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.

Knitting & Doodling

I have been busy lately doing more knitting (working on a pair of fingerless mitts for my daughter). They aren't quite finished, since I promised to make mitten covers for her fingertips and thumbs, but thought I would share. The pattern I used was modified from Sue Brady's "Basic Fingerless Mitts." I lengthened the wrist to provide more coverage.

I have also been taking, as I mentioned before, Traci Bautista's "Doodles Unleashed" workshop on Strathmore Online. Strathmore Artist Studio Workshop - Traci Bautista While I am not entirely pleased with the pieces I've done, I have been learning more about different media.

In addition, I am continuing to follow the Sketchbook Challenge, which meshed beautifully, of course, with the workshop, since the theme for the month is "Doodling." Here is what I have done so far.

This was done with acrylics oversprayed on various items, water-soluble oil pastels, markers, white-out pen, and gouache;

and this:

for which I used gouache, oversprayed acrylics, and markers.

I do find it surprising that I tend to end up "seeing" a particular image coming out of my doodles, even though I haven't planned anything. I also find that my patience with paint is not comparable to my patience with fibers. (I was having trouble waiting ten minutes for the acrylics to dry.) The upside, however, is that doing the doodles is giving me ideas for fiber/textile work.

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

Hopes vs. Goals

I've been trying to figure out how to get motivated to start on the things I want to accomplish. Reading Mimi Kirchner's blog Doll finally gave me the method I needed. She talks, not about setting goals, but about making a list of "hopes for the new year." In that vein, I came up with the following:

Create prototypes for several products.

Finish and donate priority quilt to AAQI.

Learn to string dolls.

Learn new mixed-media techniques. As a start, I have begun the latest Strathmore Online Workshop, with Traci Bautista.

Set up an Etsy shop.

Clear out excess (both in my home and in my studio). One way I will be doing this is by using my stash as if it were a store, shopping there for supplies instead of going out for new things.

Finally, make progress on UFO's. Here, again, it is a way to clear out excess, and provide myself with the satisfaction of finishing projects already in process.

Additionally, I have finally begun to feel as if I am gaining control over my schedule, which has been one of the most difficult things I've encountered since I retired from the day job. My time is now divided by research, artwork, and volunteering. It feels as if 2012 is going to be a marvelous year!

I wish you the enjoyment of finding your path and learning to walk in it, and until next time, peace and all good.

Breaking the Silence

With Christmas over, and gifts distributed, I can share a little of what I have been up to during this quiet time. I had been so focused on getting ready for the holiday that I'm afraid I was neglecting the blog.

One thing I did was to get out my knitting needles to make this for my granddaughter. It is something she will have to grow into, since the pattern size is apparently larger than the sizes available in the store. The pattern is a Bernat Chevron Jumper from their Hooray for Stripes book.

Another thing that I have been able to do recently is get some splendid photos of birds that I'd like to share with you. We've had several visits from this bird of prey, which we are speculating may be a Northern Harrier, though it looks more like a Prairie Falcon.

Since we added a suet feeder, we have also had several Downy Woodpeckers visit. Here are a couple of shots of one of them.

I apologize for the fuzziness on the pictures. One thing I haven't gotten to is washing my windows.

I hope you have enjoyed your Christmas holiday and that 2012 proves to be a wonderful year for everyone.

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

Susie McMahon Dolls

Check out this incredible doll artist. Her work is beautiful! Susie McMahon Dolls - Celebrate with me.

Busy Times

It has been fairly busy around here the last month. I have been gradually getting involved, again, in social justice work, in addition to working on Christmas gifts and continuing my involvement with the Friends of the GSU Library. I have reconnected with an outreach group that helps to provide food, clothing, and household necessities to poor people in my area. I, also, had the opportunity to reconnect with the Peace and Social Justice group at Pax Joliet.

Something I don't believe I have mentioned before is that I am also a Secular Franciscan. I can hear you asking, "What in the world is a Secular Franciscan?" In the early years of the 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi established three Orders. They were the Friars Minor, Poor Clares, and the Third Order. The Third Order was originally known as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. Over the intervening centuries, there have been many changes, of course. One of those changes is that there are now what are called "regular" and "secular" Third Orders. The "regular" are priests and nuns. The "secular" are lay people. Therefore, as a Secular Franciscan, I am a lay person attempting to follow Christ in the manner of St. Francis. You can find out more about the U.S. Secular Franciscans at NAFRA. We are, also, part of the international Order. You can find more information about that at CIOFS. These Franciscans are Catholic. However, there are also Franciscans who are affiliated with other churches. You can find out more about that here: Order of Ecumenical Franciscans.

One of the things I did recently was go to several craft/artisan fairs. They generally serve to inspire me, and I occasionally come across some wonderful artists. Unfortunately, some of the artists whose work I would like to share with you are not on the Internet. There are a few I can share, though. The Posh Kid Boutique does not have very much on her Etsy site, but has wonderful satin flowers along the lines of the one shown. Moon Cookie Gallery has delightfully whimsical watercolors, and Amy Simpson makes beautiful fused glass pieces.

Another thing I have been doing is research for a book I am writing. It is an historical fiction piece, set in the 20th century. Since it follows the life of a woman who was born in the early decades of the century and died near the close of it, my research has to cover a lot of information.

I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have been given, and happy to be able to share some of what I have found with you.

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