Fairy Godmother Arts:Lorri Lee Chambers:

The Art Village Art NUN

2012-02-10T10:29:00.001-08:00

Hi I am the ART NUN....

wow ok so get off the floor from laughing so hard or wipe that confused look off your face ....yes there are such people as Art Nuns , just like there are Fairy Godmothers out there.

Why am I a Art Nun ??? Well its simple I have been willing to sacrifice everything I have to be an artist, to make art , but most of all to bring everyone together here on the Outer Banks as the one big Artist Community that exists , without the unification that we need to make it all BIG AND VIABLE like in Asheville, NC or any of the other art towns all over this country. That was the reason I moved here...beautiful places to be and live and inspire...have you seen our sunrises and sunsets...and all the beauty in between,,, we are so blessed to live here, and create here.

Now we have the opportunity of a lifetime to create in a dream came true building and venue as working artists....all of us together, no politics, no negative ...me...me...me. and by the end of summer people will be visiting here to see and meet all of us and buy our artwork and be educated about all of us.

If you would like to find out more about THE ART VILLAGE,,,or TAV for short then call or email...we would love to share with you how 8000 plus square feet of building plus 3 times that in open common areas can save a town , its artists and all of the other small businesses that are there. 252 256-3034

How do you create...???

2012-01-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

I am including pictures from my main working area of my studio, where 95% of my creative energy takes place....tell me is it chaos or just a artists studio to you. How many of you who are artists have spaces that look like this ...after you look at the pictures of the studio scroll down and see the pictures of what is coming out of that space creative wise., and most of them are scraps....the angel's body came from one piece , her wings from another and her face from yet another. I love working with those pieces everyone throws in a box or bucket and one days tosses because they don't know what to do with them.

Its like learning to paint the first time and you only have 3 colors , but you need green and orange you just mix and adapt.

These came from this and mostly scraps I received in the mail from a request I put up on quiltart ...the chicken is from all scraps from the mailing and the house is 78%....

Here it is a BRAND NEW YEAR...what will you create

2012-01-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

I am looking forward to this year while last year was a struggle it put in place new and wonderful opportunities both creatively and life mode.

Life Mode gave up on computer courses for college and will work on my bachelors in Elementary Education...I love kids and as I am driving a school bus right now I have decided that I would love to be the one putting all those goodies together for the kids to take home to their parents and family and teach them all the hard stuff as well as the fun stuff....is this crazy at 54 years of age?

I will turn 54 years old Jan 7 and with that celebrate being an artist for 50 years my dad started me drawing and painting when I was 4 years old...still have some of my first works....

So what do you plan for the new year I have wonderful plans and dreams and Hopes....

Make them all come true ....you never know when the last tomorrow will come.

The above piece is made from my new passion...unwanted scraps of fabric people have been sending me after I bravely asked...isn't this beautiful and it could have just sat in a scrap box and never been born.....Thank You Susan Slesinger

New Classes scheduled...this is just a beginning

2011-11-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Found Colony Community Art School Class Offerings:

How to make a Rosary: Learn the history and basics of making a Rosary, using glass or semi-precious stone beads,,,Basic supplies included in cost of class. Once you learn how you will want to make more than one. Class Cost is $48.00. Monday November 21, 2011 and Tuesday December 6th, 2011 11:00am to 1:00pm.

Art Quilts: Art Quilting is learning to take pieces of fabric and either using a photograph for inspiration, or a drawing to create a one of a kind wall hanging for you or someone to treasure. All Supplies included, If you have special fabrics you would like to use bring them please. These will make great Christmas gifts. Class cost is $55.00 November 16th , 2011 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. December 6th,2011 4:30 to 7:30 pm

Quilted CD Case: This is a class to learn how to make a fabric CD case , to hold one CD or DVD for a gift or you can make a few of them and put them together in a CD Book….pick your favorites fabric themes or colors. These make wonderful gifts for everyone. Put a CD album of sports photos together and make special themed case to give it. Class cost is $35.00 all supplies included. November 22, 2011 11:00 am to 1:30 pm.

We have many Free classes available on a walk in basis just pay for the supplies and on Free Friday you can take any of our classes and only pay for supplies , the class is free. Free classes include Wire Wrapping Seaglass , Jewelry Making Basics, Watercolors, Pastels, Paper Art Collage.

All of this is just a minute outside of Manteo on 64w off of Etheridge Road and Driftwood Dr, in Maritime Business Park. Found Colony Community Art School, Bead Store and Gallery. (Formerly Ocean Beads Gallery) 4450 Maritime Woods Drive, Manteo 252 256-3034

Art From Near and Far , Fabric & Mixed Media Art from all over the world

2011-10-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

We spent all day yesterday , rearranging, cleaning the Gallery and hanging our first official Exhibit.
"Art from Near and Far" it is a collection of fiber art Postcards, Journal pages, Atcs and Inchies from all over the world, that I have received in swaps that I participated in since 2006.There are amazing artists all over this world and when they work in a small size, their designs and quality of artistry is condensed to a piece of art that carries with it its weight in gold.

There are pieces that are thread painted landscapes,. hand dyed lace flowers, button fairy Atcs and more. There are over 150 pieces displayed (we ran out of room) That will inspire anyone to be creative and think outside the box.

And the incredible thing is I have never met any of these artists in person, only talked to them through emails and yahoo posts. Yet each and everyone put their all into their work and sent work I will be proud to share for years to come. Many are from Overseas, England, Spain, New Zealand, Denmark, and more....

Check out some of the pictures...

New Works...on the small side...but big design

2011-09-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Many of you know I love fabrics, beads, and found treasures...and have made it a life passion collecting them since I was about 10 yrs old. Well I have come to the understanding that they do not do anyone any good in a drawer or box , so I am creating ATC size (2 1/2 inch by 3 1/2 inches) art work that I then frame on a fabric mat that creates a beautiful small Art Work...ready to share and enjoy. These pieces will be listed on my Etsy shop in the next few days.

It is a process of 3 layers of fabric, handstitched and embellished with beads, ribbons, broken jewelry pieces and more...I am enclosing photos of the process along with some finished ones. Hope you will leave some comments as to what you think....

Please enjoy!

Some of my latest PAS art quilts

2011-09-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

All of the above pieces are done in a technique I developed called PAS poor artist silkscreen...I am not one of the artists that can just go out and buy whatever I want or need. One evening wanting to work on a series of trees, have them the same or similar I got out some sheer fabric, fabric paint , freezer painting and plane ol' typing paper. the next thing I knew I had some mystical little trees dancing on fabric on my desk, and the sheer allowed me to do some fun and sometimes funky applique work.

This is a technique I hope to teach in my art school here on the Outer Banks, it is a one day class that is not only fun but once you think outside the box with it you will find unending uses and inspiration. I taught the technique to a group of ladies at the saqa gathering I hosted with Judy Glover in 2010, we all had a blast, and I saw them taking it to other places.

If you would like to learn more or would be interested in taking a class if you find yourself on the Outer Banks this fall ...email me ...have a creatively fun day.

Found Colony Art School

2011-09-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

I hope Russ doesn't mind ,,,but desperate women do desperate things,this article was copied and placed here from the Outer Banks Voice , hoping more of you would read it and see what I am trying to accomplish me, in time I know we would be successful, the problem is time is not on our side, nor is the economy ...But I know that with your help and publicity through your help , we can survive and be here to help our grassroots artists, many who just lost everything in the hurricane and the children of the area. Thank you for giving us Just consideration. Dreams can come true I tell people all the time never give up and I plan on following my own advice. Blessings to you all
Found Colony helps folks discover an artistic side
Russ Lay

July 21, 2011

Lee Chambers, Found Colony owner. (Russ Lay photos)

Lee Chambers, owner of the Found Colony Art School, Bead Store and Gallery, likes to remind people that “Penland and John C. Campbell had to get their start somewhere.”

Penland and Campbell are renowned arts, crafts, and folkways (dancing, cooking) learning centers nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

In some respects, they have spawned artist colonies that thrive in the surrounding areas. Chambers would love to see something similar take route on Roanoke Island.

Business profile Chambers has been a fixture on the Outer Banks for years. Her story is peppered with hills and valleys just like so many others who have tried to carve out a living in one of the toughest markets anywhere. Her story even demonstrates how progress in the form of chain stores can result in collateral damage to merchants whose businesses are not remotely in competition with the big box outlets
Arriving here via northern Virginia in 1999, Chambers was wholesaling beads and teaching classes in people’s homes. When her daughter graduated from photography college in 2001, they began to work weddings and family portraits together, in addition to Chambers working at Soundfeet Shoes.

Her daughter wanted to add another activity to their income source, so they opened up the Bead Store on Colington Road, a 450-square-foot shop next to Billy’s Seafood.

Their tactic: free classes in making jewelry — beaded, hemp, leather, strung pearls, with students paying only for the supplies. Of course, many came back to purchase subsequent materials.

“It took off by word of mouth. On a rainy day, we would be packed to the hilt.” In 2003 they moved to a 2,000- square-foot store in the Nags Head, a move that almost worked.
Some of the material you will find at the store and gallery

“There was too much space for our inventory. At the time, Food Lion and Family Dollar were still in the shopping center. We kept doing really well, then Family Dollar closed and sales went down by half as we lost our walk-in business. But we still were covering our bills and in our fifth year, when we thought we would start really making money, the shopping center owners came in and told us they were not renewing our lease.”
The Bead Store, along with Mrs. T’s Deli and a hair salon were shunted aside to make room for Staples. Chambers packed up their inventory and planned to re-open, but during the down time her husband was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer and her attentions were channeled into the role of caregiver.

Her husband passed away in 2009, her employer let her go three days after her husband’s death and she was left with no money or job.
Girl Scouts are among the students.
Chambers began painting when she was 4. Her father was an artist. At age 10 she discovered beads and jewelry, and at age 13 she student- taught at a Montessori school. Her new goal was to open a full-blown art school, expanding far beyond beads and retail.

They opened two months ago in a complex off the beaten path on Roanoke Island. To get there you turn left at the Elizabethan Inn, following the signs to the Dare County Animal Center and the Detention Center. You keep driving past those buildings and more warehouses until you see a relatively new green and gold colored strip center at the end of the road.

The most prominent feature is Millwood Cleaners, but you have to continue driving to the very end of the road and then turn right into the back side of the center. Only then will you will have found the Found Colon
The name is a riff on the Lost Colony as well as the idea of an off-the-beaten path art school that people will seek and find.

In two months, she has already taught 24 students, following the old formula. One class consisted of older citizens who learned wire wrapping. Bead weaving (peyote stitch), bead basics, hemp jewelry, watercolors, acrylics, oil pastel painting, polymer clay, sewing, art quilting (painting with fabric) are among the choices.

There is no class minimum — Chambers will teach a group or one-on-one. You might even be able to walk in a take a class. Most are one to three hours, but there are also 12-week classes, such as the art quilting course

Some classes are free, others now have tuition. Currently there is a “Free Friday” offering for any class where one only pays for supplies. The goal is to make the school portion a non-profit, while keeping a retail store and gallery out front, which sells beads and art pieces.
All ages are welcome. Christian youth groups, youth surfing groups, even Girl and Boy Scouts have taken classes. The Found Colony also hosts birthday parties where kids go away having made something unique for themselves

Found Colony also hosts birthday parties
With the short day classes, Chambers is really interesting in tapping the tourism market, where groups could come in and spend a few hours learning some basic art techniques. To that end, she is trying to get the word out to local rental management companies and hoping visitors will find the Found Colony.

To give one an idea of Chamber’s passion and thought process, one of her biggest concerns is the state of art funding in school. “They have defunded art in school so far that people are not getting that. Art is a common sense, self-esteem builder, problem-solving function. Suppose the teacher says draw a flying pig –the child has to think about many things. What does a flying pig look like? Should it have bird wings, dragonfly wings or angel wings? Should it be a big or a small pig?”

Her daughter Larisa Pardo is close to adding another certification from COA in jewelry, and the next step is a lab for metal smithing and a small kiln for pottery. Pardo is a partner in the new venture, so the Found Colony is truly a family business.

“I meet so many older citizens who don’t want to hang around a seniors center all day with people their own age,” Chambers said. “They want to be around younger people and interact with them. Art can do that. I want this location to be a community center, a place where people can gather, hang out and interact. I want other art teachers to be able to come in here and teach what they know.”

If the mountains can support two artist colony destinations, surely the Outer Banks, home to so many talented artisans can do the same. And maybe Lee Chambers will be the person to create the next Penland.

Location: 4450 Maritime Woods Drive, Manteo, NC

Blog: foundcolonyartschool.blogspot.com
Phone: (252) 256-3034
Posted in Business

on August 30, 2011 @ 11:52 am

© 2011 The Outer Banks Voice

Arts in Education is it Important?

2011-08-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

Arts in Education is it Important?

Parents and the people of the United States of America have been led to believe that an Art program in the school system is not necessary and a waste of funds.

However I beg to differ in having been an artist all my life, I know how important the skills are that I acquired through my arts education, both in school and by my father. They lead me down a path that when I am approached by a problem I have excellent skills for the most part in solving that problem. I am sure you are saying how can she state that, because when you are creating art it is something entirely from the mind and soul of a human. A human brain must be taught how to process information, what is the first thing besides talking and walking is a child taught? How to scribble or finger paint, and through these processes they learn blue and yellow make green, that a tree is a circle on a stick. How do they learn that? Did mom and dad draw that tree first? Visual annuity is a skill that seems to be passed down, all children can be artists, ever seen an empty refrigerator in an elementary student’s house? It is when this skill is muted by devout attention to reading, math and other academic studies, that students falter in problem solving and societal perspectives of how life works.

