Cat tested and approved!

My three boys

I'd like to introduce you to my quality assurance team.  They oversee the production of all my work.  I should make up little tags for them that say," approved by moi, meow!' and insert them in hidden crevasses of my quilts after they have been walked on, laid on or "pawed" in any way by them.
Most of the time this team thinks I'm pretty boring.  But every once in awhile, they glance up at me as I rev the engine of my sewing machine.  "Aren't you done yet? That's so boring, you know!" is what their glance reveals.
I keep sewing away anyway.  "Don't mind me," I say, "just sleep through it!" And surprisingly, they do!

An oldie but goodie

"Continuing Convergence"
collection of Mary Hardy

The SAQA 12" x 12" Auction

I have to say, for now, Susan Shie and Nancy Eriksons pieces are my favorites!  Oh, If only I could afford to own one of them! Check it out for yourself.... click on SAQA AUCTION

My studio

These are pictures of my studio, in the height of activity.  Yes, it looks better when tidied up... but I  thought it would be a good exercise to see it how it usually is. A mess in action.

I have been enjoying my creative energy lately.  It's all been good in this space.

New Fabric, Store bought!

 I took some close up snippets of the new upholstery fabric I got yesterday in Massachusetts. I will be making some products for my crafts fairs from this fabric. The colors are striking and I hope to enhance their eye grabbing appeal by making them even more graphic! I'm ready to have some fun! See ya!

"I only do this because I'm having fun. The day I stop having fun, I'll just walk away."
~ Heath Ledger 

Studio Day

Felix the Cat

"Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again." ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

I'm enjoying a "thumbs up" day in the studio with Mr. Felix, my cat, who follows me around looking for a cuddle every now and then.
It's raining. The bleeding heart and Lily of the valley are out in full bloom now.

Remembering my husband

Joshua Winer, Me, my husband Matt Winer, Mimi & Bert Winer

Today is the anniversay of the death of my husband.  He died of lung cancer seven years ago, at the age of 47.

The birds were singing beautifully today.
I have lit my candles.
The garden is in.

Thinking of you, my dear Matt.

Finished!

"Creativity"

My 12" x 12" quilt for the SAQA Auction is done.  Now I just have to mail it in! Yahoo.

"You do the work and you want people to see it; but, um while I'm doing the work, the result doesn't matter at all to me. Ultimately, I don't, I don't care whether the film is - you know - some big giant box-office bonanza and I don't care if its a complete flop. To me, when a film gets made and it's actually finished it's a success. They're all a success in their own way." ~ Johnny Depp

Sketchbook Challenge Fruit

5" x 5" Drawings from my sketchbook

A Creative Space

The Hanover League's studio/classroom space

There is something about a good working space.  My requirements: Lots of natural light, room to move around, space to hang things to dry, space to spread out supplies, space to work comfortably, and space to play music loud.
I work in the Hanover League's studio space sometimes and I am now enjoying playing there too.
Looking at this photo, I can see how my home studio needs some improvement.  Hmmm. Maybe I'll get out the white paint this weekend.

“The studio, a room to which the artist consigns himself for life, is naturally important, not only as workplace, but as a source of inspiration. And it usually manages, one way or another, to turn up in his product.”  ~ Grace Glueck

Interesting patterns

I'm just loving the look of these mono printed patterns. I haven't had a moment to play with these fabrics (as in cut them up!) in my home studio, but I'm certainly excited about them and can't stop thinking about them.

"The sorcery and charm of imagination, and the power it gives to the individual to transform his world into a new world of order and delight, makes it one of the most treasured of all human capacities." ~ Frank Barron

Mark making

I am loving my mark making lately. This is news.
I never liked my mark making before. I was always critical of myself.  But this past weekend, I transcended. I allowed myself a fluid motion. I put my whole body into it.  I freed myself. And, I love it.

Next step.... to allow that same creative, fluid, momentum to infiltrate into my sewing.

Mono printing Images

Close up of my marks

Yesterday I had a really productive day! I pushed myself to get past the initial inertia and I won! New movements and ideas emerged. I go back to the studio today to work. I hope to achieve, if not go beyond, that same level! It feels so good. Pure studio bliss.

“If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.” ~ Win Borden

This fabric started as a preprinted sheer.  I used it as a wipe up cloth, then
 mono printed the indigo swirls.  The faded color is due to the nature
of the material.  The bright dappled orange is what "makes" this work!

Mono Printing Today!

The beginning of another quilt

Im off to the League Studio to mono print today! I feel good!

“It is better to create than to be learned, creating is the true essence of life”
~ Barthold Georg Niebuhr

New piece 12" x12"

I had a great day in the studio yesterday. I put together this piece for the SAQA auction. At 13' x 13', it's still unfinished at this time. I've got to chop it down an inch.

I am amazed at how much information I can get into a small piece. I'm playing with contrast and movement along with adding my own handwriting and doodles.

I'm pretty happy with this.
Well, gotta go!
I want to finish it up.

A rainy spring keeps me in

Central Park, NYC

I have been forced (Oh, darn!) to be inside while the constant, gentle rain aides the trees and flowers in their extravagant explosion.  Everywhere I look I feel optimistic.

I just love all the greens of spring!  If I were to count the many shades, I know I would be amazed.

Now, I just want to add a little warmth and sunshine outside so I can open up the doors and windows of my house.  Yet, then, I would want to be outside of my house!  and not in my studio, working!

Ah, nature, you are such a tease sometimes!