Time vs Organization

I seem to always feel like I don't have enough time. It looks like I have the same number of hours as everyone else but they seem to get more done. Everything I have read and watched on HGTV points to the fact that organization would save me time. When will I find enough time to organize. Don't get me wrong I organize a little then get back to work. Then I work a lot until it gets the best of me then I stop and organize a little.

I have found that when I am working I don't have time to organize and clean. The elves nor the fairies come in to surprise me during the night. And when I am cleaning and organizing the work time is ticking away. I want to balance the two but haven't worked that out yet. I'm open for suggestions.

I've been watching the way I work and that has helped a lot. I know that I need little baskets for projects that I am currently working on. If I pack it way away I forget about it. It becomes "out of site-out of mind." Then I need places for short term put aside, where I can see them but not put completely away. I have plenty of places where I have put things away and some days I open them and say oh I forgot I had this. I can use it now.

Still Working

I think I had forgotten how time consuming it was to remove all that paper. The first time I made this quilt, I cut the center rectangles and strips to measurements given in the book. It turned out a little wavy and I liked that hand made-free looking effect. Someone asked me did I paper piece it. They knew very well I had not paper pieced it by the curves in my lines. But it kind of got under my skin. I wondered if they asked that to insinuate that I should have. So I figured I'd just try it with the paper and see.
I absolutely loved it! The paper piecing fed right into my need for control. Now I'm wondering if I will ever make a free flowing house quilt again. It doesn't matter though, because I make so many other free flowing quilts. It is okay to feed my control issues some times. Isn't it?

How Long It Takes

"How long does it take to make that one?" the inquisitive viewer asks. It seems that question infuriates some artists and gives others a chance to express themselves even more. The artists that it infuriates perceive the viewer to be questioning their price. I guess I am naive in that I take a question for what it is and try not to read my own prejudices into it. I have found that most people who ask this question genuinely have no idea of what goes into making a piece of art, whether it is a quilt, oil painting, or a novel. I think they are trying to understand what goes on inside a mind that can sit for hours and hours and come out of it with something cohesive. They seem to be wondering if their square thoughts can fit into that round artist hole.
Then they say, "You must be really patient." Patience is definitely a big part of it but so much more goes into making it happen. At first I want to tell them how long I thought about the project before I started it. But there is not really a record of that. I didn't jot down how many mornings I woke up thinking about the best way to compose the piece or how long I thought about what colors I wanted to use to make just the right statement. I realize that part of it can't be contained in a number like two hours in all over three years. What sense would that make to the viewer?
Then I want to say, I searched the fabric stores and online quilts shops for just the right fabric. How much time? Can I say 5 hours online when I really bought fabric for 3 other quilts at the same time? Can I say 8 hours of quilt shop and fabric store shopping even when I bought fabric for other projects at the same time? No don't say that. Maybe this doesn't count.
Finally, colors right, thoughts right, pattern/design right and I get down to cutting. Is this one that I cut all at once or is this one that I cut a little at a time so that I could think about how it is evolving? Sometimes I have thought it through and when I start to work one of the fabrics just doesn't work. I have to re-think. How much time does it take to replace that fabric that didn't work. Eventually, I have something to sew and I dive right in. This is when how long it takes really gets dicey. It gets down to how the artist works.
I work about 8 hours a day. Some people only work on weekends. Others work at night after they get off work, while some early birds get up at the crack of dawn before the family starts to stir and work in the peacefulness of early morning. Then there are the night people who work late into the night.
I started a quilt of row houses in January. I have tried all different kinds of things to get an accurate count on the time I put into this quilt. I decided to do one house a day. First of all it took more than 8 hours to do one house. That got boring after about the second day and I gave myself a break and worked on something else for a while. Then I tried to do 1 1/2 houses a week, which would have given me 6 houses in one month. I got on a roll. I made one house, then it turned into two, then the next day I started on another one and I ended up making 5 in one week. By the end of that week the monotony got the best of me. I found myself thinking about another project. One quilter emailed about the fact that she only works on one project at a time. I thought, how wonderful. I tried that once and it almost drove me crazy.
So now it is March and I have 16 houses done. Three months of actual sewing time and only two more houses to go. I don't know how long it is going to take to make that border or how long the quilting will take. I know it will take me about 4 hours to bind and close it. So I round the time up when someone asks, "how long did that quilt take?" I'm standing there going through all of that in my mind. They are probably wondering why I am hesitating. Don't I know how long it takes. I say about 4 or 5 months. They seem happy at that and I know in my heart that the actual time cannot be measured. It is truly a labor of love.

