Day 2 Cambria

What a great day we had. These are the last of the paper collages that were done on the time theme.
Some used torn paper as you can see to imply aging as in a flower losing its bloom. Others focused on text combined with newsprint and magazines.

Day One in Cambria

We started our first day at the Out of Heart and Hand Retreat with a wonderful lunch and send off to class from Sandy Turner, co-ordinator of the conference. My Creativity on Demand class worked so hard that Happy Hour was required for the entire class.

Naturally, I did not miss an opportunity to have a Cosmo for $3. Tomorrow I will be good and go for a massage (if they have a spot available) instead of the bar.

My classs is incredible. I give them kudos for being so brave and signing up for this class that involves no fabric at all. Today we started journaling and working with a variety of media. Tomorrow we will paint and work on paper collages.

They have to journal every day so to honor their hard work I am going to journal also. It is so inspiring to see students trust each other and you as their instructor with personal experiences or fears about creating.

We were so busy that I forgot to take pictures in class but promise to be better tomorrow.

Portrait of the Lawyer as a Young Man

Look at that sweet face....hard to believe someday he might be a shark in the court room. Thom and his friends were still discussing ethics and improper conduct. When I asked him if he was going to miss law school. he replied with a simple"Not at all." He has a month off and then starts the classes designed to help you pass the Texas bar. However I think his chances are good. The percentage of Baylor graduates who pass the bar the first time is between 97 and99%......higher than any other law school in Texas.

So a of yesterday at noon I am the mother of Dr. Thomas Harlan Swain......that won't cure any body problems but is sounds good. Or it could be Thomas Harlan Swain, J. D.D. Juris Doctor......his decision is finally made.....litigation in the state or Fedral level. He hopes to get a job in Austin and work there.

With brothers and neices in attendance, mom and dad tagging along a good time was had by all.....mostly we are so proud and know he will stick to those ethics. He is just one of
the good guys. That birhgt and shiny face full of hope to change the world.....if we could all hold on to that. Congratulations Thom...you did it....we wish you a long successful and rewarding career. Oh and by the way, just in case I need a lawyer you will consider me a client, no?

After graducation, we flew home to the airport.....arrived on time and I finally made it to Cambria about midnight due to the fog that rolled in. The drive was good though and I am ready to start with a half day of teaching today. More pictures to follow.

On another note, I sprung for a wireless broadband card since my computer got hacked twice last month using hotel unsecure wireless. Just a warning to the wise. It was about $150 with a $50 rebate for the card, unlimited time at $60 as month but well worth the secure, encrypted connection. I am using Verizon since they are my phone carrier but all the companies have them now.

That's all for now....will check back in after class to see how much trouble wre have managed to get into on the first day.

Finally Pictures Again

Here is empricial evidence that I have actually been quilting. The first is Last Leaf. The second is from my new series Open Spaces.....not sure what the subtitle will be yet. There is more done than you can actually see but since blogger was being unkind I fely lucky to get this posted.

On the home front, today is the big day.......we get to see Thom receive his degree from Baylor Law, to be followed by a small gathering of friends and family and then a mad dash back to the airport to get the California.

Will post some pictures of Cambria tomorrow since it will be 11 p.m. PDT when I finally arrive......maybe too late for pictures and better for hitting the bed.

This really is wrinkled it has just been folded for awhile. No big deal a little press with an iron and good as new....ah the joys of all cotton batting.

What's the Matter with Blogger?

Almost too many things to count. First it wouldn't recognize that I had an account with Blogger and now it won't let me upload pictures of the few quilting stitches I have gotten done. Don't you just want to throw your computer across the room? I will try again later but no promises....they look good so I wanted to share. Just another of life's little gotcha moments.

Late Night Post That Was Probably Better Left Unsaid

Do you ever wonder why you ended up where you are? For instance, creativity has always been a driving force in my life. I worked in regional theatre from the time I was 18 until I was 30. Also during that time I did spec jobs lettering for architectural firms (before computers and fonts everything was hand lettered). While working in the theatre, I wrote grants, wrote plays, acted and directed. In my spare time I painted my own needlepoint canvas designs. Then quilting arrived in my life and has stayed for the past 24 years. Why is this my path?

It is in the quiet moments of night that I wonder what it is I am really supposed to be doing. I replay all these experiences in my mind from time to time and try to put some order to them. You remember an artist creates order out of chaos. This will probably be a lifetime quest but then it is all about the journey....and to quote Joni Mitchell "Life is for learning."

