Guild Challenge

A Challenge: participants are given some type of rules or parameters to follow and often are given a common fabric or (fabrics) that must be included in the finished product (commonly a wall hanging). Some rules are very restrictive or prescriptive, some less so. Always has a deadline.
Rationale: 'challenge' yourself--can you do this? Some (usually congenial) competition involved. Fun group project.
Current Challenge in progress: our guild is having our every-other-year one day quilt show in August--it's a very fun community event, with no judge/jury involved. Last time, it was suggested having a challenge prior to the show, and results could be included. So, this spring the rules of engagement arrived: use some recognizable portion of this fabric (above) in a wall hanging not to exceed 100 inches circumference, the theme to be portrayed: Whidbey Bird Houses, due at the July meeting.
Oh great! Now hopefully you know me well enough to know that two problems immediately sprang up, with a third to follow: although I love the colors, this is NOT fabric I would ever pull off the shelf; the topic gave no instant (or delayed, for that matter) visual images for me--not in my 'usual lineup' (thus it's a challenge!); but I wanted to support the challenge idea so I felt compelled to to come up with something...
Time is running out--here's what I ended up doing. A little embellishment left to do--and a title ('Avian Acres'?, ideas welcomed)--it's about 23 x 23.

Adventures in Painting

Really enjoyed a long, holiday weekend at home. It was interspersed with a very sick dog for a couple of days (she's fine now) and some tremendous lightning storms that went on for a few days (very unlike Puget Sound).

It seemed like a good time to jump in on a 'on my list to try' project: fabric painting. I didn't get a picture of the mess I made for a couple of days, but it was QUITE fun--and I'm sure I'll do more in the next couple of months. It was primarily an exploration mission--and for a first try, I was pleased. Ended up with 9 pieces--here's some before they got cut up.

Part of what spurred me on was completing my 'Christmas in July' gift exchange item for my round robin group. At the last minute, the person I was 'assigned' changed--so the original idea I had no longer made sense with the new 'giftee' in mind. I decided to do reversable placemats & a table runner, using some of the newly painted fabric (somehow it's like doing 'new recipe night' when you have company--seems a bit risky with not alot of track record; but so be it!) The 'other side' is a lovely, rich piece of fabric that I've been reluctant to cut into--this seemed like a great time to go for it.

So here's what I'll be taking for our fun potluck, gift exchange. Hope she likes it! (you can click on the picture of the placemats to take a closer look (if you're amind to!)

Memorial Day, Birthday Fun

On the fun side of 'summer' descending: we had a great family event when Mike & Lynn came for a long Memorial Day weekend--and to celebrate Mom's 88th!

The sun made a great 'visitors' appearance briefly and we had a great visit to the farmer's market, watched the Coupeville Memorial Day parade (as only small town parades can be!), had a great meal prepared by The Grillmaster, and also a lovely, leisurely meal at our favorite restaurant, the Oystercatcher!
Tom & Laura made the long sojourn for a brief visit, too, which was a real treat!

Thanks guys--we so appreciate your visits and Mom does most of all!!

Art Quilt Workbook - Next Installment

One reason I make myself continue posting (even though I will never be in Joe's league!) is that I SO enjoy other's info and experience.--and it's a great way to make new connections, learn new things. I totally underestimated that opportunity when I started blogging, but that's the part I think I like the best.

Here's an example: you remember this year's project that my round robin group is endeavoring to complete: the Art Quilt Workbook? When I did my first post about it, I got a comment back from Jane Davila, one of the co-authors. Made me gulp a little, to say the least--but the great thing was then getting to check out her blog--and all the sites she has noted (I could spend days snooping & reading, but time allows only a little at a time!).

Anyway--one of the sites I ended up in was the Nature Printing Society--quite cool. I was taken with their annual workshop which rotates east/west and this year is in Santa Barbara--also quite cool. I was yakking about what I found--and Jim thought the workshop looked good too; might have some applications to his wood turning. So--long story short: we're going to Santa Barbara (to a retreat center that Lynn is familiar with and recommends--how crazy is that?!) at the end of September for adventures in printing techniques & some California fun (if it doesn't all burn up before then....). So, thanks, Jane!

