YOGA

I know this is suppose to be a Quilting blog, but sometimes I use it to notify people in my class that something has changed.

I teach Yoga for the University of Kentucky, Osher Lifetime Learning Institute of which there are many around the county. It is for persons at least 50 years old.

Often, after class I am ask questions, and so that said I am going to give my students and anyone else that might find the following helpful.

Many of you find it difficult when you first get out of bed in the morning. Either your back hurts, or a shoulder, knee or knees.

So, try these exercises before you get out of bed in the morning.

While laying on your back place hands on your stomach and breath big breaths in thru your nose and out through your nose.

Then bend your knees and tip your pelvis forward and backward.

Turn yourself so your head is slightly off the bed, and lift one leg, grabbing the back of your leg with your hands. Slightly pull the leg over your head, working the ankle around in circles and bending the knee and then straighting the leg several times.

Then sit up with crossed legs and twist first to the right, then to the left. You can do this several times. Remember: No pain. So be careful how much you twist.

Then come up on to your hands and knees, and do cat, cows. So, to do this you round your back like a cat and breath out, then drop the center of your back towards the bed and look up as you breath in.

And lastly, drop your legs over the side of the bed and lean forward to stretch our our lower back.

I do these exercises every morning, and find them invaluable. I hope they will be for you also.

SPRING HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

 I just came back from a walk in my neighborhood and just could not resist taking a few pictures to share.  Hardly a breathe of a breeze and about 70 degrees.

All the daffodils are up and looking beautiful dispite the fact that we had 6 inches of snow a couple of weeks ago.  (only stayed one day) 

Also the Bradford Pears are in full bloom all over the city.  My favorite time of year. 

NEW CHEESECLOTH WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 This is the picture I used to complete the quilt below.  I found this face on Flicker and e-mailed the person that took the picture, and he gave me permission to use the image.  Then I took it to the copy store and had it enlarged.  The technique I used is simply cheesecloth and glue. 

Paducah

Three Friends just accepted into the Paducah show in April. So excited!

I KNEW IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew eventually winter was going to hit us. It is suppose to be a high of 27. BURRRRRRR!!!!!!

RECYCLING

Ever wondered what you can do with leftover batting?

Here is one idea for you. Simply use Elmers Glue and attach small pieces of it on to plastic hangers. Be sure you let them dry overnight before you try and hang anything on them!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

To celebrate 2012 I'm starting off by posting a new quilt.
This is done with cheese cloth and glue. Many years ago I drew a horse on black paper with a piece of chalk. When I saw this technique on Quilting Arts I wondered whether it would work with my drawing. I'm thinking to name it Finally Free.

YOGA CLASS

For those of you, including myself, who showed up at the church for class, I'm sorry that it was canceled.

I called the church this morning, and no one seemed to know who put the sign up or why class was canceled.

I did check to see if we could have class on Thursday, and they said yes.

So, hope to see you on Thursday 11:00 am.

Art Quilt Group

On Saturday Dec 10th, I had our Art Quilt Group for lunch.
There were just two that were not able to attend. We have been meeting at the local quilt shop for probably 6-7 years now and have learned so much from each other as well as becoming good friends.

From front to back is Susie, Sarah, Linda, Jo Ann, Cindy and Ann. Everybody brought a dish and the food was delicious.

Pegasus

Finally finished my newest horse quilt. But what to name him? As I downloaded the picture it suddenly came to me.

PEGASUS-----------------------------

I have been trying for some months to expand my Stained Glass technique, that I have been working in for several years now. Looking for someway to make my horses a little more abstract and whimsical. I did not change the technique very much, but I did use a very different color scheme . Already I am working on another quilt, this time of cats, three to be exact, and I am using turning under all the edges. Not much more work but it will give my quilts a much more finished appearance compaired to the raw edge I have been using. Would love your feedback as to whether you like the old look or the new one.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all my followers a Very Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!! :)

SWEETY--- passing

I have never met Sweety, but I know her intimately.
I made this quilt from a picture, as a gift from a father to a daughter, because she was getting along in years.

Sweety lived in Acworth, Ga with her owner Amanda Owens. She passed away on October 24th, 2011 and she was 14 years old.

As with any animal that you love and care for she will be
greatly missed. Our thoughts are with you Amanda.

