Laura Bruno Lilly

The road ends, but the journey continues...

Tag: artistic reflection (Page 1 of 8)

Ma's & My label WIP

M³ – Ma’s & My Medallion pt1

October 30, 2026 / / 23 Comments

Once upon a time, there was a mother and daughter who liked doing things together. One year, shortly after the daughter’s parents moved into another house, the daughter thought it’d be cool to make a housewarming quilt for them. After all, she’d made at least 10 bed-sized quilts over the years, including a scrap quilt for her folks’ mountain cabin early on, way back in 1982.

When the daughter talked to her mother about preferences regarding design and color scheme, the two of them realized this would be a fun project to take on together…

And so, we did.

Ma offered up design ideas for the King size quilt-to-be, and I found a pattern idea for the medallion section.

Ma's design ideas with measurement notes
Ma’s design ideas with measurement notes*
My medallion pattern idea
My medallion pattern idea**

We decided to position the medallion en pointe and square it up with to-be-determined related corner designs. The resulting center square would then be surrounded with alternating pieced & solid fabric borders until it reached the required length and width for a King size quilt.

The Color Works pattern used the traditional method for creating HSTs (half-square triangles). That is where each triangle is cut individually then sewn with another to make one HST block unit. Not only is that a time-consuming method, but manipulation of the bias in the process of further construction causes inaccuracies in the completed HST block unit.

Ocean Waves cover

A few years earlier, I was introduced to a groundbreaking new method of HST block construction based upon rotary cutting from the quilt book, Ocean Waves by Nancy J. Martin & Marsha McCloskey. Shortly after its 1989 publication date, I plowed full steam ahead and made a Queen size scrap version of that quilt***, relying heavily on my knowledge of using value as a means to make sense of multi-colored scrappy scraps.

Using this new-at-the-time bias strip piecing method solved the bias distortion problem. The bias strips are cut, sewn together on the bias edge, then cut into individual HST block units. That leaves the outer edges on the stable grain of the fabric with the bias contained and safe from excessive manipulation. A demo of this method can be viewed here.

Design and method determined, now came the fun part. Gathering fabrics. And…teaching Ma how to use the rotary cutter! A quick learner, we spent snippets of time together and separately dutifully cutting out hordes of bias strips.

Here then, is where part 1 ends. I’m wondering: did any of you, my dear readers, discover when this project began? If so, then did anyone further notice the length of time it took to complete? Hint: clues can be found in the featured image.

Let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for part 2!

*Sales advert from some department store – 1990s pricing on poorly stitched imported handmade quilt sets made with cheap quality fabrics, all sizes.

**The VIP Color Works Collection Triangle Quilt/Wallhanging by Janet Page for VIP. Pattern instructions such as these were displayed alongside bolts of new fabric collections and free for the taking. None of the fabrics from this specific collection were used in M³.

*** Photos of it are buried deep in a box somewhere. 🙁

Fall of Freedom

Fall of Freedom – 11/21-22, 2025

November 21, 2025 /

Let the Creative Resistance Begin

‘641’
Laura Bruno Lilly and Kevin McKinney (Doc Snow)

If unable to view video, go here.

Poem for '641'
spoken word by Laura Bruno Lilly
©2025

I am woman.
I have a uterus.
Feminism is in my DNA.
Family is my tribe.

I was once an at-risk pregnant person.
I received accessible, science-based, person-centered care during those vulnerable years.

Years of mourning 6 miscarried spontaneous abortions.
Years of nurturing 3 live births: 2 biologically female, 1 biologically male.
Each breastfed.
Each given loving affirming care throughout their lives.

I am now an elderly woman in leadership in a male dominated world.

Hear. Me. Roar.

Note: words in bold italics indicate words taken from the federally banned words & phrases list

Fall of Freedom

Fall of Freedom Project Update

November 19, 2025 /

Monday evening, 11/17: I just pushed ‘submit’ on the Fall of Freedom Event Registration Form. This is a big deal. Not in the fact that Kevin and I are now committed to the deadline, but because even as creative participants, we don’t fit the mold – we are not an organization.

