today tomorrow FOREVER

“It isn't procrastination if you put it off right away”

Last weekend I attended a quilt show and as luck would have it I bumped into Jenny Dho and her friend Cynthia, Jenny took this picture of us.


There was so much to see at this show, the truth is that the whole quilting world is a new one to me as I stumbled through the vendor booths it was as every thing that I encountered opened my eyes up to new possibilities. One of my goals for the end of this year is I want to start creating art clothing and learn about using proper fabric dye's... I truly think that the array of the different ways of dying that are out there were what really amazed me the most, as I really like creating my own pallet.

Now the true reason for me going to this show was to acquire what I have been lusting after from the moment that I fist set my eyes on it last September, I am not one to spend a lot of money on tools or new gadgets, if its works I am happy with it, but what hooked me on this sewing machine was BERNINA® Stitch Regulator (BSR) - This patented innovation 'sees' the fabric and regulates the length of your stitches, making free-motion stitching easy! you do not need to use a foot control there is a laser that follows your hands as they move the fabric!

now let me also add that once I got this gem home it took about 5 seconds for me to discover that its much smarter that I am! Lucky for me the machine comes with 11 classes at my local sewing shop. On Monday I took the button hole 101 class. I have so much to learn about sewing, I am really excited about my classes! It will be interesting to see how the use of free motion sewing will change my work but for now I am just getting the hang of it.




Here you have a little heart quilt that I made using all my great stamps from RED LEAD
I started out working on my fabric charms for my quilting arts tv segment but as always I got lost and started to make this quilt, I am not kidding any more its serious my next book really will be called:
"the art of procrastination"
Projects to create when your supposed to be doing something else!
(what do you think Tonia?)



I am at odds with my creative spirit as I try to walk the line of keeping dead lines and my life more sane, I just do not understand why I have such a hard time completing the task at hand...
I guess it all comes down to the fact that I do not like to be told what to do, even if that person is me!

“Procrastination avoids boredom; one never has the feeling that there is nothing important to do”

(I must say that I am never bored!)

::: "So Will I, Grow" :::

The task Thy wisdom hath assigned
Oh let me cheerfully fulfil ;
In all my works Thy presence find,
And prove Thy good and perfect will.

::: "perfect will" :::




Any time I start to clean my studio I always end up becoming intrigued with the scraps that I am about to toss out, today was not exception.
I made a little pile of bits and pieces that were on my desk, sewed up all the layers then used various surface torching techniques on the fabric and papers.
I was really happy with how all the textures and layers turned out.
once I was done I noticed a lovely stream of light coming from the window and I could not help but take pitchers from every angle.

::: "So Will I, Grow" :::
After looking at this piece Elaine Kerr ask if I had been hiding away and nurturing my dark side. and I said:
"does it look dark?"
"I was thinking that it looks like early spring... you know right once the snow has cleared?"
and then Elaine said:
"Come to think of it, yes, just before the crocuses pop up."

THE CROCUS

Beneath the sunny autumn sky,
With gold leaves dropping round,
We sought, my little friend and I,
The consecrated ground,
Where, calm beneath the holy cross,
O'ershadowed by sweet skies,
Sleeps tranquilly that youthful form,
Those blue unclouded eyes.
Around the soft, green swelling mound
We scooped the earth away,
And buried deep the crocus-bulbs
Against a coming day.
"These roots are dry, and brown, and sere;
Why plant them here?" he said,
"To leave them, all the winter long,
So desolate and dead."
"Dear child, within each sere dead form
There sleeps a living flower,
And angel-like it shall arise
In spring's returning hour."
Ah, deeper down cold, dark, and chill
We buried our heart's flower,
But angel-like shall he arise
In spring's immortal hour.
In blue and yellow from its grave
Springs up the crocus fair,
And God shall raise those bright blue eyes,
Those sunny waves of hair.
Not for a fading summer's morn,
Not for a fleeting hour,
But for an endless age of bliss,
Shall rise our heart's dear flower
~Harriet Beecher Stowe

My Mind, And My Heart

You cannot find your soul with your mind, you must use your heart.