The question for me is why was I so driven....not ambitious but curious....always asking what if? While this time away from the work has caused some anxiety, it was good. Developed lots of new sketches and now that I am working again it is with a renewed energy. When I first started quilting, all I wanted to do was make one beautiful quilt. Not to be immodest but I think I may have accomplished that. Now the search is to create something visual that effects the viewer like music effects the listener. Not an easy task since music has complexity on a variety of levels....but that's what I hope to do.

You should probably not pay any attention to anything I say since I am mostly talking to myself but it helps to see it in writing.....and out of my head. There are still days when I am not interested in the studio but they are fewer and farther between. I even put stitches in a quilt this week and the house didn't fall down. Occasionally, I wish I could just be happy watching tv, reading and having lunch with the ladies....all good things....but my hardware or software just doesn't operate that way.

I guess I am just taking the long way home....sometimes I feel just a part of the scenery and then a moment of inspiration hits.....it is unbelievable and unforgettable....and I know there is no way out but this path. Art gives me hope for humanity....that there is still life beyond our current catastrophe and those shining lights will endure.

Late night 2:20 p.m. here probably isn't the best time to post to your blog but what the hey. To all of you who are seeking, playing, questioning, and creating, keep the faith. You make every day better; you are not strangers but a community, a family. I honor your work and your commitment. Off to bed before I get even more weird.

Last but best

This is our oldest rose. My mom bought it for us when we moved into our house. It is now 24 years old and still gowing strong

This close-up is just a part of the glory of this bush. It is filled with blossoms and buds...and all the roses will bloom again in the fall.

This has some fancy name that only Ronnie knows but it glows in the dark when the moonlight hits it. Ah! the fragrance...love antiques.

The Rose Show

These are called apricot but end up pink as they start to shatter.

This is one of my favorites. The petals are almost transparent.

Another view of my favorite...dont you just love the red center.

We got lucky this year...a wild mallow decided to bloom in our backyard among the roses.

April in Texas

As promised here are a few of the things blooming in our yard. Petunias peaking out, Iris almost gone and a long view of two of the antique roses. More pics to come since blogger and I seem to always be at war.

The Creativity Demand Class Ready to Go

At the end of April at the Out of Heart and Hand Retreat, I am teaching for the first time a class that was developed from my Creativity on Demand dvd. I am so excited about this new class and hope it inspires the students as well. Yesterday I shipped jars of paint, a journal for each of the students as my gift, my newest sketch book and lots of other fun stuff. We won't be working with fabric but instead learning how to develop ideas into solid compositions and designs.

Our first day will be to start the journal/sketchbook. One the first page they will be required to write three entries: their objectives, goals, desires as an artist; subject matter that fascinates them; and finally, the road blocks/fears that they encounter on their journey.

From there we go to some simple exercises....mostly play. Sorry no cute wardrobe here...I am taking what I call my tasteful at home studio clothes....and possibly one or two nice things for dinner. Does this preclude the wearing of cute shoes? What a horrible thought?

Even though I still love teaching as much as I love making art, I think I am going to take a small sabbatical in 2008 and spend more time in the studio. Of course, as I look at my 2008 calendar, I realize that I may already be in trouble but somehow I will work this out. So as promised in my earlier whining post, here are the decisions I have made. As of June 1st, I am raising my workshop fee and requiring at least two day classes. With the type of material I am currently teaching one day just isn't enough. I am pushing the students like mad just to get through everything which gives them very little time to actually see something come to fruition. This decision will probably keep me from some jobs but at present it feels like the right thing.

There is a great exchange of energy between teacher and student that can feed the fire of creativity. However, when you are traveling so much that you have no outlet for that energy a blockage occurs. I should speak only for myself....but I need time to develop where I want to go next and that can only be done in the studio. I know many of you don't travel and teach but are swamped with other commitments. Do you feel this same need? Or is this just another one of my obsessive compulsive manifestations?

Tomorrow I promise pictures of our roses. Sweet Ronnie grows antique roses and they are really putting on a show right now. Off to contemplate my plight...

Me and My Camera

Okay, I admit on occasion I do a really stupid thing but this year has been filled with, ahem, dumbness. Somewhere on the road I lost the cradle for my Sony Cybershot. It was only 5.1 megapixels but I loved it. Had tons of pictures on it but no way to re-charge since it charged and downloaded in the cradle. Alas, woe is me! What a perfect opportunity to buy a new camera.....a brand new Cybershot with 8 megapixels. Why read the instructions when you had the same camera before. Au contraire! Last night I was downloading pictures to make this pitiful blog a little more colorful and dang it, if I didn't wipe the card clean before downloading. A simple slip of the finger and entire class at Asilomar is gone. A moment of infinite wisdom on my part.

