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

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 

International Folk Art Museum.

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

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

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