I Can't Believe I Missed This...

There was a fabulous needlework exhibit at the Nantucket Whaling Museum while we were on the island...and I can't believe I missed it!!!

During a conversation with one of the local artists, Peggy Silverstein (at one of the celebratory parties) I intimated that I was a needleworker. That party was the last evening of our stay on the island.
Peggy said, "Gee. I wish I'd known that about you the first night we met. I would have told you about the Boardman exhibit at the Whaling Museum." She then took out her iPhone, found the Museum site and held up a needlework image that took my breath away.
The exhibit is entitled, "Sometimes Think of Me: Notable Nantucket Women Through The Centuries" by Susan Boardman. Ms. Boardman is a full-time resident of Nantucket and is thoroughly immersed in textile art. Her recurring themes are women, family and home, as they relate to Nantucket and its rich whaling heritage.
As soon as I got back home, I went to Susan Boardman's website, and then over to the Nantucket Whaling Museum's site. I looked at their information on the exhibit, knowing that they would have a catalog of all of the items in the show.

I wasn't disappointed. I purchased the 150 page book about Susan Boardman's embroidered narratives, overflowing with images of her incredible needlework and biographies of the subjects she stitches. The book costs $35 and is worth every single cent. Of course, the other images I'm sharing with you are notecards that I also couldn't resist.

If you get a chance to see any of the Boardman needlework pieces, don't miss them. Her work is really impeccable and beyond description. These are all truly works of heart. Of course, you can use the links I've shared to purchase your own copy of "Sometimes Think of Me". You won't be sorry, I promise.

I hope you like my nod to all the beautiful, white pumpkins I've seen around Blogland. I've changed my Brynwood header for the season. Happy Fall Y'all!

Lavender Fezzik Friday - 20 Weeks...

Mom asked me to help her in the studio yesterday. She said that I could be her model for the "Lavender Dreams" quilt she's working on now. I was really worried that she was gonna put a hat on me or something silly. She says that I do "silly" really well.

I'm glad I didn't have to wear any props this time. She said all I had to do was relax on her work table and show her first block for the new quilt to all of you. She didn't say that I had to stay off it, though.
Isn't it a pretty block? This quilt is really comfy, and Mom's only made one block so far. She said, if I think it's comfy now, I'll want to roll all over it when it's all finished!
Mom said that she'll be making six blocks out of each different fabric, with the creamy color in this block repeating in every block on the quilt. There will be a total of thirty six blocks, each taking her about an hour to make. That means it will take her at least thirty six hours just to make all the blocks.

Then, she'll have to decide on placement for each block and sew them all together. She's a little worried that she won't get it finished by the end of next week, but I believe in her. I think she'll do it!

Each block measures 16" square and the finished quilt will be queen size. Rats! I was hoping it was going to be "corgi size"!

Gotta run now. See you next week!

One Down, One To Go...

I finished the "Nantucket" quilt by 1:30 yesterday afternoon. By 2:00, I had delivered it to Kathy at Sandy's Quilt Shop for the long-arm quilting portion of the job. I beat my deadline by a week!
One down, one to go.
I drove back home and started cutting the fabrics for the queen size quilt that's next up. I'm going to call it "Lavender Dreams". This one has to be at the shop by the second week in November, but I'm going to try to finish it by late next week. You know I'll let you know how I'm doing!

Cutting and sewing today...LOTS of half-square triangles. (You're going to love this pattern!) If I can keep Miss Snoopy Pants from sneaking a peek, I'll give you snapshots of my progress. (Just in case, I'll put them into my Flickr album for "What I'm Sewing Now". The link is in my right sidebar near the bottom. She'll never look there!)

The Chorale rehearses with the Concert Band this evening, so I'll be singing while Handsome plays in the percussion section. I'm really looking forward to it!

I hope you have a happy and creative day, too, my friends.