Monthly Archives: March 2014

A New Show, A New Store and A Little Spring

fabric is flying…this week

I have been working away in the midst of the never-ending winter here in Michigan. I feel the clock ticking down to spring and a garden but am really making the most of my indoor time. And I am appreciating it.

A few catch ups for you:

1. I am currently in Lisa Call‘s Master class and one of the goals I have given myself is to track my actual studio and art business time . I have logged in 58 hours this week. I felt like I was working hard and moving forward but never had any really numbers to justify those thoughts. Good news: This week Monday through Friday, I logged 58 great hours of art time: 46 actual studio time hours and 12 art business hours. Woohoo and no wonder I am tired tonight. Bad news: I am not ready to show you what I am working on yet.

2. I have work hung at the Electric Cheetah restaurant. Last Friday, I hung 5 of my pieces at the restaurant in their mini art gallery section and Saturday went for dinner there to celebrate. Go if you are in the area as they will likely be there for 2 months. It was a great learning experience in having a solo show (lots of work but rewarding ) and it was received well there. Nice to have my art be seen.

Show at the Electric Cheetah

3. I found a new store just a few miles from my home. I went today to visit and was very happy to see bright lighting, modern fabrics and a great store owner who was helpful and enthusiastic about her upcoming classes and events. She will be hosting a Modern Quilt guild meeting at her store on Tuesday April 1st at 6:30 pm if you are interested. Super excited to see her come to the area and I wish her well.

Stitched Studio opening in Grand Rapids

I bought a few fabrics for fun summertime making.

Lotta Jansdotter love

4. A wonderful friend Lynne sent me some spring last week. The multi-talented Lynne is one of the first people I made a group quilt with. She made these beautiful butterflies for me sending a little spring my way. Thanks Lynne! I love my friends I have made along the way !

Lynne’s butterflies

It really will come. Spring is coming soon.

No Hesitation Necessary

With a prompt from my daughter’s boyfriend, I answered a request for art on a Facebook page of a local restaurant, The Electric Cheetah. Without really thinking about my decision , I applied to one of my favorite restaurants here in Grand Rapids. Within 24 hours, I was accepted and got to work on getting my pieces ready to show. I was floored when they wanted me to hang the work-um- this week. But sure, what am I waiting for?

disorganization of unfinished tasks

Well, I guess finished artwork means:

1. Sleeve made and sewn on

2. Signed label made

3. Work photographed

4. Photo edited

5. Website updated with info on new work

6. And then add all this to your inventory sheet

I learned, once again, that procrastination is painful. I thought I had done this when I made the website last year but must have stopped midway through the job… I was painfully reminded you have to have ALL your systems in place in order to process this information. I thought I had it but my photos are a mess. I re-shot some of my images and got to work. The info will next get added to my website this weekend. Ugh.

I can hardly wait to see what I learn tomorrow when I hang my five pieces there. 🙂

Pressing Matters

Last spring when I was at a workshop, my iron died. It’s a frustration to me but not a surprise when an iron dies. I ask quite a bit from my irons as they are working for me for me at least a few hours each day. I am sure your regular household consumer irons only once a week. Iron replacement seems to be a yearly or six month occurrence lately and I feel as if I am always replacing an iron. So I spend time researching which iron has the most reliable reviews and I choose the best iron for the best price.

But , at a workshop, my only choice was to go to your local big box store across the street from the hotel and choose an iron as soon as possible. I chose this little guy for all practical reasons: he is cute and vintage looking. I threw all my research out the window for cute and vintage looking.

I love this little 25$ iron . It is a bit heavy but the heat is wonderful. I also love the sharp tip which makes for nice smooth ironing and pressing out those pesky stubborn seams. I never use water in the iron (only in my spray bottle) so I can’t vouch for how well it produces steam. And about 6 months later, it is still working strong for me.