From Joseph Campbell

“The whole idea is that you’ve got to bring out again that which you went to recover, the unrealized, unutilized potential in yourself. The whole point of this journey is the reintroduction of this potential into the world; that is to say, to you living in the world. You are to bring this treasure of understanding back and integrate it in a rational life. It goes without saying, this is very difficult. Bringing the boon back can be even more difficult than going down into your own depths in the first place.” ~ Joseph Campbell from Pathways to Bliss

Wedding Banner

I just completed a commission for a banner to be carried in a country wedding -- outdoors and Mexican folk art themed. Here's the process:

 "Sketch" -- actually cut paper. I made a group of three and the bride chose this one. 

Do I like quilts?

Yes, this one I LOVE. Jane Sassaman's  "Illinois Album"

But ... 
I am finishing up my week at the quilt festival, and I have a confession to make. This year, I started wondering if I even LIKED most quilts. I was depressed by the realization. I was dismayed by my judgmental reaction to some (read most) of the work. I was sorry that I had such a realization. 

It just seemed as though there were many pieces (especially in the art quilt exhibits, but not exclusively) that had an enormous amount of work in them, and not much aesthetic appeal or emotional power. Now, there were exceptions -- both SAQA exhibits were great with some of the pieces really stand-outs (I hope I didn't think that just because I was in one of those exhibits) and the Dinner@Eight show was strong (ditto, with my involvement) and the tabletop What's for Dinner show was delightful. I even liked the MOO quilts, though they paled with sameness after a few quilts.  Many of the traditional quilts seems overly fussy and overly embellished to me, the ones that didn't seem drab and dull. I did like the grand prize winning art quilt, a beautiful rendering of a Chihuly boat filled with glass globes.  This was the first year I did not just walk around feeling overwhlemed with admiration. I don't know if I am just getting to be old and cranky, if my tastes have matured and in doing so have narrowed or if I was just tired. And I hope I don't sound unappreciative of the effort of such an exhibit and show -- I still am awed by what it takes to get our tribe together. AND I am sure there are many people who loved the very pieces I dismiss -- it is personal opinion after all.

I do want to share the pieces I loved. AND, thanks to a great workshop early in the week with Lesley Riley, I am going to spend some time looking closely at these images and seeing what they have to saw to me, and to my direction in the textile arts world.  I'm not including images of the Dinner @ Eight quilts but you can see them and order the catalog here online (and see if you agree with my assessment of their power, range and interes

 "Watching" by Jo Dixey, New Zealand

 "Birches" by Marianne Bender-Chevalley

"Breathtaking Bonaire" by Wanda Travis, New Mexico

"Breakfast for Dinner"  by Sue Bleiweiss

 "New Glory" by Scott Hansen

"Dandelions"  by Kathleen McLaughlin, quilted by Debbie Loeser

"Dandelion" detail

 "In the Rough" by Janet Steadman, Washington

 "Electric Elipses #1" by Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry

I liked many of the quilts in this special exhibit., particularly the mathematical and geometric ones.

"Lain Lou" by Rebecca Stewart-Bartell, West Australia

 "Carnival Winds" by Ceclia Koppmann (I also loved her piece "Tan Callando"

"Queen Emma's Flower Vase" by Toshiko Kurihara, Tokyo

Detail

 "Geology" by Lorraine Hollingsworth

"Bird of Paradise" by Connie Watkins, Waco, TX (based on antique quilt pattern)

Where did all the pictures go?

Darn. I forgot to take any of me on the demo circuit of Mixed Media Miscellany. That's the two hour talkathon. But Jean Peffers was THERE! and Phyllis Jordan, and probably others of the FASA tribe I did not take pictures of. Along with anything else.

So my first daily blogging meltdown! I'll do better today. 

Day Three and Still Standing

Actually, thriving. This post will be mostly pictures because it is 9:15 and I am ready to keel over.

And this is the three days of "me time." I start teaching tomorrow, although I will also be taking (most of) Lesley Riley's workshop on Charting the Course.

