Happy New Year! I'm not sure where 2024 went, but there was a LOT of inspiration and learning happening!
January 2024 started with my Cherrywood Monarch Challenge submission heading on its national tour with 225 of its friends and two other quilts touring Connecticut galleries in SAQA CT's Flora and Fauna exhibit. I was thrilled to have my pieces included in these two exhibits with the amazing work of fellow quilters and would encourage anyone who is asking themselves, "Should I?" Yes! Yes, you should! You should explore originality; you should explore design and construction techniques; you should incorporate materials that interest you; you should revisit photos you've taken and experiences you've had; you should engage with other quilters. And if it interests you, you should enter your work in shows, exhibits, and competitions. The quilting community is a great place to connect, learn, and be inspired!
In February we brought not one, but TWO puppies into our family. I'm a great lover of Siberian Huskies. Back in December of 2023 we lost our 11-year-old boy, Murphy. Murph was an absolute prince of a dog. He was also the first alpha male I'd ever experienced, and in a class of his own. Losing him was unbearable and without a furry family member it was only a matter of a couple weeks before I had contacted a reputable breeder and also the regional chapter of Siberian Husky Rescue. Both connections were meant to be! We brought home our new girl, Pepper, and our new boy Jasper within a week of each other. Life has been back to fur and a full stock of sticky rollers ever since! It's amazing what furry friends do for our sense of purpose and well-being.
In March, Art Quilting Studio magazine published my article "From Garden to Shore." It was an honor to be included among some brilliant textile artists. I was also excited about the opportunity to experience the process from submission to publication. It was one of my favorite learning experiences!
In the spring I embarked on a journey of natural indigo dyeing. I explored the history, varieties, domestication, cultivation, exportation, fermentation, and process and implications for building several different types of dye vats. I finally built a vat using henna as my reducing agent and practiced different shibori techniques, curating several stitching, wrapping, binding, and clamping methods that would yield results with beautiful color and exciting patterns. I had so much fun that I decided to host a summer shibori party and also gave a lecture on the subject in November.
In the midst of everything, I was also asked by friends and co-workers to make quilts for milestone events. One was a relatively simple panel quilt with extended borders and custom quilting. The other was a more complex, 8-1/2-month long project involving original design, construction, and loads of custom quilting! We'll explore that process later in another post. But the project was inspired by the recipient's love of Georgia O'Keeffe's work and gardening. The result was the quilt in the header image and detail photo below, finished at 91" x 93".
Also, and perhaps most importantly, I took myself back to the gym. With a full-time job, family life, quilting activities, and guild activities, it's easy not to make time for exercise and nutrition. But as I get older, I realize that if I want to keep quilting well into my 100's, good health is a must. So, what's in store for 2025? As always, improvement and exploration. I look forward to the road ahead and meeting new friends along the journey. I hope to see you there!
Happy New Year and happy quilting!
Liz
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