Creative Life Sampler

Originality Letters for the final word in my text quilt Original : belonging or pertaining to the origin or beginning of something               capable of or given to thinking/acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner               presented for the first time               new               fresh               novel I've been thinking about what it means to be "original" lately. Once an artist in any art form has  developed a proficiency with their medium, the desire to create something really unique naturally follows. The urge to express our individuality can be quite a motivator in creating. No doubt the modern phenomenon of viral trend setters and "influencers" began with individuals who just wanted to express their unique style or vision. But few genuine trail blazers have time to think about the impact of their labors. They must work "in an independent, creative, or individual manner." (The catch is the world may,

Linen Closet- " I Spy" Quilts "I Spy" quilt measures approx. 53 inches square  With all the quilt history I've been absorbing lately, it's become apparent that, like so many other aspects of culture, there are trends and "fads" in quilting. Quilts are a reflection of the era in which they were created; themes, patterns, techniques, and fabrics go in and out of vogue like everything else in life. You will remember the "I Spy" children's books that were so popular in the 90's. Well, quilters naturally embraced this theme for their work. It makes sense that it would appeal to them, given the countless hours families have enjoyed searching heirloom quilt tops for favorite swatches and familiar fabrics from a loved one's wardrobe. With this new inspiration, quilters drew from the many novelty fabrics available to create pieces that deliberately encourage the "I Spy" experience. These quilts were created in

The Wall of Creative Inactivity I've been trying to make a habit of finishing projects in the old year so I can start fresh in the new year. But, December was a joy-filled whirlwind, and that means it was really unproductive, from a quilting perspective. Anyway, I have at least six quilts "under construction,"- there wasn't much chance that I was going to reach my goal this time around. Now that things have settled in to the regular routine, I'm getting reacquainted with the sewing room. I have just finished my fortieth "word in fabric"... I think that's enough! Once again I have put myself in the awkward position of having to construct a quilt top with blocks of many different sizes and configurations. A new challenge. A new puzzle to pull together. What a way to start 2020! I had been thinking about the exhilaration of starting a project; new beginnings all around. What I found was that renewing my commitment to this project, finishing

Library Update I happened to drop in at the Simi Valley Library on my way to the fabric store recently, and I found this new creation. (Last February, I shared my SVL discovery of its predecessor, "Babs". See this link if you missed it:  https://creativelifesampler.blogspot.com/2019/02/while-traveling-around-area-recently-i.html  ) In the spirit of creativity and recycling, it is constructed with "unconventional materials": the discarded cards which were embedded in each book for circulation identification at one time. This dress model sports a "flapper" look with a fringe of chain at its hemline and chain draped across the open back. The plastic cards were kept intact and their shape was used to accentuate a diagonal direction. It creates an overall pattern across the dress. Texture from the raised lettering on the cards adds an extra element. The style of the piece is simple and classic, but the materials give the feeling of a protective

Measuring Creative Success Surfer in the warm California sun... making his own way across the waves. Recently an article on my cell phone news feed caught my eye. It was entitled: “How to Stop Chasing Someone Else’s Idea of Success”, (John Hall, Inc.com). As my thumb hovered over the link, my thoughts flashed back to when I first began my illustration career… Fresh out of college, I was familiar with all the signs of a successful illustrator, the career paths of prominent artists, the awards and honors which indicated peer approval and guaranteed "plum" future assignments. Through the influence of instructors who juggled teaching while actively pursuing illustration careers, these accolades became my guideposts and goals. It took some years, but as I focused on expressing myself and improving the quality of my work, these goals melted into the background. At some point, it hit me that working for the awards and recognition wasn’t that important to me afte