I just came down from my studio after spending an hour or so cleaning up the mess that creativity seems to develop. I love it though. The space is so bright and big. When I am up there I feel like I am tucked away up in the clouds. What a great feeling it is. It is really cozy in the wintertime when the snow is falling. Yesterday, Jay and I went to where we bought our wood stove. They are going to fix our fireplace in September. How wonderful it is going to be to sit in front of the fireplace and knit. While we were there I saw a wonderful gas fireplace that is perfect for the studio., I just don't know where it would go but if I could get it up there it would save us tons on the electric bill.
Gibbs, our german shepherd puppy doesn't like it when I stay in the studio too long. Right now I am in the office and he is laying quietly next to me. He is totally different when we are up there together though. He runs around, plays with my yarn and generally wreaks havoc until he starts barking as if to say..."well, when are we going down stairs to play?" Sometimes he give up realizing that I am just in another zone when I am playing with my "toys". Giving up is hard for a puppy but giving up he does and with a big sigh he meanders down the stairs and plops on the rug in front of the TV which has animal planet on. Sometimes he actually watches it. But when I finally emerge he jumps up because he knows we are going out to play for a little while. The break does both of us good. What a life this dog has!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
NOT ENOUGH TIME
I have been trying to get into the studio every chance I get but somehow life in the way of housework and renovations seems to pull me out and away from my sewing machines. I do push to have my studio time though even if it is to steal a half hour away to practice on my long arm. I can't wait to finish the slip cover I promised I would make for someone. It is seven weeks and I am just getting to the point of putting it together.
There has got to be a way to corral my time and effort better than I have been. There is so much to do and to learn. I found out about a group in Delmar where they have an art quilt study group. I love it and can't wait to investigate it.
The knitting group is doing well. We have so much fun and I learn something new each time I go. The local quilting group seems to have stagnated long before I became a member which is too bad. I have had to make a decision about when and how often I can go. They like to meet every week which is fine but more often than not we don't do to much so I can not justify taking myself out of the studio for two to three hours a week. Still, I have made some very good friends there and don't want to leave all together which is why I decided that I would go to the business meeting once a month.
Time is of the essence so I had better get back to the slip cover.
There has got to be a way to corral my time and effort better than I have been. There is so much to do and to learn. I found out about a group in Delmar where they have an art quilt study group. I love it and can't wait to investigate it.
The knitting group is doing well. We have so much fun and I learn something new each time I go. The local quilting group seems to have stagnated long before I became a member which is too bad. I have had to make a decision about when and how often I can go. They like to meet every week which is fine but more often than not we don't do to much so I can not justify taking myself out of the studio for two to three hours a week. Still, I have made some very good friends there and don't want to leave all together which is why I decided that I would go to the business meeting once a month.
Time is of the essence so I had better get back to the slip cover.
Friday, August 6, 2010
QUILT SHOW
Well, I am participating in my first quilt show with the Patchworkers and it is confusing. Setting up is harder than you think, especially when you don't know what you are doing! It should be fun though.
I have been looking at the Delmar group. They have 150 members and even have a website. What is most exciting for me is that they have an art quilt study group as an offshoot. Definitely going to explore them.
Cairo seems to have a wonderful group as well. They only have their shows every two years. I thought I might look in on them.
I am realizing how important it is to have the support of other like minded artists. It is so important to be involved in a group that challenges your talents which helps you begin to push the envelope on your creativity. A group that doesn't continue to explore and learn gets stagnant and they loose members that way. I have been thinking about searching other groups for that reason. The group I am in is a group of very wonderful people who are great quilters. They have lots of experience and like the group the way it is. It just doesn't fit me and like wearing clothes that are two tight, I feel like I am always trying to break out.
Well, back to the studio. Does anyone ever read this?
I have been looking at the Delmar group. They have 150 members and even have a website. What is most exciting for me is that they have an art quilt study group as an offshoot. Definitely going to explore them.
Cairo seems to have a wonderful group as well. They only have their shows every two years. I thought I might look in on them.
I am realizing how important it is to have the support of other like minded artists. It is so important to be involved in a group that challenges your talents which helps you begin to push the envelope on your creativity. A group that doesn't continue to explore and learn gets stagnant and they loose members that way. I have been thinking about searching other groups for that reason. The group I am in is a group of very wonderful people who are great quilters. They have lots of experience and like the group the way it is. It just doesn't fit me and like wearing clothes that are two tight, I feel like I am always trying to break out.
Well, back to the studio. Does anyone ever read this?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
THE MASTER OF MY OWN FATE
My fortune cookie was delivered a few minutes ago. It says that I am the master of my own fate. I already know this but what the heck.....there is a certain intrigue with fortune cookies, don't you think? Let's see, what is my fate? I am not sure but my dream is to be free to create my own fate. I can handle that. So, I had better go back into the studio and work on my art quilt some more. Until the next time.....I should at least be the master of my long arm!!!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
WHY DID IT HAVE TO END
The weekend was awesome. I have some beautiful beading pieces and am excited that I have one more way to embellish my work. What fun. The food was awesome and the women were great. I have not been to a retreat where there have been any men but there is wonderful male designers out there!
Now I am home. Trying to get stuff done around the house but my heart is in the studio where I want to be. Jay is a real champ and loves my work, even if it isn't my best. It was so wonderful to work with eight other artists, sharing ideas. I love it.
