Tag: 70273 makers (Page 3 of 4)

An Afternoon with Roxanne Lasky

June 17, 2016 / jeanne / 4 Comments

I’ve long admired and adored the work of Roxanne Lasky from afar. Knowing that she lives in the vicinity, a couple of days ago, as we barreled down the road headed to Hilton Head Island, I sent her a facebook message asking if there was a fabric store or quilt exhibit I needed to see while we are here. Her response? “You’re passing right by us. Stop by. Lorie McCown is here, and we have wine.”

Now it didn’t work out for me to get over there in time to meet Lorie, but I did spent an hour and a half with Roxanne, her engineer Stu, and Miss Nellie at their beautiful home yesterday, and what a treat that was! I hadn’t been there 30 minutes when we were talking with ease about topics even the best of friends usually avoid – things like organized religion and spirituality. There are few things I enjoy more than meeting other cloth workers, seeing their studio, hearing their stories . . .

As far as art goes, Roxanne has done it all.

She’s sculpted

and painted

hooked rugs,
made traditional quilts,
owned a fabric store,
and done longarm quilting.

Honoring what beckons to her,
she found her way to houses

RoxanneLaskyJacketCloseup1

and art quilts.
Intuitive stitching, she calls it.

Roxanne makes jackets
that showcase her intuitive stitching.

This piece, that hangs in the bedroom,
is a collage of cloths she’s bundled,
rusted, and dyed, transforming
them all in one way or another.
She and Lori sometimes do collaborative pieces.
Their current collaboration is
on an indigo-dyed doily.
They’ve just begun,
and already it’s a sumptuous piece.

Roxanne is working on a series about
the erosion of memory
and in particular, Alzheimers.
In these pieces, Roxanne stitches
good memories of her mother
along with the sadness of remembering
her mother’s descent into Alzheimer’s
and her fear of developing Alzheimer’s herself.

RoxanneLaskyTheOtherOz1
Having grown up poor,
when her mother married
and found herself with enough pin money
that she no longer had to buy
somebody else’s cast-off shoes,
she indulged in her love of high heels.
New high heels.
This piece is called The Other Oz.
(Roxanne is as good at naming pieces
as she is at conjuring and stitching them.)
As you might imagine,
she finds it necessary to take
frequent breaks from the memory series,
stitching other, unrelated themes.

RoxanneLaskysTotems
This piece is her personal totem,
filled with things that
speak to her.
Things like
dresses, feathers, and birds.

A former special ed teacher and
an early contributor to The 70273 Project,
and, Roxanne recently met a fella who regaled her
with stories about his son
who has Down’s Syndrome and autism,
and she was so moved, she vows
to make a block dedicated to his son.

After a morning of thrift store shopping
with The Engineer and my mother
(I’ll show and tell you more tomorrow)
and getting to call Roxanne Lasky “Sugar” to her face,,
the sun set on what I’d be hard pressed to call
anything but A Mighty Fine Day.

What I Found Inside Envelope 20

June 10, 2016 / jeanne / 6 Comments

Little Luna, I call her, and I adore her. She’s the teenage daughter of a woman I love – a woman I call Moonglow – and these are her blocks. Little Luna’s, I mean. She shopped for her fabric at thrift stores, and she texted me messages and photos throughout the morning, taking me shopping with her. Here, in her own good words, is what she told me about making them . . .

Sometimes we forget that terrible things are done. When my mom told me about this project, I immediately wanted to conribute. I believe in this, I believe that no one should die by 2 “x”s on a piece of paper. We all have a right to life, even the imperfect and the youngest among us can teach and give to the world. No one should be able to take that from us!

What happened to these people was a monstrocity! The very fact that they just looked at a piece of paper and never looked in the eyes of the person they were sentencing to death shows their lack of humanity. I am infuriated by this. Someone thought “This child can not have a future. XX.”!!!

I chose to cut up soft worn fabric from donated clothes. The fabric was part of someone’s story. The “X’s” could have been an unseen hand ending that tale. Thank you, Miss Jeanne, for letting me help, and for reminding the world that everyone has a story and needs to be seen and honored.

