Spring and New Quilts: Busting Out All Over

Spring is a challenge for quilters who are also gardeners, because this lovely season presents new chores along with its joys.

One of the joys is this Harlequin Honeysuckle, Lonicera Sempervirens Harlequin, purchased through a gift from my West Hartford neighbors on the death of my sister, Jeanne, at age 58 from complications of a heart transplant.  Jeanne's personality shared equal parts vitality, drama, humor, and hysteria, and so I chose this honeysuckle because its exuberantly variegated leaves and multicolored flowers remind me of her.

One of the chores presented by this softest of seasons is maintaining the plantings and recording the progress of the garden across the weeks.  For example, the beautiful purple pansies in the top image are nearing the end of their service as spring annuals, and will soon be replaced.  Meanwhile, the summer annuals are waiting in the wings until I have a chance to pay attention to them.

Time for gardening is a little short right now.  I've been getting ready for a couple of quilt shows.  For example, I spent a few weeks creating the two pieces below.

Spring Rain

Frost and Flame

These two quilts were created for entry into a show to which I was invited by my friend, quilter EdJohnetta Miller, to be held at Hartford's Charter Oak Cultural Center.  They're both convergence quilts, constructed according to a technique created and named by quilter Ricky Tims.
http://www.rickytims.com/quiltgallery/harmonic-convergence-quilts

Then too, I'm also getting ready for an upcoming show at Stamford's Bartlett Arboretum, along with my friends from the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective.  More, much more, about that show later, but meanwhile, the creation goes on: Here are Queen Anne's Lace and Secrets of the Cabbage Patch, both created for that show, which will be hung on Friday May 31:

Queen Anne's Lace is constructed from my own hand-painted fabric and stenciled with acrylic craft paint.  Along the right side are photos of a field of Queen Anne's Lace in full bloom.

"What is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have never been discovered."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Secrets of the Cabbage Patch consists of 9 log cabin squares, each embellished with a knitted cabbage, and under each cabbage, well, a secret.

Can you guess the secret?  Do you see a little foot peeking out?

So, I'm loving every minute of this season and its exhilarating set of challenges for quilters who also garden.