UFO's

I like to use UFP's for Unfinished Projects. My applique instructor threw out a way to get her and her students to finish projects. Most creative people have more than one project going at the same time. Many of those projects just don't get finished. We are to list 5 projects (each project having a number) and each time we go to class, the instructor pulls a number and we work on that project for a month until the next meeting. So if she pulls #5, we all work on our #5 project.

My five projects are:
1. Southern Album quilt top
2.Easter bunny wall hanging
3.Homage to Matisse wall hanging
4. Celtic wall hanging
5. Wild Blueberries wall hanging

Next month in class my instructor will pull a number. I will work on it for a month and bring it in the following meeting which will be June. She will pick another number. This way, we won't get bored or feel defeated in trying to complete one big project. We will be able to see progress on several projects. I'll keep you informed.

Art Workshops

It's always good to take workshops in your field and in others that interest you because you never know what you may pick up that will help you out. Or whom you might meet who can help you get to where you want to go.

Last weekend I participated in a three day workshop with Akira Blount, figurative doll artist. She uses found objects and items from her property. Branches, pine cones, etc. I live in an apartment and even though I picked up many new techniques, I failed to grasp the nature aspect of the workshop. I will use the new techniques to continue on with what I like to do. Costuming.

I love Akira, her style and techniques which start off with a needle sculpted head. She uses glue to apply delicate trim. My kind of woman. I mean, how else would you get 1/8" trim on a piece and not ruin it by sewing it on? Looking at nothing but large stitches? Using good glue that dries quickly, keeps things in place until it does, and dries clear is essential.

I've always had a problem with the center seam on a needle sculpted face. Akira covers her heads making the face a more usuable palette for painting with color pencils. The needle sculpted face can be covered with another piece of fabric or a dyed gauze like material (scrim). The fabric is glued around the neck and then on the head. Clever. I had tried those techniques before but there always can be an easier way.

I now have many ideas dancing in my head waiting to use the new techniques I've learned. First I'll start by making several different heads. That was another thing, seeing Akira's bag of heads waiting to be worked on. Along with her bag of arms and legs! I have a small plastic bucket, so I'll have a bucket of parts. :)

A Kick in the Pants

Procrastination... I can write volumes on it. Why it's done, how it's done, what you can do to get away from it. But then things happen and you know that they can be better. You know that you want better things in life, a better place to live. Then you procrastinate more. You get so worked up over what's now working that you the universe finally kicks you in the pants. The light bulb of life goes off, your eyes are finally opened. All that you wanted to do and you know will work smacks you in the face.

I read from author Larry Winget. If you don't like your job, change it. You don't like where you live, move. I get it. Again. Sometimes it takes more than once for good information to get through one's noggin. I can change things to benefit me. It has taken other events in my life to get the fire back. I'm now working on grabbing hold of the tiger again.

I have received another kick in the pants. Sometimes I just brush it off. Other times I listen but still do nothing. Today, the flame is growing. Change is the key. It hurts to change. But if it will make things better, do it. Grab hold of the tiger, increase the flame and the desire to do better. I can't remember how many times the fates, furies, goddesses, deities and the universe has kicked me in the pants. This time I am more conscious of it and will work hard to make it stick.

Time Out

Being an artist/writer is a lonely business. If you're working on a project or two at a time, you're lucky if you see daylight. you do have to take care of yourself and nourish your mind and body. It is okay to take time out and be in the company of others.

I have been quite diligent with my creative work for the past couple of weeks, that at times it has been scary. When I was invited out by friends to have a beer on St. Patrick's Day, I said yes. I'll be there. It just so happened to be a nice early evening and I went after work. I got my beer and sat with friends in the sun.

Talking to others who are like minded is a wonderful thing. Others who have gone to university, traveled, have goofy family members, are current in the world's events and are also creative is a feel good thing. It felt good to be away from studio walls. It felt good to laugh at my own stories and the stories of others. It felt good to be around people you like/care about and they like/care about you in return. I'm still getting use to it. But it's okay to take 'Time Out' for me.

On Again, Off Again

I'm still working on bettering my creative output. I have 'on days' which can be very good and 'off days'... well, they're off. Sometimes there are more 'on days' the 'off' and that's a good thing. But when there are more 'off days' than 'on', that's when I start to worry. I wonder what's going on. Has fear secretly crept back into my subconscious because I've been doing so well? Is it my bad pixie telling me to sabotage my progress? So what do I do?

I step back to look at the whole picture. What I've accomplished in a week. It may not all be on writing or dolls, it could be something else like my applique or quilting. I've been told by another artist friend that when you feel stuck on one project that you should be doing, that it's okay to be creative in another area.

Today I will start a painting. Squeeze out some paint and put it on a canvas board. It doesn't have to look great, I don't even have to show it to anyone, just go through the process of creating. That should jump start the creativity where I need it to be. I will get back on track and keep moving forward.

Here We Go Again

Okay, so March started off fine and then ended up in a heap. The second week I got sick with a sinus infection and was down for three days. Figures. But I'm feeling better now and getting back on track. I know where I stand in my world right now and I don't like it. So I've got to fix it and make it work for me. When the world knocks you down, laugh and get up swinging.

One day at a time. One baby step at a time. If plans fall through, rework them. That's where I am right now. Plans have been put on hold for one thing and I was about to panic. But I'm better than that. I stopped and got quiet. I asked myself that if this plan has to be put on hold for awhile, what can you do to keep going in the direction you need to go? It did come to me quickly. Work in my new medium will be put on the back burner and I will work on something I know I can get done. My old medium. I'm on a deadline and I've got to do what I know I can get done. The new medium and designs will percolate for now. And I'm okay with that.

So... onward!!!!! I'm not down or out. Way to much to do and accomplish. Stay tuned.

Happy March

Okay, short February is over. I didn't hit my doll goal but that's okay. It's a new month and I have new goals. Still making dolls but with everything else on my plate, the bar has been lowered. Five dolls a month. If I go over fine. Sometimes things have to be adjusted to continue the move forward. And I feel very happy right now. I feel great. Even though it snowed, the sun is out.

Yes, we got snow. Down south in North Carolina. I thought I had escaped but we got hit. And not just snow, there's ice underneath the snow. Oh yeah. Reminds me of home. Except that up north, it would take a lot more to shut us down. I'm enjoying this day, even though it is my day off.

I am looking forward to this month. Why not? It's a new month. Hope you enjoy my snow pics.