It took me 3 days, an hour at a time, like the walking stitch, one or 2 pieces at a time. The slow stack. I let it sit uncovered while it was so sunny and dry. stacking
The rain moved in last night, the Hurricane Lee effect. Will rain all day. It's covered now. 1 more cord will be delivered today. To be stacked under the deck. There is already 1 cord under there, leftover from last year.
The cloth I call Grow (related posts in case you have not been following...) has been in my hands for days. Just growing.
Suddenly, I thought sunflower. The circle was already there. I used line-guided applique, cutting the petals freehand and adding the line to shape it later.
I already sleep beneath it. love
Following your progress on designing this quilt has reminded me that transition is not always easy but often necessary for growth. Listening to a pileated woodpecker while lunching on my deck yesterday reminded me that resistance to change is like pounding one’s head against the trunk of a tree. For the woodpecker that provides food. Sometimes we need to knock against what we resist to get through to a better place for ourselves. Thanks for reminding me through your work that change can be produce such beauty!!!
The thrill is always in the new form that emerges. Sometimes even sleep helps me through my resistance. The thing is, what works is always unexpected. Never the same twice. Waiting is good too, cuz I get tired then , of waiting, and just go…
Feels like a mandala to me . . . starting from the outside and working inward. Love this one!!
a nice way to see it!
I love how the golden time light casts a glow on both circles, wood and sunflower. Autumn treats.
A cord of wood is a new term for me.
September is golden even in my mind…
a measurement that is never really exact. 4 feet deep, 4 feet high, 8 feet wide when stacked but really, they dump a pile and how can you know? I get the sense of it after all these years, these were generous.
What a beautiful cloth. Your spontaneity and creativity are a gift to watch. I am so delighted to be a ragmate. Thanks.
well this one has been sort of dormant for a while, I think some of the seeds just sprouted!
Watching your quilt grow like a garden 🧡🌻
Beautiful! What a Joy to sleep under .
it has a nice weight.
I always wanted to sleep in a garden, this way there are no mosquitoes!
The petals added so much light and fullness, and the circle of your woodpile is also very beautiful. Very Andy Goldsworthy. Have spent the day quilting and mending- centering and contentment.
yes, joy happened.
The round pile a bit Goldsworthy yes, but perhaps less of an artful intention, and more about how function creates form and the beauty in that.
I feel centered and content as well.
Oh yes, even more beautiful for the usefulness.
Exactly!
Sunflowers all year round and a reminder of what it is to have the sun on yr back and hands in soil, wonderful. About to plant some red sunflowers here in New Zealand. Kindest Regards Jacqui
sunshine makes us happy.
I bet if you could look down on the top of that uncovered wood pile it might look like a sunflower, raised center and radiating petals!
First looking at the small picture of the new petals on the quilt, then seeing the whole on the bed, I was amazed at their size! How beautiful! They do finish that circle nicely.
yes, the circles are related…
I love the scale of the flower really, that I can sit in the middle of it.
It made the circle into a hug.
I love that woodland critters are finding shelter in your amazing wood stack. I love especially that you are happy being their landlord.
And the quilt. Wow!
I am so much closer to what goes on here this year. It is so different than the old place.
Two beautiful ways to keep warm
maybe one circle leaned into another…
Your cricket yurt is beautiful in so many ways. So artful, thoughtful, slow stack stitched, useful, and welcoming to critters.
Thank you for sharing the idea of a sunflower. I have a Pinterest board full of sunflowers, that I hoped would be inspirational for a quilt. But, really, I just wanted the IDEA of sunflowers. Thank you for sharing what IDEA can mean. I need to abstract my sunflowers a bit.
Like a log house with a rain hat…
it really is a haven for small things. All the while useful for us. I love the way they look.
concept is very expansive, while holding the mind steady at the same time.
it does look like a hat!
You help me see.
we seem to do that for each other, you can never have too many eyes.
I noticed the drawn outer circle and when you mentioned it in your narrative, I first thought “rays of the sun”–but OH! Magic is so much better! All your large quilts really are full of Good Magic, Big Medicine!
Dreams of crickets—(Chinese for Good Luck!!)
Studio clean-out continues for me, but oh! I’m seeing PROGRESS!
WHEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
I live the big blankets. They are the spirit cloths.
💚🧵🪡🤩✨🪄💚
The words “Spirit Cloths” just fill me with comfort 🥰
Well rounded! 🧵🪡
Ha!
Can really feel the warmth of that circle. And it looks so homey and useful on the bed. Our open fireplace never drew very well so we didn’t use it much. We just had a super efficient insert put in. Taking notes on your stacking method.
this old stupid 80s house has so many awful details, but the insert is huge and efficient, I was going to put in a regular wood stove but there is no need really. the fire is on the bottom level f this split level and all the heat rises up. It is almost too hot. I open the windows in the bedroom midwinter. I love that.
I can feel the love in this special quilt. It jumps off the page and moves me. The creativity that flows through you ripples out and I am grateful to be in the path… thank you Jude for your generous spirit.
it really warmed up and I love it so much now…
I really love the round wood stack
if i end up going back to wood that’s the way i’d prefer to do it
I always tried to put it bark side up to protect it from water.
when we brought it in we’d make a square and do alternating rows say 4 one way bark side down than 4 the other to give them wood space to dry and warm.
we’d get a warmer fire by adding one uncured log to the already going fire it would add the moisture and heat us up more.
like starting with poplar then adding the oak.
building a fire is such a huge joy. managing it with what you have. how cold it is. I really do love it. And each day I go gather the windfall here, free kindling everywhere.
Your skills never cease to amaze me! The circle stacked wood… inspiring me.. we have an insert and it made such a huge difference!
And yes honoring the
Bountiful year for sunflowers!!🌻🌻🌻
maybe the black and white is the Crickets’ song
yes, the rhythm of it…perfect.
Gorgeous cloth, Jude, flowering into its New Season. You must sleep very peacefully under its beauty.
I did sleep well last night, dreaming of crickets
walking stitch wood stacking reminded me of my library days … how my young librarian self would grasp as many books as I could, moving them from one shelf to another … my older (wiser?) self would take but a few at a time … more steps, but just as effective (and safer) in the long run
yes, of course I was also pacing myself. Stepping carefully. mostly one piece of wood in each hand. You think you will never finish, but then it doesn’t matter, the rhythm of it sooths you and there is a joy in the forming process.
Love seeing it on the bed. 🙂
you know I was just thinking how important that is, for a quilt, to have a useful home.
I so agree that these petals added so much warmth to this fabulous quilt and I love the addition!
Your own love is just surrounded in this piece which I have always loved too but these petals just make it shine.
it came alive!
So beautiful! Containing it all!
it seem like that might be possible
This is one of my absolute favorites Jude. No matter how it ‘grows’, I feel a connection.
I’m glad. it has become a very important cloth.