my winter retreat

Its that time of year. I get to spend an entire weekend focused on creating along with a group of about 50 other women. I get to chat with friends I do not see often enough, I get to teach a class (first time for doing this particular craft), and I have my next fiber art project in mind.
I plan to take advantage of the weekend to explore a bit more on the quilt techniques I am developing and documenting it all along the way.
I am planning on applying for an arts grant and I need pictures of the work I do. the pictures I have on hand are not really ones that work for such an application.
It will be a very busy weekend but also energizing and a chance to let my creativity flow while surrounded by positive energy and immediate feedback and support.
I am a bit of a black sheep at this event. So many of my fellow stitchers follow patterns and assemble the hundreds of triangles, squares and strips at the direction of kits and classes.
I am teaching a class about a quilting technique that can be applied to other quilt patterns to make them more unique.
So much quilting is about color and shape now I want to add texture.
If I can get the arts grant I will be able to do even more creative efforts in the coming year.

Happy New year

Rather than resolving to do things I am unlikely to do, I am resolved only to teach and learn this year.
I had the chance to teach somebody how to use a sewing machine recently and it was a very rewarding experience for both of us. I am teaching a class on my quilting techniques at the retreat in January. So already I know I will succeed.
As far as learning goes. 
My job working with special needs kids is always challenging me to learn new ways of working with them and teaching them as well. 
I have a project I am doing with 4,5,6 th grade kids doing some engineering and design work. 
So as I said it will be a good year. I am determined on that score.

starting something new

Ok I am determined to write a book.First I said I needed something to write about. Got it.It needed to be something different and interesting to me. Got itI needed a new computer so I knew it would not crash and I would lose everything. Got it

I needed time to just write. Can make it.

So what excuses do I have now?

Not enough room. In the winter my work space is limited to what I can do in a recliner in our tiny cabin.As I am writing a book on an innovative quilting technique (hey there is a bigger market than you may think.) it would be nice to have the space to actually play with the fabric more. But I can at least write up what I have tried so far and some generalities that apply. I can set up my formats and work on photos of the work I have done so far.Soon (ok this is a relative term to mean sometime in the next year) I hope to have it more or less pulled together and ready to print. I have a friend who is self publishing her science fiction novels and she has become quite the expert on the publishing thing.

Expectations: I may sell a few copies to friends and probably give away more than I sell.Hopes: it will be well received and I may be invited to teach some classesDreams: It goes really well, I can quit my job, I get to travel all over teaching my techniques and become a well known artist.

But first.... start writing.

for a few more details about the subject go to my entry about the 1/4 yard challenge in "Rouches and ruffles"

creative joy in the spoken word

I truly enjoy storytelling. I did it for many years as part of my job. Telling stories to kids around a campfire or under the stars at the environmental education centers where I worked.
It was a fun way to engage the kids in listening and often becoming part of the story. I did not always feel that way though. I resented that in a setting where we were supposed to be teaching science and natural history I was being made to become an entertainer and well as taking kids fishing and canoeing, playing four square and volleyball.
But someone changed my mind. I had been enjoying the Keepers of the Earth and other books with native American stories for awhile and the chance to work with one of the authors at a conference was great. He said something important at that conference. He said that the most important story anyone has to tell is the story of their own life. And there is no greater joy than helping someone enhance their own story through the experiences you are doing with them.
OK I turned my thinking around. I thought back to the experiences I had where others had helped me enhance my life's story and I knew that those times learning to canoe, ride a horse, sitting around a campfire singing silly songs helped me become a better me as well. I could do anything with much more joy because of Micheal Caduto's words.
I never became a great foursquare player or volleyball coach, but I did continue story telling. I took a summer arts class with it and love anytime I can work a story into something I am doing. But now I have found that as I do almost anything the reason behind why and how and where and when often create a story to go with my art or project. I find myself quite disappointed when people just want to look at the object without the story.
Maybe that is why I find so few paintings very compelling. when I look at them I am missing the story, the who, why where, how... of that image. I tend to gravitate to the artworks where I have a little bit of that, but I mostly gravitate towards creating artworks that have a story.

seeking that new thing

Every day I look around and try to notice the small things.  I think about how I would do it differently or other things I could do with what I see. 
The other day while sitting in a waiting area. I noticed some candle stands and I found myself thinking about how I could make a version of them using my own techniques. Then I thought about how else such a candle holder could be used. 
And that launched a brainstorm of ideas and note taking. From my original idea I spawned several variations and I have even thought of several markets for them. 
The only thing I have left to do is try it out.
Stay tuned and we will see how it goes.

Finding Passion

If you are seeking your own passion or seeking other who validate your passions then stop. For just a bit and start hanging around people who have a passion. You may never have the same passion but if you spend time with them you will see living examples of the possibilities. I am blessed to have in my life several people with passions they have followed. From becoming an expert on ancient South American civilizations to knowing almost all the species of arctic moth, to raising organic vegetables and spinning local fibers to recycling electronics, to teaching the next generation these people are diverse in their focus but equal in the joy they get from what they do. And each of these passions has a real complexity to them. They did not just sit down with a pile of books and gather the knowledge of others. They took those books and tried things and went places and talked to people and wrote their own books and took pictures and voiced their opinions. They made discoveries, and shared their information. They became the experts and professionals because of their passion and the energy it gives them to go beyond what other people do.

That is what I seek when I think of finding my passion.
Find those people and walk with them see the world through their passion and know that you passion awaits you too.

juried art

Tomorrow i am exhibiting/ selling in a juried art show. I am excited as it feels more about art rather than arts and crafts at a bazaar. I am hopeful there will be a big turnout and at the very least my paintings get more exposure in the community.
Selling one or two would be a bonus.