Favorite tree

The Uncommon Threads art quilt group’s latest challenge is “My Favorite Tree.” At first I found that trying to limit myself to just one tree was very hard, but as I reviewed some of my old photographs I realized that I really do have a favorite. Or did. A Wahoo tree (Euonymus atropurpureus), native to this area. The tree starts in the Spring with green leaves first, then flowers with rather insignificant small brown flowers and in the fall it’s foliage is red and gold with little red pods opening to red berries. In the winter we used to see a flock of Cedar Wax Wing birds feast and strip it of the berries in just a few hours.

In 2009 we were hit with a terrible ice storm in which you could literally hear tree limbs cracking and breaking and falling. It was a terrible two days. When it was all over the beautiful little Wahoo tree in my back yard had “exploded” and all the branches were broken. All that was left was a trunk.

My first attempt was to print a photo image of the Wahoo foliage onto canvas and then fuse another photo image of the broken trunk onto that. I was not particularly thrilled with this so used it for the back.

Next I used a purchased hand dyed fabric on Etsy for the back ground and fused to it a free hand cut out of the trunk in brown fabric. The trunk, branch and berries are embellished with machine embroidery. then quilted with a free hand leaf motif.

 “Boo Hoo Wahoo” 

Lesson learned – don’t quilt through the canvas. The needle leaves holes.  You can see the other members work on our UT blog here. Enjoy.

Hankie Art #2

In August, Harry fell nine feet straight down through the framework of the deck that he was rebuilding. He landed on his feet, but shattered his right heel. He has healed now with some residual pain and swelling but doing well. We both had to deal with it in our own way. My way was less painful than his!!!

Tender Foot

It’s mounted on stretcher bars.

Hankie Art #1

In addition to the 80 plus napkins that I found hidden away, I probably have that many handkerchiefs. Most are floral prints but there are a few white ones. Why not play with them?

I’m also playing with mounting small work on stretcher bars.

106 in the Shade.

The latest Uncommon Treads challenge was Hot and Dry. Dianna Callahan chose that title since we have experienced a severe drought this summer. You can see the other participants works here.

Mine was inspired by my dead and dying landscape, thirsty animals, and the dying trees in the forests. If I were to make it again, I’d put a window with bars on the house because I felt like a prisoner in my own home. It was so hot one only went outside when it was absolutely necessary. The worst day was a Saturday that actually was “106 in the Shade ” when the sun felt unbearable and the wind felt like I was standing in front of a blast furnace. Thank goodness, we’ve finally had some rain and some of the landscape has revised.

 

Challenge #7-Music “A Nightingale Sings”

The latest Uncommon Threads challenge was Music. While at our retreat last fall,I played with some “birdie” fabric and lacy stuff that Merrilee brought, then put it away. How serendipitous! I pulled it out and created my challenge from what she gave me.

The dots are beads and the blue wings are hand embroidered with metallic thread. A real nightingale is just another brown bird, but with such a beautiful name I think it should be more colorful! My free hand machine quilting is getting better but still not what I want it to be.

The title, “A Nightingale Sings” is from the title of the song, “A Nightingale Sings in Barkley Square.” You should hear Nat King Cole sing it. Oh my! You can view the rest of the groups’ work here.

Too Tight and Too Tidy

I made all those circles, see first one here, put them up on the design wall, photographed them, printed them, cut them apart, and rearranged them. Now I’m trying to machine quilt them and it makes me pace. Can’t settle down to work. Each circle is on a 12″ square of organza. Funny how much better  they look in 2″ paper squares. It’s all about scale. Finally, this morning, I figured it out. What I’ve been doing is much TOO TIGHT. How about some hand quilting with red thread?

That’s better but still pretty tight. Maybe I’ll go katty-wampus.  Think loose. Think loose. Think loose. I still have some more ideas. The sun is shining this morning. Oh, glorious sun. And the spinach is coming up in the garden. What a difference the sunshine makes.

Update a few hours later:  that was still too tight. Try this. Now I’m happy.

More Small Work

#21a

#22a

I’ve given up on naming these; now, just numbers. And I’ve even screwed that up, Dylecic that I am. I see a cat hair!!!