Texas Quilt Museum Summer 2022

I’m fortunate to live close to the Texas Quilt Museum. This exhibit was winners of last year’s International Quilt Festival and special exhibits by Ricky Tims and Timna Tarr. 

I’ve been watching this artist emerge in social media. She is @cottonandbourbon on IG. This piece is striking.

 

I was drawn to this quilt because it reminded me of bluebonnets. Some day I will want to add bluebonnets to a quilt. Her technique is meticulous.

This quilt was beautiful and looked like it was fun to make. I felt like I could actually do some of these techniques. The quilting was very creative. It included several specialty stitches with fancy thread. The artist is from Sisters, Oregon.

The Ricky Tims exhibit was inspiring. The hand dyed fabrics add such depth to his quilts. I’ve never seen his quilts up close. I noted that several traditional elements such as flying geese are used but with a touch of improv which creates more movement and looks like much more fun to make. More forgiving to the quilter.

The grouping of colors in this one adds such depth and movement. I like the simplicity of the design but the depth and detail of the color. It would have far less interest without the improv color blocks.

The flying geese in this quilt are not uniform which makes it so much more interesting. So much movement.

The Timna Tarr exhibit was so much fun. Of course, I loved the chickens. Her technique is ingenious and very effective. She has a book coming out in October. I want to get it and take a Zoom class with her.

What a joy to visit this museum.

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

 I went to Sisters, Oregon in July for their annual quilt show. I love the vibe of this show which stems from being non-juried and being sponsored by The Stitching Post quilt shop, a very creative space. I took a class with Jean Wells which was so good for the soul. She has a lovely spirit and knows how to coach creativity. 

I had a quilt in the show. The theme for this quilt was “always forward,  ever back.” It has so many things I could have perseverated on to fix. Well, I did perseverate but I also persevered and let it go. I get bored with perfection and my workmanship is iffy. Honestly, the average person can’t see all those things in the quilt. I was proud of myself for moving on and getting it done. I loved working with the fabric by Anna Maria Horner. So girly.

This was my “turning 60 trip.” That doesn’t happen until September but having a quilt in this show was fitting with the spirit I want to have moving forward. 

Wishing you a peaceful day.

Joanna

A Fall Walk with Lana

 Lana and I took a mid-day walk yesterday. The weather was beautiful and she needs to learn how to walk without her herd. They all do.

It was our first walk to the back pasture (“the twenty”) since I moved them from it to the front pasture. The front pasture was overgrazed and we were in a drought. The 20 had plenty of grass. The donkeys got so FAT.

Bracted Fanpetals. Sida ciliaris.

Looking at the back pond from the corner by Joey’s gate. The pond is just a puddle. Vegetation is tall. I try to walk by the ponds without looking in. Animals had a tough summer.

Milkweed is sprouting

The seasonal creek is dry. Lots of wildflowers beginning to emerge in the bed. 

Lana finally began to enjoy the walk and all the tasty grass she probably misses.

The bank of the front pond is covered in silverleaf nightshade. The pond was almost empty this year.

Lana brayed when we neared the back corner of the 20. Her horse friends came to see who was visiting.

Two turkey vultures were sitting in the dead tree. It looked very “halloweenish.” Crows were cawing loudly. I don’t know if that was because of the vultures or just idle 

Snow on the Prairie. It is so pretty in a mass in a pasture. It’s doesn’t feed cattle so it is a weed. I like how it announces the fall season.

Pictures were hard to take when Lana wanted to keep moving. Fall is just so refreshing and beautiful.

Joanna

We made the move from the city to the country. I’ve tried to record our adventures and discoveries on Instagram but it was insufficient. So, this is a record of the happenings on our little place in central Texas.