Christmas in July (August)

This past month was my month to get blocks back for Bee Happy... I requested Christmas blocks. I've wanted, basically since I first started quilting, to make our family a Christmas quilt, ad I've collected fabrics forever for it, but never made one. So that's what a bee is great for, helping you tackle the projects that just seem too big.
Here are my blocks that I've made so far. My bee-mates are actually blowing my mind as they're sending in their blocks. Knowing July is a big travel month, I asked for only 1 block instead of the usual 2, but they all seem to be having so much fun with this that they have been sending me 3 and 4 blocks each. I can't wait to show you their work. For the time being, here's mine!

Raw edged baby quilts

My friend just had a baby and had an adoption go through a few weeks after giving birth and now she and her husband have had 2 babies in a month! Their family of 6 is one that is super special to our family and I couldn't let the opportunity pass without making them something for their new bundles. I will send them when the family gets back from the Dominican Republic, and when I figure out what to make for their 2 precious big kids too. These quilts are so so easy, I used a glue stick to place the squares and simply quilted them to a soft blankie background instead of making a quilt sandwich. (FAAAAaaaaST!)

Gee's Bend books

A friend of mine, Allison, recently saw this adorable children's book about the quilts of Gee's Bend and passed it along to me. I ordered it on Amazon and while I was at it, decided it was high time I got myself a book Gee's Bend anyway.
All I can say is wow. I spent last night reading the first chapter of this gorgeous coffee-table quality book. I kept reading parts of it aloud to Jay and he kept saying in his producer way - "someone needs to make a good movie about this!" I made him promise to read that first chapter himself.
I fell asleep with the book on my lap, and literally was dreaming about quilts.
Knowing my soft spot for African American history and culture along with my passion for fine art and quilting - of course this is a great fit for me - but I have to say, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is moved by art or the power of the creative human spirit. I was inspired powerfully and literally challenged in my paradigms of what freedom I allow myself to have as I create. As I'm going through my day today, I can't stop thinking about this enclave of master artists living and working together in abject poverty, albeit happy!... undiscovered for decades.
There are pages scattered throughout the book which have artistic photos of the scenery around Gee's Bend- I literally wanted to turn about 10 of those into quilts.
This book is amazing. I didn't even bother getting out my sewing last night - RARE! - because I just wanted to read more.
I have to say, it's the best $30 I've spent on a book in years. I can't wait to read more tonight.

Jumping for Joy

I don't have a specific reason to jump for joy right now, but these photos make me want to.

J took them of our teenaged niece and nephew out on Pismo Beach back in June on our family trip. Aren't they fantastic?

Love this tree

I love trees. But you knew that already.  The other day I was in Old Torrance, visiting Momen+ and drooling over very expensive fabrics. As I stepped out of the car to meet my friend, I saw this tree.

 Or rather I saw this scar on a  tree. 

Isn't it lovely?

But even more... 

I look at it and the poet in me sees a heart in the place where pain occurred. 

An entire limb is lost and what remains is beauty

 and heart.

I have been through a lot lately. 

I want my scars to make me more beautiful.

Mommy daughter matching

I love getting these images from mommies. They make my day! I met this mommy shortly after she had adopted (I believe from Ethiopia). She bought the skirts for herself and her daughter and waited for her little pumpkin to grow into it. She finally did and I was so happy to see this pic in my inbox today.
What joy! ...in so many ways .. And you all know how much I love adoption on any level... I keep peeking back at the pic and finding myself smiling.

Color sense

Mimi picked these fabrics out for her next project. I marvel at her color sense for a 6year old.

French General

 

(I've been meaning to write this post for almost a year. Can you believe it?)

Perhaps you've heard of French General. The owner has written some amazing craft books, she's designed a few lines of fabric for Moda and she even organizes tours for folks to take to Provence where they can experience flea marketing and  textile design in the beauty of the French Countryside, (sigh)

Well, she also has a store. And it's here in LA and open to the public only one day a week. I was fortunate enough to get a Monday morning free (this was before we received the baby!!!) and I traipsed on over to this little French haven in LA, close to Griffith Park.

What a world of inspiration it was! Beads in jars lined an entire wall. Fabrics, both vintage and new lined another. Tables of books and vintage French ribbons. Lovely salespeople who were so warm and amazing. And what's this? 

Lemonade and cookies for everyone in glass cups? (what a treat.)

The whole experience of visiting French General is one to be had. It is a refreshing and lovely place and the days that I entertain having my own studio, I imagine it would be as warm and welcoming - and only open one day a week! - as this sweet place.

New ink - Tattoo #2

 I was finally able recently to go get my birthday present.  J has told me that I'm allowed to have 3 tattoos total and here's number 2. Not sure where I would want another, so that thought is tabled for a while. I'd been thinking about this one for over a year - I'm serious about what artwork is going to stick with me for the rest of my life... I've got to say I probably logged in over 30 hours of looking and researching possibilities for a foot tattoo that I liked, but never really found any that I loved.

Good thing we know "johnny 2/3" from Yer Cheatin' Heart in Hermosa Beach. He's an aquaintance of my sister and brother in law and has done a lot of tattoos on people I know, so I felt  good going to him the first time when I got my word bracelet.  The thing is, he's an artist first - he told me he used to travel to cathedrals all over the world to sketch inspiration for some of the t-shirt companies he worked for in his previous career.  I love working with artists of all types and it's amazing how fast he is at understanding what I was describing (both times).  We first have an art consultation meeting a few weeks before the big day and both times I left the art consult feeling like I knew he knew what I wanted.

So here it is. I took this the day of the tattoo. And yes... it hurt WAY worse than the wrist one, which I would qualify as "annoying" pain, but not anything to write about. The actual tattooing wasn't what really got me - it was later in the day! Wow. Didn't expect that.
I'm really happy with the art. And I like how it's placed, too. He's got the branch being very organic, the bright and fine flowers and a tiny bit of grace added in with the swirls. Just what I was looking for.
Happy 35th Birthday, me! (just 6 months later)

Neighborly fabric

Wow. I have GREAT neighbors. One of my neighbors a few houses north just had a baby. I brought over dinner and a little swaddle blankie (40"x40" flannel served on the edges... Best swaddle ever).
They came over to say thank you a few weeks later and saw me wearing G in a sling. "oh, you make slings? I've been looking for a white eyelet sling for so long..." she said. What? I've had a white eyelet sling in my inventory for YEARS that wasn't selling. I tossed it her way, so happy to have a happy home for it finally.
Well last weekend, my neighbor came over again with these fabrics she bought for me downtown! Talk about knowing the way to my heart.

So when I was looking for a nice orange fabric to bind my neighborhood quilt... Well, there was only one option. The spirit of having this Joel Dewberry fabric as part of my quilt is so great that I would have likely used it even if it didn't match! A gift from a neighbor to finish the quilt about my neighborhood? Perfect.

Now. See the gorgeous eyelet next to it? It's so smooth and modern and really luxe feeling. What do I make with it? A shirt maybe? Maybe a dress for Mimi? Line it with another color and use it in it's own beauty for a pillow or quilt back? Hmmmm.
(I'm taking suggestions)