Other teaching opportunities have opened up, to include teaching surface design at local non-profit artist group in town. I’ll post more about this when the details are finalized, but I have to say I’m excited to share my joy of creative play.

In other news, my big secret will be revealed next month. I am so anxious and excited about this, but I must wait until I’m told it is OK to share the news.

My big news for this month was hearing that a piece I submitted to the 2012 Quilting Arts Calendar competition was selected as a finalist. The winners will be selected mid-February. I am so honored to be a finalist, I know the talent that enters this competition. Quilt artist Susan Brubaker Knapp is also one of the finalists. I met her a year-or-so ago and have been a fan since. Her work inspired me to create my entry, so you can imagine my honor to be in her company as the Quilting Arts staff makes their final selections.

My inspiration for all of this occurred in August. I had to make the difficult decision to put my old and sick German shepherd dog out of his misery. For 12 years, he was part of everything I did and making this decision rocked my core. His passing forced me to think about what I was doing with my life. I realized I had gifts to share, so I decided to really pursue teaching opportunities. I also realized that I have a passion for what I do. Creating things is more than just a hobby, it is the core element of my being. So, I am placing more focus on creating and then sharing what I make with others. This year I am hoping to inspire people as others have inspired me. It took “The Perfect Storm” (aka my dog) to show me the road.

These school memories have been flooding me this past week, because last week I went on a field trip. My friend Ami Simms visited North Carolina last week and we planned a visit to Spoonflower while she was here. Spoonflower is an Internet-based business that prints fabric on demand. The Spoonflower community (some 70,000 individuals)  create their own designs, upload them to Spoonflower and “wa-la” in a week or so they can have their designs printed on fabric delivered to their door. Amazing!

Rolls of fabric waiting for printing

If you’re not so talented, you’re in luck! Many of the highly creative members of the Spoonflower community offer their designs for sale on Spoonflower’s public marketplace. The marketplace offers the largest collection of independent fabric designers in the world. And to think that this company was only founded 2 years ago, talk about a success story.

Machines print fabric on-demand

Ami and I were able to tour the Spoonflower facilities housed in a former sock mill in Mebane, NC. We were greeted by the lovely Kim Fraser, who inspired her husband, Stephen, to start this business in May 2008. As someone who loves those “how’s it made”  TV shows, I was in my glory.

Heated rollers set the designs into fabric

I was fascinated by the machines and the simple complexity of Spoonflower’s operation. I was overwhelmed by the colorful designs being printed before my eyes on rolls and rolls of fabric. I was in fiber-licious heaven looking at and touching the diversity of fabrics that Spoonflower offers for their on-demand printing. I was inspired to design things that could be printed at Spoonflower.

Printed fabric cut, folded, and prepped for shipping

Above all, I was impressed with Stephen and Kim and their dedicated crew. Spoonflower is American ingenuity in action. This is someone taking an idea, running with it, and succeeding in difficult economic times. It is wonderful to see a company who is helping pave the way to bring the textile industries back to North Carolina.  I am inspired in more ways than one. I guess that’s why field trips are fun.

Finally, I’m able to display the complete finished piece of the Carolina Mixed Media Artists Guild M4 Challenge. My process was posted on C&T Publishing’s blog today. Check it out:

Altered Timtex Background Up For the Challenge

This piece is available for purchase on my Etsy Store:  http://nanettesayz.etsy.com/

Although the weather was cold outside, Bolo soon realized he was properly dressed for this hot event. 38 Vendors and a countless numbers of shoppers packed into the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center on Friday and Saturday. This was a fiber and quilting artists dream day. Bolo took over 3 hours to stroll the exhibit hall. Occasionally, he couldn’t help himself and was found playing in the vendor’s stash.

Bolo’s first playful stop was at Unique Yarns. Where he indeed found some unique handpainted yarn. Such lovely colors of yarn, some earthy colored sock yarn was added to Bolo’s stash.

His second stop was at Local Colour Hues. Fiber artist Lorin Fields is a fabric dyeing extraordinaire. Bolo loved playing on the rolled cotton fabric bundles, but settled on some dyed Noir silk to bring home.

Oh how can you not have fun at Random Arts’ booth? Owner Jane Powell, was happy about showing off her bits and baubs of random things. If you like old funky things, then you’ll love Random Arts. Bolo was busy checking out the funky ribbons and added some to his take home stash.

Next stop for Bolo was Thimble Pleasures. Here Bolo spent some time hanging out with the owner, Julie Holbrook. What a nice lady! At this booth, Bolo danced around the bins of fabric  and found the perfect animal print for a soon-to-be baby quilt. Bolo also enjoyed seeing the new patterns Thimble Pleasures carry. I think Bolo plans to visit Chapel Hill soon, so he can spent time exploring the beautiful new brick-and-mortar store Julie owns.

Like any fine craftsman, you need the right tools for the job. Bolo’s favorite notions dealer is Schoolhouse Quilts. They’re regulars at most local quilt shows and related events. Any kind of notion you can imagine, they seem to have. So many tools, so little time. When Bolo strolls their booth, you can hear him grunting like Tim, the toolman.

Bolo and I were greatly impressed with this event. As a first time event, we hope that it was as much a success for the vendors and organizers as it seemed to be for the shoppers. For those involved, please come back next year, because nothing could be finer than this fun fiber extravaganza in Carolina.

On Nov. 4, I tried something new. The technique is shown in the Nov/Dec issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine.  In the article by Sandy Steen Bartholomew, the technique of Zentangles is explained. Supposedly, this technique is a good meditative art form. I had to try it, but I felt like I was just plain old doodling. Maybe that is meditative, mindless activities tend to have meditative qualities. Anyway, I am quite pleased at the results of my Zentangles work of art.

Today, Nov. 5, I took a class in Greensboro, NC with artist, author, teacher, Lyric Kinard. Lyric’s new book “Art + Quilt” is about the creative design process. Her class today was called “Surface Design Sampler Platter.” We did a lot of interesting surface design techniques on fabric, including rubber stamping, silk screen, foil embellishment and beading. A wide variety of design, thus the name “sampler platter.” Several of the techniques I’ve been using, some were new. I especially liked the image transfer using CitraSolv and black photo copies.

On Sunday, my friend Jodi Ohl will teach an image transfer class using several techniques. I can really see some cool applications with image transfers. So many options, so little time.

So, good news, I’m keeping up with my art every day for a month challenge. Its fun and I realize how fortunate I am to have the freedom to enjoy my creative self.

More art filled days coming this weekend…Just have to remember to bring my camera to show you action shots.

I’m also prepping to head to Houston International Quilt Festival next week. I skipped the event last year and I’m really excited about heading out there again. We always have a good time and its always rewarding to be part of the AAQI booth, selling the Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts.

In preparation, my friend Debbie and I are making rucksaks for everyone. Bethany Reynolds donated the pattern to our cause and we’re using wonderful Michael Miller fabric donated by my friend (and fabric designer)  Mark Hordyzynski. The bags are all going to look a similar with the AAQI logo, so we needed a way to distinguish them. A little beading for a name…is just enough.

I also had a great time at the Artist Alley Gallery Opening on First Friday. The place was hoping. Its such a fun place to be.  As soon as I get back from Houston, I’ll have a bunch of things to attend to. Holiday product for Artist Alley, Shows, Classes, Demos. It always seems like there’s always one thing or another to keep me busy. I sure do have a good life.