The educational process is a tricky one even more so today with the influences of Political correctness it’s not ok to draw certain things in school or even bring pictures of them. Originally the arts withdrawal from the school system was attributed to funding discrepancies, however I feel it is due to a dumbing down of the school system in order for our children to be more malleable in societal matters. Many people would say are you crazy, maybe but I have raised three children in the last 25 years and have seen the shocking side-effects of schooling, with and without art programs. My children were fortunate they were born to an artist and raised them around all mediums of art, just as I was. But I have met parents today whose children don’t even own a box of Crayola’s for fear they may heaven forbid doodle on a wall; How boring all their lives must be! “Brain research confirms that Arts education strengthens student problem-solving and critical thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement, school success, and preparation for the work world (LoParco 2011).” There have been so many studies done to determine what the results are when Art is or is not allowed in the school system. LoParco passes on two good points of the eight included in this report that I think says it all. “3. Lifelong learners who use all available resources to anticipate, develop strategies for, and respond to the ever changing needs of self and society.4. Creative and imaginative thinkers who solve challenging problems.” These are the people who may grow up to be president one day and understand the important societal needs of the communities and country. They are the people who say hey, why we don’t have a dog crate with an opening on top for easy access to remove a puppy for care when there are a bunch of them in one crate. Sounds silly right but if you have ever raised six puppies you would understand how that concept would make life easier,

Ok so back to where all this is supposed to be leading, why are Arts programs disappearing from school systems. Two main reasons, one is the misguided belief that it is not necessary and serves no purpose other than for kids to have fun. The other reason is funding, and that is based on the first reason, if it is truly recreational and not academic then why fund the programs at all. So they cut art and music programs without proper studies of the detrimental effects on the children and yes society as a whole. “Almost every one of us can point back to a creative pursuit, in or out of school, that enhanced our skills, knowledge, or understanding. Yet the majority of secondary school students in the United States aren't required to enroll in arts courses, many elementary schools nationwide lack art classes or activities, and arts and music instruction is often the first thing to go when schools feel the pressure to improve test scores.”(edutopia par 1) The pressure is applied to our students to be academically astute like the Japanese and European school systems. However, Japan for example is a highly industrial, technology driven country that must maintain a level of worker bees to carry on the process, which is the financial support of their country. When actually the state of Wisconsin, remember them? Found that their test results were affected in academic areas in schools that arts had been defunded. Reductions in arts cost schools money

“Studies show that schools that cut arts programs end up within the next three years spending more money on education, and their test scores in other areas actually go down, said Martin Rayala, art, media and design consultant for the Department of Public Instruction.(Hurley ,par 7).”

Mr. Hurley, a WEAC PR/Comm summer intern; went on to state the following determined from his research, “Within two to three years, every school that cut arts showed a decrease in morale and attendance and an increase in vandalism and disruptions, and within three years most of them had to add extensive disciplinary staff to account for the problems that were created by not providing the full range of experiences that human beings need," Rayala said. These staff additions are costing the school more than keeping the arts programs and are hurting testing scores in the process.”

“The High School visual arts program will build upon prior art knowledge and experience developed through study at the elementary and middle school levels. The six strands - perceiving, producing, knowing, communicating, evaluating, and connecting - provide broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. Students will build upon their cumulative knowledge and experience of art in order to grow in their ability to describe, interpret, evaluate, respond, and produce (ncpublicschools 2011).” North Carolina Public Schools understand that this process must be included and how important it is but I seem to find in certain locales it is still not emphasized in the manner it should. I have no basis for this finding other than the few times I was substituting and in some schools the art teachers seem to be much appreciated and well utilized. As I have not experienced all schools I cannot say if this is the norm for Dare county schools or not. I know that in Fairfax County where I was raised, academics carry a much more important aspect than arts.

"Art does not solve problems, but makes us aware of their existence," sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz has said. Arts education, on the other hand, does solve problems. Years of research show that it's closely linked to almost everything that we as a nation say we want for our children and demand from our schools: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity (Smith, Fran Par 1).” This quote from the artist Magdalena Abakanowicz shows that the research is there to support arts education in the school system and that it is not only needed but required to assist children to grow into healthy well rounded adults.

Art makes people think, I find this so very important, many people back in the 1950’s looked at Calder’s mobiles and many said what is it? But today Calder’s work garners great admiration and monetary value. Who knows what makes one artist more important than another, but there are skills that they acquired in their lives that help them market their work and get people to buy it, establishing a financial means for them to continue to do what they love. And if someone is gainfully employed then they are an important and valuable person of society paying their taxes. Shouldn’t those taxes be used to develop the children in the schools to happy, reliable children with excellent survival skills, from the knowledge and common sense they acquire from the valuable Art Education Programs.

The greatest happiness of a young child on the first day of school is the smell of a brand new box of Crayola crayons, and the opportunity to create magic with them.

Works Cited Page

Smith, Fran “Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best” Edutopia.org: The George Lucas Education Foundation July 1 2011 Web

Edutopia.org: “Why Arts Education must be Saved” The George Lucas Education Foundation July 1 2011 Web

NCPublicSchool: “ARTS EDUCATION: VISUAL ARTS: VISUAL ARTS 9-12 “

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/artsed/scos/visualarts/visual9-12 July 1 2011

Web

LoParco, M. (compilation): The Dryden Art Department http://www.dryden.k12.ny.us/schoolsWeb July 22 2011

Hurley, Ryan: Cuts in Arts Programs Leave Sour Note in Schools; Wisconsin Education Association Council; June 25 2004; July 22, 2011 Web

Just a update,

2011-07-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well things are starting to pick up here and get back on a even keel.
my daughter and i have moved from colington island to roanoke island 22 miles on the other side of beach, it is like a little old town with small shops, art galleries, a movie theater that you pay 5.00 admission , and a dollar for a soda and 50 cents for popcorn, yes places like that still exist , this one is in a tudor style building. Our college that we attend is 2 miles down the road and our Art school is just a mile from the center of town. We are surrounded by the Lost Colony ,Elzabethan gardens and the NC aquarium. It is a wonderful atmosphere here and I love it so far. Just need the school to get its following, the radio commercials are still going, and I have almost all of the beads in the bead store on sale for 50 percent off , most of them off 2005 bead prices.

Creatively , things are sluggish , moving out of a house I lived in for 11 years 9 of those with my beloved, took alot out of me. But I will get it back I want to just so many things have to be done to get stuff put away here in the school.

I have learned more major life lessons and frankly hope this will be it for awhile and I can catch a little break.

Hope all is well you with you all creatively and spiritually....write and let me know think of you all often.

Lorri

What makes a Artist?

2011-07-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is happiness, sometimes lonliness and sometimes sadness.

I create from all but mostly happiness , maybe a wonderful bright colored new piece of fabric or a chance sighting of a Kingfisher sitting on a piling in the water, or maybe a little girl walking on the beach with her bright yellow sandpail picking up shells and enjoying life as it should be.

Whatever your catalyst is , you must not ignore it....because it will not go away. Those doodles that keep dribbling out of your pen at business meetings or during long phone calls are telling you something. You have a creative streak, Oh my gosh your a streaker, oops not in that sense, you need to get someplace where you can play like you did when you were a child in school remember the first day of school and the smell of a new box of crayolas or the paste in a jar or how paper smelled. Ok so now you are saying to yourself , this chick is crazy , well maybe, I have been called Bohemian by more than one person in my life and you know what it fits for the most part. My love of my fellow people and the idea that many think they can't be creative just sends me spiraling trying to figure out how to get them headed to where I am . Its ok they know me here, and I just want others to see how much more fun life can be with art in it. Art is not expensive, does not require years of study, and is the most personally uplifting process you can ever experience in today's tough times. When you create no matter what it is, it is ART! and YOU are a ARTIST!

So what makes a artist, allowing yourself the freedom to sit down and create .

Come try your hand if you are in my area at my Creative Learning Center, you will be surprised what will appear when you open the door. See you soon!

FOUND COLONY Art school now open....!!!!

2011-05-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Well after 12 years my dream has come true and I have the Art school open and ready to help people find out they can be creative. It is an amazing space with wonderful views to inspire everyone.

It is in a area where there is so much going on , 1/4 mile from the NC Aquarium as the crow flys, by the quaint and very artsy inspirational Island Farm, Elizabethan Gardens, and finally the Lost Colony Outdoors Drama.

Our classes are done like they were when I had my bead store, walk in basis , any time any age. We now teach a little bit of everything in almost every medium.

Hope to see you all one day.

FOUND COLONY ART SCHOOL

2011-04-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

Well after 12 years of hoping and dreaming , Found Colony Art School will open on May 18th, 2011 in a beautiful location, next to the largest quilt shop on the outer banks of NC. It is an affordble art school for anyone and everyone to walk in and try their hand at some kind of art. There will be at least 4 free classes you just pay the minimal supply fee. The rest of the classes will start at 15.00 and go up with almost all of the supplies included. A list of most of them are on the blog for the school ...foundcolonyartschool.blogger.com.

We will concentrate on Art Quilts and Fabric art, as well as bead weaving , jewelry making, watercolors, acrylics etc....

This is going to be an amazing time for everyone,,,,anyone , anytime can walk in and try pretty much any artform.

Found Colony will also be the home to LOLA ....Love Our Local Artists to help local artists develop outlets for their work and how to do shows , network etc.

So many great things at a time when we really need them

Have a creatively fun day ....and never give up your dreams!

Quilt show : Priceless treasures Manteo, NC

2011-03-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day, at the annual Priceless Treasures Quilt show that take over Roanokke Island Festival Park Gallery(amazing space) and they hang as many beautiful pieces as they can. And believe me there were incredible works there again this year as there is every year.

It was such a peaceful , warm feeling day, I met the owners of the 3 other quilt shops with in our region, one there in Manteo, that sells  distinctive fabrics called Shoreline Handwerks   http://www.shorelinehandwerks.com/, I haven't beent to any of the shops but the selection they had yesterday to peruse and buy was a definite reason to go.
I found the cutest piece with raccoons and beavers on it...that someone was nice enough to purchase for me, as right now I am not buying any fabric. But with two friends who love beavers I had to have it. The owners are very nice , and seem to love what they do.

Simply Divine Fabrics & Things

1409 W Church St, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 (252) 331-2150
They carry Brights like I have never seen with great patterns, and designs, the owner's mother makes the cutest chicken pin cushions and they are as nice as they can be.
Check them out if you are in the area....

Finally but not last is Quilts & More
1092 Commissary Road, Elizabeth City, NC (252) 338-9500
They carry more of the traditional colors and quilt fabrics, some really cute designs,plus some civil war prints. Check them out too when you are out that way visiting.
Tell Connie I said HI!

I may be teaching at any of these stores in the very near future, some of my art quilt techniques I have developed over the last few years. Plus I am currently putting together a class schedule that will teach one technique each week from the "basics" to the fun stuff I love to do and share with others. Including my PAS (poor artist silkscreen).

Yesterday's show was ao much fun I was the only one selling finished work and so people were able to pick up a small token to take home to remind them of their trip to the quilt show.   Fabric Postcards which I love are just small art quilts that you can mail, or keep for yourself and frame. I am working on some more houses, different types of puppies and some new dragonfly pieces.

What a great group of ladies the Tea Cup Quilters are that tirelessly put the show together every year.   not some of my best photography but wanted to share.

If you could have ...

2011-02-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

A Art school that you could walk in anytime and pretty much any day to take a class in a number of different mediums, from beading and jewelry making , fiber arts and art quilting, painting and drawing , and more.
What would you want ?    All of that for a not break the bank price....

A art quilt organziation to meet all of your needs as a artist and small business person. What would you want from them.   Support? Mentoring? Free classes? Web presence?   name anything you could think of.

I am working on putting the business plan together for my art school and a Art Quilt Artists group will be part of the school.   This project has been my goal for the last 25 years, maybe even earlier, from when I was a student teacher in a Montessori school children's art class. I love teaching children and adults that they can be creative. Maybe not Da Vincis ...but you never know till they try.

So lets see what happens ...But I would really like some feedback, please

Just a quick update ...Pow Wow

2011-01-24T07:09:00.000-08:00

April the FRISCO NATIVE AMERICAN MUSEUM will be having its 13th Annual Pow Wow and living history weekend on April 30/May1. The Pow Wow was started by Joyce and Carl Bornfriend retired educators who founded and own the museum. One of the most extensive collections of viewable Native American art and history on the east coast of America , if not anywhere.

http://nativeamericanmuseum.org/weekend.html

The new dance area is wonderful and the pow wow is better than ever. You really must see all of the beauty and history for yourself. below is the address for photos taken by Thomas Gartman , Photographer extradordinaire in 2009.

.http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=55&event=178999&album_id=276671

We have many wonderful vendors, plus the Famous Buffalo Burgers and Indian Tacos.

Hope to see you there.

School is going good for someone as old as me....lol... honestly I can feel the cobwebs dissolving as I replace them with renewed understanding of Algebra and English grammar.

Have a wonderful day and let me know how you all are too.

You are never going to believe this !!!!!!!

2011-01-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

I didn't fall off the face of the earth ...all tho there were days I wished I could.

But all of that is getting so much better.

January 7th I turned 53 years and started back to school on the same day. Yup I am a college student, headed for a degree in Computer Technology. Right now I have to take the mundane courses such as Math and English. But I am also taking Music Appreciation and Interpersonal Communication...don't ask me about that one too much yet , I haven't met my teacher or had my first class but sounds very interesting.

I have been busy sketching new designs and am hoping to enter Ghost of Kill Devil Hills in a major local art show this month.

I am also busy preparing course outlines for extended education classes in fiber art/art quilting I can teach, possibly at the same college I am attending.

I am still working on my writings as well and have so many wonderful things I finally would love to do. Wrote a new story which I post and share with you all later this week, it is call RC Pie and his Moon Cola.

Well I will be much better with the new year here...and looking forward to a fabulous new life.

How do you dye 10 yards of fabric at once

2010-09-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

with a bunch of kids .....I will be doing the Annual Artrageous event this coming saturday and I came up with this wild and crazy idea to have kids help me create art quilts....well you need special fabric for that so...We will be creating a maze of fabric inside a tent...that the kids will walk through with a variety of painting and dying techniques....at the end of the day we will unveil what we end up with.

Some of the kids will be blindfolded so they can experience the surprise of what they are doing...some will only use their mouths,,, or one hand or stand on one leg ....etc you get the idea. Spray bottles with koolaid for dye (its safe) acrylic paints for brushes ...markers ....what ever we can find to "DYE" fabric. any thoughts anyone might have that we can use please email or post ...thanks

I will cut some fun sections out to frame and sell at the auction the following night ...and the rest will be used to create a Art quilt for the following year to be auctioned.

