Art Talk

I have really been working hard all year and now I finally have the opportunity to share. I read a blog where this quilter had vowed to share her work step by step. I tried to visualize myself doing that. It terrified me. I guess I am a closet quilter. I like to work alone with my own thoughts and blaring blues music. When people see things in progress they seem to feel like they should voice their vision of your piece. They always tell me what I need to do to it. Most of the time their ideas are contrary to what I had in mind. I don't take the advice and it strains the relationship. So rather than have that, I work privately.

This the most exciting time of the year for me because our annual quilt and bead art exhibit is going on. We chose "Vistas" this year and it was an exciting challenge. Each year I have great aspirations of all the quilts I want to do for the exhibit. As time gets closer I get realistic. The exhibit always opens with me still working on the last two that didn't make it. I still have a butterfly quilt on the table from last year. It won't go to waste because that one will go in the calendar next year.

Friday, November 26, 2010 we have Art Talk with myself, Elaine and Janice. It's 2-4pm at the Atrium on Sweet Auburn The Oddfellows Building 236 Auburn Ave. Atl, GA 30303. Tell everybody you know, especially people in Atlanta. As tradition will have it, I will tell a couple of my quilt stories. So as you can probably tell, I'm excited. See you there!

The Place To Be

Last night was the opening reception to our new "Vistas" Exhibit at the Atrium on Sweet Auburn in downtown Atlanta. The exhibit features the work of three artist: Aisha Lumumba, Elaine Parker and Janice Hunter. We've been at it for four years now and it is great.

Of course, I was a mixture of excited and exhausted, but it made for a good combination. Friends (old and new) as well as new acquaintances and my cousin (Mildred, who is always so supportive), were pouring in. Many people who have watched us over the years were there and some who just found out about us this year. Anyway as ZZ Hill says, the party was jumping and we were having a good time. The food was really good and I am told the wine was too.

I am so proud of this exhibit. We work very hard to get better every year. I think we did it this year. Elaine, Janice and I created a triptych of the Atlanta skyline. We were all nervous about how it would turn out. Would they match? Could we get the dimensions right? I think it is daunting enough to be one person doing a triptych but to have 3 people working on one was wild. We communicated a lot and worked it out. Tell me what you think. Look close because Elaine's buildings are made of beads.

If you are going to be in Atlanta for Thanksgiving, you can still catch a glimpse of the artists at the Artists' Talk and Quilt Stories on Friday, November 26, 2010 (Black Friday) at 2-4pm Atrium on Sweet Auburn Oddfellows Building 236 Auburn Ave. Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 418-5413. The exhibit will be showing through December 31. Atrium's hours are 9am-5pm Monday through Friday. Call about Private Showings (404) 418-5413.

Aisha Butterfly

I made this picture my profile picture on facebook and much to my surprise to I got an overwhelming response. People were writing about it daily. I wasn't sure if it was the quilt, me or the composition. I suspected it was the composition because I had posted the quilt by itself previously and it got no mention.

My daughter took the picture and she called it Mama Butterfly. I vaguely remember her saying let's take the picture in front of this quilt. Then she said move over just a little. I had no idea I was lining up with the body of the butterfly and replacing it with my body. How interesting.

The quilt is called Metamorphosis. I had this idea that the metamorphosis of a thing encompassed the coming together of many different facets. So I collected several colors of fabrics to symbolize the many facets. I knew what fabrics I wanted to use, but had no idea how the different colors would all come together to give a cohesive look. As I started to put it together I saw that a spot of red could bring it all together. Many quilters shy away from reds and golds but I embrace them. I wanted that butterfly to burst out of it's cocoon in full brilliance. Red did that. I didn't overwhelm it with red but dipped a little of it here and there.

I used a crazy quilt vibe and explored the development of my own technique for putting it together. I did some ruching, some beaded embellishments, some fabric painting, buttons, sequins, some lace trim, hand quilting and lots and lots of love.

I think that is what people see, the love.

I Luv Saturdays

I love Saturdays for several reasons. First it is the monotony breaker for the week, maybe not for me but for everyone else which in turn affects me. Saturday maybe embedded in my Psychic since I was born on Saturday. I mostly love Saturday because it is the day the I can have my whole mind to myself. I mean I can concentrate fully on my work for the whole day and not have to keep an ear out for anyone. I don't have half my brain working on a project while the other half is getting ready to go out, making sure I remember to take this or that. I'm not constantly trying to figure out who gets paid next.