The pics are of the faculty supper at end of day. Some shots of Exquisite Moments exhibit, curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison. Also a few examples of the great What's for Dinner exhibit they put together, too. The shows, the sales floor, all of the quilt festival is such an incredibly energizing experience. Hope you enjoy this little taste of it!

Having a Platform and Pinning It

I went to one panel discussion and one lecture today: Meet the Publishers and Pinning for Profits. Above, panel moderator and organizer Lesley Riley, and Quilting Arts editor Vivika Denegre.

Both really reinforced the value of social media, and, of course, their importance in the art biz that I am in. I also spent some time working on little samplers and getting in touch with some sister teachers -- some of whom I see mostly on the road even when they live nearby!

One important bit of info from the publishers: your "platform" IS important. The publishers (potential)  want to see that you do your part to promote your work. Whether it's having a good web site (with links to previous publications, videos, books etc.) or being active on Twitter, Instagram or Flikr, they want to know that your name is out there. So, time to work on the website again!

As for Pinterest:

Lecture notes from ICAP founder and president, Morna McEver Golletz: Pinning is about lifestyle branding. It's selling in a non-selling manner. Know. like. trust.
Be proactive and use original links, posting with urls. Ask about copyrights. Don't forget to label and link! Put it up and follow, the followers will come...Add to FB page. Blog about your pins.

As an artist and teacher, have boards that show my studio, my previous workshops, supplies I like, etc.
"take a Pinter mission " -- marketing programs
Good examples: Jennifer Louden, fabric companies, other teachers, Bliss Butler, Benda Kula, Christine Kysely (4 million followers?), Moda Fabrics, Valeri Wells, Carolyn friedlander, Jamie Kalvestran, thread companies, Lesley Riley

Marketing on Pinterest

Goal is to get people to your website to buy or leave email for sales pieces. "What Pinterest can do is turn pincers into your unpaid marketing force."

POSTSCRIPT;

 Amid all this doing and thinking about what I need to, want to, etc do, came this message from Lesley Riley's newsletter -- so in line with the road I am on right now. This is why I am concentrating on my own small scale workshops and retreats, on learning to do some on-line teaching and spending more time in the studio. At least I am "trying." From Lesley:

I used to say "yes" to everything without thinking. I have learned how to say NO to others when it isn't right, or the timing is wrong. But I haven't really learned to say NO to myself.

There are SO many things I want to do and, being a late-bloomer, I don't want to slow down one bit. But full steam ahead isn't always the best approach....

Subscribe to Lesley's newsletter here.

On the Road Again

Here is a little experiment
Blog the IQF, daily, using the iPad app for Squarespace.
Goal: See if I can get more fluent with this app! And if daily blogging for a short span of time is even feasible for me!

Today, I'm on my way, driving from Pipe Creek to Houston. I won't actually go to the Convention Center today. But it is still the start of the weeklong journey/adventure/ordeal.
So here's what the car looks like. Do you wonder that I am glad I can drive to Houston and not fly. It's certainly home court state vantage.

Meanwhile I'm practicing using my voice recorder to write this message, and working on final design plan for the iPad workshop.

Houston, We Have Launch

Off I go. I hope to see those readers who don't live nearby this week in Houston. This will be my fourth year to teach at the International Quilt Festival (an event I had never attended until I started teaching there -- that first year was a real doozy). I have my survival skills in place: good shoes, up early to grab the dolly for set up on workshop days, the best parking nearby and on the street (another reason to get up early -- and no, I won't tell you), air-conditioning ready clothing, friends to see, supplies sorted and prepped. In other words, it takes me about a week to get my act together for that week of teaching, learning, listening and taking it all in. 

If you live anywhere near Houston and have never attended a Quilt Festival, head over there Thursday through Sunday for miles of shopping, looking and learning. Look me up -- text or call 210-643-2128 and we'll have a cuppa. I am teaching full-time on Friday and also Sunday morning, with demos and other commitments as follows. I think both of my workshops are filled now, but the demos are mostly walk-up events.

