I've moved (but not really)

Please meet me at: http://zenstitcher.tumblr.com/  -
 Tumblr makes it easier to post from my phone.

I can't decide which I like better - bear with me.

Actual Doodling

My job entails a great deal of writing.  It also seems to entail a lot of time spent waiting for phone calls, making phone calls and other disruptive events that keep me from writing.  So - what to do while you are waiting?

Use Paint to make wallpaper for your computer of course!

My Nephew's Quilt

I was able to visit my sister and family in Wisconsin earlier this month.  It was really nice to see my nephew running around with the quilt I had made him - cuddling up in it to read, carrying his stuffed bunny, etc.  Though I had been told he loved it - seeing a 4 year old in action makes it pretty clear that this was not just "being polite."  I was also pleasantly surprised to see that it was holding up well.  This was my first attempt at free motion quilting and full of problems.

The design is my version of the pattern of the fabric in the back.  I don't remember now why I added patches of yellow in the border - I  think I had originally been thinking of adding butterflies and dragon flies before I ran out of time.

Another quilt

I designed and made this in 2008/2009.

It was meant to be a quickie wedding gift for a co-worker. I let her choose colors - figuring that it might be a challenge to work in colors I didn't choose.  She wanted brown, peach and yellow.  I don't do brown.  So...

I found a fabric that I could tolerate and then spent a great deal of time wondering what I would want to do with it.  Somehow, it cried out to be turned into medallions.  Once the first one was made I was hooked.  I think they look like dream catchers, so adding the turquoise was an easy jump.  The rest is history.

The problem with making a quilt that has been the result of inspiration is that it takes a very long time and is very difficult to hand over.  She did get the quilt - before her first wedding anniversary - I'm not saying more than that.



This quilt taught me that I could take something that felt impossible and make it into something that was uniquely mine.

On my "someday" list may be a full size version of this quilt - I have enough designs for it lying around.

I made it!!!!!!

I received an e-mail from Leah Day yesterday - I'm a finalist in her Transformation Challenge! (See Post Below for Picture). I was sitting at a restaurant for lunch with my quilting teacher and two other quilters when I received the e-mail. I don't usually shout in restaurants or burst into tears - oh well - I'm not likely to be going back there again.

I am one of 14 finalists.  There will be 8 winners announced at the end of September.  The competition is stiff but I feel that my piece is up to par.  To view the other quilts, go to http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/.  Let me know what you think.

Transformation Challenge

Done!!!! Finally.

This is my submission to Leah Day's Transformation Challenge. The challenge was to create a quilt on the theme of Transformation using at least 5 of the free motion stitches posted on her blog.  (See the right side of this page.)

For those of you who are interested,  the stitches are:  Tree Bark, Abstract Leaf, Landscape Stitch, Tree Roots, Poseiden's Eye, Pebbles in a Stream, World of Stars/Starfish and a variation on the basic swirl.

It has been an incredibly exciting experience.  I have grown so much in both my confidence as an artist and as a quilter.

I am very, very proud - but exhausted.

Update

No picture at this time - I wanted to put something on this Blog.  I kept putting off this post because I want to scan some of the myriad designs I have make in preparation for the Transformation Challenge. I have come up with a design that I am happy with and have started working on the final piece.  I am very happy with it and will be posting pictures soon.

Growth

I'm pretty proud of this. It is created with Painter 11, the new program I'm trying.  I'm finding that I like it enough to buy it once the trial period is over.  I'm having a small problem that I hope I can overcome where the program is erasing instead of painting and will not allow me to paint over the erased area.  (see the triangular void at the top of the flower in the back.)  

In other matters - I've been thinking about the concept of being entitled (Thank you Azure).  Not entitled in the usual sense - where you think you deserve to be treated better than everyone else in the entire world.  I struggle with being able to think of myself as being entitled to the things that anyone else is. I am tired of only allowing myself the scraps.

Though it seems like it would be very easy to overcome - it is being very, very difficult for me. I won't go into the reasons why I got here - That part I'm very clear about.  It is the self-doubt and second guessing that I am trying to notice and act on.  My increasing self-confidence as an artist is really helping me to feel more confident in my ability to trust my judgement.

Creativity Sucks

I am working on a design for  Leah Day's Transformation Quilt Challenge.  Leah has challenged us to create a small quilt with the theme of transformation - "the art of challenge and change" - Just settling on a design might qualify by itself.  The other requirement is that the quilt encompass at least 5 of her quilting designs.

My concept is a simple one - a sprouted acorn that will be shadowed by the tree that it will become.

I have been obsessed. Each version is a variation on the one before.  I like the ideas that I am having, but haven't gotten it right yet.  One of the things that makes me nuts is that I could happily make ten versions of the original idea and be happy enough with the direction that each has taken and, at the same time, be unhappy with them all.

I am also learning a new paint program at the same time - which makes everything harder for now.  I've found a few bugs that are making me nuts - what I don't know is if the bugs are in me or in the program.

I'm finally doing this

Sooo - I've been on a five year plan for about seven years now to become more invested in my creative process.  I've finally finished with the - "gee I wish I could be an artist" stage and have realized that anyone who wishes to define themselves as an artist can do so...and that my artistic vision does not have to measure up to or match that of anyone else.

About three years ago I realized that in order to do the things I could see myself doing,  I needed to stop procrastinating, looking at the work others were doing and wishing I were that skilled.  What I really needed was... [you've heard this before] practice, practice, practice. With the encouragement of my daughter, a beautifully talented artist, and the guidance of a wonderful teacher, I have managed to bring myself to the point of feeling competent in my chosen field of expression. Leah Day and other bloggers been a great source of inspiration - bless you.

My biggest problem is that of time, time, time and time.  I work full time and return home exhausted every day.  I fight to find time to sit in my "studio" and realize a small percentage of the myriad ideas that crowd my head.

I envision this blog as a way that I can share some of my process (and some of the results) as I continue to grow.