inspiration – Page 27

June 26, 2011July 13, 2011

Above Dark Clouds…

My piece, Above Dark Clouds is finished and on its way as a donation to the SAQA Benefit Auction (Studio Art Quilts Association).

It is satisfying to make a deadline, especially since I missed it last year! 🙂 Also, I will get to send in my new website and blog address with it, which was one of my goals for the year–to create a website and blog before the SAQA Benefit Auction.

This is a design idea I have actually tried before and did not finish. In flying to a health

center during a family health crisis, I would get above the rain clouds and realize how bright and beautiful the sun and cobalt blue sky was continually. It was an encouragement to me and became a symbol of hope and peace.

In experimenting with the design of this piece, I decided the horizontal lines for the sky, while somewhat simple, best portrayed the idea of calm and peace. The variation of the blue fabric I hand-painted to the desired color adds extra visual interest.

For the clouds, I decided I liked the frayed edges for the softness and dimension it gave in contrast to the cleaner lines of the pieced sections of the sun and sky.

In the future I plan to create a series exploring these ideas and theme, beginning with a similar large piece based on this design.

The SAQA Benefit Auction is an annual fundraising event and features a wonderful collection of members’ artwork, which can be obtained at very good prices! Check it out the donated artwork now at http://www.saqa.com/saqa-u.php?ID=1791. The first day of the on-line bidding is September 12th, 2011, beginning at 2:00PM Eastern Standard time.

As life’s clouds sometimes gather, may the knowledge of the warm sun and brilliant, cobalt blue sky that still lies above it all bring you hope and peace…

Thursday In the Studio – “Slowly but Surely” (jonibeach.com)
Time – Linear or Circular? (jonibeach.com)
Motivation! (jonibeach.com)
Studio Art Quilts Association

June 21, 2011June 27, 2011

Watermelon and Sweet Iced Tea…

This past weekend we traveled home to North Carolina. I love going in the summer for many reasons but among them are the fresh garden vegetables and fruit. We visited a produce garden selling in-season fruits and vegetables.

After shopping in boutiques and eating lunch in town and driving past my childhood home, we ended our day out. The rest of the evening was spent with family…and supper included chilled watermelon and sweet iced tea. (Since it had topped 99° F on Saturday, nothing was better!). A quick wind and thunderstorm ended the fishing in the pond. But, all in all it was a great day.

This produce is ripe much earlier than where we live in the mountains. Not only did the farm we visit have patty-pan squash, zucchini, green beans, early cling peaches, they still had strawberries we could pick! Mom added the homemade blackberry jam (with seeds!). Yum!

On the way home we stopped at the Seagroves pottery community. First stop was at the Phil Morgan’s Pottery. Phil is well-known for his crystalline glaze process.

I bought a new coffee mug…and we enjoyed talking with the artist in his gallery. One day I would like to own one of his crystalline glazed pots…the yellow ones are so unusual in color and very delicate looking. They remind me of Japanese design.

Viewing the artistic creations of potters always inspires me. To learn of their stories, methods, and to get to visit their studios and galleries provides an artistic perspective from a medium different from my own. It gives me new ideas on color and the design process.

And, on an extremely hot and humid summer’s day… there is nothing like watermelon and sweet iced tea!

Iced Tea Image Credit: Via Wikipedia Additional Links: *NC Pottery Center (www.ncpotterycenter.com)

*Phil Morgan Pottery(www.philmorganpottery.org)

*Discover Seagroves (Seagrove Area Potter’s Association)

June 16, 2011June 22, 2011

Thursday In the Studio—“Slowly but Surely”

My progress in the studio this week is going “slowly but surely”…There were some other obligations that had to be taken care of in the past few days and my studio work was on hold. The top of the wall hanging, Above Dark Clouds, has been pieced. Today I am finishing the appliqué, adding a backing, and then will use quilt lines to add visual texture and dimension to the piece.

The inspiration for this piece came years ago when I was flying cross-country to a health center with a family member. I would marvel at the sunshine and brilliant, clear, cobalt blue sky at 40, 000 feet, above the gray clouds, rain, and turbulence—it became a reminder for me. Looking down, away from the everyday challenges like work, life, and traffic—it all seemed so much smaller than when I was on the ground. In life there are times of stormy weather—with dark clouds. Sometimes it is difficult for me to remember that no matter what, there is always sunshine and a brilliant bright blue sky above it all…To finish this 12” art quilt a sleeve and label will be added.

New work is being begun on another 12” wall hanging–it is only in the idea stage.

After creating a couple of pieces, I need to decide which art quilt to donate to the SAQA Benefit Auction..., and since time is running very close to the deadline, it must be mailed very soon!

Among other works in progress is the Lifeweaving #3 piece–the silver strips that represent the late adult life stage (ages 60-mid 80s) are being woven.

The next step is to baste the weaving together and layer the top, batting, and a backing.

Then, there is Transitions #2: Blue Moods waiting to be quilted…

I once heard someone say that creative people usually have more than one project they work on at a time, so maybe all of these unfinished pieces are not a bad thing! But, I guess it is time to put away the camera, turn off the computer, and get busy in the studio… where progress is going “slowly but surely”!

*Do you ever seem to procrastinate, finding anything to do other than begin working? Do you think this serves some purpose!?