Monthly Archives: January 2011

Making Plans/Goals

I am waiting for this huge storm but, so far, only a few inches compared to the 12 inches forecasted. I have my dyes mixed and am ready to try a limited amount of snow dyeing. I spent some time today dyeing some lovely threads. That is always fun.

I did have some time over the holiday break to make some plans for the next year. And start making a set of goals for the year. Are you ready? To be bored reading another list on someone’s blog? All joking aside, I do think the list might push me along.

Goals/Plans For 2011

1. Complete 20 quilts 3×3 or larger by the end of the year. At least 5 of these quilts will be in a series investigating motifs and varying colors.
2. Investigate various surface design techniques including screen printing and deconstructed screen printing.
3. Continue fabric dyeing in the warm months.
4. Attend/complete the following workshops:
Artist’s Toolbox: Lyric Kinard-online at Quilt University January 28th

   Creating Compositional Cloth : Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan at the The barn: May 16-20th
   Silk Dyeing Feb 6th adult ed at Kendall College
   ? one more for fall

One of my favorite Vermont barns

The 20 quilts is very ambitious for me. 20 tops-yes but 20 done. Mmm….lots of focus will be required. In all reality, the next four months mean lots of quilts. (Once May hits our family with sports schedules, I fight a losing battle on getting much done in my studio. ) The overall goal of this year is to gain more exposure to surface design techniques and to investigate motifs within my quilts. Surface design techniques- I am not sure this is an avenue I want to use but I won’t know until I try them.

Well there you have it. It did take me awhile to decide. I love the push that a workshop or class gives me. Maybe a workshop junkie. But a discerning one. I did say no to the Sketchbook Challenge and Jude Hill’s last online class. But it’s just about killing me not to do Jude’s class:).

Off to finish dyeing some floss. It’s getting late.

Be creative, my friends.

2010 Wrap Up

Unpacking-notice no clothes just fabric and supplies

I am really not one for resolutions. I guess because they usually involve me losing some amount of weight. And it just comes back. I am more for making a list and getting it done. Setting goals. That feels better for me. It’s probably all the same thing but just what motivates you to change , do something differently or accomplish something.

So, I felt like I should take a look at what I have learned in the past year. Since I am a newbie, maybe it would help me with what I need to do next.

(I feel like this is one of those essays you write when you get back from your summer vacation in elementary school. I give you permission to skip this and go directly to the pictures.)

2010 : What I have Learned

1. I learned that even though I might not like the piece I am working on, I need to push through and finish it. It’s the pushing through part where I usually learn things about design, color or the unpredictablity of a composition.

on my wall today

2. I learned that I have many friends, old and new, that I can ask for advice or critique. But in the end, I have to live with it.

3. I learned that by just reaching out a little bit online, there are some great friends to meet and enjoy this process with. Old friends and new friends have made it an enjoyable year. Thanks again- you are great.

4. I learned through and indepth “Artprize” experience(visited many times…) that I can find something to like in all different forms of art. Meeting Nellie was loads of fun, too. I have much to learn about art and art history.

5. I lack focus. I just get so excited about the possibilities that I need to just concentrate on the here and now. Making a list helps. I did it all the time when I worked as a physical therapist and do it now as a mom. So why would I function differently here?

6. I need to have a reliable and dependable machine. Not one that will just handle piecing but one that can repeatedly handle machine quilting. I am just going to keep trading then in until I find one that works as well as my first machine did 20 years ago. The feeling that me and my machine are one make it all worth it when I am doing a big piece.

7. And the biggest thing I learned- being a studio artist takes time and patience. You have to go through the steps. You can’t just barge over top of them. You have to do the work. And then do more work. And then do it again. I only have a glimpse of what this takes.

Japanese fabrics

I have made some workshop plans. No I am not going back to school. For today, I am going to do some machine quilting and try to finish up one of my pieces that I couldn’t do last week. And make some dyes up for the snow we are supposed to get tomorrow. Snow dyeing!

Thanks for listening. Be creative, my friends!

An InBetweener

Guess that is what I am here in Vermont. We have been coming here for about 8 years now. We have had a home here for 7 years. So, each time I come here-I am more and more sick of tourists. They have built a huge new resort on Stowe Mountain and it makes me sick each time I drive up there. A huge gapping gouge into the mountain. Very, very expensive rooms and they are marketing heavily to rich people. Who have spoiled kids and are incredibly rude to the shopkeepers and restaurants in the village. I am beginning to not like the week here between Christmas and New Year’s. Too busy and too many rude people.

But, I don’t feel like a tourist here anymore. ( And my kids are definitely not spoiled). I have my favorite quiet spots that not many know about. But I also am not a Vermonter. Despite the fact that I am here for about 10 weeks a year, I am sure none of my neighbors consider me a Vermonter. And they are exceedingly loyal to the natives. I can milk a cow, muck a stall and fend off the mice and bats. I don’t ski but do lots of other outdoor Vermont things. I appreciate the beauty of Vermont and why they are so protective of their people. You have to be stoic to make it through mud season and the lull of winter. Or the roar of winter. But none consider me a Vermonter.

So, I continue to come and go. And I appreciate coming and going and having no specific schedule. Storing up the peace and rest -going back tomorrow.

I did some sewing, some knitting, photos and thinking. And lots of reading.

I’ll be back sometime this week. After I unpack and put away Christmas.

I am ok being an inbetweener but don’t think I could live here full-time-despite how beautiful it is here.

Be creative, my friends!

Happy New Year and Christmas Wrap Up

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I am enjoying a rainy day here in VT and have a few days of vacation left yet. It’s 47 and all the snow is melting….

I had a great Christmas. I have the most fun catching up with family and friends. I had an extra special little present from my friend Patty. Patty and I have known each other for many years-since early college days. She and her husband would go out with Marc and I on the weekends when we were in college.

We lost track of each other as husbands jobs took us out of state and kids came. It was a huge surprise to find out that she was moving into the house next door five years ago and she would be my neighbor. Even though our lives our busy and we really don’t see each other that often, it’s nice to know she is there. And each conversation can pick up where the last one left off.