The First Months of "Stay at Home" 2020

We are now into May of 2020.  Stay at home has been in effect for over two months and I have found more time in the day for gardening and art and exercise and cooking, pretty much in that order.  A novel who's title comes to mind in these unusual days is "Love in the Time of Cholera" by author Gabriel García Márquez. Just out of curiosity, I may read that one again.  With fewer errands to run and other distractions, now is the time to enjoy the pleasure of reading for fun!

Onto my saving focus ... art.  For me looking at art of all kinds always inspires.  More and more museums and art venues are providing on-line viewing of their collections.  Found on-line in the Costen Collection at the George Washington University Textile Museum site is an subtle and interesting woven piece. The challenge, self imposed, was to recreate the woven textile into a quilt. First was the creation of the block. Using photoshop software, I established the element proportions of the block. After the blocks were constructed, they were arranged and re-arranged on a design wall finalizing the quilt design. 

Costen

Costen turned to grey scale to help determine the block construction

Final pieced quilt top; measures 40 inched wide by 48 inches long

Smaller projects are fun as well.  They are usually done in a day. With each completion I feel a bit of joy.  The simple things and tasks are more appreciated these days.

Crab Pot Holder; 8 by 8

Scrap Collage Card, ready to send; 5 by 7

In this time of the Corna virus, SAQA is sharing one of their regional catalogs on-line.  "Stitching California" is now available in a virtual format.  California is known as the Golden State, but what makes it so? SAQA Northern California and Northern Nevada members reflect on this question. Stitching California is the resulting juried exhibition that reveals the illusions and realities that help to define and understand the richness of the Golden State.  

Someday we will be back to a new normal, but until then, I am glad to have work in a virtual show.  The diversity of the work in this regional show is amazing. I enjoyed revisiting the venue through it's on-line catalog. I hope you enjoy it, too.
 
A funny thing happened ... in the Fall of 2019 we moved some plants from northern CA to Las Vegas.  Unknown to us a hitch hiker was hidden in one of the potted plants.  To our surprise and delight he survived the desert winter and peaked out again in the early spring.  His chosen home is among the patio pots and plants. 
My hope is to re-capture him and return him to his home state.  Until then, I truly find his presence a happy blessing in our yard.

CA Tree Frog

 Stay safe, stay kind, stay inspired!