Now to relax

the video taping is over. Actually yesterday was busy. I had to take three pieces to a town about 30 miles away for a show that will open next week. I plan to go to the opening reception on Thursday evening. It was gratifying to see my fabric pieces beside the paintings--I think my pieces will hold up quite well. But at the same time, I came to the realization that I really can't compete with paintings on an even playing field. I should be making more of a point of my work being on fabric--I should be marketing it as fibre art and not presenting it in the same way as I would a painting. I have to think this through a little more and try to figure out a focus to promote. My next show isn't until the end of July, so I have time.
The video taping was not quite what I had expected. I had been told that they would be wanting to know how I was trained, what courses I had taken and who my influences were, but much of the interview was about how my craft/art impacted on my life. Just as valid a viewpoint, I guess. But it's done and I've promised a copy of the CD when it's edited. But now my studio is tidy, and I'm not sure what to work on next.

I'm receiving a little pressure, lately, to develop a course, based on my current work, that I could offer to the EAC Seminar 2010 committee. This pressure is coming from more than one direction, but the bottom line is that I'm not really sure that I want to do it. I can see the advantages, I can see how this might move my art in a different direction ( or give it a direction), and I can see how this could result in more income-producing opportunities. It would be a lot of work, but probably no more than producing a body of work for a large show/sale. So, what is behind my reluctance? I have to submit a proposal my August, so need to make a decision soon.

I took a major step this week and resigned from one of my fibre art support groups. It was not influencing me in any way and I was becoming frustrated at the dynamics within the group. I carefully wrote to the group, via e-mail, telling them that I was backing off and wishing them well. Only one of the group has responded in any way, and I am hurt. I guess they might have been hurt at my leaving, and I know I'll see them all again, but it's a little sad none the less.

Whoops! I'm slacking off again! Taking too long between posts. Today I puttered in my studio. I have been asked to be part of a local oral history project that will focus on crafters. They are coming on Saturday to video tape an interview in my studio, so I felt I should tidy up a little bit. I've resisted the urge to "stage" the place ( although I've made sure that any rosettes I've won with my work on tacked on my bulletin board.) So I've been sorting out my baskets. There are three of them and they are big. They sit on top of a chest and seem to attract all sorts of weird "stuff". After two hours work, my garbage can ( a five gallon pail) is full and my baskets now look quite decorative sitting there. I even found my Teflon ironing cloths--both of them! I also took the time to re-paint a whole cloth piece that I had started several months ago. It was just not right, and it's been sitting there staring at me for awhile. I saw a painting technique on Utube about a month ago and gave it a try. Bingo! Of course, being me I went one step too far, but it'll "pass with a push". Now I have to add some machine applique. I also took the time to mount some photos in my sketch book, so now I have about 6 tentatively planned pieces. Then just as I'm checking e-mail before bed, I found a critique of Magnolia and Blue on an internet site. A very nice critique, too. So I feel better about it not getting into the show.
I have the whole day tomorrow to finish sorting out the studio. We've been having terrible weather--cold and snow--and the Ladyslippers were just peeking through the soil in the garden. Anyway tomorrow will be a good day to stay home.

Adding pictures

Every time I try to add pictures to anywhere on the Internet I run into trouble. Today I found that I seem to be able to add pictures from a CD without the aggravation that I experience when trying to add them from any other source. That's somewhat limiting as I have very few pictures on CD, This picture is of a quilt that I entered in a recent show put on by the local Guild. It got very positive remarks from the judge, a first place ribbon, and a sponsor's prize for my use of threads and embellishments. I had offered it to another show, but it didn't even get past the jury process there, so now I'm free to put it up here. I got a lot of comments from viewers as well. Many of them commented on the fact that I didn't make my flowers the top layer all the time, but rather put other embellishments on top of them. I saw another quilt with "silk" flowers on it today. She appeared to have altered the shape of the fl0wers and then coloured them to match the colour scheme of her quilt. She then used them in the same way I would use a bead or charm--purely as an embellishment at critical spots on her piece. Food for thought there!

Foiling

Someone on an Internet group I belong to said that the very last step in altering fabric is foiling, as you can't do anything else, on top. Dye won't take and you can't sew through it. Well, to me, such words are a challenge. I finished carving some of my rubber stamps yesterday, and then used them to apply foil to a piece I have started. It is actually a clean-up rag from a painting/dyeing session that had been free motion quilted(FMQ), but the foil went on next. It changed the whole direction of the piece. It now has a very linear look, after my line of foil went on at a bit of an angle and I had to square the whole piece off. I debated over using dark blue foil, but settled on silver. I now plan to accent the vertical line with some appliqued white/silver ribbon, and then just add some beads. I'm not sure where the beads might go, but I'll play with them a bit. So far the piece has an elegant look, and I don't want to loose that by using more traditional tricks like yo-yo's (one of my favourite "funky" bits to add). Unless the yo-yo was made out of silver foil.....Aha! What if.....? I'll let you know what happens

Hard to get going

I think I must be still recovering from the Quilt show. It sure has been hard to get going this week. I've used every trick I know to avoid the studio. I think it's because, while I know there are things I want to do, there are also a couple of priority things that I must do. Pure procrastination. Yesterday I spent the whole day putting beading on post cards for a swap I signed up for, today I'm carving rubber stamps for a studio day in two weeks. Meanwhile I have a purse to finish that should have been done a week ago. I did get some mail off today. I actually sent in my registration for the FAN retreat next October. I have been trying so hard to get the money together and I finally have enough. There was a write-up about it in a recent newsletter, and now I want to go even more. Ahh well, off to carve more rubber stamps, and maybe tomorrow get to work on the purse.

Worst Quilt

Last month our guild had a Show'n'Tell of First or Worst quilts. I faithfully showed my worst quilt, but as of yesterday, I now have a new Worst Quilt. I can't take all the credit, some of that goes to my friends who helped with the quilt. I'll try to get a picture, but the flaws might not be readily visible in a photo. Obviously my friends and I need to have chat about bias edges and making blocks all the same size, but some of the blame is mine. I was given a beautiful piece of fabric for the back, and then put it on upside down and didn't notice until after it was quilted. What was that biblical quote about Pride going before a fall?

What a Weekend!

What a great quilt show! Every time our local guild mounts a show they seem to do a better and better job. I spent a great deal of time there, but as a volunteer with specific jobs to do, so wasn't able to wander aimlessly through the quilts, as I like to do. I did get to view them, however, and I have to say that I feel that the contemporary quilts received as much respect as the more traditional ones. This is a huge step forward for the Guild. All three of my babies came home with ribbons, and one of them won a sponsor's prize for the "best use of threads and embellishments". I have such a sense of validation, but more importantly, now I want to get into my studio and start making up all of the designs I have had in my head over the past three days.