I can’t believe it…..I have another work in progress to share. At this point I’m calling it Mosaic but I think I need to work on the title a little. It seems a little uninspired. Sometimes I think naming them is much more challenging than creating them!

It’s about done…..I need to go back into it with more Shiva paint stick to add another layer of glitz on the solid shapes. I love putting a little paint on my quilted pieces, and I’ve found that I usually have to add a couple layers of paint to get the effect I want.

This one is a departure from my Paintbox series….which has been major abstract series for the last several years. Mosaic is a little more “in your face”….not as subtle and blended. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll do another one in this style….but I did enjoy using the gorgeous colors of a collection of hand dyed Cherrywood fabrics I’d purchased several years ago. All the solid shapes are from that collection and what I love about them is that no matter what the color, they always flow so well together. And those muted shades are my absolute favorites.

Here’s a couple more looks….

I ran across a great quote by Albert Einstein the other day….

  Imagination is more important than knowledge.

                        Albert Einstein

I love that! I’m not sure it really seems true…but who am I to argue with Einstein. Besides, it will be very comforting to remember when I just don’t know (or worse yet, can’tremember…) something important. 

 After all, I can tell myself, imagination is much more important than that old knowledge I should have. Imagination is something I always have an abundance of. Works for me!

Hmmm….I bet you’re thinking I’m showing a lot of “in  progress” work……but nothing finished! I promise the finished photos will be coming soon.

 I’m working on five of my smaller, hand embellished quilts which I call my Vignette series. Of course, they’re done in my collage style…after composing these simple pieces, I machine stitch them….then add hand stitching and at times beading. I usually have several of these underway as they are great take-along projects when I’m away from home. I wouldn’t want to waste any time, you know!

My inspiration  for this series is various glimpses (vignettes) of windows and doors…..captured in unusual compositions. I usually use hand-dyed fabrics with a minimum of pattern so that the hand stitching and embellishing will show.

I’m pleased with the light palette in this one….Vignette #7. As you know, I love working dark and dramatic, but it’s kind of fun to branch out in the opposite direction from time to time….even though the piece is only about 12″ square.

I plan on mounting these on stretched canvas when they’re finished. Keep checking….they’ll be coming soon.

I bet you didn’t even know there was one, did you? I certainly didn’t….until I read this big news….

Pantone….the people who create the universal color chips that designers and printers use so that they’re all speaking the same color language……has announced its offical color of the year for 2008…..Blue Iris.

You can check it out on the NY Times online..

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/fashion/20COLOR.html?th&emc=th

 A great color…..funny thing about me and blue….I haven’t had a really satisfactory relationship with that color for years. I rarely use it in my work, although I’m crazy about dark blue and white. You know, like in indigo fabrics (which I have a collection of just waiting for me) or my blue calico dishes.

I’m not in the least bit attracted to turquoise…although I wonder if I’m the only one in captivity that feels that way.

I saw in the NY Times article that last year’s color of the year was chili pepper red….now that’s a color I could get used to in any shade. I’ve rarely seen a red I didn’t love!

It’s a good thing there are enough colors to go around so that we can all have our favorites. Once again….different strokes for different folks.

And speaking of colors, check in my Color Stuff category to read about my longterm relationship with that now-luscious-once-drab color brown…..

Check this out….regardless of your politics.

Click on the link below to see a quick interview of the presidential candidates answering an economic question. The last candidate to answer is Hillary Clinton….and look at that backdrop. Definitely a little more exciting than the other guys.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY4eoatjKdw&eurl=http://magikquilter.com/)

Liza Lucy, who works with Kaffe Fassett designing great quilts, pointed out that it was a quilt they designed for one of their books! How fun is that!

I say it’s definitely a vote for Democratic good taste!

Don’t they look good enough to eat! My resourceful daughter Rachel and her little girls, Josie and Brooklynn, created these delicious-looking treats on yet another snowed-in day here in Washington State. Like she said, being snowed in for five days lends itself to great creativity!

Even though they look like sweet goodies dripped with chocolate…they are actually made from fabric. She used a pincushion pattern from Craft Apple Creations….and used scraps, beads, and silicone cupcake holders to put together the cupcakes.

It was a team effort……mom did the cutting, machine stitching and manned the glue gun to put the cherries on top, Brooklyn stuffed and Josie did the hand stitching. I’d say they’re definitely on track for becoming as creative as their mother. Grama loves, it….of course!

So….are any of you out there snowed in? Here in Washington State we have tons of snow….school are closed and the roads, even when they’re plowed, are like wagon-train trails!

It’s a perfect time for a quick project. Check out The Weekend Quilt pattern on my website….it’s quick, easy, and the possibilities are endless.

 And, if you don’t feel like stitching up the quilt yourself …(I know there are some of you out there who’d rather buy it than make it….!)  Check out this etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5219314 .    The owner, Beth Perry, has done a great job of making very fun quilts using my pattern. Lots of other great things to look at on Etsy as well.