Scattered Directions

My energies have been especially scattered this past week. I partly attribute it to the change in weather. There's a real feel of fall in North Texas. Other factors are the pull of family and friends activities. I'm not complaining; there's been lots of fun going on and it's a priviledge being part of a wonderful circle of love, fun, and friendship. Getting inspiration for my art is icing on top of all that.

Typealyzer. I got this from Gerrie who always has something delightful happening on her blog.
ESTP - The Doers
"The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.
The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time."

That "follow thru" thing certainly fits. I MUST work on focusing my energies - Someday?

Yesterday was the about the BESTEST fun in a long time. Art Wonders gathered to celebrate Flo's 80th birthday. I mentioned here before that she's one of my great inspirations on how to age. I think we really did the celebrating in style - great food and lots of laughs are good for body and soul. She loved the "ala artgirlz" crown, personalized Harley shirt & tyvek jumpsuit along with funny cards and an absolutely fantastic cake http://www.deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/ created. The GRAND Finale was Michelle taking her for her first ever bike ride. We'd celebrated Julianne's 4th birthday last week and I do believe we older girls laughed more.

Today I've been up to my elbows in a different kind of creativity. I'm including an "in process" shot. I hope this segment gets finished by the weekend as we're having a holiday sale here on Sunday. Mostly Ashley & Jane Ruestmann will have great stuff. I don't have much finished (that word again).

Oh well. I must be patient and can't do every thing at once. I'd been itching to get some painting done for some time and my painter of choice had the time this week so thus the "mess". There are lots of house projects that need doing and hopefully we'll keep moving with this being the kickoff.

Since Houston(IQF) I have done some dyeing, sorted out some fabrics to interview for wall quilts and did some small fiber pieces on the Embellisher that will get finished when the sewing machine comes home from the repair shop. In the meantime maybe the energies will get pulled together like the leaves that have to be raked after being scattered by the wind and I'll learn to enjoy the beauty of each stage of the experience.

HOW CAN IT BE?

Tonight we celebrated Ashley's 33rd birthday with yummy El Salvadorian food and laughter.

Wasn't she a doll? Pensive from the beginning. She always seemed to be checking out the road before she took a step.

Love you baby and very proud of you.

Recently I made the comparison between the race to the moon and the current energy situation. I guess others of my generation are realizing that it's time to pass the torch - Al Gore's editorial in the Sunday New York Times: "The average age of the systems engineers cheering on Apollo 11 from the Houston control room that day was 26, which means that their average age when President Kennedy announced the challenge was 18.

This year similarly saw the rise of young Americans, whose enthusiasm electrified Barack Obama's campaign. There is little doubt that this same group of energized youth will play an essential role in this project to secure our national future, once again turning seemingly impossible goals into inspiring success."

Good luck kids! I have faith in you.

Now What? Reach for the Moon.

Canyon Song is coming home. I created this piece last year. It was in the Texas Federation of Fiber Arts show in the spring and won an award which made me extraordinarily proud as it was the first time I had shown my work in a long time. It's been at the Denton library since Aug. and I will be happy to have it home again today. It expresses some of my hope for what is happening right now and the challenges before us. We really are reaching for the moon - and the sun & stars......
I know from past experiences that I do more and better work; feel more positive and upbeat; and have a stronger sense of hope and well being when I plan and work for what I want to happen. I admit to lots of "drifiting" lately. I'm committing to take a new approach. I have lots I want to accomplish and none of us knows how long we have.

One of my inspirations is Flo Berry. Flo is turning 80 next week and she's still a creative DYNAMO. She inspires and challenges me and I'm very proud to call her a friend & I'm excited that a group of us will gather to celebrate her with good food and laughter. I'll be sure to post pictures.

Worth consideration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrPXUxD0LCo. I believe it is important for everyone to respond to the challenges we face as a country. It will take effort and committment but we CAN solve the energy crisis. This is a "reach for the moon" possibility. Do you remember where you were when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon? Do you remember the pride you felt? Do you believe we can do it again?

Another opportunity we have before us is to use our money for good - buying & wasting less; making it ourselves or buying hand made; eathing locally; recycling and reusing. These are a few of the things I'm working on. While in Houston I visited with Ina le Roux and purchased some small embroideries made by women of Venda women of South Africa. Check out her web site as you plan for the holidays, http://www.tambani.co.za/.

Time to make a list and get to work.

More from Houston

Here I am working in the Wonderfil booth.

Connie & Kathy, Best friends since 10.

I'm very proud call Heidi Pridemore my friend. We first came together thru Mary Kortemeyer who was a generous mentor to both of us. I hope we can always bridge the distance between Arizona & Texas to keep our friendship growing.

This is a detail of "Storm Grid" while it was under construction. It's one of the pieces I created with Woderfil Threads, every thing from Hologram to 8 wt. rayon.

This is "Tide Pool #5, Wonderful". This was inspired by a photo Ashley shot when we were in California last Dec.

Houston & a New Direction

I'm feeling a bit like Tigger as I bounce around and try to settle myself from all the excitment lately.

Of course, the election yesterday was the BIG event and I'm feeling extraordinarily hopeful about a new direction for America and the world. Obama's speech last night was great and John McCain offered a gentlemanly concession. I've said before that the country and I were in similar transition; now I am hopeful that we can move in a positive direction. I am praying that peace and prosperity prevail; it will take lots of work from lots of people. I do hope some of the naysayers will shut up and get to work toward common good.

My 10 days in Houston for Quilt Market and Festival were great. I'm still not completely unpacked and leaving my sewing machine at the repair shop on the way home seems a bit like child abandonment. I've got lots & lots of project ideas to develop and work on in the meantime and even did some small bits of dyeing yesterday and today. Many thanks to Wonderfil Threads for the opportunity to work in Houston and to Andrew for teaching me lots about thread.

This was my first time to attend the wholesale market and that was very interesting. There's been lots of discussion in various forums about posting quilts & art work so I won't do so now. One of my greatest thrills was seeing so many young designers of fabrics & patterns and more later at Festival. That is the future. I love Jane Sasseman's new fabric as well as Anna Maria Horner's and met Linda McGhee, purse designer extraordinaire, who inspired my mother early in her career (Linda's career that is).

Thanks to my bff Kathy and her sweet Philip for putting me up for 4 days and then also my 89 year old Aunt Nathalee for the remainder of my stay. Friends & Family are SPECIAL. Deborah B, http://www.deborahsjournal.blogspot.com, has lots of other great pictures of friends and Houston happenings.

Feeling like a Celebrity

Jenny Doh & I at Wonderfil

WOW! I'm feeling extremely excited and flattered that Jenny Doh, editor-in-chief of Sommerset Studio and other publications commented favorably on my work. Thanks, Jenny. The new quarterly "Where Women Create" is GREAT!