Wednesday, August 9, 2017

What's for dinner.

What's for dinner?  Always a dilemma--sometimes I like to cook, but in these hot days of summer, I just want to lounge, drink a glass of ice tea (unsweetened, please) and wait to see if the dinner fairies show up--never have, never will!

On this particular day I pulled some shrimp from the freezer and thought about what to prepare-- the first day, hubby said let's go for a burger--who am I to say, but honey, I need to cook those shrimp.  So, I put the still frozen shrimp in the refrigerator to thaw--they'll be good tomorrow.
Tomorrow comes, and we had a late breakfast and mid day meal--no shrimp there either.  Finally, the third day, I KNEW I had to fix those shrimp.  Besides, they were completely thawed--what to make?

We really like Paula Dean's Fiery Cajun shrimp, which takes butter and Texas Pete hot sauce--good ole Texas Pete was nowhere to be found in the pantry.  Alexa--add to list--Texas Pete.

Another shrimp dish that is easy peazy is just to boil them--or sauté with butter and garlic,but I wanted something different-- how about shrimp and grits?  Never made that before and I'm in a cooking mode.  Gather ingredients, which I do have on hand!  Here is the recipe from Bobby Flay


Yum, Yum!  
Now, I'm back in my mode of not cooking again for awhile!














Dished up and served and 15 minutes later--all gone!

Monday, August 7, 2017

Another Free BOM


Here is another chance to sew through the long month of August.
Jacquelynne  has a special I Love Home sew along for you.
Head over to her blog and sign up to receive the information.

I didn't see a start date, just know it's in August.  And it looks like
fun.  She has some fabric suggestions on her blog along with a coloring
page--love that idea!  You can plan ahead or let the youngsters do
the deed for you!  

Along with this one, I'm planning to join in Bee In My Bonnet's
August sewing event.
Each week there will be a tutorial--the instruction manual (yes, manual--24
pages of information!) is already on her website!
Gather those fabrics and let's play!


Saturday, August 5, 2017

Chinese Quilts

And there it was!  The Chinese quilt banner hanging on the entryway to the
I walked in to find the most fascinating pieces of fiber arts all from
Southwest China!  We have visited China and saw first hand the lovely works
of art--I even bought a few small pieces, which I think have been
taken off larger pieces.  But, I never saw such a collection as this.

Take a walk through this vast array of quilts and
read some of the history

Here is a whole paper on this type of work, coming from
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, which has one of the nicest
quilt museums

Chinese patchwork, also known a Hundred-Families robe (Chinese: 百家衣, baijiayi), is made by sewing scraps of fabric together to form design art. This technique is still used in Chinese quilting. Silk or cotton is used to make the patchwork.


There is much symbolism in each of the quilts 


And colors burst forth in all blocks










Silk embroidery is used most often to decorate



This was a joyous journey through some of China's greatest works.

Friday, August 4, 2017

Fridays Just Got Better..............

Bunny Hill Designs presents Sugar Plum Stocking Treats
each Friday--of course, I'm behind as usual--my disclaimer--

I saw this pop up on my feed a few weeks ago and gave it a look
and thought "how sweet" and I do love Bunny Hill Designs.
Each of these blocks were winners in a contest and I thought, in
my own defense--I'm not much at doing such small appliques-
to aside this KAL went!

Then the day, my brain functioned like it should and I
figured out a way to NOT do the small applique and still
get the same results!  
I'll just stitch the small areas--okay!  Fine and dandy!
We have a few blocks to catch upon though--such fun
designs!


Thursday, August 3, 2017

Would You Give Away Your Art?


Would you give away your art?  Just give it away?  No payment?  Ask nothing in return?

This artist, P. M. Neist, is doing just that.  She is calling this Project 105:  Radical Giving.

"She donates art to connect and reach out to people who either do not know her, do not usually purchase art or simply want a piece for no reason at all.  The donated pieces are smaller and designed to fit into affordable standard-size frames.  All work is signed, executed using archival quality paper and vintage embroidery material and it is shipped for free in the U.S."  

