Friday, May 24, 2013

Week in Review 2013 - 05/24


I have been infatuated with quilting “Adoration” this week. I set myself the Herculean task of quilting quite a complex pattern in the background section. I made a few mistakes that I picked out and one near an edge that I opted to leave in. I doubt even I will be able to find it. How did this infatuation effect my week? Not a single item on my to do list got checked off, BUT if I can maintain my pace for a few more days I should finish quilting, squaring up and facing “Adoration” in time to make the June 1, 2013 deadline. This week’s plan remains my plan for the week ending May 31, 2013, so I will only state it once.

1) Adoration (Shooting for a deadline of June 1, 2013)

a) Finish quilting “Adoration.”

Full view image of "Adoration" with the balance of the
Grandmother's hair and navy blue background left to quilt.
The dangling threads will be buried in the quilt.
Click on the image to see an enlarged version.


 Areas quilted this week were the medium blue background, the grandmother’s face and neck and half of her hair.

b) Bury dangling quilting threads

c) Square up the piece in preparation for facing.

d) Face

2) Express Your Love

a) Finish last week's assignment from Leah Day.

b) Do whatever assignment Leah comes up with next.

True, the hair is part of "Adoration" but the quilting motif
is my interpretation of Leah's Connecting Ocean Currents.


I actually did try Leah’s latest lesson on a free motion quilting pattern she named Connecting Ocean Current. I used it for the tendrils in the grandmother’s hair.

3) Signature experimentation

a) Design a new signature motif.

4) Pictorial Painting

a) Watch the lesson that demos how to quilt the Canyon piece.

b) Quilt "Canyon."

5) Plan the next art piece.

Tips, Techniques and Thoughts:

A question I am asked frequently is “where do your ideas come from?” The simple answer is from my way of being. Where did that way of being come from? I expect a part of it came from a combination of nature (I am adopted) and nurture. However, the root of tapping into this being happened when I joined an on-line study group that tackled “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. It is from this book that I learned about synchronicity. Call it what you will, the more observant you become the more aware you are of connections and signs everywhere. That is what happened when I was debating how to quilt the grandmother’s hair in “Adoration.” I had several ideas, but it wasn’t until I checked into Leah’s latest assignment that I found my answer just when I needed it. I am so convinced of the power of living “The Artist’s Way” that I use it as my text for mentoring private students. 

13 comments:

  1. I do this piece! Looking forward to seeing it all done. :)

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    1. ...And I am looking forward to finishing. Thank you, Susan.

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  2. I love the thought of the "Artist's Way", serendipity, or the thought that things come to you when you need them. Lovely!

    Adoration is coming along wonderfully!

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    1. Synchronicity is one of the key elements of The Artist's Way that has made me such a promoter of it. I am glad my mention inspired you comment.

      Thank you.

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  3. This quilt is exquisite! It's just beautiful. I will try and keep up with your progress.

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  4. I think your stitching looks wonderful in the hair. I enjoy seeing your progress on this quilt.

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    1. Thank you, Karen. I'm really enjoying quilting the hair.

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  5. Looking so good. Unfortunately no post link from me this week. Family medical issues to deal with. But so glad I have these link ups to look at and keep me motivated!

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne. It is important to be there for family. How fortunate we are to have a creative outlet to decompress.

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  6. I did The Artist's Way too. In many ways it changed my life. I began to blog as a way to deal with my need to write, for example. And it got me moving on multiple interests that had just been sitting while I dealt with grief.

    I also found it to be the best grief workbook I'd ever found because she asks hard questions.

    Your stitching is wonderful, and so is the piece you are stitching on.

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    1. No that is synchronicity - working through "The Artist's Way" for one reason and discovering it was the perfect to make your way through your grief. I found it transformative as well.

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