Work in Progress

This will be a stylized kimono shape in the end...at the end of 2009 I'm reflecting (still). This time about family.

This shape became one of my personal motifs some years ago to honor my connection to Japan where I spent my teen years, where my youngest son has lived since 1990 and where my sister Masako was born.

The first time I used this shape was for "Family Treasures".


















Both the new piece, tentatively titled "Family Roots" and "Family Treasures" are small, roughly 30" x 30". ("Masako Goes to Africa" posted on October 9 is too.) "Yukata Blues", however, is huge: 58" X 60".

Back to the reason for the post: end of the year work and reflecting about the past....at the same I'm time looking to the future and contemplating goals and resolutions. Of course, part of the reflecting is looking at this year's goals and resolutions and assessing how that went. Hard to believe that "website", "getting better organized" AND "keeping better records" are STILL on the list...for year three. Yikes!

By the way, I'm ALWAYS open to constructive criticism and would welcome comments regarding my work in progress. Honestly!

Hot off the press

"Reflecting on Friendships" is my newest piece and probably the last of 2009.

I'm still, after several years, reflecting on age and maturity. This time an old campfire song kept me company: "Make new friends but keep the old, some are silver and the other gold". Using my personal metaphors of the barren tree and fallen leaves, I've looked back at years of cherished friends and how much or little they are included in my present life.

This 23" x 22" piece includes ink printing, oil stick rubbings, hand-dyed and commercial fabrics, machine and hand quilting, embroidery, and metal "hands".



I'll leave with this photo that I shot this morning after our first BIG snowstorm of the year. Actually, I don't think we've had this much snow accumulate in more than a decade. The parents and kids we share our home with are, of course, out sledding while older more mature and experienced folk (and dog) enjoy the day from the warmth of my studio.

Interestingly, our old dog loved the snow but then she was one quarter St. Bernard. Our five year old Australian Shepherd/Standard Poodle (aka hypo-allergenic Aussie-Doodle) mix prefers dry weather...at least dry sidewalks;^)

Analyze This

This is my blog analyzed by Typealyzer (http://www.typealyzer.com) whose motto is "What personality is that blog?"

I read about this on Sandy Donabed's blog Waiting for the Muse (http://sandeedee.blogspot.com). I thought I'd give it a go and was surprised that our personalities had so much in common. So, it's not my personality that's holding back my art....hmmmmmm.

ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

They enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

I can say that the analysis is spot on with respect to planning ahead and management positions....unforturnately. e.g. I STILL have "creating a website" and "getting organized" as New Year's resolutions for TWO years. And now it's time to mull my 2010 resolutions and those two are still on the list. As a rationalization: I DID start a blog this year. Does that count?

Saturday: a big ol' "two-fer" day

Actually, it was really a "three-fer" day! Led by our fearless SAQA regional rep, Kate Themal just under forty SAQA members from all over, braved cold rain to meet at the Guilford Free Library (Guilford CT).

First: SAQA Executive Director Martha Sielman gave a slide presentation about the making of the Art Quilt Masters book that she curated. In fact, many of the artists represented have work in the current New England Quilt Museum's exhibit. (I feel a road trip to Lowell MA coming on.)

Second: Kate had also arranged for the SAQA Trunk Show B to be available for the meeting. After the delicious box lunch arranged for by Sisters in Cloth member Barb Adams, all were able to study the Trunk Show and the Sisters' Photo Challenge exhibit that was mounted in the room.

Of course, it wouldn't be an art quilt (or traditional quilt meeting for that matter) without Show and Tell.....and it was a particularly wonderful Show and Tell at that. Pictured here is Barb McKie with one of her magnificent pieces. Incidentally her's is also on the cover of the current Quilting Arts magazine.

Two Marthas: Pictured here is my buddy Martha Wolfe, who probably should have been given an award from journeying the farthest for the meeting: Indiatlantic, FL! She's getting Martha Sielman's autograph on her copy.




Pictured here is Norma Schlager and Barbara Somebody-who-I-can't-remember-because-of-dead-grey-cells, both from CT discussing one of the Trunk Show pieces. Oh, and that's Sister member Carol Ludington on the far right.

As the time drew near to the end of our meeting, we had a drawing of items and gift certificates donated by local merchants who we support and we wanted to share. Shops like Chroma Gallery, CT Wool, Evergreen Crafts, Blue Moon Artisans.

THEN after all this, with maps in hand, we adjourned to carpool over to the Guilford Art Center where we all enjoyed seeing the incredible SAQA Transformation: Reflections exhibit. One of the artists included in the exhibit, Debbie Bein had traveled from Poughkeepsie NY for the meeting and was on hand to talk about her work.

Boy, it was quite a day!

Photo Challenge in new venue

Our art quilt group Sisters in Cloth has just mounted the Photo Challenge again. It will be on exhibit at the Guilford Free Library, Town Green, Guilford CT through December.

Pictured here are three photo groupings: " Kyoto Summer Palace", "Gaudi Barcelona" and "The Gates NYC".

We are very happy to be asked to exhibit annually at the library and, right from the beginning, we thought this challenge would be a perfect candidate for its audiences.

To add to the fun, we are hosting our regional SAQA group (http://SAQA/CT.blogspot.com) meeting this next Saturday. Like "Topsy" our meeting has grown. The executive director of SAQA, Martha Sielman is giving a presentation about her new book "Art Quilt Masters"; we will preview SAQA's Traveling Trunk Show B; we will enjoy a box lunch; have (surprise) drawings from local retailers; view attending members' Show and Tell; AND, journey to the nearby Guilford Art Center to catch the fabulous SAQA Tranformations: Reflections exhibit. Phew!

If you haven't done so, check out the SAQA/CT blog for information. The meeting begins at 11 a.m. Join us. The more the merrier! For box lunch information and reservations email Barb Adams: b.c.adams@comcast.net.