"Wild Garden of My Heart"

Finished~!!  I am quite impatient for spring to arrive here in the northern Catskill Mountains.  Still several inches of snow on the ground, it's 38 degrees and the winds are howling.  But, this piece is most definitely spring like.  It's not crazy pieced...I used a packet of Pomegranate Bali Batik squares as the background.  I then cascaded a rose-bronze lace and wired ribbon, added some vintage lace motifs, lots of beads, embroidery and silk ribbon.  I quilted just a bit of the background.  Then, I bound it with a velvet ribbon.  Note the green man (or two), dragonflies, butterflies and fairies.  Yup, 'tis truly the wild garden of my heart.

A Hover of Dragonflies!

It is 7 degrees on this snow-covered, first full day of spring!  But, I am not despairing because a Hover of Dragonflies has appeared!  Okay, so I spent yesterday stitching them, but that's still magic, right? 

These dragonflies are beaded.  Some day I will do a sampler of embroidered ones.  I wanted to show ideas for dragonfly wings and bodies using beads I had on hand.  The large, dark dragonfly in the center has actual beetle wings for his wings, a glass face bead and crystals for its body.  The upper right dragonfly has natural pearl sticks for wings and AB crystals and spacers for the body.  I did add legs to that fellow.  It's fun to play.  And who knows, maybe I have invoked the spirit of spring and warmer weather will soon follow.

Saturday, April 20, 10-3:  Crazy Quilt Piecing By Hand.  Middleburgh, NY.  Learn to create the foundation for beautiful crazy quilts in this class.  Whether you are a complete beginner or already have skills, but have become frustrated with the art of crazy piecing, this class if for you!  I'll show you how I piece and think about layout.  No more painting yourself into a corner.  It's all by hand.  $50.  Bring your own lunch.  To sign up, Email  me

Sunday, April 21, 12-3: Drink to Your Good Health - Herbal Teas.  Middleburgh, NY.  Sample some lovely herbal teas and learn to grow them in your own garden.  In addition to being tasty, these teas have health benefits too.  $30.  To sign up, Email me

Here's the February block for the CQJP 2013.  I chose the Scilla fairy fabric, although it is still very frozen here in the northern Catskills of NY state!  Scilla don't appear hear for another month or so.  The vintage image of the girl with the snow muff reminds of us that winter is still very much here.  

 I made the Scilla Fairy's outfit dimensional with Hannah bias-cut silk ribbon.  There is also 7mm silk ribbon in the collar. 

A closer look at the hand embroidery. 

Elderberry Fairy CQJP 2013

I am participating in the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013.  I started last year's CQJP, but only got the January, February and March accomplished.  I was working with the paisley shape. 

This year, I am making blocks using Flower Fairy Fabrics (a Michael Miller fabric) with images by that renowned artist, Mary Cicely Barker.  I'm also an herbalist.  When I can blend my two loves together, it's a good thing. 

This year, Elderberry is Herb of the Year.  I had the elderberry print from the fabric line, so, it seemed a natural for the January block.  All the work is by hand.  Even the beaded fringe at the bottom, which I had made years ago and had waiting for the perfect project.  Because elderberries are often found in hedgerows in England (I lived there for four years), I wrote Hedgerow Magic on twill tape and added it below the fringe.  Elderberry is exceptional medicine - every year I make elderberry syrup, elderberry tincture and sometimes, elderberry glycerite.  And, of course, elderberry pie!  Often, elderberry chutney makes it way to the table.  I make elderflower syrup and fritters as well.

 I painted the fairy charm, she started out as silver.  The silk ribbon flowers above the fairy are elderflowers. 

 I dyed the lace flowers that are on the right side of this photo.  The heart is stitched with a cable chain stitch in silk pearl.  Gold #4 braid for the intersections within the heart.  Then, burgundy pearls and the beaded dragonfly were added.  The flowers on the green velvet patch are made with pearls, seed beads and twin-hole beads.

The fairies wings were stitched #4 braid.  The leaves are silk ribbon and silk chenille with silk floss for veining.  The elderberries are size 6/0 beads.

