The Meeting of Architecture, Photography, and Quilting

I'm finding it hard to even know where to begin this posting since I have been thinking about this project for so long.  I love architecture from a design standpoint, and buildings themselves for their form, function, and the way they interact with their surroundings.  I love photography.  Aside from family, I take pictures of buildings, sculpture and statues, and my quilt projects.  And I love quilting, because I get to play with color, pattern, form, function, and design.  I have yet to put all of my three loves into one project, until now.

When was in London back in 2011 and 2012, I took tons of pictures.  I wanted to do something with them, other than framing and hanging them up.  This spring I watched a program on fabric design and wondered if I could translate some of my photographic imagery into fabric.  While I would still like to do that, I need a different computer set up and chunks of time, neither of which I think I will be getting anytime soon.  So the next avenue was designing a quilt pattern based on a building that I photographed.  Light bulb moment for me.  The first I chose was our Embassy in London.

Three of the photos that I took.

The building is striking.  It is beautiful and geometric and has a repeating pattern.  It seemed perfect for my first attempt.  My third try at pattern design resulted in something that seemed workable.  The blocks aren't square. However, they are to a scale that I could make a quilt big or small, and not end up with it really thin and long or wide and short.

3rd attempt at designing a pattern.

That was back in April.  I didn't more forward with finding fabric or anything else because I had my big Birdbaths at Sunset quilt to finish and we moved.  I haven't unpacked all the boxes yet, but we're in the house and know where most of our stuff is.  I finished the Birdbaths quilt on Monday.

Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman

Tuesday I cut out the fabric for my Embassy quilt according to my pattern sheet.  I should have made it up with each size be a letter. Instead I lettered by fabric pattern.  Note to self on ways to improve for clarity when I do this again.

Recording the selvages to reference the designer

Tan for window frames, green for the windows, gray for the architectural detail

Wednesday I got Selim to Concord where I met Robert who took him back to the Ashram.  I drove on to Henniker to Quilted Threads as a treat.  I had visited their website before but never made my way down there.  Oh boy, what a wonderful shop!  I had a lovely time and will go back some day when the weather is better and the road conditions allow me to relax and really enjoy the experience.  I'm glad I made the trip, but also glad that I left when I did.  By the time I got home, the roads were slick with frozen fog and drizzle.

Beautiful shop, but at 4:30, it sure was dark.

Winter wonderland and slick roads

When I got home, I began sewing the top row.  I did all the tan window frames and green centers.  I chose green because the trees from the park often reflected in the glass.

Large windows arranged

Before I began to sew the gray triangles, my fabric rectangles looked really big.  I went back to the tutorial at the Modern Quilt Guild website and realized that I did the math wrong.  Instead of the 5 x 7 rectangles that I cut, I needed them to be 3 x 4.  Sigh. I don't know what I was thinking.  I cut twice as much fabric as I needed.  It turned out not to be an epic fail, as I was able to cut 2 rectangles out of each fabric piece with minimal waste.

This morning I brought my mug of tea down to the sewing  room and began on those triangles.  The tutorial is great and I had success on my first attempt.

Sew on either side of the pink line

Cut on the pink line and get 2 sets (I made 2 of each set).

Pressed open, and not.

Pressed and trimmed.

And now, I have the top / first row complete.

When the quilt is finished, it should measure 44 x 60.

Detail.

I can hardly believe it. I feel such a sense of accomplishment.  Granted, it is only the first row of 5 that I planned...but I did it.  My math worked; the pattern pieces all fit together.  It looks just like I envisioned.  I'm so happy.

I've read two quilt books recently that have been really inspiring, for different reasons.  The first is Quilt Local: Finding the Inspiration in the Everyday, by Heather Jones.  She has transformed her locale into beautiful quilts.  I love how she has taken elements of architecture and made a whole quilt from the sometimes small detail.  And I appreciate how un-patchworky her art is.

Since reading her book, I revisited my Embassy photographs and sketched out a second idea for a quilt that is more modern, streamlined, and not patchwork.  I'm excited to try that next.  I like the idea of using the same starting point and having two different outcomes -- one more traditional in the patchwork approach and the second, a more modern and abstract based.  I have several more photographs where I believe I can do the same thing.