But I digress: the next task of the workbook dealt with Inspiration From Images. ("What I wish to show when I paint is the way I see things with my eyes and my heart"--Raoul Dufy) Don't we all wish that?!--it's the translation that kills you every time...

I've not been the biggest fan of representational art or using photo images in textiles--although there are some very great exceptions. I think when the 'art' moved to the 'craft' mode in quilting, it just seemed so rote; I didn't find it inspiring OR original. The great thing about this chapter, though, is recognizing the potential and learning/engaging with the techniques for image use; I'm always long on ideas and short on techniques. I'm behind in completing all the homework, but one of the exercises was to work with a pattern of a pear that was provided (and it was fun to see how many different variations on THE pear came back to the meeting!). So, here's mine. Meanwhile I'm working on the 'image as inspiration' in my series for homework. It's gonna have to wait a little as there are so many July deadlines--but more about that next.

The June That Wasn't

Sorry for the 6 week break; suffice it to say, it was a challenging month, so I'm gonna do all of my whining in one post you can skip:
Got one of those 'organizational initiatives' notices on June 3rd--you may or may not know the experience: it's essentially a loaded 38 in an envelope--"complete by July 1 'or else'...". After being one of many staring down the gun barrels as the month-end started looming and then actually MAKING the deadline (only to receive one of those 'atta boy' certificates thanking me...you know, the kind you want to rip up into tiny pieces before hitting the recycle box) one ponders if the stated consequences (they always vary...but in the same vein...) are really THAT bad. OK, past that bad karma!!
Got my first official thanks-but-no-thanks letter in response to the APNQ show in August. Well I think it might be my first--could be my LAST. Hard to imagine I'll have another piece in the near-term that I think might have a chance. When the envelope arrives, you just want more coming out besides the polite form letter; the check-list with the 'why' would be good, but it's just not there. Saw a collage series recently & one of the pieces was made of all the artist's rejection letters from juried shows. It struck me that her perseverance obviously paid off (as this was a magazine article about her work) and also that she had many (not just one)...
Summer still had not arrived by the solstice, although there had been a few brief sun breaks. The first summer I went through in Puget Sound (27 yrs ago) was much like this one although this one is worse (at least by the record books saying we're breaking 100 yr records regularly); at least now I know that not ALL summers are like this--but it's still remarkable how much it affects me. Even though everything is lush/green, albiet remarkably late, I get that stifling feeling of 'what if I have to go another whole YEAR to have some semblance of summer'. Hard to explain to most Puget Sounders--except those who know the loss of changing seasons and MISS it (many don't!).
Tim Russert passed away--and leaves such a void.
Hillary is officially 'out of the scene' and already the new month begins with the mis-quotes, overstatements, arm-chair-quarterbacking, and hand-wringing of 'we might not be able to beat him': so let the games begin...I don't know if I have the stamina to get through the next 5 months. I don't know if I have the patience for a country that might not be able to stay focused on $720 million being spent EVERY DAY on this war and then go 'what the hell' when the economy truly beings to hit their pocket book.
I watched Face the Nation last week and witnessed Wesley Clark and Bob Schieffer--and have since witnessed the public lynching for comments that were not even made (frankly Bob was over the line--unlike him). I thought Clark was respectful and truthful; more people need to be able to say 'the king has no clothes'; for 8 yrs we've been unsuccessful in doing that for our current court jester...
OK--end of summer whine; on to the cups half-full post shortly!!

The Cutting Edge

Today is the anniversary of the 'birth' of the laser--May 16, 1960. As stated by one: " it was a solution looking for a problem". Here's an article (one of many) saluting this change that has become such a part of our lives. Everything from Devin's star-gazing, eye procedures that have become so commonplace (and so valuable), the financial officer's laser pointer for those tedious overheads with too many numbers, and annoying additions to fireworks displays & concerts.

