Point of View of A Dandelion

Sometimes you have to look at things from the point of view of the dandelion out there in the middle of your green green spring lawn.

You are:
Unwanted (usually),
unloved (mostly),
and overlooked (almost always).

But still you have a purpose that you go about fulfilling no matter what. Until that mower cuts you down, or that toddler fist grabs you tightly, or that romping dog tramples you. You sprout, you grow, you produce a flower, that attracts various visitors, you soak up the sunshine and rain.

Then you reach the end of your time (at least this cycle) and you let go of your showy petals, and send seeds out on the winds to seek their own spot to grow. The rest of you dies back, but your essence remains in the roots, underground, nourished by a few remaining leaves. And you wait, until it is time for you to go through it all once again.

I love this time of year, when the mower isn't going quite yet, the grass is getting high and the dandelions are dancing across my lawn, providing such a beautiful show. They make me happy just to look at them, at least for a little while.

Collage As Escape

As I mentioned before, not much sewing is happening as I'm working up to figuring out the gigantic king-sized roadblock (hah!) of a quilt that needs to be layered, basted, and quilted.
Soooo what have I been doing instead? Well, besides the sketching I showed earlier, I've been collage happy in my sketchbook. Which is easy to do on the limited flat surfaces in the studio that are still available to actually be worked on.

This first one is called True Art. Which happens to be the name of a local tattoo studio, the logo was removed from the phone book that I use as a glue application surface as I do collage. I've always admired that logo, and was happy to find a good place to use it. The Up n' Atom Chai is a label from the local tea company that makes this chai I buy at the health food grocery store. Oh man does it ever smell good when you drive by the place where they mix and package this stuff. This version of chai is so peppery and sweet and yummy, my absolute favorite.

This one is called: Brains/Responsibilities. Some pen work and colored pencil, magazine photos and tissue paper.

Transcending Rejections & Roadblocks

The ninth secret in "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin, I'm still reading along with other book bloggers (The Next Chapter). I've gotten a little off track with posting on this, but I'm not giving up, because I've found that reading this book along with a great group of creatives really quite helpful.

I think that this secret is probably the turning point, where one decides whether it is worth it to pursue the creative path. Because rejection is absolutely a part of this process, and not everyone is willing to push on through being rejected (more than once usually!). And overcoming the roadblocks that are thrown up, by yourself and others, physical or mental is really where "the rubber meets the road." Do you want success (however you've defined that for yourself) enough to put yourself through this test? Which will be an ongoing experience, not a one-time thing.

I believe this is where the creative dilettantes and dabblers are separated from the Serious Artist (note the serious capitalization). And it is admittedly where I find myself poised at the moment. Well for the last year or so really. Being a creative dabbler is really fun, and relaxing and you meet all kinds of interesting people and try out so many really really interesting new things and techniques. And my goodness I've really truly enjoyed it and gotten so much out of it, and it has saved me so many times I can't even count.

But in the end, the question asked in this chapter essentially, is that really enough for you? For a whole lot of people I bet it is absolutely enough, and those folks are the audience for most of the quilt, craft, scrapbook stuff and magazines and classes, etc. A very valid choice and nothing to ever be sneered at or looked down upon. Better to be a creative dabbler than a frustrated person who never ever lets herself get down and dirty and creative. but but but I hear myself saying, it isn't enough for me anymore.

"Putting yourself out there and sharing your work qualifies as an act of courage and tests your fortitude." - Gail McMeekin

So I have put myself out there, with my work, for many years now. And maybe it is courageous, but that's not how it feels anymore. It feels like it is just part of the whole work of being a creative person. And I know that I need to do much more of the work of the business side of being an artist, instead of just hanging out as a creative dabbler.

A great fun exercise in this chapter is making a list of ten acceptance fantasies and then writing them out in descriptive detail, who you talk to, what you say, what you're wearing, which work is involved, what you're paid, etc. And then further on, taking those same acceptance fantasies we're asked to actually detail what goes into success at making these happen, what ingredients you are missing, to specifically plan out how to make those fantasies become reality. That's the crucial thing isn't it, to figure out how to make it happen, oh and to actually follow through and Do It.

