Shiny and Shinier + Found Treasures

Well there are pros and cons to cleaning your studio......During this pandemic, I read about many artists who were purging, cleaning out...what a great time to do this. Meanwhile I was doing nothing...I couldn't get myself motivated and felt like a big slug. I don't know what bug got hold of me but I woke up one morning and said....this is the day! I'm tackling my studio. 

 It's a large area and requires a lot of moving around which is probably why I don't do it that often.

 I have to move tables, bins etc to one end, wash floors and let dry .....

and then finish off with Mop and Glo - a product I used many years ago for hard wood floors. It's a lot of work...

But the shine is so worth it...

I Like to have a "before and after"...Not very often that I have the "after"....

Well and here's the best part...while waiting for each part to dry so I could wax, I decided to clean out bins and fabric stashes....Like every quilter I know, they're not just in one place...so it actually turned into a 3 day job...

 

I found treasures I didn't know I had....lots of Wow moments.

 I found this with extra fabric rolled up inside...I looked at it like "where did this come from and why is it in my house...." It was a total surprise...and then found another project...

 with these cut out flowers that worked great on the project I just found..

 The colors work well together ..... I couldn't believe my luck..

  Well, my retreat project from March....something I had put away and forgot about...not too much of a surprise but will be fun to work with.

Now this was a surprise - I found this in my stack of Indigos - this old bag to hold pistachios that I dyed with Indigo and apparently started to match up with fabrics. I love the bag and think it will be a fun piece.

And this last piece I made in an Eco Printing workshop with Vicki Bennett. I loved the piece but not the shape so much so I might be able to divide it into 3s and make it into a tryptche 

 It actually divides into 3 good sizes which I can mount over pre-stretched canvas's. So with all my purging, I was able to free up 2 big drawers and 2 shelves...one of which will be designated for projects in progress....so I'll always be able to find them...no more surprises for me! Is that a good thing or a bad thing...? hmmmmmmm.....

Have a great week.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.....

We honor the brave men and women from our past and present who fought hard to protect our country - to keep it safe from harm and allow us the freedom we so passionately embrace. I would like to personally honor my family, most have passed on, some I've never met but all give me such a sense of pride in knowing what they have done for our country. I am honored to have had them in my life...to call them uncle, grandpa, dad and friend. 

   My great grandfather - Frank Sandell was in the 2nd N.Y. Calvary Regiment Harris Light Calvary. He fought in major engagements of war including the Battle of Gettysburg. From what I gather, he was quite a character and Oh...how I wish I could have met him.

My wonderful uncles above - Uncle Ted on left who was in the army during WWII and my Uncle John who served in the Navy during WWII also. They were such fun uncles and honorable men.

My dad Edward Sandell (last in front row on left) was a Navy man and fought in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. He was a wonderful dad who always took me for Carvel ice cream.

My sister-in-laws hubby Joe Neill was in the Army during Viet Nam - won a Bronze star.....and I might add makes a wicked chocolate martini.

And our heros today who are fighting a very different but equally dangerous battle...a battle that knows no boundaries and does not discriminate...a battle that is dangerous and scary and when all is said and done, will have changed our lives as we know it...forever. To the wonderful and brilliant Dr. Anthony Fauci and

............ all the heroes and front line workers and everyone in between who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and the best country on earth.

 Thank you.....

And....God Bless America - may we always fly free.

Corona and Woolworth

 The Corona virus has taken its toll on the world and the new "normal" will most likely never be the same. Our gallery space at Woolworth in downtown Asheville, NC has been closed for over a month and no telling when it will re-open. Last week artists were allowed to come in (by appointment) to freshen up and restock their gallery space.

 The staff were cleaning places I don't think they knew existed and everything was sparkling as well as germ free.....Besides heavy cleaning, painting and general rejunvenating was going on. I had removed most of my things to do an updated inventory and just put everything back.  I know everyone in Asheville is taking things slow which I'm so thankful for but when they do limited opening here is what our booth will look like.

 I share a space with Mary Stori whose beautiful work you see above and below...

 We work very differently and have a large variety of fiber art for sale...(below - mine on left and Mary's on right)

I hope you'll drop by when the time is right and you feel comfortable to do so. We are in space # 235 on the lower level.

 My son Mikey Simmons also has a space on the lower level with beautiful paintings and drawings..

I think you will enjoy seeing his work also....
As the new norm....Stay safe, wash your hands, be happy...Hope to see you from 6' away sometime soon...

From this to.........

THIS......
My niece just sent pictures of her twin girls...now almost 5 months old, laying on the I Spy Quilts I made for them. They each got their own to drag around and sit on....the quilts are a little different from the other but both very colorful and fun for a little one...

