Break
I selected break as my lead heading because I found myself needing a break after an intense week in the studio trying to meet the Project Quilting deadline in time to write this post. I did. In fact I had an hour or two to spare. However, I was too drained to tackle anything more than cleaning up my studio for the next week. I’m not broken and nor are any of my tools or equipment.
Project Quilting
The prompt for Project Quilting 16-6 is button it up. At first I took the prompt quite literally and thought about ways to create something quilted and embellished with buttons. Not my thing, so I quickly dismissed that idea. Then I thought about censorship and knew that was a theme I could get behind.
I am always trying to think of something I can make for my annual open studio that is an affordable purchase and not too time consuming for me. Book covers, or in this case a spiral notebook cover had possibilities. How hard could it be? Well, if something is simple you know I can make it hard and time consuming. I thought I was being brilliant by barely doing any piecing. The floral print on the black background is one fabric.
The journal cover area requiring quilting is 12″ h x 25″ w. The section in the photograph is approximately 10″ h x 8″ w. Let’s just say it took time to free motion quilt the cover. Then there was the pattern. I liked that it was written so that you could use it to calculate the correct size no matter what book or journal you were covering. Still, I struggled to grasp parts the instructions. Lots of reading, rereading and reading again. No doubt if I tackle a second journal cover it will be easier and faster. Yes, I wrote my measurements on the instructions. 🙂 I’m delighted with the end result, but wished that learning something new didn’t have to be such a slog. No wonder I needed a break.
Presentation at the NEQM
Well, we did it. Judith Content and I filled in for Dr. Sabine Stanley at the New England Quilt Museum last Saturday. Fortunately, no one expected us to give her talk. Instead we were asked to talk about our experience as SAQA (Studio Art Quilts Associates) volunteers, how Fierce Planets came to be and then field questions.
What a treat it was to share the spotlight with Judith Content. She is one of the original members of SAQA, back when it started with only 15 or so members and communication was done by snail mail. She is also, SAQA’s 4th president. As she proudly announced, it was her idea to set term limits. When I joined SAQA in 2004 there were approximately 700 members and Katie Pasquini Masopust was the 3rd President. Now there are approximately 4,500 global members residing in six of the seven continents.
Although I wasn’t able to meet Dr. Sabine Stanley, my initial reason for selecting March 15th as the day to visit the museum, I am grateful to have seen the exhibition and for the generosity of the attendees and NEQM for adapting. There are approximately 40 pieces in the exhibition. You can check the work out here. So imagine Judith’s and my delight when our work turned out to be neighbors. My piece is just over my left shoulder. That is Judith’s artwork over her right shoulder. I believe her husband took the photo.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
I was too busy obsessively working on my journal cover to move forward with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Fortunately, I finished the yellow blocks earlier in the month.
Next week I hope to return to my Teal Cow and push forward on quilting last year’s RSC quilt.
I’m linking up to the following posts:
I love your teal and purple cow! Good luck with your talk – that would definitely be out of my comfort zone, too. If you are talking about your process of making Fierce Planets, you are an expert on that, and people will be fascinated!
The NEQM banner now reads that there will be an informal gallery talk given by two of the artists featured in the exhibit. Informal being the key word. Informal is the key. Also, I have spent years talking about my art. So, as long as I a not expected to get into the science, all is good.
Thank you for the thumbs up on my teal cow.
My goodness, your cow is amazing! Keep going!
How kind, Barb. I enjoyed the process of thread painting the cow between the panic moments. I used some pretty far out there variegated threads because they were the best I had on hand. I learned that you could mix cotton and polyester thread as well as different weight threads in the same piece.
I love your teal cow! I once made a self portrait in teal. Your thread painting is exquisite!
I can imagine you making a self portrait in teal. Bet it was stunning. Thank you for your thumbs up, Nora. Much appreciated.
Your cow is amazing! She has great personality! How great of you to be willing and able to step into to give the talk at the last minute. I hope it goes well for you and your art!
