I have been consumed with childhood memories as of late. There is no rhyme nor reason too it, just reaching back for some cherished moments.

As a kid, I remember spending long lazy summer days close to the edge of boredom. Then it was out with the blankets, I would build a fort. Clothes pins, blankets, lawn chairs and voila, a fort hideaway.

The most important part of this fort was one blanket inparticular. A quilt, made by my grandmother, hand quilted. I wonder now what I was thinking, using that special treasure. We used it all up. Seriously, there was nothing left of that quilt, it was very well loved to the end!

So when I was gifted some thirties prints, I was taken back to that quilt from my youth, from those hot summer days. Drinking orange crush and reading Archie comic books to pass the time, all under that well loved quilt.

This is my version.

I’m pretty happy with this. The blocks are traditional, the fabrics reminicient of my grandmother’s quilt, with a modern border.

I’m calling it “Memories of Mae” (that’s my grandma!). It even fits on the tree with clothes pins!

Last week I was reading a blog about creating. I can’t find it now, or I would share it with you! The idea was that we get a great idea. We get excited about it and begin to act on it. Then, we stall, quit, stop, put the project on hold. Then we get a great idea. And so on and so on until life becomes one great big idea, but nothing is getting done.

I have experienced this phenomena!

Here is a once upon a time great idea!

This was a piece of fabric I had previously surface designed. The grid reminded me of trellis.

I had lots of fun adding sunflowers and color.

Then, it all stopped. I need to quilt this piece. The quilting completely changes the look of the piece. I am going to go back to working on this once great idea. I’m not really feeling like it is as great as I had originally envisioned, but I’m going to take it a little further.  Stay tuned for an update!

Do you have any great ideas hanging around?

I am definitely a rule follower.

And I think it all began as a child.  One evening, we went for a family drive. My dad knew this great ridge where we could see the lights of the city. Sounds great, right? When we arrived at the entrance to the ridge, there was a gate, with a sign, NO TRESSPASSING. This is a red flag for me that immediately tells me I should not go there. But, we do, we go. The view was pretty spectacular. As we go to leave, the gate is  locked. I quietly go into panic mode in the backseat. My dad says he will go and get help, but I am pretty sure we are all going to be arrested! I was terrified, knowing we had broken the rules, and very afraid of the consequences. Well, my dad came back with the guy with the key and we were off. The police were not called, and all these years later I wonder if my dad knew the guy. That would have been useful information for me, while I quietly panicked in the backseat of the car.

This is how life has been for me. Thousands of others can get away with little infractions of the rules, but as for me, I always get caught and questioned and life seemed for me to be less complicated when I lived inside the rules. A little more carefree and much less time spent in panic mode!

Then I started to play with art and being creative.

I have been working on a series of Arabian Doors. This is outside of the lines and the rules because the designs and patterns that I am using can be found in various doors, however, I am making my own patterns and using colors I want to play with.

Yep, someone said something! Someone mentioned to me that these are not the colors used in the doors. I felt like I had trespassed, colored outside the lines, yes, broken the rules.

So I started a door in the traditional colors and I felt like a fraud! I felt like I was totally copying the work of someone else. And more than that, I was not enjoying the work. It was then that I realized I was using the beautiful doors I had seen as inspiration. As an artist, I can interrupt what I see as I like, that is what makes me, well, me!

I edged closer to doing mostly textile art instead of quilts because it just felt freer. I got to decide. There is not this list of rules for the work I do, because it all comes from me.

I do find it interesting that I do still follow the rules of life and community. When it comes to art, I am totally outside of the lines, breaking rules and loving it!

This piece form WishHunt.com sums up exactly how I feel about creating art.

I hope you are having all the fun!

My first piece of the year is very Arabian. I am currently working on art to be shown in Saudi Arabia and am planning a series of Arabian Doors

I painted a piece of cotton a few weeks ago. This piece began looking like this.

After I completed the painting on this piece, you can still see some of the brown through the paint, which I was hoping would give it a painted wood look. It is quite interesting to take a look at this piece before it was quilted.

The quilting is my favorite part. It brings color and texture and life to the piece!

I had it mounted on stretcher bars and framed so the size is 9 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ x 3/4″.

I am hoping to make a few more of these Saudi doors. I’m planning the next ones to be in more traditional colors.

The art show is in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia March 6, 7 and 8. I better get to work!