The second book is Wanderlust Quilts: 10 Modern Projects Inspired by Classic Art & Architecture by Amanda Leins.  I don't plan on making all 10 of her projects -- it is seeing her photos and how she translated them into fabric that will blew my mind.  They are so beautiful.  I'm amazed and awed.  Her work gives me hope that my simple start has the potential to evolve if I stick with it.  Looking at her quilt based on photos of the Pantheon in Rome, I flash on my photos of the ceiling at the Library of Congress. I aim to develop my skills enough that I could translate my vision of that ceiling into a fabric reality.  Before I begin that one, I need to get better sewing curves.

I think 2016 is going to be a great year for project development.  I'm excited to experiment with my quilting and try new things: designing new patterns, honing my sewing skills, getting out to new quilt shops and attending a workshop or two.  And if I could figure out how to exercise, work full time, keep a cleaner house, and be more on top of the homework and school thing for Selim, rekindle my spiritual practice, and develop my creative life...now that would be awesome.

Christmas Recap

Christmas didn't sneak up on me, exactly.  I mean, it is a holiday that happens on the same day every year...but for some reason, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed short.  I don't think my week in DC helped my cause.  I came back excited about the material covered and exhausted at the same time.  I slept much of that first weekend home.  That left only a couple of weeks for the magic to happen.

I did get my baking done on schedule.  Having a big freezer helps.  Selim and I baked citrus rounds, lime coconut shortbread, ginger snaps, almond jewels, mint chocolate crinkle, chocolate espresso stars and trees, and cranberry orange drops.  I handed out five plates at work.  I kept a container in our freezer.  I brought the rest to the Ashram where we had some on hand for the holiday and then I made a big platter for the Schongalla family event.

I got most of my projects and shopping done on time.  I didn't have to send my boxes to California overnight mail like I did last year.  Selim and I made the ornaments in time to put in the boxes.  We had a lot of fun with that craft project.  We used Styrofoam balls, craft tape, and beads to make ball ornaments.  We made a huge mess on the dining room table and laughed the whole time.

Christmas itself was sweet.  Nedim came with us to the Ashram on Christmas Eve and that meant a great deal to Selim.  Robert had inflated the air mattress and put it in Mom's room where we were sleeping.  Selim didn't want to sleep on the inflatable.  With Nedim's back issues, he wasn't going on there.  So I happily went to bed there.  Both of my guys had trouble falling asleep.  Selim kept waking up during the night and verbally checking in with me.  Around 5:30 I suggested that he come on down to the floor with me.  He fell back asleep within minutes.  So there I was, pressed up against the desk, not sleeping, while my little one finally, totally relaxed.  As I watched the room lighted with the sun rise, I smiled, remembering that I found my sister and JT in the exact same position last year.

As usual, I made scones and a pot of tea for us to nibble on while we opened presents.

They took a bit longer to bake this year.

Flaky, cranberry scones

Pretty china waiting for the tea to be poured.

 In our stockings, Santa left three identical scarves.

Under the tree, we got what we wanted: sweaters for Nedim, fun things, a new electronic device, and a new hat for Selim, pretty earrings and other things for me.

From our family in the North, thank you Uncle Tyler.

Did I mention pears?  Dad and Valerie sent us a box of pears that taste like Nirvana.

The thing that we will remember about this Christmas for years to come is the weather.  We enjoyed mild days.  The forecast for Christmas Eve was the 60's.  There was too much fog for us to hit that record.  But Christmas day we did reach the upper 50's.  The boys played outside in short sleeves and even I walked around the track in a summer tee shirt and light vest, and shoes without socks.

The mild weather held for our drive down and back to Sudbury to attend the Schongalla day-after get together.  Not all the extended clan could make it.  We missed those in Oregon and California.  I'm grateful for the lack of heated political arguing.  I wouldn't have been able to take it this year.  I enjoyed the flow of conversations and catching up with those that I don't get to see very often.

Max in his festive sweater.

Electronic sharing

The evening ended with their variation of the Yankee Swap.  Malcolm ended up with Robert's contribution, a book on Tropical Diseases authored by the US Military.  And Nathan ended up with the ceramic lady with her big skirt cake dome that has been in the rotation for the past three years.  Selim drew for Robert and ended up with candles in the shapes of chocolates to which he said, "Mom, if these had been real chocolates with wicks in them, they would have been epic!"  At least he didn't get the tropical disease book.

The re-gifted cake dome cover.

