Lawndale Mural

What's this I see?

 ... on Main Street in the Museum District ...

... on the north exterior wall of the Lawndale Art Center ...

I heard it was there so I drove past and took these photos to share. 

This mural is a collaboration between artists Daniel Anguilu and Aaron Parazette.

I learned (via Fresh Arts/Spacetaker) that:  This project is the third phase of the rotating mural at Lawndale. Both painters employ forms of abstract patterns in their work, though their individual approach differs greatly. Anguilu’s intuitive approach to painting outdoor spaces results in gestural forms that take shape on the wall, while the clean lines and mathematical forms of Parazette’s work  result from a more calculated approach to painting.

... and (via Facebook) that the mural is already being painted over and prepped for the next artistic creation.  

Apparently I happened by the mural during its final days!  I'm glad I did and I will share photos of the next mural soon ....

Can it be ...

On another chilly morning look what I found on my back step.

Can you see it?  

If you look very closely (hurry as they are already melting), you may spy ... evidence of SNOW in Houston (or is it just a bit of frozen morning dew?)

Wait a minute ...  Look over here, on the chair ....

It's more snow, right?

Meanwhile, just a few miles north of here ...

the icicles keep growing ...

and the snow keeps falling.

I think I will have another hot cuppa coffee ....

Red swap

My goal this month is to sew several sets of red/white blocks for my traditional quilt bee (the Block Builders)'s block swap in March.

As of today, I have only two blocks sewn together.  I have fabric cut for a set of eight more blocks - which gives me a total of ten blocks.  Ten blocks will not make a very big quilt and ideally I want to make at least a lap size quilt, or even a larger size....sigh... I haven't even pulled enough fabrics from my stash to cut the number of blocks that I want to end up with.  I have my work cut out for me - yes, pun intended!

To help me get going, I am linking this goal up to "The Lovely Year of Finishes" challenge hosted by

Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts

and

Melissa of Sew BitterSweet Designs

To play along, I need to post my goal in a linky party (I am # 148) and then post my finished success in a second linky party .... here I go ... and if you're interested, feel free to join the fun!

Aloha friend

I am trying out the Blogger ap on my cell -- and I want to upload a w.i.p. of my 'Aloha friend' quilt...How do I add a photo here? .....hmmm.... Oh - I did it!

Here it is!  'Aloha friend' is shown being quilted in the photo above. This little quilt will be offered up as a swap in Kate North's ALQS8, which is short for 'Another Little Quilt Swap 8'

This is indeed the eighth round of hosting this fun swap.  I do wish that I had swapped in all eight swaps, but this is only the fourth time (I think) that I've made the deadline. ALQS is a fun way to meet fellow quilters scattered around the world while also collecting their little quilts!

Soon I will learn to whom I will be sending 'Aloha friend'...... Maybe it will be you?

Or should I say that I have a few more Hawaiian blocks very similar to this one -- perhaps I will finish one of them for you (be sure to leave a comment here so I know that you'd love one!).

Circling

Circling Hearts is the name for my newest little quilt.

 

It features half a dozen hearts circling one heart (all machine-appliqued) in the center of this patchwork background.

Is it a circle of loving support,
     or a circle of a loving family,
          or a funky dance between three pink and three blue hearts while being supervised by a staid, gold-highlighted center heart?

The imagination abounds.

Another question:  Is this little quilt (quiltlet?) the right size to be a 'mug rug' ?  It is 10" x 10".   This is the question I am pondering now ... what do you think?

A second Snow Day

We had the rare occurrence of a second Snow-Day this year.  Even the city government closed down offices (and libraries and more).  What would you do with a bonus day off from work, and a winter storm approaching ....?

Well, I'm a quilter, so I making these two little quilts!

All the hearts are machine applique'd onto the pieced backgrounds.  Free-motion quilting finishes the work.  I'm glad they're finished as the larger one is for ALQS, Another Little Quilt Swap #8, whose deadline is less than a week away.

Another Little Quilt Swap, ALQS, is one entertaining way to collect new quilts made by quilters located around the world.  I've swapped several times in this group lead by Kate North.   If you are interested in joining, all you need is a finished quilt within the size of 12"x12" or  20"x20".  Click here for more details and then send your digital images to Kate by the posted deadline!

PS  The previous ALQS rounds I traded in were ALQS4, ALQS6 and ALQS7 (where I traded two quilts).

Update:  I've joined a new group, the 2014 NewFO Challenge.  Barbara of Cat Patches is the brainchild and moderator.  She challenges participants to start a new project each month and share that project at the end of the month (there is even a giveaway!).  Click here to see January linky party (I'm #61).  Click here to learn more about this challenge. 

Join the fun!

Quilt Binding Express

I'm having fun trying out my newest quilty gadget - a Quilt Binding Express tool by June Tailor.

This new gadget aids in ironing the binding strips in half, lengthwise.  There are three different width slots (2", 2 1/4" and 2 1/2").  Fold the strip in half, feed it through it's matching slot (I'm using the 2 1/2" one) and press the fold with a hot iron.  Continue feeding the fabric through, pressing as you go, until the entire length has been ironed flat.  What I like best about this gizmo-gadget is that I do not have scorched fingers!

Note: another cool thing is the printed design along each slot helps you to line up the fabric and keep it folded in half.

Last tip:  I purchased mine at my local JoAnn Fabric and Craft store -- with a coupon!  Check your local quilt shop too, since it is one handy quilt-y gadget.