P. M. Neist is giving away her art, but she has a message about each piece she gifts.  If you would like to be a recipient, give out her website.


This brings me to the artist we met in a Paris Starbucks--He makes art pieces
on whatever he can find--like this cardboard flap; signs it and gives it away.
We were sitting next to him and a conversation began--he is trying to
spread love instead of hate throughout the world with his 'give away' art.
With this piece, he was making a statement about the deadly shootings in
Orlando nightclub

He is a well known graffiti artist in the US--his message is clear and
reads strongly!  Here is another artist giving away his art that
includes a timeless message.

We, as artist, have a platform for our work and each piece we give
from our hearts carries over to the receiver.  That is greater than any
money we could receive.











Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Tramp ART!

What the heck is tramp art?  Never knew this type of art existed until we visited the Santa Fe International Folk Art Museum--what an eye opener!


A coffee table book that features numerous tramp art pieces


I focused my photos on sewing items found made
during the tramp art era  This is a sewing box 
made by David Schump, 2013

pedestal sewing box from early 20th century

sewing box clamp with pincushion, 1896


sewing box with pincushion and
openwork woodland scene--late 19th-early 20th century


another view of the detail--just awesome!

And what is Tramp Art?  A brief description.....................
"Tramp Art was an art movement found throughout the world where small pieces of wood, primarily from discarded cigar boxes and shipping crates, were whittled into layers of geometric shapes having the outside edges of each layer notch carved, or in the technique of a Crown of Thorns. It was popular in the years between the 1870s to the 1940s when the art form started to decline.
The artists used simple tools such as a pocketknife to carve the wood and assemble mostly utilitarian objects. It was made in prodigious numbers around the world but it prospered in the United States. Examples can be found in every state. The most common forms were the box and the frame and although there were no rules or patterns to lend commonality in the artists’ work there were objects made in every conceivable shape and size including full sized furniture and objects of whimsy.
Tramp Art was a democratic art form made wherever the raw materials used in its construction were found. In the United States there were over 50 different ethnic groups documented making it. It appealed to men who might have made an important body of work such as ‘Sunflower’ artist John Martin Zubersky (active c. 1912 – 1920) or the wonderfully expressive wall pockets by John Zadzora (active circa 1910) but also to men who might have made one piece in their lifetime. It was easy to make and appealed to anyone who had a desire to take a pocketknife to wood.
There were countless men, some women, and even children who historically constructed tramp art. Tramp art was mostly made in home based settings and by men who were factory workers, farmers, and labored in just about every conceivable occupation. There were tramps or hobos who made the art form but not in the numbers the name suggests. The name tramp art was a contemporary invention and had nothing to do with the art form as a whole.
Tramp Art was first discovered in print in 1959 by Francis Lichten in Pennsylvania Folklife, Volume 10 Spring 1959 in which she termed the art ‘Tramp Work.’ In 1975 Helaine Fendelman published the first book on tramp art, Tramp Art an Itinerant's Folk Art. The book acted as a catalog to the first museum show on the art form sponsored by the American Museum of Folk Art"

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

I Shouldn't Have Gone IN That Store!

 The other day--while the car was being serviced, I walked
through Barnes & Nobles--and found more books of interest to me.
Why or why did I walk through those doors?!  Temptation at hand!

As I was browsing the newer publicized books, I was greeted by
an employee and we began talking books!!  

Books to read!  Books that have been read!
and these books............
I take screen shots so I can remember to buy later.......
when I NEED a book!  When I asked my mother one time
if she needed a book, her reply was, "no, I have a book!"
Just one book!?  Mother, really!!

Anway, fiction can take on history in new ways

I love a good mystery--even if it's cozy!

For someone who loves fiber arts, this sounded right up my alley!




Never a dull moment if you immerse yourself into a book--
they take you away to another world!
There is even the chance you'll learn something new!
Happy page turning!





Road trip continues

 Crossing over into Tennessee, we are now on interstate highways: lots of 18 wheelers, less green nice scenery, some dogwood trees and redbu...