The Project is called SPONTANEOUS CREATION ART QUILT I know the kids are going to have a blast..

will post photos when it is all done...

Ghost of Kill Devil Hills

2010-08-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

Ghost of Kill Devil Hills

There used to be a wonderful old house in Kill Devil Hills that was built around 1939 and was a Coast Guard station. The last owner was a lady who loved Kill Devil Hills and donated land for the use of building the schools and the town hall. This building had a tower on top that looked like a airport flight control tower and this eccentric lady always kept a Christmas tree in that tower year round and it was always lit. Locals and visitors for years always looked at this amazing building and felt like we were home when we first saw it if we were among the visitors. The House was torn down in 2003 despite valiant efforts to save it.

Everyone who has seen this piece loves it and it brings back the memories of a place that touched our hearts and souls.

This incident is a perfect reason to fight for old buildings that not only contain History but live in the SOULS of those around them.

Ok so now where have I been

2010-07-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

Things have gotten busy around here Art Wise and Life Wise and Job wise. Art Wise when I was working on the piece in the previous post it lit a fire under me to finish a few UFOS and create some new pieces.

"Looner Love"
copyright protected 2010 LLChambers

I finished one quilt which is pictured here called "Looner Love" a funky little art quilt from one of my first art quilts designs I ever created and still love to make every now and then. I sold this piece yesterday at the Manteo Farmers Market that I work every Saturday morning from 8 am to 12 pm selling my art, my jewelry and meeting wonderful people.

My son Louis-Andrew , Drew for short came from Florida for the summer and is living and working here. We have not had any real time together since 1999 so this is great the time we and his sister is getting together.He has been working on things around the house that needed repair that John would have handled had he still been with us...So I am proud he has grown into such a amazing young man.(21 years Old) He will going back the end of August and I know it will be hard when he leaves.

I have been having a blast making more fabric postcards....truly an addiction and more wonky house art quilts and PCs....along with my ornate beadwoven bracelets (I posted Pics of these earlier on here). I started working Memorial day weekend at the local pool as an attendant so I am outside 4 days a week there and really love it. I am to take stuff to work on and lately have been working on my bracelets. Which is good for me when people talk about them and how beautiful they are.

                                                         "Having a Ball at the Beach"
                                                copyright protected 2010 LLChambers

This is another piece I created it 18 inches wide by 12 inches high. I had this great sand looking felt I used for the background.and the pieces are raw edge applique I just love the whimsy.

The "Ghost of Kill Devil Hills" 24 inch by 24 inch Art Quilt created using my PAS technique.   The sky and sand were created using batik fabrics I have collected and then free motion stitched using the stiple setting on my old brother machine (may it RIP) I just love the piece and its gets people to stop at the farmer market who recognize the building . It is a drawing of the old Coast Guard Station that was lived in by the lady of Kill Devil Hills who donated land for most of the school and municipal centers and always kept a Christmas tree in the tower it was the one building people came to love and thought or at least I did when I saw I knew I was home , even when I was on vacation. Unfortunately it was torn down in 2004 and replaced with big ugly mcMansions , A huge heritage loss for the Outer Banks.

"Ghost of Kill Devil Hills "

I will be posting a few more pieces tomorrow...Please offer me some feedback.

what I have been up to

2010-07-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the Art Quilt 23 inches by 24 inches I created for our local Community Care Clinic which sees people when they have not other source for medical care. They had a SHAG OBX weekend and SHAG being a beach dance and it was lessons, dinner and silent auction. I don't know how much the quilt managed to make for the group but I know all the people who saw it loved it . This was the beginning of May. I sold one of my PAS Art Quilts at the Art show portion and had a great time.

The Quilt was a lot of fun to make and I made good use of some musical fabrics I had as well as some beachy batiks.

My Weekend of Healing

2010-04-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

I spent a wonderful weekend with friends and positive energy while I participated as Storyteller, teacher and vendor at the Dancing Moccasins Pow Wow here in Frisco , North Carolina. Frisco Native American Museum has been energizing the spring every year for the last 12 years with this Pow Wow. I have missed the last 3 years because of John's illness and then passing one year ago today. I just didn't know how much.

We had an amazing new dance circle , which my daughter Larisa (aka Beaver ) spent most of the weekend dancing in with all of the other wonderful dancers that traveled near and far to be there. A Pow Wow is a gathering to honor the Creator and Mother Earth and share fellowship among each other. We wear colorful regalias (not costumes) that many times have been passed down from our ancestors. Each has a meaning and purpose. I am part Cherokee , My great great grandfather coming from the Eastern Band Cherokee on the Tennessee/North Carolina Border. and my children are half Taino as their grandparents from Puerto Rico were descended from the first nation to encounter the European . So their vast history is very important to them.

I taught children how to make Personal Pouches ( PC term for Medicine bags) and had a wonderful time doing it ...each child was allowed to pick a shell from a vast collection for their treasure to put in their bag.
I also did Storytelling of stories I wrote over the last 20 years. The kids were so anxious to learn, there were many other classes available soapstone carving, feather painting, primitive weapons, weaving and more.I also sold my jewelry and leather bags and rocks specimens.

But best of all the energy that surrounded us despite the threatening rain which eventually gave up was so healing for those of suffering from broken hearts and souls.

But I felt my Hubby there saying you belong here, you love this as you loved me and let it heal you as you need to be. I know you will never forget me ever. I had my moments especially yesterday at 1:11 pm and again today as cards came in the mail, or phone calls.

I am stronger than I have been in awhile and will go forward as I need to , looking towards the farmer market and art events this summer.

Have a Blessed day and enjoy a few of the photos of me and the things I was doing this weekend

I am wearing a traditional shirt called a ribbon shirt which has a matching skirt for dancing when I am in full regalia. The next picture is of my daughter at our booth in her regalia, then pictures of some of the dancers.
The last pic is of one my tables with some of my jewelry and beadwork.

SAQA Regional Meeting April 11th

2010-04-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

On April 11th in the wonderful town of Rocky Mount , North Carolina 13 women who some of us have never met gathered in a church ahll to share our lives and our love of Art Quilts. Painting with fabrics and all mediums possible to create Art Quilts is what connects us and makes us the glorious artists we are.

I have been to regular art museums all of my life and galleries but there is just something about being in a room and seeing the vast variety of Art Quilts created , then to put the face and soul with it at the same time is a experience there are no words to explain. The women who I can now call friends are walking a path of art each their own and I saw many ways to create and enjoy all the things , from hand stitching, to beads, paint, recycled objects and much more. Themes from beautiful faces, to nature to watercolors turned into art quilts One of the Artist husband reads to her as she creates. Some gather in groups and support each other in their endeavours, others like me work individually which sometimes leads to frustration because we don't have someone who will help us when we find ourselves stumped or unsure of how to progress in our art.

I taught and shared a technique I developed PAS talked about in the previous post and all loved the possibilities of it.

We then went to lunch at the Imperial Art Center a block away and if you have never visited this museum , please do it is an amazing building that used to be a tobacco factory that now serves as a beautiful well executed art musem. The large rooms are spacious and allows you to enjoy the art from afar and near.
.

I am anxiously waiting to see what they have done with what I taught them.

Fabric is just not for Bed Quilts and clothes anymore....create your Art Quilts today.

Aurora Bora Luna PAS technique

2010-03-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

I have had many people ask me what is PAS...it stands for Poor Artist Silkscreen and that is as far as I can go as it is a technique I will be teaching and hopefully getting published in a magazine. However that said I will be teaching this class at the SAQA VA/NC/SC/GA regional meeting on April 10th in Rocky Mount, NC
The meeting will be open to fiber artists who would like to attend to hear more about SAQA: Studio Art Quilt Associates and organization that is 21 years old and who goal is to promote the Art quilt medium , develop understanding and educate and support Art Quilters in our endeavours.

For more information please email me.

Some of my recent creative energy

2010-03-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

I made all of the above Fabric Postcards for a swap group I belong to.

The first one is Winter Landscape, I finally got to use that fun sheer fabric with the shiny silver stars on it.

the mountains are a piece of fabric I found at the local QS, and I put some lace "trees" across the bottom for dimension.

The second is a one on one swap...I just loved the "flowers" that showed up in the batik piece I used for the background, and dragonflies are my signature.

And the last is a Snowbird for the snowbird swap , I wasn't sure what anyone expected but I only kept thinking about my neighbors in Virginia that as soon as the weather turned cold headed to Florida calling themselves Snowbirds , flying south where there wasn't any snow. This one has her ticket and suitcase and is ready to go.

I love creating the fabric postcards, I am expanding them into birthday cards and anniversary cards now.

So much fun and people love getting them... Enjoy

Don't sweat the small stuff, Create it....We can do whatever our hearts desire

2010-03-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

When My husband first started going for his cancer treatments in 2006 I knew there was no way I could sit for hours on end doing nothing , I am just not that type and reading doesn't cut it either. So I put a bag of magic together that I could sit and sew small pieces of Art in those many long hours. This picture is some of the many Fabric ATCS I created and gave away to the people I met who were either going through treatment or supporting someone who was. I have no idea how Many I made in the 3 years we fought the battle. I even did some small quilts by hand and one larger piece for a auction for the CARING HOUSE in Durham, an adult cancer care house. So why am I sharing this today. Because even tho John and I lost his battle with the Beast almost a year ago ...people are revving up for relays for life and other cancer support events. If you can't give money do the next best thing give a piece of art they can sell or your time. You will feel a wonderful sensation in whatever little thing you can do. If you are blessed enough to meet a survivor then take in that blessing and enjoy the gift they have received. If you meet someone like me who lost their love and soulmate just take our hand and say nothing or give us a hug. There will never be words for the pain we feel...and no we never get over it. As people so often tell me lately, well its been almost a year , John would want you to get over it. What, you want me to forget the most wonderful thing in my life next to the birth of my children or the family I was blessed to be born into. It can't and won't happen. But I will find a path in my life that allows me to continue on , Part of that is finding a way to get my store back open and I have decided when I do , the basis of the store will be spontaneous learning...taking classes when you have a couple of hours one day...instead of waiting 6 weeks. I used this in my first bead store and will now expand it to every medium I can do, and there are many plus get other artists to come in and teach.

But there will be one more thing anyone who is fighting cancer or is a cancercaregiver will be able to come in and take classes for free. They need that creative outlet , Fighting any illness is hard , but the battle with cancer does not play fair, it makes you sick, even if you are not the one with cancer. It causes you stress and worry beyond your control , that you cannot show the one who has cancer , you must always have a positive attitude. One of the things that came out of John and I's battle was I wrote a simple cancercaregivers journal with things caregivers need to know. I want to get it published but right now I am trying to figure out how to do that. I want it to have fabric quilted covers so that it will give comfort in just holding it. and pages for those scary thoughts to be written down so you can get rid of them. In Order to get this done I have decided in 4 weeks I will be placing ATCS on my etsy store and Fabric Postcards all the money I raise from those special items I will use to make up as many journals as I can and get them to people who need them.

So don't sweat the small stuff Create it. Please check back and when I have everything ready I want all of you to help me get the word out. I try to never ask for anything ...but this is one time I need help to get my dreams to come true. Blessings to all of you and always remember to ask for a Miracle .

Why make ART QUILTS????

2010-02-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

Many people look at my work and say oh those are nice...but what are they????

I proudly tell them Art Quilts and try to educate them as to what they are and how they are made.

I still receive a quizzed expression on their face , so I ask why .
Their response is well if you are such a artist why not do paintings with oils, acrylics or watercolors. The same design would look lovely that way. that way???

What makes my way wrong...or not to their liking...Does Fabric make it less art ???does fabric mean its not acceptable as art.

I love my art quilts and making them because I love the feeling of the fabrics and the look of the fabrics , the textures the way maybe a piece will cause a little pucker , making it not perfect,,,but I can't make it perfect , only God can make things perfect.

Native American Artists always make a "mistake" in their designs on purpose.

When you create a Art Quilt you are taking something you had no control over the color or texture(Commercial Fabrics) yet it inspires you to put it together with other pieces that somehow emerge themselves into something beautiful and glorious. but then sometimes they turn out a little funky , and wonky... but they will bring a smile to those who see them. I love to hand stitch some pieces such as the parrot I have included the pic of ...I spent an entire weekend finding the right fabrics then designing and cutting out the pieces then hand sewing them to the bacground and finally hand quilting the entire piece this one was 20 inches by 24 inches. I didn't have a sewing machine to do any of the work.

Look at nature and the multi color crazy patterned fish you see ,,,are they any less of a fish because of their individualistic coloring.

That is what Art is all about , the individual soul being opened for others to see and feel and bring a joyful smile to their face.

So why do I make Art Quilts because my soul demands it and I have no choice but to listen as it allows my heart to heal (never completely) and my life to go on with a meaning all its own .

Think outside the box and Paint with some fabric today. Having a creative block ...go outside with your camera and just start taking pics of interesting things, don't allow yourself to think why in the world am I taking a pic of that then when you get back inside just pop them on the computer and you will I am sure find something that will blow up that creative block. Have a great day

Some of my earlier works for swaps

2010-01-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

These are some of the designs I have created over the last 4 years since I discovered fabric ATCs,Postcards and journal pages. The chicken is made using paint chip samples from Home Depot.

That was alot of fun.

The other pieces are based on themes I had to do for swaps.

Recycle, Creative,Monet

Belonging to a group or groups that swap our art is great I have the

most amazing collection of little art pieces from all over the world.

And it inspires you to think outside the box.

Tales to share

2010-01-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

Since I have no more new work to share just yet...I have been blasting the studio...VBG

I decided to share another of my talents with you .

