I realized I’ve been neglectful of my blog lately. As I was trying to figure out what to post, I also realize that I have been very busy artistically lately. So many things to tell you about, but they’ll each have to wait their turn.

I have a design wall in my studio. I seldom use it for designing. It is more the place I place orphaned projects while I wait for inspiration to complete them. Most of the time I ignore them as they stare at me. Sometimes I look at the wall and rearrange the pieces and then walk away, venturing to other projects that seem more urgent or exciting.

I am trying to motivate myself to create. I know I have the time, but I get stuck in a warp of a non-productive stuppor because I have too many things that could use my attention. I can’t decide which to tackle, so instead I don’t work on any of them. It is like a heavy blanket over my head restricting me from movement. My brain says move, but my body says “u-uh, no way.”

So, I’ve realized this about myself and I’m taking action to do something when the Lilliputians hold me down. I’m encouraging myself to create.

Today in my quandry to move forward, I spied a piece on the design wall that I started almost 4 years ago. It was a Reader’s Challenge for Quilting Arts Magazine. They wanted you to take a photograph and create the piece in fabric.

As I said, I started this almost 4 years ago. It was at a time I was in a heavy personal turmoil. Everything around me was shaking apart. My entire life was in an upheaval. I decided to work the challenge just to stay mentally pre-occupied. I chose a photograph that my father took. I inhertited many of his artistic photos when he died, and I found this one interesting. Just an old brick wall crumbling with red poppies in a field.  I liked where I was going with the piece but I let it sit all these years. Mocking me on my design wall. So close to being finished, yet needing 4 years of mocking to get me to complete it.

This morning on my walk with the dogs, I stopped and chatted with a friend. She playfully laughed at me for being such an eclectic personality. I have a tremendously diverse field of interests and people see that in me. I’m restless and want to learn and do. I call it having many lives or personalities. I refer to my life as “when I was the biologist…” or “when I was the web designer…” or…

What struck me in her laughter, was the realization that my dad, too, was like me. “When he was the Navy seaman…,” “When he was the fireman…,” When he was the artist…” or …you get the picture. He was a lot of different people too.

When I explained this to my friend, she said, “You are your father’s daughter.” I cannot agree more. That incomplete piece that mocked me all these years on my design wall, had to be completed today. It proves that his evolution into being an artist, is deeply within me. I have taken what he has started and melted it into my own. Yes, I am my father’s daughter.

I remember when I was a kid, my dad loved his old U.S. Navy wool blanket. World War II era seaman were issued a cream colored 100% wool blanket as part of their gear. Dad loved his blanket. I don’t know if Dad’s blankets were the same one’s he was issued or if they were something he later found in a military surplus store. Anyway, dad had two. He also loved those Pendleton blankets, the ones with the stripes. He would tell us how the short stripes on the side represented their trade value. Traders would bring the blankets to the Plains Indians in trade for supplies.

The Navy blankets Dad had were scratchy. I remember sleeping under them occasionally, but you definitely needed a sheet as a protector from the scratchy woolen fibers. Dad loved his blankets so much that he wanted to be covered by one when he died. No synthetic frew frew blanket for Dad. I have this blanket and treasure it.

Dad’s passion makes me wonder if my love of wool and fiber is deeper in me than just a passing fancy.

Most of today’s wool is soft, nothing like Dad’s blankets. I’ve been playing with Weeks Dye Works wool fabric lately and decided I really enjoy the feel. I’m making things that I could make from cotton fabric, but the wool adds a density that you can never create with cotton.

The pin cushions pictured above are sample for a class I’ll teach in May. I love them so much I’ll be making more with enhanced embellishments to sell. At the end of April, I will be presenting a demo at Artist Alley on how I decorate my wool pieces.

I do have a passion for wool fibers. I’m sure this passion was partly instilled by my dad’s passion, even though I didn’t realize before. Thanks Dad, I’m glad you loved those scratchy blankets.

