Friday, January 12, 2007

Susan, JuJu and Me

Ah, it's a wonderful thing, the internet. We can find things, and people with a mere click. No going out in the driving rain to look up stuff at the library and then have to scrounge for a dime to use the photo-copier, which is always kaput just when we need it. But I digress.

Above we have a quilt by Susan McCord. A really famous one. Easy to find on the ol' web. I have always liked the messiness of this wool scrap design. Actually I loved it so much that I made two quilts like it. Below we have the second one, Rick Rack Pies.

Rick Rack Pies, hand dyed cottons, commercial silks and decorator fabrics, including metallic rickrack and assorted trims, machine embroidered, machine quilted. Fused and pieced. 60"square. Made it in December 2000. The first one got peed on.

The reason I bring this up is that JuJu Vail just emailed me. She writes the JuJu Loves Polka Dots blog, of which I am a huge fan. She is planning on making a quilt and made a list of all that she is considering before embarking on this project. She pictured Susan McCord's quilt above which is such a serendipity...and then she emailed me that she found my blog.

I can't hide the fact that a teeny thrill ran through me when I got this email. She's from ENGLAND for heaven's sake! Immediately I imagined have a wee cuppa with her, discussing things crafty. My fantasy life is always at the ready.

JuJu wrote that I am her first quilting blog! I swoon.

So I immediately began dusting and mopping to make this look like a quilt blog. I dug out this old thing, which actually has blocks that are sewn together. Wouldn't want to look too radical and sway the old darling from her planned quilted-heirloom-making.

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:52 AM

    WOW! I have really enjoyed the last few posts, but this picture just blew me away...details, PLEASE!
    Greta
    gretaknits.typepad.com/lifelong_knitter/

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  2. @@ Wow.
    What Greta said :)

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  3. Sheesh! How famous do you wanna be already?!!

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  4. Anonymous8:53 AM

    Ditto to Cindra's comments. I can always count on you to be honest, but not a braggart, you are real, you share the challenges of your life, not in a whiney way, I love your color, both in your work and your personality. I really do get a sense of peace after I read your blog, and then go on about my day. Thank you.

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  5. Anonymous8:55 AM

    Rick rack! Of course! I know you've moved on to other things, but even your old stuff is an inspiration. I'm off to the fabric store for some rick rack.
    And I love your comment that "the first (rr quilt) got peed on." Having a couple of BIG dogs around the house, I'm constantly on guard that my hard work isn't eaten or used for um...you know. Bad enough dog hair floats through the air and gets on EVERYTHING.

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  6. Wow! I have been so into GG that I haven't read blogs and was totally surprised to see all your new work. It is wonderful. Not that the paintings weren't but I can relate to this work on my limited level so much more. I love them all. And baby, you can have a cuppa with me any ole time.

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  7. Anonymous10:22 AM

    I, too, read your blog each and every morning, and am inspired by your creative spirit, and, of course, by your prodigious talent. Some of it even rubs off. It's a lovely way to start the day.
    I am glad that you are back quilting, but I see how all of your art endeavors are interconnected.
    Today I want to thank you for the link to Juju. What a great blog with incredible links! So much fun!
    You made my day today - not such an unusual occurrence...What astonishes me most is that you have no idea how delightful and talented you are.

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  8. Anonymous7:07 PM

    I look forward to my daily dose of Mrs Mel nutiness.

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  9. Anonymous9:21 PM

    Everyone who reads your blog on a regular basis HAS to love it. The only thing I miss is the picture of your lovely husband. I know he has chosen not to continue to blog, but really, can't you share his picture???

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  10. Anonymous1:30 AM

    Rick rack? I just put some in a recent piece of mine that features curved fans/flowers almost as vibrant as your work.
    And I too confess that I love my daily dose of your honesty, reality and creativity.

    truly,
    Cathy W. in Houston

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  11. Fibermania was the first blog I had ever seen,and the first I go to when I hit the internet.I don't knit or paint but,there is something about seeing what your friends are creating.

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  12. Shame on you - quilting in the UK means tea and traditional? Ha!

    Take a look at:

    http://www.aliciamerrett.co.uk/
    http://www.annette-quilter.com/thequiltgallery.html
    http://www.paulineburbidge-quilts.com/
    http://www.sandrameech.com/
    http://www.cjunebarnes.co.uk/Gallery%20Index.html

    And that's just the beginning......

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  13. Dear Linda,
    I DO KNOW BETTER. I love the arty Brits and their originality and stupendous needlework. I was referencing JuJu's initial interest in the traditional.

    And I am an old Scot who loves me a cuppa tea.

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  14. Hope I didn't upset you. Perhaps I should have added a smiley or two, instead of the 'Ha'- I never was good at words.

    Or maybe I should invite you round for a cup of tea??? :-)

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com