I am a 16th Cherokee and because of it I learned to do storytelling from a Cherokee Elder.
I worked many pow wows (Native Gatherings telling my stories to young and old alike)

So now I want to share some with you , they all have morals at the end

The Turtle and the Coyote

Once when the moon was full the coyote was so tired he slept through it all. And as we all know they are suppose to howl at the moon every night . Some say it is to pray and some say it is just to let everyone know all is right with the world.
The next night when he was suppose to howl at the moon Coyote tried to stay awake but just couldn't.
He saat there mumbling during the day as to what he could do to stay awake...Turtle heard him and asked him if he could help.
I don't know how you can help you are just an old turtle who sleeps all day.
But Turtle said then I can help, coyote laughed because he could not see how.
Well today when you go to sleep , let me sleep under your chin and when the moon rises I will let you know when it is time to get up.
Well Coyote didn't trust that Turtle could help..but he agreed to the plan.
He let Turtle crawl under his chin, but Coyote tried to stay awake because he just couldn't trust Turtle.
When Turtle tried to wake up Coyote by talking to him , Coyote would not not wake , he was so tired from trying to stay awake that Turtle could not wake him.
Now Turtle knew Coyote would be mad if he let him sleep through another night , so he reached up opening his mouth and gave him a great big bite.
Coyote jumped up with such a howl that his head went back and looked as you would see him howling at the moon.
Well Coyote was so upset with Turtle that he did not sleep that night and next day he slept and woke up when the time was right.
From then on Coyote is always awake to howl at the moon and Turtle is there to remind him that he has 13 panels on his shell to keep track of each full moon, and you should always trust your elders.

By Lorri Arakuna "Raccoon"

Its a new year, a new day and a new minute to think

2010-01-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

Gezzy and Winston

We all just want to wish you a very happy new year

and to let you know we all love you .

Here's to a great year without Procrastination.

New work ...So what do you think

2009-12-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

The first two pics are closeups of two pieces that will 24 inches by 28 inches when done ...aprroximately.

For as long as I can remember I have collected fabrics to do a series of houses...and now is the time to start using some of it...no more sitting on things and not using them. As goes for all the trims I have collected in all of my travels. When I used to go to PA with my parents to buy antique books for our bookstore or before that when we would go to estate sales I would search out and hoard old lace pieces, and trims. I became so known for my obsession people would find them for me. I have some very very old pieces hand made that I absolutely love.But anyway the trim on the house windows is some of those antique trims.

They look perfect on the windows.

The other two pics are some 5 x 7 inch postcards that I am starting to make using my house theme ...the purple one is a thank you card for my Aunt Jane, my mom's sister and the other one the house of music I will be adding to the etsy store for sale.

I have some others in the works ...some truly funky fabulous houses ....

Check back often as I will be staying on top of posting things. I got a digital camera for Christmas to replace the one I lost last year. So will be easier.

Christmas was quiet ....my youngest daughter made a painting for me with all my favorite things, dragonfly, kingfisher, raccoon and favorite words ...in the center she put my favorite photo of John and I on my 50th birthday ...it is truly special.

Dreams

2009-12-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

Dreams can fly away like a dandelion wisp in the west wind only to land in a bird nest and be devoured by a hungry baby bird ....

or they can be a Blue mountain shrouded in fog waiting for the sun to shine and show the way to dreams coming true through hard work and faith .

So you say what do these mean....don't take life lightly , stay grounded and work hard and you will see your dreams can come true ...if only you believe.

Does it seem like the year is almost over to you

2009-12-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here thinking about all that this year has entailed and while most of it sad for me ....I still had my moments.

working the farmers market in Manteo and enjoying all of the fresh summer produce that we were able to get.

Adopting a new kitten who makes me laugh even in pyscho kitty mode.

Camping in the mountains with my daughters , the dog and the cat.

Taking my girls to Hiddenite to try their hand at mining , the way I promised them 11 years ago.

Getting to see my beloved friend Sandra and her family on the way back from the mountain trip and seeing the beautiful place she lives .

getting my etsy shop finally opened and making a few sales.

Cleaning out my storage unit to part with a past i don't need to think about anymore.

So I can create a brighter future....and make almost all my dreams come true.

GOD bless us all next year and may all your dreams come true....

Some of my other Talents

2009-12-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

I decided to show some of the other things I love to do...The Teddy bear is a 6inch high made out of rayon that is as soft as a chinchilla....his friend was a already made stuffed elephant ....He was made for a swap a few years ago. I created all of my own patterns and taught how to make them to people for about 5 years.
I can make bears from 1 1/2 inches tall ....to 36 inches tall and love making them . Unfortunately I live in a area that does not understand them or appreciate them. I used to work two huge Teddy Bear Shows up in maryland every year and had a blast.

The Seaglass or Beach glass Jewelry has a fondness for my heart....I liken seaglass to life ...it goes into the ocean broken and damaged considered trash by everyone and then one day many hours and years later it has been smoothed and rounded by it rough and tumble travels in the ocean. It washes up on the beach and someone blessed with finding it will love and appreciate it ...because it is a rare find and maybe just maybe it will be made into a piece of jewelry that will honor its hard times and travels ....and it has gone from trash to respect.

This is why when people would bring me their treasures I would never drill a hole in it only wire wrap them
...I would do pendants or mermaids from it ...and even made brooches with seaglass ...never doing anything different to the seaglass ...no glue.. So I learned to work with what I was given. It is a great thing.

Happy Moments...come and gone.

2009-12-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

10 years ago today I met the love of my life ...my John through a classified personal ad.

When we went out that night we both knew it was love at first sight,

I miss him more than words could ever express now as I did when I lost him in April.

But I am finding my new life with out him and that means getting rid of things
I just spent this week moving the contents of my storage unit I have had since september of 2005 , everything to reopen my store and fabrics galore to create with. But I will be parting with it all starting next week.

Amazing once you resolve things have to be done you just do them.

I have been busy posting new items on Etsy... Dragonflies

2009-12-04T09:09:00.000-08:00

If you know anyone that loves dragonflies...check out some of my recent listings on Etsy. I created a clasp that is a dargonfly that is so versatile you can wear it to the front , on the side or to the back. I had many customers when I had my beadstore and gallery ask me to design jewelry easy to get on. So I designed pieces that fastened in the front. I match them up with crystal and semi-precious stones in fun and very wearable combinations. They are all created using Jewelers stringing medium and I guarantee everything I sell. I you like the clasp but need different colors just email me ...I have more beads than most people as I have all my stock leftover from my bead store.

Have a great day

Works in Progress

2009-11-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

Just wanting to share some of the works in progress hanging on my design wall right now.

the Chicken well look closely to see what it is made of.

The lady face is one of my Soul Face series I created it from some scraps a friend sent me.

What would you name her??

The dragonfly is a piece I created while I was away on my trip to the mountains. I used leaves from the ground in our campsite and hand sewed them to the gray felt fleece background. The dragonfly is cut from batik flannel ...I love it because the texture and colors are vibrant. I love working with batiks...I could do it all the time and choose to ignore my other fabrics I have spent years collecting but don't think they would appreciate it ...lol. This will go on the wall next to my Hope piece I made last year at this time.

Start creating even if it is only writing a piece of Haiku on you dinner napkin or plan a great practical joke on a friend ....or better yet in this season of miracles Commit a Random act of kindness.

I have been knitting hats and scarves for our Christmas family its not much but its something and at least I can do that. My girls are adding things to their box we will mail off Tuesday.

Blessings and Happiness to us all.

Wishes and Dreams..start today to make them come true

2009-11-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

I read Debbie Macombers Book "20 Wishes" a while back and it made me think so I made a list.

Slowly but surely I will try and work through the list.

In October one wish came true that was made 11 years ago camping in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing daughters. Even tho we were there for reasons none of ever expected. We still had times together to remember why we are Mother and Daughters . Something that had gone by the wayside I think even when we were working together to run our beadstore. We were so busy making the business work and people happy. Then the oldest literally found her boyfriend and eventually husband and now she is off on her life, but still close enough. The other moved back in with me and I thank GOD for her because she tries to help me get through the days. A month before this trip my daughter and I adopted Gezzy who you have seen pics in other posts. He was also on my list

What this is about is now to the end of the year I want everyone who reads my blog to get out a piece of paper ....make it fancy gorgeous paper...and make your list of 20 wishes. Then on January 1 make a promise to yourself to work through that list ....live it , love it, dream it , be it. YOU are so important to this planet and the people around you ...but you have to be important to yourself too.

So remember who you are and how special....No one else can make those dreams come true for you ..

LIFE IS GOOD ...start now in this season of miracles to work towards yours.

GOD BLESS

Give Thanks

2009-11-25T12:02:00.000-08:00

In this day and time so many are in fear of what their lives will become ...

It is important for us to all remember how loved we are whether we are told every 5 minutes or every month ...we are loved and with Faith and Hope and endurance...we will find the means to regain what we had or to find something so much better.

So tomorrow no matter the worries...leave them in a golden box on the door step and tell all those in your life how much you love and APPRECIATE them.

A true life is extended in understanding and expressing gratitude.

GOD bless you all

I did it ..got my etsy shop open

2009-11-15T09:12:00.000-08:00

I finally got my self motivated and going and just finished posting some Fabric Postcards on my new ETSY store.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FairyGodmotherArts

If you have never seen fabric postcards they are great little pieces of art that you send through the mail. Its so much better than junk mail or bills.

Its like sending a SMILE.

They are usually 4 x 6 inches give or take a smidge and can be mailed as they are or put in a clear envelope. They cost regular first class (44 cents) to mail.

And once they arrive the receiver only needs to put them into a frame and wala they have a beautiful piece of art just because you thought of them.

What do you think ...??? REALLY???

2009-11-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

I keep finding myself going back to this type of work ...simple in style, handstitched not perfect...raw edge applique ....then its all hand quilted. I love the look and the texture...and its me....but in the fancy art quilt world would it have a place or do I need to work towards something else. Would this ever be accepted??? Please please please help me. be very honest

I love these Photos

2009-11-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is the simple things in life that can inspire you to do better or see beauty or hope or faith . From a foggy mountainside to a simple bowl of gourds in a old log cabin reaching for the sunshine of a window of handmade pane glass.
See i could have just written the description bowl of gourds in window.

But I couldn't I had to tell you why that bowl of gourds was so special ...just like we are special maybe some of us are not where we want to be right now ...but eventually the sunshine will make it in the window and we will see in the light where we are suppose to be going and how to get there. The sunlight will let us see the door and the person who will carry us to our next step in life ...maybe outside or maybe to a garden where we will be planted to create new things and ideas.

and the last photo is of the Oconolauftee but you look and you can see the reflection of the sky deep in the water reaching out.

So enjoy them...and see past what you see and see the real purpose and meaning.

Have a day full of blessings

I love the mountains they inspire me

2009-11-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

I want to share some more of the photos I took maybe they will inspire you too...The mountains of North Carolina are so glorious any time but especially in the fall when the colors are dramatic and vibrant...this year being the best I have ever seen. Here are some fun photos that might inspire you ...my hubby laughed so hard the first time I took pictures of the chickens at the farm museum ..but I grew up around My great granma's farm and the chicken house and a mom who used to have her kitchen full of chicken stuff I just love them. this is a mom chicky and some babes.

the other pics are of a leaf on my car windshield reflecting the sky and the old fence at the farm museum.

Enjoy and have a great day

More Beautiful mountain pics

2009-11-03T09:25:00.000-08:00

more pics from the mountains

2009-11-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

As you look at the pic of the mountains and see the amazing colors you see why I love it there so much...the fall colors were amazing...and brighter than I ever remember seeing them. The blue ridge smoky mountains has a aura about it I have never seen in all the other mountains I have experienced.

The other pic is of my two sweet daughters the one in the yellow sweater is Laureta the oldest at 28 and the other is Larisa who will be 22 next month. Larisa is Gezzy's mom. I was so glad to have been able to have them along on this trip and Laureta is like me when it comes to taking photos always looking for something artistic.

a couple more pics from the mountains

2009-11-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

see even leaves smile about the fall....this little guy I found laying on the walkway at the farm museum.

the other picture is of the Oconaluftee river a very sacred river to the Cherokee...

It is said wherever there is something touched by the river it is then part of the Cherokee Mountains. I always take crystals and special beads to wash there...and bring home stones and river rocks from there to share

Travels of Gezzy and Winston

2009-11-02T07:37:00.001-08:00

If you have ever considered traveling with your pets it can be good the one photo is winston and gezzy sharing the bed platform we made in the back of the van for them to travel. as you can see they were very happy traveling in the car. We kept gezzy on a harness and lease the whole time. the shot of gezzy at the farm shows him wearing his hoody that Larisa got him at her work ...its meant for a small dog but he loves wearing it.

The only downfall we have is campgrounds do not like dogs over 30 pounds so it took us a day to find one ...but when we did "FLAMING ARROW" in Whittier was awesome . beautiful view every morning and the kids loved sleeping in the tent with us. Gezzy would take turns snuggling with each of us and winston would take turns stealing our blankets.

We went to Waynesville a town that has turned a area of little shops in a art district and the kids gezzy and winston were a big hit...the gallery owners loved meeting gezzy and accepting his visit with grace as did all the others around him.

It is a wonderful place to visit and spend some time...I met Color Pencil Artist Teresa Pennington there in her gallery and her attention to detail is amazing. She created the 75th anniversary print for the smoky mountains park.

Retreat and growth

2009-11-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

As most of you know my beloved hubby passed on April 27th. My girls and I and our new kitten and my dog took a trip to the mountains of North Carolina to spread his ashes. In a place he loved and spent many wonderful times with both of his families the one before me and the one after.

Tuesday was a rainy day ...and it seemed all my tears came back to me that day we would have been married 7 years.

My oldest daughter had never been to Cherokee before even tho my girls and I were headed there 11 years ago but the car didn't make it.So it was a promise kept to them that I made in August of 1998 and kept this year. I will be posting photos of the trip and if you have never seen the mountains of North Carolina in the fall they will make you want to go.

One place we visited that John and I loved is the Old Farm Museum that the NPS has it is old farm buildings rescued and moved there so others can see how life used to be. the strange and funny thing was this year a sculpture had been added to a barn there of a old man ...well not really the whole man ,,,his beautiful blue eyes surrounded by glasses, fuzzy gray eyebrows and fuzzy gray mustache. Looked so much like my hubby it caught me off guard. Don't know how long it has been there...but was just eery having him watching. and the thing is this was one of the places I felt John's presence most ...and missed him the most.

Amazing what you find....

2009-10-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have been cleaning my studio...and finding things I can part with and things I wish had remembered I had all along. So be prepared next week I will be going crazy creating some wonderful new treasures. Its amazing what you hold on to thinking one day and then one day you realize you won't probably use them...

