In Thanks

I’m simply overwhelmed with the outpouring of support I’ve gotten over the past week. Thanks everyone for the kind words on my father. I’ve been feeling a maelstrom of emotions: grief, of course, coupled with compassion for all of you dealing with cancer or caring for a loved one with cancer; gratified to hear so many will be making postcards for FFAC (thank you); and lastly, blessed to feel the love and friendship making its way through cyberspace.

One last word on my father. I flew down this past Wednesday to his house for a small gathering of friends and relatives. I kept composed fairly well until Sonny, a childhood friend of my dad’s arrived. Sonny was there during the final days of my dad’s life and I just sobbed on his shoulder as we sat in my father’s sitting room and Sonny told me all of the things my father said, experienced, and felt during those last days. Before my father fell into a coma, he turned to Sonny and between labored breaths said, “Sonny, I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to do in this life.”

When Sonny told me that, I quieted some. I’m relieved that even though my dad died fairly young, he died fulfilled, and every time I’m feeling a wave of grief wash over me, I’m going to try and remember this.

With this also comes the realization—and determination—to make the absolute most of my life. And as I enjoy another birthday next month, I realize I’m. Not. Nearly. Done. Not even close.

After a week of mourning, I walked into my studio this Saturday morning with a vengeance to create, to choose to live a healthy life, to give my job all that I can, and to fiercely love and support my family and friends.

I’m so blessed to have this incredible job and to be part of the community that all of you create. Here at Quilting Arts LLC, we have a lot of exciting endeavors to plan for over the next few months, namely an increased publication schedule (more on that later), as well as the end-of-year celebration of Make It University/Make It U! this November in Houston. If you haven’t heard, Cloth Paper Scissors is collaborating with Quilts Inc. to put together an exciting gathering of mixed-media vendors and artists to offer mixed-media, paper, and bookbinding products, teach workshops, and share some interesting exhibits. And here’s where a little fun (and thanks to you) come in to play…

As I sit in my studio overflowing with hand-dyed fabrics, vintage findings, buttons, hand-dyed cheese cloth, painted tissue and coffee filters (great for stitching and collage), and other findings, I know I just wont be able use it all.  So I have a deal for you:

1.The first 30 people to answer the following question via the blog will receive an assortment of goodies from me.  If you see that you are in the first 30 responses, please **email** me your mailing address. It’s a bit time-consuming to track people down so please make sure to immediately follow up your blog response by emailing me at editorial@quiltingartsllc.com with your address.
2. Take the goodies I mail you and create a piece of art. You can make a fiber art postcard, a tiny quilt, a handmade book, a series of ATCs, a fabric bowl, fabric house, etc. And I’d be thrilled to pieces if you created an ATC for Make It University/Make It U!

3. Scan or take a photograph of your work and email the image to me at editorial@quiltingartsllc.com by Friday, October 13th. The image should be either a jpeg or gif file and be 72 DPI and less than 1 MB in size. Please only send me one picture in total.

Since I’m going to be sending all 30 people nearly the same items but in various colors, it’ll be interesting to see the different results. I’ll be posting some of the pictures on the blog, and it’s also quite possible that we’ll feature the different pieces of artwork in Houston in our booth in the Make It University/Make It U section. (If this happens I’ll post details at a later date.)

The question to be answered on the blog:
What special skill or series of work are you interested in perfecting or studying at the moment?  Making creative journals?  Free-motion quilting? Handmade books? Fabric bowls? Tell us what you’re doing, and if you have a website or blog to show us your work make sure to include the link.

Be well, everybody…

 

 

 

Comments

[Sandy Jandik]

Your attitude is great-a good focus for the future.
I have 3 things that I am concentrating on right now-always have wanted to do everything!
I want to do more free machine embroidery to create unique textures. I want to experiment in mixed media-using lots of alternative fibers-paper, etc. I want to slash fabric randomly and rejoin randomly-very freeing.
I am interested in exploring books, mostly making them or decorating blank journals. This one I seem to have more trouble with. Any I see in books and magazines draw me right me, but I have trouble with the blank page.
Thinking of you fondly, Sandy

[eleni]

I just discovered your blog and only recently found out about CPS Magazine. I am interested in mail art and round robin art swaps. I enjoy free form collage -- plenty of ragged uneven edges. Thank you! Eleni

[jennybd]

I love your blog...it's one of the first ones I check each day. You are such an inspiration. I'm focusing on ATC's and fabric postcards now in between finishing up a quilt I hope to have done by Christmas. I want to try embelising more with beads and I want to challenge myself to send more mail art to my best friends scattered away from me. Thanks for the chance to be included in your project...I can't wait to see the goodies!

