Reading through the Ring

Woo hoo! We are almost a hundred strong...and if you read through every single one, it takes some time. However, that is exactly what I did today...read everyone's blog. Some of us are mad daily bloggers; others of us just drop in occasionally. Regardless of how often you post, I noticed a thread that made me curious.

We are either all working at a break-neck speed or questioning why we aren't working more. We all seem to be in some transition in our voice.....either trying to find it or pushing the envelope.Very interesting....what is the cause? So fellow bloggers, what exactly is your motivation to create?

There have to be as many reasons as there are members, but I would like to hear from some of you personally. Whether you are a professional or beginner, why are you working in fiber? What drives you to create....to make art...to show your inner self or just play?

In my longer classes, three to four days, I ask all my students to pick five words that describe either creativity or quiltmaking (just depends on my mood). They have to trade a word from their list with their neighbor and then make a cogent statement on the subject given. What's the point? I am trying to teach how to turn the visual into verbal....and in the long run, give them a head start on how to write an artist statement. I posted some of these earlier this year...after Asilomar.

Now, I guess that is what I am asking you without the trading and word selection....turn your visual into verbal. A couple of suggestions...don't use I to start every sentence...as a matter of fact, try not to use it at all.....second, forget about technique...we all work in different ways so that is out of the mix....it doesn't matter how but instead why.

Oh boy, now she's getting bossy...sorry..don't mean to be terse. This is just meant to be fun. Hoping you will take the challenge, I await your comments.