Quiltfolk Cats in September

A happy event happened this month. Quiltfolk, the community-supported print-only quarterly magazine focused on quilt history and quilt culture in America, published a special edition devoted to CATS.  Cat quilts, real cats on quilts, and stories about quilts and cats. What could be more interesting?!

Quiltfolk Issue #26 featured quilts in Mississippi and my Elizabeth was lucky to appear there. My quilt "The Window Watchers" is on page 104 of the Cats issue. I took a photo of all three cats on a table looking out the window and made a collage quilt with it as inspiration. The quilt was started in a week-long class with Susan Carlson in Portland, Maine, in 2017 where I learned her method of quilt collage. This began my love of Susan's techniques, followed by several more collage quilts. Pictured below is the next cat quilt, "The Conversation."

Quiltfolk will honor a 20% discount on this CAT issue through December 31, 2025, if you use the code QFCats2025. Treat yourself! You will enjoy 124 pages of  pure cattitude featuring stories from quilters whose lives--and creative practices--are entangled with cats.

Cover of Quiltfolk CATS

"The Window Watchers" on page 104
Rahrah, Tarbaby, Elizabeth

"The Conversation," another collage quilt
Tarbaby, Rahrah, Elizabeth

We finished and gave to Forrest General several more covers for their Giraffe isolette beds in the NICU. 

August Exhibit and NICU covers

If I thought July zoomed by, that's even more true with August. It's nearly midnight on the 31st, and here goes.

It was such a pleasure having the Southern Fiber Artists' exhibit of Quilts Across Mississippi in the Downey Gallery at University Baptist Church for the whole month. The exhibit was unbelievable impressive and well-received.

I discovered an interesting new chocolate and coffee shop through an OLLI class. The owners are from Nicaragua and come from a long line of farmers. It's called Mulukakao. 

I finished a puzzle on my table--music theme with only 500 pieces, but strange and unusual shapes. 

Pine Belt Quilters have been working on Giraffe isolette covers for Forrest General's NICU. We keep altering the home made pattern hoping for a better fit (to keep the light out). The 3-yards required were layered, long-arm quilted, washed and dried (for shrinkage) before cutting out the pattern pieces. It seemed easier to cut out from the gray (lining) side than the colorful side. Each of the six pieces was serged and then assembled.

Catching Up for June and July

 As the days on my calendar zoom past, I still like to write a little report of what I've been up to--if for nothing else than to help me remember. After the four-month exhibit of Linda's and my quilting art at OLLI was over, taking a break from big projects seemed in order, and I have settled into a very relaxed routine. I even read Jane Eyre along with several much shorter books.

I had my yard guy plant caladiums about May 1 and these have performed just as I had hoped. I ordered from Caladium World in Florida, 50 green/white Aaron and 50 green/red Royal Flush. The green/white ones are taller than the reds. They came up about mid-May and have been beautiful through this writing (end of July). 

I enjoyed hosting the international college students in my home for one of their monthly socials. Rahrah tried out all the laps, while Elizabeth took a nap. While some played table games, three of them finished a large puzzle of Massachusetts logos that had been on my card table a couple of months.

I met a friend's new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at her house. Then I visited a precious little house panther at Southern Pines Animal Shelter who needs a foster home and then a permanent one. He has a mid-length tail with a little crook at the end of it. So tempting, but my 11-1/2 year old girls would have none of it. They still hiss at Lacey, the outdoor cat. 

Sir Lancelot

I'm a soft touch for black cats

Dr Ed Hafer, USM associate professor of music, taught an interesting Italian cooking class at OLLI, featuring an asparagus Ravioli with an egg inside. It was fun watching him prepare and roll out the pasta and fill the pieces, but I'll have to depend on a restaurant for this meal again.

Dr Ed Hafer rolling out pasta dough

Ready for cooking in the pasta water

Dr Hafer with Burrata fresh mozzarella cheese 
on tomato slices

There were lots of afternoons reading on the front porch. 

View from my front porch

May Busy-ness

After the excitement and enjoyment of the four-month exhibit at OLLI, May seemed a good time to step back and savor the remarks and visits about the quilted pieces. Thinking about the art that found new homes makes me smile. 

People ask, "What are you working on now?" "What's your next project?" I must admit that more down time is needed, and the cats and I are reading more than we used to. There are always simple stitching projects to work on, such as these little swaddle bands Forrest General's NICU asked for. Sometimes a baby will be more comfortable if he can move his hands with some limitation, so these simple 4" wide x 20" long bands were made.

Swaddle Bands

I also enjoyed repairing and extending the life of a treasured family quilt that was being passed down. It was made in the 1940s and had some worn-through fabrics in spite of having been well cared for. (See the red check patches marked with safety pins.) These and others were covered with hand appliqued patches of feed sack or other vintage fabrics.  A label was made to document the quilt's story from grandmother to mother to daughter. 

The next Meistersingers concert will be Sunday, June 1, at the beginning of FestivalSouth. What a follow-up to our Beatles music! This is called Majesty of the Opera, featuring soloists for arias and the chorus for some favorites like The Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore, Toreador from Carmen, The Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly, and The Triumphal March from Aida. It's a ticketed event at 3:00 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church.

May flowers are opening and are so welcome. We've had enough rain that watering has not been necessary yet. I had my yard guy plant caladium bulbs around May 1, so they will be my reward when the ground gets warm enough.

Creeping Jenny (common name)

Gerbera Daisies

Hydrangeas, side yard

Hydrangea, back yard

Gerbera Daisies

Butterfly bush

April and End of Exhibit

Spring is in the air and Holy Week and Easter services and pleasant temperatures help take my mind off the troubling political climate. These yucca plants rode in my car for several days until I got someone to lift them out. Now to get my yard guy to plant them. 

I've enjoyed more recitals and concerts at USM. The last symphony of this season will be this week, along with a production of Sense and Sensibility by the theatre department. Dr. Gregory Wolynec, newly appointed Director of Orchestral Activities and symphony conductor, presented excellent mini-seminars at OLLI as previews to enhance our appreciation of the programs. 

With Daniel Margueles after his recital

Dr Gregory Wolynec, USM Symphony Conductor

Having Linda's and my quilt and fiber art exhibit at OLLI for these four months has been an ongoing pleasure, sparking many conversations and shared family quilt stories. We also taught another class we called "Round 3" to add to the other two we taught last year. Several pieces will go to new homes when we dismantle the exhibit next week.

Linda drove us to Dallas for my son's retirement party. It was fun getting to see five granddaughters and their husbands and children--ten, I think. Sewing has been mainly making small projects like flannel blankets for Southern Pines Animal Shelter, zipper bags and walker totes. I took a stack of the little zipper bags for the girls. These are such fun to make and I have fabric of every imaginable theme.

Walker totes

Zipper bags

My outdoor kitty, Lacey, was very affectionate this afternoon when I was in the yard. She got on my lap and accepted lots of petting and scratching before settling down for a short nap. Elizabeth had walked out to join me but was quite unhappy to see Lacey on my lap. She gave a hiss and glare before going back in.