Saturday, August 17, 2013

Autumn's Renewal of Mind

Autumn's Renewal of Mind is what I titled the quilt I finally finished.  Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will." and this is where I took the renewal of the mind for the title. Although autumn may not seem like a time of renewal I see it as such.  In Ephesians 4:22-24 we are told to put off the old self and to be made new in the renewal of our minds that way we can put on our new self which is created to be like God.  This is what I see in autumn which is a period of rest and shedding of the old.  It is a time of preparation for when the new will be put on.  Autumn is a slower season wrapped up in anticipation of winter which allows one to reflect and contemplate the world around her.  All these thoughts are what led me to the name as this quilt is a picture of a farm in autumn.

Here are the pictures of the finished quilt:




I made my first quilt sleeve with which to hang this quilt.  I also experimented a little with free motion quilting.  This project has made me realize I would like to do more free motion quilting and so I have found some fabrics I can do that with and will probably turn them into postcards and ornaments.  I may even raffle, auction, or sell them off when I am done with them.  Although it took me a few months to make it I enjoyed every minute and will be sad to see it go.  What makes me happy though is it is going to a great home where it will be loved and appreciated.  I hope the next quilt of this size that I make will be done in a much more timely manner.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Shameless Plug

Thanks to the Houghton Drawing Board I am now going to give you a 'shameless plug.'

From Houghton Drawing Board issue 108. Published Nov 17, 2011.
The real plug is this.  I now also have a facebook page and you can go there and 'like' it.  Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/soaringheights13

Mostly I will be using that page to link to my blog here but who knows I may put pictures up there that I don't here.  I will also be using my facebook page to raffle and auction off practice pieces, quilts, and personalized quilts.

You may be wondering your blog is titled Soaring Heights and your facebook page is titled Soaring Heights Quilting, what is with the title Soaring Heights?  Well the Soaring Heights comes from Isaiah 40:31 where those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles.  I know my hope is in God and so I thought the title fitting.  Quilting is my way of exploring the beauty that God gave us in nature.  I take photos of this beauty and turn them into art quilts.  Quilting has been in my family for a few generations and I have watched my mom experiment with quilting styles and art quilts.  Now I am experimenting with art quilts and using that to show God's love to people.  Most of the quilts I create I do not keep but give to others.  My photos are my main record of my quilts.  I actually enjoy quilting that way and find I do better if I have someone in mind for gifting my quilt to.  It is my hope that through quilting and eventually veterinary medicine I will be able to bring God's love to many people.

Now make sure to check out that facebook page and like it and keep coming back to see the latest in my adventures in art quilting.