Soggy Sewing

Saturday, October 6th is the 16^th Annual Friends of Pets Quilts and Creations Quilt Auction!  This popular auction features animal themed fiber arts of all types and benefits the community spay/neuter assistance program . Friends of Pets provides vital animal welfare and protective services for abandoned animals with respect, compassion and integrity and is staffed entirely by volunteers and supported by donations. For the last couple of years I have wanted to donate a piece for the auction but always missed the deadline –but not this year! Thankfully, Ruth Q. reminded me via email it was that time of year and I was able to make two pieces. “Pets are a Girls Best Friend” is 20” w x 14” h and “Dog Breath and Friend” is 22” w x 25” h. Both are original designs that I used the applique, fusible web method of quilting. Each piece is embellished with fun, free-motion stitching and is ready to hang.

 Should you find yourself in Anchorage bid high and bid often at the Friends of Pets Quilts and Creations Quilt Auction!

Saturday, October 2, 2012

University Center Mall

It’s been easy to be in the nice, dry studio working on projects since it’s been RAINING outside most of the week (month). Between record high destructive winds and now flooding throughout most of Southcentral Alaska it’s made for a soggy, blustery fall. These photos below are from our friend Carol P. on the Kenai River and showing the flooding where we would normally be fishing this week… the entire dock which normally is about 3’ – 4’ ABOVE the river is now under water along with the fire pit area. The good news is that the lodge sits on much higher ground above where these photos were taken but still there is a lot of damage across the state. 

Our thoughts are with our friends in Seward, the Kenai Peninsula and Talkeetna, all who have experienced property damage due to the increased rainfall.

The inset photos were from Labor Day weekend where the dock sits high above the river with the boats tied up below. With the flooding the river is up and over the dock into the fire pit area. That's A LOT of RIVER!

Spending time with "My Divine"

I spent time in front of “My Divine Shrine-a-rella” this week. It’s a wall shrine that I made when I am in need of finding comfort and calm through friends and loved ones.

Things were discombobulated this week. Schools were closed for three straight days, wild swings in the weather brought temperatures from at least 21 below to 46 degrees above, which caused a bit of cabin fever to set in. Routines were goofed up, the norm, planned and expected were out the window, including my production schedule. Just a couple of blocks away from our house in town, Chester Creek flooded several houses –in the month of January(!) It was tragic watching the images on the 6:00 news, feeling sad yet grateful that we are on a bit of higher ground. Alyeska was closed due to 120+ mph winds at the top of the mountain. Other crazy incidents flashed across CNN including a jumbo jet landing in the Hudson, distressing news about artist friends needing to find second jobs to make ends meet, lack of studio space and other news of economic difficulties. All of this craziness had me reflecting on one of my pet organizations, CERF, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, and wanted to spread the word about all of the good work they do for Craft Artists. Check out their link. All of the at-home time caused me also do a bit of nesting by checking the batteries in smoke detectors, replace a Carbon Monoxide (co2) detector that wasn’t functioning properly and better cleaned the area around the dryer and kilns.

Some artists are able to create or are inspired when there is chaos. Not me. I’m learning that I create some of my best work when all is calm, my chores are done, my family is fed, safe and happy. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE storms. But, I love storms when I have a pot of soup or chili (Check out Linda's recipe) going on the stove or cookies baking in the oven. I love the weather lashing the windows while I’m warmly inside creating, reading or when I'm properly geared up and out in the weather going for hikes with my dog. I’m inspired by the weather, inspired by the kind of light just after a storm, collecting Nature's fallen found objects like interesting shaped branches, leaves, lichen or abandon nests that the wind knocked unexpectedly from treetops. I’m hoping some great work comes my way next week, when all returns to a renewed normal.