Work In Progress Wednesday

I continue working on the afghan.

I started another little piece, but ran out of DMC 815.  I think I probably have more somewhere around here.  I made this pattern a couple of years ago in blue and finished it into an ornament. The pattern is a freebie from http://lacontesselepointdecroix.blogspot.com 

I am loving this mola project!

March 2021 Quilt of the Month

Every month, the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska, USA, features a Quilt of the Month. This is a great website and I encourage you to take a look!

This month's quilt is called My Rob Peter to Pay Paul II by Japanese quilt artist Keiko Goke.  Here is the quilt and information from the museum's website.

Keiko Goke

2020
Sendai, Japan
Cotton; machine pieced and quilted
Gift of the Robert and Ardis James Foundation
IQM 2020.052.0002

Keiko Goke’s meditation on the original Rob Peter to Pay Paul quilt creates an updated, richly-colored and spontaneous version of the traditional pattern.

When Goke first began quiltmaking 50 years ago, she focused on what she calls “picture quilts” made with figurative appliqué because, she says, “I didn’t want my quilts to look similar to other quiltmakers’ work.”

Later, she embraced traditional pieced patterns, but only by approaching them extemporaneously, without templates and by cutting and placing hand-dyed fabrics directly as she works.

This is one of 10 quilts made by leading Japanese artists commissioned by the International Quilt Museum for display in "Abstract Design in American Quilts at 50: Journey to Japan." It is also on the cover of the catalog for "Abstract Design in American Quilts at 50," which is available for purchase in the IQM store and online.

Click here to see the reference quilt, which appeared in "Abstract Design in American Quilts" at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1971.

Monday Morning Star Count - Week 47 and Year to Date

Year four of the temperature quilt 

Week 47

March 14 - 20 

64, 68, 72, 64, 63, 64, 61

I am reporting the high temperature each day.  My Year Four temperature/color (Fahrenheit) scheme remains the same: 

100 + Brown 

90-99 Red  

80-89 Orange 

70-79 Yellow  

60-69 Green  

50-59 Blue 

40-49 Purple 

30-39 Pink 

20-29 White 

10-19 Black  

You can see my finished Year One Quilt here.   

Election Day

Today is election day where I live.  This is the city council election. Whenever there is an election, boards with photos of the candidates are put up everywhere. You can't miss seeing them because they really are everywhere.

I don't know anything about the political parties or the candidates, but it is interesting to look at the pictures. 

There is only one woman, which seems strange to me, especially for a local election.

Some of the candidates put their ages on their photo.

They seem to like putting their hands up in a fist.  Does that mean they will fight to get what they want?

This guy looks like he is dreaming about the future.

This candidate wants to give us all a big hug.

The other thing that happens in the two weeks before the elections is that vans with loud speakers drive around saying the candidates names and other things. To tell the truth, I think these loud speakers are annoying.  I asked my students this past week if they would be voting today and many said no because of the pandemic and the rainy weather, as well as not caring about the local election.

The Big Panda Book

I received this big 128 page book about pandas as a gift and I love it. A lot of the headlines and captions are in hiragana, so I can read some of it. And there are tons of panda pictures!  I've looked at it many times and will continue looking at it and trying to read it. I've been to Ueno Zoo to see the pandas there, but I see that I really need to go to Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture.

Friday Finish - Fairies Hiding Pillow Case

I made a pillow case and stitched the Fairies to the cuff. I stitched this piece a few years ago and then never finished into anything. It was a free pattern another blog.  I had forgotten which one and Vireya reminded me: Brenda Ryan Embroidery Designs 

https://brendaryan.typepad.com/brenda_ryan_embroidery_de/2009/07/fairies-hiding-panelstitchery-.html 

https://brendaryan.typepad.com/brenda_ryan_embroidery_de/2009/07/colour-pic-for-fairies-hiding-.html 

I'm always happy when I can finish something, especially when it is something useful.

Throwback Thursday - Stitch Group Version

 My stitch group has been meeting for almost five years.  This year we haven't been able to meet as often because of the pandemic, but we are still meeting when we can. We've gained a member and two have gone to university.  I've pulled some finish photos from our get togethers and was surprised to see how many different techniques and projects we've worked on. I'm sorry that I couldn't put them in order and apologize if I have missed some.

This was our first meeting in summer 2016

Ainu Stitching, Applique, Assisi, Band Samplers, Bargello, Beaded Fobs, Biscornu, Blackwork, Brazilian Embroidery, Cathedral Windows, Chicken Scratch, Crazy Quilt, Cross Stitch, English Paper Piecing (Hexagons), Felt Candlemats, Felt Ornaments, Hardanger, Kogin, Peyote Stitch Beaded Earrings, Redwork, Silk Ribbon and Other Stitches on Purse Frame,Surface Embroidery, Various Little Stitching Toolies, Weaving.