Quilting Zen

Starting any project requires amassing the various elements necessary to bring your concept, your thought, your imagination, into reality. Turn a mental image into a three-dimensional quilt. Those beginning preparations require lists, shopping, hunting, frustration when the pieces don't come together. And then you hit that moment when it is all working. When you are in the moment and it is good. Everything is going right. The stitches are even, the fabric lays smoothly, feels good against your skin as you maneuver it. The colors reflect your mental vision and you feel like you're living a dream.

That, I think, is a Zen moment in quilting.

Recently I brought out my worn copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gifts From the Sea" and began reading it again. She mentioned the small channelled whelk shell -- "Small, only the size of my thumb, its architecture is perfect, down to the finest detail." It reminds me of the teachings whether Zen or Christian of whatever you put your hand to, do well. If the creator made each seashell perfect, shouldn't we strive for the same in whatever we set our hands to as well? Whatever we create, do it to the best of our abilities?

It holds true for writing, too. Whatever I write should be done as perfectly as I can. Writing takes crafting and reworking. Ripping and sewing, standing back and looking at the overall picture or zooming in close to check out each stitch. Our lives, if we want to carry the metaphor forward, should stand up to that same scrutiny. If you think of life as a series of stitches, pattern choices, color choices, scrap or applique or pieced. Harmonic colors, pale, vibrant, what choices have we made in our lives? Would you like to venture into something new? Has your life been lived in pastels and now it is time to give jewel tones a whirl?

Do our lives reflect the choices we make in our quilts?

Wikipedia defines Zen as:

Zen (Japanese: 禅) or Chán (Chinese: 禅) or Sŏn (Korean: 선) is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism notable for its emphasis on mindful acceptance of the present moment, spontaneous action, and letting go of self-conscious, judgmental thinking^[1][2]

It emphasizes dharma practice and experiential wisdom—particularly as realized in the form of meditation known as zazen—in the attainment of awakening. As such, it de-emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and the study of religious texts in favor of direct individual experience of one's own true nature.

I wonder if we approach quilting in this Zen-like attitude of 'attainment of awakening' if we might not find even more delight and fulfillment from our efforts. Mountain Peek Creations Zen Quilt Pattern might be a fun project to start you on your way to enlightenment.

Alternative world of crafts

I admit that I live in the sublime world of ignorance most of the time. What I don't know doesn't hurt me -- well, that's debatable. Closer to the truth, what I don't know usually means I am missing out on something.

And I've been missing out on a total other-world of crafts. Embroidery for those moments when Hallmark doesn't have a message (i.e. Kiss my ass; Bitch; Fuck off); dolls that look like evil-faced zombies or something from that old movie Beetle Juice. Plush toys with eye patches. T-shirts and accessories that include images of birds pooping on your ice cream cone or nerdy birds wearing glasses or snobby cats followed by their snobby, yet adorable, kittens.

All and more can be found at the Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fairs. Another blogger has beat me to the coverage on this, I suspect many have. But they have opened my eyes to another world. For a list of vendors and more information about the Crafty Bastards, check out Washington City Paper's list with links to the vendors that will participate in the arts and crafts festivals.

I keep returning to the Damned Dollies site and wondering just what little girl would you gift with such a creation. You know, I've met alot of little hellions that I might enjoy giving them to. But then maybe I'm missing the point. These are not gifts of vengence, but gifts for the open minded who embrace whatever speaks to them in whatever mood they're in.

It isn't all about damned dollies or profanity or even about bird poop. Artists offer the unusual piece of jewelry that you can't find elsewhere. If you can imagine it, there's probably something even stranger out there. Or something lovely such as the plants and pots made by greenware design -- pots made by one artist, succulent gardens inserted in said pot, by another.

Artists who have grown weary with the commercial fare offered to consumers have dug deep into their creative treasure trove and brought out the most amazing, uncensored, original art. Yes there's a lot of kitsch, but there's something for just about every taste, particularly those who are tired of looking and wearing and buying what everyone else has.

As an artist, (not me, you), ideas abound for you to draw upon for your own work. Will I see devil babies on the quilts at next year's shows? Why not?

Heart Season

Is your fancy turning to love, hearts and Valentine's Day? Want a little something to remind you of romance, something that won't give you thunder-thighs or kick up your allergies? Well, diamonds would certainly fill the bill, but if you're minding your budget after the holidays, maybe a sweet flowery watercolor quilt will make your heart flip. And yes, speaking of hearts, why not create a heart design such as the one on this little quilt, similar to what D. Pappas features on the front of her Quick Watercolor Quilts book?

