It’s a Twister, Auntie Em!

Okay, so maybe not a tornado but more of a whirlwind of activity since the start of 2012.  Due to the closing of the quilt shop, the art quilt group began meeting at the library next door instead.  We also selected a name, NoNaMé Quilters.  The January meeting included discussing the critique process, as well as putting that into practice with pieces members had brought for show-n-tell.

I brought two “fast art” pieces I had started, one complete, the other in process, both for critique consideration.  They were done in response to the Kentucky Artisan Center’s call for entries for their upcoming “About Face” exhibit.  Submissions must be art (any medium) inspired by the face.  Since I’ve never really done faces or figurative representations in my art through the various media, these two pieces were fun and a new departure.  Sometimes I feel my art is evolving on a rapid change cycle.  I haven’t been doing “fast art” for all that long, but it came in handy for these two projects.

Here they are:



Pavel Deciding



The Bride (inspired by the photography of Robert Clark)

Both were started and completed in January.  I took the group critique feedback into consideration when finishing out “The Bride.”  Then I was ready to jump right into the next project, the third piece in the pod series…I figured it takes three to officially make it a “series”, but I was loosing motivation.  As much as I’ve known, for me, creativity and happiness are interlinked, I found myself wondering, is it possible to be too happy?  Doubtful, as long as the happiness is grounded in reality.  Is it possible to be too creative?  Who knows, but if I find myself driven to keep creating, is that contradictory to creating to be happy?  In any case, AQF [Art Quilter Friend] Marilyn suggested it’s okay to take a break sometime, so I did…for the rest of January, even though the ideas kept percolating.

I also joined another group in January, LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists).  Already this has been a fun experience.  Because their focus is slightly different in that they work in fiber media besides (but also including) cloth/quilting, there is additional inspiration to expand my fiber exploration and artistry.

Now that we’re into February, I’ve got a good start on the pod.  I had wanted to take it to NoNaMé last night, but it just wasn’t ready.  Still, we had a great meeting.  There was plenty of discussion, an abundance of inspiration, and much enthusiasm as we had show-n-tell and discussed upcoming projects.  And, we had three new visitors/members (you only need to come once to be a welcomed member!).

AQF Elaine brought a series of leaf bowls she’s been working on.  They’re made with Pentex fused to fabric, then stitched/quilted.  They came out great.  Here they are:

Another member brought the next in a series of small quilts/wall hangings with animals, this one a lion.  She did bobbin thread painting with a heavy weight cotton thread (#5) for the mane.  Hmmm, maybe a new thing to take me in yet another direction....

Our February to March challenge will be “From Sketch to Art Quilt” as inspired by the reader challenge from the December issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.  I’m certain we’ll have some inspired results, and maybe some will even be submitted to the magazine.

Then we had a wonderful and rousing presentation for a long-term collaborative piece.  Even as the theme of Route 66 was being discussed, three or four ideas came to mind.  I can hardly wait to get started, even though we’re planning to stretch this out over several months.  That was one of the objectives agreed upon in January – having some more involved challenges that extend over at least three months to allow elaboration and larger pieces.  The month-to-month challenges have been great, but it can be difficult to make something on a bigger scale in that timeframe.  I’m very excited about the possibilities.  Stay tuned for more details….

And, yes, Auntie Em, there’s not place like home…and for me, home (and happiness) is where the art is.

Stay creative, stay happy…and take a break, too!