Color Spot ? 

Color Spot ? 

Too many details

In my other life I was a probation officer and either did investigations or supervised offenders who were on probation or wanted to get on probation (instead of going to jail). I was able to pay very close attention to detail as I had to report to the courts and had a reputation to uphold as being accurate.

Where has that side of my brain gone!

I just finished up the last of 35 small pieces which I am calling Color Spots. Delivered 12 to a gallery yesterday and they were all numbered. Today I finished doing the last of them, mounted them, gave them their numbers, photographed them and then tried to get it all together on the computer for my inventory list. No number matches the piece, a piece is missing, and I called the ones I did today Color Play (another series) instead of Color Spot. So I have made new labels with the right name and number but they have to get put on the right pieces and the pictures corrected while I still have the originals in my hand! This is too much for me! And of course I thought I would just whip out some labels on the computer but couldn't find the Avery template (not that I can ever get things filled out on the labels like I want) so had to work with a table and had to fidget with that forever. Attention to details, Liz!

Meanwhile, I am creating work all over the place.

And, trying to keep entries straight for six shows where my work has been accepted. All of a sudden I realized that two pieces are out at other galleries so I am frantically trying to get them home so they can be shipped off in time. But, horror of horrors, I can't find one of my pieces (which is small and could be under something somewhere in my studio) so I guess I am going to have to stop sewing and do a major clean up to find it.

Meanwhile, where is Linsy...my little assistant! She does great computer work for me and can get everything straightened out for me...what am I going to do when she leaves for UC San Diego this fall? Got to let her know that her life needs to be placed on hold so she can help me out...gee, I wish!!

so, I'm going to upload some of the little Color Spots which I am excited about but of course they won't be where they are supposed to be because I can't figure that out either! Hopefully tomorrow I can get a couple of pieces uploaded of my really new, very different work!

Too many ideas...I feel like I am really pouring it out...other things like babysitting my grandson, arranging for gardeners for my father, taking my father out to run his errands, and, oh, yeah, fixing dinner sometimes and washing some clothes when I am out of underwear keep getting in my way!!

Waiting

Well, I almost finished my blue quilt...with lots of little fused pieces...but ran out of the dyed thread from Laura Wasalouski so had to get on line and order some more. Just waiting for that to arrive so I can finish that piece up.

So, in the meantime my irridescent paint sticks arrived and I have been doing lots of stuff on my previously monoprinted fabrics. Now I am waiting for a couple of those to finish drying so I can go on and do some more.

And then, I have started printing out the canvas for my next picture quilt...while in Montana in March I took a lot of pictures of paint splattered flooring, rusted truck paint, paint peeling off of weathered boards, etc. so am now printing them on to canvas so I can start that piece. It really is exciting and fun to do. Thinking about gel transfers that I want to do with this. Ideas just floating around.

And, I can't keep the idea I have out of my head for a rusted piece. Just waiting for a little bit better weather so I can work outside again. Picked up some linen/rayon blend which I will rust using some of the many rusting things my husband has collected in the back yard.

Tonight I am joining three of my quilting friends for a quilt-out in Robin's studio. She has a double bed and a big couch in there (it used to be her mother-in-law's suite) and has a kitchette and full bathroom. Trying to figure out what I want to play with for tonight, and all day tomorrow and tomorrow night. Think I will take fused scraps and work on some small pieces.

Have to take three pieces out to a gallery today for a new show out in San Ramon. Lots of things to do...not enough time!

TA-DA two unveiled, one more to go

Well, after futsing with the camera and my husband's help I finally got a couple of sort of descent pictures of the two finished pieces. Boy, my photographer does so much better than I do...and of course he has the lights and tripod set up and everything else. I've also decided to pay him for good digital pictures which he can take at the same time as the slides so then I can get both of good quality. Oh well, this is fine for the blog.

Feels good to have these two done. Now I have to decide just how to quilt the blue one. Got it sandwiched and ready to go so after church I can work on it!

I feel good, da da da da da, like I knew I would!

Fences 24.5" x 31" 

Holes in the fence 26.5" x 37" 

Just keep on working...it's never all done

I mentioned in Gabrielle's blog that I thought it was important to keep on working whether you feel like it or not. I am in the studio on a daily basis. This does not mean, however, that I am producing new work all the time. There are always a multitude of chores that go with being a professional studio artist.

