How Time Flies

It has been almost 2 weeks since my last post and so much has been happening in my life. As always family comes first and they have certainly been keeping me busy running around lately. I sometimes don't know where I am going to find the time to finish my projects, but, I am happy to announce the completion of my "New Visions" project.

At first the title just didn't feel right, but after some thought the title of "Black and White Visions" came to mind. Yet, things can sometimes be decieving and all things are not always black and white so I had to add a splash of color to my vision.

Here is the finished "Black and White Visions" wall hanging
.

I already have new ideas to create a series of wall hangings that will be far more contemporary than what I am used to doing. I think that every once in a while we have to take new directions so that we can expand our experiences and discover new things about ourselves.

Design does not always have to be about what makes us comfortable but design has to be about what keeps us creative.

I hope everyone has a "creative" weekend.

Renewed Spirit and Inspiration

Well yesterday was a day to network and get inspired by others.

I attended the Greater San Antonio Quilt Guild meeting with my youngest daughter, both of us are members, and were in awe at the Bring and Brag session. These quilters are so very accomplished and they are so proud of their work, as well they should be. I sometimes feel inferior to these quilters, but they probably felt the same way once as they sat in the audience watching others sharing their work. I can only imagine the courage that it takes to get up in front of other quilters and show off what you are most proud of in hopes that others will share your joy. I am not sure my level of courage has reached that point yet, it is easy to show off pictures on a blog or in my etsy shop because I don't have to face my critics. Finding courage and not feeling inferior, this is the next challenge for me to face and work through.

I stopped by the Leon Valley Trade and Market Days, and even though it was a cold and drizzly sort of day, there were still vendors inside and out. The crowd wasn't too large but I could only imagine what the crowd would have been like had the weather been better, my "vision" for this venue was inspirational. I stopped at a few booths and spoke to some vendors and was pleased that they offered their encouragement to join them on the second saturday of each month as a vendor. I took stock of the items that vendors displayed and price points that we needed to consider as DD#3 and I discussed selling strategies.

Today with "renewed spirit" and "inspiration" I will begin adding to my inventory and next month I hope that my "vision" will be a reality. It was a great day off and we both enjoyed our day out together and are looking forward to a new week.

This week I wish everyone a "renewed spirit" and "inspiration"

New Vision - New Direction

My designs are usually very traditional but I had a "vision" a few weeks ago just before I fell asleep. This "vision" has stayed with me like the melody of that last song you heard on the radio just before you turned it off, and with a haunting spirit keeps coming to mind since then. Everyday it creeps into my mind reminding me of its presence begging me to succumb to it's power for something more contemporary.

Well, today is the day for something new, push all those pieces of fabric and unfinished projects out of the way and lets get started on the foundation of what will become my next piece. I cut some pieces of fabric and placed them out on my cutting mat just trying to envision what, I think, will be a very contemporary piece, especially for me.

(Just a glimpse of what is to come.)

This has been a day of many "new visions" and new directions. I have been in a slump and worried about the economy and when my next sale will come, so I decided to walk into a local craft mall. I needed some rejuvination and I needed to find out if I was the only one in a "slump". Well, there were no surprises there, everyone is feeling the pinch of a rough economy and sales there are down also.

I did have one good turn of fortune when I ran into someone that I had met at a local craft show a few months back, and feeling at ease, I began to ask questions. The opportunity for a "new direction" came when I found out that they also do quilting classes and have been sending quilts out of town to be quilted. Here was my chance, and I was not going to let this one get away, I explained that I had recently purchased a quilting machine and was looking to expand into quilting services also. There was a quick exchange of business cards and a new business connection was made. I have been handing out business cards whenever and wherever I can and each visit to the fabric or craft store brings new opportunities to market myself.

There is business to be had out there and this venture has only made me more determined to find it. This weekend I plan on visiting a couple of local Market and Trade Days locations to see what is selling and what is not. I will exchange business cards with as many people as I possibly can and ask questions, especially from seasoned sellers that can give me some advice. This is my "New Design" for myself, to be a more active promoter of my own craft and talents.

As for my "vision" well it continues to come together and grow.

I wish everyone success and a "New Vision".

Spring Break Outing

DD#2 and I always plan special outings during spring break and even though she is almost 19 yrs old this break is no different. We have been talking about it for days and have planned out what we wanted to do. Two things were on the list of "must do", especially since transportation and the changing weather were going to be a problem.

On Tuesday we had the most beautiful weather we have had all year. It was sunny and warm, but not too warm, "just right" to enjoy a wonderful day at the McNay Art Institute in San Antonio. DD#2 is an art student and has always loved to wander through museums and art exhibits and always with a camera. Sometimes photographs are allowed and of course sometimes they are not, but it is always a wonderful time for the two of us to share a common interest. I am not a paper and paint or pencil sort of artist, but as a quilter, I love to manipulate fabric as it speaks to me on how to use it. There was lots of wonderful inspiration and we both came home with tons of ideas.


The outdoor art displays are always some of my favorites,

but here even the restrooms and waste recepticals are something to see.

When you pay your admission to the museum you are given a sticker and the outdoor trash cans have been decorated with these little stickers. In our effort to make our own statement of the day, we added our stickers to the design too.

It was a great day and done on the best day for an outdoor experience during this spring break.