So all the things are there now!

I delivered my new collage pieces to the Marketplace and set up the booth area.  Phew!

I am SO lucky to have such a great place to exhibit my creations.  As I've said before, my quilts and collages do not like to be stuck in a closet.  And I do keep making things - so it is good for them to have a destination.

I will be curious to see if any of the collages sell.  Actually here is a great surprise - one of my dear Art Buddy friends saw the pics of the collages in this blog and bought one of them.  Which makes me SO happy.

I have no idea what I will work on next but I have a feeling it will be different than what I have made the past few months.  I'll be sure to post new photos and stories.  

 One last collage 

This one is 8 x 8 but still filled with personality.  And a cat.  She is actually one of my favorites of the group.

I totally enjoyed creating this group of collages and quilts to put in the Marketplace.  And I am ready to completely switch gears and do something different.  It is interesting to just be aware of my creative energy and the way it drifts in various directions.  When I have a deadline of sorts (like the fact that these have to go into the store tomorrow!!) I do focus so that I can get everything ready on time - but usually I am just creating completely for my own amusement.  For fun.  For learning.  

And when I create for those reasons I travel much different paths.  I'm actually taking some painting classes and will post a few of the crazy drawings that I made so far.  They are mostly scary and weird.  OK I hear you - that is not really unexpected for me.  But these are really really weird - and pretty ugly for the most part.  But - I am learning new things as I struggle through.  And now I have put this in writing and HAVE to actually post the ugly drawings!  Yikes!!  What Have I Done?????

 More colorful collages to brighten your day - or at least make you smile....

This little lady says "People say I'm a Dreamer" and I think she has very creative dreams.  I like her little companion.....

The style of this one is very different than the others.  Choosing from a different stack of images to start with led me in a different direction all together.  Softer and gentler...maybe a little more thoughtful....

I am MOST curious to see the reaction of people in the store when they see these.  It feels daring and a bit risky to put them "out there".  We will see.....

Other thoughtful sayings to consider....

 One of the reasons that I have some of my art in the Marketplace is because the finished projects do not like living in my closet.  The other reason is that some of my art is sort of silly and irreverent and makes people laugh and smile.  And I figure smiles are good.

The manager of the store tells me that everyone stops and looks at my booth as they come in (it IS strange and very colorful) and they read the various sayings that I have posted with my quilted faces and they laugh and share with their friends.  And that makes me happy - even though I am not there.

So here is another one of my quirky 10 x 10 inch collages. 

And I think that this little guy speaks the truth.  

Double click on the image to see the details.... or if you can't,  the saying is:

How much better would life be if a liar's pants really did catch fire?

And here is another one.... also 10 x 10....

A good saying to contemplate, don't you think?  Although lately the new pair of shoes that I would buy would be sneakers because I am spending a lot of time walking!  I like the frog/toad.  Can you see it?

 So where do your strange ideas for quilts come from?

That is a pretty common question. 
And this is a good example.  Many ideas just come floating thru my imagination but sometimes the idea already exists in one of my art journals.  And sometimes , like this time, they sit quietly waiting in my art journal until it is time for them to come out and play.

This one surprised me and turned into the perfect inspiration to break an Art-Free block of time that I was experiencing in December.  

I was flipping through an old unfinished journal and this sweet image made me stop and immediately decide to make a quilt.  And the next journal page had the sentiment that it required which turned into the name of the quilt.  "And she remembered that it was not her job to make everyone happy."

So here is the quilt....

It is larger than many of my quilts - 20 x 23.  And the colors are gorgeous in person.  You can see how the journal piece inspired the sweet little critter in the center.  It was great fun finding the right colors for her wings.  

The pieces that form the border were a real challenge.  Again I was using the journal as a design inspiration.  There are 52 pieces of fabric in the border and only two of them are the same fabric.  But I love the way that she is framed by the border.  It felt like a safe place for her spirit to float and be free.

AND, adding the border to this quilt, something I had never done before, is part of what sent me wildly into creating the collage pieces for the Marketplace.  Inspiration has a way of leading to new places if you just have the confidence to FOLLOW.......

 Still making quilts too!

 In addition to my small collages I am also making quilts for Marketplace.  This one is for the reopening of Marketplace on February 1.  Since it is almost Valentine's Day, I figured this one would look pretty in the booth.  

The first piece I chose was the actual heart.  Since the colors had the BOLD shot of acid green, I decided to accent that color.  I like the way it turned out - spicier than just a selection of pinks and reds. 

It is small - about 12 inches square.  Named Love is the Answer.  Which, of course, it is.

 

 Did I Roll My Eyes Out Loud?

 

This is one of the first collages that I did for this group and includes one of my favorite snarky sayings.    I especially like her eyes and her little pet owl.  The circles just kept appearing after I had everything glued down - it was not part of a "plan" to add them.  

And this one just makes me grin.  I like the ways that I am able to find the right bits and pieces of paper to make each design complete.  I don't think I will ever run out of paper.

Can you see all the added details that I get to play with?  They make a big difference in the finished feel of the piece.  

Both of these are 10x10 inches.

A new idea to play with...

Did you know that I am selling a few things through the Marketplace in Calico Rock?  Yup.  My art NEEDED  to get out of the closet and be seen by real human beings.  And with the Pandemic in 2020 there were very few ways to accomplish this.

AND the Marketplace is owned by the Calico Rock Museum (one of my favorite places) AND they had a space by the front door AND they were willing to let me display my art.

So - it was meant to be!

This is an example of one of my latest projects for them.  This is a collage on an 8x8 inch wooden panel (1 1/2 inch profile cradled panel).  Which means that the piece stands on its own or can be hung on the wall.

The name of this one is Grace.  She is colorful and sweet and makes me smile.  Some of the other ones you will see are a bit snarky and funny.

So where did all these bits of paper that make up this design come from?  My many drawers of paper bits and collage materials that I have been collecting for 20 years.  It was really fun to find ways to actually use them - again they were just itching to get OUT of the drawers and to find a way to be SEEN.

 Time to Start Again!!

Well it has been WAY too long since I posted anything on this blog.  But - I am back and I am looking forward to taking time to post photos of my new work and explore new ideas.

20/20 was a rough year - but ART really helped me through the isolation caused by adhering to the COVID rules.  It helped me stay sane and happy - not just by filling my time - but by helping me to feel useful and productive - and HAPPY.  I am happiest when I am listening to my music and making art.  

So check out the next post and see some of the very new and very different things that I am creating....