Week in Review 2015 - 02/27

Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci
as it looks today.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

One question I was asked recently is where do I find the various calls for entry that I submit my work to. The answer to that question has changed with time. When I first started entering exhibitions the only place I knew to look for calls was in quilt magazines. It is hard to believe that in the late 1990's internet promotion of calls just weren't that prevalent. Now there are many lists of art and fiber art calls. Here are few that I check regularly:

• www.saqa.com
• www.quiltingdaily.com/content/Call-for-entries.aspx
• www.callforentry.org 
• http://lyrickinard.com/calls-for-entry/
• www.artdeadlineslist.com

Detail of the beading on the largest blue
section of Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci.
I thought it would be fun to imply a sunflower.

The more calls you enter, the more those calls let you know of additional opportunities or remind you of their annual/biennials. Thus making the need to check lists less necessary.

The stems of the feathers are filled in with
a basket weave of beads in the red section of
Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci.

I maintain a tickler file for my calls for entry. The file includes a spreadsheet of all my exhibition quilts. I have all the particulars about each quilt in searchable fields so that I can easily determine whether I have any work that fits a particular call. There is a list in date order of upcoming exhibitions I plan on entering. Finally, there is a section of all the exhibitions I am currently in. The relevant material for each of these exhibitions has its own clear plastic sheet protector/sleeve. I file these by date of when my next responsibility is, such as when the quilt needs to be shipped. Once a chore is completed I simply move that sleeve to the next chore's date.

A system is only as good as the effort you put into it. I make it a point every Wednesday to search for new calls, complete upcoming calls and check what needs handling on exhibitions that I am in. Most Wednesdays this takes me less than two hours to do. 

With the business of quilting taking care of I am free to spend solid days working in my studio. That is precisely what I did this week as I beaded, beaded some more and then added more beads to Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci.

1) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015)

a) Continue beading - done!

2) Free motion quilting practice. - done!

A free motion quilting practice piece of
Leah Day's design, Ocean Currents.

I did take one break from quilting and tried my hand at Leah Day's ocean currents FMQ motif. This is a great one if you want to develop your skills at echo quilting. It also makes a lovely filler design for sky or water. Although I would probably vary the size of the echoes in order to more naturally create water ripples or the sense of a turbulent sky.

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 22.5/126

4) Perform a random act of kindness - done!

5) Night Vision - 

a) Add the label - On hold until I need a second label

I am on the home stretch with beading Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci. Even so, I expect I will spend most of next week beading the yellow section. I will give myself a break to do some free motion quilting and I have been spending an inordinate amount of time mulling over what design to execute next. Good thing I have the following plan to keep me on track:

1) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015)

a) Continue beading

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015

4) Perform a random act of kindness

5) Night Vision - 

a) Add the label - On hold until I need a second label

I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.