Thursday -- 2-4 Mixed Media Miscellany, demo of making your own printable fabrics and printing iPad images (along with a host of other fabulous teachers). 

Friday -- iPad Adventure 9-5 workshop

Saturday 11:30-noon -- Meet the Teachers, back of aisle 1, demo-ing making journal quilts from iPad images. 

Saturday noon - 2 pm Open Studios sponsored by Craftsy, in the food court area, -- Demo of Rainbow Printing

Sunday 9-12 -- Meet Your iPad -- lecture and demo survey

I also will have art in two exhibits on the floor: Text Messages in the Studio Art Quilt Association area and Exquisite Moments, curated by Leslie Jenison and Jamie Fingal in the special exhibits area.

Two Catalogs! and Quilt Festival Art

Here came the 18-year overnight success moment this week! One day after the next I received my beautiful SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Association) exhibit catalogs: one for Text Messages, and one for Metaphors on Aging.  

Not only did my images look great, but both curators (respectively Lesley Riley and Pamela Allen) mentioned my work in their juror's essays, in reference to the work fitting into their intentions for the exhibits. 

Here's what Pamela had to say: 

"What has the artist done to convince me of her intent? Susie Monday leaves no doubt about th ejoy she feels for life. Her Milagros 2 (Miracle) is packed with symbols of childhood, travel (through life?) and celestial enigmas. The exuberant surface design, color, and tumultuous placemen of symbols leaves one with a feeling of exile ration and hope."

(This exhibit opened in BIrmingham, England and will travel from there.)

Then Lesley Riley wrote: 

"Art speaks to us on many levels.  In many cases the message on the quilt was loud and clear, as in Judy Sebatian's OMG, a popular word in our new texting lexicon and Stop Fear (Homage to Sister Corita Kent) by Susie Monday. Corita Kent was my first exposure to text art. She gained international fame for her vibrant serigraphs which used text for art and art as activism during th e1960s and 1970s. That Susie was paying homage to her 40+ years late is testament to the power of text as art."

And, so as I pack for Houston next week (why do I do this to myself, plan workshops with so much stuff!???) I am basking in happiness of seeing my art amid all those beautiful quilts. The Text Messages exhibit will be in the SAQA area, and I will also have a piece in the Dinner @ Eight exhibit, Exquisite Moments.

Studio Art Quilt Association

iPad for Artists: Tile Drawing

This week's art app is another big-time favorite of mine: Tile Deck. I've used it for design work, as well as direct prints on fabric. If you work only in black and white, your images can be used as designs for thermofax designs. It's also a fun way to try out simple pattern repeats that you can make with eraser or foamie (craft foam) stamps. 

I've also used it to make some Spoonflower fabrics that I'll share as soon as they are shipped to the studio! 

Tile Deck is rather expensive, but, because it makes such fabulous patterns, I think it is well worth the cost -- usually about $5.00. For a while this app was only available on the UK store site, but it's back up on the U.S. Apple App Store here.

Altar Show Closing Event

From Celebration Circle's website:

Nine Years of Altars

(The Flikr site with all the pics is here: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogaryo/collections/72157621922984779/ )

One People, Many Paths: The 10th Annual Sacred Art of Altars Exhibit & Silent Auction

This month-long event is open to the public during regular business hours (11:00am - 11:00pm) at the Bijou Cinema, San Antonio's premiere art-house movie venue, located in Wonderland of the Americas (Crossroads Mall). There are 55 altars on display, handcrafted by some of San Antonio's most creative artists, including Bernice B. Appelin-Williams, Lyn Belisle, David Caris, Carolina Flores, Joan Frederick, Laurel Gibson, Jon Hinojosa, Deborah Keller-Rihn, Dale Jenssen, Jeannette MacDougall, Beverly Meyer, Susie Monday, Martha Prentiss, Thom Ricks, and Terry Ybanez, among others. Beginning with identical, raw pinewood boxes (10" x 20"), the artists used a variety of colorful paints, varied textures, glass, metal, fabric, ceramics and more to make works ranging from sublime to temporal, and from spiritual to satirical. No charge to view the art but you might want to stay for a movie!

