Busy week. Got home in good time on Monday, even got laundry done that day. It's always an adjustment getting back to the routine of home life after a conference. The conference was exactly what I needed on several levels - a creative whack on the head - time around so many creative people - time just to concentrate on my work - and most of all, finding my confidence again. I'm still pondering all that.
I have to share these photos of the sky on the drive home. I was driving across a mountain in Western Maryland and felt as if I was in the clouds. The sky was beautiful, the clouds almost surreal.
Actually these clouds stayed with us through Wednesday. Something about a cold front that came from the north with these puffy clouds so close to land -- at least that's what they felt like to me - I felt as if I could reach up and touch them. Nature is so wonderful.
Now that I am home and unpacked and reorganized (all that fabric had to be put away in some order), I put my unfinished pieces from QSDS on the design wall and was pleased to see that I actually have four I want to finish. The wall's a bit crowded, but makes me eager to get moving on these.
But first, some family time tomorrow, celebrating Matthew. And Judie is picking up her mom's quilt tomorrow - that could be a nice gift to give her mom on father's day - I'm sure some tears will flow. It's been nice to create that for them.
Time to crash right now. More tomorrow or Sunday.
Karen
First, here's the photo of the final version of Rootedness. I like it and so did others. I will quilt it after I get home - along with the other pieces I have been working on here.
Today, the class, Seat of the Pants Construction, with Cynthia Corbin began. The morning exercise was to cut squares and rectangles and create a composition (I forgot the rest of the guidelines). No longer intimidated by abstract design, I put this together.
The afternoon exercise was to work with a photograph that we brought from home. I have several photos of tree lined paths that I want to work with, so here's how far I got today. I still have to work out the tree canopy/leaves - also to be done at home.
Tomorrow will be a new exercise. I like Cynthia's way of moving us along. She is encouraging and gently nudges us past bumps.
Karen
Here I am in my dorm room. The first class is completed, we had the banquet and tomorrow starts class two for me.
Our last two days in class this week were spent on our final project, which could be one well-thought-out project or several studies for a series or later project. I was somewhere in the middle. I thought and thought about what I wanted to do. The abstract work we had been doing just did not feel right for me. I chose not to stay in that vein, but was not sure what to do next. A dilemna of sorts for me.
I have let too many things bother me during the past few months and my confidence level was sub-basement. No need to go into all that, just to say I felt empty and numb on some levels, especially when creativity was involved. Nothing seemed to click or blossom. As I wondered about what to do for the final project, I briefly thought about the series of paintings that I did years ago entitled "The Rivers of Prayer". I have been asked to create a banner in the style of those paintings. I thought I was finished with that theme and those images. Well, through a series of synchronicities, I realized I still had thoughts and images to develop in that theme. And I became energized to do some new work. I began a small piece as one of a series that could lead to the banner and all sorts of things clicked inside me. Here is where the project was Thursday afternoon, with roots and a river. I added the sprouted leaves and the moon to finish it (photo to come).
My energy shifted quite quickly and all sorts of ideas began to flow in me for new work, including an abstract way to depict a photo I had brought with me to QSDS.
So, obviously, I am not finished with this series, The Rivers of Prayer. I got so caught up in the work, finishing the first and starting the second, that I forgot to take photos (I'll try tomorrow).
When our instructor asked what I discovered during the project, I simply answered "my confidence". A true gift for which I am very grateful.
Karen
Today was half class, half bus trip. Our teacher, Cynthia Corbin, called the day "catch up" so we could finish what we had started before starting anything new. I decided to chop up the piece I had started yesterday and see if I could save it in any way. This is how I left it before the bus trip - kinda so-so.
The afternoon a trip to a museum in Zanesville, OH, an exhibit in Delaware, OH, then an exhibit at the JCC in Columbus and making it back to the college just in time for dinner. We saw quilts at all three locations - I hesitate to post any without permission from the artist.
Zanesville is home to two pottery businesses that date to the 1800's: Roseville and Willard. The museum has quite a collection from both companies - things I have only seen on Antiques Roadshow. Here's a Roseville vase.
Zanesville was home to Charles Schulze and here's a tribute to his work.
On the way to Delaware, we passed the Longaberger headquarters - a huge basket.
After dinner, I went back to whacking, chopping and sewing the piece from yesterday. I got to a 'finished' point and declared it done. Forgot to take my camera - so I'll do a photo tomorrow. Am I pleased? Well, hmmm, it's done. Tomorrow we start on our final project which I am still pondering.
Wonderful people here (aren't all quilters wonderful!). The weather has cooled and is pleasant. All around, a good week.
Karen
Yesterday was Day 1 of Cynthia Corbin's class New Directions. She is a lovely teacher who knows how to push us, which this class is all about.
The first exercise started with her asking us to pick and put on the design wall our favorite and least favorite fabrics of the day. The next step was to choose a photo and use our fav of the day to create a version of that photo. Here are my two fabrics - the fav on the left and the least fav on the right.
The goal was to work fast but in our comfort zones. My photo was of a landscape with a mountain and river. I was not very pleased with this first effort.
After lunch, we were to use the least favorite fabric and do a second version of the same photo but taking it a step further. I like this version better.
Tuesday morning, Cynthia asked us to choose three fabrics that do not go together and put them on the design wall (we each had a 4' x 8' design wall for our use - really nice). Here are my three that do not play together well.
The morning exercise was to use all three and create quickly and break all our rules. I loved the process. I wound up with two pieces, neither very exciting.
In the afternoon, we were to find an element from the morning piece and use the design of that element to create a new piece OR we could continue to work something from the morning. I chose the second option and came up with these pieces. I don't know where they are going, but it will be fun.
Soon, it will be time for bed. My suite-mates are all three taking a class with Jane Dunnewold on surface design similar to the class I took two years ago. So, we have lots to talk about.
Thanks for reading,
Karen
I am here at QSDS - all set up and just waiting for tomorrow. The drive was very easy, though long. And we had help unloading our cars and getting all our stuff to the classroom and living suite. The college is in Columbus and very modern in design. Photos tomorrow.
I did finish quilting the "plaid" Dad quilt and put the binding on, now it's waiting to be sewn down - later.