Little Luna

Mail Call for The 70273 Project

June 9, 2016 / jeanne / 1 Comment

Getting heavily-decorated mail tickles me,
The Engineer, and our local post mistresses.
Tickles a lot of other folks along the way, too, I’m guessing.

A flock of beautiful blue birds
brought this package from Australia,
a box filled with – count them – 160 blocks.
Thank you, Glenda Williams!

Beautiful flowers adorn another envelope from Susan Getchell in Florida.

Lee Durbin sent another envelope of blocks,
this one decorated in patriotism, and it sparked
the idea to make five blocks a day over Memorial Day weekend
(which I did and well tell you about soon)
as a way of remembering and appreciating
those who died to prevent atrocities
like the one that murdered the 70273 people
we commemorate with The 70273 Project.

Just seeing Kitty Sorgen’s name on the return address label
makes me smile, so when I turn it over to see this,
it’s like getting a bonus.

Orderly, well-dressed felines
brought this envelope from Marie Johansen.

And this one from Tina Davis was just plain fun.
Included in her envelope was a piece of fabric
and a request for me to sign it
and become part of her signature quilt.

Sometimes I open envelopes to find jewelry on the inside –
like this uplifting note from Susan Guild

and this one from Samantha Kendig

and this exciting news from MJ Kinman.

Then there’s this creative postcard
from the talented one known as Della Monk.
It really doesn’t have any relation to The 70273 Project,
but it’s so much fun, there’s no way I could leave it out.

No matter how your blocks get to me,
I thank y’all for being part of
The 70273 Project
and making it such an enjoyable
and worthwhile endeavor.

Mail Call: Envelopes 9, 10, 11, and 12

April 7, 2016 / jeanne / 0 Comments

Sharleen Jespersen, who has a habit of making beautiful quilts
for really good causes,
makes this beautiful 9.5″ x 12.5″ (24.2 cm x 31.8 cm) block for The 70273 Project
in honor of her daughter and tucks it inside Envelope #9.

Thank you, Sharleen. I’m honored and delighted
that you’ve chosen to be a part of
The 70273 Project.

I met Kathleen Loomis at a fiber arts workshop
in Louisville, KY a couple of years ago,
and I was delighted to open Envelope #10
to find this 3.5 x 6.5 (9 cm x 16.5 cm) block from her.

Kathleen writes:
” I am working on a quilt that references the American flag,
and right now I’m alternating
between sewing on the red and white areas.
I had lots of different white fabrics in piles
on my cutting table,
so I grabbed the top one off the pile
and cut a block for you and The 70273 Project.

The red parts are being heavily stitched
and cut into ‘postage stamps’.
I assemble a large panel of quilt sandwich
and then stitch and stitch and stitch
for a while before cutting it into 1-1/2 inch squares.
Sometimes at the end of the cutting
there’s a very skinny pice left over,
which of course I would never throw away
even if it’s only 1/4 inch wide.
So I picked up a skinny bit that was sitting
on my sewing table, cut it into four parts,
and stitched them onto the white ground fabric.
I would estimate total work time at 2.7 minutes.”

Thank you, Kathleen. Look forward to seeing that quilt
that lent us some pieces for The 70273 Project.

3.5″ x 6.5″ (9 cm x 16.5 cm)

3.5″ x 6.5″ (16.5 cm x 24.2 cm)

6.5″ x 9.5″ (16.5 cm x 24.2 cm)

9.5″ x 12.5″ (24.2 cm x 31.8 cm)

In Envelope #11,
we find four blocks created by Julie Taylor.
Julie writes:
“Cecilie had her physical and mental challenges
and passed at too young of an age.”

Thank you, Julie.
You pay beautiful homage to Cecilie.

Hailing from the U.K., we have Envelope #12
containing this 6.5″ x 9.5″ (24.2 cm x 31.8 cm) block made by
Catherine Hill.
It makes me think of two friends
holding hands as they go willingly
– because they’re “disabled”
which means they don’t know anything but Trust –
off with the person who ultimately
shepherds them to their death.