Exhibit & Silent Auction Closing Event

Monday, September 30, 6:00pm - 9:30pm

The exhibit culminates with a lively reception on September 30th, from 6:00 - 9:30 pm, featuring live music, light hors d'oeuvres and the official closing of the month-long silent auction, followed by a special screening of Howl's Moving Castle, a triumphant tale of love and liberation which was the Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Film (2006). Tickets for Auction Closing Reception and Film are only $15 advance/$20 door. Get your advance ticket(s) here. 

Photo above has nine representative years of altars by artists:

9 years of altars on the front (L-R circular) Martha Grant, Susan Damon, Laurie Brainerd, Kat Gustafson, Jodi Stauffer, Zet Baer, Hebron Chism, Rebecca Coffey, Momo Brown, Chris Odell, Linda Rael, Bernice Appelin-Williams, Massie Center, Siboney Diaz-Sanchez, Dimitri Garcia, Bill Bonham, Barbara Hendricks 

Moo-ving Along with Thanks

I've mentioned Moo Cards befor and how much I love them as (yes, more expensive, but worth it I think -- the cards are like a mini-portfolio). I looked in my cabinet today and realized it was time to order more. Coming up -- The International Quilt Festival where I'll be teaching several workshops and doing some demos, too. (PS: Shameless promotion_ ACCESS MOO here and you'll give me some credit for my next offer -- and get a promo code for free shipping, I think!)

This is one of my new cards, a detail from "Pond Prayer for Rain."

What's so special? You can choose up to 50 different images or details of images to upload for the front of your extra heavy matt or gloss stock card. And even choose a mini-card or a standard size.  I love the weight and substance of these cards.  Moo prints your cards and ships them in about a week.  I like to let people choose a card -- and think this makes them more memorable and "save-able" than a standard card. The printing quality is excellent and you can also make postcards and stickers from your images. Moo has lots of options now, it has obviously seen success in this venture. 

I even glue these cards onto greeting cards and thank you notes to personalize them. Nothing like snail mail to make a lasting impression on a collector, workshop attendee or hostess these days, right? I'm working on a better follow-up system myself this month, as I know I am behind on my gratitudes to many, many of my friends. 

If you aren't an artist or photographer, you can use other people's designs! I love Hugh's cartoons.

Altars Express Spiritual Paths

For a decade, I've been part of Celebration Circles Altars exhibit -- a show and fundraiser for the Arts and Spirituality Community. Although I don't attend the Sunday morning gathering as often now -- traffic and time in the car from Pipe Creek to downtown is not on my list of top spiritual experiences -- I dearly love and appreciate the experience of this nondenominational group of spirit seekers.  

The Express-News had a story about this year's altar show (my piece, "GROWTH,"  is on the far left of the photo above, shown with Gary Smith and Rudi Harst). The show will be up all month at Wonderland's Bijou Cinema and Bistro and there is an artist meet and greet tomorrow evening. From the Celebration Circle website:

We are grateful to have the San Antonio Express-News run an article in the Religion Section today, describing our Sacred Art of Altars show at the Bijou Theater. We're delighted to share a link to that article here, and invite you to forward this email to your family and friends in order to help spread the word about this great exhibit - and Celebration Circle fundraiser.

Join us tomorrow - Sunday, September 1st, from 6:00-7:00 pm, for the opening of One People, Many Paths: The Sacred Art of Altars exhibit. This will be an artist meet and greet night. See the 55 artist made altars at the Bijou Cinema and Bistro, located at Wonderland of the Americas. No charge to view the art!

