Yes, I am! I am making progress and I like how this is coming along.
I love the ethereal look of these leaves compared to the previous leaves that I printed on silk.
I am almost done stitching the leaves down. Then, I will work on the other quilt that I want to rehab for my crit group on Saturday.
That is all I have for tonight. Ta ta!
On Thursday, Lisa and Clay arrived from San Francisco while I was having fun with my STASH group – it is the first time that all six of us have been together in so long. In the afternoon, the girls and I headed down to Pioneer Square where Design Week Portland had set up a display and geodesic domes. In one of the domes, she was interviewed by Namita Wiggers, former Director and Chief Curator for the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, and now freelance curator and writer. Coincidentally, Namita will be the keynote speaker for the SAQA conference in Portland next year. I always enjoy hearing Lisa talk about her path to success as an artist. Two people brought their college students to her talk — pretty cool.
On Friday, I got my new teeth “installed.” They look really good! After that, I picked up Steph and Mia and we went to another event where Lisa was the featured speaker. She talked about her evolution as a sketchbook user and how important it is to her work, now. She had her two latest books there for sale and after the talk, she signed books. When I left there was a huge line and she sold out of all her books. I think there were over 200 people there for the event.
On Saturday, I got to go shopping with Mr C and pick out some birthday presents for myself. We all went out to dinner on Saturday night because the girls were leaving on Sunday, my actual birthday. We has a wonderful meal at a restaurant in our new neighborhood. This is me ogling my birthday cheesecake.
On Sunday, after church, we went out to brunch with a group of friends who had gone on the trip to Israel with us. One couple was visiting from Iowa. So I feel as if I had a wonderful 4 days of fun and good food and great company.
I managed to get a little studio work done. I painted some organza for leaves for the quilt I am trying to rehabilitate.
I then fused pieces of organza together to give more depth and character to the fabric.
I need to find time to cut and stitch the leaves and finish redoing the quilt before my crit group next Saturday. But, first, I have to finish the guild newsletter!
It is the third week of the annual SAQA auction of 12 X 12 quilts. The funds raised help support SAQA exhibitions, publications and education. This is my donation this year. it is created from my snow dyed fabric – cotton and cheese cloth with lots of hand stitching. I named it Sky Blue Pink.
Bidding starts at 2 pm eastern time today. There are many beautiful pieces by some luminaries in the art quilt world. Here is a link to take a look at them: 2014 SAQA Auction. The price is $750 today and goes down each day until Saturday, when you can pick up one for $75. I have always been fortunate to have mine purchased early in the bidding. But every year, I worry that mine will sit there until the end.
Hope you will go take a look and consider making a bid. I purchased this piece by Viviana Lombrozo in the first week of the auction. I can’t wait to receive it and check it out in person.
In my quest to re-energize my creative life, I decided to start by rehabilitating a couple of quilts that didn’t make the cut.
I made Taking Leaf of My Seasons for the SAQA Oregon Layers show and it did not get in. I was not surprised.
There were too many leaves, and they were too realistic for the abstract background. It was one of those last minute things and I didn’t have time to redo it for the show. So I am now removing them. It is really quite relazing and cathartic. Then, I have to figure out what to do. I really love the painted organza background so I want to do something that will work with it. Maybe fewer organza leaves that are fused or maybe thermofax prints. To be decided.
At any rate, I am still feeling under the weather and I have my two teen-age grandchildren here for a few days while Mom and Dad are in Portland, Maine. They are such great kids – so quiet and polite. We took them to the Farmer’s Market yesterday. Here they are walking back – notice the baguette of French Bread that Mia asked me to buy. It did not last long.
Tomorrow will be a test for Mr C and I. We have to roust Mia at 6 am – get her breakfast, make lunch and walk her to the street car by 7 am. Her highschool is right on the streetcar line. Then, we have to get Miles moving and drive him back across the river to his neighborhood school by 8:45. Wish us luck!!
Grabbed this from my daughter, Lisa’s blog because it suits what I am feeling about my creative life. Since we decided to move, about a year ago, my creative life has taken a back seat. I have been pondering lately about whether or not I should continue making art. It is more difficult for me to get in my groove – sneak down to the studio and play and find something that gets my juices flowing. My little studio is not as easy for me. It has been too hot to be there. I have felt distracted and unmotivated with only little bursts of art making that has made me happy.
Then, this week, I found out that my Kelp Dance quilt sold at the American Art Company gallery in Tacoma. I was told that only two pieces in the show have sold. That bit of news has buoyed my spirits (plus the fun of getting back to printing art cloth with Rayna last week). So, I look forward to cooler weather and more time to get my creative groove on. Never mind that deadlines for all the important shows have just passed me by!! There is always something coming up.
I barely survived 4.5 hours in the dentist chair yesterday morning. It was grueling. They removed two crowns and a bridge and prepared my eye tooth for a crown. I must say that the temporary dentures look quite good. I came home and got a fever and spent the rest of the day wrapped in a blanket. I feel a bit better today. I hope to go to SAQA tomorrow and then Thursday, I will have my STASH group here.
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