Love Your Creative Space Blog Tour

During the past few months, I've noticed lots of us are doing some cleaning and purging. Me too! I'm super excited to share a new book with you that you'll want to add to your library of creative resources. It's Lilo Bowman's Love Your Creative Space.

A few highlights from the book...

• Lots of questions to ask yourself to help clarify what you really need (and don't need)
• Suggestions for list making to help focus the task of going through your stuff
• Ideas for ALL kinds of fiber -- quilting, knitting, garment making
• It's about making a PRACTICAL space ... not styled like a magazine feature (though there are tons of pretty pictures)
• So many suggestions -- many of them obvious, and yet often overlooked
• Ideas for organizing your thoughts and ideas, not just your shelves and drawers (Don't we all need that!?)

Table of Contents gives you an idea of all the good stuff included.

I'm delighted Lilo talked with me about how I've stayed organized and productive over the years when I was moving regularly. (My husband was a Navy pilot of many years.) In one of the pictures in the book is from my studio and you can see a little of my inspiration bulletin board. Here's a current full view -- just for fun! (For more about things I find inspiring, sign up for my e-newsletter Three Bits of Inspiration.)

There is also a section of studio galleries with great images from a variety of artists. They are all so different which reinforces the idea that you have to make your space your own! 

Here's the current view of my creative space. There's a lot going on at the moment and I'm happy to say it's working for me!



Would you like to win a copy of the ebook Love Your Creative Space? Just comment here or on my artist Facebook page, or on my Instagram. I'll pick one winner from all those comments on July 3.

To learn more about Lilo's awesome new book, check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour.

Love Your Creative Space Blog Tour

Friday 26 June:

Christa Watson/Blog -christaquilts.com

C&T Publishing/Blog-https://www.ctpub.com/blog/

Saturday 27 June:

Bonnie K. Hunter/Blog-quiltville.blogspot.com

Teri Lucas-terificreations.com

Sunday 28 June:

Mel Beach/Blog-https://pieceloveandhappiness.blogspot.com/

Heidi Proffetty-https://www.heidiproffetty.com/blog/

Monday 29 June:

Deborah Boschert/Blog-http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com 

Karlee Porter/Blog-https://www.karleeporter.com/blog/

Tuesday 30 June:

Lilo Bowman/Blog-lilobowman.com/blog

Improv Patchwork Blog Hop

I am so excited to tell you about Maria Shell's beautiful and inspiring new book, Improv Patchwork: Dynamic Quilts Made with Line and Shape.

Here are me and Maria at the SAQA Conference in Philadelphia when we took a walk to go see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

And here is Maria's amazing new book!

(Maria participated in the blog hop for the release of my book, Art Quilt Collage: A Creative Journey in Fabric, Paint and Stitch. She wrote a witty, generous, informative blog post... and if you don't mind, I'm going to take inspiration from it for this blog post about her book.)

I love Maria's work! Patchwork is a traditional technique... but Maria's quilts are something special. She pushes every color, shape, seam and fabric combination to do something NEW. 

So, let me share my top 10 reasons why I love this book!

1. Such stunning images. Maria created several new quilts for this book so I was super excited to see some quilts I'd never seen before. Even though I don't generally make pieced quilts, I am really inspired by her color choices and the variety of scale in her work. 

2. The book is a genius combination of methods for making various parts (like stripes, chevrons, and polka dots) AND ideas for putting the parts together.

3. It's full of specific suggestions for how to truly pay attention to detail so you get the best results. 

4. Tips! There are several sidebar sections about being fearless. She should make poster-sized versions of these tips so we can all post them in our studios (especially the one about being fearless with color).

5. Controlled wonkiness. Yes, it's possible.

6. We both like chairs.

7. Maria and I both graduated from the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism. That means the book is an example of what you can create when you are thoughtful and hard-working... because that's how we do it Kansas.

8. Nitty gritty details about what you need in a sewing machine, the best tools and use of space.

9. Ideas about creating a Personal Color Identity. Great stuff -- and it applies to any kind of artist!

10. You can win a copy of this book right here. Leave a comment here sharing what interests you most about Maria’s work. I will randomly select one lucky winner when the hop is over. That means you have until midnight Alaska time on October 26 to leave a comment.  If you live in the states, C&T Publishing will send you a hard copy. If you are international, they will send you an electronic version of the book. A winner has been picked! But you should still buy the book!