Terry, thanks for the boost of confidence. It helps that I started with a fabulous photo. That cow had personality to start with. My goal was not to loose it. Fortunately, the talk is to be informal, more like a docent in a museum. I’ve been speaking about my art and the art of others for decades. The tricky part is filing in with my subject versus the anticipated speaker who is a science professor from John Hopkins University.
I am in love with your cow!!! I can see her in all sorts of fun colors!! I think you are doing amazing
Now there’s a thought, Alycia. I wonder what other palette I could do the cow in. Perhaps go with the color of the month for RSC 2026. The mind boggles.
Oh, dear — Gwyned, your words convict me like a sermon from the pulpit. You know, if the pastor was sermonizing about refining creative powers instead of going on and on about souls and damnation…. ;-). Apologies if that offends, but that’s how your opening sentiments about “pushing through the discomfort” landed on me. AAARRGH!!! Your cow of a different hue looks delightful and I can definitely see the challenge in trying to capture and convey all of the information and emotion surrounding the subject in these bizarre shades. And I also see how this exercise outside your comfort zone is causing growing pains that might lead to an expansion of your creative toolbox. I am currently slogging through the discomfort of unfamiliar custom digital quilting on a friend’s vintage sampler UFO, NOT LOVING custom quilting and the technical challenges of fitting mathematically perfect digital designs onto real-world imperfect piecing, and forcing myself to keep going because I can’t give my friend her quilt back only half quilted…. Argh! And I know what you said about your turquoise cow applies to me forcing myself to finish this custom quilt, because having more familiarity with the software editing tools will definitely open up new ideas and inspiration for how I could use the tools differently on other projects in the future.
No offense taken, Rebecca. I find your take on my opening words intriguing. High fives to both of us for our willingness to tackle new and daunting tasks. I have no doubt you will master the software editing tools sufficiently enough to reach a comfort level where you custom quilting will wow others. You have both the eye and the skill. It is worth the pain.
I don’t think that Buelah (yes I named her) is blue or turquoise. You are just looking at her in the early morning hours when the dawn light makes her look kinda purple. I’d be thrilled if I had the skills and the patience to do half of what you have achieved so far. Keep going. You are on the right track. Buelah will stop traffic, when she is ready 😀
Ah, Preeti, you are highly skilled, we simply opt to focus on different areas of quilting. The diversity of vision and skills is what keeps me enthralled with this medium. Precisely why I intend to keep going for as long as I can.
Your sweet cow is wonderful, it reminds me of the purple Milka Cow, chocolate pure happiness 😉 This, thread painting, would be a very disconfort zone for me, I’m sure you will be the best to talk about your art. Thank you so much for sharing, and linking up!
Oh, Frédérique, I love the image of the Milka Cow. You can’t go wrong with chocolate. Perhaps a teal cow would work for a mint chocolate confection. Thank you for your confidence.
That cow is gorgeous! I had never heard of the New England Quilt Museum. I will have to visit it sometime when I go to Boston to see my daughter and her family.
The New England Quilt Museum is a bit of a hike from Boston, but it is a lovely museum. It was established in 1987 in Lowell, MA. The city was a mill town specializing in textiles. There are several other museums and galleries in town and quite a few good restaurants, so worth a day trip.
Congratulations on your quilt being hung at the New England Quilt Museum! Did you see the Quilting and Copyright exhibit while at the museum? I have a mini quilt in the It Starts With an Idea display of Hourglass quilts along with 7 other participants from ProjectQUILTING Season 15 challenge.
Darn, I missed your piece. I spoke in the room where the Quilting and Copyright exhibition was hung. Check out next week’s post to see a teeny part of the exhibit. The museum program had me running for the full time I was there. So, unfortunately, I didn’t get to tour the museum as a visitor. Wish I had known. Congratulations on having a quilt on display at NEQM.
Your cow is just beautiful! Keep rolling on since you’re on the right road.
Thank you, Sue. I’m looking forward to developing the background behind the cow, hopefully this week, but definitely next week.
Wow, you’re doing great on your teal cow!!! And I’m sure your talk today was super interesting!!! I’ve been to that museum once 20 years ago. (We’re usually go-west travelers since that’s where the family members are.)