In fact, under the heading Organization Name I entered: No Organization, just two composer-musician educators in South Carolina collaborating on a Fall of Freedom Project – Laura Bruno Lilly and Kevin McKinney (Doc Snow).

So, you see, filling out the form required a very creative approach. And while not necessary, it does ‘prove’ our participation in this call to stand up for our right to free expression.

Yes, one of the things that attracted me to this event was the assertion that no effort is too small. Ours is indeed small. Just us two with a fantastic 6-minute video piece (almost finished*!) we plan to launch on my website and his You Tube channel on November 21.

And, according to the Event Registration email confirmation I received, ours is the first from South Carolina! Small but mighty, eh?

It’s great to be a part of this socially relevant event even if we still feel very isolated from the rest of those participating.

“We live in a time when dissent is punished, truth is twisted, and silence can seem safe. Under the banner of Fall of Freedom, we stand together in creative resistance, because when free expression is under threat, art becomes our voice, our shield, and our sanctuary. Artists are a threat to American fascism.”

from the fall of freedom website

*Our scheduled voice-over recording session set for between-lessons (Kevin) on Monday ran into technical difficulties. My home alone ZOOM H4n Plan B recording session the next morning yielded (unknown to me at the time) too much background noise to use. Technical issues resolved, we hustled to set up again for another between-lessons (Laura) recording session Tuesday early afternoon. Successful this time around. I like to think of this as our ‘surprise snafu scramble moment’ that all projects with a tight timeline & deadline experience.

Breaking News 😊: I just went to the Fall of Freedom Participants Page. I entered in the ‘search events or states’ line – each item individually – first the name of our project, then Kevin’s name, and lastly, my name. Guess what? Each item entered yielded the same result. That creative entry I mentioned above? It pops up along with the name of our ‘event’. Check it out!

It’s amazing what a new set of strings will do for one’s sense of well being

November 2, 2025 /

Prior to my first face-to-face meeting with K (Fall of Freedom presentation piece collaborator), I quickly changed out strings on the Prisloe.  

My thinking being: if we are going to live-perform our evolving ensemble presentation piece in 3 weeks, I need to have freshly broken in strings for the momentous occasion.

Weeks of private student lessons and daily personal practice sessions take their toll on any set of strings. However, I will mention that the plus side of old strings is that I feel freer to work on my prepared guitar pieces.   😊

That said, I made the switch from the old, dull, thuddy, non-resonant set to a fresh new, crystal clear, deeply resonant set.

It’s amazing what a new set of strings will do for one’s sense of well being.

“The thing of it is, regardless of the strings used, music is played, compositions are created, techniques are explored, expanded and maintained. For myself as a musician, each time I re-string one of my instruments, there is a sense of expectation. A moment in time where everything seems possible, opening up a wide world of sonic possibilities, hopes, dreams and deep expressions of my (he)art flowing through my fingers into the outer realm.
And when the right strings are strung, those aural rewards inspire and invigorate…
The thing of it is, regardless of the strings used, music is played.
Life is lived.
And when the right strings are strung, life is magical.”

me, Laura Bruno Lilly

Due to time constraints, we both agreed a ‘fast production’ of our Fall of Freedom presentation to be the #1 priority. To that end, our collaborative performance piece will be using elements of electronic manipulation of my composition (classical guitar) and his instrumental inflections (trumpet), as a background base for the performance of voice-over adlib spoken word phrases, poems, etc taken from the 641 wc list.

It’s a start. And I’ll keep you updated on it’s progress.

Meanwhile, I’m dancing on a new set of strings…

The Sink Robert Redford Mural

RIP Robert Redford

September 29, 2025 /

please note: scroll/read to the end to discover who won the giveaway.