Each new piece has to have binding, label and sleeve put on.
Each new piece needs to be cataloged, including size, photo and pertinent information.
Each new piece goes to the photographer for slides
The slides then go to the lab for duplication.
The slides get filed in their respective folders.
Determine price for each piece.
Peruse all the sources for calls for entry, download and file in monthly file folders.
Review all monthly calls and determine what is appropriate for which work.
Decide on work to enter in various shows.
Pull slides for the show.
Fill out entry form, self-addressed stamped envelope, slides in covers, check and protector for envelop. Check weight on envelope for correct postage.
Review rejections and acceptances as they come in.
File as appropriate.
Get work ready to ship off for shows. rolling, bagging, plastic bagging, cutting box to size
Go to UPS.com and fill out shipping label, print and attach to package which has been weighed and measured.
Drop ready box off at UPS store for shipping.
Track UPS for arrival.
Clean studio.
Fold fabric and put away
dye fabric
wash fabric
iron fabric
review art magazines for current happenings in the art world and keep up with what is going on where
review quilt/fiber/craft magazines for same
keep up sketch book of ideas.
keep up with pictures of inspirational work and get it cut out and into their book
Check art supplies and order as necessary
Order fabric, batting, dyes, yarns, threads, whatever.
Fuse fabrics so they will be ready to use
clean up paint supplies
clean up dyeing supplies
clean sewing machine
Contemplate the color of the sky
Go on an artist date
Discuss art with other artists
Try to sleep with ideas going through my head
problem solving the latest piece of work
depositing money to account when work does sell (yeah, right)
keeping financial records of business
sending out brochures to guilds, etc
presenting at guilds, etc
teaching workshops
soliciting teaching opportunities
filing tons of paper
keep up with internet groups and information
share information with others
fill out grant requests
meet with mentor
meet with other art quilters

Oh yeah, and play with fabric and make little things that are just for fun and don't take a lot of commitment!
And then, make a masterpiece or two!

Two of my new pieces just need the biding sewn down and then I can post them tomorrow!

the third piece ready to sandwich and quilt...has been fused and printed 

part of a larger piece with shadows in the bottom!!! ready to sandwich and quilt 

words gell transferred 

pictures printed on fabric added 

white washing added to the piece 

the underpainting for fences 

still working away....

It has been a long time since I've been back but it's only because I have been really busy.

Ready to quilt my fences piece...I am showing some of the steps in doing this so you can see the many layers...don't have a new piece yet but will post it when it is quilting.

Also have been playing with my new dyed fabrics...took some quick pictures, which aren't very good, just to give you an idea...they are both ready to sandwich and then quilt.

Got the cutest grandson here with me for the week...we'll see just how much work I can actually get done!

Dyeing...

The last time I did a major dyeing it was before a quilt show and I did about 200 yards of fabric to sell. I did a lot of colors in various shades and combinations that other people like. This time I did a big batch of fairly clear colors along with compliments...on the same pieces of fabric. It has been so fun to fondle the colors as I have been ironing these pieces.

I have a front load washing machine that uses very little water. I have found that I can dump all the dried dyed pieces of fabric in a cold water rinse and then wash in hot water if I do it in a top loader that will hold a lot of water. Not so in the front loader. So I have gone over to my daughter's house to do my washing. It sure is a lot better than hand rinsing all that fabric!! Even my very deeps have come out beautifully that way. Got very deeps, mediums and lights so I am all set.

Right now though I am working on my fences collage quilt. Thinking about circles which are in the fences and incorporating them. Maybe in a day or two I will have something to show.

And also, ruminating around in the back of my mind is the issue of shape...I want to work out a shape I really want to experiment with. I've used circles, cut out circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, etc so I am contemplating some other shape. Oh well, it's good exercise while I work on this painting/collage/quilt.

Dyed fabrtics waiting to be ironed! 

Dyeing....

This past week has really been the sandwich week!!! Gotta love em all!!

Took Dad out to the doctor and errands on Thursday, babysat Jacob on Friday and the earlier part of the week I was working hard to finish my Mama quilt which is done!!! Now to the photographer...whom I should have called today but forgot!

Also on Thursday there was a big thanks offering get together of other churches at my church. The gal in charge from my church asked me to be there because they would be showing off the altar frontal and my creation series. Glad I was there...although late from my Dad and the doctor and the booze store and the grocery story...I may have a nice commission coming my way to do a chasuble, stole,veil, burse cover and hanging for another church. That would be fun and a nice piece of money! Well, don't have the commission yet...we'll see if anything comes of it.