My other really big loss is all the discs for my programs. When we had to reformat my hard drive, I was prepared to spend a day re-installing everything. Are they anywhere in this house....no. I have looked where there were supposed to be and even where they aren't....missing. I have no idea what anyone would want with them or how they got out of the house.

Last night while cruising for replacements, I realized I cannot find the Photoshop Creative Suite I had for less than an arm and a leg and Creative Suite 3 is out which is even worse. Yikes! Nothing to do but bite the bullet but ouch this is painful. Naturally I have no idea how to operate CS3 so not only will I be out the big bucks but then have to suffer through the learning curve.
Aren't I pathetic?

The good news is I have managed to put my hand on all my sketch books and journals. Whew! Talk about a trip down memory lane. You should try it on occasion....and surprise, surprise there are some decent possibilities for new quilts. I wouldn't execute them in quite the same way but with a few minor changes they would be me now. Of course just what I need more quilt tops that need to be quilted. Guess they will just have to be put in the long line things to do when I have more time off.

Now for something completely different: youngest son Thomas is graduating from Baylor Law School on 28 April. Whoopee! He is an amazing guy...went to Florida State on a full academic scholarship, graduated in three years with two degrees, Political Science and History, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, captain of the College Bowl team...went directly from there to Baylor Law where he was on of 60 accepted out of 6000 applicants. Did his internship with the Texas State Attorney General in the civil rights department....his aging hippy mom had to love this. Law school has been a definite eye opener for him.....he has actually had to work to get through not just gloat down the lazy river and still get all A's. He has decided to go into public service so he has to pass the bar before he can get a job....some rule in Texas. First exam is in July so send good thoughts.

Graduation is at 10 a.m. and Waco is only 2 hours away so we are driving down early in the morning and then driving back with my suitcase in the trunk so sweet Ronnie can drop me at the airport to fly the wild blue yonder to Cambria, California for Sandy Turner's Out of Heart and Hand Retreat. Wish me luck...I have developed a new class from my Creativity on Demand dvd. No fabric involved more art 101.....hoping not to have a riot in the class from fabric withdrawal.

Now that I have found through trial and error how to download, there should be some pictures of springtime in Texas and other sundry minutiae coming.

My Poor Neglected Blog

As usual I have fallen off the wagon again on posting but I do have an excuse...also as usual. I have been on the road non-stop teaching, developing the latest dvd and working on the magazine. Amid all this my sweet computer had to be wiped clean and completely re-formatted...always an exciting experience and last but not least, there was so little, and yet so much, happening that I didn't feel like narrating what I ate or how many planes I was on.

Finally, guilt overcame me along with a nice block of free time so whoo hoo! I am back. My schedule is still monsterous until August but I do promise to try and be better. On with the news: I have lost my fabulously talented editor, long story, and am now having to learn how to edit my own dvd's. Sure do hope I am smart enough to master this skill but y'all know, I am stubborn enough to keep on or go down in flames.

The second news report is regarding the magazine. Between discussions with my students and other teachers, I have received nothing but great feedback....and then, of course, all the encouragement from my faithful readers. I did some one on one market research regarding the title and the winner is: Jeannie with her submission Behind the Seams. Everyone loved it and so do I: congratulations to Jeannie. When you have a second or two drop me an email, so I can put you into the data base for your free dvd zines.......and thanks for a great title. FYI, we already have lined up Sue Benner, Jane Sassaman, Judy Dales, Jan Krentz and the ladies of Asilomar for either interviews or featured artist segments. Any and all suggestion regarding subjects of interest to you are welcome. This dvd zine is for you so I look forward to your suggestions.

Now onto the work: many thanks to all of you who posted in on my "Art Thang" post. I do have a lot on my plate at the moment...to the point where I became a zombie just washing, packing and going back to the airport. As is my usual bent, I have pondered this dilemma and have taken all your comments to heart. I do still love teaching so there are a couple of options: Raise my fees, require more days teaching, or stop doing so many guild gigs....or all of the above. I gave myself a deadline of June 1 to have this resolved so I will keep you posted.

Most of my being overwhelmed came from simple daily life that we all experience. However, the last two years have been a trial by blast furnace. As many of you know two of my darling grandkidlets were born at 25 weeks gestation and were in NICU until their due date. They are two now and doing spectacular....fraternal twins but look very much alike and are cute as bugs in rugs. Throughout this our son Chris was in Iraq for a year....I would rather have gone through all his teenage years again....but now he is home, safe and finally better after recovering from PTSD with the help of a VA program. He is blessed with a loving wife who has stood by his side through all this and is now working for Toyota in a great job. His return from the war zone was bittersweet because we were saying good-bye to my beloved mother-in-law who died two years ago in March. Finally, sweet Ronnie retired in September of last year....a new person continually in my space but we are finally adjusting. Is it any wonder that I felt like Dorothy in the tornado?