Thank you, Catherine, for this block that tells a story.

~~~~~~~

Have you made some blocks?

Subscribed?

Joined the Facebook group?

Liked the Facebook page?

Told three (or more) others about The 70273 Project?

And on we grow . . .
thanks to y’all.

Envelopes 2, 4, and 6, Please

March 28, 2016 / jeanne / 4 Comments

Envelope #2
is from Deborah L. J. Mackinnon
who hails from Washington.
Deborah writes:

I began my journey as an artist after retiring from a career in education.
My love of learning combined with a life long love of fabric.
Self-taught, I’m a member of Contemporary Quilt Arts.
My current project is a series of quilted artist’s books.
Additionally, I’m an active Rotarian and a joyful grandmother.
“Making visible the invisible” is what motivated me to create my block.
The red x’s are shadowed with black fabric pen
to symbolize the prejudice
that physically and mentally disabled individuals
still endure.

Thank you for initating this project.

Sincerely,
Deborah L. J. Mackinnon

Thank you for participating in this project, Deborah.

~~~~~~~

Envelope #3 from Georgia contains
a block from Anonymous Maker 2
created in honor of Nancy Chambers

and a block from Anonymous Maker 3
writes “A very worthy project!”
and created this block
in honor of Nancy Chambers

Thank y’all for making these beautiful blocks
in honor of Nancy. They do her justice
in their vulnerability,
in what must surely look to some
like imperfections.
These blocks, like Nancy,
are beautiful
in their own unique way.

~~~~~~~

Envelope #6 contains blocks from
Denise Giardullo
who lives in New York.
Denise writes: “Thank you. I am happy to participate.”

Glad you’re a part of this, Denise. Thank you.

~~~~~~~

It’s fun to go in the post office
and come out with something besides bills.

And what of envelopes 3 and 5, you ask?
Stay tuned.

Perhaps you’d like to:
make some blocks
get blog posts delivered
join our facebook group
like our facebook page

It’s a Family Affair

March 19, 2016 / jeanne / 0 Comments

Laurie Dunn has been a vital and vibrant part of The 70273 Project
from the beginning – 2/14/2016.
On 2/22/2016, Laurie wrote:
“I made myself cardboard templates,
in each size so I would not have to measure each block
and they will fit in Jeanne Hewell-Chambers’ plan.
So far I have just made the 6.5 x 9.5″ size.
(And I am surprised by how many red and white tools I have.)”

One day Laurie worked on a block while visiting her dad.
He asked what she was doing, and when she told him,
he sang a little song from his WW II days,
then told her “Wait here just a minute,”
and went to fetch a red ribbon from a box of candy.”
“Use this in one of your blocks,” he told her.

Laurie’s dad, who celebrated his 90th birthday in February,
joined the Navy when he was 17 years old,
fought in World War II,
then re-enlistd for the Korean War.

Laurie writes, “My dad was quite moved by The 70273 Project.
He said, ‘That is why we fought against Hitler.'”

This is Laurie’s not quite 3 year old granddaughter, Sophia
using a needle for the very first time,
putting about 6 stitches in this 6.5 x 9.5 block.
Laurie says Sophia did pretty good for her first time with a needle.

Meet Laurie’s 3 busy grandsons, ages 3, 5, and 7.
“These active boys stitched for over an hour this afternoon,” Laurie writes,
“surprising me with their ability and interest in helping with sewing.
Even the 3 year old wanted to do it himself.
I prepared the blocks for them yesterday,
and used that iron on fusible web to hold the XXs.
I was even able to stitch a couple of blocks myself while they worked.”

And last but not least, let’s welcome Laurie’s husband
to The 70273 Project.
“I got my material out. Cut 8 blocks to start.
Thought I would try using a couple of hoops,” Laurie says.
“My husband smiled and said ‘Got your blocks cut?’
I threaded a needle and handed it to him with one of the hoops,
and here he is stitching his block.”
Then our Laurie and her husband laid down a challenge:
“How many blocks is The Engineer going to make?”
(Update to follow, Laurie!)

