Creative Life Sampler

Inspiration from Chefs (3 of 3) Finding a path through the woods I was hooked on  Chef's Table after the first episode of season one, when we become acquainted with Italian chef Massimo Bottura, of the three Michelin star restaurant  Osteria Francescana in Modena. While sharing his history, Massimo recalls when his future wife introduced him to the world of art and describes his impressions and reactions to what he saw in the museum. Moved by the experience, he tells of wanting to bring that aesthetic to his work. In essence, he stepped out of the familiar and was open to what this new environment had to offer.  This was a turning point in his career.  It is a wonderful narrative of being inspired by an outside influence, and letting what you see and feel from that experience inform the work you love.  But, keep in mind that this was after years of developing the skills of a chef. He had already grasped some of the possibilities of what he could accomplish with his reserv

Being Original (2 of 3) The sun beginning to break through the clouds. We can get a hint on how to be original by looking at people who are producing work in an arena different from our own. Perhaps it is easier to gain some insight when we remove our personal connection to the subject matter. Not too long ago, as I was purchasing a book on bread at a used book store, I got to talking with the woman behind the register. We connected on the subject of baking and, one thought leading to another, she made a recommendation. That is how I discovered a gem in the documentary series Chef's Table, available on Netflix. This series is art work in itself, beautifully filmed and edited. Each episode focuses on an acclaimed chef: trailblazers, trend setters and movement makers. These people are creators and innovators in the culinary arts. But, whether they began their careers in a childhood kitchen, a culinary school, or with a master chef, they all began with building skills; li

Where Does Our Inspiration Come From? (1 of 3) If you enjoy the creative process, no matter what medium you are working in, you are probably always anticipating your next project. What will your next creative challenge be? I've been thinking a lot recently about where we can look for inspiration to improve and expand our creative endeavors. There are several obvious answers to this question. In this age of spontaneous sharing and the internet there is a rich store of images and instances of people's creativity. You have only to type in a very specific description of the project you want to create and up comes a multitude of examples of what has already been done. Likewise there are probably dozens, if not hundreds of magazines, self-help books, and classes which focus on the exact skill you are pursuing. They are all great starting points to refine techniques, build competence, and develop an appreciation for the possibilities and limitations of a given discipline.

                              inspire ( v )- to inhale                                               to stimulate or impel as to some creative effort                                               to arouse a thought or feeling in someone                                                                                                     (Webster's New World Dictionary) A few weeks ago a friend gave me a book which she had received but didn't find particularly useful. It was on creative doodling. I put it aside for the same reason. But, lately I have been trying to make a habit of going to bed with a sense of peace, clearing my thought of the junk from the day. So I picked it up and flipped through its pages before turning out the lights. My initial impression was confirmed,- I don't think I'll be doing any of this doodling. Still, the mission was accomplished. I wasn't thinking about large and small cares and concerns any more. Creative juices had

Linen Closet- Graduation Season A simple extra long twin in a variety of denims 'Tis the season of caps and gowns, graduation announcements and celebrations of accomplishment! There have been quite a few high school graduates for whom I've quilted with the thought that they would need a bed cover for their college dorm room. Knowing that these spaces frequently serve as more than a place to lay one's head, and the bed is often doing double duty as a couch, my goal is to create something simple and durable which would appeal to the tastes of the new graduate.  Denim fabric fits the need rather well; it will hold up to lots of abuse, including many washes in those industrial washing machines over the course of college life. Denim comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. But, just like the jeans you wear, the fabric can bleed or even shrink when laundered. It's a really good idea to pre-wash it, before you begin to sew. Simple squares intersp

What I Learned with This Project  (3 of 3) It's amazing how often we put things into auto pilot and don't think about what we're doing or why we're doing it, even in the creative process. When I set out to chronicle the development of this quilt, I didn't think about the challenge of analyzing each step to translate it into words. This was a really productive exercise; it required me to slow down and think about the choices I was making. What I saw was that, even when I'd committed to a direction at any given juncture, there were alternatives that would have been equally interesting. Choosing one path over the other just opened up more options in the journey. The possibilities are endless and honestly there are no mistakes in the creative process; just learning opportunities. I would also point out that making one choice, and leaving others behind, doesn't mean you can't go back to revisit the path not chosen in a future project. It doesn't

A Critique    (2 of 3) Thought I’d take some time to comment on this project. My “inspiration fabric” was patterned in squares of cool colors and it seemed natural to plan a quilt with framed squares to mimic the fabric. But, I had just completed a baby quilt of Flying Geese. So, I thought maybe it would be interesting to pull what I had learned with that pattern into this new project. (see this link:  https://creativelifesampler.blogspot.com/2019/03/flying-geese-for-baby-this-quilt.html )  It was an opportunity to get more practice creating Flying Geese. These triangles range from about 7.5 inches high to about ¾ inches, and the squares have similar proportions. A range of triangle sizes added interest. The overall feeling you get from this quilt, reflects the method of its creation. It’s kind of a mishmash of shapes and sizes. It might feel even more “haphazard,” if not for the underlying grid of the square fabric which holds the elements together. One thing th

Done ! (1 of 3) Geese Over Squares is finished. It measures 49.5 x 73 inches. It could be a lap quilt for snuggling on the couch,... displayed on a small child's bed,... or it could fill a large spot on a wall. From the back you can see more of the quilting textures against the solid blocks of fabric.

Quilting for Texture Last week the quilt backing was pieced with remnants of the fabrics used in the top. Batting was sandwiched between the top and the back, ... and the quilting could begin. This is a lap-sized quilt so it is going much faster than usual and, at this point, the quilting is almost complete. I'm following most of the seam lines to outline the Flying Geese and squares, but adding texture in open areas as I go. The next step will be to "square it off", making sure the corners of the quilt are at right angles and the edges are straight, (sometimes that's the most aggravating part.) I always try to remember the carpenter's rule of thumb: measure twice, or even three times; you only get one cut. It's sound advice to avoid any heart-breaking mistakes.  There are a few ways to complete a quilt. For this one, lengths of 3.5 inch fabric strips will be sewn together; in this case I need 248 inches for the perimeter. This is double

Color Choices Bird of Paradise blossoming in our yard If you ever wonder if colors would "go together," you have only to look around a garden and take in the color combinations of nature's paintbrush. Bright orange, with a splash of purple-blue, surrounded by spring greens? Mother Nature has already done it! Fortunately, She doesn't mind if we borrow her ideas...   "All art is but the imitation of nature."  Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4B.C.-A.D.65)