Artist have enough personal reflection to deal with but these added events kinda get you out of sync. I am not special; these events happen to millions of people every day. I think that it was they all happened in such a short span of time that overwhelmed me. Priorities change, adjustments must be made and finally you gotta stop beating yourself over the head about what you aren't doing and try to enjoy what you are doing.

I miss blogging and all of you....so I have resolved to get back into the swing....for yet another time.

Random Thoughts on this Whole Art Thang

After whining in my last post, I spent the day with an amazing group of women....full of energy...eager to experiment and just darn funny, warm and open. Mea culpea....what do I have to complain about, I am living my dream....being my own boss and making art. So shut my mouth, I made a list of pro and cons because I guess I constantly need to remind myself to "Be Here Now."
Here goes:
1. Admit you aren't working because you are still working out where this transition is leading.

2. You aren't lazy....you are exhausted....I love the teaching but the traveling is hell. Solution: come up with a plan to correct this problem. At a round table discussion with the incredible women who run Quilting Adventures, I gleaned some workable ideas that I will announce within the week.

3. I have touched on this before but I am no longer focused on working for exhibitions. I just can't follow all the rules and at this point in my career, I am driven to work but don't feel the need to build a career. I already have paid my dues and was glad to do so. That does not mean I am going to rest on fictious laurels but instead push to explore new worlds.

4. Disconnect more from the world at large and get back to the internal core where all creativity resides. Take my own advice that creatively time is the only thing we can't replace.

5. As much as I love books about art and creativity, stop reading for awhile. Incorporate some of the ideas....throw out the ones that don't work for me..but be brave and fly on the trapeze without a net.

6. Lock the door, turn off the phone, layer up all the new pieces and get to work. If necessary become an art recluse until I push through all the sludge that I feel I am stuck in.

7. Every day that I am home do something, anything even if it is only for a hour.....before you know it something will get finished. Carve out that piece of time at the expense of all other events in daily life.

Driving home tomorrow will give me plenty of time to plant these seeds in my pea brain and to work on the new teaching schedule concept. Nothing like being alone in a car with some great cd's to change the direction of your life. Be back in a day or so with the results.

Studio Blues

Not only is my poor blog suffering from lack of postings but my studio is even sadder from lack of visitations. How do you manage to travel and teach and still get all that new work done that is in your sketch book, already in progress or still floating around in your head? The eternal dilemna of my life.
I keep reading all the pundits that tell me to get better organized. Phooey. I am organized to the hilt. Everthing in both the studio and office is acessible and as organized as I plan on ever being. If I can put my hands on what I need I consider that organized.
The other pundits tell me this is a plateau because I am making a transition in my work and that soon the plateau will begin to rise to the next level. Okay, I am patiently waiting for that one.....but shouldn't I still be producing some finished work?
Woe is me....I see a full blow pity party on the horizon. To be honest, I think I am just being lazy. There I said it. Since sweet Ronnie retired, I awaken to him being in the house (something I am adjusting to), I do my daily ablutions and then join him on the sofa and that is as far as I get. Business such as emails and shipping dvd's gets taken care of but then I go back to the sofa. I am enjoying his company but this has to stop.
Of course, not being home does keep me out of the studio. My spring travel schedule is way over the top but summer is better. I will just have to get my fix through watching all of your creative endeavors and drool with envy. Just for grins I will try to post pictures of everything that I have in progress so you won' think I am a total slug.....maybe it will inspire me to get off the sofa.
Enough of the maudlin drivel, off to teach Borrowed Tools to the great ladies in Kerrville, Texas.....Hill Country, one of the most beautiful parts of my home state.

IndieArts DVD Zine

Yes, Indie Arts was my inspiration for the art quilt dvd zine. However, IndieArts covers all media from fine arts, collage, calligraphy and more. Our focus will be solely on original design, art quilts, exhibitions, an occasional new product, the gallery situation for textiles, SAQA, etc.

Just in case, I did not make this clear, this is not an on-line magazine that you can download. The file would be huge and with a normal burner probably take more than an hour. This is a tangible dvd that you will be able to play on anything that plays dvd's. I don't want you to be stuck in front of your computer unless that is the way you prefer to view dvd's. I want you sitting comfortably on the sofa watching what is basically a documentary film. Hope that clarifies some of the questions.

IndieArts is a fabulous zine and hope you will all take time to get at least one copy. My compliments to the vision and execution of the publication.
Now I promise to shut up about this and get to work. Still waiting for those title ideas.

