Change & Pathways

I worked with some of these this week, designing a pattern, cutting the pieces, drafting the steps:

Slowly, things are coming together, and I am feeling as if I am on the right path.  There is much more work to be done, not only with this pattern, but also in filling out the details of this new life I am living. I've made some progress with that, too.

I am constantly being reminded that nothing stays the same, however. My youngest child is talking about leaving the nest, which will, of course, bring significant changes to my life. He is not only the youngest, he is the last child at home. Over the years, I have learned to communicate with these adults who just happen to be my children, but having them in close proximity is something I miss when they are no longer under my roof. Fortunately, they do continue to communicate and share their lives with me.

My daughter, who, as I've mentioned before, is also an artist, is teaching some classes over the next few months. If you are in her area, I invite you to check them out.  You can find out more about them here:
Fly'n Gypsy Arts & Graphics: Upcoming Classes at Expressions Graphics in Oak Park and the Elk Grove Village Park District: Fly’n Gypsy Arts & Graphics™

Until next time, I wish you peace and all good.

Progress

I had a breakthrough last week that has resulted in a wave of new creative work. It resulted in my being able to finish the Priority Quilt, cut templates for a product, and choose an idea to work on for the Sketchbook Challenge. What happened is that I finally have a schedule worked out that gives me solid time in the studio, as well as time to do all the other necessary things to maintain a business.

The fact that it took me six months from the time I retired from the day job to get to this point made me realize that I needed to learn to live with my altered day-to-day existence before I could make these decisions. It is a reminder of the reasons I have been drawn to the slow-cloth movement. We tend to want everything to happen immediately in our society, but sometimes the best way is to let things move slowly.

This, too, was evident as I was working on the Priority Quilt. Since it is a piece I made with my beloved mother-in-law in mind, I found it quite difficult to work on for too long at a time. The emotional drain was too much. Once I accepted that fact, it became easier to do what I could, as I could, and accept the need to walk away without completing it more quickly.

I am just beginning to explore some of the areas that will make a difference in the scope of my business, as well as the great variety of techniques available to me as an artist. It is my hope that the insights I gained in the last week provide me with new ways to look at the decisions necessary ahead.

Since I want to wait to show the Priority Quilt until after I've made arrangements with AAQI, I don't have that picture for you, but thought you might enjoy this "conversation."

Until next time, I wish you peace and all good.

Creativity

After a minor rearrangement of furniture in my studio, I started quilting the piece I am making for the Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative. It is going well, but somewhat slowly since I am free-motion quilting and deciding on direction as I go along. In addition to thinking about the images themselves, I have been thinking about my mother-in-law, whose struggle with dementia was the catalyst for my desire to help this cause. I hope to bring some of her personality and inner beauty to the piece.

Since I am not quite ready to share the quilt, I thought I'd show you the nerve centers of my sewing studio . . .

and the wet studio. 

I am fortunate enough to have two areas to devote to my work, and yes, they are both rather chaotic. It seems that no sooner do I clean them up than I am spreading out more materials, so they never stay completely organized for long.

Until next time, I wish you happy creativity, peace & all good.