Ami Simms is a nationally know quilter and teacher. Her mother Beebe died late last year from complications related to Alzheimer’s Disease. During Be’s fight with the disease, Ami founded the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI).  Her grassroots effort was spurred by the caring nature of quilters.

Her concept was to have quilters create 9″x12″ (or smaller) mini quilts and donate them to AAQI. Each donated quilt would be auctioned to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. The small size of the quilt allow them to fit nicely in a USPS Flat Rate Priority envelope, which provides a consistent shipping rate for all auction winners.

Each month from the 1st through the 10th, select quilts are placed on a slow, silent auction on the AAQI web site (www. alzquilts.org).  The highest bidder “wins” the quilt and all the profits go to research. For the past 4 years, thousands of “PriorityAlzheimer’s Quilts” were sold at International Quilt Festival in Houston.  Since founded, AAQI has raised more than $280,000 for research.

How do I know so much about this? I have been involved with AAQI since its inception. I am on the Board of Directors and have helped acquire donations at 3 of the past Quilt Festival shows. I have also, made many Priority Quilts and donated them to AAQI. Just yesterday, I found out that I exceeded the AAQI $1K Promise challeng. In this challenge, quilters commit to raising $1000 in donations for their quilts. I am currently at $1341.72 raised for AAQI and getting ready to make some more. Click here to take a look at the quilts I donated quilts.

Locally, I am working with Linderella’s Quilt Works to run our own initiative, inspiring local quilters to make Priority Quilts. Owners Linda and Carl Sullivan and I are coordinating others to make quilts and send them in to the AAQI. To me it is a rewarding event. I get to experiment with some techniques and make tiny quilts. I send them away and get the joy of knowing my efforts are appreciated and used for a good cause. The recipients of the winning quilts are always pleased with their “prize.”  And, many have their own personal stories of the tragedy of Alzheimer’s. The mini quilts are much loved.

On this note, I must get back to my sewing, I have more Priority Quilts to make. Won’t you join me?

This past weekend was busy for me, the guild I belong to presented a gallery opening for the Mixed Media Madness Mission (codename: M4).  We received a Pizza Box full of stuff ( see the contents here ) and were challenged to create something from the contents. I created a mixed media art doll. Folks have told me that I need to pursue this creative route. I borrowed a few copies of Art Doll Quarterly and to tell the truth I am a bit fanscinated with the ideas.

In addition to created mixed media pieces, I’m teaching an Angelina Fiber Demo this weekend. I decided to make a sample quilt to show use of the techniques. The quilt is a 9″ x 12″ piece that I will send to Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative for them to auction and raise money for Alzheimer’s research.

I have also made some progress in other areas of my art. If you haven’t notice, I started an Etsy shop and continue to fill it with cool little things. Look in the upper right corner of this page to see a link to my store. Or you can click here. More cool things will be added as I have time. Keep checking.

Some of my pieces use wool and silk fibers that  I purchased from other Etsy resellers. I want to give a shout out to Magic Stix Fibers and her cool dyed curly lock wool. You can buy her cool wool online at her Etsy store…click here.  Love the colors she creates, they match my style well.

I also love the silks I bought from Prairie Fibers. She uses natural dyes create vivid colors in silk fibers, cocoons, and wool roving. Need some fibers? Checkout Etsy. They have some fabo fiber people. Great place to shop if you’re like me…live far away from roving stores.

And so it goes, I continue to create, grow and learn. This year I am taking added steps to become more aware. Last week I made the first step in this progress, between April and June I hope to see some visible changes.

I don’t know about you…but I’m really sick of all the negative news. I’m doing my best to avoid the TV during news time, but its still hard to avoid. Everyone’s talking about the economy. And if you live near a military base, like I do, you’ll hear about friends and relatives in the war.

“What can I do?” I keep asking myself this very question. Its all so much bigger than I am. And were do I spend my energy. I care about our economy, our taxes, our soldiers, our environment, health care  … I can go on and on. To help positively with any of these issues, I’d have to focus on it. How do I choose? I get stuck. I can’t choose. Its just little old me, I don’t have the energy. Does that make me a defeatist? Or am I just a slacker?

