Halfway through August

Weather and plants--After the hottest July in history, August is more of the same. I missed a couple of days watering my hostas. A large tree has dropped another limb, luckily not damaging the roof.

Hostas suffering from heat and lack of water

Another Broken limb

Cats--The little ginger mama cat is a permanent resident now, running to me when I open the garage door to feed her. Her last two kittens disappeared before I could trap them. She enjoys some petting and is quite talkative. 

I just call her Kitty

More kitty adventures when I discovered Rahrah had a UTI and bladder infection and needed surgery to remove jagged bladder stones which obviously had her in a lot of pain. She is a real challenge to medicate and usually requires help. After the surgery and a couple of days at the vet hospital, she is doing very well. 

Rahrah feeling bad

Julie comforting Rahrah

Feeling fine, being my helper

Elizabeth keeps watch over any possible back yard activity. But mostly sleeps. She waits for me under a chair in the evenings when she knows it's nearing bedtime. 

Waiting for bedtime

Sewing--Southern Fiber Artists are working on an 11-piece project to spell out MISSISSIPPI. Here is my P, highlighting our state's strong connection to music.

Charlotte Timmons, Michele Martin, Leanne Green, Julia Graber

Art--The 2023 SMAA show at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University opens next week, August 22. I entered a stitched Burlap Linen Flower.

Burlap Linen Flower, 18 x 21

The Invitation

 

More Good Things in August

The South Mississippi Art Association juried exhibition opened this week at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University. My Caladium won one of the six Honorable Mention awards. It's a beautiful and impressive show, open Tuesdays-Thursdays, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Aug. 23-Sept. 22, 2022.

The Downey Gallery at my church (University Baptist) is between shows, and I was invited to display some of my stitched flowers and fish fabric collages to add a little color during the interim. It is always a pleasure to get to share my work.

Mid-August

I took down the Southern Fiber Artists Intense Color Exhibit last week after a month-long stay in the Downey Gallery at University Baptist Church. The exhibit was well received, and we were proud to get to display these 35 quilts. Here is one last glimpse. Now the room looks so empty!

Meanwhile, back in my sewing room, I can't keep from using the ironing board for a table, making actual pressing impossible because of the clutter on the board. So I bought a 4 ft shelf and got a friend to install it. Why didn't I think of this before??!!  A clip-on lamp helps with lighting. It also shows how badly I need to replace the cover.

Before

After

I finished another art quilt with a caladium leaf. This one is framed under glass and will be entered into the SMAA juried show at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University next week.

Caladium (before framing)

And I'm A Year Older

Who knew being 85 years old would be such a happy time? I just turned 86 and am amazed to recall the number of causes for celebration in spite of some serious concerns. But I find joy every day and feel blessed to have another year to enjoy. 

There have been puzzles with friends (and cats), flowers in my yard, USM student recitals, Senior Readers Theatre, and art shows. I got to rehearse and sing the music of Christmas with the Meistersingers. A new gallery in Flowood, Pacesetter, asked to show some of my fiber art. I won ribbons in South Mississippi Art Association's invitational show at Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey and their 45th annual show at the Hattiesburg Train Depot. I was honored with a solo exhibition of my fiber art, and got to spend a week in Gatlinburg in a class with Paula Kovarik and four other awesome artists. 

Losing my beloved cat Tarbaby was sad, but he left me with wonderful memories of his unique personality, and I am grateful I could provide him excellent care and comfort during his brief illness. I made lots of fabric postcards and finished The Conversation, a quilt of my three cats, Tarbaby, Rahrah, and Elizabeth from a photo I took a couple of years ago. 

I look forward to making more fiber art, gathering with friends, and caring for this beautiful world in 2022. 

Tarbaby demanding my attention

Elizabeth helping Peg Hightower 

Blue Ghost-quilted Flowers

Fabric Postcards

Fabric Postcards

Wisdom, cheesecloth picture

Arrowmont at Gatlinburg

The Apothecary Shop, 18" x 18"

Tarbaby at the Vet

The Conversation, 24" x 24"
Tarbaby, Rahrah, Elizabeth

The Exhibit is Down

Sharing my fiber art with friends at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University from November 9 - December 16 was a great pleasure. I got to attend several times and talk about particular pieces and the stories or inspiration behind them. For instance, this quilt made from counted cross-stitch blocks was the transition that started my quilt journey. Linda and I began stitching these blocks around 1984 and it occurred to me that we wouldn't know how to make a quilt from them, so I left her to finish the squares while I learned to quilt. We completed it in 1991 and won several blue ribbons in quilt shows and I never returned to cross-stitching. 

75" x 95" From Cross-Stitch to Quilting
by Linda and Martha Ginn

With Dr. Ed Ford, Curator
Also pictured (L to R) Interleave Symphony, Fractured Roses,
Improv Music, Butterfly Crossing

(L-R) Butterfly Crossing, Round Robin Pathways
This Is My Story, This Is My Song,
Travel Poster, Finding My Way
(with two small ghost-quilted pieces)

Here are more pictures from the exhibit. Thanks to everyone who saw the exhibit and especially to those who wrote, called, or texted me with your kind comments. 

(L-R) Finding My Way, Rise & Shine, Inner City
Mississippi Orange Peel, Circle Dance

(L-R) Circle Dance, Wellness Center Pool
Blue Ghost-Quilted Flowers

(L-R) Orchid, Campfire, In the Jungle, Return of the Trees

(L-R) Leaf Study Crotons, Green Fish,
Elizabeth My Almost Perfect Cat, Yellow Fish

(L-R) Mountain Snow Melt, Ireland Street, Triangle Extensions

(L-R) Twisted Trees II, Twisted Trees I, Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, 24" x 52"

Twin Poppies I and II, Sunday Ties

Sycamore Leaf, Leaf Study I and II, Leaf Study Crotons,
Green Fish, Elizabeth, Yellow Fish