Ithaca Art Trail is coming up.  I've been working all year but will I be ready?  I always feel that I didn't get all the things done that I had hoped for, but I can also look back and see a pile of work and wonder where it all came from.  It was a year to focus on cleaning up my cottons, some of which were cut and ready to be used 20 or more years ago.  I believe I have made 14.  Some of which took 3 to 5 incarnations to be completed, but I only count the finished ones.  It was with no particular focus other than to follow my nose through my piles and to play with quilts.  Also, to give away to not-for- profit organizations the finished quilts.  I have not organized this part of the plan. Yet.

I've been working on a new quilt.  Its just a scrap quilt, using up possibly 20 year old fabrics, pre cut and carried around waiting for the day I would need or use them.  That's part of what this year is about, to do just that, use up as many of those ideas as I like to think of them, that I never had time for. 

When I had my store on Cape Cod I made patchwork jackets in many different styles and colorings, and piecing arrangements.  After closing the store and moving I totally stopped making them, and never felt the urge to again.  But I do love to make quilts and I have all these fabrics and its good practice to work with colors and fabrics already begun, choices already made.  So I have to work with that and use what new things I can get to work with the old and find some solution that works today with my choices today.  Its fun and takes me down memory lane.  Plus its feels good to get out of current habits/choices even to revisit old.

Just Off Kilter

Its time to head outside and start painting.  If it would stop raining, and warm up a bit.  I imagine I will be regretting that statement as soon as the heat shows up.

As a Artist I find myself making quilts, but confused as to how to show and market them.  I have always been able to sell my other work, handpainted clothing and acessories, the main reason my work as an artist went that way.  The need to sell.  Even when I transitioned into framing textile work, I could sell that. What is confusing is that it would seem like it was an easy sell, so versatile and practical, everybody can can care for them.  They can be hung as art, or used to warm you, they jazz up a bedroom, or make a large dramatic statement for a reasonable expense. There must be a market place for them, or maybe that is an opportunity to fill.

I'm not used to regularly checking in with this blog.  I have enjoyed the exercise but have not integrated it into my daily practice or routine.  With learning to play the piano I immediately began to practice regularly, knowing that was the only way to be able to learn.  Writing has never been a natural or easy thing for me.  I don't believe I do it well, I can't spell and, ... why would anybody else be interested in what I am thinking about? Now I do know that all that applies to the piano as well, so what is the difference?

* I have a weekly piano lesson that costs a lot to hold me accountable, so I need to make some progress. 
* And after 4+ years I actually practice because I want to and miss it if I can't.
* I have no intention to play for anyone else, or perform. This blogging is all about communicating with others.
* My studio work has always had a life outside my control.  It has been hung up in Galleries to be judged &/or enjoyed and has been bought and even worn and cherished. I don't have too much trouble anymore with showing the work, but its the speaking or writing about it.  Do I even believe it is a worthwhile venture?

This weekend I was distracted with many non work related activities, from family obligations to my once a month bridge group, to a couple friends going through life's struggles.  All I wanted to do was to be in the studio and work on the latest piece.  In writing this now I can see how in this instance "the Studio" and work can be an escape from the emotional drain of our human interactions. How going into your safe space you can close out the troubles of the world and just think of those things that you know how to manipulate and create something beautiful, interesting or challenging.  For that slice of time you can close out the bigger world and surround yourself in what sustains you. I wonder if that is reflected in the work.

I hosted a retreat weekend for Andrea Gibbs in our Second Story Studio work room for 2 weekends in the month of March:

Weekend Quilting Retreat 

Purpose:  Andrea Gibbs, the current president of the FLQG is creating quilts and writing a book inspired by her exploration into iconic African textile designs and how they never seemed to be translated into quilt blocks and/or patterns.  Considering the significant participation and contribution of African Americans in our American quilt history, and the powerful influences of textiles and design in African culture this seems a curious missing, one worthy of pursuit.  Andrea and I have discussed the idea of a retreat, that would not only be a fun way for us quilters to get together and do what we all delight in doing but a way to propel her project forward.  We as a group can not only produce more than she can alone, we will discover things that she might not, that would be useful and insightful.  Specifically that means we will be making quilts for her to photograph and use as examples in her book and possibly to show.  That can manifest in many different ways, either your owning the quilt in the end or your doing the sewing for her collection of quilts. She will bring fabrics for those who just want to sew, but bring fabrics to add to the stash also if you choose. If you want to use your own fabric and are intrigued to use these designs you will keep the quilt in the end. Our focus is to all work on the development of these designs only.

The weekends were great fun and very productive.  I will post the images as the quilts are finished and I receive images. My favorite part was how inspiring the whole area of study is and how each participant ran with different aspects and how we barely touched the surface.  I have 3 finished quilts to show for it and ideas for many others that should keep me producing for at least months if not years. We may continue and have more weekends on

this project and I am open to hosting others.  Please let me know about your ideas and projects.  These are not money making events, we do not charge for theses retreats, they do not include instruction.

Getting Started

To begin,  I would like this Blog to be a way for me to communicate about and to show the progress of my work. Hopefully in my sharing stories and reflections about the process it will help bring my work to life in a new way.  So often the daily work as an Artist is a solo practice and I can see this open format journaling as an opening to a broader unknown world.  I'm not comfortable yet with this structure, finding myself at a lack for words, but excited with the possibilities.

To list, scheduled classes and events happening in the Gallery space, and connect with others.