Happy New Year and New Goals

Ice Dyed Fat Quarter in my Etsy shop

As usual, time gets away from me and I'm late on my New Year's post. I spent time looking back to my posts a year ago and realized that I've come a long way in the past year. I don't think I created as many pieces are art /art quilts as I did in 2010, but I accomplished a lot. A year ago I opened my Etsy shop and it has been a success, in my opinion. Those of us that sell our creations, always wish for more sales, but I can't complain. I'm happy with the progress. I started selling my hand dyes at quilt shows and have 4 shows planned for this year, so far. My dyeing methods have grown from parfait dyeing, to snow dyeing, to ice dyeing. I have dabbled a little more in surface techniques and this year I plan to expand more in this area. I feel the direction I want to move this year with my art quilting is calling for an expansion in this area. I tried some new styles of art quilting this past year and plan on trying to be more abstract this year, but using the influence of structures and geometric objects and colors that are out of my normal palette.

I hosted Sandra Sider for a weekend, while she was here for critiques and lectures (she is a lot of fun!). I learned so much in the few days that I spent with her and it has given me a broadened view of where I want my art quilting to grow. Thank you Sandra!

Part of my plan for this year is to take time to photograph new structures to use in my art. I usually get up and head to the studio, but this year I'm going to make an effort to have a day or two each month to spend time outside and photograph.

This past year I was able to show in three different quilt shows, this year I already have three planned and need to spend time planning others to enter and broaden my scope of entering quilts, that means, I need to get busy and create some more art quilts!

The Dallas Area Fiber Artists have their annual show in April and this will be my last show as Show Co-Chair. When our new board takes over mid-year, I have volunteered to be President and have several ideas in mind to encourage our group to expand and grow as artists and in membership.

Well, I'm sure there is more in my brain that I wanted to share with you this morning, but right now I have to get busy and photograph more fabric for my Etsy and Art Fire shops. The end of the year was very good to me and now I need to get busy and post post post!

My big thrill of the year? Having "Old Alton Bridge" included in the Lone Stars III;Texas Quilts Today book and the "Truck Quilt" included in IFQ Quilting Scene Magazine. Plus being interviewed by the Alliance of American Quilts. Being in these two publications and being interviewed made going to IQF so much fun this year, especially since Jeff went with me to enjoy the festivities and see all the quilts.

Happy New Year everyone and I pray that your creative dreams and goals are accomplished this year!

Looking Forward

Under the Sea

This past week was very busy with work (yesterday was my last day at Soma), catching up from the quilt show, catching up from the daughter and granddaughters being here and getting organized for the upcoming week.

"Under the Sea" is a upside down mini-quilt (9x12) that spun off from my "Outside In" quilt. I haven't finished it yet, but hopefully I will sometime beading on it this weekend, definitely this next week. It is due to SAQA-TX by the 28th for the SAQA-TX exhibit of 9x12's at the International Quilt Festival. I have a sunflower quilt also and need to get busy on beading the center of it.

With so much to do this next week, I couldn't help but add to the mix a 2 day workshop with the Trinity Valley Quilt Guild. Larkin Van Horn is our guest speaker this month and is giving us a 2 day workshop on "Beading is Applique'". I'm so excited to be able to spend two days with her and learn more about beading on my art quilts.

Saturday, Sandra Sider, President of SAQA will be coming to town for critique workshops and a speaking engagement with the Dallas Area Fiber Artists. And she is staying with me! I'm so excited that I get to entertain her for a few days and bask in her knowledge and expertise. Saturday night I have invited DAFA and local SAQA members to my home for a cookout and a get-to-know Sandra evening. Our new grill has been completed, so we are going to get the chance to test out massive grilling on it and enjoy our fire pit with great conversations. If you are a local SAQA member, contact me and come for the cookout Saturday night!

Now, I must get to beading...