more of the 1840s star quilt

garlic is life

  Here's a little quilt made to celebrate my mother's cooking,  Garlic is Life.

                                   15"x15"

my mom and me

  Another old treasure taken by my father with his Rolleiflex.

pioneer history version 1

  I am working on a family treasure. My great great aunt recorded some of John Hale's stories of his life in the 19th century as a pioneer. I have encountered a few jinxes but hope to complete it soon. He was born in 1825 and it goes 8 generations to the youngest directly in his line.

     a sample:
    "We had scarcely commenced eating when I saw fire dropping down the chimney into the fireplace. I rushed around the table and, looking up, saw what seemed to me to be the whole top of the chimney in a blaze. I, of course, called out at once and ran for the door around the end of the house, and climbing up the end of the house, threw myself between the roof and the chimney, and bracing myself against the chimney, threw it over so that the whole chimney stack fell into the snow and away from the house.  My father and grandfather followed me as rapidly as possible, and all hands commenced tearing away what little was left at the bottom of the timbers down the back of the wall to the building. About that time, something like a minute and a half after we left the table, we became aware that a blizzard was coming down from the north."

  Interested? Yeah... he is a powerful and longwinded writer, oh those run-on sentences I still try to use! It's about 15 pages long, will share as soon as I work out the computer bugs. Right now it is printing only in the smallest type you ever saw. Hopefully scott can help.
   Yes, we did fix it and it is available in a digital format along with photos of John Hale and his family. Just ask.
 love Sara and the fur gang

raven's star closeup

  Closeup of Raven's Star.
 In the works, Wild Horses quilt top.
I want this to be a fundraiser for horse rescue.

   I adore this fabric and have used it in a few pieces already.

feed the gorilla

feeding the gorilla
art in  >>>  art out
principle: feed the gorilla and he will bless you

visualize a wise silverback gorilla sitting in the backyard of my old house at 10 s maple ave east orange nj
he is hungry
give him beauty, give him art, make him laugh and cry
read books especially art books
go to museums, quilt shows, poetry readings, book parties, open studios
try something you havent done before
go to a concert
dance, write, pray
and he will bless you with beautiful and smart ideas
solutions to craft dilemmas and life dilemmas will come crowding in
listen to the back of your brain
choose the loudest ideas among the many
art children waiting to be born
take a walk in the middle of crafting days and dont forget to eat lunch
protect your copyright and respect other's work
tell artists you love their work
( we all get scared in the dark that we are not good enough)
artists need fans and affirmations
collaburate with other artists and craftspeople to make good pieces
share your energy with groups of others in your field
volunteer
teach another for free
teach a group
get a protegee and be your best self for them
publish, share, and keep working
finish your projects,edit out the boring
dont stop ever even if you are hurt
sometimes that is the best work
love sara
7/20/2011

1890s red and white ninepatch

  I wanted a classic simple quilt celebrating the beautiful turkey red fabrics of the 19th century and the simplicity of the ninepatch. This one was going to be a birthday present 2 yr ago, but I just finished it Thursday.  I have slept under it the last 2 nights and it is very cosy and lovely. Quilted by Madelin Wolf, queen sized. This is the newest big piece. I wanted to finish it since I have been giving away a lot of quilts lately. The fabrics glow. Thanks, me

back to school

  Well it is back to school time. This quilt was a group quilt. I was in a lovely minigroup and for many years we made squares each month according to the challenge. If it was your turn you set the challenge and ended up with enough squares for your quilt, made by your friends in the Curved Piecers. I wanted a little red schoolhouse quilt and didnt want to make 12 squares. Note the brick fabric. Thank you "Curved Piecers". The mini groups are often described as "stitch and bitch" groups, we went thru a lot together. At one point we had members ranging from 8 yr to 94.
  I also celebrate my return to school this year with multiple learning challenges for nursing, resuscitation classes, and of course, the University of Orange. Hi, my dear Curved Piecers.
    42"x52"
   Love Sara and the fur gang

another view of haphazard

   Here's another view of Haphazard with a little Christmas quilt I was working on, the squares are antique red and white, probably turkey red, a very fast dye. The squares are from maybe 1880 or therabouts, a basket pattern.

mary englebreit quilt

  Just for happiness.

       one of my favorite artists

  I also made a decoupage chair and a few pillowcases and such.