Now I am home. Trying to get stuff done around the house but my heart is in the studio where I want to be. Jay is a real champ and loves my work, even if it isn't my best. It was so wonderful to work with eight other artists, sharing ideas. I love it.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
WHEN MY CREATIVE JUICES FLOW
......I have a hard time sleeping. My sewing machine is set up, beads, material, sewing tools are all in order. I just have to decide on the color scheme which I will consider while I am falling off to sleep. This class is going to be great and I was pleasantly surprised to be with artists that I have worked with before. This is going to be so much fun.
I am going to sign off and read Larkins book. I can't wait until tomorrow.
I am going to sign off and read Larkins book. I can't wait until tomorrow.
MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO MYSELF
Today I head off to Greenville to study with Larkin Van Horne. I am really excited because I haven't been to the Greenville Arms for quite some time. It is always nice to be with other like artists, sharing ideas and conversation. The food is always wonderful and the rooms are cozy. The studio is large and it is always filled with fun and laughter, and AIR-CONDITIONING. I will be taking pictures and will post them when I get back.
SPEAKING OF THE HEAT. I hope that everyone is doing well in this heat. I almost had air-conditioning in the studio but it was not to be. Oh, not that I didn't have the unit all ready to install but Jay was having quite the time with the one we bought for the bedroom and his patience grew quite thin. Between the heat, the terrible directions and Skippy and Buffy (the prior owners, don't ask!) I decided that it would be best to take both units back to Home Depot. Soooo...off the mountain I go to return the deadly units. The good thing was that I got to ride in cool comfort while I drove to and from the store.
On the way back I began to ponder my dilemma and before I knew it thoughts of being really wealthy so that we could hire a handyman to take care of these quite complicated tasks began to enter my very tired and hot brain. Next think I know, I am at the store buying $40.00 dollars worth of lottery tickets because we all know that the hope brought on by the possibility of winning is quite uplifting!!!!! (there has got to be a friggin' winning number in there somewhere). Finally I arrive home just in time to make dinner. Tacos! Easy and he likes them.
Just as I am about to sit down to the table Jay comes in with the book to the air-conditioner (it never made it back into the box) and he says in a very low voice "We needed to use plan B". You see, there were two ways to install the unit, plan A and plan B. Apparently it was plan A that caused us all the problems we were having. Who knew you had to turn the page to see if there was another way????? Then he says, without missing a beat..."Why did you bring back the AC for the studio?". "Are you kidding?" I said to him. "Between the heat, your frustration, my frustration because you were frustrated, Skippy and Buffy, (stop laughing Brian!), and the fact we were going through this for a total of four days of summer before it snows again, I figured that there was no way on this earth that you were going to bring a much bigger unit up a flight of stairs!" All of a sudden I realized that he looked terribly confused and I just started to laugh and laugh. Poor Jay. "It is all good." I say to him. But I have a question for all of you men who may be reading this. Why is it that you begin a project thinking it is going to go right the first time? It never does. Why? BECAUSE YOU NEVER READ THE DIRECTIONS UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE!!!! Women on the other hand, have been conditioned to think we don't know what we are doing so we take the next couple of days reading the booklet and then going on the internet to do the research needed in order to complete the project.
Oh well, it is all good. Besides, all was not lost, I came home with an extra fan for the studio! Happy birthday to Me!!!
SPEAKING OF THE HEAT. I hope that everyone is doing well in this heat. I almost had air-conditioning in the studio but it was not to be. Oh, not that I didn't have the unit all ready to install but Jay was having quite the time with the one we bought for the bedroom and his patience grew quite thin. Between the heat, the terrible directions and Skippy and Buffy (the prior owners, don't ask!) I decided that it would be best to take both units back to Home Depot. Soooo...off the mountain I go to return the deadly units. The good thing was that I got to ride in cool comfort while I drove to and from the store.
On the way back I began to ponder my dilemma and before I knew it thoughts of being really wealthy so that we could hire a handyman to take care of these quite complicated tasks began to enter my very tired and hot brain. Next think I know, I am at the store buying $40.00 dollars worth of lottery tickets because we all know that the hope brought on by the possibility of winning is quite uplifting!!!!! (there has got to be a friggin' winning number in there somewhere). Finally I arrive home just in time to make dinner. Tacos! Easy and he likes them.
Just as I am about to sit down to the table Jay comes in with the book to the air-conditioner (it never made it back into the box) and he says in a very low voice "We needed to use plan B". You see, there were two ways to install the unit, plan A and plan B. Apparently it was plan A that caused us all the problems we were having. Who knew you had to turn the page to see if there was another way????? Then he says, without missing a beat..."Why did you bring back the AC for the studio?". "Are you kidding?" I said to him. "Between the heat, your frustration, my frustration because you were frustrated, Skippy and Buffy, (stop laughing Brian!), and the fact we were going through this for a total of four days of summer before it snows again, I figured that there was no way on this earth that you were going to bring a much bigger unit up a flight of stairs!" All of a sudden I realized that he looked terribly confused and I just started to laugh and laugh. Poor Jay. "It is all good." I say to him. But I have a question for all of you men who may be reading this. Why is it that you begin a project thinking it is going to go right the first time? It never does. Why? BECAUSE YOU NEVER READ THE DIRECTIONS UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE!!!! Women on the other hand, have been conditioned to think we don't know what we are doing so we take the next couple of days reading the booklet and then going on the internet to do the research needed in order to complete the project.
Oh well, it is all good. Besides, all was not lost, I came home with an extra fan for the studio! Happy birthday to Me!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
From the Studio
Paradise Found /private collection