camping?

The quilt top, backing and binding are all complete for my camping "explosion". This is one of the silliest things I have made in a very long time, and I must say... I really had fun making it! I used a lot, A LOT, of different fabrics... maybe too many, but don't really care. It is what I wanted a bit kitch with some nostalgia, and all the things that are related to camping without the realistic aspect of what it actually is like. 

I finished the top the other day and I had to step back and look away for a minute because I was afraid I had gone off the deep end for a minute, with so much going on and no order... very unlike me... and then I was flipping through a magazine and saw the advertisement below for Target Threshold collection for fall... 

Notice the colors... similar to my quilt. and the patterns.... lots of them.... and then I realized I was just starting the fall trend with this thing. (sense the sarcasm) And I didn't care anymore if it was "too much" because sometimes "too much" can be just right. 

This one is getting sent off to the long arm quilter to be finished, hopefully with a "plaid" type look. Better photographs after it is finished!

september inspiration

It is the beginning of my favorite time of the year, fall. I love the crisp air, the warm sun, and the colors everywhere. Growing up summer was my favorite, it meant freedom to spend my days doing whatever I wanted. However now fall is the best! Here in Richmond there are a lot of festivals and events this time of year which is also nice, and not melting from being outside is a really nice feeling! 

A few things inspiring me at the moment:

The last of the tomato harvest, the colors are the best they have been all summer. 

British, Country Living the covers of their magazine is always beautiful. Every month I am pleased with their aesthetics, and the magazine itself is visually delightful and interesting. (Still love country living U.S. version too.)

I wait from spring until September for these to bloom. Love the combo in the garden and in the house! 

I cleared some space on my metal shelves in the studio by adding these to the wall for my little collections of inspiration. I have really done a lot as far as making my space the most workable for me. It feels a little bit lighter and less crowded which is great. 

thoughts

Loving the late summer blooms in the garden. Noticing that this time of the year is filled with pinks, purples, green of all shades, red, brown, and white. Taking advantage of picking my own flowers and the last bit of vegetables from the garden before fall really kicks in and there is little left. 

Thinking a lot about collections lately, what they mean, why collect at all, how some people are facisnated by one thing and no one else gets it. Making arrangements out of the small collections I have around the house, moving some things around, replacing some, purging others... always seem to be purging something around here, realizing that I have hung onto some things far too long. 

Thinking a lot about drawing, not realistic, refined drawing but that of a child. Uninhibited. Watching a child draw recently I was reminded of how they don't overthink where a color, line, shape, image is going, they just do. With that I want to explore drawing more, at least play in my sketchbook more.

Thinking about images in general. I have been looking and pin-ing on pintrest a lot lately. my pintrest looking at images of everything, from drawings, quilts, artwork, home decor, couture, inspiring people... it really is the visual library I always wanted... 

At that place in a project where I want to put it away and not look at it for a while, but knowing that if I do that I will not ever finish it... Taking a break to sketch and doodle in my sketchbook... Hoping that from that I will have the will-power needed to finish this task. Still enjoying the mixing of many fabrics at once. All the colors, shapes, patterns... 

newest

It seems as if I have a couple of things going on at the same time in the studio right now, which is actually nice. Some I can work on in the studio others I can pick up and do anywhere, and others are nice to see as a progression over time. I am good about finishing work but sometimes I do like to multi-task so that nothing becomes mundane. This is especially important to me, because I usually choose projects that require a lot of steps that are often very repetitive and time consuming. I have had people close to me say that the only thing I have patient for in my life is my artwork, and I must admit is probably true.

In the idea of repetitive, detailed work, here is my latest project, that I am prepared to spend some time on to get it exactly like I want. (In addition to being patient with my work, I am also a bit of a perfectionist.) 

This project which for now I will call Terrain, happened because I have been collecting a couple of different brands and designers of maps, terrains, and geographic things in general. It seems that maps are everywhere at the moment, and I have long been interested in their appearance. I mixed 6 different lines of fabric for this piece and have the whole thing planned out on paper, so UN-like me. Usually I just make, but I wanted this to be just as I see it in my mind. All of the fabric is cut and ready and I have begun piecing most of it. About an hour into planning this with fabric I realized that I needed a wall to work on, so that the mistakes would be kept at a minimum. So I finally installed a cork wall in the studio, something that is way overdue. It is really easy to work on and has been nice to get things off the table, ironing board, dining room, and the floor. 

A detail of the part that I have begun piecing...

Another part... 

Coming together... The new corner of the studio.... I will show this in pieces and process and can't wait for the final work. 

December 31st

New Years Eve.

I must admit it is my favorite night of the year. Time to reflect upon the year that passed and welcome in the new one, full of anticipation and curiosity as to what lays ahead. I never thought a year ago that I would be here now. I have done exactly what I wanted this year, by being in the studio, using my hands and making. Of course there are always things we want to make resolutions on, but instead of harping on the things I can do better, or my vices,  I just want to continue to do what I have been doing. Enjoy the balance that seems to have taken shape and live each day knowing that I am lucky and grateful! 