Quilting Stuck

Well, what do you know this is my 1001st post!

Wish I'd realized that last time was # 1,000. Oh well. Onto the new millenium right?

I have gotten so stuck on the above pictured quilt. It is a king-sized bullseye in these crazy bright happy spring green colors. For years now I've been saying it will be done by our anniversary (which is coming up in a week). This year I actually have made great progress, and was on track to actually get it done this year. I even made the backing, which took much longer than you'd think.

I finally went and got the wood rails and PVC pipe that is required to use the John Flynn frame I bought years ago. Went to assemble the frame and realized that some critical parts are missing and it won't work at all. This is the first time I've taken it out of the box, so I'm disappointed to say the least. I was on a roll and this has completely stopped me in my tracks.

Now to figure out if I can get the parts I need to make the frame work or give in and try to do this king-sized quilt without benefit of a machine quilting frame. I honestly don't have trouble with the quilting part, the stumbling block is the basting process. The only way I know how to baste a big quilt is with safety pins, and :

1. I've Never pin basted one this big
2. Pretty sure I don't have enough floor space to baste it without some major furniture moving
3. Don't own enough of the right kind of safety pins.
4. Am struggling with having enough energy in enough of a block to accomplish this, and once the furniture is moved and it is in process on the floor, it has to be done.

When I write this down like this, now I can stop beating myself up about being a slacker and not getting it done (again). No wonder I've been stuck! And no wonder people send out their big quilts to be quilted by a long-armer. I don't have the money to unfortunately, and I really want to gift my husband and I this big quilt that will actually cover our whole bed (with us in it). So I must figure this out somehow, so that I can move on to something else.

I say I'm stuck because all this equipment, long pieces of wood, giant quilt top and backing and batting is sitting out in my studio, taking up all the space and energy and it just plain demoralizing to even go in there and do anything at all. Gosh, what a complainer I am. I feel like Winnie-the-Pooh stuck in the opening of Rabbit's hole, unable to get in or get out. Guess I'll just have to wait until I get "thin" enough to move again...

Sketching The Roots

I recently realized I hadn't done much work in my sketchbook, in ages really. (well months) So I sat down and started doodling and produced a sketch of tree roots. It looked really nice just with the pen I'd used, wish I'd taken a picture of it at that stage. but then I wanted to add color.
So I used my Prismacolor pencils. I liked using all the browns together to achieve the various shadings that you see on roots. Then I wanted more amorphous color in the bigger non-root section and sky area, so I used some Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons. When I used my Yasutomo watercolor brush to add water to move the watercolor around I realized that the pen I'd used to sketch with was water soluble (oops). So that made for a very different end product than I'd originally been shooting for. But I like it and how the colors blended together.


And then I still wanted to sketch, but wasn't happy with the way the paper in my sketchbook was reacting to the water. It really isn't suited to watercolor work. So I grabbed one of the blank watercolor paper cards and drew some more roots. This time the color was only added with the watercolor crayons and pencils. I'm pretty happy with the way this card turned out.

Driving or walking around everyday I see exposed tree root systems, as the roads are cut into hillsides. This is of course why every winter during the heavy rains, we have trees falling over, taking down power lines, etc. But seeing this everyday makes it a "go to" image that I tend to sketch. A lot of times I find the patterns the roots make more visually interesting that the tree that grows out of the roots. I guess this noticing what is around me is part of the gathering inspiration process that I automatically use now. I'm glad I've learned to incorporate and be inspired by what is in the natural world that is all around me. Day in and day out.

Surprise! An Award Received

This was a completely beautiful and unexpected surprise, Anne Huskey-Lockard at El Milagro Studios posted a link that I was to check out, and wow! She's given me an award, how about that?

Here's the statement that comes with the award:

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."

