the show! Thanks, y'all!

I hope many of you will have a chance to see this show before it comes down February 6. Designed to educate the public about quilts as art, the exhibition showcases contemporary works, mixed media, art cloth, framed works as well as some traditional quilts. Mint Hill Arts did a primo job of hanging a very nice show.

The gallery also has a small gift shop featuring pottery, wood, jewelry, silk and hand knit scarves and notecards.

All Photos: Bill Guerrant

Gallery Reception

Orange Slice
One of my pieces in the show.

Detail

Tonight is the opening reception for Quilt Evolution: Traditional to Contemporary at Mint Hill Arts (see right-hand sidebar). I'll try to get lots of pictures to share tomorrow. I think it's going to be a great show!

Stress-free Greetings

New Year's Greetings
Stamped and ready to go.

More than a decade ago during a very stressful year, I was late sending our Christmas cards. So many people said they loved our New Years letter, as it came after the holidays when they could relax and actually sit down to read it. Aha! A tradition was born!

Epiphany, January 6, is our 'mail by' date. If we'd had enough stamps we would have made it yesterday! But we didn't and it really was OK.

This Christmas we received a few E-cards. I completely understand why some have chosen to go this route. I sent about 12 myself to people for whom I had no address. Cards and letters are expensive as is postage. And if one chooses to include a photo, there is that additional cost.

But I'm not ready to give up sending real, as in hold in one's hand, letters and cards. I treasure them, especially the ones whose sender has scribbled a personal note. I love reading them again after Christmas. And the photos! They are precious to me, as I so seldom see my family.

I used to keep every single card and letter which came into this house but it got ridiculous after a while. Now I save them for a while, then pull the letters which are a written history in themselves, and of course every photo.

With a card or letter which someone took the time to write, stamp and mail I have something lasting. A card and perhaps a photo. With E-cards? Once it's out of your inbox it's gone forever. And then what do you have?

Things Erased

In yesterday's post I wrote about having a clean slate. Before beginning anew, it's nice to look back at what has been accomplished. Here are a few of the things erased from my 2008 slate.

1. Completed my Mother's queen-size quilt.
2. Finished my son and DIL's wedding quilt.
3. Had my studio painted.
4. Finally bought a Horn sewing cabinet.
5. Designed and had built a new cutting table.
6. Was the featured artist at Barnful of Quilts.
7. Had work in two gallery shows.
8. Like my great-grandfather and grandmother, continued keeping a diary - and in the same type of book.
7. Wrote more letters.
8. Tried to be a kinder person.
9. Made 181 blog entries.
10. Disposed of several car loads of 'stuff' from the house.
11. Got rid of nearly half of my cookbook collection.
12. Donated a many years' collection of quilting magazines.
13. Culled my fabric stash, giving boxes of it to charity.
14. Got rid of my old sewing patterns.
15. Scanned and copied to CDs dozens of old family photographs.
16. Began eating right following two heart attacks.
17. Completed 12 weeks of cardiac rehab and
18. Chose to continue the program.
19. Lost 20 pounds!
20. Following an intervention by my DIL - updated my look by getting new Ralph Lauren specs!
21. Changed my hair color.
22. Established a new perennial bed in our garden.
23. Worked very hard to get Barack Obama elected! Yeah!!!
24. Donated supplies to a high school art teacher.
25. I SURVIVED!