Text on Textiles OnLine

I offer an online 4-week version of my Text on Textiles workshop via JOGGLES, an online workshop and art store. My next session will start OctoBer 25 so you have lots of time to prepare!   The platform is a series of 5 (for the price of 4)  pdf. workbooks, with step by step instructions. You'll also have access to an online forum for posting examples, questions and comments. I generally also try to make this blog a "workshop-related" series of posts during the workshops that I teach on Joggles, so you'll also have those resources available.

Here's the description and link:

Our Price:  $45.00 Stock Status: In Stock

This class in scheduled to begin on October 25, 2013

NOTE: This class requires use of an all-in-one printer/copier or desktop copier with the ability to enlarge and reduce printed images. The techniques used make use of copies and prints from such a copier/printer. Optional techniques included also involve use of a computer and digital camera.

Have you ever wanted to incorporate a favorite word, poem or quote into an art quilt, garment, art doll or other textile project -- going beyond simply writing or embroidering the text? Or do letter forms and shapes appeal to your sense of design? This surface design/mixed media class will give you a set of process tools for making text and words an integral part of artfully designed fabrics that you can use in a wide variety of projects.

Starting with design exercises that encourage a unique expression of your creativity and interests, you’ll learn three specific techniques for transfers of text, words and writing to fabric using ink-jet printing, polymer medium and textile paints. 

Lesson 1. Getting Started with Text on Textiles; Collecting and Exploring Letter Forms -- Work through specific design collage exercises using a collection of letters and a copier or all-in-one printer. See what happens when you enlarge, multiply and pattern letters and text to create contemporary fresh designs.

Lesson 2. From Text to Textile; Print Collages and Collaged Prints -- Using your collages from the previous week, you’ll print copies directly on fabric through an ink-jet printer, then manipulate, fuse, and piece the fabrics to make a small art quilt composition. You can use commercial printable fabrics OR follow simple directions to make your own fusible backed fabrics for printing.

Lesson 3. Text on Textiles with Paper Cloth -- Learn to make a hybrid cloth paper using fabric and tissue paper that puts your collage work into a sewable mixed media textile, layering images, colors and textures with verve and adventure.

Lesson 4. Text on Textiles with Ink Jet Transfers -- Using your collage designs, use inkjet prints made on transparency sheets to make striking surface design on yardage, suitable for a whole-cloth quilt or to cut and fuse or piece into your own mixed media textile art.

Lesson 5. BONUS lesson -- See how Susie took a collage and translated it into a large art quilt, using a combination of the techniques in this class. Take your own design through the same process for a bold contemporary art work. 

Curious to know how online classes work? Go here to read all of the details:

www.joggles.com/classdetails.htm 

The supply list will be sent to all students one week before the class starts. Once you buy this class you will receive an email order confirmation, but you will not hear from us again until the supply list is sent. 

A high speed connection to the internet is recommended for all students.

In order to participate in online classes at joggles you are expected to have basic computer and internet skills. You need to be able to browse the internet, know how to download and save a document to your computer's hard drive, and understand how to open and save email attachments. It is your responsibility to learn these skills before the class begins.

Please be certain you are comfortable with all of these skills. Class fees will not be refunded once the class has begun.

Art App of the Week

This week, a combo tip: Use Magic Ink, then add a  layer with Glaze.

Magic Ink is a really simple app, with just a few controls, for size of line, color, "curl," and the rate that the images disappear from the screen of your tablet. What I love is the elegant, abstract, painterly and graphic quality of the lines you can make-- and the improvisational and accidental quality of it all. Your control is limited, but the visual impact is unlimited!

To save images to your photo gallery, hit the little camera icon. You do have to give the app permission to access your photos the first time you try to save one. If you didn't do so, uninstall the app and reinstall.

Then, saving your image, take it into Glaze, an app that has some incredible instant filters far beyond Intstagram. You can just add a simple texture, or you can almost completely transform the image.