I Will start creating wonderful things next week.

And the picture is of the new assistant ...Gezzy a little boy kitty my daughter adopted Sept 26, from our local no kill shelter. He is 7 weeks old and spoiled rotten...but really brightens the days around here.

Artrageous Kill Devil Hills NC

2009-10-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day at Artrageous ...it threatened rain...but it gave up and the sun came out...met lots of great people and saw some really cool stuff the kids did ...they set up things for the kids to create with and posters to paint for the following year auction...some of them have been known to go for hundreds of dollars

Tomorrow night is the auction and it is always a great time to be had...good food and artists and patrons together.

Latest works

2009-10-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

The bottom piece is entitled THE LADIES , it is a watercolor of three sea nyphms done on 110 pound water color paper and then I "matted" it by quilting a border on it(it has a fabric back and label on it) with sea theme fabric and embelishing it with a favorite yarn that looks like flotsam to me ...and shells... This was created and will be auctioned Sunday night at a annual Art Auction for the Dare County Arts Council...tomorrow I will be at the 20th Artrageous which is family event that is the day before the auction the kids always have such a blast. We had always done them and had such a great time until I had to spend my time with John.

The top piece is a special gift I made for a friend of mine whose life took the same turn as mine a month later and we are both going through a transformation.
She had mailed me a little gift bag of leftover retro fabrics from some placemats she had made ...and challenged me to create something with them...Well it took two years But I did and it contains exactly 40 pieces one for each year for the Birthday she celebrated yesterday. The beackground is made of 29 pieces cut in 1/2 inch strips by 6 inches wide woven in a basket weave and stitched to interfacing.then the flowers were cut out and applied...I think it turned out pretty cool and she just called a few minutes ago and said she loved it. the funny thing is when I went looking for something to create for her for this special day this little bag which I didn't remember just sat there and wouldn't take no for a answer. I love being possessed by fabric

Enjoy my work please and I always love any kind of feedback positive or negative it is the only way I can grow .

Have a day full of blessings and enjoy the weekend I know I will...

A day at the fair

2009-09-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day with my two daughters working a local art show here in Kitty Hawk. Its always a fun time with entertainment and good food and nice people.

I have posted three photos of my booth, the last one contains one of my visitors a local pirate.

As you will see I do many things, the back wall contains many but not all of my art quilts, then in the front of that is the jewelry I make...and to the right of that is some more jewelry and other art work I do, to the left is my seaglass jewelry surrounded by some of my photographs that my youngest daughter surprised me by getting enlarged and framed to sell. I will post some photos of my newest work tomorrow when I get them taken.

Then there is a picture of my fabric postcards that I make to sell, and I did sell a few most people have never seen them before but really thought they were cool and what a great idea, to send art in the mail.

but the most unusal thing that happened was Feline Hope our local no kill kitty shelter was set up across from us...and my daughter who has been bugging me for a kitten or puppy kept bugging me. I kept saying no , we already have 3 cats and dog, they brought in some gorgeous fuzzy gray babies(like maine coons) and well Gezabel(jezebelle, but we always have to have our own spelling) just said she had to come home...and she did .. I will post a pic later ...My daughter and I are very happy to welcome her...She joins Sniglet, Stuart and Missy Moo.

Have a great day and blessings to all of you as we go into Fall a season of abundance and harvest...Harvest well and prepare for the season to come but enjoy and give thanks.

Imagination...part of nuturing creativity

2009-09-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

Imagination 1. the faculty of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.
2. the action or process of forming such images or concepts.
3. the faculty of producing ideal creations consistent with reality, as in literature, as distinct from the power of creating illustrative or decorative imagery. Compare fancy (def. 2).
4. the product of imagining; a conception or mental creation, often a baseless or fanciful one.
5. ability to face and resolve difficulties; resourcefulness: a job that requires imagination. 6. Psychology. the power of reproducing images stored in the memory under the suggestion of associated images (reproductive imagination) or of recombining former experiences in the creation of new images directed at a specific goal or aiding in the solution of problems (creative imagination).
7. (in Kantian epistemology) synthesis of data from the sensory manifold into objects by means of the categories.
8. Archaic. a plan, scheme, or plot.

I decided to post the dictionary meaning ...and I highlighted the two that mean the most in the art world and to artists...but also to people in general...alas if only they would get it.

4. the product of imagining; a conception or mental creation, often a baseless or fanciful one.

I love this ....and why ...because it tells us ultimately there are absolutely no boundaries. It means we can take our creativity to levels that surpass what we were taught. That is why so many artists have difficulty in real life, our brains are wired to go against the norm ...and if we allow ourselves to take yellow, purple and orange fabric and design a giant bird sculpture that makes us happy...it is not baseless??? it is based on the essence of our soul. But I like the meaning because people who NEED permission to experiment and think outside the box sometimes need that in a formal manner. Hence written down.. its the rest of us who mothers told us not to go outside in our fancy Easter dress and play who ended up making mud pies while in that dress because it had rained the night before and well it was just there so we had too. despite the repercussions.

Don't create in perfection... nothing is Perfect...you shouldn't strive for perfection because all it does is hinder your imagination. Let your soul dance in whatever medium you love... When I first started taking pictures from my little 110 camera to my argus twinflex...to my pentax and even today with my digital .. I have always loved taking pictures of things and shapes and textures. I have pics of old trees...or flowers or just my mountains .. I love my mountains. But I don't attempt to take pictures anyone but me would approve of in real sense. And I love them ...

examples of those are on the last two blogs....

So Imagine everything and fear nothing, let your soul have control and you will be magnificient.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:
1300–50; ME < L imāginātiōn- (s. of imāginātiō) fancy, equiv. to imāgināt(us) ptp. of imāginārī to imagine (imāgin-, s. of imāgō image + -ātus -ate 1 ) + -iōn- -ion

Nuturing Creativity Part two......

2009-09-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

There is another level to creativity that the school systems have chosen to ignore for the most part around here ...when they cut the art class funding and said it was not a functional or necessary class...

But they were wrong and are wrong...Art instills a complex thinking process you cannot acquire from any other class. It teaches you that you can take red and yellow paint and make orange....so what else can you mix to make what???

the teacher gives them a sheet of paper and crayons ( love the smell of new crayolas) and tells them to draw the world ...some will draw a house with a cat and a dog and their family....that is their world. But some will draw space ships and stars and aliens things that don't exist in our realm ...but does in theirs. but both have unleashed their imagination the most powerful gift we are given ...it allows us to do so much ...Imagine where this world would be if there was no imagination...we would still be in caves...eating raw dinosaur ....but no someone had to invent the wheel , and someone saw a spark and knew it could cook food or do something great. So those art classes give the kids the chance to learn how to problem solve using the imagination they nurture and build...and that with all the other stuff they learn puts them in a place in this world that they can do anything.

We take pieces of functional fabric meant for clothing or traditional quilts and paint with them creating a piece of art that absorbs your soul when you look at it...

Have a day full of imagination''

Nuturing Creativity

2009-09-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

This started as a simple request on Quiltart a group I belong too and took off so I want to share it here...the writer just takes control of me now like the artist.

Nurturing creativity

I was one who was born and when I was 4 years old my dad (I think he probably would have started earlier) started me painting and drawing I am not talking stick figures, but still lifes and animals and then later cartoon characters...every year I got Art supplies...and then as it my life progressed It was just always there. My Nanna spent one year making those placemats out of sequen waste and Aunt Lydia's rug yarn...where you wove the yarn in and out and then stitched the pieces together,

or spray painting mayonaise jars and other jars we saved then while they were wet we would roll them in Silver glitter. We made them for gifts and to give flowers away to people who needed a day of smiles.

.and then at age 10 I discovered fabric and beads and jewelry, My other Nanna bought old pieces at tag sales so you see I didn't stand a chance, and omgoodness a sewing machine, my mom's 1956 singer she had gotten for a wedding present that year...what a miraculous machine I could take one piece of fabric and another piece and this machine would stitch it together...and I could make things,,,like stuffies or teddy bears or pillows., whatever, I never did get good at clothes..not adult clothes , I made all of my chidren's christening gowns.

I went on to be a student teacher at age 13 for a summer,,,with a fabulous art teacher and she could make anyone's blossom of creativity bloom and that is me now I love teaching people they can be creative.

High school led to taking carpet remnants and cutting them in pieces and created a 4 x 8 foot landscape mural for the entrance of the High school...they picked me they knew I was crazy enough to do it and so I picked 3 friends and dragged them into that craziness but it turned out great...I also took every art class I could ...but some of my art teachers were different and wanted me to stick to the rules ...have you ever heard of anything so silly ...rules in art...A real artist (my opinion) pays no attention to rules just like the mural made out of rug scraps.

So you see I never stood a chance not only do I have to create I have to drag everyone else I can kicking and screaming into letting their blossom of creativity to bloom and never look back. That is why I loved my bead store I could teach people to do that and I miss it...but now I have a dream to go bigger ...a art school where you can go and let that happen no matter who you are or the $$$ you have.

Wow sorry ...but you can see my heart took over...So Just create ...do or make whatever let your heart and soul guide you

Balance and abundance

2009-08-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a friend yesterday a young mother and she has two children one who is 3 and the other under a year...she was talking about how much she loves knitting and but finding time to allow it is a problem. She wasn't complaining just stating the facts and it reminded me of when I had my children my first will turn 28 this friday ...yes eekkkk...how did she get so old while I try and stay young, well at heart anyway and lately even it has it old days. My other daughter will turn 22 on December 28 and my son (the bonus prize) will be 21 in March. Ok so when the last two were born life got very interesting. the strange thing is I don't remember that much of them as the two babies...I remember bring Drew home and Larisa climbing out of the crib a few days later and then it seems the next thing I remember they were both running around learned how to program the VCR better than I could ...and we were working on my business of making collectable teddy bears to get ready for the big shows. Now my thought is as first oh my gosh I don't remember my kids growing up, but the truth is my heart does ...it was the balance that we had to accquire with 5 people in a small house...that life just simply and smoothly progressed (don't get me wrong it was far from perfect) Ny kids could go outside and run around and enjoy life I didn't have to worry I knew every square inch of that land I had done the same thing. this house was where my mother and her sister were born where when they needed more room granpa would go get wood and build on another room, just cutting a hole in the wall and there was a room ...no hallways. so everything was connected. I grew up there in the summer as soon as school was out and learned how to can vegetables, weed gardens, plant flowers and share...share the abundance.

Almost every sunday or at least two sundays a month we had sunday dinner there and usually once a month at great granma's house where there were 9 still living, they were a farm family....everything raised by them for them...extras they sold or bartered...and if the person needed but didn't have something to barter or buy, GreatGranma would share her abundance.

All this created a understanding in my mind and heart that sharing and working with others creates a balance...

So now as I learn how to find that balance again after losing the love of my life and finding my way through this point in my life ...I know now I have to share my abundance.

God gave me more talents and the want to share them then I will ever use in my lifetime...SO once again I feel the need to put my place where I can share it and teach again...so the balance has to come in and help me find the place to share my abundance. and I will so this is my goal ...to create finally the arts and craft school I have wanted for 10 years since moving here to the Outer Banks and today I felt if I wrote this goal down it would give me the incentive to make it come true.

ANd thanks to the 3 main strong women in my young life , and all my great aunts and uncles that were there on those sunday dinner visits and family gatherings many times if we all go together there were over 40 of us ...and how even when we let the cows run loose on Route 1 highway one fourth of july ...no one got mad it was just their way to maintain the balance and the freedom to enjoy it.

I have more to write but will wait ...till tomorrow ...

But Will leave you with this ...to acquire your balance learn to share your abundance

I used a pic of dragonflys on a art quilt I did when John first got sick ..because if you look at them you wouldn't think they could fly ...but they exude Balance

My first attempt at Fractals

2009-08-24T15:07:00.000-07:00

I signed up for this swap year before Last I think it was before I understood what it was ...I said to myself just sounds cool...and I love a challenge...Then I went to Rose Eushbrooke's site and fell in love with them ...I did not have the patience to create them like she does but I gave a good shot I think.

Check out her site right now and look at Shoreline ...it is gorgeous I love the colors...

http://www.roserushbrooke.com/

have a great day and take a dare once in awhile you never know where it will lead you.

What I have been working on

2009-08-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

This is pics of the peyote stitch bracelets I have been making to sell at the art shows It is done one bead at a time sewn with 30lb Spectra or Power pro fishing line so they last and last...Spectra is a far cry from the monofiliament we used to use in the OLD Days?? LOL...

It is the stuff they use for deep sea fishing nowadays and does not deteriotate like the mono stuff does.

They are all decked out with crystals, and sparkles of all kinds ...the Gold one has Discontinued Metalic Gold swarovski crystals on it...There is one with blue flowers I call forget-me-knots and another similiar one with pink flowers which I did not embellish the top of...I use what is called a 6 ought bead to create them so they are substantial but not heavy...
This is one of the styles I taught many classes in how to do at my bead store...they are a blast to make ...no patterns just colors colors colors everywhere...

I hope you enjoy seeing what I have been up too

They sell for between 35.00 and 100.00 great sparkle no one else has...

all one of a kind

Have a day full of blessings

Some new ideas,,,from sketchbook toooo???

2009-08-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

For my birthday last year my oldest daughter gave me some Prismacolor markers and watercolor pencils...I have always loved art markers when I was a kid I saved up my grass cutting money to buy a set of 60 Buffalo markers I was in 7th grade and one of my best friends had a set she brought to art class and they were amazing every color of the rainbow ...yest classic colors too ochre, burnt umber, raw umber. and I learned to create with them. So where is this discussion going...I never played with my prismacolors till recently and at first played with them on fabric (WOW) look at the fox in a earlier post. and now directly on canvas , with some designs I had sketched for a series of Art Quilts...and couldn't wait to see them in colors...

I hope you agree how cool they are..I love them ...and the pieces I did there were 9 altogether are numbered and framed(5x7) ..I think I may post some on etsy ...not sure yet.

they are just fun and funky....

So now that I have seen them in color I definitely want to take them to the next level.

Sssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooooo????

have a day full of creative thoughts and a happy heart

Why do you make Art Quilts ????

2009-08-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Duke University has many Art quilts hanging all over the Clinic building and the hospital...After having spent the last 3 years there with my hubby, I never noticed changes in any of them...I would go and visit them when I was having a bad moment just looking at them made me feel better...so if that is a reason to create something for them please do ...Art quilts don't glare at you they invite you in the rich colors and textures...they let you let them into your soul when times are bad . There are 3 at Duke I remember the most...one was a large raw applique of suedes and silkes and various fabs...in sagey greens it reminded me of the mountains I wanted and needed to be instead of the sterile place I was forced to be in because my sweet hubby was fighting cancer.

Sorry but I just want everyone to know art quilts in medical facilities have more meaning than you know.

I would like everyone to visit this post and leave a comment as to why they make Art Quilts .. I am just suddenly very curious....in return I will send everyone who posts a Fabric Postcard or ATC your choice. I really want to hear you..

To get the PC or ATC email your snail mail address to Iseasunrises@aol.com

Thanks and have a day ull of blessings, miracles and dreams

Not all of us can be Cinderella , But some of us can be Fairy Godmothers

SAQA AUCTION ...you just have to see for yourself

2009-07-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx

You will be amazed and mesmerized by the collection of 12 inch by 12 inch pieces of art awaiting you in this years SAQA Auction...

The wonderful thing about pieces this size is the immense work is there by some of the BEST Art Quilters in the world. and everyone can find a space for something so special to hang . This artwork is capable of many things from bringing a simple smile to your face to opening your heart to things in life you need to see.

So visit the site today and see what awaits you ....you will be glad you did.

Lorri

North Carolina
SAQA Co-Rep
Studio Art Quilt Associates
VA/NC/SC region
SAQA http://saqavancsc.wordpress.com
http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx

http://fairygodmotherarts.blogspot.com
http://outerbanksartquilts.blogspot.com

Not all of us can be Cinderella , But some of us can be Fairy Godmothers

thinking

2009-07-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

You know sometimes we can think to much ...

I know you all know what I mean.

Whether it is going to the grocery store to buy groceries and you stand there at the meat counter thinking about what you want for dinner...steak or chicken , grilled or not. and we end grabbing a package of hamburger take it home grill it and it is the best thing we ever tasted. But we wasted time fighting with ourselves over the chicken and steak.

This is Life if we go with the first thought many times it will turn out fantastic and sometimes it will not be fantastic but will still be good or even great.

That is ART...many people will say they can't draw or paint or sew or bead or whatever. I taught people for almost all of my life but professionally for over 6 years that they can do it . if they only draw stick people then it is their stick people and that is cool, I mean look at Jackson Pollock or the 6 year old girl who people are spending thousands of dollars on her work. I don't think they overthought the process they just did it.

I have come to the conclusion my life that I overthink things and because of it invite chaos in and then nothing gets done.

I don't finish the 3 art quilts or even start them that are in my sketch book I really want to start or finish one that I really want to finish.

So now every morning after thanking God for allowing me to awake and feel the new day I amd just going to walk through life and MY ART will be my focus. I will still take care of the things I have to ...But I will walk to my fabrics and if it tells me to take the yellow polka dotted purple fabric and make a cat .

If we get past the overthinking then we get past the fear that no one will like it or that it won't turn out and we are allowing that purple cat with yellow polkadots to fulfill its destiny which will be make us giggle and others to smile and laugh.

All because we did not overthink the design or process.

I chose one of my cloud photos to represent this because Clouds don't think they just float whereever they are suppose to go and if in the floating process they become a rabbit or a dragon or a fish then they get their moment of happiness especially if someone sees it and enjoys.

Ok so now you think I am really loopy ...but hey I am a artist and writer justing going with the flow.

Have a wonderful day ...and don't over think

Love exists...Art Quilt ...

2009-07-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

this is a art quilt I created today using the pillowcase backing .. I really liked the way it turned out...it has always been hard for me to do otherwise for "bindings or finishings" but this really adds I think to this piece. The roses are a sheer fabric I was gifted by a friend last year ( actually a couple of big bags of goodies)
that I layered over a cotton fabric with floral and swirls...then cut the dove out of batik fabric. It is completely sewn by machine the roses are quilted to stand out and the bird is satin stitched with some stippling on the body. you sew your
backing fabric completely around then cut a large enough opening to turn it right out press it really well then add your label over the opening you made for turning it out. I added one of my business cards inside the label pocket with all my info so if they ever need more info pop a few stitches and they have it.

I love the look ...victorian but not...the colors are bold but not...it is truly a pretty piece in my minds eye...but would love any honest critique. I am definitely liking the binding idea I used and will play with it alot more. to hang it I can either put a small hanging pocket on the back or wooden rings to hang it.

enjoy ....and remember love always exist even when you can see it or hold it.

Nannas Irises

2009-06-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

As you walk through life you see things that are always there on your heart, my Nanna's Irises were like that ...she had th most beautiful iris garden irises of every color....but the lavenders were always my favorite. So I have created this quilt...to honor that heart memory. I still have to quilt it and put the backing on but just wanted to share its simple beauty.

The shape of the iris just intrigues me.... I used batiks to create the flowers and the leaves

Have a day full of blessings

Something new fun and foxy...hehehe

2009-06-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

This piece is 10 x 10 inches I a created it by drawing the fox and flowers on white on white fabric, using Prismacolor markers. I ironed the fabric to freezer paper to stabilize it. and when he was done I used some of my favorite batiks to create the art quilt. and simple outline quilting. I just love his precious face.

the colors are so bright and the white on white pattern shows thru adding character to the piece.

Seaglass or beachglass

2009-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

I love Seaglass it is glass that has found its way to the ocean and is broken and those pieces spend years and years tumbling around being beaten and treated roughly.I have been creating Jewelry with these bits of glass for over 25 years, I use all kinds of wire , am self taught but I love the look ...and the feel of the glass. I try to keep my work as pure and simple as the glass. Its amazing what the ocean and sand does to broken glass, So I can take it and create a treasure for me or someone to enjoy.

Low and behold one day it lands on the beach and someone finds it..its beautiful this rough sea trash has found its way to smooth, glorious beauty. Something someone wants to treasure and wear in jewelry, or just keep in a bowl where they go to have a quiet moment and remember that spiritual walk on the beach where we literally can be reborn.

I feel seaglass represents our lives...many of us walk though life in a harsh, hard way and we wonder what we did to get there....but one day we all know we will wake up one morning and find out we have all the rough spots smoothed away and we are beautiful and treasured by those around us.

Enjoy your days for you are always a treasure.

Creativity

2009-06-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

well it has been a month since I posted last ...and now I am working on finding the new life planned for me. So many things happened but one of the good things is I am able to concentrate on my art for awhile. Not just my art quilts but my jewelry. Many of you don't know I used to own the largest bead store on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and spent over 5 years teaching everyone I could that they could make jewelry that it wouldn't bite them. From young kids age 4 and up to a rocket scientist who did have a little bit of trouble thinking outside the box but I got her there.

One thing about my store was we did our classes whenever you walked in the door and we would help you. It was such a blast. It is the way all bead stores should be run and because of my store many more are run this way today. I closed my store in 2005 when the shopping center was sold and before I could relocate John got sick.

So for now I am selling my art through a local farmers market and doing pretty good. I love meeting the people one thing will never change as a person I am a people person I love talking to people. I get to be outside for 4 hours each saturday ...and just enjoy the day

Now is my creative time I am using it to heal and am wanting to get people involved in being creative again. There is so much out there to do and play and work at....So be prepared there will be new things happening on here...and it will be for the better. The pictures are some pieces I did and sold when I had my beadstore ...it off loom beadweaving....and I love doing it .

John and I's last trip to LasVegas I bought a ton(his words when he ended up having to carry my bag thru the airport because it was too heavy for his old lady

Walk in the day and dream your dreams for you never know when life will leave you wondering where did it go.

hard news ...better place

2009-05-01T19:37:00.001-07:00

i wasn't going to post this but since I had posted in a incognito way in the previous post about how ill my husband was ....well this past monday he kept his word and walked almost two weeks from April 7th when he told everyone he would. Only he walked into GOD's Arms in heaven.

I will miss my most special man ...he was romantic and loving and respectful and taught me how to appreciate life in a whole other way.

I will always love him and pray we get to be together again one day.

Latest Creation

2009-04-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Breathe is a anchor word given to me by a friend who is experiencing the same thing I am right now with our beloved hubbies. When things get rough we remind ourselves to just Breathe.

It is done with a sheer fabric over raw edge appliques cut out and laid in place then the sheer fabric placed over that finally the fun part ....variegated thread and lots of stitches on the machine. the word breathe is done in PAS....a technique I came up with that I have been playing with.

Have a wonderful day and never overlook those scraps they might create something wonderful...

LIFE........

2009-04-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

You will come to this blog and expect a piece of my art well this is but it is a piece of my heart too.

I love waterlilies they float effortesly through life being beautiful and inspiring. This is a photo I took last year and the shape makes me think of life. Each petal is a Layer of life and they open wide to take it all in and the center will nourish, butterflies, bees, dragonflies and more to create new life. and then one day without notice they sink to the bottom of the pond to dissolve into the mud to feed the next blossom to make its way to the top. Its life we all get to a point where we can float through having good times...enjoying the special people we meet...and then one day maybe way before we or the others think we should we sink to the bottom to feed and lift up the others with our love and memories.

My husband is sinking and he will be so missed but the love he has shown me in the almost 10 years we have had will continue to left me up and shine and help to continue on so I can help others open their petals and take in the goodness of life.

Please hug someone or call someone this makes you think of ....you will be glad you did.

GOD BLESS

Collage Mania Donation

2009-03-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania2009.html
This is a piece I created to honor my husband and many friends who are battling Cancer right now. It is a collage of fabric with the tree painted in a process I call PAS, then layered with sheer fabric and quilted. The fabrics I used I have been collecting for years...I originally used this process to Create some ATC size art which is posted on the blog also there are 6 different. But I love the bigger one 8 x 10 inches.

Please help Virginia Spiegel make her goal of $20,000 dollars for this auction as it will be her last fiberart for a cause and she has already managed to raise $170,000 over the last few years she has put the auctions together.

peyote stitch instructions

2009-03-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

This is a very simplified version but for those of us who are written instruction challenged this will help.

also you can see I use large plastic pony beads for this ...its because most of my students when I had my beadstore had tried to learn with the tiniest delica beads and seed beads and just trying to see what you were doing would cause so much frustration they would give up.

One lady threw away a 140.00 beaded purse kit because she couldn't get it. I can teach anyone in 15 minutes with this process and they could finish a bracelet in two hours using size 6/0 beads.

caution once you learn how to do this it is addicting.

Please if you need anymore help just ask I love seeing people finally get something they have struggled with.

works in progress

2009-03-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

These are two pieces 12 by 12 inches that I am working on ,,,and since I had posted in awhile I decided to post them in progress. I just loved the colors and paisley were always a big thing for me when I first started sewing. The leaves are cut from a fabric that was stripes of angled colors and it just screamed to me Leaves. The green one is funky because it is the first time I had ever used my free form embroidery foot for my sewing machine and just played with it.

It was so much fun almost as much fun as the time I spent playing on the Gammill quilting machine....oooh how I would love to have one of those...maybe one of these days.right now I just want to be able to come up with the money to buy me a new Brother machine...I checked out a couple I really liked.

They are made out of beautiful fabrics that spoke to me in my too short but wonderful visit to MAQF in Hampton Roads March 1 which I finally got to go to after 4 years. The work there was amazing...And the day made me so happy...to see what other amazing artists and quilters are doing.

I had so much fun feeling all the fabrics and fibers and antique buttons and goodies goodies goodies...

I also became the VA/NC/SC region Co -rep for SAQA Studio Art Quilt Associates Lynda Thompson in Va is the other co-rep. Please check out SAQA...you will be amazed at the caliber of Artists there ...

Well everyone have a wonderful day and remember to do something for yourself and just BREATHE

The Simpler the better sometimes

2009-03-02T11:32:00.000-08:00

I may have posted this last year when I first created it , not sure but its one of my favorite pieces....It is two loons in love sitting on a piling at the beach. I love the shape of the loon it is smooth and simple and just lets your eye see it for what it is a elegant little bird with a crazy name. It is properly known as a Cormorant and they love to winter here...you can see them every where and sometimes you will see them with their wings spread wide welcoming the winter sun to warm them and give them lifeforce. Their lives are so simple fly, swim and eat...
and occasionally bring a smile to a passerbys face such as mine.
The loons are created from a Batik flannel the picture does not due them justice...the colors are much more vibrant and pop at you from the texture of the flannel. The moon is a gold silk, and the arch and background are two different color browns of sueded panne.
I made this piece as a gift for my hubby. The first 3 of this design I made very simply and sold right away...without even getting pictures of them. Their message is simply enjoy the simple things of life. Breathe....

Moonrises and Trees

2009-02-27T15:29:00.000-08:00

These are some ATCS I have been working on to trade in a group I belong to they are 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches. A few years ago we were driving home late one night when the full moon was rising on Currituck Bay... the trees in front looked like black lace in front of the moon which was as big as a mountain that night. So truly inspiring. these are some trees I painted using a technique I think I developed which for now will call PAS....it is organza stitched over raw edge applique pieces. These were all done by sewing machine. with a black cardstock backing. This is 6 of 8 in the series. I really like the look and it lets me use all the wonderful little fabrics I have been collecting in my stash for years.

I ususally handsew my atcs..its very relaxing. and saves my sanity.

Art Quilts What I do to stay sane

2009-02-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to work more and more on my art quilts I love to stitch things together.

I was suppose to be on vacation from work January and February but due to a medical emergency with my hubby i have not had much time to create. the piece with the gold flower I handsewed one night in a motel room in Durham it was my hubby's and I anniverysary and we had just found out his lung cancer was back.

So this piece was named Frustration. It is completely made out of remnants I bought in 5 minutes at Hancock fabrics nearby the hotel and the leaves I used real leaves I picked up out of the parking lot. It is all done with raw edge applique on a black wool background , gray and black checkerboard flannel ..all handstitched and quilted. I worked on while we sat in the waiting rooms at Duke.

