Commission Quilts.....good or bad?

I rarely do commission quilts.   I have never wanted my hobby or passion to be for money...generating undue pressure to be sure I'm completing someone else's vision.   To me, that could kill the fun and enjoyment.   That being said I have done a few and they have been more successfully received than I feared,   

Thus, my latest one came to me during our recent quilt show.   I almost said No, but set the request aside until the "busy-ness" of the show was done,   When it was over I was creatively stuck and figured finding and following a pattern might be what I needed to do.  The requester wanted a Christmas tree skirt...as a gift for her sister.   I was given free reign as to color, pattern and fabrics.   More pressure!  I never know how to charge....feeling probably this was easily double in time etc. than what I charged,   But she was a friend of my daughter, said she loves everything she had seen me post on Facebook....and therefore the final impetus ...."the gold star on the forehead".  

She loved it....said her sister loved it.....and so very successful.  

Being Inspired Doors & Windows

I don't know why, but I seem to be attracted to doors and windows....the more run down the better,   I happened upon a website where the artist was doing windows.   I decided I wanted to take it one step further and do doors.   But I decided to play first and did a small piece, featuring a window....a run down building, a dilapidated window, a pile of old rocks.   I worked on the piece just using those 3 ideas and decided it still needed a pop....or something to be a bit brighter,   I added greenery with the theory that even old run down buildings have lots of living greenery and flowers, despite the abandonment of the building.   Am I done?   I don't know,   

I alternated strips of cotton fabric, not measured, sometimes using a 1/4 inch seams, sometimes not,   Then I cut a big square for the window and backed it with cotton and painted cheesecloth.....to create the look of glass that might be there, might be knocked out, and might just be a shadow,   There is also cheesecloth in the bottom corner.   The pile of rocks is done with gold thread on gray fabric.   Very, very happy with how that came out,   Free motion greenery arises from behind and between the rocks.   Finally, I dabbed Shiva Oilsticks in gray to weather the shutters.   

As I said....this is mostly a practice piece,   I have photos I have taken of other old buildings that. At show up next.   I've never worked in a series before.   This could be a first!

Busy, busy, busy......

I've been busy sewing and sewing and sewing....but I can't show any pictures as it is for a commissioned quilt which a friend asked me to do for a gift for her sister.   Not that my blog is so widely read.....but I figure I shouldn't take the chance.

My granddaughter has been in a local theater production of Dracula the Musical.   I have enjoyed having her at my house between rehearsals, staying over night, coming for dinner,   Also my daughter and grandson have been here almost every night waiting for her to be done rehearsals.   I miss them.

My middle grandson is active as a young explorer in their hometown fire department.   It is a passion of his and you can tell it is in his blood.   There was a huge monster for in their hometown this weekend and my grandson was found in one of the photos.  This picture makes my heart burst with pride.