Robert Redford – August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025
movie star, director, producer and film champion, heartthrob, environmentalist, philanthropist, family man, political activist, person of consequence and (he)artistic everyman

Movie star, director, producer and film champion

Most are acquainted with these aspects of Robert Redford’s legacy. I’ve seen most of his commercial movies close to their release dates on the big screen and enjoyed 90% of them. I’ve seen a few Sundance films and love the vibe of the whole festival. Here I’ll just highlight a few of my fav commercial movies from the RollingStone article, Robert Redford: 20 Essential Movies. note: hover over the arrow and click for more

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

released in 1969 – I saw this on the big screen at the Boulder Theater in 1970. Let the adventures & heartthrobs, begin!

Downhill Racer

released in 1969 – I saw this for free at the Chautauqua Theater summer film series in 1970 as a concessions worker! Of course, this attracted a large local following due to its relatable Colorado skiing vibe.

Jeremiah Johnson

released in 1972 – I love this movie because Dad loved this movie. One of Dad’s favorite Mountain Man Adventures that we saw together as a family on the big screen at the Boulder Theater.

All the President’s Men

released in 1976 – Based on the non-fiction book by Bernstein & Woodward, the two journalists investigating the Watergate Scandal for the Washington Post during the Nixon presidency. Of note: in 2010, this film was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Let’s hope it stays there.

The Horse Whisperer

released in 1998 – The scenery, subject matter and silence were seminal. In fact, the silence in the movie house ( a large commercial movie theater) was as silent as the movie itself – novel concept these days, eh? I saw this on Date Night with hubby, leaving our 3 kids with a babysitter for the evening.

The Old Man and the Gun

released in 2018 – On my list of films to watch!

Heartthrob

Let me tell you, I didn’t usually go for the blonde & blue. Growing up, I much preferred Dino (blueblack/blackbrown, plus he felt like family) to Frankie (light brown/blue).

Even back in my preteen days of watching The Man From U.N.C.L.E on TV I chose Napoleon Solo over Ilya Kuryakin…even if Ilya was more youthful.

Of even greater significance is that my longstanding Beatle of choice has always been a toss up between George & John. Well, truth be told, I loved all four of them!

During my later college years, Billy Dee Williams as Brian Walker in Mahogany, and as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars was it for me. But in between all of that, when Newman & Redford hit the big screen with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, I knew Redford was the ‘best’.*

Of course, looks aren’t everything…

So when my middle daughter called to say she saw that RR had passed away, she noted at the end, “I’m sorry, Ma. I know he was your heartthrob”. Geez, was it that obvious?!

Environmentalist, philanthropist, family man, political activist

I can’t speak to the family man aspect of his life, but in reading various articles it becomes clear how much family life informed his career and life focus. That said, below is a good example of thoughtful consideration of current issues with his trademark pointed yet mellow activist attitude.

“Journalism is what keeps politics straight. Is politics telling the truth or not, you know, and very often politics doesn’t tell the truth. It just tells a story that’s being told by one side or the other. But it’s journalism that gets to the bottom line and says, wait a minute, we’re hearing this, we’re hearing that, but what’s the truth? You know I think we’re into that now.”

Robert Redford, circa 2017

Person of consequence and (he)artistic everyman

Okay, here’s where there’s a bit of a stretch of these attributes as applied to my personal story…

Once upon a time, during my freshman year at CU Boulder, I learned the Legend of Robert Redford - a former student who got wrapped up in the party scene and got himself expelled from the University. Of course, the fact that he went on to 'find himself' backpacking through Europe and emerged a creatively contributing member of society only served to reinforce the pull to do the 'drop out' thing for countless others of my generation. Of which I thankfully didn't succumb. Though I still yearn for my personal Camino Adventure!
The Sink Robert Redford Mural
Over the years, “The Sink” added this mural to honor their Star Janitor
Somewhere along the line I ventured deep into the nooks and crannies of "The Sink" on the Hill intent on searching out his autograph/comment on its graffiti laden walls. Meh. Not much to look at, but I can say I saw it in its original form.  Nay, I can say I touched the space he wrote upon! 😍
As a rite of passage, I even took my middle daughter to view the graffiti wall her senior year in High School.
The Legend lives on.
SundanceSignBoulderTheaterDonKohlbauer2

PS: The Sundance Institute is coming home to Boulder in 2027.

RIP Robert Redford.

