Spilling Over

This month's prompt for the The Sketchbook Challenge is "Spilling Over." It took me a while to decide on a direction to take. I have been doing a lot of portrait sketching lately, trying to improve my technique and attain better images. In the end, I decided to sketch a page full of baby faces. I call it "Baby Love."

A baby's face is definitely different from an adult's. The proportions are different, primarily because a baby's hairline generally appears to be much higher. In addition, the nose is, obviously, shorter and wider in comparison. I also found I had to much more careful about the shape of the eyes, as the shape we normally think of is too narrow on the outside.

The sketches also proved good practice in capturing the foreshortening of a body and indicating patterns without color. Altogether, I am pleased with the piece and hope you enjoy it, too.

I'm off to work on finishing my grandson's quilt, so that I can give it back to him next week. Until next time, wishing you peace and all good.

The Library

I am sitting in my local library because our computer has crashed. (We've been without now for just over a week.) This by way of explanation for the lack of post last weekend, and to let you know that, for the moment, I am not sure when my posts will be able to get back to normal. We are hoping to get the computer issue under control this weekend, but it remains to be seen. At any rate, I will return as soon as I can.

One side effect is that I cannot post any pictures, since I have no access to my hard drive and cannot upload them to the library's computer. Another is that I have a limited time on the computer. (A third, unfortunately, is that I have to deal with my fragrance allergies. Another patron was directed to the computer next to me and is wearing a heavy dose of something that is setting off a reaction. So, I'm afraid I don't feel quite clear-headed.) I'm sorry this is so short and mundane, but I'm running out of time.

Until I can post again, I wish you peace and all good.

Sketching & Quilting

It has been an interesting and productive week. I have been reading Cathy Johnson's book,

You can find more information here.  http://cathyjohnson.info/bookpages/sketching.html  She is a marvelous teacher. She makes sure that her illustrations are clearly connected to her descriptions, and breaks things down into manageable chunks.

On another note, I got to see and spend time with the grandbabies last Saturday, when we met up with my son and daughter-in-law for lunch and a trip to ProBass Shops. (My husband and children are avid fishermen. I will fish, but rarely do.) In addition to seeing the babies, however, I was able to get a couple of things to help me with working on embellished quilts away from my studio.

This neat little number will easily hold spools of ribbon. While I will not be able to pull ribbon through the holes (they are sized for fishing line), I may be able to work that out, too. At any rate, I can take between six and eight spools on retreats or to classes.

http://www.basspro.com/Plano®-Line-Spooling-Box/product/97465/-1433314

The other item actually came in two sizes. So, I bought one of each. I plan to use them for beads. Each section opens individually from the top, which should be a great help in keeping beads organized and preventing large spills.

http://www.basspro.com/Plano-Round-Organizer-Utility-Boxes/product/10205144/-1528937

On a sadder note, I found out through Lesley Riley's blog entry, Jean Ray Laury, that the quilt world lost a treasure this last week, since Jean Ray Laury passed away. Lesley's blog is a great memorial to her. I consider my decision to attempt my business to be based on Jean's influence. My copy of her book The Creative Woman’s Getting-It-All-Together at Home Handbook is well-thumbed and highlighted.

Wishing you peace and all good.

Building blocks

I'm definitely ready for spring. At the same time, I am starting to take more concrete steps toward the changes in my life this year. My last child is graduating from college in May, and as I've mentioned before, I will "retire" from my current day job in July. I have been busily soaking up input from other artists, taking a lot of pictures of people and places I encounter, and experimenting with new (to me) techniques in my art.

When I think about "retirement" (which I keep enclosing in quotes because I won't really retire), I am excited at the possibilities and the opportunities that will be available. For the first time in years I will have the luxury of time. While I don't expect to be able to do everything I want to do, it will be a joy to do more than I can now.

If you have checked out my blog more than once, you might notice that I added some information to my profile. It is one of the first steps in those concrete steps I mentioned above. I realized that I needed to identify what my artwork is about. It also reflects some of the work I've done to determine what I need to do to make a difference in the world. I'm still working on the total picture, but at least, I have decided how it affects my art.

Life is good.

Getting Creative Juices Flowing

My local quilt guild hosted Mickey Depre this week for a lecture and a workshop. Because she also lives in northern Illinois, we were able to see 15 of her quilts up close. Her joyous style and vibrant colors make her work a real treat for me.

The workshop, in which she taught "Friends in High Places," was long enough and small enough to allow everyone to benefit from individual attention. It made the day, while tiring for me, a very good one. Unfortunately, I did not fulfill her hope that I would not have another UFO. However, I am planning to finish the project as a gift for the babies.

I hope that you find ways to get your creative juices flowing.

Until next time, peace . . . .

Snow Days

Since I live in northern Illinois, I was one of "fortunate" people who experienced heavy snow and winds this last week. On Wednesday, all of my family members had a snow day. It was unusual for all of us to be home and feeling so relaxed. Since we had no obligations for the day, we were able to do whatever we felt like doing -- without guilt!

Early in the morning, I decided to try taking some pictures of the blizzard. To my surprise, a rabbit decided to pose for me. It appeared to be trying to find a warmer place to wait out the storm. Since the rabbits don't usually come through until dusk, it was quite unusual.

I did have an opportunity to spend some time quilting, and begin to do some serious thinking about what I will do after I "retire" from the day job. It is my hope that I will be able to begin selling my artwork, again. Simultaneously, I have a deep desire to "make a difference" in some way. I want to get more involved in social justice issues, again, but haven't yet decided where or how I would be most effective.

Is there an issue that is close to your heart? How would you or do you make a difference? How would you or did you decide what to do?

Fiberart For A Cause

A cause that has become increasingly close to my heart has been organized to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Some of you already know that one of our own, Melly Testa, is fighting breast cancer. Today, I found out that a third relative was recently diagnosed with cancer. This disease seems to be hitting more and more people. There are some marvelous artists who are contributing work for the cause. Please check out the link and see if you can help.

One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages One Cause – The Fight Against Cancer. One Wednesday – February 16, 2011. One Hundred Collages – Created for this event by an all-star team of artists: Natalya Aikens, Pamela Allen, Laura Ann Beehler, Liz Berg, Pokey Bolton, Laura Cater-Woods, Jette Clover, Jane Davila, Jane Dunnewold, Jamie Fingal, Gloria Hansen, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lyric Kinard, Jeanelle McCall, Linda Teddlie Minton, Karen Stiehl Osborn, BJ Parady, Judy Perez, Wen Redmond, Cynthia St. Charles, Virginia A. Spiegel The goal – Raise $8,000 for the American Cancer Society in just one day. More details and a preview of artwork: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ONEFundraiserPreview.html Fiberart For A Cause has already donated over $205,000 to the American Cancer Society through the generosity of fiber artists and their patrons.

Until next time. . . .