ART QUILT GROUP

Rainbow Fish

 This morning I made the beautiful drive to Delmar to visit with other members in our Art Quilt Group.  I almost didn't go but I am so glad that I did.  It is always so inspiring to see what the members have been doing since we last met and boy have they been busy.   The picture on the right is one of what I call a free-form project where one of the members made a trace of a fish and we translated it in fabric.  Each one different.  Each one as delightful as the next.  Rainbow Fish is my translation and it was really fun to do.  Before I knew it the project took on a life of its own and ended up in blue waters with a small school of fish swimming around it.  This is what the final quilt looked like

just before I put the beaded fish on it.  It was a fun project with interesting techniques used.

We also talked about what inspires us when we are designing an art quilt.  Members brought in their favorite books (we don't only collect fabric you know) which was interesting because no one brought in the same book.  And although, all of us have books and books and books about art and quilting and art quilting members actually brought in books that were not familiar to the rest of us!  There are books out there that I have yet to own!!!!!  I have to say though, that we really read and use our books and magazines.  How wonderful.  I feel so lucky to be a part of this group.

THE COLORS OF FALL

Fall wall hanging

I don't do a great deal of traditional quilting but recently a friend of mine came to me with this pattern and asked if we could make it together.  She is new to quilting but it is a simple pattern so I agreed to make one and she would make one also.  It was fun to do and now we are both looking at making this pattern in Christmas colors.


Instead of hanging it on the wall I decided to hang it on the door that opens into the living room.  It makes the entrance look quite festive.  Fall is my favorite time of year so unlike the pattern, I made the colors bright and vivid.  It will be interesting to see what the Christmas one ends up looking like.

THE ART OF RITUAL

free digital photos.net

There was a time when my days began with a morning meditation.  I did it for many years without fail.  Meditation helped me focus and quiet my mind.  The ritual was so important to me but slowly, so slowly, I began to wane from my practice.  I don't know when it happened and now I am struggling to get it back.

Sometimes, when I am in my studio I find myself lost in the jumble of books and fiber and glue and paint and.......it is a mess for sure.  I need the ritual to keep me focused and to allow the universal creative energy to flow through me.  Practicing a ritual not only takes dedication but it is an art form all of its own.  It is why I chose the name Creative Meditations for my art.  And yet, here I am lost, unfocused and feeling as though I lack the dedication not just to my art, but to myself.  I know that I can start my daily practice again.  It is important that I do so.  It is why I decided to share this with you in this very public forum.

QUIET TIMES

I haven't been on the computer much these days.  I have actually enjoyed the quiet creative time it has brought to me.  It has been nice.  Lately, I have been asking myself what it is that I expect to get out of blogging and why did I start it in the first place.  I ask myself questions like:  do I really want to share all of my thoughts in this blog?  where do I want to take this blog?  where do I want this blog to take me?

When I first began to write here I wanted to use this place as a way to share my creations.  But I am beginning to realize that it needs to be more than that.  It needs to be a place where I explore not only what it is that I create but also why.  What is the energy that flows through me that makes me want to dance with my creations?  What happens to me when I create......where do I go in my mind?  I don't know the answers to any of these questions...not yet at least.  I do know that I will continue to blog as a way to stay connected not just with those who read my blog but also with myself.  Maybe this is why I blog at all.

SEPTEMBER????????

One of my many tangles that I have done.  It is awesome and lots of fun to do.

The studio is quite busy these days with several quilts and artwork being created.  I had hoped to have more done but apparently, from what my good friend Joanne says, I am a bit of a perfectionist because I just keep ripping out if I don't like what I am producing.  That is the nature of the art though; when something does not turn out the way you expected it then you have a choice.......rip it out or leave it alone and build on it.  I am trying not to rip out so much by treating my art in the spirit of Zentangle  which states, there is no eraser in life....just opportunities to build on to the next thing.  One line at a time.  One stitch at a time.

I put this exhibit together for the quilt show that we did last weekend.  It was a walk back in time not only because of what was represented on the table but also of great interest was that everything there was made in the US of A.  Did you know that Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania made thread?  Many of the tools were works of art as well.  One visitor stated that she remembered her mother having a "crank" Singer sewing machine.  She said that the children would turn the handle while Mom did the sewing.  Seems like it was a family affair!  I had so much fun putting together this exhibit and how many items  were made in the USA.  I wonder what we would learn if we put together an exhibit titled "Modern Tools of the Trade"!

Rainbow Fish has a home!

Well, it really has been a busy time around here.  The Vermont Quilt Festival seems like a far away place now and the Patchworkers Quilt Show is finally over.  It was so much fun but lots of hard work.  Saturday, the heat really got to us but that didn't stop the people from coming.  I entered "Rainbow Fish" to the collection and it seemed to be enjoyed.  The men who came to the show seemed to like it which did not surprise me at all.  There were several really beautiful quilts on display which made it hard to pick just one for first prize.  Rainbow Fish did not win a prize but I didn't expect it to.  It did spark conversation and questions about quilting and beading which made it even more of a delight to display.  Congratulations to Peggy who took #1.  Her quilt was spectacular and it was well deserved.