Memories of my Mom

My dear Mother Ruth, passed away last Friday, July 20, 2012.  Finally I am ready to at least re-post some of the memory quilts that I made for her.  My last name, Ruthsdottir, was adopted to honor my Mom.  She did feel special and very honored.  That makes me feel very good.

News paper clipping about one of my Mom's swimming feats.

Here are some quilts and links that relate to my Mom.

She's a Star

This is the first 'real' quilt that I made.  She loved it and it was always hung where ever she was staying.  If you wish to know more of the story behind this quilt, click here

http://designerann.blogspot.com/2007/12/shes-star-quilt-for-mom.html

or here for details which tell a bit about Mom's story

http://designerann.blogspot.com/2007/12/quilt-for-mom-shes-star.html

Mom

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

 

This is about Mom seeing a new granddaughter for the first time.

Angles have no wings

Mom said she felt alone in the nursing home so I made her this little angle hanging with bells.  At the slightest breeze the bells softly ring.  It seemed to comfort her.

These are some memories or a response to Mom, that I have fashioned in fabric.

Here is a link to her on-line obituary.

http://www.baxterfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/1287578/Hildebrand-Ruth/index.php

Wedding Memory Quilt

Wedding Memory Quilt Pillow Top

I wanted to make a small memory quilt in appreciation of the wedding invitation.  I figured I would just stitched them as a straight top with filler between.  Then when the FFF Challenge came out, I totally changed my thinking.  This Gestalt challenge made a BIG difference in my design = turned it upside down.  I wanted the photos to look as if they were casually dropped on a table.  Of course, they were carefully arranged according to the Gestalt principals of Similarity, Proximity, and Alignment.

The Wedding Ceremony Booklet top is on the top, touching the family, who are now united by the marriage and the couple.  The wedding group photo is on the bottom of everything, because although important, it is subservient to both the couple and the family.  The father-daughter photo is parallel to the couple [they are still close, yet have a very different relationship], but not touching.  I chose this photo of the couple as they were both intently looking at each other.  The small center bottom photo is of the couple lighting the unity candle, another symbol of their pledge of troth.

I had this all laid out 2 months ago when I took it to a guild meeting and someone commented, "Those photos are very antique looking.  Why don't you just tuck a little lace under to complete the look."  Wonderful suggestion.  However, it is not that easy "to tuck a little lace under".  The corners need to be square, matched  and aligned.  I also was unsure of the fusing medium, so when I asked the quiltart group, I found I needed to use Mistyfuse Ultraviolet.  So then I had to wait for the mail.  Then life interrupted.  Now, happily, it is finished.

Fat Cat and Mousey on their way to a new home

Fat Cat and Mousey

Fat Cat and Mousey are on their way to a new home.  My lovely friend Marti Lew is married to a Pediatric Oncologist.  In Bangor, Maine, there will be a new facility just for these children.  Fat Cat and Mousey will be installed as soon as it is finished.  This is just the perfect home I was hoping for these two comical and friendly creatures.  I'm looking forward to seeing them installed.  Fat Cat is ready to give hugs to children and stuffed animals.  I just hope it brings a bit of cheer and comfort.

Golden Sunrise

Golden Sunrise, redone

Not happy with the quilted sky, I ripped it out.  After steaming out the stitch lines, I used gold metallic thread to tie the sky in a circular pattern emanating from the sun.  Difficult to see because of the metallic and the camera's reflection, it does add a small bit of texture, while allowing the atmosphere to just be more as Turner would have done it.

Golden Sunrise

10" x 10"

The challenge is to capture the essense of  'Turner's Light.' As I look at it now, I wish my golden thread was not so heavily stitched.  However, I just spent the afternoon [and last night] ripping out one quilt; not ready to do another even if it is really small.

This is my third try at this challenge.  It is miles better than the other two.  However, I now have more ideas to attempt.  It seems one painting/quilt always leads to another.

Katharine Hepburn quote

"If you obey all the rules

you miss all the fun."

Katharine Hepburn