If you must have the book now now now you can order it from C&T Publishing or Amazon.

Be sure to visit the other blogs on the blog hop for more info about Maria's book and more chances to win a copy.

October 16—C&T Publishing http://www.ctpub.com/blog/

October 18—Yvonne Fuchs at Quilting JetGirl https://quiltingjetgirl.com

October 19—Amy Ellis at Amy’s Creative Side http://amyscreativeside.com

October 20—Deborah Boschert at Deborah’s Journal http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com

October 21—Kathy Doughty at Material Obsession http://www.materialobsession.com.au/

October 21— Terri Lucas at Generation Q Magazine http://generationqmagazine.com/

October 22— Wendy Hill at Wendy Hill’s Blog—Fun Quilts Stuff & Morehttp://wendyhill.net/blog

October 23—Cindy Grisdela at Cindy Grisdela Art Quilts https://cindygrisdela.com

October 24—Heather Pregger at Heather http://heatherquilts.blogspot.com

October 25—Maria Shell at Tales of a Stitcher https://talesofastitcher.com

Seven Resources for Developing Your Creative Voice

When I share my art quilts, people often notice repeated elements, themes, colors and imagery. They begin to see these elements as my personal style... my creative voice.

Then they ask how I developed that voice. It's not simply about using the same techniques or colors in every art quilt I create. It's more than that.

I put together a workbook that includes exercises, prompts, lists and ideas. It's called Head, Heart and Hands: Developing Your Creative Voice. (It's in my Etsy shop as a pdf download or a spiral bound workbook.)

 

The workbook is a great start, but I bet you'll want more.

I've been making notes about articles and books I read, videos I've watched and podcasts I've listened to that help answer the big question of how to develop a creative voice.

Here are seven excellent resources.

The Amazon links are affiliate links.

1. On Developing A Visual Voice by Susie Monday

I first came across this blog post when Susie included it in her e-newsletter. I bookmarked it and return to it regularly. I love her idea of "personal detective work." No one said developing a creative voice is easy, but it's definitely worthwhile.


2. Creative Strength Training by Jane Dunnewold

Jane's new book is quite excellent. I love her ideas about focus, alignment and goals. This book is a great mix of specific instruction and inspiration combined with some very personal, soul-searching, insightful narratives.

3. The Lisa Congdon Sessions

I really enjoyed this new online class with Lisa Congdon (daughter of fellow Twelve, Gerrie Congdon) called Idea Generation: Expanding Your Creative Repertoire and Finding Your Voice. Lisa shares some very practical, specific tips and exercises for your creative journey.

4. Big Magic Podcast with Elizabeth Gilbert

In trying to include a variety of media on this list, I had to include a podcast! This one is great. Each episode includes a close examination of a person at a creative crossroads, plus some excellent, specific suggestions to help him or her move forward. I can almost always use the suggestions in my own creative life. Lots of people also think Gilbert's Big Magic book is excellent. (Wow. the paperback only $6.48! Why haven't I ordered it before now?!) I haven't read it yet, but it should arrive in my mailbox later this week. I am sure the podcast and the book would make a power combination.

5. Finding Your Visual Voice: A Painter's Guide to Developing an Artistic Style by Dakota Mitchell

This book includes lots of nuts and bolts about painting and I'm not a painter. But... it has so much more! The design and layout of the book make it easy to jump in anywhere. It's full of provocative and helpful questions that can lead any artist further along his or her path. It's also full of tons of images of paintings by various artists with thoughts about how they fit into a body of work. (It's mostly out of print, but you may be able to track down a used copy.)

6. The Gap by Ira Glass

This is a stunningly, creative, insightful and down-to-earth video about not quitting. Don't miss the carved cucumber. Or the alphabet soup.

7. Show Your Work, Steal Like an Artist and The Steal Like an Artist Jounal by Austin Kleon

Surely you've already heard of these books! They are immensely popular for good reason. Amazingly, Kleon explains complex concepts with super simple terms and inspiring graphics. He tells it like it is. He would never tell you it's easy to develop your creative voice, but he gives you concrete examples of how to get to work.

