crazy quilting revisited

Over at Jude's blogs and Flickr group we are re-working the old crazy quilt blocks..take a look! Here, I've used whatever was floating around my studio to make this block, wool, cotton, cotton yarn, linen, and then layered, rather than pieced the block.. about 10 x10 ".

home sewing

I love Cath Kidston and Rachel Ashwell's fabrics and home furnishings, if unlimited money was my curse, they would receive some of it (like they need it!) Anyway, I have a stack of remnants ready for some sewing, which I enjoy doing, once I sit down and DO it!! They small clothes pin bag is C.K. fabric, edged in some pink ric rac and starting to nicely fade in the sun...

garden knitting

Loving the pink and orange of the garden right now...a large cotton yarn shawl WIP, Patagonia cotton yarns (love) in variegated pinks, and oranges and size 11 needles.. green edges?? perhaps.

batiks

I have a little love affair with batik cloth. I worked in a quilt shop for 4 years, and I swear, I had a piece of whatever batik came through. I love saturated color, and the organic feel to it all. Here is another couple of shots of the obi cloth I'm working on..

Check out MaryKate's blog and her amazing photos of SE Asia..

stitching an obi (sorta)

This started out just as a long strip, about 14" wide of sampler of ideas, sewing, cutting, on the diagonal, and thinking about reversibility. I've cut strips on the bias of linen, cotton and rayon fabrics. There is also, now some couching and free form embroidery going on here.

This is definitely not an obi, just roughly the size of one, 14" wide by about 6' long, but I have quite a few of them around here, and I love the long, drapey effect they have. I also love the fact they are wearable and also artistic however they are used.

weekend relaxing

Well, I can dream about it! Hope you are having a good one...

thank you Rachel

I sure thank you Rachel, for this compliment! Check out her insane crochet, it's awesome..and she rides her bike everywhere!! I will pass on the wonderfulness to a few of my favs very soon!

later...

I picked:

-Jude's incredible blog...

-Sarah's wonderful creations

-Corey's blog, that rises above all..

-Rang's blog, photos that are stunning, and make me want to travel....

summer's end

This weekend is the last one before school starts for us. Lots of hubbub, backpacks, pencils, paper..blah blah. I've managed only to work in the sketchbook for the last week or so, but that's something, plus lots of knitting going on. Fall craft shows to get ready for..

The top sketch is ink and guache, of the fields that are nearby. The bottom photo is my kitchen window sill.

mural paintings

I also do mural painting, which, I can see, I need to get better at photographing! Anyway, this was in one room in our church, and is taken from 3 different scripture passages pertaining to the temple in Jerusalem. The room is called the 'Temple Courtyard' so I went from there.. I like doing murals, I put the I-pod on and just go.. Mostly done in acrylics, with some glazing and glitter..!
I have also started individual paintings based on this (and other) murals, just to see if the images translate to smaller sizes..

a reminder

I thought I might put up my tools + some work I did, to remind myself that summer painting needs to move along! Also, there was an awesome moon last night, as we had some clouds/thunder/lighting happening, then the moon came out. This painting was done some time ago, 30x36" on canvas, acrylic. I love nightscapes, and would really love to do more night picture taking. Until then, I'll paint them...

late summer garden

Before the birds and deer get to it! I haven't had too much luck in the past with sunflowers, but these, my daughter planted, so she does! I adore the lime green centers.. also coneflowers that have come and gone, the finches and nuthatches love the seeds and a crepe myrtle that is in full pink-ness. Color inspiration that is steps away.. love it.

earth

earth
Originally uploaded by lhmccown

elements of the world..

august

Even though it's my birthday month, I really am glad when August is over. Usually way too hot here for me. However, we had a cold front come through and it's like 65 degrees! Soo, my roses are sending up canes like it's April. Have a great weekend, hope it stays nice..

two more..

Top scarf is crochet/knitting from my stash, mostly Debbie Bliss who looks like she is going to have her own magazine in the fall (yea!) and Rowan..

The bottom scarf is the Chevron Scarf from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson.. love love that pattern, because it's simple!! Yarn from here.
I guess it is a little like Christmas is July (August) here..

not scarf weather

However, they are good travel projects! The top one is 2 different skeins of Noro Silk Garden (love), in a 1x1 rib.. The second is Hand Maiden yarn, and some drop stitch work.. When that first fall leaf hits the ground, I'll be ready baby!

shade

While walking the civil war trails, this is the Sunken Road, where you read a lot and look for shade on blazing days!

van gogh

On the 118th anniversary of his death, I think enough has been written about Vincent Van Gogh's troubled life. What about his wonderful art? Beyond the sickening prices paid for his work, I think he was so far away from what was being painted at the time, countless artists from then to now have copied his style. His use of color and paint is unmatched, except maybe by Claude Monet. Van Gogh is a painter's painter, when you look at his work, you don't think it's a photo or a fresco or anything else, but a beautiful creation in paint. I had the great opportunity to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, so many beauties there! He by far, one of my favorite painters..

IF

"Farewell" oil and pencil on canvas, 20x24"...

blue and white

I made this quilt for my mom some time ago, when I was really doing a lot of traditional block quilts. I still love the blue and white color choice. With one rogue tulip block in there! Or is that a Carolina lily?? Can't remember... I hand quilted and hand sewed the whole kit and kaboodle.. it's twin size.. It was a lot of stitches!

here to there

July is not the greatest month in Va, we have scorching heat and humidity. I hang out on the porch in the morning, then as the sun chases me back to the deck in the evening.. the humming birds don't seem to mind, they go go go.. still hanging in there, sweet peas, daisies and lilies..

Memorial Day quilt

Our town is a big Civil War town..
We have a luminary on Memorial Day, at our Civil War cemetery, and each year the scouts put out the bags and candles. Something like 5,000 candles are put out. It's an awesome sight, all lit up for one night. I went out and took a few pictures while the set up was going on. My photo is above, and the quilt made from it, is above it. "Memorial Day Luminaria" is 46x38" and all hand and machine appliqued, sewn, embellished and quilted (still quilting it a bit..). I layered the fabrics, rather than piece them, and then sewed down the larger pieces. Then went back in with thread and floss to embellish. I found a cool flag print at Joann's and fussy cut the flags to applique on.

summer garden

My garden in July and August explodes and overwhelms. The vines, flowers and plants go into overdrive and soar up, up, up. The soft roses and sweetpeas from May are long gone, and now the perenials take over. Honeysuckle, shasta daisies and gladiolus go bonkers. I just stand back (sit if I can clear a space!) and take a few pictures..

summer

After a mind bending trip to CA to visit my parents, we are back to the top of the summer time form. Here's a wall hanging quilt, hollyhocks, dragon flies and summer stars, all summer touchstones around here.
hand and machine pieced, appliqued and quilted 30x30..

a small blogging break

To catch up on some reading, quilting and summer-timing...be back soon!