Chuck it already, you won't use it again!

The view Tulips Quilt Top

The day is gorgeous, and I am slacking in the sewing room organization department. I snagged a little sunshine at lunch, but I am still recovering from the virus I read about in the paper. Yesterday I wore myself out cleaning and organizing all the garden stuff into the new shed, so I think I am tired of cleaning for the moment. It was a big job, so I am glad it is done!

The roses are growing nicely, buds are forming, but so far no color yet. The tulips are at the end, so I am ready for the roses.

I threw a bunch of stuff away yesterday, spurred by my grandmother who is moving out of her home, and realizing that she kept everything, I decided I don't want to become that way, and I had a throw away party with myself. I tell ya, some decisions were hard, and I teetered, but there is nothing like the feeling of a bursting full trash can when the day comes for it's pick up.

I need to take that advice into the studio I suppose (and the closet). I've already gone through that stuff though, its just a matter of finding a room arrangement I like for a room that is just a bit too small for all it does.

The quilt in the picture is for my nephew, and I have it pinned and waiting. I will start in, as soon as I can make my way to the machine. Guess I could have turned the light on, but the photo speaks so much about how I feel about the cleaning up part sometimes. I like the creating but I leave a wildfire of a mess when I re-arrange. How bout you? I know you can hardly wait for the after picture!

Finish The Old - Make Room For The New

"I fall in love with a material, a fabric, something that leads me down a path, and I go with it"
-Bohn

Nothing like cleaning and organizing your studio, to get ready for a new path! I needed to extend my cabinet out in back, since I have several quilts BEGGING and PLEADING to finally be quilted. I’m a prolific sewer, and yet things get delayed, waiting for backs, waiting for time to pin, etc. I really enjoy the quilting process, though I must admit, the scourge of this endeavor is minor tucks which really tick me off. They wiggle in despite my best efforts at their elimination. What I like about quilting is the fluidity of taking a needle and drawing on the canvas of your quilt.

This next quilt I am going to work on, I give my permission to just freehand and make stuff up. I have been noticing textures and thinking on the theme of "Protection," which really is the spiritual emphasis of this quilt since it will be going to a child who needs that in his life right now.

I put up this quote in my studio, because I want to have the courage to let things flow and not get caught up in what I should do, or what really would be matchy, or what I have seen before. Colors need abstract friends, and I want to make sure that they are never lonely or bored, or are void of someone to debate with in my pieces.

Finishing up these more traditional styles, I will reflect on what I learned, and how I can use that to create at a different level, with the incorporation of new inspiration, and products that evolve to transcend the "quilt." Now let me clarify, that I do not mean, look like a painting or a drawing, but I want a fluidity in the pieces that one doesn’t necessarily associate with quilts.

That said, I challenge sewers everywhere to be brave and go down your path, whatever it may be: fished out vintage, crazy batik, just a clear plastic bag full of scraps that need arranging -paths may be found style or forced style, or just plain improvisation.

* Arrange whatever comes your way *

This weekend as I was safety pinning a quilt for my nephew, I was thinking about what quilting means in an era when blankets and quilts are very cheap and readily available. The logical self starts to analyze, "Why again am I doing this time consuming thing?"
Remember, I am supposed to be making this transition into art quilting. However, there are some projects that also need to be finished as well, usually these projects are at the point where what needs to be done is definitely not the exciting part.
But what I realized is that doing what you love keeps the self intact. It is sure far better than other alternatives I could try that lead down to paths of temporary insanity or sanity, however one wanted to conceptualize those activities.
The studio is also in desperate need of a clean out. Life seems to be throwing me pieces faster than I can organize them. (note this doesn't mean I am actually buying the pieces). This is a good thing, and I embrace being blessed with lots of material that I can use to benefit others, especially little boy nephews in need of love and whom have a feeling of loosing a sort of home, losing the fundamental need of love and belonging in a normal family.
With the quilt maybe somehow I can get across without saying it, that pieces of life do come together, and we can take what we are given and what we are not, and make it better, make our own patterns.

I am one of the fortunate, I know. I have the luxury of a studio, however modest in which to carve out a space of my own to be creative in. There are so many talented people out there that underestimate the power of having a place to work. I'd didn't realize how important this was to my well being; the ability to just sit down to work with everything ready to go! This revelation came from a mentor, and it came in my early twenties, since then I have always had a studio- even if it was just the corner of a one bedroom apartment that I first shared with my husband.

This nice lady was kinda enough to take the time one day to show me her studio. What a concept! She rented a small space/office in a downtown building, and she had all her equipment and supplies ready for the using. I was inspired after this experience not just by her pretty nails, but with her courage to proclaim in such a big way,

"This is me, this is what I do, and it is so important, that I rent a space just for this!"

I've started this blog because I have come to a interesting point where I am no longer satisfied just sewing, or quilting. I have been wanting to develop more abilities is this realm, but I am tired of cookie cutter patterns and my own stubbornness. I am leaping into becoming more of an art quilter, and I am taking steps forward as well as steps back during this process.

It needs to start with the cleaning of my studio, and some dedication to the art quilt that is gathering dust on the design wall.