Week in Review 2015 - 1/23

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Last week, after announcing that my Sunset Over Little Lake Butte des Morts had been accepted into Trout Museum of Art's Biennial Member exhibition QuiltedFabricArt asked if I  had ever attended an artist reception. She confused that as an introvert the thought made her uncomfortable. The quick answer is that yes, I have attended my share of artist receptions over the years. I recall being very nervous the first time I attended one. However, the more I go the more comfortable I become. 

Gwyned Trefethen on right, speaking with a couple who
came to the Got Jazz artist reception at the Janet
Carson Gallery in Eau Claire, WI. In the background
is Gwyned's Tickling the Ivories. To the right of Gwyned's
piece is a triptych by Linda Witt Henke.

Here, with a little editing is how I responded to QuiltedFabricArt:

Yes I have been to artist receptions, mostly when I have a piece in the exhibit, but I will also attend local receptions that I am not in particularly if I know an artist who is exhibiting. Since my work is shown nationally and occasionally internationally, my work attends far more receptions than I do. :) I probably go to 6 or so year. This week I attended two different artist receptions. I believe that is a personal record. 

I consider myself an introvert who under the right circumstances can put myself out there. I find it relatively easy to field questions, educate and talk about my work. This is what I do at artist receptions, plus asking other attendees about their work or other logical topics based on our conservation.

Gwyned speak with Jane, whose fiber bookmarks are sold
at the Janet Carson Gallery. Jane is standing in front of
a piece by Casey Puetz. Gwyned is front of a piece by Pat
Kroth. The piece behind Gwyned is by Linda Witt Henke.
Got Jazz is a Fiber Artists Coalition exhibition.

There are several positives to attending artist receptions. The obvious is that it is way to get to ease drop on how other people perceive your work. You have the opportunity to speak to others about your work and theirs. It is a great place to both network and catch up with peers. 

Don't skip artist receptions because you are uncomfortable. If you are completely intimidated you can just view the exhibition. Why not practice by attending artist receptions where you have nothing in the exhibition? Perhaps you could bring a friend or family member along for support. There is no point in having a reception if no one shows. 

The reception in Eau Claire, WI required an overnight stay and several hundred miles of driving. (A big thank you to my husband who accompanied me and did the driving!) I even managed to spend some time in the studio this week, I just don't have the pictures to prove it. You will have to take my word that this is what I did:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Prepare the photos for entry: Done!

b) Finishing adding the split sleeve: Done!

c) Add the label: Not yet.

d) Complete and submit to the call for entry: Done!
e) Add Night Vision to my website: Done!

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

a) Finish piecing: Done! 

b) Sandwich quilt: 75% Done.

c) Start the quilting: Not yet.

3) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

4) Post number of days I worked in the studio in 2015 - 9/126

5) Perform a random act of kindness - Done!

There are no artist receptions scheduled for next week. This means more time in the studio. Yeah!! I could use a nudge to start quilting Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci. This is a tough one to select free motion motifs for. I have some ideas, hopefully I will be able to share them with you next week and along with the rest of my studio to do list:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Add the label

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

b) Sandwich quilt

c) Start the quilting

3) Free motion quilting practice.

4) Post the number of days I worked in my studio

5) Perform a random act of kindness

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.

Week in Review 2014 - 01/31

Gwyned Trefethen posing in front of her piece,
Botswana Bounty.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

I got my hair cut this week. It is about half the length I was sporting in this relatively recent picture of me in front of Botswana Bounty. I am in the minority. I have never dyed my hair. I think of that choice not obsessively, but frequently. I prefer the contrast of salt and pepper hair to an all over brown or even the auburn I would be tempted to try if I ever did dye my hair. I feel fortunate to make many conscience choices like this and have no regrets. There are so many choices to make when quilting: which quilt to make, what fabric to use, what techniques to use, which tools to use and one of the biggest choices for me, whether to attempt to earn a living as a quilt artist. I really admire those who can support themselves with their art. I am also acutely aware of how much time is spent to achieve this. Also, how much of their income comes not from selling their quilts, but from lecturing, writing books and selling other products. I am comfortable with my wishy washy stance of doing what I love, being grateful when I sell a piece, but not being driven to spend the time to develop my passion into a sustaining career.

One of the advantages of not writing books, touring the country lecturing, selling my wares at quilt festivals or teaching on-line is that I get to spend more time in the studio doing what I love, making art. Here is how I spent last week:

1) Got Jazz - This is an invitational for Fiber Artists Coalition. It has been giving me conniptions. I did do some research into an idea I had based on using my 9 degree wedge ruler. I think it just might work.

a) Select the fabrics - Not yet.
b) Plan out the basics of the quilt - Part way there.
c) Start the quilt - Not yet.

2) Express Your Love II - A Leah Day project.

a) Continue piecing the arms from hexagons. - So close. I will probably finish today!
b) Baste the face, torso and arms to the quilt. - Not yet.

3) Do Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting lesson. - Done!

Leah Day's free motion quilting motif - Kidney Stones

I loved this motif. It was easy to execute and I think, very aesthetically pleasing. 

4) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments.

My take on Marieke Blokland's
mixed media assignment.

Our teacher this week was Marieke Blokland. Her instruction was so good that I was actually able to create highlights and shadows by layering paint on the face and then use what I learned to do a similar layering on the arms. Marieke is known for her exaggerated faces with large luscious lips and fanciful hair. 

5) Tumbling Blocks I - 

a) Finish cutting out the blocks. - Done!

b) Cut out the background pieces. - Done! OK, not really. I decided that I didn't need the challenge of all these extra pieces just so that the tumbling blocks around the perimeter could be seen in their entirety. This is a gift for a nursery, not a quilt I am planning on entering into a show. I opted to cut myself some slack, especially since I have a very tight deadline with a show quilt.

c) Start piecing the quilt. - Done! This is proving to be more time consuming than I thought. Fortunately the pieces are easy to line up and with some judicious pinning most of the points are meeting as they should or close enough so that only someone with their nose to the quilt can see the lack of alignment. 




6) Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fall - a commissioned quilt - 

a) Draft the contract - Not yet.
b) Select the fabric - Partially done.
c) Start piecing the quilt - Not yet.

Next week I must stick to my convictions and remember that the choices are mine and stay confident in the choices I make. Here are the next steps in my current commitments:

1) Got Jazz - Due March 15th

a) Select the fabrics
b) Plan out the basics of the quilt
c) Start the quilt

2) Express Your Love II - A Leah Day project.

a) Finish piecing the arms from hexagons.
b) Baste the face, torso and arms to the quilt.

3) Do Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting lesson.

4) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments.

5) Tumbling Blocks I - Continue piecing the quilt.

6) Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fall - a commissioned quilt

a) Draft the contract
b) Select the fabric
c) Start piecing the quilt


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