I must add a thank you/I love you, even though she never reads this. Babe, without you none of this would have taken shape. Your encouragement and acceptance mean the world, even when it makes no sense to you, you tell me to keep going. I love you. 

change in leaves

It has been cold and wet here, a sure sign that fall is here! I am trying to be patient with the leaves, that is my favorite part, when they turn all the shades imaginable. It has been a good couple of days for studio time, and while I have been working on things for etsy, I am going to make something simply for the fun, of making. I need a little break, a day or two, to just make without a goal. Let my mind and my hands free. Sometimes that jump starts something new. Maybe a little lap quilt, or perhaps pillows for my own sofa...

september thoughts

September seemed to have lasted longer than a month, or maybe it was just how much I did in that month... 

It included: 

A trip to the Outer Banks, to celebrate my mom's birthday and Labor day... A new four legged, studio-mate, named Achilles... Seattle...Portland...and anything in between... Cultivating honey from my mom's beehives... friends' birthday's... and finally, a very amazing, Madonna Concert!

See I told you it was a busy month. All good, fun, things but by the end of it, I was ready for a nice cold cocktail, outside on my deck. I managed to make some things during that time, but mostly I gathered inspiration and ideas. I also managed to gather some fabric in Portland. By some I mean... over 70 new patterns... I know its insane! It even required its own suitcase. I finally washed and put it all away. 

My system for organizing fabric is simple. I bring it home, and it goes straight into the washing machine. Everything gets a bath, before it even enters into the studio. The reason I do this is so that no matter what, the fabric gets pre-shrunk. I know most everything says it is these days, but I like to be sure. By washing the fabric, it also ensures that any kind of coating that is on the fabric is removed and leaves a nice, clean fabric. 

Then I fold in my OCD ways so that everything is a nice clean little square. Then everything goes into my fabric cabinet. I used to have a plastic one, but the stash got too heavy so this little cabinet from, Homegoods, does the job now. I can even fit whole yards into the drawers if I fold the fabric a certain way. I like to keep things separated by color or by fabric line, depending on how I will use it. Of course I have fully grown into this cabinet since the shopping spree, so the shelf, pictured above, gets the bigger yardage and the solids. 

The fabric stores that I went to in Portland were really nicely organized, and had a great selection. If you are in that area, and your a fabric junkie check out; 

Bolt

cool cottons

not missing, pulling it all together....

Hello there, I know its been a while since I last posted. However in my brain I have constantly been writing this post for about a month now... The time has come, where I finally made the jump from makeup artist full time, and artist "when I have time", to ARTIST full time, and makeup artist a few hours a week! Yes, what I am trying to say is that I have gone part time at work so that I can spend more time in the studio. It is always hard to give up a steady paycheck and instead move on, relying on my own ways of creating a new income. I think that is one of the main reasons that so many artists abandon what they love so that they do not have to be "a poor starving artist." I was never comfortable with that notion of not being able to travel and doing things I enjoy so I made a compromise, makeup artist. It is something I love and the truth is it has allowed me to stay creative and I get to play with color everyday. However for the past 2 years I have had an itch to get going, make stuff, get on things again! So here I am embarking on this new journey, it means building up this blog, being faithful to being consistent, making all the time and accepting that sometimes things will turn out better than others. Posting on etsy, entering shows, and making what I want to make with knowledge that not everyone will like everything. I am thankful that I have a partner that has embraced all the crazy ideas I have and believes in me enough to support this change in my life. It is maybe the best gift, the gift of doing what my passion is. 

I have spent a lot of my time while making questioning why I make certain things and not others.... why even make something, that could be bought or mass produced. Time after time the answer changes but there is one answer that remains the same in everything that I do. It is important to me to use traditional textiles and textiles techniques in a new way, it is important for me to make "traditional women's work," from a modern point of view. In college I would have thought it un-necessary to make something utilitarian, sure I made things every once in awhile for fun, but certainly not as my main work. While I still hold some artwork to a more "serious" level, where I want it to have meaning and depth. I now understand the beauty in a well designed quilt or everyday towel. Those objects have always lured me, especially if they are from the era of  the 1920's-1960's. Now I appreciate designing and making them myself, putting a twist on the traditional patterns and designs with a modern color or fabric. These are the things that are passed down, textiles hold memories and stories and that is an important part of my work, it always has been. So that is where I will begin my journey into the full-time creative world again. Everything is still a bit unclear, I am not sure where this road will lead, but I go in confidence that I will get there if I just do what I do and create everyday. 

knots and binds and new threads

Hem tape... Archenemies!

A view of the studio since I moved some things around and got new shelving. I loved my old latter style book-cases however they were not convenient to the workspace... Can't wait for that dream studio in the backyard... Designed by me for me... I may never move, if that actually happens. 