Name That Magazine Contest

Since this new venture of mine is devoted to you, I have decided to accept submission for the title from those who would be reading it. The winner will receive a complimentary year's subscription.
Get those thinking caps on and let me know what would appeal to you.
Naturally I have been doing some thinking as well.. so we might come up with a combination. Nonetheless, whoever comes up with the most interesting title whether we put a preposition or article or add a word, will still be the winner.
Hoping my comments or mailbox is full of ideas.

Off to the Races

Thank you all for your positive responses to my new hair-brained idea....great questions and more than enough positive energy to make me think this might just be possible. Just to let you know I called Kim DeCoste at Quilts, Inc. and asked to do a School House session on how to market dvd's in quilt shops and to launch the new dvd zine.......so I guess I am committed.
After crunching the numbers and considering the production involved, since this would not be like an instructional dvd....much shorter and a lot less work for me, I have arrived at this cost. Again, all comments are welcome. If you just buy individual issues, they would be $12.95; if after viewing a few you thought they were worthwhile and year's subscription (quarterly issues) would be $24.95. Whadda ya think?
Oh yeah, I meant to answer the question about being paid for interviews. I cannot tell you how many magazines have interviewed me in the past years. You do not get paid for interviews....it's free publicity. However, you do get paid for doing articles and a pittance for using your images in said article. In fact, I was interviewed in Australia where they took pictures of me with my quilts and no $ were mentioned. Now since I am home another magazine writer who was at my opening ceremony lecture wants to interview me via email. Again no $ involved. So I guess the rule of thumb is if you do the work you get paid; if we do the work, you get free pr. Remember the only bad publicity is no publicity.
Now to get a title, to get the first issue selections going and ready to launch by November for quilt market and festival.....and of course, son Craig to design a page for the website. Call me crazy, huh? However, if this works it could be just what our market needs filling that void of make it and take it or totally pattern filled print magazines.
In my spare time, I am working on my entry for Houston. I have either hit my second wind or just gone over the cliff.
Please send any ideas of who or what you would like to see in the dvd zine. You are free to email me off line if you don't want to post in the comments.
BTW, Ronnie has that gleam in his eye like here she goes again.....sigh...that's what he gets for retiring. If he was still working I would be doing this and he wouldn't know until the first issue was already burned.

Some Basic Format Answers on the dvd zine

First, I see this as totally different from Quilting Arts, in that there would be minimal focus on how-to's. The basic format would include a featured artist, interviews with artist in their studio or in a teaching environment, an occasional article on some pertinent issue such as copyright etc.

Just off the top of my head: an interview with Loni Rossi or Jane Sassaman on how they turned their art into a fabric line.
A review and video of major shows like art Quilts at the Sedgwick
Interviews with both teachers and students at Art Quilt Tahoe or QSDS
Slide show of recent work from you with artist statements
A visit to Claire Fenton on her work after Katrina

Certainly submissions would be welcome from any artist for consideration.

An on-site view of Houston and Paducah with interviews of the winners or just constants.
New product interviews with the makers.

How's it sounding so far? Again any suggestions welcome.

Stop Me Quick if You Think this is Crazy

Since I am feeling very alone in cyberspace, I feel safe in posting this. Tonight I was looking through the month's Artist Magazine. In the bottom right hand corner of the page was an ad for a dvd magazine......whoa...halt....stop. We have all the equipment and processors to do this type of magazine for the art quilt/quilt world in general. It lit a fire in my beady little mind. Sweet Ronnie ran for the other room as fast as he could with the refrain...."you might be getting in too deep."
However, I see this as a perfect outgrowth of the instructional dvd's.
It is obviously only one disc. It contained a feature artist, and interview and a technique section.....that's about all one disc could hold. It could come out quarterly or three times a year. No searching for advertisement since I have already paid for the start up cost. However, if they came to us once it appeared viable I might consider it.
There are plenty of contacts at my disposal. Please show me the downside....okay, time but I have an editor and a shopping cart site already set up. We could take subscriptions or you could just buy each time a new issue became available on the website. What am I not seeing?
Help! Is this a totally crazy idea or do you think it might fly?

The Constant Learner

Karoda said...

Dear Gabrielle,

speak to me as the frustrated artist that I am...I'm all about skill/technique at this point in my process...I get these ideas and images rolling through my head but cut myself short out of uncertainty of how to execute them. Sometimes I think the answer lies in taking local classes at the quilt shops but that seems like a waste of time because I'm not working on MY designs...I was able to take a week long workshop last summer that focused on technique with the main focus of developing one's own unique designs and it was over the top energizing and effective for me...but what can you suggest for the in-between times?????