[Natalya]

It's always hard for me to decide just what i want to concentrate on. But lately I have been trying very hard to learn to add texture and contrast to my quilts. For me that involves collage, free motion quilting and painting. Mixed media has a huge appeal to me, and I want to learn to incorporate that into the texture of my quilts. Thanks for this opportunity!

[Lisa Gallup]

I really appreciate your words, as my mom is dying of cancer right now. It is tough to watch a parent die, as you well know. My art has been a wonderful stress reliever for me. In recent months I've delved deeper and deeper into fabric. I love dyeing it, painting it, and embellishing it. I also have gotten addicted to carving my own stamps to use on fabric. I've been making postcards for FFAC, have been doing a few wall hangings, and want to make some fabric books. I was really inspired by Karen Stiehl Osborne in the most recent issue of Quilting Arts. My immediate plans are to create a line of postcards and/or wallhangings to post to my soon to be opened Etsy store. :)

[Brenda Jennings]

So sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like you had a great relationship with your father. I just finished and sent off 5 more postcards for FFAC. i wish I could go to Houston to see them all! Am currently finishing up my journal quilts for the journal quilt project. I am trying to add more texture, relief, and dimension with a variety of materials. I really love the South African quilters work, and was so pleased to see the article on Rosale Dace; just love her work. Thanks for the "special project"; am glad I happened upon your blog today. Thanks, Brenda

[Tammy]

Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this.
Right now I’m working on expressing myself throught my art – how can I create things that evoke the emotions I’m trying to convey? I love fairy tales and magical imagery… can they be whimsical & do I have to stick with the fabric art doll medium that I’m so used to? Doll website at: http://tamdoll.home.comcast.net & new blog at: http://tamdoll.blogspot.com .

[sue]

So glad to hear that you are back in your studio and wish you well on your new road towards living your best life.
And to answer your question I would really like to explore the art of making books and journals. I'm drawn to mixed media work but have never felt comfortable in that venue so exploring the marriage of fiber and paper in journal form is what I'm intrigued by. My email: suebemail@yahoo.com
my website: www.suebleiweiss.com which has a link to my blog. Thanks for the opportunity to participate!

[Kris]

The open sharing of what you are experiencing is very giving of yourself. I hope you find some peace in this time of grief.

Right now I feel myself focusing on improving my drawing skills. Even though I feel I lack the basics, I am certainly being drawn (no pun intended) to
creating my own simple ink drawnings for use in my mixed media art projects.

[Terri]

How kind of you.....thank you.
I would like to continue to improve all my fabric and fiber skills...learn new techniques..books, journals, embellishing, and to come up with original designs. Visit my blog @ http://stegart.blogspot.com

[Jennifer]

What a moving blog entry. I am so sorry for your loss. I just finished up my postcards for FFAC. I am playing around with nuno felting and regular wet felting and incorporating those results into art quilts. I also have some new fabric dyes that I want to try out. And as always, practicing my free motion quilting skills.

[Jody]

I am learning crazy quilting. My Great Grandmother started teaching me needlework when I was 5 years old. Hard to believe I have been stitching in some way for over 40 years!!!

After reading ClothPaperScissors and attending the Quilting Show in Chicago this spring, I had this URGE to Crazy Quilt. I know I don't have the tools or time to create huge detailed quilts. But I just love all the different stitches so I have been reading about Crazy Quilting. My 1st attempt was the "Domestic Challenge" at our county fair. I quilted and crazy quilted a table runner. No I did not place in the fair but it was fun. I am now working on these very cute "heart shaped" crazy quilted purses for my two little nieces. I sure they will love them no matter how they turn out.

Thank you Pokey and ClothPaperScissors for all of your inspiration.

Jody

PS: I have included my Blog address, but it is currently empty, so again it will be ClothPaperScissor that inspires me to accomplish something else. Put some photos on my blog.

[Barb G]

Please accept my sympathies on the loss of your father. You have so much grace and insight in a difficult time like this that you are truly an inspiration to us all. The magazines that you all produce are a wonderful inspiration, too.
Since my busy summer season is passed me (I co-own and operate a seasonal resort business), I can now turn my focus to making things. I hope this fall to pursue some fabric books that have come together in my mind. My stack of Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors magazines are safely stashed under my bed. Most of the time, I can only read a bit at night before falling asleep. Now I can think about trying some techiniques that I have been reading about: silk paper, lutradur, and then constructing these into the books and journals. With any luck, I can involve my homeschool son and daughter in these adventures.

[ginger henkel]

how wonderful that you have found a positive way to work through your loss...I too have been working on postcards for the ffac...and I am eager to continue my education in design ( which quilting arts has been kind enough to add to ) so that my art quilts can better tell my stories...Ginger

[Joanna van Ritbergen]

I am really interested in experimenting with inks and rubber stamps. I would love to create great faces with inks. I am part of the SurfaceDesign group on yahoo groups and I also have a blog. I am also interested in texture.

