It proves that the use of the stitch ties us to the past and is part of our everyday life. I would love to be able to interpret that in fabric, but its a little beyond me right now.
However, the fabric I bought in Nepal is being used in a very different way this week. I call it painting with cloth and its just perfect for my quilt, ‘Finding Frida’ It has nothing to do with Nepal, its Mexican inspired…… or then again does it?
2 months on the road and I have told it in images. Its been a creative and at times a very difficult time but I’ve come into contact with so many wonderful people in several countries.
To me this chosen profession has the reputation of being honest, respectful and I like to think of myself as a team player. (At least I try to be) I share my ideas on quilting with students because I love what I do and I have a passion that keeps bubbling to the surface. I have little or no control over the creative ideas that are always there under the surface and they often burst out with a sense of the ridiculous.
Let me just say that studying the work of others is about reverse-engineering. It’s like taking something apart to see how it works. It gives me a better understanding of how I can do things.
In Denver people were asked to donate a blanket with a small story attached to it. The Artist Marie Watt’s work is centered around community, particularly through her use of wool blankets. As with many of her projects, she looks for blankets that hold meanings and memories. The blankets donated are folded and stacked to create a blanket sculpture. As part of donating a blanket to this project, there is a tag attached to the blanket documenting the particular story.
Its been a busy trip, LA, Nepal, Alamagordo, Chicago, Asilomar and now Denver. I actually have the next 3 days free and today I took it easy and walked out with the camera… not my fancy one but the shots came out quite well I think.
Its 6.41 pm on Friday and I’ve not had time to write a blog for over a week.  My heart and hands just wouldn’t cooperate or should I say coordinate. I’ve had a limit on the time I’ve had for leisure and luxury and that’s what I need to be able to write the blog. Having…
Kaye England overheard one of the students mention that she was a Vietnam vet.
The wheels sprang into motion and in just a few hours a Quilt of Valor was on its way with Rita Pennington, who is the Land of Lincoln coordinator for Quilts of Valor here in Illinois.
Rosemary Dawes was the recipient and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as she was surprised during one of our evening events. I made a small video and I’m happy for you to share it with other vets and indeed your quilting community.
My personal view is that every person that creates something is an artist. An Artist is a collector of imaginings and experiences. They are selective and only collect the things they enjoy the most and it really depends where you put yourself to receive those things… you’re not necessarily going to get the experience or be influenced if you are home on the couch.
He doesn’t have a fancy studio, he doesn’t have electricity or even a roof over his head but he sits day by day on the side of a busy road in the dust and the smog of continuous stream of traffic spewing black smoke into the atmosphere as it passes by.
