I wanted to do a drawing of all the things I’ve seen, touched, love and have experienced here in Antigua. Most of my quilt images originate from my photos… but then some from my imagination.
So what better to do than to attempt to combine all of those things.
This is drawn on the iPad using colored pencils. The excitement of drawing in the iPad is that I can just press a button and rub out the parts I don’t like.
We began the tour with a visit to the historic India gate. Whilst photographing the landmark itself, we noticed 50 or more women working in the gardens close by. They carried long hand-made brooms and their brightly colored clothing was obscured at times by a small cloud of dust as they swept the ground. Some ladies were crouched pulling weeds. The temperature and the humidity was in the 90’s, I just can’t imagine how hard that is.
Yesterday, with a roll of quilts under my arm and a package of teaching supplies I was waiting for my driver in the lobby. Suddenly the quilts were whisked out of my arms and onto the counter of the porter…. In alarm I kept an eye on them as they began to wrap my quilts very neatly in Newspaper!!!!!! Ohhhh. They then presented the parcel with a small handle tie and and expression of complete happiness. “Please don’t rub the newsprint off on my precious quilts “I thought, and the end of the story was that they were just fine. I gave a small class to some friends here in Delhi and we had a wonderful day talking, eating, listening and sharing ideas on quilting as they completed a small project.
I see things. Well, not bad things, I see things that make my heart stir. It’s not like a scary movie. I call it Capture and Create. I’m doing a lunch time lecture in Houston called “You must plant seeds today for a harvest later” These are the things I will be sharing, plant the…
Two years after my teaching trip to Norway I get the opportunity to work on the creative ideas I worked on as I travel. But even in that short time, the opportunity to use different methods of completion have suddenly appeared on my computer.
Take the time to sit down, and appreciate the beauty of these art pieces. They are created by Co-operatives in countries far from our shores.
Stand beside those who have talent.
That’s the way you learn.
You are only as creative and good as the -people you surround yourself with in spirit.
On the other hand, there is merit in learning things the hard way. Walking down the road with many bumps teaches you valuable lessons.
Be kind to yourself.
The world speeds past you in a fusion of color as you travel and I try to capture as much as I can with photo images, however, the design images stay in the brain and don’t escape until I put pen to paper.
This past year the world of illustration changed for me when I was introduced to the iPad Pro. Now I have paints, inks, pencils with me all in one package and the soothing music in the ipad of Nora Jones added to my relaxation as I worked yesterday.
My passion is thread painting. (using the sewing machine to create an image with thread) and not having a cat I practice taking photos on my friends cat. She is patient and sits with a fixed stare as if to say. ‘Just take it’
I had a huge lump in my throat this morning when I was taken to see a wall of Geraldine quilts made by 8-13 year old girls in a community that has some incredible challenges. I’m sure you would be filled with pride if these were your Grandies. I’m sure you would have admired the young people, all in their orange shirts who spent an entire day with us. Their youthful spirit put to the test as we asked them to carry machines, help set up booths and then take a quilting class with Miss Sue for a few hours.
