Red, white and blue

This is the latest of quilts that I have made for veterans or wounded soldiers. I understand that the Marines insist on red, white and blue. This has light blue and they may reject it!Actually, I have no idea who will receive it and that is the way I want the gift to be given.Two friends helped to choose and purchase the fabric. The border says, Thank You American Hero.

Silk Painting and more

Painting on silk and the different techniques for dyeing fabric is one of my current interests. Previously I mentioned using the Shibori method of adding color. This time I used a "scrunch" idea. I laid the fabric out flat and beginning in the center, I started gathering it until I had a scrunched ball. Then I wrapped twine around to hold the wad in place. Two different colors were randomly placed to give the uneven print. Love it!

A few years ago a friend passed away. I was asked to help go through a trunk with her art supplies. There I found this flower which was outlined in gutta the resist that is put down to contain the shapes. I finally got my courage to paint the flower. I am learning so much.

For the second time, two friends have chipped in to buy the fabric for a quilt to honor a veteran. This quilt will be sent to the Quilts of Honor program.

One more project! This looks somewhat creepy but it is the first time that I've tried this technique. Mary Pal is a quilter who devised a way of presenting portraits by using cheescloth as the main media. She mixes watered down glue with the cheesecloth and has done dramatic pieces. Please look are her terrific art. A true study in lights and dark. Well, here is my first attempt!

Red, white and blue quilt

Some of you may remember that I have made quilts for the Quilt of Honor program. This time two woman wanted to help, so the three of us went to the quilt store and purchased the material needed. As time rolled on, we heard the story of a young man who is a trainer at the health club where we work out. Dimitry lost his Dad when at war in Afganistan about 14 years ago. Dimitry is a very quiet individual who is very polite and certainly helpful. Yesterday we gave the quilt to him as we wanted him to know that Americans do appreciate his father's sacrifice as well and Dimitry's struggle.



The pictures shows Dimitry, Sandra (me), Carol and Kathy.

The Quilt of Honor program may not have received this quilt, but they certainly inspired the giving. The ladies are ready to work on the next red, white and blue quilt.

By the way, I sat down to do the next EDM in May challenge and just said to myself, "I'm not getting the art that I want to do done, so quit the challenge". Kudos to those who have stuck with the program.

I notice that fewer and fewer people are contributing to this EDM site. Maybe other venues are drawing people. Maybe it's the awful ads via Blogspot. Who knows. I do however, appreciate seeing the wonderful projects that you artists produce.

Joy!

Quilt of Honor & Zentangles

My Mixed Bag has another quilt. Since I gave the last quilt directly to a wounded soldier (who has just driven his family to Georgia from California), I wanted to do another for the Quilt of Honor program. This time I used a light blue as well as the stronger red, white and blue colors.

It really is a square quilt, about 62" by 62".

The layout of blocks can create many variations. I decided that the rows worked best for this quilt. As with painting pictures, you don't always know what your final decision until after you get to the end of a project.

I've included this close up (a bit hard to see the detail, sorry) because I wanted to convey the idea of using zentangles in other art forms. The sewing machine was set to "free motion" which allows me to move the quilt in any direction that I chose instead of a straight line. This method demands that I draw a design that will be interesting and certainly achieve the goal of holding the fabric layers together. I think that you can click on any picture to get a larger view.

It's all packaged and will soon be in the mail as a thank you to a service man or woman.

A Soldier's Quilt

Quilts are a part of my life. In June I had purchased fabric for a red white and blue quilt for the Quilt of Honor program. September came and I was finally getting around to making it. I went to my health club and Tim, the most friendly greeter told me the news that his son-in-law has been injured in Afghanistan. His transport vehicle drove over a bomb. I went home and said to myself, this is my quilt, I can give it to whoever I want. So Damian was to receive this quilt.

Damian came home with a leg that still can't fully bend, but he is going to start physical therapy on Monday and I feel that he will heal. He came home to California this week and I was able to present the quilt to him and his family.

Below is a close up of the outer blocks.

I wish that I could honor all soldiers, but I'll work on it one at a time.

Be Still Oh Inner Critic

There are times when we must overlook the inner critic. I continue to go to figure drawing sessions and am learning to still the critic. This piece was done with a charcoal pencil on paper that had "tooth". I can pick at details, BUT I guess that I like it because there is hope.

I've made another quilt for Quilts of Honor. You may recognize the pattern from a previous posting. This piece is 58"x58" and will be given to a deserving veteran.

And--just to remind you that Spring is really here. This picture of apple blossoms was taken at a friends house.

Quilts of Honor

There are a couple of programs that are making quilts for returning servicemen/women. This time I have made one for the Quilts of Honor organization. Individuals can request a quilt for someone who has served in the military. As donations are received, the quilts are given out.
It just happened that I finished my gift this week, the week of 9/11 rememberances.The quilt is about 60" square which was one of the parameters. Red, white and blue are the preferred colors, but that is not an absolute demand. Design is up to the quilt maker.

 You can almost see the detail in this picture. The quilting is done with a "free motion" method that allows me to control the stitch design (instead of straight lines) which means that I can do zentangles.

I have no idea who will receive this, but I hope that it brings him/her comfort knowing that there are many people who care.