Sweet Moments

Parents with children are frequent subjects of my figurative art quilts. I recently created a 12 X 12 inch art quilt based on a reference photo of my daughter reading to my grandson. It is a sweet moment from years ago. I call it The Cow Jumped Over.

The annual Benefit Auction is Studio Art Quilt Associates’ premier fundraising event! All proceeds help support SAQA's exhibition programs, publications, and education outreach. Every purchase helps showcase quilts as an artform and boosts recognition of the artists who make them. Each piece is 12 X 12 inches. The bidding starts very high and drops each day by $200 , until the remaining quilts go for $150. A word to the wise: If you have your heart set on a particular piece, bid early! Go to saqa.com for more information.

In The Cow Jumped Over, I used a limited palette of warm solid colors in a full range of values. These fabrics were fused, machine appliqued and machine quilted. The nursery rhyme characters were stitched by hand in the quilting step.

A mother reads to her young son. The art uses warm solid colors in a range of values. — ***The Cow Jumped Over***

reference photo used for The Cow Jumped Over. — Reference photo

Incorporating tiny white high lights was not easy at this small scale, but I managed. I enjoyed creating the fun cartoon characters that surround Mom and boy.

What is next? I have been spending many hours planting, weeding, and mulching. The heat is starting this week, so there will also be watering! Making public gardens look charminbg and loved is hard work, so a return to studio time will be a much-appreciated break as I start work on my SAQA WY group’s challenge: making a piece that is 24 X 12 inches, with black elements as part of the design. These children are at a zoo, but that will not be part of my rendition. I plan to make the background busy and abstract. Stay tuned!

A girl and boy stand by and on a metal railing. — Reference photo for WY SAQA challenge

Below are more examples of parents and children.

Dad holding young girl as she reaches for a leaf. — Tree

A man and women are playing with babies at the beach. Colors are gold, green, and turqoise. — Beach Babies

A man and baby look into a large box to discover new things. — All New

Two panels. Upper portion shows side view of Mom and back of young child. Bottom portion shows Parent standing behind child with hands on shoulers. Lower right show a laughing child. — Mothers Day

This is a close up of a child sitting on the shoulders of his Dad. — Detail of Generations

I finish each blog with a recipe. This one is very strange, but I like it. I dreamed up this sandwich when I was trying to use fermented sauerkraut without the necessity of combining it with a pork chop. The result is Open face Sauerkraut sandwich: Quality sauerkraut makes a difference, so I buy fermented sauerkraut at a health food store. Drain and chop the sauerkraut up a little to make it easier to handle with a spoon, and put it in a bowl. Add a small amount of mayo and ketchup (optional: add mustard and horseradish) Set aside. Preheat griddle. Place slices of bread on a dry hot griddle. Dribble about a teaspoon of olive oil on each slice. When brown, flip over and top with Swiss cheese. When the cheese has melted, move bread slices to plates and top them with the sauerkraut mixture. I use Felix’s homemade gluten-free bread, but rye bread would work with this Reuben-ish flavor profile. I don’t use cornbeef, bratwurst or hotdog, but they would go well with this, if desired!

Witness