The baby Meyer Lemon tree I planted last year gave us three lovely lemons, and now there are 18 tiny green nubs trying to grow up. Such generosity from this skinny little tree! So when Lisa Ellis opened a new call for entries titled "In My Backyard", I knew just what to make. The exhibition is planned to tour hospitals and similar facilities; they were clear that they wanted peaceful, happy art, nothing that would be disturbing to people in a health care setting.
This is all repurposed stuff--a piece of rusted linen damask, appliqued with yarn and leaves cut from a dyed, embroidered tablecloth. The yellow linen and the binding and backing came from my stash. A little paint and threadpainting on the lemons, a little stitched grass, echo quilting around the stems and leaves--and then, Lemonicity.
I'm also happy to welcome home "Connections--Neil & Ivonette & Lucy" from the Fly Me to the Moon traveling exhibition. It toured all over the country, including West Point and the Library of Congress, the Houston International Quilt Festival, quilt shows in Utah and Virginia, and Lunar Communion at Webster Presbyterian Church in Texas (where Buzz Aldrin still attends church). Opening the package and finding the piece in perfect condition--thank you, Suzanne Miller Jones!--was just lovely.
Next step is to clean up the studio in order to welcome a group of friends who will be visiting early in March. Wait--if I clean up now, won't it become a mess during February? Of course it will. Perhaps I should do what I do best--procrastinate for awhile.