I cook really early so that no one is expecting me to stop to cook. I don't have to pay any bills or answer the phone if I don't want to. I turn my radio on to my favorite Saturday morning blues show and let my sewing machine rip.

I don't have to keep one ear tuned because the baby may wake up and I'll have to stop. Someone else is doing that on Saturday. I don't run errands to the bank, the grocery store, or post office.

I don't go to meetings or anywhere else if I don't want to. I like just going inside myself and ignoring the rest of the world. While I'm in there, I create. Sometimes I create something really super and other times the work just soothes my mind. Sometimes I find it relaxing to repeat the same block over and over and over. Then I find it fulfilling to look back at the pile of blocks I have made.

When my radio show goes off, I blast my CDs. If any of my family members come by, they shake their heads about the loud music. The music helps me get lost from this world into a place where creating is free. Free of all the rules and constraints.

I have to say that I love Saturdays.

Inspiration

I was so inspired by Raymond Houston's blog about making the quilt blocks for the Global Change project that I set out to make some too. I went to the website http://www.globalchange.me/Global_Quilt.html and thought it was a wonderful cause. If you are a quilter, please check it out and join.

These are the blocks that I made for the project. I pray they can be worked in some kind of way. All the blocks are so vastly different that are made by people from all over the world.

The first block I made using different size strips. I like the seemingly syncopated rhythm it makes because they don't match exactly. The second came straight out of my 2" square solid stash. When I have time I cut the smallest scraps into 2" squares and put them in a box. I separate the solids from the prints. I don't throw anything away larger than 2 inches. The last on was a pattern I wanted to try out. I liked it so much. I love when a pattern is really simple but gives the look of difficulty.

Don't forget to order your copy of my 2011 fiber art calendar. See the video about the calendar at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgON8m9s8bo

Saving Scraps

I started my career as a seamstress. I didn't know then that it would be my career but I loved sewing and I loved speed. So when I put the two together I became a speedy sewer. I could make a skirt in 30 minutes or whip up a dress in an hour. I relished that speed. I walked fast, all my movements were fast and the older people said I was "fast". I think they meant something else by that. My uncle would say, "Why do you walk so fast? You are going to be old by the time you are 24." We would both laugh. I don't know why he chose 24 nor could I figure out what he meant. Now I know he was saying that I was rushing through life and that I should take some time to smell the roses.

Consequently, all that fast sewing accumulated a large amount of scraps. I'd been taught (very thoroughly I might add) that it was bad to waste. So throwing those scraps of fabric away seemed like a waste. As the pile grew larger and larger and turned into boxes and boxes, I kept telling myself that one day I would make quilts with those scraps. Then my husband started saying little things like, "you sure have a lot of scraps." He helped me store them in the attic. I didn't even miss the boxes that went to the attic. When we moved he conveniently left them there. Some friends moved in the house and Damu brought over the boxes of scraps. He was beaming as he said, "you left something."

I was elated and my husband was disappointed. We all laughed and said, "if it is yours, you can't throw it a way". My scraps came home.

My uncle would be glad to know that I have learned to slow down. I finally started on my quilting journey and fell in love with the lack of speed. I like the idea of taking a project and working on it over a length of time. Quilting has nurtured that in me. Last year it paid off as I received Honorable Mention at the Pinnacle Exhibit for "A Quilter's Dream". I've been able to create some pleasing pieces from my scrap box.

2011 Calendar

My newest work is the "Laughter, Lessons and Triumph Calendar" for 2011. I am so excited that is ready early this year for pre-orders. This is one of my triumphs because it means I am finally getting a better handle on the use of my time.
Last year I didn't get a calendar out at all. I was a little down about that. I love consistency and dependability. I felt like I wasn't either one last year, although, I did a lot of other things. This year I have had to cut some activities and focus.
This calendar is great. It really showcases my work from all the different angles I like to look from. I said once that I struggle to go outside my box. Even though, I struggle so much to do that I still find a instantly recognizable quality in what I do. I have done some traditional quilts with a slant. I have done some modern quilts with a flair and most of all I have done some people doing what I love to see them do. We all go through times where we laugh, sing, and just "be" happy. Then there are other times when we just barely make through the tough lessons life has to teach us, like it or not. But the sweetest of them all is the triumph we feel when we wake up yet another morning to either laugh or learn lessons. I say, if I wake up in the morning, it is on. I have another day to make it work. That is why this calendar is the epitome of some of the laughter, a lot of the lessons and most of all the triumph.
Pre-order today at www.obaquilts.com and save $5.00.