When I wrap my brain into this dialog I just have to say “Stop it Already!” There are people much wiser than I who are working on these issues. I can’t worry about something I have little control over. I have to have faith that things will be OK…and they usually do work out that way.

So what can we do…enjoy life the best that we can, shop locally, find a hobby, read a book, CREATE something!  When I create something, I find it provides happiness for myself and the recipient. I’ve thought of them, made them smile, warmed their soul, and made myself happy playing with my “stuff.” What more can I want?

So when life gets overwhelming, go create something and share it. You’ll be making the world a happier place, one creation at a time.

I’ve been a slacker again with my blog. At least, I’m getting one post up per week. That’s pretty good. I can’t believe that tomorrow is the first day of March and here in NC March is definitely coming in like a lion. More snow in the forecast. This is unusual…snow in January maybe, but not March. Crazy. I must count my blessing that I’m not living in Chicago with all the snow they received this year.

So as always, I’ve been busy with the odds and ends in life. Last week I spent several days teaching at the local quilt shop. I love Linderella’s. Linda and Carl are fun people to work with and their shop it extra cool, bright colors, and sunlight even when its raining outside. I don’t know how they do it, but I’m glad they do. I have a bunch more classes schedule for March and we’re discussing our options for April, May and June.

I opened an Etsy shop, you should see the link in the upper right hand corner of this page. Slowly, I’m adding things, but I always seem pre-occupied with so many things.

One project that is weighing heavy on me is the kit challenge I’m working on for my Mixed Media Guild. We’ve affectionately called the challenged M4 (an attempt to shorten the title). Back in January, those willing to accept the challenge were given a box of “things.” The boxed contained bits, baubs, circuits, papers, fibers and other miscellaenia. From the box, each of us must assemble the pieces in to a piece of art.

I am finding that this is no small challenge. Sounds pretty easy, just slap some things together with glue and be done. Ha! Each time I think I’m close to being finished I find another “thing” that needs to be incorporated into my piece.

The deadline for completion of this challenge is next Saturday, March 7th. On this day, the pieces will be displayed at a Gallery Showing at Artist Alley, in Southern Pines,  NC. I’m sure I’ll be done in time, I have all today and tomorrow. I’ve been working on this project most of the week and most of today. So, in order to keep to my schedule, I must get back to work. So for now I’m back to M4 Challenge and Beyond. Thanks for the temporary diversion.

I am traveling on a journey. I have reached an age in my life that I must face who I am. In most parts of our society, our job defines us. Are you a teacher, lawyer, police officer, mechanic, biologist or an artist? But really can your job title really define “who” you are? What happens if you loose your job, a common thing to happen in today’s economy? If you re-invent yourself with a new job title, does that mean you have become a different person? I’m sure you would agree that it doesn’t. The same you is there, just the events of your life have changed.

I realize now, that I never was comfortable as a conformist. I tried being a “teacher.” I tried being a “field biologist.” I spent many years as “web designer.” With each new career change, I tried to conform to the stereo types of the job…but it just wasn’t me.

Now I am beyond middle-age and I’m looking at myself. All of my life experiences have molded me in to the person I am today. I joined Facebook and started to re-connect with old high school friends. This experience, in itself, has opened my eyes. The core of the person I knew in high school is still there. They remember the stories, just like I do…but we’re not the same. We’re not the “high school student” anymore. We’ve grown and learned, loved and lost, enjoyed life and its agonies. So my job title, or any other title that is placed on me (e.g., mother, father, activist, liberal, conservative, Christian or Jew) cannot be me.  It is much deeper than that.

I can say I am an artist…but don’t label me. The artist in me is more than a title, it is a feeling I have deep in my gut. I have a passion, that when I talk of my creativity, people can see and be motivated by my words. I don’t understand it, but I know it is there. It has been there all my life, even when I ignored it and carried the titles of  science teacher, endangered species biologist, or even computer geek.