Printed out pictures of the rusted fence so that I can start on the fence quilt. Guess it's going to be rust and green since that's the color in the photos!! Looking forward to working on it.

However, for the past two days I have been busy dyeing fabric. Tons of new stuff (really not tons...just about 20 yards or so) working flat and pouring the dye on...I had melamine covered board which is used for cheap bath rooms and had it cut into pieces 48 x 28 and then I can do half a yard the flop it down on the grass to dry and on to another one. With my new tables from the butcher I can do five at a time which is really neat. Went over to my daughter's to use her washing machine...I have a front loader which doesn't work well for washing dyed fabrics...not enough water and the synthapol bubbles up to much and comes out of the machine so I get purple bubbles everywhere...at least in to the pan under the washer!

So I've been fondling my new fabric, laying out pictures and having a good ole time. Maybe tomorrow I can get the fences started!! Yeah!! Mama's done!!! Yeah!!!

Artist's Date Revisited

Well, after I got home on Tuesday, I downloaded my pictures, sent some to my blog and then started going through them and doing some tweaking. The next day I started printing some out...the large central oak was printed on canvas. The oak tree trunk was printed on white pima cotton for the detail. Then I started painting the canvas and playing around with it. Then worked on several shots of the branches and cropped and played with those and then did gel transfers. Then continued to paint off and on for a couple of days. I really felt alive during the process!

And then...I started to assemble the new quilt and to start the quilting. Boy was it fun!! Got it finished on Saturday!

Velda Newman came to our guild this weekend. Love her and haven't seen her since Art Quilt Tahoe. She will be there again this year for two sessions...that is, if they get filled.

Saturday was the last, LAST, LAST, day that I have any responsibilities to my quilt guild. For the past five years I have been president, quilt show chair and program chair. And now, I think, I have done enough there. No more board (bored) meetings, no more squabbling (although we really are pretty good) and no more responsibilities during the meeting. I can just sit back and enjoy.

It's funny when I share my work...I have a group of people who really like it but the majority are traditional or new quilters and they just aren't interested. However, everyone sees the work from quite a distance away since it is shown on the stage. No one ever comes up to see my work up close...and there is so much detail in it. I guess that is just the way it goes. I do get a lot more support when I go to my chapter SAQA meetings...there they are supportive and interesting is how and why I do things.

This new piece is very different from what I have been doing. It has been fun to experiment with it. I have wanted to incorporate photos in my work and this time just stuck with the oak tree and think it works ok...not sure, since it really is different from what I usually do. But then, that's the idea, isn't it?

So, my quote for the day is again from Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit, and she says:

"The most productive artists I know have a plan in mind when they get down to work. They know what they want to accomplish, how to do it, and what to do if the process falls off track.

But there's a fine line between good planning and overplanning. You never want the planning to inhibit the natural evolution of your work."

California Oak 

California Oak detail 

New work and quote for the day

I am painting away on a piece of cotton canvas. I spent the morning tweaking my pictures and now I'm working on California Oak which is painted, will have photos printed on cotton and canvas, and will have gel transfers. I am waiting for the first layer to dry...the problem with incorporating paint! So I thought I would give you a good quote for the day. Oh yeah, and then marks and other stuff. Of course, all finished with stitching and batting and all that stuff that make it a "quilt".

Again from Kate R. Quinlan in the book Inspiring Creativity:

Planning to create, yearning for it, dreaming of it, collecting the materials for it--these are the preparations to create. At some point , you must take the risk, listen to your intuition, get your hands dirty, make a mess, and create something.

So, what are you doing at the computer?

and mail boxes on the rural lane 

I love this brick work on the house, the white picket fence and the roses tumbling everywhere 

California poppy up close and personal 

fencing that will end up as a new element in the next quilt 

California Oak branches in the sky 

my favorite color...orange 

California Oak 

The Perfect Day--The Artist's Date

Pull up a chair, this is going to be long but it was so perfect.

As you remember, I have been trying to figure out my work...not really excited about what I have been doing recently. I've been looking at a lot of other people's are work and then fell in to the "I'll never be as good as..." trap. Got out of that but still didn't know where I was going.

