Wrap Up

I've been doing a little reflecting on my 'quilt year'.  The highlight for me this year was the NYC trip for the Red and White Exhibit.  Thanks, Jan, for being my traveling buddy!  I'm so glad to have visited the American Folk Art Museum before the closing of the main facility.  I've picked a few pictures from the trip to share. 

This Whig Rose (circa 1838) was exhibited at the main AFAM facility.

 
    

This Cactus Rose block (circa 1855 - 1865) was exhibited in the Lincoln Center AFAM facility.  This piece was the gift of Irwin Nelson in honor of Robert Bishop
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

And the Red and White - what an amazing display!

 

So, snuggle in and rest up to meet the New Year. 

AFAM Doll Quilts - gifts of Frances Rasmussen in memory of her daughter, Cathyann.

Fragments

Today has been quite an odd one for me. I spent a good part of the afternoon making progress on the Texas Braid - sewing rows 11 and 12 out of 14 to be made. No pic for that because it just doesn't look much different than the last one I shared. This afternoon I received good news from a friend, and this morning some disturbing news - nothing truly awful. My dad has Alzheimer's, and my parents live together in assisted living. The facility called to tell me that my dad had a dispute with another resident - he asked for a cigarette, and the man said no, then my dad called him a name. I didn't ask what, but assumed that he swore at him. This is a new, bad behavior for him, so I kept thinking about it throughout the day, and how best to handle it.
The only reason that I mention it is because I think that is why I made this little top. The red pieces are slivers from the trimmed ends of the "match" part of the Texas Braid. The exhibit in New York of red and white quilts has been on my mind (Vicki and I bought our tickets and are ready to go!), and I just wanted to make a little, liberated piece with them. When I finished, I realized that it may need to be my donation for the Alzheimer's Art Initiative. It just seems to represent to me the disconnected brain signals that occur with the disease. I think that I will not even attempt to square this up, just quilt and bind it with the unevenness left as is.