Many thanks!
Joanna

[Nic Bridges]

Pokey, your posts about the loss of your Dad have been poignant - I cannot imagine losing mine at this point in my life. I am absolutely with you in your resolve to make the most of life - it's just too short and we need to use it well.

I have been working recently on a series of improvisational work, developing quilts that are somewhat emotive and expressive of my place in the world right now. I have just been accepted into a local gallery, so have been working towards that.

I have also been putting together a series of classes in contemporary techniques, which has been great fun. It is a regular once-a-month class where participants learn a new technique each time, making a journal quilt size sample to build up a "toolbox" of skills to apply to making their own art. I have challenged myself to come up with a different free-motion quilting approach as well as a new binding/finishing technique each month as well. I'm very excited about these classes, and I'm sure I'm learning as much from the experience as any of the girls in my classes!

There are pics of much of my recent work and class samples on my blog at www.nicquiltz.blogspot.com - I'd love you to check it out!!

[Karen Stiehl Osborn]

Hi Pokey!
I am currently studying praying mantises for a series as a remembrance to my Dad. He was always photographing the mantises in his yew bushes, and I've spotted several in my gardens recently. So I am studying about them, photographing the ones I see in my yard, and sketching for a new series of collages. My Dad died in August 5 years ago, so this is the time of year that is hard for me and a perfect time to be starting this new series.

[Barb]

I have so many words for you but not nearly enough space in which to pour it all. I wish I could sit across a table with you and a cup of coffee and just talk for hours. I lost my dad almost three years ago, also from cancer. Despite the heads up, as it were, one is never prepared. My only solice was in knowing I was so lucky to have had a close relationship with him. Lucky to have been his only little girl, lucky to have had parents married over 60 years. Before tears completely cloud my vision, let me just say I am sorry for your loss, and you are in my thoughts. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and for commenting. Initially my breath caught in my throat, lol, as I don't want to disappoint you. But you are so kind, so welcoming, so full of 'golden' (my friends always said to surround oneself with golden people, and ignore the silver and the bronze. You are truly golden). Thank you for that. I'm glad to have discovered this blog tonight (I was looking for your email address!). Just take time for yourself right now. Memories are prizes for the heart. I wish you lots of lovliness there. Your dad is still with you in so many ways.

[Julie Luca]

My sincere sympathy for your loss.
I have always sewn and done mixedmedia projects. I just took my first quilt class recently and am concentrating on precision sewing. I am also learning to machine quilt. Book binding/making is a pet favorite of mine and I hope to mix that with the quilting.
Your magazines are an inspiration and make it difficult to chose what projects to do, but dreaming is fun too! Thanks, Julie in Alaska

[debbi crane]

My prayers remain with you! I am so IN LOVE with fabric and stitching right now, all I can think about is how to combine fabric with the papers and book forms that I already do. I want to continue to challenge myself to push the boundaries of "The Book"

[Sue D.]

I'm so glad you were able to talk to your father's friend, and were able to find some comfort in what he had to tell you. My dad has had cancer, too, but has survived it so far.
As far as my art, I'm trying to learn new techniques that I can use for art quilts. There are so interesting and exciting things being done, I love to see beadwork, scrapbooking, metalwork, painting &c. all being used in quiltmaking.

[Mary Ann Littlejohn]

So sorry to hear about your father. I am trying to work in series to increase my body of work. I'm making FFAC and working on free motion quilting designs. My first invitational exhibit is coming up later this month. That is a good motivator.

[Char DeRouin]

Dear Pokey,
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. My mom also passed away of lung cancer in January, and while it's taken me some time, I have started to work on handmade art journals and "freestyle" scrapbook pages as a source of healing. I always enjoy mixing things up by using a variety of products in my work. Thanks and take care!
xoxo,
Char

[Patti Culea]

Dear Pokey,
As you know, my mom passed away in May. Her lungs gave out, too. She never smoked,but was a farmers wife.
I'm finished a fabric postcard for Fiber for a Cause based on your last post. It made me feel good knowing I was making something that would help research to fight this horrid disease.
Thank you for all your inspiration. And, know you are always in my prayers.
Fondly,
Patti

[Leanne Hurren]

I find ti very hard to focus on one technque / area and also to find the time in a busy day. I am focusing on colour and dyeing with procion at the moment. I am taking part in a masterclass with Ruth Issett at the moment at Art Van Go in the UK and we are exploring colour on paper and cloth - great! Colour mixing is something I never really learnt and that is what I am focusing on now. Lots to learn!