My Website is Online

After much planning and help from the amazing Holly Knott, my website is ready to view. I have enjoyed writing my blog since 2007, partly to help me remember events and partly to share my love of art, nature, and my cats with friends and others who are interested. The blog will become part of the website, under the Blog tab. But it is good to gather my story and many pictures in one place. I have categorized the artwork and added some informtion about techniques and inspiration behind some of the pieces. Find the site here or www.marthaginn.com. 

FestivalSouth 2023 kicks off next week with performances of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, five nights in a row, with packed houses each night.

My FestivalFibers exhibit will open June 3 with a reception from 10-noon at the Downey Gallery at University Baptist Church, 3200 Arlington Loop in Hattiesburg. 

Rehearsals are well underway for The Meistersingers performance of James Mulholland's Missa Romantica on Sunday, June 11 at 3:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. 

This burlap-looking linen was interesting fabric for this new stitched wall quilt.

Burlap Linen Flower, 21 x 18

For a little nature, here is my front porch with a cane begonia sporting its first and only bloom during its lifetime with me of about five years. Linda gave me this sassy metal rooster for the porch, and the cats have welcomed him to the family.

 

January Winter in Mississippi

It's the end of January, and winter in Mississippi is quite different from in other parts of the US. I have really enjoyed the beautiful snow pictures posted on Facebook by friends in places like Massachusetts (Holly Knott, for instance), where the temperature dropped to -10 degrees.
My yard shows dead orange trees (we did have some days of 16-18 degrees which killed these and the Meyer lemon tree), lots of dry leaves and pine straw carpeting the ground.

Washington Naval Orange tree

Blood Orange tree

Crotons survived (in the garage) but pitiful

Rosemary thriving--even blooming! Also parsley below it.

Nandina putting on a show of colored leaves and red berries

There has not been much quilting activity this month. It's amazing how much emotional and mental energy is required just to deal with healing and physical therapy three times a week. After seven weeks I am glad to be driving myself again and looking forward to the time I can say there's no more pain.
When I did begin to want to stitch again, I began repairing an old, well-loved quilt for a friend. It was not creative or challenging, but there was pleasure in holding a needle and thread and knowing I was giving new life to a treasured quilt a grandmother had made many years ago.

 (Click to enlarge and see the wear and age damage.)

Of course, when I was taking pictures, Tarbaby and Elizabeth thought I had spread the quilt out for them.

Where Did the Time Go?

It's been a whole month since I posted to my blog, and it's not that I've been just sitting twiddling my thumbs, but there's still the feeling of "Where did the time go?"
Let's see . . . I added binding to two children's quilts, made three walker totes, watched the beginning of spring with azaleas putting on a show, then watched the rain beat the blossoms off before I got pictures; drew designs for two challenge pieces.

I volunteered to try to correct some loose fabric on two large church banners, not knowing if it was even possible when I asked to take them home. The problem was a fusible batting that had been ironed behind the appliques but not ironed to the rest of the background. It was satisfying to think I had improved the look of them when they were hung for Easter.

Our guild's webmaster, Holly Knott, recommended that we move our  website and blog to WordPress and learn to make additions and changes ourselves. This required an unbelievable amount of thinking, deciding, selecting as Holly redesigned the site. Then there has been a steep learning curve as three of us have taken over filling the site with information, but we are very proud of the outcome and happy she directed us to do this! Take a look: www.pinebeltquilters.com.

Having adopted three kittens has been another time-taker-upper. They are a constant source of entertainment and amusement, even though any small object they can reach is likely to be batted about the house. They helped with the new website, helped with the banners, and really make me feel needed.

 

Maybe there will be some art quilting to show soon.

SAQA Exhibit in Little Rock, Arkansas

Color Bars #2 (Black)
36.5" x 22"

I just shipped my entry (above) to the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Regional Exhibition of Contemporary Art Quilts at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies in Little Rock, AR. The exhibit is in the Main Library Gallery at the Butler Center, in the River Market area in downtown Little Rock. The opening on Friday, March 14 from 5:00-8:00 will be a part of the Second Friday Art Walk when other businesses stay open for the public. The exhibit runs through Sunday, May 25. Twelve artists' works will be displayed in the exhibit. See the invitation below.

Juror for the exhibit is Paula Kovarik of Memphis, and she will give the keynote address, "Transitions" at the Conference on Saturday, March 15. The conference opens at 9:00 with time to meet and greet, followed by the keynote address, breakout sessions, catered lunch, door prizes, and critique session by the Juror. We hope to acquaint more people with SAQA and art quilts. Registration (including lunch) is $20 for SAQA members, $25 for non-members. To register, contact regional rep Deborah Kuster at dkuster@uca.edu.

Meanwhile, my three new kittens are settling right in. Ramona has given her wholehearted approval of the new website our web designer Holly Knott is  creating for Pine Belt Quilters.