This Christmas had many of our usual traditions: cookie baking, Robert and I tag teaming for mashed potatoes for the Schongalla dinner, opening an ornament present on Christmas Eve, scones and tea, family photos while we wear festive headgear, beautiful Christmas trees, and love.  No matter how the gatherings happen, the love of family is front and center.  May we continue to feel the love and grace that comes our way.

On the road

I don't like being separated from my guys.  I made them take a selfie with me before I got on the bus to go to Logan Airport this morning,  After a bit of eye rolling and sighing, they posed with me.

I must admit, I was nervous traveling today.  Sunday after Thanksgiving is a huge travel day and with all the extra warnings around airports...I had a clenched stomach.  Turns out it was one of the easiest times I have ever had.  There was little traffic on the road so the bus made it there early.  With only one person ahead of me to check in, I didn't have to wait long.  And the nice lady behind the counter accommodated my request and switched my ticket to an earlier flight.  Bonus, less time at the airport.  With my TSA pre-check status, I got the short line and kept my shoes on!

Taking the earlier flight meant that I had time to get in an adventure after checking into my hotel.  I rode the Silver Line to Potomac Avenue station. I walked along Potomac Ave until I found the Congressional Cemetery.

I had trouble figuring out how to get in.  The gate was closed and the office was dark.  I passed by the Dog Club entrance because...well...I didn't have a dog and I'm not a member.

I walked on a bit and didn't see any other entrance way, so I turned around and went back to the main gate.  Just then a guy came across the street and told me that I could go through the dog entrance.  He gave me a map and showed me where Hoover is buried and how to find Sousa's resting place.

The atmosphere at this cemetery I found to be more relaxed than at Arlington.  For one thing, there were so many dogs.  And seeing dogs running all over the grounds, barking at the squirrels, sniffing under leaves -- lends a noisy and silly counterpart to the solemnity of the place.  I felt that I could explore the markers and not offend.

While walking, I thought back to 1991 or so when I went to Atlanta and visited the Oakland Cemetery.  I came across a worker who had assumed I was there to pay homage to Margaret Mitchell.  I wasn't.  But I followed him to her resting place anyway.  At the time, I didn't remember who Margaret Mitchell was and too embarrassed to tell that nice man.  It wasn't until I got back to Fletcher's parents' house and recounted my day that I made the connection.  Mr. Lokey had a great story about her and through that telling, I put the pieces together.  

I really liked the little chapel in the center.  We have had such hard frosts and freezes that I was taken aback by the blooming roses.

I didn't bring my good camera with me this trip since it is on the fritz.  How I missed it!  I felt naked without it.  My phone camera was all I had.  Walking towards Hoover's grave, I was surprised at the number of recent burials.  I guess I tend to think of historic cemeteries as monuments to the past and not for the recently departed.  I'm wrong in that.

Anyway, here is Hoover because it seemed like I should see it after it was pointed out to me.

And Anne Royall (1769-1854) who is "generally considered the nation's first newspaperwoman."

Because of the dogs, I passed by many a spigot and bowl.

And a few bee hives.

I appreciated the 9/11 Healing Pole and walking grove.

What might have moved me the most was this:

You can't really tell from the picture, but the butterfly shone gold, even though the sky was cloudy and the sun nowhere in evidence.  I can't remember what was carved, exactly, but I it made me think a child was buried there.

There were statues above the Hall sisters.  The light wasn't right, so I only took one picture.

And the last few pictures:

At this point, my shoes had gotten wet and my feet were getting cold.  So I missed exploring other areas.  I wanted to take pictures of the row houses that I passed by on Potomac, on my way back to the metro, but my phone died.  They reminded me of that famous stretch of houses in Charleston, SC.  They weren't as big or bright, but the different colored facades and architectural details around the doors and windows made me think of that.

I got off the metro at Federal Triangle so that I could stop at Barnes and Noble.  I took a left instead of a right on F street.  More walking, but fortuitous, because I passed District Taco and stopped to pick up some dinner.  I turned around and went to 12th street and stopped at Walgreen's for band aides and then down the hill to Barnes and Noble.

By the time I got back to my hotel, my feet were blistered and hurting.  I should have changed shoes before I went on my exploration, but I didn't plan for the wet shoes and the chaffing.  Sigh.  There is no way I will be wearing heals tomorrow to class.  I think I will be heavily bandaged inside my comfy boots.

I'm headed to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) tomorrow for a mandatory leadership class.  I've been told that it is a good one and I'm looking forward to it.  If only my guys could be with me...