A couple of weeks ago I had trouble breathing, called my doctor’s office, and the nurse there called 911 for me. Wow. What an experience that was. Okay, it was a little surreal to be frank. One of the things that happened was the paramedic, after he had placed a needle in my arm vein, attached me to heart monitors and then placed me on oxygen, told me how much he liked my watercolor paintings of cats. What? This is really happening? Panting for air, I struggled for a moment to think of what he was talking about.
Those aren’t really watercolor paintings, but they sure do look like it, I suppose. They are actually art quilts made with handpainted fabrics that give them their “watercolor” look.
The patterns for the quilts came from McKenna Ryan and I bought them at a local quilt store years ago. Over months I slowly assembled the fabric stash to get the colors that I wanted, and then I created the quilts in my own colors to make them show cats that I have known and loved over my life. These three cats are Morgan (the yellow sunflower cat), Zach (the tuxedo cat) and Teak (my beloved Siamese cat). I love these quilts, especially because of the quality of the dyes on the fabric and the way the colors work together.
So, do you think that I am a sucker for handpainted yarn? Oh, my lord, that would be a huge YES!
The week after the exciting and exhausting ambulance ride my BKB (best knitting bud) Deb and I went up to the Interweave Yarn Fest to do some quality shopping.
Don’t those yarns look a lot like the colors that are in the quilts?
I saw these yarns and I was gone. I didn’t even do my usual pass through the entire yarn show before buying anything. I just started piling up the yarn that I wanted and that was that. I bought 11 skeins of fabulous, water-colorish yarns and wanted more. Let me show you what I got.
Here’s the thing. Looking at these yarns, I realized that they are the colors of the quilts. Watercolors. Colors that make me smile inside. The colors of sunshine, flowers in the garden, cats, and summer days. I look at these yarns, I imagine the projects that they will make shine, and I begin plotting the knitting. And the flowers that I will plant in the garden next month. And the people that I will gift the knitting to. Some projects that will last as long and give me (and hopefully others) as much joy as the watercolor quilts that I have on the wall.
Watercolor days.
May you all have many of the same.
The quilts are beautiful!! They do look like watercolors.
I love WSK yarn. The colors you’ve picked are gorgeous!
I hope you’re feeling better:)
I literally told Deb that the first booth we needed to go to was wsk. Their yarn is great, the price is pretty good at the show, and you know about the colors… I am doing okay. My symptoms continue, I’m seeing all my doctors in the next couple off weeks, and I’m in the middle of testing. Hopefully they will get this figured out soon. Meanwhile, I’m knitting up a storm. 🙂
The quilts are GORGEOUS!!!! The yarn you chose is beautiful also! Can’t wait to see what you make with it! Glad you’re feeling a bit better….hopefully the doctors will be able to help you more.
Thanks for the nice words about the quilts. You would not believe how I searched for fabrics in the exact colors to put them together. Now I’m going through the process with the yarns. This is fun and exciting, but such a long process as I go back and forth over colors and placement, not to mention the pattern!
I do feel better, Can’t wait to see the pulmonologist this week. 🙂
Oh, Marilyn! I’m overwhelmed by the beauty of your handprinted fabric quilts. What a treasure
(Ooops – accidentally hit enter before I was finished.) Your quilts are incredible! It’s such a wonderful way to honor your special cats and have them with you still. Gorgeous yarn too! Can’t wait to see what you do with it. 🙂
I’m still patting the yarns and looking on Ravelry. I am making good progress on a What The Fade?! shawl that I should blog about soon, but you know that I’m dreaming about color combos and designs with the new yarns while I knit.
I have some other quilts that I’ve made that were just as exhausting to put together. I fuss over placement and color balance more than anyone should! The last few projects have been kits that I didn’t have to put much mental energy into. The other members of my family make fabulous quilts that go to county fairs and quilt shows where they earn ribbons, so I’m the underachiever in the family quilt-wise. None of them can touch me for knitting, spinning and weaving expertise, however. It’s good to sail in one’s own wind. 🙂
I just love it!
Love them all 😀
Thanks!
You are welcome
Absolutely love the cat quilts. They are amazing.
And so are the yarns.