*at the time, the question was routinely posed: who’s the most handsome/best actor – Newman or Redford?

As promised, the winner of the “When Things Go Missing” giveaway is hereby officially announced: Tierney! Congrats – your book is in the snail mail. Thanks to everyone who showed such enthusiastic interest in Deborah’s debut novel.

Ankara fabric chosen
Chosen Ankara

Remember My “Ankara Reward” Tactic?

August 2, 2025 /

Well, it’s come in handy as a transitional tool to ease into taking a break for most of August.

After weeks of teaching summer session lessons, following through with essential tasks, the editing/layout of my current Giving Voice series (part three is still in the works), and dealing with heat, heavy air and asthma, I’m ready to hit the pause button.

To refresh your memory, a little less than a year ago, I expounded on the virtues of a method I devised to help stay focused, motivated and balanced while working on specific music project goals. I set up a way to accrue points on time spent doing various aspects of specific items (ToDos) related to my primary music project Goals and translated them into ‘reward time’.

I called it the Ankara Reward because I’d been itching to play around with the Ankara fabric/Moda Grunge fabric combo I designated & set aside for a specific quilting project*.

Generically speaking the formula works like this: for x amount of time I spend on my priority/primary focus, I can then accrue y amount of minutes towards dedicated time for a certain other desirable activity focus.

Using this as a controlled ‘reward time’ helped when I was in a slump and needed motivation to keep going with my primary focus – music. It also served as a creative break that enabled me to return to my music with fresh eyes and an eager spirit.

Within weeks, I dropped the literal formula and flowed seamlessly from task to task. Making progress on ToDos, Goals, Tasks and plenty of Etc.s!

That said, musical goals are not as easily shared while in progress, so attached are some photos for you to see the Ankara Reward in progress.

3 Final Ankaras to choose from
Ankara fabric chosen
early piecing
first block with partial layout info
first block

left to right: 3 Ankara fabric finalists, chosen Ankara fabric, early piecing, first block with layout info, first block.

rolled up in noodle for easy storage
rolled up in noodle for storage
first section layout
first section layout
compactly awaiting further sewing
compactly awaiting further sewing
stopping off point for now
Stopping off point for now – July 31st, 2025

*my friend Mary and I took an on-line lecture class together on Ankara Fabrics awhile back. She, true to her ‘Zippy’ moniker, whipped up her version in no time. Me? Like I’ve said before, I am a slow stitcher.

Birthday Bouquet, Gerbera Daisies

Priorities Over Chaos

April 22, 2025 /

Like many of you, I’m finding it difficult to post regularly. For whatever reason, and there are many significant factors involved, it’s just how things are for me right now. An easing back into the blogging rhythm just hasn’t presented itself before now.

I’ve noticed several bloggers I follow have courageously forged forth with timely posts echoing thoughts, hopes, struggles, fears and outrage similar to my own on the ceaseless chaos & cruelty that is bombarding the local & world stage.

One such blogger, Deborah Brasket, gave me a way to segue from my last post in February to today’s post.

In her post, Tending Beauty in an Uncertain World, she eloquently speaks of the tenuous balance she is trying to maintain in her (he)art, everyday life, and social responsibility.

“Like many of you, I struggle to balance myself in this uncertain world where the rule of law and so many institutions of democracy are crumbling around us. Where we are falling into fascism, failing to support human decency, our friends and allies, and the values that made America the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Like many, I falter between hope and despair. I struggle to know how to live this life I love as it is being destroyed from within.

Can I go on writing my novels, tending my garden, blogging about beauty, living a life of peace and tranquility? Do I abandon my piano, my artwork, my joy in living?

Do I take up arms and march in the streets? Can I do both? Will one taint the other? Will my joy be lessened, my rage take control?”

Deborah Brasket

I relate.

She found some insight in a poem by Gloria Horton-Young, The Quiet Art of Resistance.

I found some insight in a snippet from May Sarton’s journal entitled, At Seventy.

