Neil Diamond's I am, I said

This is my first crazy quilt that I have ever made. Recently Neil Diamond's tribute at the Kennedy Center caught my attention. "I am ... I said" bore a hole in my soul. As If it were the first time that I've ever truly listened to the words of the song. My AH-HA moment was that the quilt was about the song and the song was about the quilt. A lover of Frogs... and always feeling like the LONER.... I worked with a fever to bring this quilt alive. Thank you Neil Diamond for providing the words to my feelings.


The embroidery butterflies have Bullion bodies. the frog beads also have Bullion feet. The Bees on the quilt almost remind me of the flight of the bumblebees. I believe they are humming to the music of the frogs. (above)

I wanted to show that the Dragon Fly were in motion,
so I added the curly motion stitches to show the flight of the dragons as they crossed the quilt.

It took a couple of hours to hand sew the seed beads to the background material.

Stump worked grass hopper.

This was worked out on Puff Foam and the extra wings were embroidered out on Organza material.

The golden button is a frogs head and these unique heads graced the laced seam line.

The Button box came out of hiding ... what better way to display them.

What fun it is to go to the party when the music is LIVE.

I'm sure that the Frog couples are having a swinging time dancing to the live music of the Night.

What with Buzz of the bees, the dragon fly's humming, the grass hoppers and crickets chipping. Everyone wants to play with the band and sing along with the music.

There seems to be a party going all around you. . . . Surrounding you on all sides.

The quilt has over 50 frogs  and another dozen or so of insects  and flowers that grace the top of the quilt. I think everyone is celabrating the Frog becoming a king. 

 That's a good name for the quilt don't you think? 

The King's Party!

 

This is the chair that did not hear. When you say "I am" and it comes from the heart. Wouldn't it be nice for someone to hear.

The chair was embroidered on puffy foam. The flowers and leaves are stump worked on my Baby Lock Sewing machine....

I love my Baby Lock. I added Buttons and Hand Embellishments on the seams .

 

A some-what view of the whole quilt.  the borders were stenciled with oil sticks.  The woodsy look brings the whole quilt together. Hey! When you can't find the right fabric.... design it yourself!

I love the frog that dreamed of being a king.

 Here he sits alone as the party of life moves all around him. He's at the top but all he can hear is the sound of being alone.

Here is the music.... notice the key. 

The key unlocks something... But what?

Notice the Red Heart.... There's the lock.... Ahh... Music is the key that unlocks the heart!!

Enjoy the collector's button... the Hand embrodery... and other emblishments.

 This wall quilt will hang on the studio wall while I play Neil Diamond music....

The Kings Party serves a dural purpose.  It displays my ever growing brooch collection of frogs and insects... much better to be displayed instead of sitting in a box or drawer.

Label for the quilt.  If I ever gave up this quilt... it would be to Mr. Diamond himself...

 and he would have to come to the house himself to claim it.

Hot Springs swimming

Here we wrap up our visit with Christine, Brett, and granddaughter in Deweyville Ut. At the Hot springs swimming area, I had an encounter with a little 3 to 4 year old in the pool. The little guy had walked out pass his neck.... and was in DEEP water... really!!!

Little hands were grabbing me from behind and almost pulled me down into the water (backwards), when I turned around.... a little head was bobbing up and down in the water... gulping for air.... It took a split second to grab the little child up out of the water, and he clung to me with all his might... he started crying, he said he was scared. There was no adults or other children watching this little guy in the pool.

Long story short.... Where were the parents? The little boy said that his mom was going down the slide. I let the boy go when we reached the safety of solid ground. Thank you God for letting me be his angel at that moment he needed strong arms to lift him to safety.

Antz for travel

Here we are again... we have traveled over 1400 miles in 3 days and hit 6 national parks. My husband dreams of traveling... While I on the other hand like it.... if it doesn't interfere with my sewing and crafts. All my friends seem to envy my early retirement and carefree lifestyle. We have traveled 4 states... counting Colorado.

Riley our dog is Bored...but enduring. We both smile when Ben plans his traveling plans... we are willing to be his constant traveling companions... no matter what it takes. However being full timers was not what we signed up for. So he won't hear it from our lips ... we know that staying home day after day would drive all of us to the funny farm... A good wife never complains out loud.... right!
PS... I hate hotels!!! Give me an RV anytime! By the way, when you go RV, your bags travel for FREE!!!

Add a few vacation pictures

C

Almost Christmas, All is well.

Ben's knees were replaced on Nov 1, 2010. and as of today, I am totally tired. I didn't realize how much energy it would be to take care of my husband at home.

Time Is Not Sitting Still

For the second time, Ben's Doctor has delayed/ canceled the surgery. This time we were given a 3 week delay. Under stress and in pain, Ben fired his doctor and is going to go to a new one. Now if we were to call the hospital and Doctors and give them delays or cancel (the day before surgery) you know that we would be charged for it!!!!

We worked around the house so hard to winterize and secure it. After his knee replacements, who would do the mowing, blow out the water sprinklers, winterize the RV and Central Air conditioner? He paid bills weeks before they were due... so that we wouldn't have to worry about it later. Flustering!

I won't be doing any craft shows this fall and winter. I can hardly plan anything... because of the uncertainty of when he will get his knees replaced, or what his recoup time will be. I can't book a show and expect him to help me when he can hardly walk. Let alone sit with me at the show, help set it up, move boxes to and from the show. There is always next year. I have only one husband.

I have a lot of finished picture mats finished. Beautiful. working on so much, yet the stress has taken away the Joy of making all of it. I just want our lives to get moving. I feel like I am sitting in a time warp. ANY ONE OUT THERE?

Labor Day Outting

Just had to get out of the HOUSE.... cabin Fever or I would rename it .... DEPRESSION>

So we drove up to Bailey to get a hot dog... ha ha... Took over an hour to drive from Denver, a half an hour to stand in line in front of the hot dog shaped building. Barely found parking. 15 mins. to eat the foot long dog with onion rings and a pineapple shake. 2 1/2 hours to drive back in Labor day traffic. IT WAS A GOOD DAY.

I took Riley for a walk... noticed a smoke plum covering the sky. The Sun was RED. It looked like dooms day. Our breathing was heavy, our eyes watered. Riley and I went back home to get inside the house. It is a big fire in Boulder.... which is over an hour away from us.

Pulled out of my depression.... have to get Ben through one more operation and we should be back to normal. I don't know if anyone is reading this. I don't ever hear from anyone. OH well ... if there is anyone out there ... have a good day.