Newest art quilts

Poor Baby Jackson

 "Poor Baby Jackson"  is a thread painting I did of my cat.  He does look much like this,  took it from a photo of him.  We call him Jackson. He is by no means a Poor Baby.  I adopted him from a local vet, he had been brought in very ill, broken and un-loved.  He is really a character in this home of 3 dogs.

Gone wild

Gone Wild is also thread painted original design,  this was made for the 2013 Quilt Wyoming Challenge.  The bottom is against a black background but actually just beads hanging down fro the edge of the quilt.

Close up of "Dining Out"

I started "Dining out" 15 or more years ago. I  used it as a class sample in thread painting.  I  found it unfinished when cleaning out for a garage sale.  Decided it might be worth finishing.  It is very unlike the thread painting I now do.  The fabric is mostly visible  in this and I do not use a base color of fabric on my thread painting now.

I am awful at this!!

I am pretty bad at getting back to my blog and posting.  I always think I will get better, but I don't.
We are building our guest cabin/ fishing cabin in Crandall and hope to put some of the photos of it.We do have the roof on it now, and the windows in. Russ has the doors built and ready to install.  We tried an old Montgomery Ward cook stove, my Dad gave us,  but have found it does not heat the cabin enough.  It can get way below 0 in Crandall.  So, we do have a new stove ordered.   We hope to finish the inside this winter.  We will also put a deck on the front and a deck on the back, but that will  not happen until summer.

 

Lost quilt

This quilt is lost.  I have no clue when or where, hence the word lost.  I am pretty sure it was not stolen, but I cannot even remember when the last time I had it out, I did have it in YQF last year and I believe I have had it since then but not sure when.  I miss "little Bird"  I really like this quilt, although small it is one that I favor. It is calming.  I will let you know if and when I find "Little Bird"

Building our cabin

We are building a small cabin in Crandall Wy on our property.  It is going to be about 400 sq feet with a small loft and eventually we hope to use it as a guest cabin.  The home we will retire in will be on the hill above this little cabin.  This is really beautiful,  it is on the Clarks Fork River and the views are spectacular.

This cabin is built from logs that we are milling with our saw mill, and then hand doing that little end where they meet.  Its been lots of work so far, but it really is fun. Fun to see how far we have gotten when the day is done.  I will post more as we go.  Russ went up this weekend and with John's help probably has lots more done than when I go.  Some days the only thing that keeps me going is that Margarita at the end of the day.  

Meet the Doctors of Veterinarian Medicine, Doctor John and Doctor Emily

We are really very proud of their accomplishments.  Emily will go to Canada for an internship and John will work in Cody at Advanced Veterinarian Care Clinic.  Sara and foster and Jackson are thrilled about that!! ( well, ok, I am really happy about John coming home!)

"A new look for Hobbit" given to John for Graduation

"Hunter or Hunted" also given to John for Graduation

. Also gave John my "Wild and Free" quilt

Queen size Quilt made for Emily titled "Emily is a vet quilt"

2012

Ok, I am a lot behind on this blog.  I have a new camera and have had lots of problems getting the photos into files small enough to share,  well I just gave up. So today I have no photos but I am working on that.
It is not a total "give up".  Just a great delay with everything else going on. 

Yellowstone Trip

 .

We have lived in Cody Wyoming for 30 years and this year is the 1st time that we have gone into Yellowstone Park in the winter.  We went with our friends Ken and Kathy.  Enjoyed 4 nights in the park, 1 of those at Mammoth Hot Springs and 3 at Old Faithful snow lodge.  It is amazing the beauty of Yellowstone in the winter.  We managed to walk alot, snowshoed one full day, tried out crosscountry skiing for one full day and then a few hours before we took the snowcoach back out to Mammoth.  It was beautiful! The weather was warm, the food was great and most importantly the company we kept was fun.  The photo above was taken by Kathy,  it certainly represents Yellowstone well, the Bison are very visable even in the winter in Yellowstone and they certainly are a beautiful animal. 

On our way home we spent one night at Chico Hot Springs in the Paradise Valley of Montana, so nice to sit in the natural hot springs pool!  and again the food yummy.  We had a great trip to Yellowstone and would love to go again in the winter.  

