Wow a weekend of fame

The Janome site is up and running the article on me. They actually did a great job and now I am glad I did it. Was not too certain at first, seemed like hanging your undies on a Main Street clothesline. I know it is weird I should feel this way but I do. You might think I am afraid of rejection, this would be a realistic reason for my feeling this way but I don't think it is the threat of rejection because I am never swayed by negative input. I do it my way. I have always done it my way with the grace of God.

Fame for 15 minutes.

Recently interviewed for a local newspaper article on my art and now Janome's web site. Not too sure how I like the exposure. Sort of retired and moving towards teaching, but you never know what is around the next corner. I have been thinking about creating some whole-cloth pieces, painting with paint and then thread painting so I guess I need to come out of my imagined retirement and get busy. Not sure when the newspaper article will be published but Janome will have me on their website homepage for the weekend of July 12-14, 2013.

Nature has an amazing ability to stop you in your tracks.

Never Say Never!!!!

Went to QSDS in June. I know I swore I would never go again but I did and had a lovely time in a class taught by Roselie Dace. She is from South Africa teaches primarily abstract concepts. I try and I try but abstraction is not in my blood, because I always want to straighten and make each piece real. The class was based on using Crosses and Xs as design elements My friend from Baltimore went with me and we are the perfect roomies, having done this trip three times together.

Deb's wall.

Denise's wall

These works are not our norm as we both are realists. The purpose of the class was to work in abstract, but from a up front, in your face, what you see is what you get, kinda girl; abstract is not my style.

Yes, I am alive!

I need to get in the habit of posting to this blog on a regular basis. Lots happening here at the studio. Quilts turned out and no record of what was created. I am going to try to catch up here. Good health is the ticket, the better we feel the less we have to whine about, so the paper work so to speak goes undone. Blogging to me is like paper work. I have never been good at tooting my own horn. I hate shows and I an very uncomfortable accepting oohs and ahhs. What does one say when approached by someone who says I just love your work...and then they "want to purchase something cheap, what do you have"? What is the comeback when someone comments that their great aunt is an artist too and she paints landscapes, perhaps you should do the same?

Now an image:

This is "Marty" a cat whose portrait was commissioned. Apparently Marty has quite a personality and  his owners adore him. His portrait was done in acrylics on canvas.

I did see a good movie last night titled "Silvia" It was about Silvia Plath's marriage and suicide. Seems I read some poems of hers when I was in High School, now that was a long time ago for sure. I have time now to explore the reasons I was forced to read her years ago. How can a kid in HS relate to the state of mind and words of someone like Plath? I ordered a few books of and about her from Amazon so more later on Plath.

Stitch Here

A stitch here and a plop of paint there and with lots of sheer impulse an art piece is born. After realizing I have a done all I can do damage or wonderment, I ask myself what now? What is the impact of this small creation? To me the process is all important and the end result is up to someone else's interpretation.

I have been working on 16 small portraits to support the theme of our upcoming show. Although I have been sewing and using fabric since I was a small child, I am new to the world of Fiber Art.
The small portraits came out of my photographs of people who have come into my lives or those who show up here in the studio to work or chill, since working in fiber. I have even included my dog Maggie who is always attendant to whomever is visiting. She knows who will give here treats and those who know she is the sweetest watchdog ever. Beagles don't carry much of a treat unless you don't want loving. Three others are my grandchildren, who enjoy the constant supply of art supplies and adventurous play they can do here. the remaining portraits are of the women who have become important to me in individual ways. Each little quilt is simple and colorful. As individuals they hardly carry the strength that is seen when all placed together. As an artist, I am more of an artist and a person because of friends and family. I draw from their strength and the love. As with the small portraits, we shouldn't stand alone.

Winter almost over?

Can't believe it has been such a long winter. Our new house is being built slowly and although it is looking great I want it done. My patience is gone.