First paper quilt

[vaneramos]

My first paper quilt, a Christmas gift for Brenna, made with two of my photographs, various papers, needlework and a handwritten message. A full-size image (8½" by 11") is behind the cut.

Travel far
Climb high
Look farther
Leave no stone
unturned
Be exuberant

Love Dad

~~~~~~~~~~

I finished most of my shopping today. It has required several excursions over the past three days to gather everything I need.

Mom was delighted when I offered to cook Christmas dinner this year. I chose a holiday menu from an old issue of Cooking Light, which I subscribed to years ago when I was trying to follow a low-fat diet. With Mom's cholesterol and blood-sugar problems, I'm sure it won't hurt the rest of us to eat healthy. It's just a traditional menu with a few little twists, and I might as well follow this instead of confusing myself trying to invent one of my own.

Roast turkey with apple-cider glaze, maple-cranberry sauce, Southern corn bread dressing, green beans with bacon-balsamic vinaigrette, tangerine sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes and maple-pecan cheesecake. I plan to prepare the dessert, dressing and cranberry sauce here early next week and take them down with me. Mom and Dad are grocery shopping for everything else we'll need.

I had originally planned to drive down on Thursday. The reason I decided to go a day early is I have a project in mind. Last summer I talked to Mom and Dad about recording an interview with them. I want to ask questions about their early memories and family history, interesting things I half-remember, but want to make sure it's saved for posterity. We're planning to sit down and do that on Thursday. Once I've transcribed the interviews, maybe I'll post parts of them here.

So I've done all the grocery shopping, finished Christmas shopping for Marian and Brenna, and completed my handmade gift for one of them. I've been interested in trying this sort of thing ever since I took an interest in miniature quilts last winter. It didn't turn out anything like I had imagined. Actually I didn't have as much time as I would like for detailing. The cheap glass document frames I bought for them also placed a limitation: I couldn't use anything three-dimensional. A piece incorporating shells, beach glass or beads would have been especially appropriate for Brenna. But that's inspiration for the future.

I've also been poring through my photographs from the past year. I have selected 10 or 12 of my favourites to print for Mom and Dad. I'll probably repost them sometime before the end of the year. Actually, there are a couple that never made it into my journal. One needed editing, which turned out to be a lot easier than I anticipated, but I didn't attempt it until yesterday. The other is another photo from Bon Echo; there were so many good ones at the time that it ended up on the proverbial cutting-room floor, but with several month's hindsight it stands out.

I notice how much my photography has suffered since I refocused this journal in September. I've been writing prolifically and haven't had as much time for taking and editing photographs. I would wish otherwise, but it doesn't change my resolve. Ideally I will find a way to incorporate all these pursuits into my life. We're approaching that time of year for considering new undertakings and directions, which is a good thing. But I doubt the format of this journal will be changing anytime soon.

I still have to make a paper quilt for Marian, put away laundry, wash the dishes and wrap the girls' gifts. Then tomorrow afternoon I'm going to Toronto to see djjo et al, spend the night, then carry on to pick up the girls on Monday.

Comments

[winterknight.livejournal.com]

Van, that's beautiful! I love this idea. :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thans Ana, it would be a stretch to say I'm delighted with it, but for my first attempt, I'm pleased. As a writer I just LOVE paper, the same way as a once-upon-a-time gardener I love soil.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

THAT is amazing! I used to make stuff like that and my parents just kinda smiled nicely but I knew by the reaction they didn't really like 'em. It hurt some but, I understood.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks Jide. The girls liked the books I made for them last year. I hope they like these. I am going to print some photos for my parents and let them do with them as they like.

[bremo.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is an astonishingly beautiful piece of work!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot. :-)

[willowing.livejournal.com]

I love that quilt!! :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Hey, come to dinner tonight if you can. I'll be there. :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It would be great to see you. *hugs*

Are you going to Sudbury for Christmas this year?

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

*sighs wistfully*

Once again, Van, I am left in awe of your talent.

The quilt is beautiful.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks Stephen. I posted the second one a moment ago. It's a lot different, but hope you enjoy it, too.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Even longer if it breaks down. ;-)

Enjoy yourself, my friend.

xoxo