Of course there is always the log cabin heart quilt -- not too difficult. The foundation pieced heart....well all of these ideas are compiled on a hearts on quilts website.

Down here in Florida and I suppose elsewhere, there is a delightful vine -- well an insidious vine if left unattended -- but it has the most perfect heart-shaped leaves. Whenever I envision hearts on quilts, I see this vine. Hearts twining everywhich way, clinging, blowing in the breeze, embracing.

For a more formal arrangement of hearts and romance, I discovered C. Jean Horst's "Heart of Roses" quilt book. It is such a delightful change from the usual Valentine or heart fare, yet so traditional and reflects on the Amish techniques of the author's Lancaster County.

Of course there is a different kind of heart quilt -- those made for charities that help adults and children dealing with loss, grief, illness, heart disease, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, etc. Google heart quilts and you'll find these groups in the mix. Or maybe get a few friends together and make a quilt for an organization or someone near and dear to your heart who is having a hard time of it.

In 2008, we can make a difference. We MUST make a difference. Just look into your heart and find what it is you should be doing to help yourself and your fellow man. Giving to others -- now that's what I call true love.

When we create our fabric art -- are we reproducing the things we see around us or inside of us? Jeff W. Lichtman, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, has won an art award while finding a way to map the brain through florescence. He has named the technique for staining cells and then fluorescing them as 'brainbow' -- a rainbow of the brain kind of concept.

You can listen to an audio recording of a Science Friday program where Dr. Lichtman discusses the process.

Not only is this a beautiful process, it could also be a useful tool in untangling the problems that motor neuron diseases cause in the human brain and cells. For years the researchers have been able to follow one nerve connection, for example, but everything was stained the same color so following multiple connections became difficult. With this multi-colored approach, the entire structure can be seen in its individual parts via colorization.

So the next time you close your eyes and visualize some strange terrain to incorporate into your next fabric creation -- think about it -- are you seeing something external or truly internal structure. Perhaps there is a corollary between what we see in the world and what is inside of us as well.

Update on Valerie White

Has anyone seen the latest issue of Quilters World?

If so, you will see the article about Louisville, KY quilt artist Valerie C. White. It was a fun article to write and it is a privilege to have had the opportunity to talk with her and get acquainted. Her creations fill me with delight and always make me smile, then I have to look closer and examine the symbolism that she incorporates in each quilt.

I like the colors, the imagination, the art of course, but the purity with which she views our world. No one can create such totally fun projects and not have the heart of a kid still beating inside her somewhere. But these are not frivolous, there's a depth that keeps you returning to her images and seeing something more each time.

I'm not alone in these observations and her successes are building one atop the other. She's making waves in the quilting community. Surf's up!

In a recent email, Valerie updated what's happening with her and her art:

• The River City Fiber Artists, of which Valerie is a member, hung the Form not Function exhibit at the Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany IN. They chose 43 pieces to exhibit out of 300 submissions.
  
• Then onto the Shawnee Library to give a lecture about the Gee's Bends Quilts at the Speed Museum. The exhibit opened January 2, 2008.
• Quilt African American Women's History: Our Challenges Creativity and Champions will be published January, 2008. This is a traveling exhibition held in honor of the 20th anniversary of the National Afr0-American Museum and Cultural Center in historic Wilberforce University, home of the first African American institution of higher learning. The Ohio Historical Society sponsors the exhibit. The opening is January 5 and runs through May 31, 2008.
  

Valerie's piece: The Guardian, was chosen as the cover art for the Quilting African American Women's History exhibit. The Guardian is the first in a series of angels that Valerie will exhibit with famed fiber artist Penny Sisto. A date and location for that to be announced later.

Valerie's quilt based upon Bobby McFerrin will be included in the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum titled "Sisters In Cloth" The show runs from May - August.

Her work is getting out there! It is so creative, imaginative and unique -- check out her work featured on the Internet. Here's one reference from Smith Kramer: Museum Traveling Exhibitions.

The Tattooed Quilter

My blog entries have been pretty mild as far as 'subversive stitchers' go. But let me raise the bar a bit with the lovely Karen McTavish of Duluth, Minnesota, who has a quilting technique named after her. Ever heard of McTavishing?

