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Organic Organizing and Magic

Saturday, July 10th, 2010
the passion flower on my porch

the passion flower on my porch

I’ve been spending a considerable amount of time this last month on organizing, my brain as well as my spaces. It has finally sunk in to me that all the adorable organizing containers in the world will not get the work done if I don’t know what needs to be done next. There are so many things I want to do; several mixed media art pieces that are still just great ideas, my button catalog that seems to be taking forever, the novel that I’d love to write someday… the list is enormous. I also realize that this is the bane of most creative personalities.

I’ve decided I need a more organic approach, hence my search for the perfect task organizer. Will it be Toodledo, Evernote, or The Action Method? The last one actually looks the most intuitive but the price tag is holding me back.

Or is the real need to train my work processes, thought processes, habits? Here is my current reading list (just started these) Getting Things Done by David Allen, Making It All Work, also by David Allen, and Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky. Which will be the magic sword that slays the beast? All of them? None of them? What works for you? I’m sure I’m not the only creative type that occasionally feels like I’m trying to bail out the Titanic.

A magic typewriter that will release the trapped novel

A magic typewriter that will release the trapped novel

Yet in the midst of overwhelm there is also excitement – the feeling that great things are on the horizon, change is coming, change for more productivity. I’m always the eternal optimist  ;)

I get a “Museletter” from Laura Cater-Woods and she always has at least one thing in there that usually strikes me as profound. Today’s quote is “Helpful hint: Take a few minutes every day to be still and quiet, ask yourself: What is the most important thing I can do today? Then do it.”

Am I trying too hard? Can it be so simple? Thanks Laura!

Deb H

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Posted in art in general | 3 Comments »

Sleep? What’s Sleep?

Monday, September 14th, 2009

My poor, neglected Blog. But I have been busy!

Radisson-1

I spent all last week at Fabrications in Kalamazoo, Michigan becoming a famous fiber artist.

Art + Quilt

Well, a girl can dream! I took a five day workshop with Lyric Kinard (I have her new book in my hands as I type – tricky, that – and it’s fabulous!) learning The Elements of Art. Give me a couple of more months and I’ll knock your socks off!

But don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to knit more  ;) (socks).

If  you have been reading my Blog, you know all about the best Fiber Art Retreat in all of Michigan (and several other states). It was the best 5 days of art, fabric, wine, friends, more art, wine, excellent food, colorful fabric, music, wine…

Did I mention wine?

balance

balance

So we did really cool things to fabric and had a generally great time. We did not sleep much but I guess a week of creative exuberance is a sufficient substitute  ;)

Lyric-class-1

About my class; it was pretty much based on Lyric’s new book “Art + Quilt” (pictured above). For this ol’ ducky who has had very little formal art training, it was perfect. I absorb art and art knowledge in bits and pieces and odd places; reading books and magazines, watching videos, taking workshops aimed at fiber art, hobnobbing with artists, staring at artwork of all kinds, and playing with color,  fabric and yarn.

4 days of learning

4 days of learning

To work through exercises on texture, shape, line, color and value made it clear to me that I had the knowledge, I just couldn’t control it. I now feel like I have the gift of (at least some) control. Knowledge is power they say. This is true for artistic endeavors as well. I now have the power to know why some of my pieces are triumphs and some are, well…

dismal disasters.

value

I know my weak spot (value) and to watch for it. I know my strong point (color) and will aim to capitalize on it. Although I even learned new stuff about color and I thought I had that one nailed. I learned about unity, focal point, balance, motion, rhythm (doesn’t that word look like it needs to buy a vowel?), how the eye travels through a piece.

All good stuff!!

amphitheater-sketch

I even learned about “seeing” in daily drawing exercises. That was tough! I’m the girl who dropped out of college Drawing 101 when my art teacher would not let me use my triangles, straight edge, and scale to draw a leaf. I had a nervous breakdown! I still can’t draw but at least I will try – progress :)

I learned about kicking the muse in the boot, finding inspiration when it’s being illusive, storing ideas for when inspiration is coming too fast and furious.

I learned about critiquing; our work and others.

New work started

New work started

I learned about my own creative nature. And I started a new work that I’m excited to explore!

Lyric teaching us

Lyric teaching us

The workshop was soooo fabulous. And so is her book. A must have for anyone who does not have that MFA after their name.

My cup is full.

Deb H

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Posted in art in general, art quilting, Books, workshops | 1 Comment »

Fabrications – I’m Jazzed!

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

A Time for Change and Growth

A Time for Change and Growth

Fabrications is an annual Fiber Art Retreat that is the fiber art highlight of my year. This year (2009) is it’s 5th or 6th year (I’ve lost count, but I’m thinking it’s the 6th. I’ve attended 4 so far) and it has grown to a truly fabulous experience. Having spent it’s first 5 years in the Fall in Mid-Michigan, it has had an expansion; from the original two days to a full five
a date change; now the first week of September,
and a location change; Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Quickie Collage

Quickie Collage

Of all of these changes, I heartily approve! The longer session for the workshops from two (then three) to five days was so needed. Those of us who attend regularly were always feeling like things just ended when we were getting in our stride after the third day. Five will be better, longer strides  ;o)

My Wall of Work

My Wall of Work

Kalamazoo (yes, it has a very funny name) is a wonderful little college town with so many more perks than the small rural communities where we have been in in the past. Yes the scenery was luscious but, we will now have access to several wonderful restaurants, art galleries, fabric shops, bead shops, art stores, coffee houses (Water Street and Fourth Coast are my two favorites there) and other wonderful distractions.