::: Gary Zukav :::


A lot of existing things have been coming my way, many amazing opportunity's seam as if they have gently floated down to me on a golden wing landing gently in my hands ~

(photo taken in Ohio 2007)

I had the treat of spending Thursday with Kelly, our day started over at Stampington ,
Jenny Dho treated us to a "show and tell" as she gave us a glimpse into her "art" and her creative process. She showed us upcoming publications and I was able to see so much art up close and personal, It always such a treat for me to hold someones art, to feel the path of an artist hands delight me the most!

(gift parcel)

It was hard to leave the stampington art wonderland but we had a deadline at hand as we had to complete all the major reversions of our book, and complete we did!
I am so thankful to have this part completed and out of our hands.

(photo taken in Ohio 2007)

I find myself in a place of "reality's and dreams" as I prepare for my trip to Ohio to film for quilting arts tv the reality of it is I have a lot of prep work to complete in the next 2 weeks!

but then there is this part of me that lives so much in a dream~

as I unearthed a box filled with both my fabric art and jewelry on Thursday
Jennie Dho ask me "what is your passion your true joy in your art?"
and I said:

"fabric"
("Where Spiritual Meets Physical")

But the true reality is that my dreams have once again transpired into something more~

I am pleased to announce that I will
soon start work on a new book, about my mixed media fabric art.

I still think its a dream as I have yet to allow it to be real.
but reality is that I will start work on my next book in February!

(taken in Ohio 2007)

Think beyond your present dreams,
to the dreams you will have once they've already come true.

And when you can clearly see that life and those dreams in your mind's eye; how confident you will walk and how proud you will feel--Start walking and feeling like that today.

:::TUT:::

the best season of your life.

"I thank You God for most this amazing | day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees | and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything | which is natural which is infinite which is yes"
e. e. cummings

(jewelry folder)

when I was a little girl I did not know that people could grow up to become artist
what is an artist any ways!?
I wanted to be a supper model and a mom!

well as luck has it the supper model thing did not work out for me, but the mom part did and I have two delightful teenagers in my life to remind me that dreams do come true!

2007 was a great year filled with tears and joys but for the most part it was a time for great personal and professional growth for me.

2008 in many ways is starting out much like 2007,
as I have a lot of wonderful activity's ahead of me,
the first one being that
at the end of this month I will be boarding a airplain
to film a segment for the second season of Quilting Arts TV
in Cleavland Ohio!
(so if your out there trying to find your artist voice, always remember to create from your heart, and believe in your creative soul and it will lead the way!)

(copper, brass and silver bangles )

when in Ohio Kim has agreed to be my city guild, and I can not wait to see her again as she was so sweet and made the drive out to Kelly and I when we were in Cincinnati last summer working on our book.

(side view of bangles)

once I am done in Ohio I will be off for a few days to spend some time with Deborah and teach a jewelry workshop In Chicago but mostly its all about girl time and catching up!

(inside of jewelry folder)

I have been busy editing my book and have not had much time for art, so I was oh so happy to get this package in the mail today full of inspiration from
my favorite place to get rubber stamps RED LEAD !
drool, drool! I can hardly wait to play!

I did make it into my studio today and I made this commissioned bracelet that is long over due.

I took photos along the way so you could see some of the steeps that it took to create this piece

first I cut a piece of silver then I drilled holes on both sides next I stamped on the names then I used my bracelet mandrel to arch the bar next I laid out the beads and strung them up lastly before I attached the bar to the bracelet I used liver of sulfur to blacken the letters then I buffed it up.


and here you have it all completed!

Ten thousand flowers in spring

the moon in autumn,

a cool breeze in summer,

snow in winter.

If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things,

this is the best season of your life.