     44"x51"

summer kitty

  Summer Kitty also appreciates a good antique quilt. This top was purchased at an estate sale in Berkeley for $20.  Some washing and repairs were done.  My mom Fran Hale covets this one too.   Made probably about 1870-1880. and there were many other antique treasures seen in the same house, I bought one lovely baby shoe from that era ( I will post pic later). love Sara

old quilt II

  1840s Star quilt, once someone's best quilt, amazing teeny hand stitches and lots of pre-1850s fabrics, a New York Beauty, queen sized. I found it at a yard sale in Berkeley Ca for about $10, may have been used to work on cars. I found a few old blood stained spots.Maybe it was in the Civil War. I tried to repair it with similar fabrics but quit, since it was so fragile and the repairs were kinda obvious.  Instead I made a loose copy of it which went to Raven Hale, my cousin Linton Hale's boy. I still have a box full of fabrics because I want to copy it again.tthe original was an extremely difficult pattern, one of a kind. I want to show it to a few more people especially Judy Mathieson, queen of the Mariner's Compass. Here just for you!
             love Sara

the glory that was stangl mosaics

the glory that was stangl

     the glory that was stangl

the pot is broken as the soul was broken
glorious fragments to recall
our shattered lives
flew away released
and free and healed
of all his great afflictions
a new start
breaking and mending
and something new and free
emerges
from our sorrows

3/4/02
scrystal

on blessings

      on blessings

blessed on earth are we, children of a higher throne
blessed in our houses
blessed in our work
blessed in what we do
for in his wisdom
He has guided us
into his peace
and to His will
and though we sweat
and hurt upon this earth
we draw His strength
learn how to endure
and rejoice through our pain
and come once again
to know His touch
in dark or light
we find Him there
thus we learn our faith
thus we find our joy
in Him
and in one another.

3/10/83
scrystal

wimoweh quilt

   
  This one I made for Pete seeger, in total gratitude for his music, his courage, for all he taught our generation. He has it now. Unsolicited, given in love. Thanks, Pete.

              "Think globally, act locally."

   queen size to include Toshi and whoever else gets to use it.

  My first and only(so far)  unabashed celebrity hero worship quilt.

crazy horse petroglyph quilt

  Just a little wall quilt, made from one of my favorite tshirts, that went back to artwork for a show, that went back to a petroglyph, I had to recolor it to fix the stains from wearing it for 20 yr or so.  my mom wants this one but I am not ready to give it away yet, sorry. That happens a lot.

haphazard

  I love this one for the graphics. It has so many mistakes it became cool, kinda like us, yeah. Top made in the 1930s by someone who was crazy or drunk or needed glasses, repaired and resurrected and turned into a real quilt by me, queen size. Yes, I sleep just fine under it.

doggy crazy quilt

   The doggy crazy quilt, under construction, top finished, many many breeds on there, of course shar pei are there!
   Later, 4/2012, we have just finished the quilting.
   