Here's to all the scientists past & present! (We love our physicists!)

The Year in Pictures & Poetry

I'm always happy to find a new blog or website that interests me & adds to my 'art encouragement' on a simple, but ongoing basis. Here are two recent 'finds':

Check this one out for the visual. (incidentally: I've been hearing about the Cyrus picture hub-bub for awhile now but this was the first time to see the pictures. I like his comments...) I really liked the architectural picture series...great use of light & shadows. (...and the subway pix were just fun, old & new)

Check this one out for the literary inspiration.

Gonna add both to my list of links for future use. Any other recommendations from you cyber travelers?

They Say It's Your Birthday!

(Cue up the Beatles--turn up the volume!)

Hey Nicholas--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
24 today!

Take time to celebrate--and know that from half way around the world we are holding you in our hearts & distant hugs. Best wishes for the next 365! XXOO

The Art Quilt Workbook Project

(Feel free to take a pass on this post if quilting seems too dorky!)
I thought it might be interesting to follow along with my round-robin quilting group as we work through our year-long project: the Art Quilt Workbook (by Davila & Waterston). The byline is "exercises & techniques to ignite your creativity"--I can always use a little ignition!

Just a quick review: our small group formed a few years ago to do some special projects together (and basically just have more quilting fun together!). We meet monthly and usually there are about 12 of us in the group. We've done some group oriented projects, have started a 'Christmas in July' gift exchange, and have challenged & encouraged our skill development. Towards that end, we decided to depart from our 'usual' this year and work through this workbook covering some basic art concepts, some 'advanced' skills that can be used in a variety of ways, and streeeetches us to 'get out of the box'. (Some of us are more comfortable with that, but a few of us are needing a brown bag to control the anxiety attacks for creating rather than following a pattern, plan, etc.!)

Each chapter (topic) has reading material, on-line links recommended, two to four exercises to complete, and then a homework assignment. 'Homework' is a completed piece (in this case, all are to be 9 x 11"--that's small; translates to fast, but also a challenge to think 'small'). Recommendation is to select a theme for the duration of the workbook. We are loosely doing a chapter a month--although some are a little more time consuming and therefore may take a little longer.

OK, too much time for the set-up--sorry.

Chapter 1: The Basics ("All real works of art look as though they were done in joy"--R. Henri)

Exercise: have a bowl of words (not of your own choice!), draw a word from the bowl, and quickly sketch the concept. Not hard to guess that these are NOT nouns in the bowl; they were words like dance, twist, whisper, laugh, etc. (Here's a page from my sketch book for this one--'float' & 'tickle'; also had 'switch'. What would you have done to illustrate those words?!) Additional exercise: draw the outline of an object without looking and without picking up your pencil from the page (a familiar task for some art students).
Homework for the first topic was a 'freebie': pick a theme you will use throughout the workbook. We have some interesting themes so far, including flowers, leaves, a poem, a color, etc. Mine is 'a square in a square'--it will become more apparent as the year rolls along. This was a 'work-in-series' concept that I've been gearing up for, so this was the perfect adjunct to get me immersed in my goal.

Chapter 2: Color, Perspective, Border Options. ("Color is my day-long obsession, joy & torment."--Claude Monet)
The basics of color & perspective--or creating a sense of depth by using color, diminishing size and detail, overlapping objects, etc. Exercises: using (only) color chips to illustrate words, music, cool and warm themes, and complementary colors. (Here's my sketch book page for warm, cool, complementary colors, the words 'magical' and 'rich', the song 'silent night' & some perspective approaches.)

Homework: make the first quilt using some/any of the concepts covered in the chapter.

Here's homework project #1. It's complementary colors (blue=cool, orange=warm) with perspective provided by overlapping objects, shadows, and diminishing size.

So now you're caught up-to-date with our project. I'll be adding a post from time to time with work(s) in progress for each new chapter.