~Wu-men

(oh my! this was a crazy all over the place post! its just that my life is a little overwhelming (in a good way!) right now so of course its going to reflect here in my blog! Thank you all for your support and kind words they truly mean the world to me!)

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R!

Change

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

I cut my mid back length hair to a ear length bob in September and I must say that I am yet to make friends with my new hair so I decided that maybe some new cosmetics could help me accept it,

so I made a appointment at the Bobbie Brown counter last week, my favorite part of the make over was when the makeup artist said "you don't have on any make up on now.... right?" and I had to laugh and say well "yes I do have on makeup!" ...
so here you have the new me~


It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.
~W. Edwards Deming

Yesterday Kelly and I both received copy's of "a charming exchange" It was really exciting to see it at this point as it is more or less the book that you all will see (but it will be in color not black and white like you see here)
Last night with highlighter in hand I made it to page 30 marking all the little things that need to be changed... what is hard for me at this point is that I know how to do the projects so its easy for me to glaze over when reading the step outs... so as i read I try to see myself making the jewelry for the first time.

(new years parcels that I will be sending out to a few friends)

we only have a couple weeks with the book to make any changes then the book will move on to our Managing Designer Marissa where she gets to work her magic and make the book look all wonderful ( we are so lucky as sweet Marissa was also the designer for one of my favorite books "Sally Jeans Pretty Little Things")
The next time we see the book it will be to review it one last time before it goes off to print!

This Year has been so full with adventure!
I have been able to meet and work with so many creative and giving people!
and I must say that 2008 holds many more amazing adventures for me.
(after the first of the year I will share a few of them)
Thank you all for spending time to visit my blog, as when I stated blogging in November of 2005 a few years ago it was truly just a online journal for me to keep track of what i was doing... and along the way it some how almost became a part of me that only I knew.

I truly appreciate your support your words and encouragement they mean so much to me!
Have a Wonderful Happy Healthy Holiday and a Fantastic Creative 2008!

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France


When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ~Victor Frankl

fall down seven, stand up eight!

Give us the fortitude to endure the things which cannot be changed, and the courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to know one from the other.
~ Oliver J. Hart

I have been busy working on a few projects over the last few weeks
I am sorry that I can not share with you this book in its entirety, but I can share with you some of my creative process when I work on a large or small project.

for the most part I do start with a pallet... almost always have a theme be it a poem or image in the case it was the photos of my grandmother that I used as a starting point.
then I picked out some fabrics, I then begin to pull objects that complemented my theme

I have a vast collection of carved mammoth ivory, bone, and wood beads and a amazing netsuke collection that I pulled onto the mix. I could not stop myself so I add some vintage lace!

I sorted through my rubber stamp collection and put out some words that could be used, I pulled a old Japanese book off of my book shelf and I scaled down the size of my images and printed them out on silk and transparencies.

Now once I start working I get lost in the process so there are no photos to share but for the most part I will lay out all of my spreads play with them a little then I decided how I will connect all the parts together.

Now in the end this book has 10 pages counting the front cover and is compiled of four signatures
I also had to make up four spacers because my pages are very thick.


Here they are all stacked up so I can mark were my holes need to be punched out

and here is the view of all the signatures ready to be bind.

I used waxed linen thread and a needle because the binding was so thick

I also needed to use my awl to help me find my way to the end of each hole.

and here is my completed binding of this book.

and this is what the side view of the book looked like before I added a cleaver closer to keep the book under control!

in the end I would say that I only used about 20% of the supplies that I laid out from the "pallet" that I created and this is true of most of my work I tend to start out with a lot of possibility's then really edit things down and try to tell a story with my work.

Here are the last 2 pages of the book the image is one of my grandmother laying down on the grass and I could now help but use one of my favorite Japanese Proverbs:

" Fall down seven, Stand up eight"


Because in the end its always about Courage!

"I have lived on a razors edge. So what if you fall off,
I'd rather be doing something I really wanted to do. I'd walk it again."
~Georgia O'Keefe


Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.
~Robert Louis Stevenson