Hot, hot, hot!

I know! I know!  You're saying, Margaret, what is it with all these pictures of flowers on your blog, lately?  Well, I did give that some thought and I realized that my gardens at home are in such a shambles, that when I see a nice tidy garden with simply beautiful flowers, I must claim it.  At least with a photograph!  Mine are so out of control!

This picture shows the only thing that may be really happy with this hot and humid weather!  The Geranium does so well in hot, sunny conditions.... this is a really happy picture!

Well, I'm off to go swimming!' Ta Ta!

Summers influence

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.  ~Gerard de Nerval

Thinking about flags...

This weekend I will be concentrating on my Sculpturefest entry, "Oh, Sorrow!" It will be a progression from these prayer flags... (the image represented here has me thinking about my process). I hope I can make it even better than what I imagine.

"Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be chaos. Before a brilliant person begins something great, they must look foolish to the crowd." ~ I Ching

Spider weave

Natures artistic weaving

On visiting a friend yesterday, she drew my attention to this glowing spider web in her barn.  This photo does not do it any justice, but on seeing it live, I found it a captivating sight.  Had I played with the exposure on my camera to change the depth of field to flatten out the background, this could be a wonderfully mesmerizing photo... and perhaps, to take it even further, an intriguing cloth graphic.  Ah, the wonders of nature!

Fresh air is good for the creative soul

Gazebo on top of the world....

It's been a good few days. I have been distracted from my regular life and have enjoyed the company of some good friends. I feel refreshed. I have a lot of creating ahead of me... in preparation for upcoming craft shows. So, it's time to get back to being focussed.  I look forward to it!

A view of Vermont

The fireworks are over

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and Third by experience, which is the bitterest." ~ Confucius

Sketchbook Challenge

"Do not fail, as you go on, to draw something every day, for no matter how little it is, it will be well worth while, and it will do you a world of good." ~ Cennino Cennini

Sketchbook Challenge

My Auction Piece for SAQA

This is a 12" x 12" mono-printed piece of fabric with fused fabrics, reverse applique, watercolor pencils and couched ribbon. This picture was taken while the work was in progress.

The finished piece is a little different but not by much. I removed the sheer mono-printed ribbon at the top and added a bit more watercolor pencil. I am very pleased with it.

Sculpture on the Grounds

at the Aidron Duckworth Museum in Meriden, NH

Sue Katz

Detail, Sue Katz

Barbara Ciesclicki

More sketchbook

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~ Pablo Picasso

nature inspires

“Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more.” ~Vincent Van Gogh

More sketchbook

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

Sketchbook Challenge

Surface Design blowout

"The state of our heart at the moment of applying paint to canvas gets into the mix somehow. What our audience actually 'gets' when they regard our work is simply how we felt while we were doing it." ~ Eleanor Blair

Spring is just so amazing!

Hazy, Hot and Humid

It has been really hot here lately and due to get even hotter!  Up in the 90's today!  These temperatures are good for swimming, but for not much else!  The humidity zaps my energy.  I only hope the weather holds with good drying conditions for the upcoming Surface Design Blowout Weekend.  We'll see!

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” ~ Albert Einstein

Surface Design Blowout Weekend

It's that time of year when I start to organize my annual surface design blowout weekend!  It will be next weekend June 11th & 12th.  Two (count them 2!) whole days of outdoor surface design fun with like minded friends.
It will not be at my house this year, so if you are interested in coming to this, please email me and I can tell you more.  I have it featured as an event on my facebook page, as well.
Yee Haw, I'm ordering supplies and getting myself packed for this amazing event.

“When we engage in what we are naturally suited to do, our work takes on the quality of play and it is play that stimulates creativity.” ~ Linda Naiman

June

“The great thing is, if one can, to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions in one's "own" or "real" life. The truth is, of course, that what one regards as interruptions are precisely one's life.” ~ C. S. Lewis

A Yard Sale kind of weekend

Word of the day

Cleansing

"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."   ~ Anais Nin

Memorial Day weekend!

Lichen growing on a boulder

It's the end of May.  Can you believe it?  Everything is greening up nicely. I am off to a yard sale today!

The word of the day: 

TEXTURE

 “There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Nature as inspiration

The artist must raise the cup of his vision aloft to the gods in the high hope that they will pour into it the sweet mellow wine of inspiration.    ~ Paul Brunton

Getting ready to Mono print!

Quilts made with my mono-printed fabrics

My mono-printing class is this weekend at the League of NH Craftsmen.  I am preparing for it now and pretty excited.  I enjoy teaching and watching my students create.  It should be a great time.

This will also get me started on my upcoming projects.
I have a bit of mono-printing I need to get done to prepare for upcoming shows!

I love this time of year.

"Happiness comes when you believe in what you are doing, know what you are doing, and love what you are doing." ~ Brian Tracy

Camouflage

“The only rule is don't be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.” ~ Paris Hilton 

Artist Entrepreneurial Workshop: May 12, 2011

This spring, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts will continue its fifth year of offering free work shops for professional New Hampshire artists who are seeking to enhance their business skills, promote their work, and network with other artists.

The following workshop is free and open to the public, but you must register by calling (603) 271-2789 or email elaine.loft@dcr.nh.gov.  In lieu of a registration fee, registrants are asked to contribute canned foods or pasta for the local food bank.  These sessions will be held at the Brown Building Auditorium at 129 Pleasant Street in Concord, New Hampshire.

Approaching Galleries: 10am – 12 noon
Presenter Sarah Chaffee, Gallery Director, McGowan Fine Art
In this workshop learn how to prepare a high quality artist’s package, including a biography, artist statement, articles, retail price list and digital images. Ms. Chaffee will also address how to research and approach galleries, the ins and outs of contracts, and how to promote yourself to the press.

Pricing Your Work: Art or Science?: 3 – 5 pm
Presenter Gary Chabot, ProfitPoint Business and Finance Counseling
In this workshop attendees will explore the facts, fiction and mysteries of pricing works of art. Is it all about the numbers? Is it all guess work? How do your perceptions of value differ with other buyers and sellers of art? Learn how “price point” passion and real world economics mix it up in the world of art and business.


I am attending this!  I called this morning and there was still room!  If you are planning to go, let me know!  We can meet for lunch!  : )

My Book

Reverse Applique techniques for my book

So, what's happening with my book you ask?  Well, it's happening, but not very fast.  I have a lot of work done but I need to make more samples, document them and write the directions out in an easy comprehensive way.

So, I continue working on it.  It will get done when it gets done.

“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those, who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic fear, which is inherent in a human condition” ~ Graham Greene

Textures

Wood pile textures

"Texture is the most enduring and ubiquitous underpinning of form... certainly a calming, meditative and appealing world for both the eye and mind." ~  Lynda Lehmann

Studio time

Close up of one of my quilts

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be”  

~ George Sheehan