So, wow, thanks Anne! Um, now to narrow it down to eight people to pass this on to, and she's already gotten a few that I would have chosen. Sooo here we go:

Jaye at Artquiltmaker

Laume at Beach Treasure

Lunaea at Lunaea Weatherstone's Blogue

Bitter Betty Industries

Darling Petunia

Arlee at Albedo Design Journal

Karoda at Seamless Skin

Deb at Stitch In Time

These blogs are so much a part of my life now, I love reading them, and was missing them terribly for the week that I was offline. Thanks ladies for sharing of yourselves and writing so well and being so darned inspiring. I encourage those of you reading this to check them out (if you're not already reading them) and add them to your blog list.

I did some googling to find the origin of this award, because the name of it is so interesting. Couldn't find anything except that the award name, Proximidade is Portugese for Proximity. So mysterious, but it has been around the internet since last year, I love it!

Unfortunately, Julie

(spelled with Flickr)

Oh dear, this is yet another fun use of Google. Thanks to Diane at Going to Pieces for passing it on.

Try googling this phrase: "Unfortunately (insert your name)" and see what you come up with.


Some of the funniest ones I found are:

Unfortunately, Julie lost her role when it was discovered that she had posed for Playboy magazine.
(oh no the truth is out !)

Unfortunately, Julie is a completely repulsive, unappealing and vulgar human being known to man.
(Yikes, don't hold back now)

Unfortunately, Julie was not able to continue her level 10 success in 2007 due of broken leg.
(So much for level 10 success)

Unfortunately, Julie’s environmental illness ended her art career.
(oh dear, that isn't too auspicious is it?!)

Unfortunately Julie sat on them during a break and we had to do a lot of gluing to get them back together.
(I hate it when I do that)

Unfortunately, Julie couldn't resist and found herself having an affair with Franco.
(ahem, I don't know anyone named Franco)

Unfortunately, Julie was recently informed that most of the cats had been poisoned over a period of a few days.
(my goodness that's horrible!)

Unfortunately, Julie got the boot (too early, in my opinion).
(yeah really!)

Unfortunately, Julie couldn't do anything about my slight bald spot and receding hairline.
(you're on your own there, bub)

Unfortunately, Julie's return home wasn't a time for celebration. Instead, she was accused of shooting Senator Mark.
(Who knew I was so violent?)

Unfortunately, Julie's skin turned a nice shade of red, instead of glistening in the sun like a true vampire.
(my other secret is out, now you know why I read all those vampire books)


Reminds me of the one I did a couple years ago, where you google: "(your name) needs" that one was hilarious!

Down At The Ol' LQS

LQS is an acronym for Local Quilt Shop (Shoppe, Store). And mine is Judy's Sewing in Scotts Valley. These two pictures were recently recovered from my old cell phone (the one that took an ill-advised detour into the toilet, don't ask). The cell phone doesn't work, but the teeny tiny SD card decided to work after a couple months of drying out. How about that ? Miracles of technology and all, which are usually utterly defeated by just a little bit of water.So last summer I walked into Judy's and there was my friend, Terri Thayer's first quilting mystery book, Wild Goose Chase: A Quilting Mystery prominently displayed. I was thrilled and rearranged stuff so you could see the book a bit better. Her second book in the series came out Old Maid's Puzzle: A Quilting Mystery (Quilting Mysteries) .

I find them to be much better reading than the Chiavarini quilting books, maybe because I know the author, but definitely because I like the writing and characters and setting a whole lot more.

I'm looking forward to the third one coming out in April, Ocean Waves: A Quilting Mystery . It is fun knowing a published author, we all were quizzing her during the CQFA retreat about the whole writing/publishing thing, very cool. We were full of suggestions for characters and ways to kill off people related to quilting, which she very gracefully and bemusedly listened to.


And another thing that caught my eye in the quilt store was this baby toy to sew. You know those plastic stacker toys, this one is made with high contrast fabric donuts, the pattern is by Heather Bailey. I might just have to make one for my new niece to be, brother and sister-in-law are expecting soon!