       Canis Lupus, Canis Familiaris

crazy

       crazy

scraps

kimono and velvet

I started

eleven years ago

I hoped by now

I'd have a family

instead I have

an old country house

it still needs fixing

in the middle of

a hard old city

and a beautiful

crazy

quilt

not the life I hoped for

but still it has

beautiful pieces

2/25/1994

scrystal

van gogh crazy quilt

70"x81"

Made with lush fabrics and my Van Gogh shirt I cut up. Exhibited at Pacific International Quilt Show.

oz jacket

   Another jacket in my arty jackets series, this one the Wizard of Oz, being worn in front of a Wizard of Oz quilt at the Pacific International Quilt Show. Note scrappy the doll, from the original illustrations by Neill.

poros, greece

university of orange quilt

   I made this little University of Orange wall quilt, about 32x32", as my entrance exam for the University, and to share with my friends. I had a grand time making it, and it has already started its mission journeys by participating in a couple U/O events. It debuted at Maggie's book party. It has an affirmations fabric on the back. I had a blast getting wild with orange fabrics. Yes of course it does have oranges on it. Finished on my journey to the Oranges (New Jersey), just in time. love sara

matisse jacket

        My leather jacket with Matisse lady on the back, deconstructed leather jackets, reconstructed, by me.

revels with matisse quilt

    Hi all. For some weird reason known only to the god of computer strangenesses, I keep losing the original jpg of this quilt. It is "Revels with Matisse", made for my great aunt Hope Hale Davis on her 100th birthday. Matisse is my favorite artist and never fails to cast me in a state of wonder. Go go go to the Gertrude Stein exhibit in SF if you can, less than one month left. Take me with you. It's a date.
  Anyhow I searched thru many boxes of prints and many jpgs, finally found it again last Wed, and it has disappeared again! The original went to Hope, and then to my cousin Lydia when Hope left the planet. So here is a temporary view, borrowed from my genealogy website at Tribalpages. on that site is my family research, up to abt 2yr ago. It was also based on Hope's extensive research on the Hale and MacFarland clans. If you want the code to check out that site, let me know. I hope I can find that jpg or rephotograph the quilt by the time my portfolio is due. It is about 50x70 inches.
           love sara


    Well, I tried to upload it but it wouldnt go!  Try again later, this is just too frustrating.

have you seen sally?

sally in overalls

      Me, not so recent either. By Dan Crystal in 1950s, High Point NJ.

wyoming, view from the cafe

  Last year sunset having dinner near Greybull Wyoming, date night at the cafe.

little crystals coming home from hike

star of africa and friends

star

I give to you!

aunt someone's quilt

aunt someone's quilt   ( thirties quilt)

lessons from another time
a mother I did not know
hard times        bits of cloth
cheerful stars from old
dresses   a postcard from
the past
another day of poor
after rich
making the best of things
simplest answers making
clear
how
to live
in our time
                thank you
                aunt someone
               thanks for the quilt
               thanks for the answers
               thanks

scrystal    2002 or so

old quilt

old quilt

yellow faded worn and stained
where the walnut dyes were
the fabric has fallen away
yet beautiful still
you shine to light my way
in beauty calling
for more faith
to walk thru loss and worries
and take courage
to face this time also

scrystal 1/02

the quilts want the whole house

the quilts want the whole house
have escaped the studio
my little backwoods cabin
of the backyard
and taken over
the living room
and now
another bedroom
the walls glow with
soft kaleidoscopes
and there's just room
for a phone
on my desk
piles of fabric
decorate the floor
there's an extra bed
but first
I'd have to take off
my mother's squares
before you could lie down
watch out for pins
and needles
maybe I need another house
just for me
but you can guess
what would happen
   
scrystal   4/25/94

starting to share my writings

magical gifts of the needle
coming thru my fingers
pass by my mind
but from my soul
touch you

fur gang

  Who are the fur gang? I share my life with Fairy Beauty Bon Paris and Grandma the Dali Mama. They are both  shar pei dogs.  Also we have Summerkitty, an orange and white cat. We have had other dogs and cats but they have left the planet. love sara

welcome to scrapbasket

  Hello friends. I am Sara Crystal and this is my new blog. I am a nurse and an artist. I have been doing crafts my whole life, since I was old enough to sew doll clothes. I am a student at an open university named the University of Orange.  I hope to share my work and learn from your ideas.  Love, Sara and the fur gang