“It is order in all things that rests the mind…So what is the inward order that makes it possible to shut out the chaos around me as I sit here? Perhaps a strong sense of what my priorities are – first friends, then work, then the garden. If I died suddenly, how bitterly I should regret work undone, friends unanswered. As for the garden, that is my secret extravagance and one has to have one…The garden is where my madness lies, and that is a more useful madness than drunkenness or a tantrum…”

May Sarton

My priorities as per Sarton’s template?

First – family, friends and relationships (including my faith in a loving, caring God), then work- my music and all manner of my (he)art, then the garden – literally and all manner of other outlets.

There are other priorities, certainly…which makes for a good solid team in countering chaos & cruelty!

I am not going to give up on the beautiful and the good – I will not allow the ethos of the times to blur my vision or stifle my heart. Choosing priorities over chaos – sharing, caring, kindness, love, knowledge, truth – is exercising freedom in its purest sense.

“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

A ‘White Album’: Pete Townshend – Who Came First

December 6, 2024 /

Here’s a little something that’s totally unrelated to the holidays or all the stuff currently going on in my daily life – a draft post conveniently available for pubbing!

Note: my longstanding and growing personal list of ‘White Albums’ are albums inspired by the literal color-aspect of the Beatles’ White Album. Here’s one for you to enjoy.

October 1972

Okay, it’s December, 2024 – not October 1972. But the earworms I allowed into my brain following the last post are unrelenting. Nicely so. 😊

As I wrote my last post, I uncovered an entire musical soundscape I forgot was birthed in real time. Part of that setlist includes Pete Townshend’s first solo album, Who Came First.

Turns out, Who Came First was released in October of 1972.  

I was introduced to the actual album by my boyfriend at the time. A college Senior to my Freshman innocence, he was more attuned to the happenings of the world. 😊

I had heard a few of the singles on the at-the-time underground FM station KLZ but didn’t know there was a full album forthcoming.

One day while on the hill in Boulder, browsing the music album bins at Albums on the Hill my boyfriend pulled out a white album and exclaimed, “It’s here!”

Yes, even then it struck me as a ‘White Album’ with Pete suspended upon a field of eggs.

Clever.

Not knowing I was living in a world of historic importance – musically and otherwise – this and other albums released that year and beyond were my companions as I walked those first years of young adulthood.

Two of my favorite tracks were and still are Pure and Easy and Let’s See Action.

Pure and Easy

These days I hear the echo of the phrase from the lyrics, ‘there once was a note‘, as literal as well as altruistic.

The path my music has taken is reflective of the literal aspect of inference. I have taken control of my life path in that I am not subject to the public’s perception of success. Instead, I have made my dent and continue to do so in the niches upon which I chose to focus. Touching (he)arts and getting to do what I love most…play, teach, collaborate, create, compose, record, perform – in ensemble as well as solo…

“I listened and I heard music in a word
And words when you played your guitar
The noise that I was hearing was a million people cheering
And a child flew past me riding in a star…

…We all know success when we all find our own dream
And our love is enough to knock down any wall
And the future’s been seen as men try to realize
The simple secret of the note in us all
In us all”

excerpts, Pure and Easy, Pete Townshend

Let’s See Action

As a basic call to action for change within and without – with a carefree attitude – the attraction of the message lies in how it plays out in life.

I’ve been on both sides of this.

  • The not knowing of where I’m going or where it leads.
  • The confidence in knowing ‘I’ll get to where I’m gonna end up’.

Relevant reminders then and now!

“Let’s see action
Let’s see people
Let’s see freedom
Let’s see who cares…

…I don’t know where I’m going
I don’t know what I need
But I’ll get to where I’m gonna end up
And that’s alright by me”

Laura Bruno Lilly, circa 2002
Laura Bruno Lilly, circa 2002

The Meaning We Make with Our Hands (Poem)

June 3, 2024 /

In reading about the stories we as creatives tell through our (he)art, I came across this phrase from a Quiltfolk blog article.

It resonated. I ruminated. I wrote a poem. 

The Meaning We Make with Our Hands
Laura Bruno Lilly © 2024
I tell stories
I paint pictures
I touch hearts
		with sound.
Found sound
Composed sound
and sometimes spoken.