Selecting Empowering Partnerships & Alliances

illustration from Anne Taintor "making smart people smile since 1985"

This eighth chapter of 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women (which I'm reading as part of the book blogging group, The Next Chapter) was probably the least helpful to me so far. I think that making this decision on whether to partner up with other or create and pursue alliances is something that might be in the future, but doesn't apply too much to me at the moment.

In the chapter there is a pretty extensive self-assessment to do around the issues of what kind of partner you are, your managing style, your collaboration style, etc. And after doing that, I've realized that being on my own with what I'm doing now is the right choice for me. At least for now.

But as the author, Gail McMeekin says "Working closely with others on a creative project expands the available net of ideas, skills and experience." I've absolutely found this to be true on the collaborative projects I've worked on in the past, and definitely recognize the value of this idea.

But on the other hand, my favorite quote from the chapter is "Your playing small serves no one." - Marianne Williamson.
So perhaps more thinking on this subject of expanding my notions of what I'm doing, and whether or not I need to involve more partners or alliances is achieving my goals.

As McMeekin says "In this age of the Internet, you don't have to work alone, unless you want to."

Consulting With Guides

Getting back into the swing of reading along in "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" with the book blogging group, Next Chapter. I'm a week behind, so there will be two posts in a row to catch me back up.

This seventh chapter is all about how to overcome the challenge of isolation and loneliness as an artist/creative, with all kinds of great questions to consider about the guidance you got as a child from your family, later in life from people outside your family and what works best for you and what you need in the future going forward.

I was lucky as a child to be so encouraged in my creativity by both of my parents. They were great examples of how to be creative in your own individual way that works for you. My grandparents and other relatives too were very inspirational by the many examples of throwing yourself into hobbies or creative pursuits to get through life and make it better as you go along.

As I went through life I think that I had some pretty good teachers and guides up and through the college years.

One of the most influential was a summer school teacher that I had where we did patchwork, between fourth and fifth grade. I don't remember much about her, but I do remember the freedom and "what happens if you did this or that" kind of spontaneity of approach to the subject she brought. That really stuck with me and informs my method of working to this day.

The first formal class I took in the quilting world was from Therese May, (a long time ago in 2000), another free-spirited creative teacher, with a similar "what-if" approach to learning to quilt spontaneously.

And more recently I took advantage of Gabrielle Swain's offer to pass on what she'd been learning about life/art coaching from Eric Maisel when she offered her Creative Sparks month to month mentoring last year. That was a really valuable experience for me, and I refer back to my notes and re-read her critiques and advice very frequently.

I find one of the most inspirational things for me is reading books written about or by creative women where they detail how they've figured this out for themselves. Some of these books would include
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes,
Twyla Tharps' great book, The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life
and although not all the essays are written by women the anthology edited by Rick Benzel,Inspiring Creativity: An Anthology of Powerful Insights and Practical Ideas to Guide You to Successful Creating
Those are just three that I can think of right off the top of my head out of the many books I've read over the last few years. Advisors or guides in book form are convenient for me, as I don't always feel up to having face-to-face interaction with people. This is just reality for me, so I'm really lucky that the internet exists with all those interesting and inspiring groups out there, just waiting for people to jump in and participate from whatever point they happen to be at.

In person groups are good too, in moderation I've found, otherwise they can turn into too much politic-y and time-sucky situations. The one I've stuck with and done the most with is CQFA. We only meet once every other month, so the time committment isn't too much, and I almost always come away inspired and renewed by interacting with these creative fiber-obsessed women.

In the book, there is a list of guidance options to consider and I found myself checking off all of them, as ones that I had pursued, already have, or want to continue with. So it seems that I've got this particular subject somewhat in hand (though not in control of course!).

My favorite quote from the chapter which I'll leave you with was from Helen Keller: "When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body?"

View Through Rain

Phone was finally fixed today (hooray), so now I'm racing around online trying to catch up. It seems like more than a week went by for some reason. I was really discombobulated without having the lure of an online hour or two to get me through my morning studio time. Not that I have to make myself go be creative or else, but it was a routine that was working really well for me, and I felt adrift without that routine.

