Comfort Cottage

Be Kind To Your Dreams

This is a special post in honor of the fourth anniversary of Pink Saturday.  For the past four years, Beverly at How Sweet The Sound has been bringing hundreds of sweet and creative bloggers together in a celebration of all things pink.  I've come to believe that our weekly virtual gatherings  have far more to offer than a love of pink.  They are a celebration of life and friendship.  Each person who participates brings to the table his or her own special corner of the world.  It is here that we learn both how we are different, and how we are the same.  To all of the friends I've made, from every corner of the globe,  Happy Pink Saturday!!!

Over the years, we've shared so much.  I've come to view my world from a completely different perspective.  Everything I see and do becomes something I want to share with all of you.  My latest piece of art and the message it brings is for you.

 

 

Be Kind To Your Dreams

10" x 10"

Mixed Media on Canvas

 

To join our birthday celebration, just click on the Pink Saturday icon in my right sidebar.  I hope you have a lovely weekend!

 

Until next time,

 

A Finished Quilting Project

As I shared with you last week, I had planned on beginning the quilting process on one of my quilt tops.  I took out my table runner on Friday and started stenciling the quilting design.

 

 

While I watched the Harry Potter movie marathon, I stitched like crazy!  By Sunday evening, I finished the hand-quilting.  Today, I completed the binding.  Drum roll, please...

 

 

This is a Vicki Bellino design entitled, "A Pack of Posies", from her book, Bloom Creek Quilts.  It measures 17" x 51".  I used fat quarters from Sandy Gervais' Tranquility line of fabrics from Moda.

 

 

I'm kind of a quilting "rebel" in that I don't use a frame or hoop to quilt.  I find I can control my stitch quality better without them.

 

 

I use sharps, which are slightly longer needles than the betweens many frame-quilters prefer.  I used the freezer-paper method for the applique and stitched by hand.

Last time, I showed you some Kaffe Fassett fabric that I plan on using for my next quilt.  I had to order a few more fabrics.  They arrived from Fabric.com today.   I LOVE the polka-dots!   Fabric.com could become a serious addiction :)

 

 

I'm also still in the process of constructing the blocks for the Civil War Tribute Quilt.  I'll probably work on month 4 next.  I'm only a few years behind :)

 

 

Month 4 commemorates the Battle of Antietam.  Next time, I'll show you the completed blocks for months 1-3. 

 

That's all for now!  I hope you are having a good week.

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

The End Of The Rainbow

Hello my friends!  I've missed you but I think I have been suffering from blogger's block!  My creativity has been in a bit of a slump, but I finally have something new to share with you.  As you know, I've been working on Amy Smart's Rainbow Connection Quilt.  After slicing and dicing not less than eighty different fabrics, I have a finished quilt top.  It measures 80" x 80".

 

 

My mantel makes a great quilt-hanging rack!

 

 

I would have posted earlier, but I cut two of the borders an inch short, and I had to start again.  It's a good thing I had some extra white fabric!

 

 

I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  I was really struggling with how to utilize my Soul Blossoms fat quarter set until I found Amy's pattern on her wonderful blog, Diary of a Quilter.

I enjoyed working with wild color so much, that I'm going to do my next quilt top with Kaffe Fassett fabrics from Rowan.  I made a trip to Intercourse on Wednesday, and scored a new quilt book :)

 

 

It's funny how our tastes change.  Kaffe has been around for years, and I never had much interest.  Suddenly, I'm in love with his work!  Go figure.  His books are stunningly photographed.  This one was shot at the Skansen Museum in Stockholm.

 

While I was at the Old Country Store, I purchased some of his fabrics for one of the quilts from his book.

 

 

The quilt is called Diagonal Pathways.

 

 

 

I have four quilt tops waiting in the wings to be sandwiched and quilted, so I think I'll get the process started on one of them next week. 

Spring has finally arrived here in Pennsylvania.  We've had several beautiful days in a row.  I hope things are well where you are.  We'll meet again soon.