SPRINKLER

This is my entry in the Bloggers Quilt Festival. Thank you Amy for doing this once again! Let me introduce you to Sprinkler. (cute name) ?
He is a Newfoundland. He started to be a red dog on a tourquoise background, but as you can see that didn't work out. I used the Stained Glass Applique technique, which is pretty much the technique I have used for the past several years. This technique consists of individual pieces with the background fabric showing between them. Actually, I have been teaching this technique for several years now, and also have an on-line class. Just go to Serindipity 2 for details.

INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL

This quilt is going to be in the International Quilt Festival at Houston, Tx.

I had wanted to go this year as I used to live in Houston, but was unable to go for several reasons.

I hope if you go to the show you will e-mail me and tell me if it is hanging in a good spot. Shedrum@windstream.net.

NEW PIECES

Making quilts is a long process, and so sometimes I don't feel I have very much to show, and then all of a sudden, I have an overabundance of finished product.

So, today, I am just going to ramble on, and talk a little about the process. I don't know if it is the same for everybody, but when the creative process kicks in I have so many ideas that I don't know where to start. So, I begin to collect images, and do a lot of reading and looking and if I am true to myself, all that begins to filter thru and I will eventually settle on something that I just can't wait to get started on.

So, recently I have been trying to expand my concept and have tried several different techniques. I started out with a technique that I saw on Quilting Arts television program, that takes fabrics that probably will never be used in a quilt, sandwiches them on to the batting, and then quilts them, and from there she paints them. Pretty backwards to most quilters, but it works beautifully. In my next posting I will show you what I have done. Every one is different, and I have been in to using up what I have on hand for sometime now.

I started out by coming up with ideas for old tee shirts, and that went very well. I had a whole suitcase full of them, some pretty well worn, some way too big. So, I didn't have any qualms about cutting them up and putting then backtogether in a pleasing manner. Actually, I had a great time doing this and will continue with my quest to use them up, or if not pass them on to someone who will find something to do with them.

Then, I started experimenting with 3's. Smaller quilts in three's that I could attach together in an interesting manner. I will have something to show fairly shortly. I'm working on the bindings nowl

And lastly, I have made 4 horse quilts, and they have been very sucessful. I thought I was thru making horse quilts, but in my quest to produce something more abstract, I finally settled on another horse figure. The pattern is on my design wall and completely drawn, and is calling me every day to get started.

However, being an Aries, in my long life I have learned that I must attend to the quilt at hand before starting something new. Oh, it is ok to be quilting on one and working on another, but in this case I have 4 projects in the works, and I am not going to put any of them aside because I have learned too much in the process of each one to do that.

So, to get back to the point I was trying to make in the beginning. I have learned when I feel frustrated, and feel like I am stuck in a rut to just muddle thru the process, and sooner or later the answers will come if you just give in the process and trust your own instincts and let it happen.

So, please come back and visit me shortly, as I will have a lot to share.

Berea Quilt Extravaganza

Made by Cindy Vough, and her theme was keys.
Just loved the colors on this piece
Made by Pat Jennings, and love the colors on this piece also.

Lunar Moth

This is made by Paige Hoogerheidi, and I was very impressed with how she brought this quilt together. She belongs to our Art Quilt group and so I have been watching this quilt progress. She started with the lunar moth which, then the leaves that all stand away from the background. The background is woven which really brought the piece together.

Berea Quilt Extravaganza

Friday evening I attended the Quilt Extravanga reception, and took a few pictures to share.

The first one of course is my Sprinkler quilt. He was hung in a wonderful spot that people could also view from the street.



The second quilt was made by a former student, and she
made if of her two dogs using the Stained Glass Applique technique. I am sorry, but now I can not remember her name but she did a wonderful job.

SPRINKLER

I finally have a new quilt to show. I showed it for the first time at the State Get-Away which was last Wednesday.
The breed of the dog is a Newfoundland and I named him Sprinkler. Why? I have been thinking that if I ever get another dog I would name him Sprinkler. Just think it is a cute name.

Truthfully, it started out as a red dog on a turquoise background, but that didn't work for me so I switched gears and went on my own gut instinct, and think it worked. I've learned over the years to just go with what feels right and I must say it almost is good advise.

BLAZING SUNSET

Blazing Sunset is also hanging in the show and is for sale also. It measures 55 3/4" x 39 3/4".

This quilt showed in a number of national quilt shows and also showed in Istanbul, Turkey. In 2003 I took a trip to Istanbul, where I was invited to teach a class and show my quilt in a local show.

The price is $800.00