The Path to Chartre

The Path to Chartres

My Mom and I went to the Chartres Cathedral in France one year.  Mom was desperate to stay overnight because she was mesmerized by the church.  We ended up in a seedy place by the railroad.  We got to our room which was very tacky and found that the bathroom was down the hall!  Mom said "my Mother would never have stayed in a hotel like this", and I said "well, my Mother IS going to stay in a hotel like this". The next morning she got up in the dark and I watched her from the window climbing up the hill to attend church - a very fond memory of mine.  

This quilt came from that memory.  

     

Mind Travel

Mind Travel

This little FAB collage came together and it shows my day dream to leave the 9-5 corporate world. I always felt trapped behind the venetian blinds, stuck in a building that had windows that wouldn't open.  I was always strangling on a phone cord talking to people about things I didn't care about! 

Fortunately for me, I did escape.  My honey pointed out that we didn't have kids, so future college tuition wasn't going to be a problem and what did I really want to do. I eventually quit the corporate scene and started a little garden business. Now I get to go out to my clients homes and make beautiful gardens.  It is hard work, but very satisfying and I am no longer strangled by panty hose!

Peacock Gate

Peacock Gate

Another fabulous feature at the Steinhardt Garden was the iron work. This peacock gate was an entry into the kid section with jungle gyms.  There was also a fake ruin that you could sit at and overlook animal paddocks.  I just loved the design!

Don't Bug Me

Don't Bug Me

I love bugs, so I collected drawings of them over the years. I didn't know why until the applique bug bit me (LOL)!  Here I combined the appliques with my favorite block of Kaleidoscope.  With the shading of light to dark I thought it made the bugs look more active - going this way and that.  Just stay away from our shingles - thank you!

Red Bridge

Red Bridge

I went to the most gorgeous garden on Sunday - The Steinhardt's in Mount Kisco, NY.  They are so generous to open their grounds to the public for the Garden Conservancy's Open Days.  I love, love, love Japanese maples and apparently they do too!  They have over 400 varieties and they are tagged, so it was truly a fabulous education in itself! 

"Rough Seas" FAB collage

Rough Seas

I went to an antique boat show in Skaneatetles, NY last summer.  The wooden canoes and boats were gorgeous, so well crafted and lovingly cared for.  I combined my photo of one of the canoes and some great  fabric I created in an Elin Noble"Innovative Marble" class. I wonder why I called it Rough Seas since the boat is clearly upright - but it is a challenge to keep it that way in the washing machine I put it in!

Arts & Craft Applique Blocks

Close up of Art & Craft Applique Blocks for "Woodsie"

I thought you might be interested in seeing a more detailed shot of the appliques that are in my "Woodsie" Quilt.  The quilt is magnificent (IMHO), but in the "full shot" you can't see the details. Designing and sewing these gave me much pleasure.  A husband of a quilting friend saw these and complained "You can't even see the stitches".  I don't think he even knew what a compliment he had given me!