 

Until next time,

 

 

Making Progress

I've finally arrived at that moment in the making of a quilt that excites me most:  sewing the blocks together.   With a quilt of many colors, I needed to retreat to the floor again to audition blocks for their proper place.

 

 

Aren't the colors delicious?  Sewing a large quilt together feels a bit like wrestling an alligator.

 

 

 

I'm building a sizable mountain of scraps!

 

 

I need to find some little projects!  I got out of the studio for a few hours this morning to canvas the book store for fresh inspiration.  The beginning of the month always brings a pile of new magazines with it.

 

 

 

This one is fantastic!  This is just one of the quilts waiting to be sewn:

 

 

There were also many lovely quilts in this one:

 

 

In addition to all of the tempting projects, there is an interesting interview with fabric designer Stephanie Brandenburg of Frond Design Studios.  It offers some insight into the process of crafting beautiful fabric designs.

 

 

The next time I share quilting news, I should be finished sewing the Rainbow Connection quilt.  I also have a trip to quilters' haven, Lancaster County, PA in the works to celebrate my birthday.  My bank card will be smokin' :)  I'll meet with you again soon!

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

A Walk In The Park

A few weeks ago, after photographing the Brandywine Rughooker's exhibition, I noticed a beautiful park across the street from the library.  It was one of the first really nice days of spring, so I decided to take a closer look through the lens of my camera.  Would you like to take a walk with me?

 

 

Doesn't that bench look inviting?

 

 

I love the pattern of bricks at the entrance.

 

 

The flowers were glorious!

 

 

The cherry blossoms were amazing against the electric blue sky.

 

 

Wouldn't this be the perfect spot for wedding or prom photos?

 

 

All over the neighborhood, the magnolias were bursting into bloom.

 

Their pink fluffiness makes my heart skip a beat!

 

 

Down the street from the park, I found a lovely koi pond where I captured beautiful reflections on the water.

 

 

The koi appeared to be swimming in the clouds!

 

 

All the earth has come to life.

 

 

 They look like neon confetti!

 

 

The light brings out every detail.

 

 

 

We are surrounded by miracles.

 

 

I hope you find a few miracles of your own today.

 

 Happy Pink Saturday to all of my pink-lovng friends out there.  To enjoy all of the wonderful pinkness, click on the Pink Saturday icon in my right sidebar.  Thank you to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting today's pink celebration!

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Until next time,

 

Blocks, Blocks And More Blocks

I've been slicing, dicing and sewing continously...and I'm about halfway through the thirty-six blocks I need for my rainbow quilt. 

 

 

Every day begins with a new color!

 

 

 

Today was a yellow-green day :)

 

 

I hope you're having a great week!

 

Until next time,

 

Time For Quilting

Last week I made the trip to Intercourse, PA with my sister.  The first stop, as always, was the Old Country Store where I spent an inordinate amount of time drooling over all of the new spring fabrics and books.  Ultimately, I couldn't make up my mind about the fabric, so I decided to sleep on it.  I did however, return with a quilting book.  It is a new title from That Patchwork Place called Pretty Patchwork Quilts, by Cyndi Walker.   The cover quilt is gorgeous, but there are plenty more beautiful quilts inside.

 

 

A trip to the fabric store is always inspirational, and I came home freshly bitten by the quilting bug.  I decided to look up quilting blogs and I wasn't disappointed.  In my travels about cyberland, I came across a particularly colorful quilt blog:  Diary Of A Quilter.  Amy Smart is the keeper of the quilting castle there, and her approach is fun, informational, and down-to-earth.   While browsing, I came across a wonderful quilt pattern that is perfect for utilizing fat quarters and scraps.  It is called Rainbow Connection, and you can purchase it directly from there.

 

 

After sorting my fabrics by color, I began cutting and sewing right away.  I'm using Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms line in addition to many other fabrics I've collected over the years.

 

 

My quilting projects usually begin here, spread out all over the floor.

 

 

I eventually make it to the table.

