My creative muse took a temporary detour this winter into the world of photography. Inspiration struck after I read an online article highlighting the work of amateur photographers on the app site EyeEm and -voila!- a mini obsession was born. In short order, I was documenting the ordinary scenes along my rural road, taking portrait shots of my grandchildren, and pulling ‘arty’ photos from my archives. It’s been a very enjoyable diversion that, on more than a few wintery days, propelled me outside when I might have otherwise chosen to stay cozily in the house. With this new infatuation, scenes all around me seem suddenly fresh and new. Compelling vistas and subtle images of beauty were everywhere I looked, just waiting to be captured.

While I enjoyed the photography, I’m now back to focusing on quilting and preparing to put some serious time into a large piece that I hope to enter into Houston’s IQA show this fall (April deadline!). My small quilts for the next challenge group dinner are finished – look for pics of the entire group’s 12″x12″ offerings later this month right here on the blog. 🙂

In the meantime, here are some of the images I played with over these past couple months. Each one is a love letter in some way…to my grandchildren, to my rural home and it’s surroundings, and especially to my always beautiful in every season Michigan.

Out and About In Dansville

A wood pile made a beautiful (abstract) design and a simple fence post did too.

Sunsets make for some pretty colors on snow and bare branches.

My Sweet Loves

 

 

 

Natalie playing in the leaves last fall and a vine growing on a cement wall in Frankenmuth.

I can’t help but imagine some of my photos as art quilts and am sure I’ll be merging these two creative obsessions together in some way. Stretching and growing artistically is a good feeling and I hope I never get too old, too stuck or too fearful to keep at it. And now to get back to quilting…