So, I assume that most of you spent this beautiful June 1st day outdoors. Since I was invited to participate in the Mansfield Historical Society’s Museum Opening of “Antique and Vintage Quilts”, I was inside for the afternoon surrounded by fine workmanship,  beautiful fabrics and a stunning display of antique quilts, like this one shown below;

MansfieldHistoricalSociety

I brought some of my 2014 work – and explained my improvisational process to the visitor’s to this exhibit. Here is a picture of where I was located in the exhibit; and one of my pieces pinned to a panel like the ones that I use in my studio.

The piece on the panel is part of my “Balancing Acts” series -it’s title “Storms Coming”

“Balancing Acts”series #2-28Hx35Winches_CWSmith2014

Another view – note the beautiful piece on the left – it creates a stunning visual when hung on the wall.

And here (on the right) is a perfectly executed 8 point star quilt.  This quilt was made by Mary Forman Paxton (1817-1903) and it is exquisitely quilted.  Because it incorporates a simple repetition of 72 blue stars set in rows vertical and horizontal – it had a very calming orderly affect on me.

Meeting quilt enthusiasts is always a pleasure and since I hand quilt all of my fiber art it was interesting to hear their comments – “this must take you an awful long time”  For me, the process of hand stitching is so meditative that time passes very quickly when I am in “my stitching zone”.  It makes me think “Love what you do and do what you love”.  Hope you all were able to do just that today!!  The Mansfield Historical Society Museum is open every Saturday and Sunday, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. through the end of September. http://www.mansfield-history.org  And if you are interested in seeing another Quilt Exhibit in the Storrs area – please visit the Windham Textile and History Museum in Willimantic – to view “Inspiration Quilts: Then and Now” running through September 7th.  The WTHM is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.