 

 

 

 

I'll keep you posted on my progress :)  Now, I'm almost embarrassed to admit this - but I will, because I'm dying to share this with you.  Friday began innocently enough.  I went to a fabric store closer to home to get some white cotton for the background for this quilt.  The shop I was in was about halfway to Intercourse.  (Can you see where this is going?)   It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, and my pretty red car was just begging me to take it for a drive through the country.  Well, I couldn't just go home.  I headed west and before I knew it, I was back at The Old Country Store.  This time, I made up my mind.  I found some gorgeous fat quarters.

 

 

 

 I feel another quilt coming on...

Finally,  I checked out the book section one more time.  I was very excited to find Four Seasons At Minglewood by Debbie Roberts.  The book, from Kansas City Star Quilters contains patterns for fifteen twelve inch quilt blocks, and instructions for making a number of wonderful quilts.  All of these blocks can be used to design countless other quilts.  It is a fantastic resource.

 

Today, I have the cottage to myself.  The men are out and about, and it is the perfect opportunity for me to sew.  I hope and pray that you are all well.  I truly enjoy sharing life's creative adventures with you.  Come again soon.

 

Until next time,

 

The Whisper

It seems as if everywhere we turn, there is someone telling us what we should do, who we should be, where we should go.  Some of these voices will be well-meaning, but some will have their own agenda.  It can be really easy to lose our way in all of the noise.  Before we know it, we are doing things and going places we never intended.  One day, if we are lucky, we wake up and wonder just whose life it is we are living.   We really need to keep listening for the whisper from within...the one that comes from the most authentic part of ourselves.  What is your soul trying to tell you?

 

 

The Whisper

10" x 10"

Mixed Media on Canvas

 

I prepared my canvas by collaging it with various vintage printed materials.  They were adhered with matte gel medium.  I added layers of painted, sponged and splattered  texture with Liquitex heavy-bodied acrylics.  I lightly sketched in the face before painting it.  I enhanced edges with Derwent Tinted Charcoal pencils.  I sketched in the vine, painted it and enhanced edges with a Sakura Pigma Micron pen and a white gel pen.  The rose, bird, mariner's compass and words were printed out from my computer and adhered with gel medium.  I added finishing touches of paint and sealed the surface with a matte acrylic spray.

 

I'm hoping to have more to show you before the end of the week.  There may also be another quilt/fabric adventure with my sister/partner-in-crime.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

 

Until next time,

 

Rise

I have a new mixed-media painting to show you, and I'm very excited about it.  Those of you who have become familiar with my art have probably noticed that there is not a face to be found in all of my works (At least, not a human one).  To quote Emerson, "Unless you have tried to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."   Today, it was time to grow.

 

Rise

11" x 14"

Mixed Media on Canvas

 

I used gel medium to adhere various vintage ephemera to the canvas.  This was followed by sponging/tapping/splattering acrylic gouache.  I lightly penciled in the face before I painted it.  I added the bird, vines, flowers and my own words.  I printed out the words and the bird from my computer and adhered them with gel medium.  I used Derwent Tinted Charcoal pencils,  a Sakura Micron pen, and oil pastels to enhance edges.  After the paint is fully cured, I'll spray with an acrylic matte varnish.  The edges of the canvas are painted black.

May we have the courage to pick ourselves up...one more time.

 

Until next time,

 

Hooked On Color

What do you get when you combine burlap or linen, a hook, and sumptuous, vibrantly colored wools?  Come along with me as I visit the exhibit of the Brandywine Rughookers Guild, where you are sure to be creatively inspired.

 

 

Those of you who visit Comfort Cottage regularly have by now, read about my "adventure" in trying to photograph the exhibition.  If you haven't, you can learn of my humiliation here, and be happy that for once, someone else did something stupid :)  With that being said, would you like to see more?  I think you'll agree, it was worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing these beautiful works of art as much as I've enjoyed sharing them with you.  Have a wonderful day!

 

Until next time,