If you are into machine quilting, Karen and McTavishing are part of your experience. She invented the curling, waving form of machine filler stitch based upon the image of 'cartoon hair' -- don't think Betty Boop, think Brenda Starr with hair whipping out and curling around her fair face. Now take away the face and you have an idea of the origins of McTavishing. It doesn't just fill the space but gives the quilt a sense of movement as your gaze glides across its surface. It can be used in place of stippling or meandering designs. And looks beautiful on appliqued, pieced or wholecloth quilts, especially in conjunction with trapunto. Karen's gallery gives you superb examples of not only her skill, but of exquisite quilts.

Karen is making waves, garnering awards, and teaching others her techniques. She is causing movement within the quilt world with her innovative techniques and approach to quilting, raising it to an art form.

She has changed the image of quilters forever. Mention 'quilter' to the average guy on the street and he quickly envisioned white haired old lady with bun and Amish heritage. She wears an apron and cap, gathers around quilting frames with others of her kind and they discuss recipes and child raising while sticking little needles in and out and in and out of fabric. Even my own vision of 'quilter' turns more toward the image of Mom or Grandma. But one refreshing view of Karen and you'll never think of quilter quite the same. She is the biker chick with laughing eyes of quilting, and her 'needle' is the Harley Davidson of the quilting world.

She and her long-arm machine eat up the miles, travel down roads others have never traveled and feel the wind in her hair.... Well, you get the picture. One other thing you need to envision when thinking Karen McTavish: tattoos.

She translates her quilt designs into skin art. Now that's my idea of a subversive stitcher.

If you want to learn more about Karen's techniques with cloth, not skin, she has a new book out: Quilting for Show: A Practical Guide to Successful Competition Quilting is available. She has written several books. But it was her trivia game for quilters that caught my attention! Sew You Want to be a Quilter has a game board and uses colored spools of thread as game pieces. It comes with 500 cards filled with questions about what else, quilting! The players must travel to four quilting shops before they can win and all start out together at the gazebo. Answer questions correctly and advance the number of spaces decided by a throw of the dice. Informative and fun and something to do when not working on quilts. Or a great way to educate your family into the world of quilting. I want one! I want one!

Revving up for 2008

Have you made your list of New Year's Resolutions? Maybe finishing up what you started last year is at the top? Don't let that resolution keep you from starting something new! What techniques do you want to try in 2008? What quilt are you yearning to make? This is the year for experimentation, give yourself permission to get your hands dirty and to muck up a few projects before you get it right.

What's on your 'to make' list? Looking for ideas? Maybe block of the month sounds interesting? I loved the one Debbie Mumm put together for last year and here's one that kicks off the new year with a January flower motif from Quilt Design Wizard's website.

Maybe this is the year to start making journal quilts. A smaller version in which you can try your hand at new techniques that you've wanted to try, but was afraid to fail and ruin a big project. So these page sized projects can be just what you need to give yourself permission to try something new. And they fit together into a notebook so you can keep samples of various techniques and projects and inspirations. Or trade them, or enter them in contests.

Karey Bresenhan has put together a book, Creative Quilting: The Journal Quilt Project, to help you get started and of course it is available on Amazon.

My 'to make' list begins with: clean the 'crap', I mean 'craft' room, followed by 'buy a new sewing machine.' Yes, I'm still getting by with my 'vintage' 1970 Kenmore basic no-frills that I actually bought NEW in 1970. I've resigned myself that Santa is not bringing me the $5,000 Bernina I drooled over last summer.

But, once I get the sewing machine, I have a plan. It's called: Books on Tape quilting. I love the Diana Gabaldon series of books "Outlander" and Drums of Autumn".... and my dear husband bought me the first audio book. So, in order to listen to it, I need a sewing project to work on. It is that old 'blue collar' work ethic that says I can't just sit and listen, I must be DOING something.

Thus, I need a project and fast! I could go ahead and make the Christmas decoration that I never started. Hmmm. That might work. Maybe actually start cutting the fabric I bought almost two years ago for a quilt for my son and his wife. Now my other son is married and I need to make another quilt for them. What about one for our bed? And the guest room.... Pillows might be a good place to begin. I still have shams to make to match a window treatment. I've wanted to make something fowl -- as in chicken -- for the kitchen. We live in Oviedo, a place known for its free-range chickens that dominate the downtown shopping scene.

And I do live in Florida -- maybe a beach scene wall hanging or strip-pieced fish-shaped placemats. And I have been wanting to make a crazy quilt before I totally lose my mind.... Or maybe I've lost my mind and I'll try some Jacobean patterned applique or a Baltimore Album quilt. So many choices. I need to start just one.

What will you be doing in 2008? I'd love to see what you're working on.