The other piece is called Faith I made this one while I sat with hubby last week at the hospital after he fell and broke his hip. again raw edge applique and some fabrics i really really love.I call it Faith because it represents the holy trinity to me. GOD is very important to me and our family. As you can see i don't like being careful with my stitches Traditonal quilters probably cringe when they see my work ...that is why i like making ART quilts...when i tried traditional quilts they always turned out to be of the DORKY kind...nothing wrong with that they would keep you warm and look good at a distance....but to a "REAL" quilter they lacked alot.

You should know I never go anywhere with out my bag of tricks ...it is stuffed with snippets of stuff...threads...beads...and much more. I cannot sit still and not do something. Friends who have seen my bag can't believe it...

but you never know when the mod will strike or you have 10 minutes or more to create.

what is this all about ??? it is to remind you to take care of yourself ...always find time to create it can save your sanity .....or at least i hope it does ......BREATHE

Inspire your heart and soul with creative art....

2009-01-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to find time to create and as the last month has been insane ...I have only gotten some knitting done...but I was able to give the scarfs I made for Christmas gifts. But seeing this piece made me think I really need to get back to some ...so tomorrow Operation Studio reclaim is on....

If you are a creative soul please in this new year make time for it ... your heart and sould will be glad you did

A great Artist

2009-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

http://llcreations.blogspot.com/

Please Check out this wonderful heart filling work of a friend I made ahile ago...I am blessed to own many of her hand sewn masterpieces. Her detail and whimsy make her little pieces of art heaven on earth.

Just looking at them can make you smile and feel better

Family how it used to be

2008-12-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I let this blog sit stale for so long...for that I apologize.

Today is a topic close to my heart.....FAMILY....I was blessed to grow up in a large family on both my mom and dad's side. My mom's mother MY NANA came from a family of 14 13 grew to adulthood....My greatgrandmother Janie raised them all on a farm less than 2 miles from George Washington's estate Mount Vernon. My Great grandfather left this earth and her and his family at age 40 of his own choosing. Thankfully they were very reliant and had a large farm to grow everything they needed to survive. from the hogs, chickens and cows, vegetables and the extra they had they would sell or trade for what they did need. I grew up between that farm my nana's farm where I would spend my summers and a apartment on fairhaven avenue and later a house on franklin street. I loved being part of this huge family and the unspoken traditions....Sunday dinners at either Great Granma's or Nana's. Made with fresh food so fresh sometimes it still had the dirt on it...eggs plucked from the chicken coop while dodging the evil rooster. fresh baked bread made from the flour ground at the GW Mill ....and later at home.

Pickles and other things that would be put up every season ...to get everyone thru winter.

The house wasn't fancy ...but on a clear day from Great granma's room you could see Mt. Vernon It was white frame house with crowded bedrooms to raise all of the kids. My great aunts and uncles....no one today is blessed to grow up in such a way, or it is very rare. There were barns and hog sheds and corn cribs ...ice house, root cellar for cold storage and all the other necessary out buildings and equipment.

BUT out of all of that came something time nor money could ever buy ....Love, respect and Support. If someone needed something they would get it somehow .. if they needed help repairing their home someone or many would be their to help. I loved them all and because of them I learned to love and accept people no matter how unusual they were.

We used to get together almost every other sunday for a big dinner.....and on major holidays...wow ...the fourth of July was awesome ....fireworks on the big front lawn....homemade peach and strawberry ice cream ....their peaches and strawberries. kids running everyhere catching parchuting army men landing from the fireworks. Letting the cows out one time to run down the middle of Route one ahhh that was funny to us but not the adults that spent the hour or so rounding them up.

This closeness and genuine family spirit is so special that I wish more people knew of it. There are still some us out there who know how to enjoy life and live it to the fullest with the ones we love. but many times more than I have found they tend to ignore their families because of work, or their own selfish concerns. Even when they important ones are sick...maybe even terminal they do not make the effort to share more of their time with them. Or to assist in anyway they can.

Its a shame ....they would receive such blessings of the heart if they did.

I will continue this tomorrow Boys and Girls....hahaha but remember love the ones your with.

Getting through

2008-08-09T05:23:00.000-07:00

The Arch was created for Surface Design Trade a group I belong to on Yahoo....Arches have always reminded me of Churches and believing. So when it came time to embellish this piece after adding all the fun yarn fibers and roses and gems...I needed something for the background...and the vintage gold doves and my little keeping the faith shrink art piece I made a couple of years ago just seemed the right touch. I will admit I fell in love with this particular one so much having to make another to send off will be the same but not.

The background is made with layering the dreaded sheer fabrics that many are not sure what to do with ... I love slicing mine up and layering them on top of each other and then trapping them with a white organza...just love the look ....these are made from a large "sheet" I made then cut what I needed out of that....used some ombre rainbow , and then layers of two colors of pink. a purple and blue ....then just stitch it all down ...part of the fun. used silver rayon thread for this panel. the lower panel is to let you see it before embellishing .. this is a piece I am trying to finish in time to mail out for the SAQA 1 foot square auction. I have a tree and field of flowers to add yet ...

The Arch was stitched to a pre-stiffened purple felt then a vintage green brocade was stitched to the back and trimmed with pinking shears. I really like this piece ...The roses are from a dollar bag of stuff I bought at a CVS and never thought would use them .. but they just worked so well on here with all of my yarns I have been collecting.

Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoy creating them ....

To Create or not to Create there is no question

2008-08-06T05:14:00.001-07:00

The photos are of some of my recent works...,.Small can be better...

The first piece is a ATC 2 1/2 inches by 3 inches of a pirate animal done on fabric and canvas and embellished. Arrrrrrrgggghhhhhhh handsome fellow he is this was done for ATC group on yahoo I belong to

The next piece is Odd Creature....I love the flow of a dancing jellyfish ....so I created this fellow in Organza and patchwork background. he is truly 3 d the body puffs up off the card a 4 inch by 6 inch fabric postcard....and the tentacles hang loose and flowy belowy.... love the way he turned out. plans to make a larger version are in the works. This piece and the next one were made for Surface Design a group I belong to that truly inspires me to stay sane by creating treasures to share with others, although there are times its hard to do if I forget to make myself one. It went in a clear envelope and the 5 were mailed off to my trade partners one went to Canada and well still waiting to hear if the one I mailed to England made it.

Wild Cherries I love this piece ...Batiks are the most incredible fabrics they have so much going for them .. the black and white fabric I bought at a yard sale... and its so elegant with the wild cherries done in a reverse applique technique...amazing how something so simple can be so striking. this again is a 4 inch by 6 inch postcard.

I love creating in the small format you can put all the crazy energy in a piece that you would do in a large piece but in a fraction of the time... and share with people all over the world. Since I joined Surface Design I have received some of the most amazing pieces of Art and its incredible what is in my shoebox gallery as well as those displayed.

So if you want to create think small ...and build your palette of techniques and then you can bring them to the table on larger pieces. Enjoy ...

Blessing in Disquise....

2008-07-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday My wonderful Husband wanted to do something nice for us and get a chicken dinner on his way back he was in a accident with MY car ....well lets say its not pretty . But the Blessing is that he was not hurt nor the person in the truck he hit.. and our Puppy who turns a year old tomorrow Winston who was thrown from the van was not hurt ... My van they say can be repaired...we will see.

Today we went for his check up at Duke to see how he is doing since the brain surgery in February ...and he seems to be doing pretty good. But because of the accident he is on limited driving priviledges until October when he gets another MRI.

After we saw the Doctor we met up with Sandra our bestest friend from Caring House...whom we love alot and her grandaughter Megan and Sandra's bestest friend and running partner Betty. We hugged then exchanged directions for John's fav restaurant in Knightdale and we all went there for lunch and met John's fabulous cousin Sheila there and we all just laughed and talked while we enjoyed a great meal and the best hush puppies ever.

Time was way to short....but as the 3 amigos had driven almost 3 hours to visit with us...today they had to leave way to soon. and so did we.

GOD's Country

2008-05-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

You know as a artist everyday I look up and see dragons flying across the sky in a cloud formation or a fish with wings.... this is not something that is taught to people but I wish it was.. We are so blessed with all the Natural beauty around us. When a child says Mommy look at the puppy dog in the clouds say oh isn't he cute... teach your children it is ok to see those things.

Then when you are driving out in the world and you see something GOD wants to share with you.. YOU will see it and say oh wow isn't that amazing. Whether it is a Sunrise or a rainbow or a glorious sunset. Stop and enjoy it ... those hamburgers at mcDonalds.. will wait they have been there all day.. or 2 minutes late to work or a meeting just think how much better you will feel having seen all that nature and God has to offer....

So take in that old saying Stop and smell the roses....

Breathe and Create

2008-05-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

Wow the summer is about to begin and I will be busy working in the Gift shop I manage...but ...I have spent the last few days cleaning and organizing my studio so I can sneak in there on a moments notice and create something.. anything....I have so much I want to get done. But getting the gift shop ready for the big season .

I finished another Favorite Artist Journal Page ...Van Gogh' Crows in a Cornfield .. I love the colors in this painting and crows are believed to be the messengers in Native American Lore and Corn is very Important to the Cherokee which I am 1/16th ...Mother Selu delivered the corn to the Cherokee and because of this they survived. I have a quilt in sketches right now as a tribute to Mother Selu. So that is why I chose the painting .. I also always wanted to paint this design on my kitchen wall.I wish you could feel and see the yellow fabric I used it has loose threads on it that make it look corn standing ...then used some thread painting where I use the sewing machine to "embroider" images on the page. and last the crows were layered first by thread painting and finally by dimensional paint....I am very pleased with this piece I used Artist canvas for the back of the page so it looks like a painting in the raw.

I also am putting together some more Fabric postcards...playing with denim and layering sheers over a shiny satin background. I will post pictures when I get my first samples done.

As we walk through Life it is always important to breathe...and then create ...do something for yourself YOU are IMPORTANT is you are not happy then no one should be happy.. Just kidding...but you should be happy.

Next time you go for a walk listen to the birds and the sounds around you Mother loves to talk to you and assist you in creating something above and beyond.

Another good Visit

2008-05-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

For those who know and read about the adventure of Life that John and have gone through to keep him here.. and get rid of the cancer ...He went to see all his Doctors tuesday and got a very good report....we go back in 3 months on July 29 for a MRI. they are amazed out how well he is doing and has recovered from his 2nd brain surgery in 14 months. What a Strong Man I am married to and blessed to be loved by.

Hug your special people today....

Plant a Prayer grow a Miracle

where am I ???

2008-04-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

I am in one of those its taking too much time in real life...so creating is being sidelined...

But ................ I did work on some of my challenges the other day...and I think they turned out pretty darn cool...

Tuesday was my only day off and I chose to not do housework or anything else someone wanted me to do...instead I sat in my Studio all day and worked.

It was such fun and relaxing... I made some fabric postcards one signifies my hometown ...Mt Vernon, VA...and the other one was recreating a photo into a fabric PC...amazing what your brain can make you do.

Check them out....

Wow amazing how Life is

2008-04-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

In 2005/06?? I met a lovely lady who is a cancer survivor named Peg and she had a friend named Nan...Peg called me because of my mobile bead store she needed to buy some beads. When she saw what I had she told me that when her and Nan(also a cancer survivor) got together next time on the beach she wanted Nan to be introduced to the beads. And we did just that on a nice day when they came to the beach... at first Nan said she was not interested ...but we showed her some work that we had done, then showed her the beads all glass or semi=precious stones. She found some she liked , Lizard my daughter pulled out a table and chair from the van and the necessary supplies and Nan sat and created her first necklace right there in the parking lot. It was beautiful Large Amethyst and I think carnelian, forgive me Nan old age ya know. anyway the finished piece was gorgeous and glorious. Well Miss Nan was hooked ..and she went home and became a Jewelry designer .. I helped her a few more times and she started designing jewelry in cancer representation colors. She marketed her designs and now she has a full fledge business and is retiring as an accountant. She does beautiful work and is so enjoying the wonders she has found in beads and stones and designing.

I have to tell you these two gorgeous women paid me back a 1000 fold...I was too meet with them the day I found out my husband had lung cancer...and because of their personal battles they were so supportive and helpful to me in a very bad moment. May GOD continue to bless them with the wonders of good health.

Continue your wonderfuls journeys

thank you

2008-03-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone who is reading these posts and seeing the message and getting it.

As a person I feel it is one of the most important things I can get across at this time to all who visit.

Its not easy being ..........

2008-03-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

This came to me because I wanted to say its not easy being a caregiver...but then I heard Kermit the Frog singing in my head ...along with the other little voices....that live there.

anyway .. I decided to write that Life is Not EASY ...PERIOD. But you know, what if you don't go through the rough patches even the really scary ones... you won't learn to appreciate the good ones and great ones even more. I have asked for and received 3 miracles...John's first diagnosis and 2nd and 3rd. We may not have wanted them but they found them before it was too late.

So we hope and pray.

For example ...when John was diagnosed with the lung cancer inoperable and the doctors at Duke said sure we can get rid of that ...and they did. A unfortunate side effect of lung cancer is the cells travel to the brain during the treatment and lay dormant ...then pow you find out you have a brain tumor(this is called a brain metaste). This happened to John in January 2007. That one was removed and treatment was performed to keep any others from coming back, at least we hoped ...so We enjoyed life together...then on Valentines Day 2008 we were told another tumor was found.

That tumor was removed on February 21, 2008 John's 60th birthday. He is doing good but unable to work as the brain and the body has said enough is enough. This is hard for someone who has worked all of his life...So he gets grumpy. But I have to learn to deal with it ...Because I love him and he is still with me

So appreciate everyone in your life whether they are sick or not...because you just never know.

Piece of Mind....!!

2008-03-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

This was a Piece I worked on one week while at Caring House the Adult Cancer House in Durham where we stayed from May to September in 2006 while my sweet hubby underwent treatment for stage 3 lung cancer. Which he was cleared of by October 2006.

Anyway .. I did not take my sewing machine right away .. so much of the work I did was all by hand...and took alot of patience to design and create....while going thru the rest of my life.. a hubby who was sick from chemo ....a place that although restful was not my home.

