Category Archives: Sketchbook

6,7,8

Just three this week.

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But, that was my goal. Two weeks down, 50 more to go.

I’ve spent the past 2 weeks preparing of a funeral for a woman at church. Echo Pryor Arnesen left behind a husband, 6 children, and 19 grandchildren. She was one of those people you just can’t forget once you meet her. She was exhuberant and always had something to say. It was actually pretty hard to keep her from saying anything :) There were a few times during Sunday meetings that I would cringe as she recounted stories of dreams she had and how the Lord directed her to get a child out of bed because its head was wrapped in covers…I can’t think of any more right off the top of my head, but most Sundays there was something. The stories were true though. She had a simple faith and not only believed in miracles, but expected them.

In the room where the family set up the viewing were tables of pictures and scrap books. She was a wonderful record keeper. She kept a journal for each of her 6 children from the time they were born and continued to add to them after they left home. What a treasure. She was unforgettable by virture of her personality, but her love and commitment to her family ensures that she will never be forgotten.

I don’t love my children any less than Echo loved hers, but will they remember that when I’m gone? I’m just so deeply impressed by her committment and dilligence to write so personally for each of them.

Maybe I should take a page from her book…

making art

I’ve been inspired by Lisa’s posts of her daily drawings, and so I thought I’d take a stab at it this school year. I adhere to the educational philosophy of “it’s you, not them.” My real responsibility is for my own education–and in order to teach my kids that they, in turn, bear the responsibility for their own educations I need to be learning and making during school time. So, here’s week one of drawings. Here in writing I’m only requiring myself to do 3 a week, but this week I have 5. You know, it’s new and the motivation is high :)

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They’re all small, about 6″x6″ give or take, on scraps of printmaking paper using watercolors and a regular old #2 pencil.

My other mom school work is working on the Womanhood Course in a new organization called The Art of Womanhood.

quilt monday

Well, my Denyse Schmidt book came last week. Yippee!! I’ve been studying and dreaming about what I want to make. Barry really wants one just like the orange “Drunk Love in a Log Cabin” one, but orange generally isn’t my thing. My dad calls me an ‘Earth child’ which totally describes the colors I’m drawn to. Brown, green, gray, yellowish-brown, grayish-green… you know–brown and green.

I’ve been playing with color combos:

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brown and green– with the color of dried wispy grass thrown in

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dried wispy grass with live green grass, then some green and orange to spruce it up

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now, I think this is my favorite– rust and light rust with green, grey, and muslin.

So, all you Denyse Schmidt quilt alongers, I’m declaring my decision. I’m doing “Drunk Love 2 Tone” in rusty-orangy for Barry, with a back pieced like “A Day at the Beach” in calming green, brown and muslin for me.

Now to find SOLID fabric. I’ve been looking… Any suggenstions?