Thursday, October 17, 2024

Sea Glass Quilt


Our community art show at school is coming down, and I walked over to the gallery yesterday to pick up my very blue photo. While I was there, I photographed this piece in more detail. I remember some of you commenting on it so I thought you might want a closer look.

It's a "sea glass quilt" made by a parent, and although I'd love to give her credit I also want to protect her privacy, so I won't name her. It's made from scraps left over from earlier quilting projects, she said in her description. She called it "Flow" and said in her mind it connects the recipients of those projects and the lessons she learned working on them.

Also, after viewing the video in my earlier post -- which you can see by clicking the link above -- blogger Ellen asked about the sculpture of the woman sitting on an egg and what it was made of. I took a second look and it was glass. (Nothing like answering a reader question a month late, right?!)

Finally, I'd meant to include in my earlier posts the words of a woman who knitted a sweater shown in the show. She mentioned how she'd dipped in and out of knitting through her life, and said, "You don't need to do art every day to be an artist. You can leave it for days, weeks, months or years. It's not going anywhere." As one who often feels compelled to get out and take pictures, I found that such a comforting thought.


Here's my latest plant rescue project. Yes, it's another Dracaena, found a few days ago next to a trash bin at work. As I was looking at it, trying to decide whether to take it on, the principal of our Lower School walked past and said, "You can't save it. It's too far gone." I said, "I think I might be able to, actually!"

I brought it to the library and put that sign on it saying, "Please do not discard. I'm in 'plant hospital.'" Yesterday I brought it home. I'll repot it and probably keep it here until it revives, but I've promised Dave I will then take it back to the library, because we already have five rescued Dracaenas and we really do not need one more.


Finally, last night I got to meet fellow blogger Jeanie of The Marmelade Gypsy. She and her partner Rick are visiting England from Michigan, and they stopped by West Hampstead to meet Dave and Olga. We stepped outside to see the garden and Olga managed to both bark at us incessantly and roll in black mud, so that was fun. We then went to dinner at a restaurant on the high street (Olga stayed home) and had a great time. Jeanie is artistic, articulate and interesting, as you'll know if you read her blog, and Rick's career path was somewhat similar to my brother's in municipal planning so I enjoyed talking to him too -- yet another positive "IRL" encounter with blogland!

52 comments:

  1. How lovely that you got to meet Jeanie.

    I must have missed your Art Show post so thank you for linking it , you have very talented students, staff and parents there.

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    1. Glad you liked it! I was impressed by the quality of everyone's art.

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  2. If that particular Dracaena does die, you could always take one of your other Dracaenas back to the school library in order to make the Principal of Lower School eat his or her words.

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  3. That's a nice photo of you, with Jeanie.

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    1. It was great to meet her! The lighting wasn't great but the picture turned out OK.

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  4. It was a wonderful time last evening and I am so glad that we got to finally meet, and Dave and Olga too. I love meeting bloggers and always delighted when I see they are really who they are on the screen. It was the best (and Rick said so,too.) and, fellow readers, that garden is beyond wonderful. And so is Olga!)

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    1. It was very fun and yes, I'm so glad we made it happen!

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  5. I hope the Dracaena survives and thrives. The quilt is beautiful.

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    1. Isn't it a great quilt? So creative! Not like anything I've seen before.

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  6. I watched the video again and it was well worth it. That sea glass quilt is astounding. I’m in awe. It’s nice to see you among so many other gifted artists. Another nice blogging connection, too!

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    1. It really is an impressive quilt. And yes, another blogger meetup!

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  7. That is so good that you two met up!

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    1. I always enjoy meeting the person behind the words. :)

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  8. That quilt is gorgeous.
    And perhaps we call you Dr. Dracaena?

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    1. Ha! It sounds like a drag name but sure, why not.

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  9. I love that quilt, seaglass and a quilt, two of my favorite things:)
    You have more faith in dracenas than I do. I received one from my neighbor a few weeks ago, it had been outside, and I almost pitched it out already. It's dropping leaves and I'm still sitting on the fence about it.

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    1. Well, Dracaenas drop leaves pretty regularly even when they're healthy. Don't give up on it for just that reason!

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    1. Well that was a mess, but I think you can still get to the posts I'm referencing.

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  11. I'm glad you introduced me to Jeanie. Just read her post about voting and I like the way she thinks!
    That quilt is so lovely. I'm working on a quilt for my youngest grandson but mine is not so fancy as the one at your art show. Hope to finish it by his first birthday in December.
    I have no doubt that you will save that plant, Steve!

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    1. Thanks, Ellen. When I get back home I'll stop by your blog!

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    2. A quilt always makes a great gift. I still have quilts my great-grandmother made.

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  12. I can't even begin to figure out how that quilt was made but it really is beautiful.
    Hurray for meeting in real life! It's always a beautiful thing.

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    1. Yeah, I don't know either! Sewing rounded shapes without crimping any of the fabric seems like it would be a challenge.

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  13. Jeanie's lovely! I've been following her for ages. I'm glad you met. That quilt is really lovely. Some serious talent there.

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  14. If you can get George Clooney to resume his role and save the Dracaena, please take a picture for your blog.

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  15. I see a river running through the quilt. Hi to Marmalade Gypsy.

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    1. Yeah, it is kind of river-like. (Riverine? Riparian?) I guess it's supposed to capture the idea of flowing water, even though the blobs themselves are likened to sea glass.

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  16. The quilt is a lovely piece of artistic creativity and talent.
    The word is definitely out about "the plant doctor" and rescue for plant full recovery.
    Lovely that you and Jeanie had a nice meet-up.

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  17. How fun to have another blog land meet up. I love that when it happens.
    That quilt is beautiful. Good luck with that plant. If anyone can save it, you can.

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    1. Isn't that a remarkable quilt? I'm glad I got a close-up photo.

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  18. Beautiful quilt, and what a lovely meet up! .

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  19. It's wonderful that people come out of blogland and meet in real life.

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  20. I love that quilt! I've never seen one like it. I enjoy meeting fellow bloggers and have never been disappointed. We get to know quite a lot about each other through our posts, so we can skip the back stories and just chat.

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    1. Yeah, exactly. It really isn't like meeting someone for the first time.

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  21. I'm glad you had another fun IRL blog encounter!

    I'm really impressed with the quilt. I can't imagine the time it must have taken.

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    1. Me neither! I wonder if she sewed it all by hand or if it's machine-sewn?

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  22. That is one beautiful quilt.

    Good to see both Jeanie and yourself!

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    1. It really is an amazing quilt. I love the color scheme.

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  23. I love that quilt. I love that you rescued yet another plant. I am glad that you met another blogger. I'm envious.

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    1. That's one thing about being in London -- a lot of people seem to pass through. (Including YOU!) Next time we have to meet up!

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  24. I love the sea glass quilt, I love the half-dead dracaena, and I LOVE Jeanie's latest post. Wow. Best writing I've seen to date on this election. So glad you've met in person.

    Chris from Boise

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    1. Thanks! When I get back home I'll stop by your blog! Nice to "meet you!"

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    2. I really need to read that post! I have been so busy I haven't caught up with it yet!

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