Reinventing the Wheel

In cleaning out my studio I came across a project I did for a quilt shop.  We offered this Simple Country Sampler by The Rabbit Factory for a beginning class.  I loved that it included most anything you would need to learn from piecing to appliqué.  This class was quite a while ago and in colors the shop chose which I still think look good, but I would like to teach this class again in my colors.  It's a reminder that one of the best things about quilting is we all see something different through our own rose-colored glasses and mine are lime-green. 

The original project colors

http://www.therabbitfactory.com

Stencil LOVE,

I recently had a play day with my art group Out of Bounds using Gelli Art plates.  Stencils were a big part of these results.   We all agree we like Stencil Girl stencils and Amazon for our resources.   After that day I had to go home and try my hand at making my own stencil.   I usually make mine with two layers of freezer paper for durability, but after a day of play and paint a toll had been taken on my freezer paper version.  So I remade my favorite design in stencil plastic.  It's the one that looks like orange slices.  My edges are straight but rough because of the melted edges from the stencil cutter.  

If I discover something interesting further about stencil making I will pass it on.  Other wise jump in, the water is fine.

Box tape upper left, Tyvek circle and rice paper on the right.

Fabric with freezer paper backing.

Deli paper.

Not-So-Sacred-Space

The studio is my sacred-get-my-head-right-space.  It's the place I find solace and energy.  However over the past year it had become my not-so-sacred-space.  

My corners will filled with "GUILT" and "I'd-rather-be-doing" projects.  I liked to keep projects out as a reminder that they needed to be done, but since clearly that didn't work..... I dug in and cleaned every corner.  I boxed up each of my cherished projects so when I did bring them out it would have my full attention.  And I made me honey-do-list.  It's made up of projects I really want to work on.  That is now a electronic sticky on my computer rather than a flappy one stuck to my computer screen.  Hopefully that carries less guilt.

I am also finding homes for the tools, fabric or patterns I haven't used.  My feeling is they need to be used and loved properly.  

Now that the studio is cleaned up I took pictures to remind me of what I want it to look like. Non-Chaotic.  If I don't want chaos in my head why should I have it out front of me.

Panoramic shot of the whole studio.

I put a lot of thought in where my heart lies when it comes to art time.  At the forefront is traditional and art quilting.  Wool work and mixed media journaling because of my love of hand work and paper.  Knowing that really helped sort through the chaos and prioritize. 

So happy to have my cutting table free of debris.  After all I might as well use it as a cutting table and not a filing system. 

I have touches of my kids in the studio. The stuffed monkey was Connell's and the cat, Pary's.  The frog has a recording of their voices.  I used to go to my studio to have a break but my boys would follow me there and do their home work or what ever.  Now that they are not around as much these little touches have become a reminder how much my family has been a big part of my creativity and supported me along the way. 

My office is a part of my studio and it was looking pretty crap-tastic.  Yes that is a word I am submitting to Webster's.  If LOL and selfie can make it I strongly think crap-tastic should be included.  On the left is a homemade calendar/journal. I love that I have my computer calendar because it syncs with all my other devices.  But this I can have to doodle or write a word for the day on.  Writing a word for how the day went can really be cathartic.

So that's my studio confession.  I'll let you know if I kept my focus and the chaos at arms length.  

Playing

I'm teaching myself embroidery.  So I got this jacket from Target to play with.  I made a mistake when I first started on the wheels chain stitch but recovered after a couple of inches.  I didn't undo it because it's not hugely noticeable.  I'm playing after all.  

On a Gurney Journey

For those unfamiliar with a Gurney Journey he is the author & illustrator of the famous Dinotopia books.   He was the Artist in Residence at A&M's Department of Visualization this week.  So when my friend Carolyn (fan/stalker) found out he was doing a public lecture she put out a email to see who would join her on this adventure to see him.  Kris and I jumped on it and away we went.  

Let me tell you we had a adventure.  It started out at Yarntopia, the local yarn store. Where wool was to be found for felting.  

Starbucks for strength. 

About half way on our drive, Kris stopped at this great road side market.  Just a bit past the beginning of Hwy 6 exit off the 290 toward College Station.  It's on the left and so worth the stop.  She was there for honey.  I found green tomatoes but took a picture of the peppers because they were so pretty.   There was great pottery as well.  

Next stop was a quilt shop called Lone Star Quiltworks.  Very nice ladies and great choices in fabric and wool.  

After that a quick time filler at World Market then much needed dinner at Rudy's Barbecue. 
  

Finally off to the purpose of your journey and that was to see James Gurney.  I put a link below so you can check out his blog.  Carolyn says he is a great blogger because he post most every day.  Good lecture on his process and how his story came about.  After Carolyn and Kris got their books signed.  He draws a dinosaur with his autograph, how great is that.  He signed my sketch book and even chatted with us a bit.  Really gracious man.

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

My conclusion is even if you are not on a Gurney Journey, go out in the world with your friends and have your own journey.

Back To Quilting

For me summer is over.  The kids are back to school and I get to go back to quilting.  I have a birthday quilt I started at the last retreat that I'd like to finish.

It's always nice to have a little company.

Work is piling up.

Fruits of my labor from over the week.

I made a lot of excuses why I couldn't quilt over the summer.  Had something that needed cleaning or I didn't want to pass up being with the boys when the schedule gods were in my favor.   But after this last week of on and off sewing I found a little piece of mind.  I think I might need to re-learn how to stop holding my breath for the next thing that comes around the corner and just sew. 

Finished 

Dragon fly quilting by Kris Bryson

Another close up.

Label

This quilt brings layers of love.

  A lot of it from me but some from the people you never met.  

That is a lot of love and caring.  And all of it for you my friend.

Made for Donna Bacon of Anchorage, AK

By Cheryl Johnson of Katy, TX

Quilted by Kris Brison

2014

36 x 74

Art Walk

Our art group "Out of Bounds" is going to participate in this Art Walk. It's our first time with this event. 

Come see us July 19th, 4-8pm at 2045 Space Park Dr., Nassau Bay 

Bonnie Blue and her award winning MERMAID ART CAR will be there. You know we love our Art Cars.