Wednesday, May 3, 2023

The Time is Right to End a Chapter

 “There is a time for everything, / and a season for every activity under the heavens.” 


It was August 18, 2009
when I published my first blog post. 
It was the right time to try something new.


Today is May 3, 2023
and I have posted over a 1000 stories.

Making a decision to let go of
something that I've done for almost 14 years
has not been an easy one,
but the time is right once again.

The reason for a blog was not
 about seeing large numbers of followers, or
becoming an influencer,
but about recording my journey
and sharing my passion for quilt making and stitching
 with other passionate quiltmakers.

It has been a delight to get to know other
quilters from around the world. 
 Although I have met very few of you in person, 
YOU have influenced me in many ways.  
You have challenged me 
to think beyond my own comfort zone and
I am grateful.

I appreciate those of you who have 
followed me over time and 
of course, anyone who took the time to 
leave a comment or two;
your words were always an encouragement. 

My quilting journey, of course,  will continue.
There is still a lot of sewing and stitching to be done.
I just feel it is time to make a change.
Occasionally, I post on Instagram,
(kyleredente)
 come by if you can
and say Hello. 


Running Man and Me
Take Care and
Happy Stitching

Kyle













Monday, April 10, 2023

Off to Santa Fe

It was time to take my two recent finishes
on the road for a photo shoot. 


Santa Fe, New Mexico 


I Believe in Angels
63"x 75"



You can read more about it Here.



Easy Breezy
37" x 45"

A collection of scraps.
In fact, I made two.



If you are ever in Santa Fe,  be sure and visit the 


A new exhibit recently opened
La Cartoneria Mexicana
Mexican Art of Paper and Paste


Our daughter, Kate, is currently
the acting director.



Frida Kahlo figure 
2006 Paper, paste, paint, glass, plastic 
Guanajuato, México


The flavors of Santa Fe

La Chuza Restaurant
Chili Rellenos


Red, green or Christmas
That's how you order your chili.



Always time for a special treat 
from the Kakawa Chocolate House
served in their iconic blue pottery


Just outside of Santa Fe are the
La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs


Most of the images are Pueblo and
date back to the 13th through 17 century.





Along the Governor's Palace across 
from the Central Plaza,


Native American artisan set up under the
portal everyday.  The Native American Artisans program
offers buyers the chance to purchase beautiful handcrafted items.

You've reach the end of the trail
here in the plaza.


It would have been nice to
have been able to check into the the La Fonda hotel,



after finding your way 
along the Santa Fe trail.


Uniquely Santa Fe 






Until Next Time-

Kyle

Monday, March 13, 2023

Pieces Connecting the Past

At least once a year 
I try to dig into my collection 
of Dutch Heritage fabrics designed by
Petra Prins of the Netherlands.
I love the colors and the traditional floral designs 
inspired by antique Dutch prints.

Anneke Van Leuvan
1747 -1785
My 5th Great Grandmother

This quilt really began with the center background fabric.
I was gifted a fat quarter of this historical 18th century reproduction,
Trails and Leaves,
from the fabric collection at Colonial Williamsburg.
It was just calling to be used for as a
background for some applique


I found the perfect design in the book,
Quilts from the Colonies, 
by Australian Quilt designer,  Margaret Mew.

From there it was pure fun.
Using my Dutch fabrics and some other
fabrics that wanted to play along,
I made lots of hst's and appliqued
melon shaped leaves.


The machine quilting was kept simple
as to not distract from the fabric's patterns.
I even had a large piece that I could use for the backing.

When it came time for the binding,
it took a bit of hunting to find the right piece.


I finally chose one of my favorite fabrics.
It was part of a group of reproduction  fabrics 
from Smithsonian's quilt collection printed in the
mid 1990's.


It's almost gone. 😢

Recently, I had been playing around on
Ancestry and rediscovered a family 
line that was located in Saugerties, New York
 along the Hudson River, which was an area
colonized by the Dutch.


I wanted to honor my family
that originally found their way 
from Oosterhout, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands 
to the America's sometime between the 1630's and 1650's.

*****
A photo shoot.

The weather was warm so
 I headed to the perennial gardens 
at Colorado State University.
Most plants are still hibernating from
the winter weather,
but the ornamental grasses add
texture to the dormant garden.



My quilt added some color to these barren branches 
that will eventually change to green once spring arrives.



In September, 1981 Andy Warhol came to the CSU campus


and was commissioned for one of his iconic soup can sculptures. 


My quilt and Andy's Soup Can
are visually very different.



But maybe we both 
have found a sense of fulfillment in being creative.



Until Next Time-
Kyle

Monday, February 27, 2023

Vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden and More

It was finally a clear day
here in Colorado.
My antique Grandmother's Flower Garden
was ready to be displayed.


Vintage 1940's Grandmother's Flower Garden
Completed 2023


I was lucky to acquire 
these 94 fabulous blocks about a 
year ago.
I spent a lot of time 
carefully hand sewing the blocks together. 

With each added row,
the top got more colorful and beautiful


The original quiltmaker was very skilled
and each hexagon was perfectly sewn to create
these fantastic flowers.
Many of them had the
designs fussy cut from the fabrics.

And we think we're so clever today.


After it was pieced together, I began the hand quilting.


That was the easy part.
Then it was decision making time.  
What to do with the edge and binding.

Many ideas were considered.
I finally cut strips 7/8" wide and used
a Clover bias tape maker to create the narrow binding.


There was no way I could attach it by machine
or even hand stitch it through all the layers.

I appliqued one folded edge to the top of the quilt
going around and around each hexagon side.

Then did it all again. 
Appliqueing the other folded edge of the binding
to the backing.


The binding ended up 
being about 3/16" wide on each side.


It went perfectly around all those 
jagged edges.
If I had had more of the original fabrics,
I could have filled in some of that space on the outer edges,
but I worked with what I had or didn't have,
and love the finished look.

I took it to the Benson Sculpture Garden
in Loveland, Colorado to see what others might think
about this finished quilt.



"Perfect, my dear."
"It's just the way I would have done it."



"Say hey, Good Lookin'
What ya got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up 
with me?"


"Come away with me to
my fairy garden."

****
I brought along a second quilt I had
just finished as a charity donation
to Children's Hospital in Denver.


The children let it join in and play.



Everyone was having a good time.
Until....


Hey, bring that back!



It was a fun place to hang around.

Until Next Time-

Kyle