Inspiration - Nature and Summer Travels

A recent summer trip to the coast of Maine

is going to provide inspiration for years to come.

The Wild Lupine were perfect,

especially on Deer Isle. Acadia National Park

Stands of Wile Lupine

A favorite view from Jordon Pond House

Working with vines and "freemotion quilted leaves"

this figure grew right out of

designs in nature.
Gotta love that red hair!

Water Water Everywhere

"Water, Water Everywhere"

19th Annual Art Quilt Exhibit

Aullwood Audubon Center

Dayton, Ohio

June 25 - August 21, 2011

"The sea does not reward those who are

too anxious, too greedy or too impatient"

Anne Marrow Lindberg

Gift From the Sea

Shore Excursion is the title of a quilt designed for the Aullwood Show. It was created as a celebration of quiet walks at the waters edge and the joy of finding even very tiny treasures washed up from the sea.

The waves washing across the rocks were created with a layering of netting and organza fabrics with shells and sea glass embellishments.

a quilt detail of water washing over the rocks on the shore

the full quilt with a touch of Bagello

created by cutting the top of the quilt into thin strips

NQA Challenge Quilt

Each year the National Quilters Association sponsors

a member challenge.

The show theme this year was Log Cabin.

My 20"x 20" Challenge response was titled

The Patterns that History Weaves

The center of the Quilt was a weaving in metal and fabric

which I began over a year ago in a class

taught by Mary Hettmansperger.

The rather non traditional log cabin quilt

was the perfect setting for the metal weaving.

NQA 42nd Annual Challenge

Sponsored by Sew Batik

Take a walk with me through my Spring Garden

Take a walk with me around my yard this morning.

We have had a very rainy, chilly, and kinda gray Spring this year but the garden has loved the weather.

LUSH is the best word for how the world looks this morning.

We can enter the garden

by walking on a gravel path

into the Meditation Garden

The rain has made this garden really lush.

. . . and abundant with Solomon Seals

St. Frances of the Herb Garden

One of the best additions to the garden has been

a front and back porch Pergola

The new front porch Pergola provides a great space

for hanging plants, windchimes

and bird feeders

The back deck Pergola is

by the Kitchen Garden

The back deck Pergola overlooks the quiet backyard.

A perfect place for a glass of tea and a good book.
We actually did have a few days when I could create

the Freshly Painted Garden Shed

Tucked behind the shed is a

little Fairy Garden

And finally the most recent addition to the yard is a Bottle Tree

The metal frame for this tree was purchased from the Secret Garden in Waynesville, Ohio The colorful bottles are from North Carolina,

Virginia and Ohio

The flowers in the following post

were taken on some of the few days

we actually has SUN this Spring.

Have a great day,

Robbie

Following The Flowers From April Through Mid-May

Who would ever have thought that a

chilly rain filled Spring

could produce such

colorful flowers!

Here are just a few close up shots.

Pale Green of the first Dogwood Flowers

Crabapple Tree in Bloom

Favorite Color Pansy

Fabulous Candy Pink Tulips

My three favorite Iris Plants

Pencil Thin Iris

Wild Maine Lupine

Poppies

Quiltfest 2011 Rising Sun Indiana

The Star of Quiltfest

was my 10 year old granddaughter

Katie

"Katie and the Coneflower"

an art quilt designed for my Granddaughter Katie

won BEST OF SHOW!

My booth space at the Quiltfest

held at the Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, IN

A Colorful Childhood

I would like for you to meet

A COLORFUL CHILDHOOD

Just for fun I've been playing with pieced fabrics, ribbons

and felted buttons.

The weather has gone back to gray/cloudy/cold and dull -

so I thought I would introduce some color into the studio.

This doll is about 20" long and 12" high.

She is created from the most colorful fabrics in my stash,

pieced together to form fabric for the body parts and clothing.

I created a pattern from freezer paper and constructed the figure.

Originally she was going to be reading a book,

but at this time of the year a flower seemed to be called for.

She has no name, but she is having having a very

Colorful Childhood!

A view from the side, with no formal photography here,

just hanging out in the studio.