I keep two journals. One is a large sketch book in which I put pictures of art work that I really like. I usually only have one on a page if they are larger (cut out of my art magazines and other sources) or maybe two. I leave lots of room because I like to analyze just why I like the piece, what it is that brought me in to it. I have been drawn to Ann Baldwin's work...she does mixed media work and includes encaustics which I really enjoy for the depth that it gives to work, along with the softened look. Anyway, I popped back on to her website last night and she has just recently posted some brand new work. She too has been going through changes with her work so is now offering something very different. She is incorporating inkjet images that she prints on canvas. And then of course, there is painting and all sorts of other things like found objects, etc.

So I downloaded some pictures so I could study them some more and put them in my book and started noting the processes she had gone through. Made notes about the composition, which elements were repeated, the texture, the contrast, etc. Then I looked at my work and noted the same and then looked at what she had done that I hadn't. Walla...I know where I am now going!

I have been taking photos that I want to use in my work for some time now. I just haven't been happy with anything I have tried when I want to incorporate them. Ann Baldwin has given me the way! So I have learned something from her but will do it my way.

This morning the sun was finally shining and I decided that I needed an Artist's Date very badly...too long since I had been out on one. Thought about going to the financial district in San Francisco, or going barn hunting in the central valley and then decided I wanted to photograph the California oaks and then headed to Fairfield and then inland. Not sure where I was going but just headed further away from the population and cars. Stopped at a small cafe where a lot of cars were parked (good clue that the food might be good!) and had a great spinach salad with grilled tri-tip with crumbled bleu cheese and a maple vinergerette. Just perfect! Told the waitress I didn't know where I was or where I was going and asked her about the best place to see the oaks. She gave me great directions, I gave her a great tip, and off in the car I went.

At this point I am in the hills and the roads are winding around. But that's fine because I was just poking along. Anytime a car came up from behind, I just pulled over and let them pass. That way I could travel just how I wanted to.

Which meant that I stopped frequently for pictures. And I got some great ones. Of oak trees that will begin a new quilt tomorrow, and metal stuff, and poppies, and mail boxes and cattle shutes, and hills and clouds and incredibly blue sky. All of my tension evaporated. I can't believe how absolutely wonderful I felt out in the sun shine, stopped, turning back and not apologizing to anyone at all for not knowing what I was doing. If something caught me eye, I stopped.

I am revitalized, recharged, redirected and ready to go! So my computer and fabric have a lot of work to start on tomorrow...or maybe tonight I will start to play with the 88 pictures I took today!

New Look

Got an email from Gerrie today telling me that my site was difficult to navigate. So instead of working on art I have been fussing with this and I think I even got the Artful Quilters web ring thingy up right with the picture! Let me know if you have any problems getting around this.

Hanging in the vertical...I like it this way much better. 

Change of Mind

I just got back from from regional SAQA group (which is absolutely wonderful!!!) (because they say nice things about my work!! LOL) but I took the hot pink piece and the other one and spoke with my mentor. We tried looking at it different ways and decided that it looks much better as a verticle piece. Then it doesn't feel top heavy which is what I realized was bothering me about it. It is so good to get some feedback from people. I've considered some of the comments received and since I frequently have some sort of shape added, I decided that this time I really didn't want to.

So how do you like this hanging the other way?

Going Again

Yesterday I was feeling sorry for myself, had a bible lesson to finish before the class, had spent the day running my father around and doing his bills, had spent the day before babysitting...truly a sandwich...I'll have tuna please!

So I called my favorite priest, Fr. Rob, to sound off at him about how pitiful I was...should be grateful, etc, etc...he said that I needed to take care of myself and that my art was my work so I needed to get back into the studio and work and let everything take care on it's own time...even gave me permission to not finish my studying for that night.

Went in to the studio and worked for a couple of hours and felt much better! Now that's my kind of priest! The only thing bothering me at this point was my neck which had a huge knot in it from tension that I just couldn't get rid of.

Went to the bible class and then went over to a friend's house to drop off some batting for her. When I arrived, her massage therapist was just about to leave after giving her a massage. I asked her if she would do a little upper back and neck work on me and within five minutes I was out of the chair and out of my clothes and on the table for a full body massage. Did that ever feel good! The knot is gone. Now, I really like the way God works in my life!!

So I have finished two things this week and have posted them both for you, along with detail shows. The hot pink one is silk and the other is a painted piece which I then stitched forever on. The silk piece has numerous pin tucks in it and has been cut and reassembled and sewn some more and then has satin stitching for good measure.

Let me know what you think...like the colors of the red/green one? How about the design...I'm not really sure if I am happy with this...

I do like the painted piece...it was lots of fun to do.

detail 

untitled painted piece 

detail of silk piece 

silk piece un named