Phrases shaped
Rhythms formed
and all the silent in-betweens.
Peppered throughout with tone colors
                both nuanced and bold.

Listen
My music speaks
		its own truth.
Homage à Ma’s Uncle Tran Mawicke, closeup

Weekend Notes 3/2-3/2024

March 2, 2024 /

“Mounted over canvas”

As per recent quilt-blogger discussions about how to mount certain fiber art pieces: Mary over at Zippy Quilts posted a callout for suggestions on how best to display a ‘map’ quilt she recently completed. The overriding consensus suggested mounting it over canvas.

About two years ago, I experimented with this technique.

  • Homage à Ma’s Uncle Tran Mawicke
  • Homage à Ma’s Uncle Tran Mawicke, closeup
  • Homage à Ma’s Uncle Tran Mawicke, back of canvas
“Homage à Ma’s Uncle Tran Mawicke” Laura Bruno Lilly, MMXXII – Mounted over canvas

During the Pandemic, while noodling around with the idea of floating a design utilizing negative space as part of the composition, my Homage à Ma’s Uncle Tran Mawicke came into being. Pleased with the result, I wanted an equally unique way of displaying it.

Ma’s Uncle Tran* was a prolific commercial & fine artist, illustrating numerous magazine articles, sci-fi books, fashion magazines & catalogues, calendars, advertisements, creating art by commission, for both private/personal and public purposes, etc.

My Homage features a common color palette used in many of his works, but does not reflect his style of art.

As a true ‘working artist’, I’ve no doubt he experimented with different modern techniques and emerging schools of art-thought during his lifelong career. I’d like to think he might have explored a sort of “abstract expressionism meets graphic art” approach to his own work. In that way, my Homage title makes sense.

That’s the cerebral narrative. Truth be told, at some point during my immersion in Homage, something about it ‘felt’ like the Great Uncle I never knew – connecting me to both him and my (he)artist Ma.

*Mini bio: Tran Mawicke was born in Chicago on September 20, 1911 and died November 28, 1988. He’s best known for his commercial illustration, landscapes, and portraits. A graduate of the American Academy of Fine Arts and Art Institute of Chicago, his work spanned from 1935-1988. A prolific storybook illustrator, he also has credits such as film posters, covers of magazines such as Collier’s, Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping, and BusinessWeek. Tran served as president of the Society of Illustrators from 1959-1961. He traveled extensively and  called Bronxville, NY home-base for most of his life.

“Bonus Day”

Last Thursday was February 29th. A whole day inserted into 2024’s leap year to correct time discrepancies in our calendar related to Earth’s orbit around the sun. Think of it as an expanded version of the ‘extra’ hour received when we in most states of the US set clocks back in the Fall thus ending Daylight Saving Time.  

This added date – an extra day tacked onto February – felt like a Bonus Day to me, hence the name.  In fact, I planned for this Bonus Day in advance in order to take full advantage of my perceived ‘extra’ time!

Right before lunchtime, after a morning of unabashed glee pursuing indulgent (he)artistic endeavors, I got a text notice that my shingles shot was available & waiting for me at the CVS. Since this prescription had been ‘out of stock’ since December** I decided the unscheduled task took priority, so I got jabbed ASAP.

I am thinking you know what comes next…Yes, you’re correct in thinking my extra hours were then consumed by an overpowering fatigue – which for myself is a normal reaction to any vaccine.

And yes, you’d think I’d remember that – but no.

Overall I felt okay about that interruption, and I did indeed make up for that ‘lost extra’ time in the days that followed – gaining traction (and new insights) on a few music projects and progressing on a surprise gift I’m making for that new Papa cousin’s baby girl I mentioned in an earlier post. All of which I hope to reveal in the near future!

**What can I say? We live in an underserved area and that’s part of how life is for us. Case in point: a regular rhythmic cycle of empty shelves at stores has been a fact of life since moving here in 2012 – way before the Pandemic put that Reality front and center for many formerly unaccustomed to those sorts of issues. 

How did you spend your Bonus Day this Leap Year?

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