= Quilts + Music
Two of the more upsetting losses in the American public education system are the discontinuation of a regular arts curriculum and the disappearance of hands on work. When I was in elementary school, we had art class twice a week which included everything from pottery (with a kiln!) to painting to creative reuse (think popsicle… Continue reading Hey Though I Wander
Throughout my life, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about what exactly makes a home. Is it the place? Is it the actual occupied space? Or is it about the people you reside with? What about the community? How do your belongings make a home? As a college educated anthropologist, I understand… Continue reading Brand New Colony
Whenever I have to describe myself, one of the first things I note is that am a voracious reader. I used to say "an avid reader", but my reading habit is really more intense than that. My pace is an average of a book per week, and pretty much has been my entire life. Naturally… Continue reading Carry the Zero
Lately every time I read the news, I wind up feeling like I just ingested a fire hydrant's worth of heartbreak and misery. And the tragedies just keep on coming; a new day, a new disappointment. All of the heinous news is compounded by the fact that nowadays the news cycle is so frantic and… Continue reading I Need You
It is my favorite time of year when all of the flowers begin to bloom and the air is warm(ish) and filled with bird song. No matter where I've lived, or what the previous winter entailed, I've always excitedly awaited the arrival of spring. After the dark and the cold, I relish every springlike moment.… Continue reading Magnolia
I remember my grandparents cautioning me as a child how fast time passes when you're an adult. Well, ain't that the truth! As a middle aged woman, I find myself reflecting on this warning and what I can do to make time feel more abundant. A big hurdle for me has been overcoming the notion… Continue reading Other Side of Paradise
One of the more popular get-to-know-someone questions is "What is your favorite color?". This simple query is in fact quite loaded because your answer signifies a great deal about you as a person. Colors have qualities akin to personality traits, just as colors are also associated with certain emotions. And often our favorite color is… Continue reading Santa Fe
A very simplistic definition of quiltmaking is cutting fabrics into different shapes and stitching layers of material together. Of course the reality of making a quilt is much more complex. Often the maker has a vision of the final product when they begin -- whether following a pattern or creating improvisationally, there is an idea… Continue reading You Are My Sunshine
Winter can be a paradoxical season. On the one hand, snow is truly beautiful and the season beckons for low key activities like baking, sewing and reading. On the other hand, the short days (especially at the latitude where I live) and cold weather put a major damper on my energy levels. I basically consider… Continue reading Slow Down
I am a big believer in extending the life of useful things. Around the Quiltunes household you'll find reused objects in every room because that is how we roll. Sour cream containers, toilet paper tubes and food scraps live at least one more life before moving on to their final resting place. As examples, toilet… Continue reading Pump It Up
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