We're back

Welcome to the world Clara Rey. She is our second grandchild. I am truly loving being grandma.

This is a picture from back in the day of Clara's mama sitting on my lap. 

And Clara's mama as big sister. I have had the privilege of having these two girls in my life, and now their children. I am thankful to them both for giving me the chance to be a grandmother. 

Grandparent love is wonderful but different. It's not the same heart breaking love you feel for your own. With grandparenting, you get to look into the eyes of your grandchild and slow things down. There aren't doctor appointments to keep and homework assignments and parenting deadlines. Just being with this little person who shares your blood.   

I had intended to get at least a little work done this week, but holding my granddaughter was more important. Being, not doing. 

Bathing

I have started working on my Bathtime Madonna. I love the purple and gold against the red. I've been wondering why my work is tending toward babies and baths. I haven't really planned a series, but it is coming out that way. Maybe it is because both of my girls are having babies right now. New granny... part of a new role in life. 

I think too that I've been contemplating this theme for a while. Not too long ago my mother's back went out and I had to help her get in and out of the shower and help her to dry off. She felt so much better after her shower. Such a small thing that I think we take for granted. The act of bathing someone who can't bathe themselves such as a baby or an elderly parent, is a very age-old sign of love and caring. Very fundamental and human. A ritual purification that purifies the caregivers soul. This photo by Smith has always stayed with me since the first time I saw it. The love and sadness in Tomoko's mother's face is heart breaking. 

No gold

I love spring time at the parsonage. Because unlike SoFLo, there actually is a spring time. 

I didn't get a chance to work on Miss Ivy while there because I was too busy gardening. But when we got back I had worked on her chair. I had put a gold color for the chair upholstery (the one next to the spool), which just seemed to drain the color out of everything else. I was not lovin' it. I do love how you can just peel pieces off if you don't like them when you've used the Therm O Web Heat N Bond lite. 

I had it in my head to do a purple background for the wall paper and some sort of floor. Now I'm thinking I'd like to keep the piece primarily white, red and black, though I did put a small splash of purple in the chair, which is still "red" of a sort. So more experimentation. 

12x12's

The 12x12, River Bath is finished. I am going to send it off to SAQA, as soon as I fill out the online form and pay my dues for 2016. Oops. This was the first small quilt I've ever done. Wish they all sewed up this fast. 

I have also been experimenting with layering and colors. The little square on the right was done very randomly like a free association session. Freud would be proud. With the one on the left, I put a little bit more thought and planning into it, (but not much) and was happier with the results. I like the way the little bits or orange and gray seem to melt into the turquoise dots. Not planned. Duchamp would be proud. 

We are thankfully heading up to the parsonage this weekend for 3 lovely days. Catfish festival on Saturday. See the kids on Monday. And hopefully putt around in the little boat on Sunday. Miss Ivy is coming with me again. I have possible plans for her.