Simple Play

I want to say that Simple Play won the viewers choice hands down. Almost everyone commented on the two little girls chasing the butterflies. When I was making it, I had this image in mind but was not sure how well it would translate to the fabric. As it started to come to life, it awakened a childhood memory. I don't usually have an attachment to my quilts, but I knew I wanted to keep this one. It immediately became the subject of one of my quilt stories.

I received so many wonderful comments about the video. My favorite was: "I love them all. I looked at the video 4 times and each time I got a feeling of awe and surprise. Your quilts are so alive and have so much character that I can feel the wonderful spirit (your spirit and love) that is in each one of them. -The Michael Jackson quilt was very touching, this is a awesome way to honor his memory. -Crossing Over has an optical illusion affect, when I first looked at it and heard you say it was called Crossing Over, I saw a pair of hands floating. When I looked the second time I could see the butterfly. -Whimsical gave me a warm feeling, like I knew a secret or something no one else knows. -I could see the free spirit in Lady Butterfly. -In my minds eye, I could see the two little girls running, hear the laughter and fell the breeze of a spring day. I can go on and on, I am so sorry I missed the exhibit." RM, Atlanta, GA

I'd like to thank everyone that offered constructive criticism. I will definitely use that in the next video. If you haven't seen it yet, please be my guest: http://www.youtube.com/user/obaquilts

Resplendent Video on Youtube

I am so excited that my new video about the Resplendent Exhibition is up on YouTube. The exhibition opened November 16 and went through January 31, 2010. The exhibit featured butterflies. We tried to explore butterflies from many different points of view. Janice did a series called Georgia Grown which focused on three butterflies that are indigenous to Georgia. Elaine created a beaded curtain of a flower garden visited by butterflies. Janice and I dabbled into fantasy as we made our own species of butterflies with Whimsy, Metamorphosis and The Search Is On. I'm trying to figure out which quilt I like the best. Maybe you can help me by posting your favorite in the comments section after you view the video.
We had storytelling and many private showings. I wanted to share the exhibit with all of the people that could not make it. Elaine, Janice and I enjoyed the exhibit thoroughly and now you can see my portion of it on Youtube.com

Click: http:/www.youtube.com/profile?user=obaquilts#plu/0/2OdMoBrHKsl

Time Flies

I was very surprised to see that I haven't written on here since November. The holidays came in and swept me away literally. We had a great Thanksgiving holiday with family but I was feeling a little under the weather. I had that cough that didn't want to go away. It was really draining and took all my energy away. When I have days when I don't even want to sew, I know I am sick.

Then the end of the year holidays were here before I knew it. We had a great time for Kwanzaa. Umoja night was held at the Atrium on Sweet Auburn and it was wonderful for me. We had the opportunity to show our exhibit that night. We had a big celebration at our home for Kujichagulia and the rest of the week was family time.

The Resplendent Exhibition has been extended through January, which is very exciting. Friday, January 29, the Atrium presents Beverly "Guitar" Watkins at 6:30pm. You can still see the exhibit and enjoy at evening of music, fun, and relaxation. You may RSVP at (404) 524-7921 or call for additional information.

Resplendent Art Exhibition

Resplendent Art Exhibition with Fiber, Beads, and Mixed Media opened at November 16 and runs through December 31, 2009. The exhibition features art from Aisha Lumumba, Elaine Parker, and Janice Hunter.

I started this purple and green quilt back in April and you all were there with me as I blogged about it. It is finally finished and a part of the exhibit. I call it "Lift Off." You may remember how that developed. I went in my stash and pulled out the fabrics to make it. I was amazed that I had what I needed just waiting for me to put it together in something spectacular.

The theme of the exhibit is the beauty of butterflies. The opening reception was last night and it was a great start to a wonderful show.

People I haven't seen in several years came. Some friends that I worked with over 20 years ago saw my name in the advertisement and surprised me. My cousins are always there and oh so supportive. Pamela Diana, the dramatist and poet, performed. If you ever have an opportunity to seeand hear her, don't miss it. All of us artists were proud and humbled. I'll put some pictures up from the reception soon.

The quilt that we used for advertising is called "Resplendent" appropriately named for the exhibit. I had the idea for this quilt in my head. I knew I wanted a butterfly turned sideways and flying away from a flower. I knew I wanted it to be gold on a black background. I thought that would create the dramatic effect I was after. I collected fabrics and trims for months with that butterfly in mind. When I finally started to work on it, it took shape quickly. I guess I had done most of the work in the thinking process. That new Brother sewing machine was also a tremendous help. I never know exactly how many hours a quilt is going to demand but I was pretty sure this one would take a while. The more embellishments I put on it the more it seemed to need. I may go back and put more beads on later, who knows.