Thank you, Nancy. I’m pleased to say the talk was well received. Judith Content, my fellow speaker and I have known each other for 20 years, as active volunteers for SAQA. We know our art and SAQA intimately. Since that was the topic of the day we easily shared the stage. There is always something to see the at the NEQM if you ever venture east again.
I like your yellow heart! Speak from your heart about what you love and you’ll be great. 🙂
Pat, such sage advice. I did speak from the heart. Thank you!
We had cows at the farm, but never a teal cow! Wish we had! 🙂 Love it, Gwyned! So pretty in those colors. Pretty RSC heart too.
What? No teal cow at your farm. Wouldn’t it be fun if farms have animals with artistic colors out in the fields. How about Belted Galway’s with a rainbow scrap belt around their middle? Such a fun idea.
Your cow is lovely and it looks like a cow! I can’t imagine the patience it takes to do thread painting. I hope your talk went well and you enjoyed the rest of your visit to the museum.
I did start with a cow photo. That helps. The trick for me with thread painting isn’t patience, but identifying which thread to use next from the threads I have on hand. The talk went well, thank you, Gretchen. Unfortunately, the pre-prep and post speaking with individual attendees gave me very little time to see the exhibit.
I collect cow art too! well cows from stuffies to statues to wall art to cows on pj’s! I love cows and your teal cow is excellent. Gosh, I can’t imagine making one for myself but if I saw that at an art show it would sing to me. Love your fierce planets so much. It has so much movement in color and line yet is cohesive. Great! LeeAnna
What an honor. I am sure the attendees loved the presentation.
Yes it was quite an honor. The attendees were the perfect audience, engaged with many follow-up questions.
I’m glad you and Judith were able to coordinate your talks and people enjoyed it. What a special time you had. I like your book cover, happy stitching this week and I look forward to viewing the turquoise cow next week.
It was special, Gretchen. Especially sweet since Judith and I had seen each other for several years. She is from Palo Alto, CA and I am from Boston, MA.
The book cover was a new adventure. I’m glad you liked it. I followed LeeAnna’s advice to let the fabric do the work.
What an honor! What an experience! I’m glad it went well and that the audience was so engaged because that means they loved your talk!
It was an honor. It is a treat to have a focused and engaged audience. It helps that most were quilters and all had come to see the exhibit, Judith or me.
I would have loved to have been there to hear the two of you talk about your art. Maybe, I will get to visit the quilt museum a few years from now. Your thread painting has me in awe. I love the Dandelions on your journal cover. They look like they could fluff off the page in a breeze. The real cow is amazing. Such personality.
I wish you could have been at the museum, too, Gail. I would have enjoyed meeting you. Thank you, as always, for your encouraging words.
I haven’t commented on this post before now because it shows I already did, except that’s from last week’s post! But I did want to say – so glad your talk went well, and now it’s over! 🙂 Your Project Quilting book cover is amazing – I like the way you used the floral print and embellished it with quilting.
Mea culpa, Diann. Sometimes I get muddled when my link is already there in the link up and don’t notice that it is from the week before and not the current week. The book cover was the perfect excuse to use the floral border print. I’m glad it spoke to you.
Lovely journal cover for your PQ 16.6 entry! Sorry it took a bit more brain power than anticipated.
Glad to hear that the NEQM presentation went well. We all need a break from time to time, don’t we? Here’ hoping it was just what you needed to be able to focus on the projects at hand.
Yes, breaks are essential. Sometime the studio is the perfect place for me to step out of the world and take a break. Then there are times when the studio work is so challenging, I need a break from that, too.
As for the brain power, it is pretty typical for something I have never done before, especially when coupled with a time limit.
Congratulations on the talk, it looks like everything went smoothly. I love your book cover, such a pretty floral fabric. Sorry for the struggle but you did it beautifully. Break is a necessity sometimes!
Thank you for sharing and linking up and also for the great advice about my quilt’s border! Definitely an idea I will follow.
I was so pleased when I saw the floral border fabric. I knew I had to add it to my stash. There it sat, for several years since it never seemed to suit any of my artwork. The book cover was the perfect excuse to use it.
Can’t wait to see what you opt to do with your SAHRR. It’s been such fun watching it come together.