FINISHED!

After almost one year of working on this thing, I finally finished it yesterday! I finished making the hem tape and sewing it on, and then it was off into the washer... Always a nerve wrecking process. It came out fine and I ironed it and made it went up to the master bed. I love that feeling of finishing a project, especially when you still like it as much when it is finished as you did when it was a fragment of your mind. 

I am really loving the traditional pattern with the contemporary fabric and colors in this piece. Not being someone who loves to make things that are very precise, usually I just start going at it and make things work.... I followed the rules for a log cabin,  pretty closely with this, and sometimes made up my own, and it turned out almost precise. Except for here and there and well, I can live with that! 

I forgot how much I loathe attaching the hem tape, I love making it, and even ironing it out. However when it comes to attaching it and sewing it, I seem to always have trouble making sure that it stays even. I have followed about ten different sets of instructions and always seem to come out frustrated. I think I this one was alright, but I still dread that part and can understand why people send of quilts to be finished... I don't think I would ever let someone else finish my projects but I can understand why some do. 

This quilt was fun, and it was a special project to work on. I made it especially for this home, for us, and to look back one day, when I have decided to change the decor, hopefully not for a while,  and remember what I loved when we bought the home and moved in. 

As for what comes next... There is a lot of embroidery thread, fabric and gradating color involved. Lots of summer projects to keep me busy when I am not digging up dirt, in the garden.

studio

One of the main attractions of moving into this place, was of course the studio...Amazing would be a good way to describe my favorite work space, to date. There is built in shelves, stairs enough work space and storage space, with a bit of room to dance, should I feel motivated. There is natural light, an airy glow in the afternoon and it is quiet, unless I blast some music. Anyhow there was a little problem with the production part of the studio, I needed a little more room on work tables for sewing and spreading out. So here is what I did...

Upstairs stayed much the same. I have my tower of thread, and notions... Overlooking the bottom of the studio.


My wall of inspirational photos, that goes around the studio in bunches. Along with my trunks full of finished works or large pieces of fabric. One day I may convert those trunks to something with drawers.... Still torn on the idea because they just work well. (even though I do not like to match everything I often wish the trunks matched...)


My old desk is now a work table, just for sewing, or laying whatever I am working on out.


My second work table, all my fabric, stamps and other goodies are stored underneath, and on top another work space to spread out on. This way I can have two projects at a time, or one large one.


An update, on my alphabet project, not abandoned, just a small holiday sabbatical, so that I could wrap and finish all the holiday events.


The nook under the stairs, houses my reproduction card catalogue, one of my favorite things! Along with a few of my quilts that I have made and collected underneath.


My shelves have remained the same, and now that is the view from my desk. Lovely, I get to look at all my collections, trinkets, and inspiring materials while I type away now.


Finally my new desk area, that houses the lab top, a few needed items, such as bill payments etc. and my new wireless photo printer....Which I love! I can print from anywhere in the home, or from my i-pod touch, and it comes out here. Also the photo aspect of it is fantastic so I can play around with my photos without leaving the house.


So there it is my fresh work space. I have to admit it has been easier to work with more space to spread out, and I have been in here more and more since I re-worked it. Now to finish the alphabet and the t-shirt quilt I am working on.

a room of one's own.

You see that light creeping in, the fabric settling down, the thoughts forming... What comes next?? What will these hands make, where does one start?



The move is complete, and the studio is set. Yes these are photos of my new studio, perhaps one of the most beautiful spaces I can imagine to create in. The shelves that line a whole wall were already built in and ready for all my collections. The loft area was already complete with enough light to make any artist weak at the knees. Every single box in this new place has been opened, unpacked, and put away. Every item from two households has been merged into one space. The start of a new way of life. It has been years since I have lived with anyone, and it was not without some compromise, and growing pains. However here we are almost 2 months later and I have to admit that I have never been so delighted to come home at the end of the day. To open the door to a place that is "home". Home can be so many different things depending on what is going on around you, for me home means a place where I feel safe, a place where I can turn off the rest of the world. Home has always been in making and expressing myself. I feel most like myself in that place where I am creative and inspired. In the past months I have learned there is another addition to that place that one calls "home" in my world. It rests in the arms of love. The safest place, even more so than in making. Complete with the two I can move ahead, feeling complete.



It has been difficult for me to adjust, change is hard for me as with so many people. However this change was welcomed and I am so happy to be here now. I have not been able to pick up a needle or thread or anything in a couple of months, first there was the packing and the moving then the unpacking and putting away... Now that everything is in it's place. The need to make the need to move my hands across something and create is killing me. So where does one start... One stitch at a time I suppose. One pull of a needle after another.



So here I go, a new adventure, complete with love, and open mind and compromise. One stitch at a time. Back to making, enjoying life and being proud each day to be where I am.