I'm sure you know that folklore holds that if you sit under an elderberry bush on Midsummer's Eve, you have a chance of seeing the Fairy Queen and her procession ride by!

Schoharie County Quilt Barn Trail

 Yesterday, September 22, 2012, the Autumnal Equinox, saw the installation of the first Quilt Barn Block in Schoharie County, NY!!  And it is on my barn!  Ginny Schaum started the local edition of the national movement of putting painted 8' x 8' quilt blocks on barns.  I quickly became a committee member (Sharon Aitchison is another committee member) and first volunteer to have a quilt block on a barn.

Because I am a crazy quilter and instructor, I had to have a crazy quilt block.  I have an extensive collection of Victorian crazy quilts and Victorian booklets about crazy quilting and embroidery.  Years ago, enamored of one particular drawn block in a booklet, I had to create it.


 Here is the drawing from the book.

The Victorians assumed you knew how to piece and embroider a block.  (If you don't know how, that's why I give lessons!!)  













This is my interpretation of the block.  All hand pieced and embroidered.
I thought this block would make a terrific Quilt Barn block.

The Schoharie Valley Piecemakers, the quilt guild to which I belong, donated money to purchase the sign-grade plywood.  Bill Schaum, Ginny's husband, put together the framing and plywood and primed it.

 Next, I drew the lines for the patches and started painting.

 Once the patches were painted, the florals and seam treatments were added.

The barn was red with white doors.  That wouldn't go with the new block!  For a few years, discussions had been had about painting the barn plum anyway.  Now seemed like a good time to do it!  So, the doors became Hunter Green and the body of the barn is Canadian Black Raspberry.  Did I mention the house is painted Rose with Wine and Buttercream trim and a Hunter Green roof?  I only got the front and one side done for this year.  Next year, I'll paint the rest!

 Then came installation day.  A tractor and Zach, Bill and Jules made the extremely heavy block and frame go up!

 And I think it looks fabulous!! 

There are already several more Quilt Barn Blocks in various stages in Schoharie County!!  We hope more will join in the fun.  When there are 40 or so barns with the quilt blocks, a pamphlet will be made so you can take a driving tour throughout the county, looking for the wonderful designs.  And maybe stop for a bite to eat along the route, shop, enjoy the gorgeous views and relish the country life. 

Check out SchoharieCounty Quilt Barn Trail on Facebook.  Facebook

My web page is here

Quilt Barn Trail

The amazing Ginny Schaum has started implementing a Quilt Barn Trail in Schoharie County, NY.  The Quilt Barn Trail is a national movement, started a few years ago, to paint quilt blocks onto 8' x 8' sheets of wood and install them onto barns.  Many states have these trails and you can google Quilt Barn Trail to see the hundreds of wonderful projects.  The idea is to drive the trail and see the quilt blocks and the barns.  This brings an appreciation for rural life to those who drive the trail.

I live in the hamlet of Huntersland, in Schoharie County.  Last August, the area was devastated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.  Ginny thought starting a trail here would help heal the community.  I agree!  So, the first quilt block in Schoharie County will be installed at my place.
Ginny's husband, Bill, has done a tremendous amount of work in assembling the sign-grade plywood and framing it and priming it, so I could start painting. 

Naturally, I wanted a crazy quilt block.  Had to be!!  I used an antique block design that I had in my collection of Victorian ephemera.  Many years ago, I embroidered (by hand, of course) this quilt block.  See the images above.  I decided this would be a lovely, if somewhat complex, design to paint for the Quilt Barn Trail.  I just finished applying the base coats of paint.  This coming week I will add the floral motifs and seam stitchery in paint.

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause...the wood, paint, framing, etc costs a few hundred dollars per block!  Go to https://www.facebook.com/schohariecounty.quiltbarntrail  and message Sharon or Ginny there.  You could also order a mailbox cover to show your support!

Rose - Herb of the Year

Some of this year's rose bounty from my garden: dried rose petals, rose syrup, rose jelly and rose conserve. (Rose glycerine, rose tincture, rose honey and other goodies are also in the making.)