Signed,
Frustrated in KY :)

Karen asks in her comment a very relevant question that any artist, no matter what their discipline, is faced with. We all wonder where to go from here in technique, design or subject matter. I am not sure this is the absolute answer but it seems to have worked for me and in my reading for many others. Here goes and I welcome your responses, if anyone is still reading my poor neglected postings.

During times of transition, turn to yourself for the answers. Going outside yourself to classes or coaches can be of benefit in certain situations but occasionally as Karen suggests they are a waste of time. I am self-taught in construction techniques. What I did was read books on a wide variety of techniques and then practiced them for long periods of time to see if they worked for me. Through this process, I discovered that I cannot accurately operate a sewing machine for complicated work but can do simple things with it. I am far better with needle, thread and my hands. Certainly, I had ideas, like Karen, that I wondered how I was going to construct but I came to them willing to do them incorrectly so that I could move on to another technique. The most exciting time for me as a quiltmaker was when my technical skills were on the edge of my design skills. Now after 20 plus years there is nothing that I can draw or conceive that I cannot execute. So as the old adage goes: Practice, practice, practice.

Do not be concerned if you will fail in your attempts. These are not failures they are learning what not to do. Thomas Edison experimented 2000 times before he discovered the method for making a filament that would serve to light our homes. Someone asked him why he kept on with all that failure. Paraphrasing his response, "They weren't failures. They were simply learning how to not make a filament." Meaning he used each attempt as a lesson to move forward for another attempt.

So, Karen, I would respond to your question with: Keep on sewing. Using the techniques you have to apply to your designs. When you get yourself backed into a corner, put that aside, see what it taught you and use that to move forward with another approach.

My other suggestion for all of us is that we be constant learners. Study other artists, look at clothing construction ( I didn't say make clothes) but discover what a French seam is, how to apply facings (now a very popular way for binding to the back so there is no stopping the image with a front facing binding), use your local library or buy second hand books if your budget allows.

As some of you well know, I am fascinated with research and studying other artist. It has been a constant inspiration for me. I in no way intended to do their work but I want to see how they approach composition, color, design to add to my own bag of tricks. It is when we become complacent with where we are that we tend to get bogged down. That is not to say that I won't return to leaf quilts at some point in time but am interested in following another path at the moment. I know I will receive resistance from the fans of the leaf quilts but I cannot be concerned with that. I keep my own counsel and follow through the open door.

Yes, Karen, after your amazing experience with freedom to explore, it is hard to hold on to that energy. I am not working in the studio at all at the moment but am concentrating on research and development. This is simply a plateau for both you and I. From this plateau will come a rise in movement, growth, improvement. Try to appreciate and enjoy the plateau, knowing that change is on the way.

Lastly, I will harp again on the pressure to produce in our particular discipline. We are expected to constantly have new work every year for whatever show or exhibit. We are way over the top on this particular aspect of artistic development. Bands spend months, even years developing new music.....which involves hours of practice in the studio and many do-overs until they get the right sound. I personally know painters who have worked on a single painting for many years. Often putting it aside, doing smaller works and then returning to their major piece until it is just what they are trying to express. My hope is that we would/could allow ourselves that same kind of latitude. However, I observe that we fear we will drop off the map if we don't continue to crank out work constantly. This sets us up for continual repeats and gives little time for exploration and experimenting.

A long answer to a short question but I hope it helps. The constant learner never faces fear of failure but instead welcomes anything that falls short of their vision. This isn't failure to the constant learner but instead a way to gain mastery over their medium.

Returning to contemplation, I remain certain that you will find your own techniques that are suitable for the work you wish to accomplish. Sending you lots of light and energy for your adventure.

The Fat Lady Sings and Blogger Fumbles

The convention finished today with some great work from my dedicated, highly skilled students but Blogger insisted I switch to the new account and for some reason won't post my pictures. I will try again later...maybe I have to do something to Picassa or switch back to old Blogger.

All that aside this has been another great conference and another visit to one of my favorite cities on the planet. Tomorrow begins the long journey home and a fond good-bye to Melbourne. Had my last dinner at the Jarrah House....they gave me a free bag of shrimp toast and wished me a safe trip home. Sigh...when will I get to delight in the joy of their cusine again.

While in Melbourne, I have been reading notes from two of my favorite books.....The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. Neither of these books are new but I continue to go back to them from time to time and just read the pages where they open. Looking through my notes, I was struck by a common thread: craftsmanship/skill. They both share the same philosophy. If you have technique finely honed, inspiration will come. Without skill, the ideas you have can never come to fruition. They both agree that the better you are at technique the better the finished work will be.

