Embracing change!

"Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are."   ~ Paulo Coelho

"Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are."  ~ Bertolt Brecht 

"Change before you have to." ~ Jack Welch

Happy New Years

"If that's all there is, my friend, Then let's keep dancing" - Cabaret

It's the New Year... a time to reflect, but also, a time to project. The "has beens and done thats" and the "wanna bees and will dos" converge.  Sometimes this can be inspiring, but other times it can be incredibly daunting.

O.K.....  2011, what do you have in store for me?  Will it be an amazing year?  WIll the creativity just flow out of me?  or will I struggle with a bout of depression and self doubt....

• Will I be able to create on a whim?
• Will all art supplies be golden in my hands?
• Can I enjoy freedom of expression without the censor of my own negative internal critic?  I hope so!

O.k.  The only way to know the answers to these questions is
to DO THE WORK......
and Tha-uh-e-uh, tha-uh-e-uh, that's the answer, Folks!

So, GO FOR IT, Move Ahead.... DO THE WORK!
and Keep on Dancing!


Happy New Year to all!

Countdown to Christmas

How are you doing?  Are you feeling stressed yet?  Do you have your Christmas stress under control?  My list....

• Christmas tree is up and decorated
• Christmas cards are being written and sent out in increments..
• Gifts are bought, but more to get....  The boys!
• Favorite Christmas music CDs are out and being listened to in the evenings
• Cookies?  Candies?  Meal planning....  Not yet!
• But, there is snow on the ground finally.. and I hear jingle bells!

Now, what's up for sewing and my future projects! First,  I need to repossess my studio from craft show mess and Christmas gift wrap.  I need to confront myself and create a realistic time line.  I have high expectations for myself this new year. I will not say my resolutions out loud, but I will take myself more seriously and start "walking the walk" again.  Get in there and just do it!

"But seriously, I think overall in the scheme of things winning an Emmy is not important. Let's get our priorities straight. I think we all know what's really important in life - winning an Oscar." ~  Ellen DeGeneres

"Concern over criticism clogs creativity."  ~ Duane Alan Hahn

I love this quote.  Most people will read this thinking that it applies to outside criticism.  I know it applies to my own worst critic.... myself!   I have to stop thinking about what I should be doing and just do it.  I love it when I can turn off the inner voices and just go for it.  I'm hoping I will enter that zone again soon.  It's euphoric.  I'm ready.

Lyme library group show

Photo taken by Sonja Hakala

The opening reception at the Lyme library was well atttended.
The show there is vibrant and alive!  Lots of bright colors and creative pieces!

My book coach, Sonja Hakala came to the reception and captured this nice photo of me!  She has written a little blurb on her inklings blog, too!
www.SonjaHakala.com

"I like to think that Henry James said his classic line, "A writer is someone on whom nothing is lost," while looking for his glasses, and that they were on top of his head" - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

Opening Reception this Wednesday!

Detail of a dyed & mono printed scarf on view at this show

WOW Quilters 1st Group Show

Converse Free Library, Lyme, NH

November 2nd - December 29th, 2010

 Meet the Artists Opening Reception & Craft Sale

Wed. December 8, 2010

 4:30 - 6:30 pm

Featuring work from:

Jann Block

Dana Burrell

Sue Geno

Michelle Goldsmith

Nellie Pennington

Joanne Shapp

Margaret Sheehan

Thetford Academy Craft Fair

This is where I will be on Saturday November 20th
From the Valley News Calendar:
Craft Bazaar in Thetford: featuring 50 crafters: Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., horse-drawn rides with Earl Silloway from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; lunch available 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., gymnasium attached to Anderson Hall, Thetford Academy, 304 Academy Road. Every 30 minutes door prizes drawn, tickets $1. Sponsored by Thetford Academy Alumni Association. 802-333-9491 or krash537@hotmail.com.

I will be selling framed fabric collages, potpourri squares, funky coffee cuffs, quilts, and my art dolls!

Stop by for a chat.  It's a quaint low profile crafts fair and its a lot of fun!

Margaret

Back into the studio today

O.K. I'm back in the studio today.  My daughters play is over and the sinus cold I have been struggling with is starting to abate.
New craft shows are coming up and I have tight deadlines help to make me creative!
Gotta get out the supplies and just play.  Here I go!

"Sometimes imagination pounces; mostly it sleeps soundly in the corner, purring."  ~ Terri Guillemets

Procion Dyed and Monoprinted Scarf
on view at the Lyme Library
WOW Group show    Nov. 1 - Dec. 29th

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's about learning to dance 
in the rain"  ~ Anonymous

My friend Chris Maute sent this quote out today to all her friends and I just had to post it here.  It applies!  I've been learning to dance in the rain for awhile now.  I still don't quite have the hang of it, but I'm getting used to it.  Being soggy and vulnerable, while trying to appear glamorous and sure of oneself, that's the tricky part.

• Take one step at a time and breathe.  
• Be sure to notice things around you.  
• Take advantage of the serendipity that life offers you.
• Know that fear will always be there but you are safe anyway.
• Life is constant change.  Stay open to it and you can grow old and create incredible art gracefully!
• Yee Haw!

Writing a book

I am currently in the process of writing a book about the techniques I use to make my art quilts.  This is quite a challenge for me.

My book is called, "Art Quilts: Methods to the Madness".

