Here is a favorite picture my Father painted of a night scene using poster paints. Throughout the years he did many creative projects. He was able to take ordinary things and turn them into extra ordianry art objects. He took ordinary egg shells and turned them into musicians posed upon a stage ready to perform that electric music which was coming of age back in the 1960's. Toothpicks were turned into an old fashioned bridge with all the overhead work found on the real ones. Below is a wall which he designed and painted in my brother's house and even labeled each little can of extra paint so the wall could be touched up in later years if need be. In my living room is a lamp which he fashioned from a root pulled from Lake Hickory while fishing many years ago. Great pain was taken to soak the root and prepare it before it became the lamp it is today. In my yard is a picnic table with the conventional cement round top. What is unique about it is the fact that the base is built from green glass bottles saved up from the many ginger ales he drank. The list of his artistic ability would be quite long, but his greatest gift came using paints and wallpaper to transform homes. He did the interior decorating of many homes in the Blowing Rock area years ago when I was very young. That was before his health became poor and he could no longer do the work.
Here is the wall he painted for my brother. It was difficult when the time came to sell the house and move, leaving Dad's work behind.
SOME OF MOTHER'S CRAFTS AND HANDIWORK
Making clowns has been one of Mother's favorite ventures. She has made them in about any color and design you can think of. Some of them I painted the faces for her on muslin instead of the store bought faces such as this one. She never kept count of how many of them she sold, but it was bunches and bunches. Below are some more of the things she made which do not include any of the beadwork and angels.
A crocheted United States flag I made for my Brother for his Birthday back when it was a bit easier to use my fingers and handle yarn and the weight of the project. Matter of fact, though, it was the stars that may have taken the most time and energy making and applying in that one small corner.
Crocheted afghan I decided to make for myself. My intentions were to use it on a bed in a room which would use it as the centerpoint of the mood of the room. So far, I am still storing it on a shelf in a closet and seldom bring it out in the open. I'll probably give it away without ever using it myself.
Some Plastic Canvas fun~. One Christmas I took it upon myself to make plastic canvas birdhouses which disguised room deodorizers. Each one was different since I live by the rule that I will never make two of the same thing exactly alike. By Christmas, I must have made close to two dozen of them as the list of those that might like to have one grew. Some day, I may try some more creations using the stash of canvas and yarns I have acquired - not to forget - the books of ideas and patterns.
A FEw QUILTING PROJECTS
The Cathedral Window was made for my Brother for Christmas one year. Mother chose the bright colors it includes, while I had the tedious task of making each of the wee windows and making the design before sewing each one on. This is one of those "Tote and Go" works in progress. Without carrying it around and piecing the individual windows while I sat in the car waiting for piano lessons, ball practice, getting off from work, doctor appointments and such, it would never have been finished. I have to add that it only barely fit the top of the queen-sized bed. At first, I though I would have to take it back home and add some more rows to the finished product.
My very first appliqued project which was "Flowers of the months of the year". It was a monthly project taken from a crafting magazine which Mother got. I fell in love with the flowers and immediately wanted to make the quilt. Only after the first two months' flowers were finished did I realize that my applique thread should have matched the indivudual flowers and not the background. By that time, I felt I needed to continue as I was doing in order to keep the work consistant. The knots used there at first were not knots to be judged in a juried show. If I had seen the center section first, I would never have attempted it. However as the time came to make the center, it was much easier than I imagined.
The very first challenge quilt I attempted was full of mistakes. I knew no better than to display it along with all the masters of quilting. I shake my head and laugh every time I look at my handiwork and remember. I had so very much to learn, both about quilting and painting on fabric.
A vest which I made, appliquing the iris onto the back and front. My oldest daughter ended up with this vest and loves wearing it to school around the young children. Some day, I'd like to make a longer one for myself.
A Christmas wreath constructed during a class session with the Quilter's Guild. Actually, I flipped this one over and made a winter wonderland scene on the other side so it could be used longer.
Another Quilter's class session I attended. These groups were fun times for all of us as we worked and shared together.
This basket pattern was yet another class project. I used it for one of the quilts we gave for Christmas to Mother's nieces and nephews the year after Mother retired from working the regular work force.
The Pinwheel Quilt made for Mother from scraps given to me from an old shirt factory here in town. Blue Bell, made jeans and shirts for many years before being forced to close by the import of cheaper products. There are some items made by Blue Bell that I've never been able to fine elsewhere.
Something I was just playing around with. This is a black cat, but I lost it in some of the backgroud and assorted colors in the overall pattern of the picture.
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