I know I'm partial but I do think these are the cutest babies ever...just want to squeeze them and kiss on them. They live in NY so it will be a while before I get to see them.....so glad they're enjoying their quilts.

"I Remember Mama"

...is an old movie from the 40s and one of my favorites....I watch it every year when it's on and this year it is...TCM at 8 this evening. It's about a Swedish family who come to America for a better life....bringing all the sisters and uncles and cousins that makes up their clan. The story is simple, dealing with everyday problems and joys and the very subtle role the mother plays in them. It's a tug at your heart strings movie with beautiful moments; it specifically shows the strength of this wonderful woman and mother, a strength she was not aware of herself.
Life was simple back then but also difficult and different from the life we know today.

As a little girl, I remember my mama holding me by the shoulders and saying to me..." I just want you to be strong". I would answer, "well of course I'm strong....I can run this fast and lift this high and open this jar"...completely unaware of the real meaning. As I got older, I realized the power of her message and how it helped her in her own life. 

My mom and her mom - my grandmother who lived next door could do anything. I grew up thinking this is what women do...from painting the house, fixing the hedge shears, taking a toaster apart, and styling your hair....from making all your clothes, drapes for the house, evening gowns for the Eastern Star and warm winter coats.....from being my playmate, my Brownie leader and neighborhood mom whose house we always ended up in and one of my fondest memories....making jelly apples for Halloween. Our house was the last to visit and my mom always had to start the first bite of the apple as the little ones couldn't bite into them. 

Top left, my mom upper left, me lower left as a toddler....top right my mom and I...below left - my mom at a cookout with the brownie troop...she was the leader and lower right...my beautiful mom.

She was the best mom ever and I was so blessed to have this wonderful woman to raise and teach me the values I hold so dear today....One of my favorite photos above...says it all... - Till We Meet and we will again some day....Love you mom.

I Spy II

  Trying to finish up projects while I'm on lockdown...I find I'm slower than normal as my days don't have much structure and I've always been better in a structured situation. When I was a public school teacher, I accomplished more in a day than any other time....I guess there were no other choices....also a tad bit younger....... 

  

One of the things on my list was to finish "I Spy #2" for my 2 great nieces - twins....I made the first "I Spy" and a wall hanging for their room...but they should each have their own "I Spy" to drag around. This one is a little different and I do like this pattern better.

My first choice for a backing was this darling "doggie" fabric. The girls - Ellie and Abby have a dog (maybe 2) and thought they would love this....but then I got to thinking...

hmmmmmm....flannel is such a nice backing...so much softer but often hard to find the big selection you want.

While looking through my blocks, I found one was a ladybug and almost identical to the flannel so voila...think I found my backing. I washed it several times to make it shrink as much as possible and it worked perfectly....now to send it off.
 On another note, everytime I sit and sew or do something that fulfills my heart and day, I do think of all those on the frontline, having to leave their home, working so hard to make things safe for us...I want to give a big Shout Out and a heartfelt thanks to each and everyone...

Making Masks

Hunkered down and doing fine is what I wish for you....I'm pretty okay with it as I have lots of unfinished projects, redecorating the master bedroom, solitary walks, cleaning out and just embracing the down time. It's a big adjustment when going anywhere essential with masks, hand sanitizer, keeping a distance...etc. but most everyone seems to be complying. I think sometimes a national emergency like this brings out the best in people...the reaching out, thinking to call, leaving little things on your porch steps, sharing funny stories...I could go on and on...but my heart is lightened by the actions of so many selfless people who's only concern is for others and their well being.

 I've been doing my very small little part by making masks...I have the fabric and lots of time....I started by making every neighbor in my subdivision a mask. I live in a small community so it was not overwhelming. I know many of them so well, I was able to hone in on their hobbies and find fabric to suit them.

 My neighbor Ruth who is a darling loves to garden - both veggies and flowers; her yard is a joy to see. She grows many vegetables including carrots and invites my granddaughter over to pull the carrots, wash them off and feed them to the horses nearby. It is a memory my granddaughter will keep forever.....so her mask...some veggie fabric.

 My neighbor Frank has had bears in his yard...and yes we even have a video (filmed from our car) so I found some wonderful bear fabric for his mask...

I've also made some smaller ones for the kiddos and my granddaughter in Atlanta. They were the most fun as I could use lots of color and sparkly fabric....Next up....is some for Manna Food Bank in Asheville, NC.
I was wanting to keep a journal of this very scary, crazy, unpredictable time in history...but it's sometimes hard for me to write ....This is one for the history books and although very sad, scary and unpredictable, I'm glad to have experienced this.........getting to witness the very best side of us as Americans is priceless.......thank you to everyone.... getting up every day to go to work, working tirelessly to save lives, stocking supermarket shelves and everything in between.. God bless you all ....