Doctors Without Borders

Art for a great cause!. 41 artists will donate pieces to raise funds for these brave medical humanitarians. The theme is "Journeys." It's almost finished...

Paper Beads

Dee Danley-Brown has the cleverest eyeglass/cell phone case that hangs around her neck...truly hands-free. So I am attempting my own version. Hers has paper beads that she made, taught to her by Judith Content. I found an online YouTube tutorial, gathered some old wrapping paper, and now I have paper beads for the outside trim. I made up a pattern. Now to select fabrics and assemble. Oh, yes, and this little pouch also serves as a nametag, since I keep forgetting to bring one to the meetings. That's my goal for next meeting: a quilted nametag.

Where do ideas come from?

Often from the materials themselves. And where did I find extra thick wool felt? The hardware store, of course. There's a great little arts supply section at Ace Hardware in Half Moon Bay!  Thus, a new medium. It will still be a quilt: three fabric layers stitched together. Just how that will happen will unfold.

In the Meantime

Thomas found a handy perch. He's just occupying the ironing board until I need it for the next quilt.

It's always landscapes

They pour out of me. It comes from primordial outdoor images. Those Sunday drives in the Iowa countryside. Hills and wooded riverbanks, planted rows of corn, farmhomes, and gravel roads. It's Grant Wood everywhere. And it's my place to start: my entry for the SAQA trunk show "This is a Quilt." A little 8" x 8" landscape.

A Body of Work

It takes about fifteen pieces to make a show. I know this because I made thirteen and then hung them. My friend Marilyn went through the show and said, "Great work but you need MORE." And I knew she was right. It's a feeling, this sense of critical mass. So I devoted 5 days to completing two more quilts, each requiring about 30 hours. That could be what led to the the burn-out.

I've selected a THEME, and I've outlined 15 quilts. In the last two weekends I've I developed two quilts. 2 down, 13 to go. I'm going for the critical mass...

The Blank State

Now What? How to begin again?

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. "

Walt Disney

or it could have been any number of sensible people who get things done....