The Other Project: Fidelity

Deb asked about the other, smaller quilt I was working on (early Valentine's present for John-no real suprise):

During:

Close up:

Washable? Well, sort of, but I wouldn't put it through the washing machine. Heat setting the paints helps permanize, iron over protective plain white sheet. But I usually hang these up on wall, rather than put on beds. If you try it in machine, let me know how it goes! I have vacumned many quilts to pull dust off of them.

I water down the paints and use them like water colors, saturate the quilt where you want them to blend. I've used salt to concentrate pigment in one area (throw on kosher salt where you want extra texture and brush it off when paints dry) wet-on-wet brush, dry brush, resist (using contact paper)all the techniques from watercolor.

No Thank You, I Pick the Priority Wall

I hope this doesn't come out sounding like "sour grapes." It would be nice to have a larger decorating/home budget. I will be honest about that...

I checked out a new book from library. It was heavy and huge, oversized, had two fold out pages in the beginning highlighting the decorating "love of design" a mega-star is unveiling to the world. I actually like her singing and acting (yeah for Yentil!) but I was overwhelmed/grossed out after pouring over the amazing rooms. It was all just a little too much. Too, too much. NOT the kind of house I would ever want to live in. Sure, it would be great to have a room just for naps, but, honestly? And I love lots of different styles and architecture, but this was too much, even spread out through the three homes/gardens/etc. I don't want that. The artwork was amazing, the fabrics gorgeous, the details thoughtful. I kept thinking how I would hate to have this mega-star for a client.

I want to live in a beautiful home, but not like that. Mine is busy, simple, colorful, full, noisy, projects everywhere, and it is lived in. Her home felt lonely. And as much as I love the decorated, coordinated, planned look, I wouldn't trade mine for hers. Her garden with lap pool and roses and view of the ocean...tempting.

(But she doesn't like orange! We are different, and that is okay. It was startling to me that I had such a strong reaction to her book. I took it back to the library already, didn't want it bothering me here in my home. I wanted to protect myself from the extravagance and step back from worldly/museum homes...complicated subject, because I love decorating and controlling environments through choices and juxtaposition, but not to this extreme. Not the way it consumed this star. Not the priority she made it. Blech!)

This idea has been floating around blogland and other Relief Society projects last year, and I wanted one. I didn't print this photo, since it didn't have enough contrast to work printing at the size I wanted for the wall, but gives you the idea without the glare from my frames below.
This is an early anniversary gift to John and our forever family we formed almost 22 years ago: priority wall. This is the wall you first see as you come in our front door. Last year for Mother's Day Maxwell made me the electronic version of this overlay of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" on one of my favorite couple photos. I finally got it printed up this week when Snapfish had a poster 2fer deal.

Me before I went to a viewing/funeral. If this one wall is all my children know about me,they will know I love them, love their dad, and I want us to be a happy family!

Romance!

I love getting comments! My writer-sister, Deb in NY, mentioned our picture Wednesday looked like the cover of a romance book! I did a quick look through our history to see if there were any better ones. And made copies and put them all in one file named "couples" for future reference.

(Note to Emma: the Christmas project we talked about illustrating "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" with family photos may have to wait another year...or turn into a Valentine's gift? I need to see your contributions! In fact, open invitation to any other couples/families that want to participate: send us or blog photos of you doing things that show the principles talked about in the proclamation. Or if you decide to do one on your own, show us how you figured it out!)
Quilt on wall behind us: partial top found in an attic in South Carolina by a friend. I finished adding to the top and quilted it.

I think JenB took this one of us?


In Ocean City at a conference. Yes, we match on purpose. It was a Hawaiian themed dance on the last day.
Emma took this one for a Reflections photo contest. Those daddy eyes are looking at you!


Emma took these last two, at Friend's Park in Forest Hill. We have used this bridge for many family photos.
I liked this one so much I printed it on glow-in-the-dark paper. After we turn out the lights in our room we can still see it! David--pens in the pocket again!