Have I sent you down a wonderful rabbit hole of inspiration? Don't get stuck in the hole for too long... come out and start creating!

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These are the same kinds of things I share in my newsletter, Three Bits of Inspiration. Of course, inspiration and creative voice are closely linked. Notice what inspires you and you're on your way to a deeper understanding of your unique voice. You can sign up for the newsletter here.

Amy Suggested a Doodle

I've been catching on some articles, blog posts and essays I've been meaning to read. I found myself completed entranced by Amy Meissner's blog. I'd read bits and pieces before, but I clicked back through her archives to read about some of her earlier work. She's a beautiful writer: authentic, honest, raw, eloquent and witty. She expresses feelings that are very personal and yet universal in many ways, I think. You could just read through the entire archives and add it the your list of memoirs you've read. It's certainly as good as some books I've read, plus... it has pictures!

And her art is stunning too.

I met Amy at the SAQA conference in Philadelphia last spring. We had a few opportunities to connect and she was wonderful to talk with. Several groups signed up for restaurant outings one night and we both chose Indian. Now I think of her every time I eat naan. That's Amy in the red coat.

One of the things we talked about in Philadephia was my upcoming book release. Amy is a former children's book illustrator and has lots of experience signing books. She encouraged me to plan to draw some simple little doodle with my signature. She said this gives you a little more time to connect with the person who is buying your book and you can both enjoy the moment more than a random scribbled signature.

What excellent advice! This is what I came up with.



I will tell you I agonized over whether I should "sign" my name in those blocky capital letters or if I should use a more expected cursive signature. Cindy told me to do what felt natural, so this is it. I only "sign" checks and legal documents. Otherwise... it looks like the picture. (You can get a signed copy with the doodle in my Etsy shop.)

I even bought a special pack of retractable Sharpies for signings!


Amy was right, people really do get a kick out of my doodled leafy sprout, even as simple as it is.

So, thank you Amy... for your wonderful blog, your beautiful artwork and your book signing advice!
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Seven Weeks of Whitman

I'm doing a round of "The 42s" from my Head, Heart and Hands: Developing Your Creative Voice workbook. I'll blog bits and pieces and this and that and random thoughts here now and then. (I wrote more about the workbook here.)

A bit of background about "The 42s" and my current inspiration.


"The 42" is a framework for a daily practice to focus, refine or develop a skill or an idea. The framework is seven weeks — long enough to discover potential and possibility, but not so long that it feels monotonous. I suggest taking one day off each week. Seven weeks minus one day each week will result in 42 completed tasks — and new insight into your creative voice!

In the workbook, there are separate suggestions for head, heart and hands. 

I'm embarking on the "head" version which is basically a research project. I'm studying Walt Whitman's Song of Myself... and other related stuff as it arises.

Last year a line from the poem kept creeping into my consciousness.

Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.

I made a quilt with the quote. 

And another quilt inspired by the first quilt. 

I keep hearing it. It's even the title of a hot new non-fiction book.

Just today Lin Manuel Miranda mentioned the quote in the context of a new rap album.

So, I'll spend the next seven weeks reading Song of Myself, making a few notes, learning more about Whitman and discovering other bits of art and pop culture that are inspired by "multitudes."

I started with a trip to the library where I picked up this stack.

That fat anthology has the unabridged version of Song of Myself. It's 47 pages long. I decided I wanted to be able to make notes, so I ordered this version from Amazon. Only $2.50! It will arrive on Wednesday, so I'll read from the book until then.

I read the first two sections this morning and wrote this line down to remember.

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

I also read a biography written for children. I got to this page and wondered who the illustrator was.

It's the brilliant Brian Selznick who I've written about before. See!?!? These are the kind of weird, wonderful and unexpected connections that I just love.

I'm not sure how this research will find its way into my work. Maybe it won't. That's fine. But I was really eager to wrap my head around something new. I needed to escape a bit from social media and words read only on a screen, and everything about 2016. Song of Myself was written in 1855. I am sure I will find it relevant to my life today. 