I created Coyote spirit because he reminds me of how helpful and ultimate survivor he can be . He adapts to whatever surroundings he is in and not only makes the best of it but he thrives.

This is not always copasetic with those around him because he is a bit of a trickster ..but is also a teacher , he will pass on his skills of how to make do in day to day life. I learned this from my studies in Native American Art and ways and my tiny but very important link to Cherokee Nation. My Great Great grandfather was full Cherokee from Tanasi .. now called Tennessee and was part of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. but as I said my link is but tiny to the world but huge in my heart.

It is this that I use to adapt to what is going on around me and how I learned to have patience with myself and others ( most times) and to make the best of any situation. When people whether residents or visitors would comment on my work I was happy to share and explain what ever I was working on...whether it was this piece or a fabric Postcard or Artist Trading cards...which I gave away at least one a day to someone .

You need to understand we were staying in a house full of people and their caregivers who for the most part were unhappy people who just did not know how to get to the positive healing attitude you need to beat cancer and feel good each day. So coyote reminded me to teach and share what I knew . The first thing I did was to bring my beads .. I had so many left over from bead store closing in Sept 2005 that I just brought boxes of Fun stuff and Memory Wire to make bracelets with. It was something that could be created quickly once the beads were selected,,,but selecting the beads were part of the fun...everything was in a big tray ...all mixed up the therapeutic aspects of sorting and feeling the beads between your fingers takes your mind off your troubles at the same time there was always someone else to sit there with and talk and commiserate about their lives with. Many Wonderful Friendships were born over that tray.Do to donations from people all over the world the tray has continued and expanded .. and local High school kids have come and helped...I visit everytime we go to Durham to see my friends I have there still. The tray will 2 years old on May 31, and it is still doing so much good.

So I took something so simple as a tray of mixed up beads and gave people the initative to think about something else other than the BIG"C" and helped them get into a new mindset on how to deal with the illness affecting them or their loved one. It also created a in house support group for everyone who wanted to be a part of it .

So Coyote spirit is more than a Art quilt it is a inspiration for a way of life and PEACE of Mind...

Ok here I am

2008-03-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

Friends have asked me many times because there are ones I have never met what do you look like.

Well I turned 50 in January .. I am not ashamed ....my mother actually looks better than me at age 70 when we are together people think she is my sister ... so she either looks really young or I look really old .. so I take that one. But you know .. you are only as old as you feel and If I was as old as I feel most days .. I wouldn't be here.. but you just cannot let yourself react ... you just jump forward and do what has to be done.

This Picture was taken yesterday at the quilt show where my message in a bottle quilt is hanging. This is one of my accomplishments for the year with many more to come.

Have a wonderful day .. and tell the aches and pain and bad moods to go sit in the corner.

Why FairyGodmother??

2008-03-03T19:50:00.000-08:00

There are new people reading my blog who do not know much about me or who I really am...the block above was something I was working on for SAQA 12 inch block auction but she needs work so this one is a new piece for my studio.

I have been creatively involved in life since I was 4 years old ...and because of that I am able to decipher and solve many things that leave other people wandering. One of my gifts was that i was raised in a huge southern family 13 great aunts and uncles and cousins and family tradition and sharing was a big thing.

I have always tried so hard to make sure people are taken care of... I would share my lunches at school ...this training for lack of better words put me in a place where when I started creating I loved to share the things I made, if someone fell in love with something I made at a show I would work it out for them to take it home ...depending on the financial reward or not. Children especially have always made me melt. I love to share. But I also like to problem solve, and to me given the challenge I will rise to it. ok so I digress...

When I had my bead store and then bead store and art gallery ...we had such a huge following because we taught our jewelry basics for free and could prove to people even those who swear they could not make anything that indeed they could. and a short time later they would leave with a gorgeous necklace that was just perfect for them because they made it. We would help people of all ages the youngest being 2 yrs old to 90 yr olds learn to create. People would come back again and again to Ocean Beads to make gifts, or get help in starting their business because they knew I and my daughters would share gladly. It was then they started calling me their fairygodmother and the first year we were in business I created the saying "NOT all of us can be Cinderella But some of us can be Fairygodmothers" which basically ..maybe your not perfect in the model since ...but you can give your heart to those around you who need it.

Then when Hubby had to be at Duke Hospital in Durham for Cancer treatment I would take my small wallhangings to work on and give them away to patients and caregivers..then it became ATCS artist trading cards so I could make more and give away more...made it a point to give away a least one a day. I also started the Bead Tray at Caring House ( avery special place for cancer patients to stay when far away from home) and taught people how to bead and make jewelry and get their minds off their disease or loved ones disease. The tray will be 2 years old May 31,2008 and High school students have been going in and helping the residents. Also bead donations have come in from all over the world after I posted on bead sites about the need.

It is so much easier to smile and be nice than to be grumpy all the time and it is the best thing you can do for your health.

So my love of random acts of kindness are what garnered me my nickname FairyGodmother...

and I will always be happy to hear someone call me that.

Amazing Fabrics

2008-03-01T05:36:00.000-08:00

This was a challenge swop in Surface Design where we had a to chose a color that represented something to us. I think of Orange and yellows bright inspiring colors.....wakes you up and say hey look at me .. make me beautiful.

Well these Batik Flannels did just that along with another one of my word fabrics collected to my stash and treasured.

If you have not investigated batik Flannels do so you will be amazed at the VIBRANT colors and texture....it makes you want to play with it... the photo just does not do it justice...I love the flannel aspect because it frays and you can cut it out as I did here for the flowers and the edges just add to the project. also because of the softness of the fabric when you machine stitch it quilt or embroider it adds to the livcliness. It is great for many project .. from ATCS to PCs and journal pages and of course Art quilts. They are whatI used in the Looner Love quilt posted on my blog. I have collected many colors and can seem to do so much with them. So next time you are out stash building ... look for them... you will be glad you did.

Create ....and follow your heart

I did it ....my quilt is hanging in the show

2008-02-27T19:29:00.000-08:00

I went to work today for a little while ...and got a call asking me where my quilt was ... so I dashed home and picked it up and got it there on time.

They liked it ...but I have to tell you the work hanging there and being hung was amazing....

some are very vibrant and eye popping and some were classic traditional designs.

I am so anxious to go to the reception sunday and be able to really look at all the talent we have here on the Outer Banks.

I am still working almost every day in my studio whether it is working with painting fabrics I played with some fun stuff tonight and ended up with really cool papers to use for my paper ATCS....I will show pics later....

I have made it my point to spend at least a half hour in there everyday...and so far so good.

My quilt hanging in the show just proves that dreams really do come true, i know its a small one but to me ....its huge

Blessings to you all

Recent Accomplishments

2008-02-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

Here are the two pieces I recently finished over the last few weeks I have been off work.

The first "message in a bottle" was inspired by the words on the fabric.. I purchased a couple of years ago ...imagine, live, love, laugh ....We have a quilt show here every year on the Outer Banks and for the almost 9 years I have lived here I have tried to complete a quilt for this show.

This year I did it.. now is the anxious awaiting to see if it gets in. The fabrics are all pieces I collected over the years....my fav fabric I got to use was the antique looking shell border...that I have had for what seems forever. It all came together in a beautiful quilt .. and the embellishments add so much I think... The bottle has a organza over the top so it looks like glass.

the 2nd piece was a gift for my hubby for valentines day ....It is two loons sitting in front of a Gold Dupioni silk full moon on a piling ,,,,the loons are purple based batik flannel...(love batik flannels) and the background fabric is a brown/orange/gold batik flannel . The border I found a luscious synthetic suede fabric...feels so nice ....the piling is stipple embroidered as is the water below it. My hubby really liked this piece .. He has had good comments about most of my work lately....

It is so fulfilling to be able to create and "FINISH" pieces for once.

Being Creative saves my sanity

2008-02-23T16:45:00.000-08:00

Last week I finally finished my largest art quilt to date..."Message in a bottle" and another for my hubby for valentines day called "looner love" two loons in front of a full moon ...I will post pics tomorrow ...as I only just got back from Duke Hospital with my hubby yesterday, where he underwent successfully another brain surgery .

I spent my time hand sewing ATCs, fabric postcards and a New Art quilt called Life ..while we were there. The above pictured pieces are Postcards I created for Surface Designs group I belong to on Yahoo...I have belonged for almost a year and have had so much fun creating these small pieces of art and fine tuning techniques. the top two are Poetry PCS, I printed pictures and the poem on ink jet artist canvas and then cut them to size to embellish.

The lower card is a Postage Stamp design the challenge was to create your own Stamp...I chose the heart it takes to love ourselves, the spiral signifies the creative spin. and the hand the means to bring all things great together. Surface design inspires us through many trades to push ourselves and spend time creating. It is why I finally thought I was ready to pursue my love of art quilts again.

I make the ATCS to give away now because I can create more of them to give than I can the small art quilts.

I was off work on Winter Hiatus as I live and work on the Outer Banks where the Wright Brothers first flew ...So I spent all that wonderful time ...redoing my studio ..and creating the pieces I mentioned above.

It is a wonder what you can accumulate in a short period of time. And after seeing what I have in my stash here I want to get into my stash that is unfortunately in the storage unit I had to rent after I closed my 2000 sq foot bead store and art gallery. I have so many bags of fabrics and stuff that I accumulated...that I want to get too...

I love to embellish my Art quilts with everything ...It is amazing where you can end up..you never know what you will use or add at that last minute that makes it just right....

So always make time to be creative ...whether it is sewing or writing a friend a lovely letter or just doodling some small landscapes...

Did I get Lost ????

2008-02-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

Wow has it really been since October 2 since I have been here to post....

Well lets see I had been busy working managing one of the best gift shops on the beach...full time in season requires 50 plus hours a week....its alot of hours and I am a old lady but I managed to do pretty good. The Store is called Something Fishy ....and yup you guessed it we sell decorative fish things...plus beach decor, clothes ... heck I don't think there is much we don't sell. Its in a beach shack that is made up of 4 rooms and a porch where I like to sit when its quiet and listen to the ocean crashing on the beach.

We closed January 6th for Winter Hiatus... and will reopen March 1st ...But I have been going in and taking care of the merchandising for all the new product I purchased for the store in Dec.

January 7th was a big day for me ...I turned 50 years old....wow where did the time go.....

And did I have fun??? Just kidding ... John turns 60 February 21.. and our youngest grandchild turns 2 on the 17th .

So guess what I did while I was off from work.. I finally got a working studio together its not perfect but I can go in sit down and sew or work on my treasures. My new studio has huge windows I can look out while sitting there and I love to watch the squirrel races... they are so funny ... and have some little Carolina Wrens that like to come and say hi.

I belong to a online group in Yahoo called Surface Design ...and I had signed up for a lot of trades before I went back to work ...I had been unable to get them all done ...well I spent the first week off ...finishing them I made some really cool stuff. the piece above is a fractual study wallhanging I call facing Fractuals...quite interesting.

I have managed also to get two art quilts done one which is for a upcoming quilt exhibit here on the beach.. Its called "Message in a Bottle" I will post a pic later.

John and I went to Duke this past Thursday for his checkup with the radiation oncologist the one that found the brain tumor....he got another all clear...Thank You LORD....He goes again April 29th . Work is slow here right now in Construction so he has time to rest...a little more than ususal although he doesn't like it.

Winston well is Winston .. He is almost 8 months old .. weighs about 50 pounds and is one of the smartest dogs I have ever owned. Unfortunately for me John has spoiled him ... but he is a great companion for us ...and I am very glad we have him ....

I pray and hope all is well with you and yours....and keep all those whom I know close to my heart.....

Winston's picture

2007-10-02T16:05:00.001-07:00

what a great feeling sharing a a new puppy ....

happiness is a new puppy and .....Life is Good

2007-10-02T15:39:00.000-07:00

Well we finally did it ...we found our puppy ...Winston is his name and being laid back is his game....his dad is a full blood AKC english bulldog and his momma a boxer. He is so smart and sweet..he is already housebroken ....at 9 weeks and we have only had him 3 days...he is tan and white you can see that in the picture enclosed...

We are very happy and to top it all off...Lizard finally found herself an apartment and moves out as of tonight....Life is good ...

I am working and finally liking it for the most part...John is doing great...
we have our much beloved English Bulldog Puppy and we have the house all to ourselves for the first times in 5 years.

Sunday I will be able to finally get my studio organized so I can really work ...and I do mean work ....I plan on getting all my treasures made and up and ready to put up for sale and adoption.

so for now as its been a long day....

Women who behave rarely make History....

Have a wonderful day and know dreams do come true....

Life ....is not easy ...but it can be

2007-09-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

One day we all wake up and realize that we never know when something bad will happen that will dramatically change our lives either a little or forever.

It can be something as simple as you and your best friend having words and you never talking to each other again...until you realize that you miss them and how truly important they are...to you and your happiness in life. Its repairable....

Or something so bad as the word Cancer....told to you as they say Its really really bad....a inoperable tumor ..we can't get rid of it..you only have 2 years...but this is where faith comes in ...YOU let GOD take care of it..and YOU find the best doctors you can and help that person who has cancer beat that nasty thing ...because you love them and can't live without them. and when you do this with positive strength and love and GOD and the faith that brings them all together ...Life can be good.

But then SEPTEMBER 11,2001...wow the average person never ever thought it could happen ....even our government the one before Bush ...
thought we were invincible... and because of that 3000 people died on that day that didn't need to ...and no one could fix it....a trillion tears have been shed and a billion whys have been asked...but no one knows other than hatred of us for what we have and where we are ..and what we do...but what is that...how often do you smile at a stranger and say Hi
or look up at the grocery store and recognize a old lady you see every time you go and smile at her ...do you think that makes her day ...I bet it does and it should make yours too. So you are sitting there going why is she going off on this tangent...Because I was raised in a time where people were friendly and helpful and respectful of others. This has been lost someplace...and The Lord knows we need it back.

So in the memory of those 3000 people smile at someone ...don't worry it might scare them if enough people do it they will understand ....its the way we are suppose to live....

GOD Loves Us he really does ...and when You need HIM ...HE is there.

GOD BLESS AMERICA ....!!!!!