I am learning to listen to the me inside and do what feels right deep in my core.  There is an inner happiness that I feel, when I’m on the right track. I realize if I side-track myself, I get all tense and irritable inside. I am learning to listen to this quiet inner dialog. I am on a journey called life. I look forward to seeing where this road I travel takes me.

I can’t believe its been 9 days since I last made a post to my blog. Yikes. A lot has been going on which has kept me from thinking about this venue.

First I came down with a bad case of the winter crud. This virus knocked me out for over two weeks. I am feeling better, but still not 100%.  Is it me or are colds getting worse as I get older?

As soon as I was feeling better, my brother came to visit. For the last week, I’ve been in entertaining mode.  No long nights in front of the screen procrastinating about work that needs to get done.

During this hiatus, I also celebrated another birthday. Nothing like wanting to spend your birthday in bed because you have laryngitis and feel miserable. Oh well, there’s always the awesome party I can have next year.

I’ve done my best to keep busy though. I made a bunch more pins and my new barrettes are ready to sell. I have enough inventory to now open my own Etsy store. I’ll keep you posted when its up and ready for sales.

During the last few weeks, I also made some fabulous finds at local thrift stores. It’s great fun, digging through other people’s discarded things to find trinket-type treasures. I discovered that we have some awesome thrift stores in the area.

I’ve also realized that I have some really good friends.  So far, this year is turning out good.  I hope you’re finding the same.

I have little energy today, because I am fighting a bad cold. Don’t worry, I’ll stay on this side of the computer to keep you safe from catching the “crud” from me.

Although I’m feeling bad, I still need to get some things done. This Friday I’m teaching my first needle felting class at Linderella’s. I had some class samples made, but we decided to change the projects a bit. In order to get the techniques set in my head and to have some better looking samples, I spent the last few hours needle felting like crazy. I’m very happy with the results, you can see them in the photos. It was a great way to spend a “sick day.”

If you don’t know needle felting, well it quite fascinating. As I mentioned yesterday, there are welt-felting (or fulling) techniques for working with wool. Needle felting is the dry brush equivilant.  You use a very sharp needle with tiny barbs to punch the wool into the background fabric. Imagine a straight fish hook. The barb on the fish hook is designed to grab on to the fish. The same is true of the barbs on a felting needle.

As you punch the needle into the wool background, the barbs grab onto the wool fibers and pushed then down into the fabric. Spend enough times punching the fibers and eventually the fibers will stick and become part of the wool fabric.

As an experienced fisherman knows the dangers of fishing hooks, so does the needle felter. Blood is often shed during the process, especially when you daydream and accidentally aim the needle into your fingers. Yikes! So if you you decide to take up needle felting (or fishing) make sure to watch your fingers.

No…not thinking about my heart throb Trace Adkins. Well, now that I think of it maybe I am. What a hunk! Anyway, back to today’s post…

When I’m speaking of Rough & Ready, I’m talking about my hands. Geez, the weather gets cold and my hand immediately turn to sandpaper. The best thing to do is to slather them with lotion and avoid extreme temperatures and water.

Of course, I know this…but do you think I listen to my own common sense. NO! I just spent the last 2 hours with my hands soaking in hot soapy water. As the water cooled, I drained it and added more hot water to up the temperature again. I did use latex gloves, to no avail, the water just seeped under the latex lining.  Go ahead…I know I must be up for torturing myself. Or maybe, I’m inspired to do something creative. What do you think?

But of course you know I was being creative. I was experimenting with “fulling” wool. Fulling is often referred to as wet felting. The biggest difference between the two techniques, is that fulling using pre-made wool fabric and wet felting can use raw wool fibers (roving). If you ever shrunk a sweater in the wash, you have had experience fulling. Ah the price one pays for their craft.

Wool can be fulled from knitted garments or woven wool fabric. I tried a little of both this afternoon. I knitted a scarf with an entralac design and I wanted to see if some dyed wool fabric would felt.

Both experiments were worth the effort. I’m happy with the results.  But in the mean time, I think I’ll go find some hand lotion.