Saturday, October 31, 2009

Integrated Arts Project at School

 There is a project going on now at the Franklin Middle School called: "Square Roots & Eight Hands Around" and it is an Integrated Arts Project.  The 6th grade students will be designing and making quilts, learning about square dancing, old time music and quilting bees and the colonial era along with math and other skills.  They will then donate their quilts to a worthy cause of their choice.  The program will culminate with a square dance and quilting bee at the Franklin Opera House in December.

This past Thursday I volunteered at the Franklin Middle School and did a presention on Quilt History to five classes.  Yes, I was tired by the end of the day, but enjoyed it.
The 6th grade children attended five classes during the day where they read the story book  "Eight Hands Around" and learned about quilts, music and math. 

The boys appeared to be as eager to learn about the subject as the girls were.  The children had some wonderful questions and ideas of what some of the quilt blocks I showed them might be called.  I told them people looked around them and named the quilts by the things familiar to them such as Barn Door, Monkey Wrench and Log Cabin.  I asked if a quilt block was designed and named today, what might they name the blocks?  They came up with, Star Wars, IPod, Shooting Star, several said the names of Star Wars characters such as Darth Vadar and R2D2.  I brought along one of my antique quilts (1878) to let them see what a scrap quilt from over 100 years ago looked and felt like up close.  I showed them the stitching and we discussed the shape of the block (Thimble or Tumbler).  They came up with some other names such as Triangle, and one I particularly liked, Cow Bell!  I've included a picture that was taken during my presentation where the teacher is helping me hold up the quilt.  I'm on the left, the teacher is over by the flag on the right.  It was a pleasure being in her class and teaching the children a little bit about quilts and their history.

  This is a Community Building Program brought to you by the Middle New Hampshire Arts & Entertainment Center at the Franklin Opera House. 

Friday, October 16, 2009

Cards on Etsy

I have listed some note cards featuring my original photographs for sale on Etsy.  I hope you'll check it out.  I'm in the Showcase on Saturday.  If you visit, please make my site one of your Favorites!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Nice Quilts and Hooked Rugs

Yesterday I went to the Sandwich Fair.  No, it's not a fair with sandwiches!  It's an agricultural fair in beautiful Northern New England. It was a beautiful sunny day and the leaves on the trees were bright with their fall colors.  This fair had a very nice display of some beautiful quilts and hooked rugs as well as other quality crafts.  I was very impressed with one of the applique quilts on display and I'll share a photo with you of that one and others.

I'm working on my Esty shop that will feature my photographs in quality note cards.  I also have a goal of getting my own web site up and running soon.  It's in progress.  That site will feature the note cards with photographs as well as some of my art quilts, etc.

Off to paint some fabric.  Until next time, stay warm!

Friday, October 9, 2009

New Storage Shelves and Pumpkin Dessert



Finally I have shelves in what is supposed to be a coat closet.  I never used it for that and have thought for over a year how I would like to use that space to store all my Craft and Quilting Magazines.  Today was the day and I'm so pleased with it.
It was cloudy and chilly out today perfect for baking so I made some Pumpkin Whoopie Pies!  Delicious Dessert!!  Almost too good.  I'm hoping to go to the Sandwich Fair this weekend, maybe tomorrow if it doesn't rain.  They have a nice car show along with all the usual fair stuff.
Today I got a package in the mail from ProChem so I'll be busy painting some fabric soon.  Stay tuned.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

NH Country Fair and Quilt Show









Friday I went to the Deerfield Fair and had a very nice time.  The weather was perfect.  I took a few pictures of the animals, pumpkins and displays.  On Saturday I went to the Belknap Mill Quilter's Guild Fall Quilt Show.  Many lovely quilts to admire and of course the vendors.  It was a rainy and cool day with not much else to do, so I was glad they had their show this weekend.  I stopped at JoAnn's and bought a collage book with my 50% off coupon before it expired.  I'm hoping to do some collage again shortly and I will share a picture when I have made something.  Have a positive and happy week ahead.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Generations Wall Hanging













It's almost finished!  I have just a little hand quilting I want to do on the piece.  I've named it Generations #1, and it measures 15" x 20 1/2".  I'd like to do a series.

Technique: I printed the pictures of my maternal grandmother and two great-grandmothers, a baby picture of myself and a dragonfly onto silk organza . I rubber stamped fabric and I did raw edge piecing of the background and machine and hand quilted the top.

Fabric:  Commercial Batiks, Silk Organza, Discharged Cotton and Screen Printed Cotton.  Two vintage buttons are sewn on near the top.