“My Favorite Things” and a Few More

Well, It's official, We have now been Empty Nesters for a week. Last of 3 sons now in the military. Zack is in the early stages of basic training in the Army, while his younger brother, Nick is enjoying the Air Force more now that he is out of Basic, and beginning training.

I finally finished a quilt for the "Remember Me" Quiltart challenge. We were to make a quilt depicting what we thought others would remember us for, or how we want to be remembered.

I thought this would be an easy project, I have my degree in horticulture, and my life has centered around flowers, plants, gardens and my quilting and fabric painting and sunprinting. My initial idea was to include many flowers, sunprints of leaves and flowers, and use my favorite colors- pink and blue, with a bit of green.

While beginning, I began thinking about my life, and thought it would be neat to include a picture or 2 of our greenhouse business. It was that business that brought me to Towanda, PA in the first place- My first job out of college. I had worked in or owned greenhouses for 25 years before in different businesses, including the past 8 years back where I began as an owner with my husband. The greenhouse has had a lot to do with who I am and what I have done in life.

Well, you know how things go……. While looking for greenhouse photos, I found some family photos, and decided that family also has had a lot to do with who I am. I ended up filling up a whole page of small photos that I printed onto fabric to include.

Remember Me 2

Here is one greenhouse photo included- a shot of the front of the main retail house as seen from the parking lot, in full bloom with hanging baskets. Sunprints of flowers and a hummingbird accented with crystals are also shown here. The beading arount the photo is done with various glass beads in cobalt blue and shades of pink. I love cobalt blue glass.

Remember Me 3

Across the top is a group of photos including one of a planter of flowers that was in a greenhouse that has since collapsed. The center is my parents, enjoying my grandson during s visit to our house. They don't get to see Andrue much, as he lives in ND with with our oldest son. The right is my grandmother, who is 93 years old. I grew up in rural western NY, on a dairy farm with my grandparents living across the road. Grandma has been the typical "cookie baking Grandma" You can still find cookies and brownies when you visit.

Remember Me 6

Down the left side are My Guys. Top- husband Ken, oldest son Aaron, grandson Andrue. Next- middle son, Zack at his HS graduation. 3rd photo Ken, youngest son Nick, and me at Nick's HS graduation.

Remember Me 7

Finishing the left row, Andrue again, with his mom and Aaron's wife Jonelle. Below them, the first granddog- Kenai, a long haired Dachsund. I am missing the newest addition the my son's family- Bear, a beautiful white granddog.

Remember Me 5

The right side of the quilt has photos of the other set of grandkids. My step-daughter is only 5 yrs younger than me, and we were having babies at just about the same time. Top photo is my youngest Nick with oldest grandson Derek, who is 9 mos. older than his uncle, with Ken at Derek's 18th birthday party. I was a REAL young grandma the first time! Next in this row, oldest granddaughter Allie, with her sister Maia. Following that is a photo of Zack a bit younger, with Maia again, and youngest granddaughter of this group Eva. We don't get to see this group of grands too much, as they live in NJ.

Remember Me 8

This is a photo I try to take any time we can get this group together. 5 generations. Aaron with Andrue, Me, my Grandma, and my Dad. My grandfather died when Aaron was 6 mos. old, and I never got a photo of them together, so I try to get a photo with Gram and the guys any time I can.

My Favorite Things

The whole quilt- 24"x36 1/2" in size. I quilted around the photos with my favorite pastel variegated thread. The vine design has become one of my "signature" designs- I began in HS by doodling vines and flowers on my papers. I love Delphiniums, and Iris, so have added them. The sunprints are of some more favorites- I guess any flowers are my favorites. There are a few commercial fabrics included- 3 Hoffman hand dyes, and an Asian influenced floral. The ivy leaves are from a "silk" bush, I removed them from the plastic stems, and quilted them over the couched yarn vine.
I guess in a nutshell, these are most of my favorite things and people, in one quilt.

Below are a few small pieces I made to sell at upcoming shows

Green Grouping

The largest is 11"x14", the others 5×7" and 8×10". I randomly arranged sunprints with the green Hoffman hand dye I purchased many years ago, and had never found a use for. It coordinated well with the sunprints done in blue and green.

The bottom left fern piece is now displayed over a pale green covered 11" x14" stretched canvas.

Small Green Ferns

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I am a former textile artist and new pattern designer with a degree in horticulture, wishing to share my love of nature, flowers and gardens with everyone through my photos, sunprinted fabrics, and now pattern designs. Chronic Lyme Disease has caused major changes to the direction my life. I have to limit the amount of time spent digging in my gardens, and quilting has become more difficult. I discovered pattern design as a way to get art back into my life. I now use my gardens and photos to inspire designs that can be used on fabrics and print on demand items.