As quiltmakers, we would call Pressfield and Tharp the "quilt police." In their venues, they are considered genius, professional and models for their contemporaries. Just something to ponder since I can't post pictures. See you soon back deep in the heart of Texas.

Street Sculptures along the South Bank

 

A couple of Treats from the Borrowed Tools class

 

melbourne night life...story to follow

 

Fish 'n Chips

The most important event of the day. It is official I have now consumed fish 'n chips from a fish 'n chips shop. I really had calamari and prawns...yum. But it was definitely the high point of the day.

Tomorrow the festivities start. We deliver our quilts and attend the evening cocktail party....followed by the opening ceremonies and introductions and a lecture by yours truly on the luxurious life of traveling and teaching. Will try to take some pictures of the party.

During my vacation time, I have been contemplating two books that I recently finished. You know what that means: more blathering to follow. However, I won't spoil the mood of a fun day in beautiful, warm Melbourne....watch out tomorrow..... both books have chapters addressing/craftsmanship and skill. Just too close to bed time to drag out the soap box.

On a personal note: thanks Caity for the welcome...sorry you won't be here and Sharon, it was so good to hear from you. I will miss your company. I still see the Preston exhibit in my head from time to time. Glad you are working full time but my trip will be the lesser without you. 

A Few Bits of Local Culture

Since blogger is up to its usual tricks there will be more pic in the next post. This is a standard of some kind...not sure if it is a street light or what but it is covered with posters of upcoming events. It was just too cool to not commerate.

One of the things I love about Melbourne is the alleyways. Granted some of them are just alleys but others are chock full of wonderful little shops and restaurants. Today I took a right after leaving one of my favorite general stores...books, art supplies, food, etc...into one of the alleys. There was a coffee shop. a couple of restaurants, table and chairs to sit outside a enjoy your goodies and a small gift shop. These little treasure troves are just awaiting exploration.

All hope is lost...KrispyKreme has come to Australia. Just when you thought it was safe. Now the news is full of requiring restaurants to lower their trans fats......well, duh....and you invited KrispyKreme to the party. No offense anyone but I never got this. It's just a donut. They are good but they are still just a donut. Maybe there is something I am missing. I welcome corrections to my theory.
This is just such fun coffee shop found in the alley. I am sure Starbuck's is here somewhere but it makes my heart sing to see these mom and pop stores doing well.

Now to post the major event of the day..stay tuned.

Melbourne Day 2

I thought I would have more energy today but still suffering from some jet lag. Fell asleep around 8:30 p.m. and woke upat 3:23 a.m. Hoping for a better tomorrow. However, I did make my usual venture out just not as long as I would have liked.
Today's pictures include two views of the Grand Hotel, the convention center is on the other side of the over pass. Had to include scenes from my favorite Jarrah House, inside and outside. Loved the Backpackers Hotel, if I could get a big enough backpack for my shoes. Last but not least the infamous, Australian diet cokes.Please take note of the size of the bottle and the cost of four. It takes my breath away.
Will try to post some shops, museum, or galleries tomorrow.
Not bad enough the airport snafu but I am sitting quitely in my room watching season 5 of "24" that son Craig loaned me for the trip when suddenly all the bells whistle, sirens and a deep, manly voice comes over the intercom requesting that we please evacuate the building immediately. After serveral flights of stairs...breathing heavily...I arrive on the street to be met by several wardens with explosive unit written on their uniforms. Not to worry it was a drill but it certainly was exciting. I am not sure how much more of this is to be expected during this trip. Like getting electrified by the mic at my lecture.....nah! However, I anxiously await what tomorrow will bring. Nothing like OZ for excitement....and I haven't even had a single Cosmopolitan yet nor have I entered the casino doors.....but I still have plenty of time to get in trouble...ya think? 