Would you just look at this beautiful woven block
created by Laurie.
Laurie works at Martha Lloyd Community Services.
And if you visit their web site,
the first words you’ll see are these:
“Where Families Matter”.
Poke around a bit, and you’ll see philosophies
that align with mine . . . with ours . . .
and photos of some of the happiest faces you’ve ever seen.
It’s now officially on My List:
I’m going to visit the Martha Lloyd Community Services one day soon,
if they’ll have me,
and I’m gonna’ make sure it’s a day when Laurie is there.

~~~~~~~

Have you made your block yet?

Have you like The 70273 Project Facebook page
(a.k.a. bulletin board)
to receive the occasional quick updates?

Have you joined our brand new The 70273 Project Facebook group
to gather round the campfire
and take part in the community?

Have you subscribed to the blog
to receive The 70273 Project stories?

A Block Making Party with Kimberly Brock and the Tinderbox Writers

March 15, 2016 / jeanne / 0 Comments

Kimberly Brock, author of The River Witch
and a real dynamo creative kind of gal,
invited me to yesterday’s gathering
of The Tinderbox Writing Group,
and guess what we did – that’s right!
We made blocks for The 70273 Project.

MariAnn Stefanelli, a kickass editor
and founder of The Writer’s High Retreat,
put a tear at the bottom of one of her X’s.

Kimberly Brock found it hard to smile
when holding her block.
She made her two red X’s from scraps
that she cobbled together in a
deliberately clumsy way,
saying this is how the doctors’
hearts – at least some of them –
must have felt:
shaky, uneasy, reluctant.
Surely, she said, some of the doctors
went along with the program,
fearing what might happen to their families
if they didn’t.

Karen Filos made a vertical block.
And those flyers in her lap?
She’s got ideas of places she can post those!

Janice Foy, who is surely wearing green this week
the perfect color to go with her beautiful Irish accent,
made two blocks.

Samantha Kendig left space between her
two red X’s, space where a third red X
could have gone . . . but didn’t.

I can’t wait to tell you more about the narrative clay
Pam Arena creates, and I will, too, cause she has an exhibit
opening next month, and I will be there!
I can’t wait to see her flowers that express
her love for her mother
and her grief following her mother’s death.
Yesterday she took her hands out of the clay
to make a block for The 70273 Project,
and I couldn’t be happier about that.

These women are amazingly creative,
their stories enthralled and inspired me.
And as if all that isn’g enough,
they all have people they’re going to contact
to let them know about The 70273 Project.
What a grand way to kick off a week.

And as if all that isn’t enough,
when The Engineer fetched me afterwards,
he came bearing gifts.
“It’s the biggest 4-leaf clover I’ve ever found for you.”
He’s a keeper, that one.

~~~~~~~

Want me to come to your block making group?
Let me know – we might just be able to make that happen.
Want to keep up with goings-on?
It’s free and easy to subscribe.
Want to become a part of The 70273 Project?
Maybe you want to start by liking our Facebook page
then making some blocks.

So You Want to Make a 70273 Block Without Sewing, Do You?

March 4, 2016 / jeanne / 0 Comments

Let’s say you want to make blocks for The 70273 Project but your arthritic fingers don’t want to cooperate. What to do?

You glue.

Six days after launching, my mother (Mother), my other mother (Mama Helen), my brother (Jerry or, as I call him, J3) and my sister-in-love (Robin) had ourselves a block party. Now here’s the thing, though they were enthusiastically eager to make a block, arthritis made it awfully hard and quite painful for Mother and Mama Helen. So what to do? Again I say, glue.

I got to work and auditioned several glues, and found this glue and this glue and this glue work swell. (I’m not done auditioning glues, so keep an eye on the sidebar for additions) – the fabric remains flexible and it holds like nobody’s business. Which it will need to do seeing as how these quilts will be rolled, unrolled, shipped, hung, taken down, and, well, you get the picture. The two red X’s have to stay put.

MamaHelenAndHerblock

The first important note: Mother and Mama Helen found the glue bottle hard to mash, so if that’s a problem for you and yours, you might want to pour some out on a piece of waxed paper and use a toothpick or popsicle stick to smear the glue to the back of the red fabric.