Combining interesting apps is often the key to making really amazing images with an iPad of other tablet. Then take them into a fabric printing mode, or use the images directly printed on fabric or transformed into screen prints, stencils or stamps. Or use the images you come up with as patterns for whole cloth painted quilts or appliqué.

Summer Travel

In case you've noticed and wondered (?) I've been on leave from the internet and on the road from Pipe Creek to LA to Tahoe and now Colorado -- on the return from a camping/road trip to recharge the batteries, see family and explore this amazing world we live in.

Here are some pages from the online journal I made on the trip:

(I'll be teaching some iPad for Artists online and in person workshops this fall. Let me know if you are interested.)

New World Kids @ Big Thought

We're teaching and training new and returning teachers in our after school New World Kids programs in Dallas. We have about 40 classrooms of kids, several years under our belt and a trajectory toward even bigger and better things to come.

For more information about New World Kids, find us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram on our sites at TheMissingAlphabet.

What happened

Since this blog is and always will be a record of my creative work, and since I have been  feeling a bit puny about my work this past two months, I did make a list. And I feel a lot better. I suggest, that even if you are not one of those goal-settiing recording kinds of people (and I am not at my core -- only when my ego gets away from me), that you make a similar list for your last couple of months. You will, no doubt, surprise yourself. I KNOW  that we (women, men, humans) discount so much of our work and accomplishment., falling into some intriguing and seductive sense of "should have, could have." Let's be as kind to ourselves as we are to our dogs.

May - June -- 1/2 July  Month 

Creative (and other) Work:

PUBLICATIONS

Quilting Arts Gift Guide article submitted (iPad snowflakes)

2 NFamily articles submitted for The Missing Alphabet

2 newsletters, May and July(missed one in June)

4-week Joggles on-line workshop on Inspiration Cards -- new workbook completed

Books in SDA Bookstore (sold 18 copies)

First of 4 curriculum guides designed (text from other teacher) for Central American Teacher program (3 more to come before Sept. 1)

EXHIBITS

4 pieces installed in 3-person exhibit at small non-profit gallery in San Antonio (Bihl Haus Arts) (2 month exhibit)

2 pieces in Kerr Arts and Cultural show

Installed and marketed and uninstalled Fiber Arts Invitational for Kerr Arts and Cultural Center (nonprofit gallery in Kerrville,  with 10 participating invited artists

1 piece accepted in Southwest School of Art All-School Exhibit (opens this Thursday)

Donated art for raffle and had informal display at Fiber Artists of san Antonio Wearable Art Runway Show

Small piece included in SDA Members exhibit at Say Si Gallery

WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES

Planned, and led sold-out Study Tour for SDA conference

1-day workshop at El Cielo Studio for Central American Teachers

weeklong workshop and family presentation for Central American Youth Ambassadors and Texas host youth

ART WORK
1 new large textile painting completed

2 small works completed

OTHER
Purchase of Senisa Studio house for future AirBNB and other rentals (including space for Jane Dunnewold’s out of town students -- it is only a mile or so from her new studio) -- also to be used for San Antonio based workshops, private exhibits. Remodeling/furnishing underway. 

Launched AirBNB rentals out at El Cielo successfully

(https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1055319) 

Blurb Book: Exquisite Moments Exhibit

Here's the link to the exhibition catalog for the Dinner@Eight exhibit that will show at the International Quilt Festival in Houston and elsewhere. Loris  Bogue, as usual for Dinner@Eight, has done a lovely job getting this catalog together for the artists. Here' the link info from the curators, Jamie Fingal and Leslie Jenison:

We are delighted to tell you that the Blurb book for "An Exquisite Moment" has been completed!  Whoohoo! Loris Bogue did an excellent job in designing the book for us!  

Congratulations to Cheryl Sleboda whose art quilt graces the cover!  This is our first book with one single image on it. An Exquisite Moment, for sure.

http://www.blurb.com/b/4461280-an-exquisite-moment?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget

TedX in San Antonio

Want to present? The deadline has been extended to Monday.  See application form on the website at www.tedxsanantonio.com.