In my free time...

I've been doing a little reading and gathering reading to take on a trip later this week.

I'm not actually reading Soccernomics but I bought it for Jeff for Father's Day. Isn't it great when you find just the perfect gift?! Jeff is wild about soccer and getting ready to start his career as an econ professor. Plus, he really enjoyed Freakonomics and all of Malcolm Gladwell's books. This new books seems to play on those same themes in both content and cover design.

I picked up a copy of Oprah Magazine at Half Price Books for $1. It's the tenth anniversary issue and there are several lists of 10 thoughts from various experts. I love lists. I do not love that Oprah is on the cover of every issue. Why why why?! In fact, she's on the front and back cover of this issue.

The latest issue of Quilting Arts looks excellent, though it feels a bit disconcerting to read about all kinds of arty inspiration and not be able to create anything. (My studio is completely packed up in anticipation of our move.)

I'm about a quarter of the way through The Happiness Project. I'm enjoying it. It's all about perception, attitude and intention isn't it? I needed the reminder.

Speaking of soccer, I thought this slide show of vuvuzela pictures was very funny. The constant buzz coming from our tv: not so funny.

Before I Go...

I'm beginning to pack up our home and prepare for our move to Maryland. Sigh. It's a weird and wonderful mix of emotions.

I have lots of art quilts. I've made a lot of stuff in the past four years. I would love to sell some pieces before they go in boxes. I posted just a few items under my new blog tab "Small Works for Sale." Click that link, or on the tab at the top of my blog.

Here is a side slot of "Long Legs, Deep Roots."This quilt is about adventure of using your long legs to get out and explore, but also setting down roots. A metaphor for my life, I suppose. Maybe your life, too.

Open Studio

Before we pack up our home, I decided to host an "open studio." It's tomorrow June 12 from 4 to 7 pm! In my time here in Dallas, so many people have been supportive, enthusiastic and interested in my art work and I am honored that they are eager to see more.

I am really eager to see welcome everyone, chat about art and celebrate our friendship!

I even hung all the pieces from my Lent 2009 project. I've titled the collection "Spacious Place."
I'm working on a compilation of images and meditations about this project. Look for that in the next several months.

If you're in the area, please stop by. Email me if you need more info.

Boschert Family News

We're moving!
All of these smiling faces are packing up and moving to Annapolis, MD in August. (Yes, August! Less than 10 weeks from now.) Jeff has been recalled to active duty to serve as an instructor at the Naval Academy for three years. He'll be teaching Economic and also working in the Leadership and Ethics Department. I am so very proud of him. He is going to be an excellent teacher and he continues to have a passion for military service. It's a wonderful opportunity.

Of course, it will be very hard to leave all the things and people and organizations and events that we love about Dallas.

I'm eager to hear your recommendations for arty shopping, museums, events and people in the DC/Annapolis/Baltimore area!

In the meantime, I'm back to packing and surfing the web for info about houses and schools. Ug.

Jewelry Crush

Every now and then I discover a new blog and I get nutty. I look through years and years of archives, eagerly anticipate new posts and swoon over each piece of art. (Does this happen to you?)

My new blog crush is Lorelei. She's a bead ARTIST. She doesn't make beads (that I can tell), but she puts beads together into absolutely stunning jewelry. Real **art** for the neck, wrist and ears. Plus, she posts very regularly and seems spunky, fun and fresh. I believe she has a "real job" working at an art museum. How cool is that? We could totally be real-life friends, right?

So, I've been studying her blog, flickr and etsy regularly. I don't think I'll ever become a jewelry artist, but it's quite inspiring to browse. I do make jewelry type stuff occasionally when I get an itch. But generally I should plan to stick to art quilts and let Lorelei stick to beads.

But... I did have a fun beady day with my Mom and my friend Stephanie and her mom last week. I totally and completely admit that we all played around with this charming composition from Lorelei's flickr. Five or six matching beads, a largish contrasting bead and one dangly doodad.



Kinda fun, funky and unique, don't you think? We were all super pleased.

Jewelry is definitely the kind of product where it completely makes sense to buy handmade! There are so many beautiful, truly one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry on Etsy for very reasonable prices. Jeez, even the jewelry at Target is a bit overpriced and completely predictable and mass produced. I am going to stalk Lorelei's shop until I find just the perfect necklace and then I am making a purchase!

In the meantime, since I'm looking for inspiration for the next 12x12 color challenge which is purple and yellow, I'm drooling over this bracelet. Seriously, it's really great isn't it?

Guest

I'm a guest curator this week at Crescendoh.com.

You do know about Crescendoh.com, right?!

Jenny Doh recently created an amazing completely comprehensive creative endeavor. The website includes astounding stories about the healing power of art, an irresistible shop, endless inspirational links and loads of information about places to give and support others.

I met Jenny in person at the International Quilt Festival in Houston in 2008. She is a delight! We really connected and I was thrilled to be published in several Stampington magazines while she was editor.
So, of course, I am honored to be a part of Jenny's new creative journey. There are four guest curators at Crescendoh.com each week. Each curator submits a story for the "ART SAVES" archives and includes three inspiring links for each day. (That's 21 links from me, plus 63 more from the other curators!) I had so much fun tracking down a variety of websites, shops, tutorials, galleries and references for my list of links.

My ART SAVES story is just a little peek into one facet of my life. It's especially appropriate for now. More on that soon.

So, stop by each day this week and see what I've got for you. I'm joined by Jodi Ohl, Diane Cook and Jared Knight as the other curators for this week. Wow... what great company!

Put crescendoh.com on your list of favorites to return to when you want to pour a hot cuppa and just surf for ideas, enthusiasm and inspiration.