The second important note: If you click from the sidebar and purchase the item, The 70273 Project gets a few pennies in the coffer to help cover our costs. Thank you.

The third important note: I will be adding other items to our little Amazon shop, so check back. And hey, if you know of something we should add to our little storefront, please do let me know.

Back to making blocks . . .

MotherAndHerblock

Mother has decided that she’s gonna’ make 31 blocks in March, and she wants them all to be the small blocks to represent children who didn’t have a chance to grow up.

When she went to lay down the two red X’s, Robin, my sister-in-love, went quiet and said how good it felt to be a part of something bigger than herself.

This block party, by the way, is how we celebrated my birthday – a week late and there was a meal (cubed steak and mashed potatoes and a birthday cake with pink boiled icing just like my grandmother used to make me) that followed the block making activity.

Mother’s kitties, Lewis and Clark (warning: be real careful what you name baby kitties) joined in, too. And a good time was had by all.

~~~~~~~

I am absolutely thrilled to be a guest blogger over at my friend Lori East’s e-nest today. Please do go by and wave at her, and take a few minutes while you’re there to enjoy her beautiful work and words. She’s a treasure, that one.

~~~~~~~

The blocks are rolling in, and I’m cataloging them in my shiny new (well, 2 days old, but that’s new, right?) system. I’ll be posting them here, so subscribe (see below) cause you don’t want to miss a thing.

~~~~~~~

Now remember to:
like our facebook page
follow our pinterest board
and subscribe for free home delivery
and please, please, please keep making those blocks.

The 70273 Project: Off and Running

March 2, 2016 / jeanne / 0 Comments

The 31-Blocks-in-31-Days Event for The 70273 Project is off and running . . .

Barbara Atwell is off and making,
and spreading the word, getting others involved, too.

I met Fran Saperstein around the end of 2009, and let me tell you:
she’s one of those people whose heart shines through immediately.
And look – she’s keeping things interesting for the quilters
by making some vertical blocks!

~~~~~~~

Having been gone for a week and a half,
we should be able to get by the post office
tomorrow when it’s open,
so stay tuned for more blocks and makers
as the week unfolds.
(I probably won’t sleep a wink tonight in anticipation!)

~~~~~~~

Having spent most of today tinkering under the hood here at the blog.
I direct your attention to the lower right sidebar
where I’ve added a cute-as-all-get-out
working-on-the-goal graphic.
As the blocks come in,
the tube will fill till we get to the magic number:
70,273.
And oh what a celebration that will be.

I also added a directory in the sidebar
for The 70273 Project
to make it quicker and easier
to find specific posts
that might be helpful.

Thank y’all for the blocks I know you’re making.
I can’t wait to see them on Facebook.
Post on your timeline and tag me
or on my timeline
or on The 70273 Project ~~campfire~~ page.

Now I’m gonna’ be on the go
over the next few months,
so if you have a group you’d like me to speak to
or if you’d just like to meet for
a Krispy Kreme doughnut,
let me know.

Wanna’ get free daily delivery? Subscribe right here.

Nancy Does Her Part for The 70273 Project Blocks

February 25, 2016 / jeanne / 4 Comments

Nancy does her part: makes a drawing that will become her block for The 70273 Project.
(Lighting was a little on the dark side on account of it was post-lunch nap time.)

And here Nancy and Jeanne (mostly Jeanne, actually) talk about
what it’s like to be a mother and an artist.

Here are Nancy’s finished drawings for her 70273 blocks.
Just wait till you see what I have planned for
my part of the collaboration.
Stay tuned.

Today we picked up the 563 (or so) drawings that will become
In Our Own Language 19.
Here are some of my favorites:

Tonight I was tickled to be invited to talk about The 70273 Project
with other writers over on Twitter
in #storydam,
a chat moderated tonight by Meredith Shadwill.

Don’t forget to help get the word out by mentioning The 70273 Project on
Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media outlet you hang out in.

and

Remember to subscribe so you stay up to date.

and

Let me know when you get your block finished
and let me know if you’re gonna’ participate in the
Make-a-Block-a-Day-in-March Event.

and, as always:

Thank you.