Twelve Days in Houston

Where to even begin about my trip to International Quilt Market and Festival? Many of my friends have already written blog posts, FB updates and shared pictures. I'm finally getting back to normal and processing my thoughts.

Let's start with the biggest and most thrilling news! I won first place in the Art Quilt Miniature Category!

I was particularly thrilled that it was sponsored by Janome! I've sewn on exclusively Janome machines for years. I'm a Janome girl!

The awards ceremony was such an impressive, exciting event. You can tell I was really happy to be there. And this is even before I won.

As each first place quilt is announced, a curtain is lifted and a spotlight shines directly on the quilt. In this photo, you can't see my quilt, but you can see the spotlight.

After all the winners are announced, everyone circles the room looking at the quilts. You can see the black curtain above the quilt that was covering it before the announcement.

I was able to squeeze in for a photo. I'm so red and squinty... and I was actually a bit weepy. It really is absolutely thrilling and humbling to think that the fabric, paint and stitches that I put together to create this small quilt were appreciated so fully by the judges. 

The next day, the quilt was back on the show floor with its ribbon. Do you also see the red dot on the label? It sold! 

Later in the week I was invited to attend the winners lunch where the top seven big prize winners each spoke about their quilts.

I'll share just a few more things and people that made me smile during my time in Houston. 

Cindy Grisdela and I arrived early to promote our books at Market.

We did a "school house" presentation the books to shop owners and offering suggestions for classes and events related to the content of our books. 

 We presented with Fox and Case authors of Transfer, Embellish, Stitch.

It was a delight to talk with Carrie Bloomston. Her gypsy caravan tent/booth introducing her new fabric line was amazing!

I loved these two little vignettes.

Also really fun to see Valori Wells and watch her print from this wonderful hand carved camel stamp.

The Dinner at Eight exhibition is always one of my favorites! I was thrilled to be included. 

Do you remember the beetle pin cushions I made for Leslie Tucker Jenison's new fabric line? Her booth looked amazing. You can see three of my little beetles pinned to the wall.

I did a book signing at the C&T Publishing booth. It was pretty exciting to have a new release just in time for Festival!

Kristin LaFlamme came to Festival too. I picked her up at the airport and we went straight to our favorite Tex-Mex place, Ninfa's. 

It was my first year on the faculty for Festival and I loved all my teaching gigs!

The students in my Small Stitched Landscapes workshop really made some wonderful little quilts!

The bunch in the Creativi-Tree Art Quilts class were also amazing!

I had a big surprise on Thursday of Festival week.  I was doing a book signing at the book vendor on the show floor...


... and I looked up to see my husband, Jeff! What a wonderful surprise! He's a Southwest pilot and had the day off, so he just jumped in an empty seat on a quick flight from Dallas to Houston to take me out to lunch. We walked the show floor looking at my quilts and several of the other amazing quilts! We walked through the vendor hall just a little... I don't even know how he found me, it's so massive! I don't even really know how he knew where I'd be or when. He's pretty crafty.

My trip to Houston was the culmination of lots of time and effort ... my book release, teaching classes on the national level, winning a big prize! He knew it was a big deal and wanted to be by my side even for just a few hours. It was a great afternoon.



Over the weekend, I did two "samplers" where I demo'd a technique for two hours and participants rotated around the room.

The first was Captivating Compositions.

The other was Creating and Printing with Foam Stamps.

Here you can see my demoing a new technique I've been perfecting using a toilet paper tube and a paint roller. Kristin LaFlamme was a big help at both of these events keeping me on track, engaging the audience and selling books.

Here's Kristin and Susie Monday enjoying a margarita!

Kristin's quilt got lots of thoughtful viewers at Festival along with others from the Quilt National exhibition.

I didn't take too many pictures at the special dinner for Dinner at Eight Artists. Just one of this lovely light installation, one of my smiling friends, one of the (spectacular) menu, and one of my dessert.

I was invited to shoot a short interview with Ricky Tims about my quilts and my book for The Quilt Show. So fun! I knew Ricky was a big Hamilton fan and we had our own little sing-along and gushed about how awesome it is before we got back to quilts.

Yes! Big thumbs up to the whole event!