It will cover Reverse Applique, Creative Zig zag, Satin stitch and couching, how and when to use fusible web and stabilizers, how to attach non-cotton materials and a brief overview of using metallic threads in the bobbin, (bobbin drawing!)  These are all the methods I use to make my quilts.
Look for it next year at this time, available through Amazon, and of course, myself!

I have entered the SAQA, No Holds Barred exhibit, too.  I hope I get in!

"Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not that one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk - and to act.”  ~ Andre Malraux

November 3rd

I am currently participating in a group Art quilt show at the Lyme Library.  We hung it on Monday November 1st.  It is awesome!  The "Meet the Artists" reception is planned for December 8th, from 4:30 - 6:30 pm.  If you can stop by to see the show, it's bright, colorful, sophisticated, amazing and just plain worth the trip to see!  It's up until December 30th!

Artists participating in the show:
Joanne Shapp, Sue Geno, Nellie Pennington, Margaret Sheehan, Michelle Goldsmith, Jann Block, Dana Burrell, Judi Simon Boutin

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and materials assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." - Goethe

Preparing for a Quilt Show

Well, where has the month gone?  I have been crafting up a storm.  Hasn't anyone noticed the fog over my house?  I feel like I may be coming out of that fog now.

The Apples and Crafts fair in Woodstock, VT was a phenomenal experience.  It marked a year since I embarked on my adventure of being a crafts fair sales person.  It gave me a chance to reflect on the publics embrace of my artwork.  It feels good to have genuine acceptance of my creativity.

Now, I am preparing to jump another hurdle.  I am entering the realm of juried shows!  This takes more prep for me and an attention to detail beyond what I already do.  I am maturing as an artist.

It feels good, right, and the natural path for me.

Accepted into a show or not, I am enjoying the process of exploring the voice inside of me.  I'm allowing myself to be vulnerable and let my inner playful spirit emerge in color, line and form.  It's getting addictive... like pure sugar, I can't get enough.  Yee Haw!

Apples N Crafts

"If you have ever come away from listening to a motivational speaker feeling charged up, only to find that energy dissipate into nothingness over time, you know that inspiration by itself isn’t enough. It won’t magically make your dreams come true. What it will do, though, is add fuel to your fire as you do the grit work of turning those dreams into reality. And sometimes that makes all the difference between success and failure."   ~ Curt Rosengren

Working, working, working toward craft fair season...  my "to do" list is way too long!

Gotta go!

Preparations

"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.  ~ Eddie Robinson"

This week I am diligently working on my inventory for the Apples and Crafts Fair where I will share a booth with my neighbor, David Fall, a woodworker, Oct. 9th and 10th in Woodstock, VT.  It's a two day fair, outside, under a tent.  Yes, I freeze a little, but last year it was a rewarding two days of selling and getting "out there" in the public.  I held my quilts up under my chin and sold them! I talked about my work and process. The interactions were honest and my artwork went off to loving homes.  It was satisfying to get direct feedback.  I realized that what I love to do is greatly appreciated.

My booth will include:

• Unique, one of a kind, hand made dolls... see Blog image of "the girls"
• Balsam, lavender and eucalyptus art potpourri items
• Unique artistic hot coffee cuffs and soft cuff bracelets
• Magnets with my quilt images
• and my own hand made quilt wall hangings

Stop by to see me there!  I will be at booth number 7, first tent near the drive in entrance, facing the parking area in the field.  http://www.woodstockrec.com/info/

Creativity is contagious!

http://www.zazzle.com/bishercat/mono+printed+gifts

I have found an outlet for my creativity.  What fun!  Zazzle.com!  Check out the link.

I will have art magnets as well as dolls, pot pourri, coffee cuffs and fabric cuffs at my booth at the upcoming crafts fair, Apples and Crafts in Woodstock, VT October 9 & 10th.  Stop by and see me there!

"There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living so there's no end to it. ~Henry Moore"

Beth Berman's photo

I love this picture...
Just looking at the supplies.
Knowing that creativity is ahead.
What fun.

Some people are addicted to candy...
I love fabric paint and what it does to me....

you go!  mono print....


"Every idea should be explored with variations, color size, emphasis, and composition. These should produce at least five variations. Of the five, one will be particularly good. Save it for the "artist's collection" (a natural retirement fund, or estate to leave your children) or it might be donated to a museum to show the best to the world and "make your name"  ~ Jon Rader"

SAQA News

"It is the eye of ignorance that assigns a fixed and unchangeable color to every object; beware of this stumbling block."   ~Paul Gauguin

I am still tingling from the weekend in Maine. It was amazing to be surrounded by the energy of such creative, artistic fiber artists! Open minds, open hearts make for a powerful experience. Teaching that type of group is incredible, too!  The energy and information is absorbed like a sponge and the output is awesome and inspiring!
I have found my family.  It is in SAQA.

Check out the website for the auction happening right now!  It is eye candy at it's finest.
http://www.saqa.com/news.php?ID=1423

SAQA Vermont next!  Yee Haw!

Sculpturefest 2010

Tracy Penfield and dancers
Dancing at my Installation, "Phragmites"

www.sculpturefest.org/

Fabulous SAQA Weekend!

Alexandra Nickerson (in green)  talks about her quilt
Mathea Daunheimer and I hold it for her.
Sue Geno (L) and Celeste Janey (R) are part of the audience

SAQA Maine Weekend

Mathea Daunheimer walking Sue Geno's quilt around show & tell