Week in Review 2015 - 10/02

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Sunrise over Lake Winnebago at Kimberly Point
in Neenah, WI. Photo by Dana B. Eagles

What's on my mind? What isn't on my mind? I'm having a major case of monkey mind this week. No, I am not thinking about monkeys. Monkey mind is a term coined by Buddha to describe a mind that flits from one subject to the next, often in a fretful, obsessing over problems sort of way. Buddha recommends regular meditation to quiet the monkey thoughts. This is something I can do at the end of my twice weekly yoga classes. Love Shavasana! I'm not so successful at home when interruptions happen, such as robocalls and the ping that announces a new post has arrived in my e-mail inbox. Thanks to caller ID, I know not to pick up the phone unless I know who is calling. I'm also semi firm about not checking my e-mail except at certain predetermined times of the day. Why? Because if I do check my e-mail, I'm likely to get sucked down the rabbit hole of distraction or action. Yesterday was loaded with robocalls and e-mails. I ignored the calls but snuck a peak at the e-mails and that was it - monkey mind off and running. 

A hint of where I am headed with
Deconstructed Sunrise #3.

I did manage to make progress in the studio, but fell just shy of completing Deconstructed Sunrise #3 to a point where I could share the big reveal. This resulted in even more self destructive monkey mind behavior. Progress, any progress is still  progress, right? Here is what I did manage to get done:

1) Continue piecing Deconstructed Sunrise #3 (Due November 30, 2015) - Done!

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

3) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 80/126

This week's FMQ practice piece inspired by
one of Tracy's at Whirls 'n Swirls. 

4) Perform a random act of kindness - Done!

I fear another case of monkey mind next week, as I have quite a few conference calls scheduled in my role as SAQA's Exhibition Committee Chair. Each call requires some prep work and definitely ends up with actions to be done after the call. It is a world that fascinates and engages me. The reality, though, is that it takes time and that is time that might have been spent in the studio, one of the few places outside of yoga class where my mind quiets down. When I regroup, here is what I plan to focus on:

1)  Deconstructed Sunrise #3 (Due November 30, 2015)

a) Finish piecing Deconstructed Sunrise #3
b) Prepare quilt for quilting

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 

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 - 12/05

It's been a while since I've played with my black and
white fabric stash. This pieces was created
using reverse appliqué.

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Every Tuesday and Thursday I take a yoga class. The teacher doesn't follow a particular branch of yoga. Instead the focus is on gently easing our way into the class. We begin with breathing exercises. The style of breathing varies, but we always breath. It is an excellent way to leave the world behind and focus on the present. After we are centered it is time to stretch and strengthen our muscles. The class, like most yoga classes ends with Shavasana. When I first started practicing yoga Shavasana was uncomfortable because I couldn't attain peace. My mind would race. I just wanted it to end. Now it is not unusual for me to be startled when our instructor starts the instructions to bring us out of this deep state of relaxation. Much as I have grown to love Shavasana in class, I still struggle with taking time to just be in my daily life. I realized recently after the fast pace of the last few months to meet deadline after deadline after deadline that I needed to let go, to ignore the opportunities and deadlines, to just be. That is why yesterday, I played with some ideas that have been distracting me. I have no idea if they will go from experiment to artwork. I just knew instinctively that I needed to make something, anything without an end goal insight. 

This is my first attempt at screen printing
with a Thermofax screen. I don't know
why it has taken me so long to give it
a try. 

Before my play date began, I did make progress with my projects. Here is what I managed to accomplish:

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

a) Finish the quilting - Done!

Visions of sliver quilts have been obsessively
floating through my mind. I just couldn't
resist combining turquoise and orange together.

b) Blind stitch the frog in place - Done - sort of.

I am not happy with this. There are a few sections I need to unstitch and restitch.

c) Square up the quilt - not yet.

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done by completing the quilting on Night Vision.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Done!

Here are the images behind the each window. 

This is the same piece, but with the windows closed.

We made work influenced by Advent calendars. Behind each door is an image that represents a blessing in my life. The image on the front of the piece is, Reflection. I learned earlier this week that it had received an honorable mention in the open art exhibit hosted by the on-line gallery, Light, Space and Time. Another blessing that has come from my art is my first solo exhibition. If you live near Oshkosh, WI I hope you will drop by. There is an artist reception on Saturday, December 6 from 4 - 6 p.m. I will give a very brief lecture about my work at the reception.

4) Design the piece to follow Night Vision. - Not yet

However, my experiments are the first step in designing my next piece. Sometimes you just have to try a variety of ideas in order to learn what resonates the most.

Perhaps I will have discovered where to focus my attention next. If I do you will hear about it in next week's blog. If I am still wandering - well, I will just write about that. No matter what I decide or don't decide I have the structure of my current projects and commitments to keep me moving.

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

a) Finish blind stitching the frog in place
b) Square up the quilt
c) Start the facing process

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. 

4) Design the piece to follow Night Vision.


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.