Artists Blog Hop

My friend Lyric invited me to answer questions for the "around the world" blog hop. You can read her answers here and track back to read thoughts from lots of other amazing artists.

1. What am I working on? 
I'm preparing a new program for 2015. It's called Stitching, Symbols, Signature Style. I've been doing programs for quilt guilds and visual arts groups for years and I am always so thrilled to share my quilts and my ideas about creativity with an eager group. But, this is the first program that will really dig deep into my own personal work as it's developed over the past several years. It's been super fun to gather images of the places I've lived, the things I am inspired by plus pictures of the quilts I've created from those bits of inspiration. 

I'm actually giving it to the Denton Quilt Guild on Thursday. Come see me! Or invite me to your guild. I'm eager to come see you and your quilting friends. Here's a list of my programs and workshops.

I'm also working on the next bit of fabric for The Printed Fabric Bee. I can't share the theme, but tune in at the beginning of December for the reveal of all the fabrics. I can say it will be a welcome respite from winter weather.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
My work is really about layers. Layers of fabric (both commercial prints and originally surface designed fabrics), layers of paint, and layers of free motion quilting and hand embroidery. I love to create art quilts where all these layers compliment each other, but also have their own individual impact. I'm not sure this is different from some other art quilters, but I try to make it my own. Also, I never get tired of making these tiny Y stitches.

3. Why do I write/create what I do? 
Oh... such a complicated question. Mostly, I just like to make art quilts. I like the challenge. I like how I feel when I'm creating. I like what I learn about the medium through the process and I like what I learn about myself. I love the people I have met through quilting. There is just nothing like a friend who loves you AND your art.

4. How does my creative process work?
I confess, I'm driven by deadlines. When an opportunity to enter a show, prepare a program, teach a class or exhibit my work presents itself... I get to work. I make simple sketches and lists of things I want to incorporate in my work. Then I gather fabric and begin composing. Eventually, I settle on a composition and I fuse the fabric in place. I add details with paint and hand embroidery, then I machine stitch through all the layers. The most important thing is that this process fits in and around the rest of my life with my family.

I've invited Kristin LaFlamme and Completely Cauchy to post their own answers in this blog hop. Check out their posts next Monday. In the mean time, you can see their smiling faces on my left and right in the picture above! And Sarah too!