Detail of "Too Many Directions"

Detail of "Too Many Directions"

We almost need to go two days early and stay and extra two days to take advantage of the extras K’zoo has to offer. There are even going to be some special Fiber Art exhibits just for us!

Art Drying in the Sun

A Productive Day

As for the class offerings – they are fabulous (as usual). There is a button to the right that you can click on to find out more (it’s worth the diversion), I’m already signed up for Elements of Art with Lyric Kinard.

Art Journal

Art Journal

I am so Jazzed. Just dreaming about the week to come; a posh hotel, most of my meals taken care of, immersion in fiber and art, incredible evenings with like minded fiber artists that totally understand me (the best part)… makes for a wonderful day dream. That will hold me until the end of August.

Portrait of Cathy

Portrait of Cathy

The photos are all of past years at Fabrications, as usual click to big-ma-fy. See you there!

Von and Cathy take art seriously

Von and Cathy take art seriously

Just so you know, all artists are not the serious Vincent van Gogh types  ;o)

Deb H

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Posted in art in general, art quilting, surface design, workshops | 3 Comments »

I’m back……….

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

Snow SculptureIt seems like it’s been ages since I posted. It has been six weeks and for that I am abashed. My original goal with this Blog was to post a minimum of once a week to create a bit of accountability on how I spend my time; artfully or mundanely (is that a word? My spell checker found it, it must be!). I did pretty well, overall for 2008. I will try to do even better for 2009. I feel that the rouse has worked to some degree as I found myself, on occasions, going into the studio and doing some small thing so I would have something to Blog about that week. In that respect; getting me into the studio and doing anything, it has proven to be a worthwhile venture. So, I’m going to keep at it and hope to improve with age, like a fine wine  ;)

My long hiatus has been fraught with a long list of wonderful excuses; hard drive crashes, 5 days of no power, knitting deadlines, added work days, snow, snow and more snow… to sum up; the Lord of the Cosmic Jest has moved in with me and hung around far too long. But in reality it is still all just excuses and not worth more text than this.

I’ve got some catching up to do so I’ll start with the oldest first. The top photo, taken on 12/19 is Mother Nature being artistic and making a lovely sculpture on my back deck with snow and wind. Quite beautiful but I hope the structure can handle the load, it’s almost three feet deep at it’s worst and even though it’s been rearranged a bit, it’s still all there today. It’s a good thing we don’t need to use the back door. At least our bleak season has some creative moments. :)

Transitions One, Two, and Three

The photo above is my “transitions” series I did last June, finally finished, mounted and ready for a wall. I wanted something a bit more “gallery” ready when it came to hanging. More collages that art quilts, I thought it fitting. I mounted them on artist’s canvases that I covered with scrunched colored tissue paper, gel medium, and paint. After a final seal, I mounted my collages on them with a small bit of foam core in between to give them a slight “floating” effect. I’m very happy with the finished results.

Here is a closer look at Transitions 1 (click to big-ma-fy).

Trasitions One, detail ATransitions One

Transitions One, detail B

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Here is Transitions 2.

Transitions 2 - detail C

Transitions 2Transitions 2 - detail A

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And Transitions 3.

Transitions 3 - detail B

Transitions 3Transitions 3 - detail A

More updates next time.

Deb H

Posted in art in general | 3 Comments »

The Exciting Conclusion

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Art Drying in the SunThe final day of Fabrications; the thrills, the chills…

The art is drying outside so we can get it packed up at day’s end (click to enlarge any photo). After 3 days of frenzied activity, I had 7 pieces either finished or near finished and a good start on an 8th. OK, so some of them are unmitigated crudola. It’s hard to layer a bazillion different techniques on one canvas and not over do it a bit  :o P”””

Green Man.

I won’t even show you the ones that are going to get cut-up, but here are the ones that are only “bad”.
Green Man is done, if I put any more layers on this one, it will implode from it’s own weight.

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Planet - in progress.

Planet is still in progress. I have hopes that it can be saved but I’m probably being a bit optimistic. If you never see an update on this one, you know I lost the battle.

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A bit better.

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This one has some hope, it only has 3 layers and I’m thinking it doesn’t need much more.

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Better yet….

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This was the cloth I used to wipe off my brushes and marking tools – what is wrong with the fact I like this better than most of my artistic attempts. Sad, that.

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My Favorite!This is my favorite. Simple, clean; only ink, gesso, and a touch of paint. This one definitely has a future, maybe to be mounted on a raw edge stripped quilt back ground?

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Favorite - detailMy conclusions? The class was fabulous. I was enthralled with some of the techniques. I did miss the feel of fabric that is not coated with gesso or gloss medium. But some of the ideas and the methodology we acquired will find its way into my future efforts. I also learned the value of less is more. I think I would have liked my pieces more if I had simply limited myself to 3 layers per canvas.

Ya, less is best.

Deb H

Posted in art in general, surface design, workshops | 1 Comment »

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