I replaced that with reading instead, and read a whole lot of books last week, including (finally!) Twilight, which I read in less than a day.

It keeps raining, and I keep taking pictures of it, since that is what is going on.

These are from waiting in the car one recent evening, for my son to finish up his martial arts class.

I think the neon lights are really beautiful being spread out and combined in the rain. Especialy the purple cloud created from the red/blue OPEN sign.

No Phone

This Cake video of their song "No Phone" perfectly illustrates the current situation at home: No Phone!

AAckkkkk.

No dial tone, thus no DSl. And no repair appointment until Tuesday next week. grrrrr.

Although I did see three AT&T trucks cruising around the neighborhood this afternoon, fingers crossed that they are fixing the problem right now this very minute. I have a feeling the outage is due to the recent mudslide which took down power poles and the phone lines with them. We didn't lose our phone service even though the power was out though. Just after a few very windy days. I bet they didn't re-hang the phone lines correctly. As a layperson guessing that is..

So if you're trying to call me, hopefully you have my cell number.

At least there is free wifi at the coffeeshop down in town which is where I'm posting from. Sitting here drinking expensive chai and watching the rushing river way down below.

Well, that is one way to lessen the interruptions at home and get some work done in the studio, I got a lot accomplished today. No internet, no interrupting phone calls, pretty cool. But more on that later, with pictures.

Carving Stones

I uncovered a project in process during the recent studio rearrangement which I was really happy to find. These are the runestones that I was making for myself a few years ago. I love using the tarot and other deck systems, but I wanted to have a go at using a tactile, stone based system.

The normal runes have never really done much for me, the symbols don't speak to me, and I usually don't like the stones or plastic faux stones that they're sold as these days.

So I decided to make my own. Using symbols that are personally meaningful and are instantly available for me to interpret. Yes, that is a smiley face on one of them!

These are all stones that I chose on a special trip to a local beach, with this project in mind. I carved each stone using my Dremel Motor Tool with a diamond point. It was easier on some of the stones that others as there are sandstone and granite (the two extremes in hardness!). But mostly it went pretty smoothly.

I then used a Zig Painty gold pen to fill in the mark to make the symbols easier to read.

I made a fabric liner for a small but sturdy basket and have them in there for now. I may make a reinforced, lined velvet bag for them at some point. So far they have been very useful for me and I'm glad that I came across them again.

How I Spent My Holiday Weekend

This is what the road down our hill looked like yesterday. A couple big trees that had been perched up on the mountainside fell over in the big rain/wind storm, causing a small mudslide. No big deal, except, they of course fell into the power lines. Very big deal. The fire department and tree service people were there right away. But they couldn't do anything because the live wires were wrapped up and in and around the trees. Several hours went by before the power company showed up and got to work.
It was a problem because this is the only passable road down the hill for a few hundred folks that live up here. It is possible to walk down our little street to town, but you can't drive anymore. Dear husband had to walk down and up twice, once with the teenagers that were having a sleepover and needed to get home, and once to fill up the gas can for our generator. It was quite a social scene with more people than usual out of their houses (in the pouring rain) griping about the power company and scheming on how to get down off the mountain.
We had a LOT of time for reading and quiet, which was a nice way to spend the holiday.

Power didn't go back on until 1:30 am, which I know because of course we had left the bedroom overhead lights on. What a way to wake up. Nice to have the power back on.
Today we're having a ton of hail! And wind, which knocked the power out again for a few hours. Good time for a nap, so I took advantage.
Here is what the trampoline looks like. Wouldn't that be a cold and slippery jump?!

And I'm fascinated by the sizes and shapes and colors of the hail.

Well, that's why I didn't post yesterday!

