beasts again

I am still working on my beasts quilt.  I had hoped to have it finished to enter into our quilt show, but I don't think I will make the deadline. Here is an early picture of the beast cloth:

It has a lot more beasts on it now, including 2 drawn by my granddaughters.  Two corners are finished, but there is still blank space on the tablecloth that I am using for the base. Even if I don't make the show, I should get it finished early spring.  The last picture shows a drawing my my granddaughter Ellie and its recreation on cloth.

Working on challenges

Yesterday we went to the neurological doctor and a further evaluation of Ron.  The doctor said he didn't think that Ron has Parkinsonism,  and wants to further evaluation him for normal pressure hydrocephalus.  Next week Ron will return to Barnes Jewish Hospital for 3 days so that they can do several more spinal taps.  These should indicate if Ron has normal pressure hydrocephalus, and if he does, they will schedule surgery to place a shunt.  So we have to wait, something we do a lot.
Today I went with Norrie and Wilma to the Ethical Society for a lecture “Politics and Problems of the World’s Water Resources” Dr. Robert Criss, MS, PhD, Department of Earth an Planetary Sciences, Washington. It was interesting, but somewhat depressing.  I guess a series that investigates world problems won't feature a lot of happy topics.
I am finishing up the entry forms for our quilt show in March.  The forms for the Art Quilt group are due tomorrow.  There are 4 challenges:

Inspiration--I did a piece celebrating my father.  I used pictures that  printed on fabric, and used reverse appliqued to  fit the pictures behind  the fabric.  I used black embroidery floss to quilt the piece. I think the group really wanted a piece on what inspires my quilting but I featured my father anyway.

Snack Pack Challenge : We had to get a container for a snack and use those colors in the piece.  I used a drawing by my granddaughter for the center.  I made the center, and passed it on to other members of my group who added to the piece.
My package held crackers and had brown, blue and green.

Whisper Challenge: Mine started with a picture from the Winterthur Museum Fairy Garden.  I used a picture of a fairy house. I passed it on, and after 5 people made interpretations, the small quilts were returned to me.

Out of the Box Challenge: Debbie donated cigar boxes to the group.  We had to give everyone one item (all the same pieces), and we had to use all the pieces in their box.  I used a mojo doll that Pat Owoc had given me as the focal point.

These were the 4 challenges that the Art Quilt group did.  I also participated in the Guild Challenge, based on a page from the National Geographic Magazine.  My page featured mountains on a blue sky,  I changed the scene to a night scene.  The mountains, or most of them, were purple. I added woods, a river, and some teepees.







I am entering 2 more art quilts, Weeds and For the Love of Outlander.  I got permission from Diana Gabaldon to use the cover design. The designs were sewed to silk and the pieces then sewn to cotton.

my mother

I'm still trying to figure out how to allow comments on my blog.  No success yet.
Yesterday we got a beautiful large tv.  We have a technician coming today, since some things are working right.
Today I need to work on getting my entry forms filled out for our quilt show.
I also want to straighten up the back room, so I can make more art. The back room of the basement, shared with work tables, washer and dryer, etc. is my "studio."
I have been watching to a Textileartist site that is discussing creativity.

Here is another
picture for my Heritage quilt. This is a picture of my mother at about 3 years old.  She had just recovered from scarlet fever.  She tole me that her hair was blond before she got sick.  They shaved her head and it all grew in dark brown.

John Eagan

I had an enjoyable evening last night when I went to the initial meeting of the Fibers Section of St. Louis Artist Guild.  There seem to be lots of opportunities to link up with other fiber people, take classes and enjoy myself.  There were a lot of people there that I knew, and some new faces.  Today I signed up to take a class on marbleizing paper mat the artist guild.
Wendy and her crew are coming in at 6:30 for a brief visit.  I can give Caroline her Harry Potter Coloring book that just came today.  It was supposed to be a Christmas present. Oh well.
Here is another picture for my heritage quilt:

This is John Eagan, my maternal grandfather.

Margaret Doyle, my maternal grandmother

Today I am going to the new Fibers Section meeting at St. Louis Artist guild.  Karen and I are going together.  I might also go to Art Mart for some supplies for my heritage quilt.  Here is another thing I want to include in the heritage quilt.

This is the birth registration for my grandmother, Margaret Doyle, born 1863 in Macclesfield, England.  Macclesfield is located in Chester region of England.  They have great genealogy sources.  I got this birth certificate from them, and other paper documents, like Margaret's twin's certificate, and their parent's marriage document.
I think it's going to be a problem to fit all the info and pictures I have into the heritage quilt.  Edit, edit, edit!

researching my maternal side

Surprise! The new tv came yesterday and was left at the back door.  It wasn't supposed to come until Wednesday.  Ron and I hauled it inside, waiting for my son-in-law Chris to set it up on Sunday, when they are in town.
I am still gathering supplies and pictures for my heritage piece, and drawing in my sketchbook (not so good but I hope I'll get better).
I am scanning some shots I took in the 90s when I took high school girls, including my daughter to Ireland.  Pictures were so good, but I'll see what I can do with them. I'll have to fool with this on on Facebook.  It is cropped from the bus ride to the Dingle Peninsula.








Here's another picture of my grandmother. Pretty lady, wasn't she?  She still has the dime broach on.

Margaret Doyle Eagan

Not much going on today.  I got my haircut on Saturday--really short, and I love it.
the cleaners came today, so the house looks good.  I am trying to make myself clean out one drawer or one closet a day.  Today I did a kitchen drawer.  I am not a neat or organized person, but I figure if I can finally get things neat and organized, they will stay that way.  Highly improbable.
I am going to look at the pictures I have on the computer for my heritage

quilt, and scan the ones I don't have. This is my grandmother, Margaret Doyle Eagan.  She was born in 1863! in Macclesfield England.  Look at her ringlets and the feather on her hat.  You can't see it very well, but the bar pin by her throat contained dimes, the first money her father earned in the US>