Australia Day One

As you can see I made it to Melbourne but what a trip. First the good stuff....sunrise over the Pacific. There is no way a camera can capture the intensity of the color but it is still gorgeous. Second, notice how large my room, especially the bathroom, is compared to my last trip. The only problem is the closet so as you see I had to invent new storage areas for jewelry, shoes, and knit tops. Third and best of all, it was 17 F. in Texas the night before I left.....stepped off the plane to 89 F. Ooooh, aahhh.....how nice to be warm.
Other good news is the Jarrah House, my favorite Chinese restaurant, is still open and less than a block away from the hotel. I immediately stowed luggage, didn't upack a single item and headed down for take-out lunch and expensive diet cokes for the fridge. Upon stuffing myself with something other than bad airline food, took a shower (why do you feel so dirty when you have been sitting on a plane doing nothing?), hooked up to the internet and am beginning to feel human.
Now for the joys of traveling. We were held over in San Fransisco for two hours waiting for a flight from Chicago...gee I wonder why? United for some reason did not book my flight directly to Melbourne so I had to change planes to Virgin Blue to get to Melbourne. No problem right? Oh no, you have to get your baggage and go through customs because you are changing to a domestic flight. Problem: United still had my luggage on the direct flight so a wonderful young man at the airport goes and retrives my luggage himself. None of this calling some baggage handler he physically gets it himself. That is what I call excellent service. He directs me to the proper bus to change terminals and all is well. I check in, get my boarding and have to take another bus to the domestic terminal. Ready to go through security and no passport. Yikes! I have lost my passport....not that I wouldn't mind staying in Australia longer but at some point I have to come home. Trudge to the guest service desk where an amazing young lady tracks down my passport, which wasn't returned to me at the ticket counter. Seriously, these folks are going above and beyond, smiling all the while and reasurring me everything will be fine. I can only imagine what United would have done if this had happened in LA or San Fransisco. My young personal assistant has the passport delivered to her through some kind of magic, gets my luggage placed on the correct plane and hugs me good-bye at security. As Will put it "all's well that ends well." I am happily tucked away in my home away from home and ready to report on what I can explore and report this year.....so stay tuned for what awaits.

Late Night Ramblings

See I am trying to be a better blogger....two posts in the same week...the sky is falling. Insomnia is a wonderful thing or at least that's my story and I am sticking to it. It gives me time to plan the rest of the week and what is necessary for my next trips. Also, it gets the gears spinning about artist I want to study and see how I can apply what I can learn from them to my work. Could be good could be bad but at least I will experiment and learn.
It is really glorious to have something that you are passionate about. What do people do that haven't found that passion? Sadly, we all have a passion for something but often we don't allow ourselves to pursue it out of fear. There are two kinds of fear as I see it fear of failure and fear of success. Both quite closely related but coming from different places.
Of course, we have to overcome the personal demons of "I am not good enough," " No one will like what I do," " I will never be able to master the technique."
I have been thinking a lot lately about craftsmanship and inspiration. Here's what I have arrived at after some reading and thinking. If you focus on technique until it is absolutely natural, you never have to question how to create, any technique is readily available to you then something magical happens. The "muse" takes over and the work just comes. If you constantly focus on content, you will often end up having to re-work or trash the whole darn thing. However, if you go to the studio confident you can create anything you want then that is exactly what you will accomplish.
I firmly believe in apprenticeship, internship or whatever you want to call that period of time when you are learning your craft. We should study other artists, historical and contemporary.
Read American Artist and Art News to see what is happening in the world beyond textiles.
I do not believe in working in a vacuum where you never see anyone else's work for fear it will influence you. What is wrong if it does happen to inspire you? You won't work in their exact style; you will just come away with a new perspective.
As I continually blather about to much external stimuli invading our creative lives, I am not referring to art. I am referring to commercialism and propaganda. How can you discover your true self if the tv is always telling you how you should smell, eat, ask for prescriptions from your doctor? That is the type of external invasion that we must keep in check so we can hear our own voice...sing our own song...dance our own dance.
Stepping off soap box and possibly into bed....does blogging make one sleepy?

Not Like I Don't Have Anything to Say

First, let's whine about computers. For some unknown reason my desktop has decided to not recognize the USB port from my camera. Guess it just decided not to play nice. So I will upload some pictures from my laptop later.
My lack of posting is because I have been exhausted and at the same time working hard. There aren't enough hours in the day. However, I have a new plan...famous last words. I am picking a time and going to the studio everyday. I will work a certain number of hours until the energy passes and then leave the studio. Why am I taking this new tact? I discovered that I was working all the time. If I am not in the office doing business stuff, I am in the studio. If I am not in the studio, I am sitting on the sofa quilting or sketching. I am never not doing something. Results: I am tired every morning when I wake up. Decision: build in some do nothing time. Sure I will probably be contemplating or maybe even reading, but this will my cooling off time.
Can one become too passionate about their art? I think not but we have to feed the muse. Naturally being in the studio does this automatically but trying to do too many things at one time creates chaos and a lack of focus in me. What to do today? Should I work on this or that?

My travel schedule for this year is very heavy so I will need every ounce of energy just to get through....yet I am still compelled to create. Hope this plan works. I will keep you posted. All suggestions welcomed. I am sure we all suffer from the same dis-ease from time to time. Yet I firmly believe that there is a way to solve this situation.

I leave you with my favorite quote from Goethe (which speaks directly to the heart of the matter):

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, magic and
power in it. Begin it now."