This may be the shortest blog post from me ever. I don’t think I have a whole lot to say. But sometimes once I get going, more just comes out, so I guess we’ll see! : )
One of my favorite part of fairs, is walking around to look at the crafts. As a creative person myself, I can just appreciate the time, skill and handiwork that I know artists invested.
This time at the fair, we had limited time for viewing crafts, and we didn’t come across much more than what was in this building anyway. There was lots of little things, artwork by kids (I remember those days….I always had my work in the fairs), and lots of QUILTS.
The other day, I told my friend I want to quilt some day. (Because she is making her grandfather a quilt right now.) But after I said that, I wondered if I really do want to make one, myself. I think more accurately, I just want a meaningful quilt of my own. You know…one that is made with little stories of my family history, with bits of my kids clothes, etc. I’m not sure if I really need to be the one that makes it, although I have said I would love to learn how to sew, and that’s the truth.
All I know is, I got that typical happy feeling, looking at these quilts with their different patterns and colors, and it made me want one of my own, all the more.
It also made me want to take photos of them. So I did.
I love all of the vivid colors in this one.
Of these 3, the one of blues on the left strikes my fancy. But {A} loves the turtles on on the far right.
More happy colors. I really got pulled into this one.
I thought this one was SO creative. Clever. I am finding myself getting sucked into all of this flip-flop decor craze. I just bought a flip-flops toothbrush holder for the bathroom.
These hand-carved wood benches were impressive. There were many beautiful ones I would have loved to photograph. But the sun was really beating down on them, so I thought I’d take more when we came back around this way.
We never came back around this way. So that one photo is all I’ve got for you.
Then there was this potter there, who did some amazing work. He was great in talking with my kids. There were several pieces sitting on these shelves that I wanted. But I would have never been able to decide.
And my family is not patient with my indecisions.
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As I cut back from my portrait photography work, there is a lot of other creative outlets I want to venture into a bit more, as time allows. Mostly, I’ll be investing my extra time into my kids, and their schooling, as they are just growing up way too fast for me. But with my late nights, etc, I want to start putting my graphic designing skills to work. I have all kinds of ideas, and the more I think (which I never stop doing, even when I am asleep) the more I think of.
One idea, is to create a collection of sidebar tags, with my collective art skills.
When I saw the pottery at the fair, this scriptural quote popped into my head.
So I made my first one.
I am giving it to anyone who would like it for their own blog or web site sidebar. It is 180 pixels in width, so if you need it any other size, just e-mail me and I’ll size one just right for you. Happily. Free. : ) It’s not linked in any way or anything. It looks it, but I tested it, and it isn’t. The code created itself, and I don’t know which part to take out, but it’s not a linked image nonetheless. Just a pretty for your sidebar. Because people love to see something new there sometimes. So surprise them!
Here is the coding for your sidebar (bel0w). Just cut and paste. I am pretty sure this will work, just as widgets do. But if not, let me know!
I added it to my website – love it!
Aren’t quilts fun to look at? I have two that were made by each of my grandmothers, and a baby quilt that my mom’s mom made. They are all still safely put away in my cedar chest. I want to use them but I’m afraid to mess them up.
My favorite is the pottery. I could look at pottery all day long. I took a class in college and loved it. And I love the verse you made. I plan to use it, but I will have to come back when I have time to see if I can figure it out. Do you have one of those places where you go and pick out a piece of pottery and paint it? I bet your kids would love that.
Gina….You need to get those quilts OUT!! They were not made to sit hidden in a cedar chest! They were meant to be used and be comforted with. Don’t be afraid of messing them up! Don’t you know…..the beauty of family historical pieces, is the wear and tear of them. It’s evidence of the love and appreciation they have been given. And that will make them all the more meaningful to who you pass them down to. I really hope you take them out.
Quilting is such a beautiful and meaningful artform. I have saved all the t-shirts my children have had from sports teams and special places we’ve visited to make into a quilt for when
they leave for college. I figure they can bring all those happy memories with them. I’d love to be able to make it myself, but like you Laura, I don’t know that I actually want to be the maker or just to appreciate the end result. Sewing is one of those things I never did learn how to do, beyond the basics anyway. Maybe someday we can learn to together.
Maybe one day, Pam. We can help with each other’s…one on each end. I haven’t even put specific clothing aside. I should, because I am serious about having a sentimental quilt one day, one way or another.
you should come and spend a few days here… we could have a quilt done for you in no time. my mom has a great quilting room that we make our quilts in, including a machine quilting frame that finishes them so quickly.
well, i can dream anyway
Reaaaallly, Teri. Wow. Does your mom make and sell them, or something? Yes, we can BOTH dream about me coming to MO some day.
Oh, no we never sell them, they are all ours. We used to quilt together once a week but now with hs’ing, I can’t anymore. But she still sews a lot. I wish I could. We’ve made dozens of quilts together and we learned together. We had never made one before the first one we made together. We are much better now LOL! Our first one is quite embarrassing but we still use it. In fact, it’s my ‘sick’ quilt… the one I want when I’m feeling sick. It’s the warmest quilt I own because I put way too much batting in it. I think it weighs 25 pounds. The quilting frame and machine is something we went in on together but it resides at her house because she has way more space for it. it’s like 14′ long i think.
I’m always going to think of your sick quilt now. I’m glad you have that for comfort.