I am a Grandma

This is my Granddaughter, she arrived Jan 22nd.    She is just as sweet as can be.  We enjoyed holding, hugging and kissing her. Very proud 1st time grandparents.  I am sure it won't be long and I will need another Olivia fix. Those friends of mine that have grandchildren always told me that there is nothing better than a grandchild and I must say they were totally right. 

Goals for 2011

It is hard to believe that another year has passed us by.  And already it is the 15th of January.  Like last year I thought I would write my goals for 2011 and check off some of those achieved in 2010.

I did many more quilts that were for me.  I feel good about how many I got done.
2011--I would like to get all the quilt tops in the "unfinished" drawer, these are quilts that are pieced but un-quilted so far, DONE.  I did get 5 very small ones done and gave as gifts,  it is not that I want any of these quilts but they are taking up space and I do love giving the quilts I do not want away.
2011-- I did a llama quilt and I believe he is one of my very favorite,  I love how he finished up.  I would like to do that with a raven this year!
2011--My brothers dragon quilt... I am pretty happy about this one,  I have the dragon part finished,  I plan to make this quilt fit a king bed so have many more borders, and if I do not like the added borders, I will finish up the dragon quilt and make a whole cloth quilt for under it.  I  do want it so they can put it on the bed.  This has been on that "goal" list for several years, so getting this far is huge for me. I plan to have it done and hanging in YQF this year.
2011-- The potrait quilt!  I believe this is like fear factor!  I can do this, it is just scary to think of getting it done and it not looking like Willie and Jessi.
2011--Last year was wonderful for me and my family. We truly are blessed with abundance!  If 2011 is half what 2010 was I will still be blessed with abundance.  I believe it already is bettter by the fact that our 1st Grandone will be here in just a few short days!   Blessings! Praise the lord for all those!

Merry Christmas,  this is Lokie, he is our reindeer dog.  A sweet boy,  he wore his antlers all day and since it is Christmas Eve,  thought Lokie and I would wish all who visit a Very Joyous Christmas. As well as a really wonderful 2011 (the year for my Grandchild to arrive)

The art group from Billings Montana that I belong to decided to challenge its members to use one of the plastic torso forms to make art.  This is mine,  I did over 200 fat inchies and used many of my Moms trinkets,buttons and beads that I now have to embellish  each of the 1 and 1/2" inchies.  I like how it came out,  this was really a very difficult challenge for me. Atleast the part where I had to come up with something creative to put on this torso.  But in the end I really do like it,  now just to put the hanger on the back.  These torsos have a show at the Toucan Gallery in Billings Mt, in March.   My apologies for the quality of the photos,  I cannot seem to adjust the camera for a shot that is not blurred.          

That little bird redone

I sure do not take good pictures, this one is a bit blurred in viewing it larger.  It shows the added branch and leaves,  I painted the branch and leaves darker as well.  I think it looks better.  Not a show stopper but it will do for a FFFC.  Felt good to get back to doing FFFC.  Unfortunately, it did not last but one month.  maybe 2011 I can do better.             

Inchies as Christmas gifts

 This one was made for my friend Jane.  She is a rock hound, jewelry maker as well as a wonderful quilt artist.  Each little embellishment represents something that reminds me of Jane.

 This one was made for my friend Kathy.  Like the others each embellishment was chosen to represent something that reminded me of our friendship.

 This was made for friend Rebecca, again all embellishments represent  a reminder of that friendship.

This one is for Linda,  it goes without saying that it is embellished just for her.  I am blessed to have such wonderful talented artists friends in my life.

Flight School

Flight School

Pushing the fledglings

out of the nest

The Haiku was written by Maya Lyabenoua, the quilt  was of course made by me.

"Wild and Free"

This is my latest free-motion embroidered quilt.  I started it yesterday and finished it today.
Not sure about his nose, but it is hard to tell that he not only has a nose but is colored black in that
area.  I entered this in the Public Lands, Personal Visions.  Northwest College in collaboration with the
Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Wyoming Outdoor Council  are having a juried art exhibition in hopes that the visual dialogue will inspire more public input into the revising of the BLM's 20 year management plan
for public land.  NOW THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL!  My quilt is representing the wild horses that we often view between Cody and Greybull.  Many of these horses are captured and auctioned off to the public, with hope that that will manage the size of the herd. I just love seeing them and hope that they don't take that management view to any greater degree.  They are absolutely awesome to watch.