Conquering Saboteurs

The sixth chapter, Conquering Saboteurs in 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women (book blogging along with the others at The Next Chapter), is pretty interesting. Saboteurs can be internal (all those critical, damaging voices) or external (people in your life who are against what you're trying to accomplish).
I think handling the external ones is pretty easy for me. Although I haven't encountered a lot of criticism for my work so far. Probably because I don't attend artist groups where they do critiques. And the judges comments that I've gotten on works from various shows have usually been helpful in some way or another. Even the ones that rankled ended up being useful. I tend to usually take everything very personally and deeply, but somehow, criticism about my work I'm able to handle (at least so far), because I can separate what is intended as useful, and what is not.

The internal saboteurs though are a bit harder to handle, but I have learned some good techniques to shut them up long enough to be able to get the work done. The ones that are strongest are preventing me from getting my work out into the world. This realization that I haven't conquered all of those internal saboteurs makes me say to myself: "Prepare to do battle!" It seems strange to have to prepare to battle a voice or impulse that is coming from one's own mind, but that's where the conflict is.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deep fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." - Marianne Williamson

The picture in this post is of one of my favorite quilts that I've made, As Above, So Below is made from various woven plaids and ikats and quilted with a very thick cotton perle.
Finally hanging where I always had envisioned it, above our bed.
It looks good against the biscuit colored wall.
No matter what anybody else ever said about it.

All You Need Is Love

I hope today, Valentine's Day has been absolutely filled with LOVE for you.

Romantic Love
Filial Love
Maternal Love
Paternal Love
Familial Love
Platonic Love
Feline Love
hey, even and especially Self Love

My valentine and I are now off to dinner (kid-free too!), hopefully the road is open by now. If not, I guess we'll have to turn around and have something to eat at home. And hopefully the power stays on, as it has been iffy today with the stormy weather.

The Paws That Refreshes

d'oh! Sorry 'bout that punny title.

Don't you love it when your cat is so deeply asleep that they don't wake up and you can take super close up pictures of their paws?
I do.
Usually Rexie wakes up or at least hides his paws from me, but this time he was sound out recovering from a wild and woolly night out in the rain.
This time he was so asleep that I was able to get to him before he clenched up his relaxed paw. I just love the look of it against the flannel quilt.

Holding Still

I'm participating in a group study using the book "Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter"
This is written by quilt artist Katie Pasquini Masopust and Brett Barker, a fine art painter and teacher. It makes for a different kind of how-to improve your quilt design book because of this partnership in presenting the information. Basic art concepts presented with the quilter in mind. Because it is such a different medium than drawing or painting, learning to make that connection with the basics can be hard to master.

This is what I've accomplished so far from the Contour Drawing chapter.

First step is to set up a still life, lit with a strong light from one side so that you get highlights and shadows. This particular one was rather pungent, what with the very ripe banana and spicy onion. I had to restrain myself from eating that fat little mandarin orange while I was still working with the still life setup.

A blind contour drawing, where you hold a paper above the one you are drawing on so that you can't see the drawing so far. This helps keep your eye on what you're actually drawing.
You really have to concentrate on the shapes and how they relate to one another.

A contour drawing (no shading), this time able to look at the paper.

Then using pre-fused fabric, doubled up , then you freehand cut the basic shapes out, no marking, just cut with the scissors.

Using one set of the shapes, you make a fabric still life. Fused straight down onto the backing fabric. I found that I cut most of the pieces too big and had to trim them down to fit onto the backing fabric size. Also, don't forget to remove the paper backing from the fused fabric before you cut, I made this mistake and then had to sit there and pick it off of each and every little fiddly piece.

Using the other set of shapes you create a composition that is pleasing to your eye. This is a diagonal composition (could you tell? hope so!)

Lastly looking at the still life, you free-motion stitch directly onto a white quilt sandwich (top, batting,backing). This is quite similar to the contour drawing. Except of course, you don't draw any guide lines or marks, you are just using the sewing machine to draw. It was easier than I thought it would be.

I was interested in how the reverse of the stitched still life looked.

Next chapter is Line and Shape, which I'll post about once I've actually done the exercises!