Dream Rocket Panel-"Dreams Take Flight"

Last fall I came across the newest project of the International Fiber Coalition which was to cover a Saturn V rocket in Huntsville, AL. with fiber panels. I immediately wanted to be a part of this to honor my grandfather who worked for Grumman in the 60's and was able to work on the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module). The entry fee was $100 and a bit steep for me....
Chris Gilman to the rescue! She suggested that a two foot square panel could be 4 individual 12" blocks and only price out at $25 per person. If I was game, we would only need 2 more people and within an hour we had 2 more adventurous souls in Cathy Winter and Katherine McNeese. These women graciously let me have the name LEM4 for our group in honor of grandpa and use the space theme I had wanted to do.

Using the space theme, ideas were thrown out in reference to 'Dreams' (which is the theme of the project) and everyone chose what part of flight they wanted to do....all without arguing :) Chris did a vibrant Hot Air Balloon and Katherine did the Wright Brothers proud with her First Flight.

I did a rendition of the LEM for grandpa, complete with a shamrock on the door panel-GO IRISH!! Charles "Bud" McAuliffe was very proud of all the work he accomplished while at Grumman. In our family we always chuckle a bit at some of his fashion choices since he didn't mind mixing stripes with plaids, etc. Imagine that and then add that he would brag about his name being on the moon....Yeah, sure you kooky old man. His name is on the moon though. All the workers signed a poster and a photo of that was shrunk down onto a microchip and included on the LEM. You go Grandpa!!

Rounding out our space dreams, is Cathy Winter's terrific textural rendition of the Space Shuttle. Thank you to these 3 very talented women for making my small dream come true. This panel is a wonderful work of art and representative of the creative powers of us and all that have come before us. Their dreams keep the rest of us striving for our dreams.

Texture Tuesday

This year I will be doing more experimenting with surface design and will be sharing the results with you:)

The first experiment of the year is flour paste resist. A friend and I were talking one day about the various Quilting Arts magazine articles that we have dog earred for 'someday'. Why not today? If you have it and want to follow along, I used issue Feb/Mar 2008 (#31), pg 61: Flour Paste Resist: It's Irresistable by Jane Dunnewold.

Easy to follow instructions, inexpensive supplies we all have, and fun surprise results. The top photo shows the paste with some etching. The middle photo shows the paste after it dried and was painted. I used regular acrylic paint with a textile medium added.

This last photo shows the green resist in my new project. The upper right has some light green watercolor crayon to fill in the white area. Lower left shows watercolor crayon used to draw tulips over top of the green resist crackle.

I learned that I love this technique but not the white background. Next time I will try pasting over a different color background and maybe making my paste a bit thicker. I will also check back after the paste has started to set up to see if I can etch in other designs without the paste closing in on itself.

It is time for all of us to drag out those issues and ideas just sitting there and see if one of them will take you in a new direction with your art. Go Crazy and don't forget to share with the rest of us!

Marvel Monday

Sunset over the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, NC.

Welcome 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR

This picture was shot at the end of the WINTUK Cirque de Soleil at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Eve. We ended up with much more blinding tissue paper snow than this image shows and I am still picking snowflakes out of my purse. It is so worth it...every flake brings back a magical memory.

Now that the holidays have wound down, it is time again to turn to business and look to what can be accomplished in 2010. On the Quilt Art list there was a lot of discussion about picking a word of the year. As I read every post, I realized that I had subconsciously picked the word 'Diligent'/ 'Diligence'. As I wrote my goals for the new year and thought about what didn't work in 2009, I noticed that if I had been more diligent in every aspect; time, money, promotion, etc. I would have been more successful. I will carry this word into everything I do this year.
I hate to go into a new year without looking at where I have been. Below is an abbreviated list of what 2009 brought into my life:
2009 Accomplishments
January
Applied to Art Quilt Transitions (3 pieces) -------------------Rejected
Applied to Mancuso MidAtlantic (2 pieces)-------------Both Accepted
Applied to Paducah AQS (1 piece)-----------------------------Rejected
Created and wrote pattern for Scissor Case for local Shop Hop
Finished Fractured Flower Challenge with Artrageous and blogged it.

February
Worked the local Shop Hop
Created 3 leaves for International Fiber Collaborative
Wrote a Press Release about Mancuso acceptance (was p/u by Carteret News Times and Arts Alive)
F/U with a reporter from Jacksonville
Started QA entries
Art from the Heart Exhibit/ Business After Hours/ and Gallery sit for this event
Started on LinkedIn and Twitter but not sure what to do with them yet.
Attempted a new technique w/ Eileen
Wrote Merit Award letters for quilt guild show.

March
Finished and Mailed 2 entries to QA calendar challenge--------Rejected
Wrote a new workshop
Bead 2 House blocks and write a Bead Class for QBP ’09 (29th)
Created and made a beaded DICE bag for ACCC fundraiser
Taught my first Workshop on the 14th….success!
Tried Threadpainting very successfully. I have a knack for it.
Created 3 Threadpaintings for an up coming show.
Applied to and was accepted to the Seafood Fest Poster unveiling event to show art.

April
Created and ordered Rack Cards with the gallery
Created and ordered 5 year Anniversary postcards for a mailing
Finished art and display for Seafood Fest (9th)
Started mentoring a Senior from the HS for Senior Projects
Entered local Quilt Guild show (2 pieces + challenge + group with WUTW)
Biopsy and positive result of melanoma (all good only a stage 0)
Wrote the statement, bio, resume, etc for an Artist in Residency program
Finished Mariner’s Compass for Jim
Joined online gallery America Creates

May
Finished WUTW
Mailed Residency package
Created a guild challenge piece and blog entry for
Press Release for Mondays at the gallery
Applied to an outdoor event (scary)
Organized a bead demo for the guild show
Worked the guild show at 4 diff times
Received 2 awards from show
New art for outdoor show on (24th)
Helped with Raffle quilt (redesigned my block last month and this month helped with assembly)

June
Picked up another lecture booking so….
Write lecture and made 4 new samples for the 15th (out of town)
New Candle Mat designs for a magazine submission. Mag was interested and then ----------------Rejected
Made a Floral Windmill shop sample
Finished 2 new small art pieces
Designed and created(3) a new ornament of the Cape Lookout lighthouse
Created 4 more Holly ornaments as well

July
Made a fusible house for the raffle quilt..very cool
Organized 1st book proposal and chose 16 out of 70 designs
Made 4 redwork designs for book proposal, bordered and quilted.
Wrote book Introduction
SOLD first piece of artwork!!!!! 2 more sales followed
Wrote and organized my first Trunk Show

August
Printed more business cards and notecards, cutting, packaging, pricing
Purchased http://www.threadscapes.com/
Learned dye painting with artrageous group
P/U kid from summer session
Moved one kid into new apartment
Moved other kid into college dorm
Presented my first Trunk Show (out of town)
Toured YLI
More art sales

September
Tweaked April Bead class write up for class this month
Made 8 bead kits
Started mentoring a woman who wants to finish a quilt her sister started
Finished top for 2010 show quilt
Lots of design work
Helped edit a friend’s book
Attended 2 workshops (business)
Finished 1 book proposal and mailed it off
Ordered ACEO packaging
Spent a weekend with my girls in Raleigh where I also saw Nancy Cooks work
Applied for an art show in Nov.
Hang art in 2 businesses through Adopt an Artist program
Prepared 2 pics for larger art quilts
Finished one UFO for me

October
Multiple Dr appts (severely anemic…transfusion levels)
Painted and thread painted a new art piece for an art show…ACCEPTED….Won Honorable Mention
Flew to St Louis, drove to Houston, worked a friend’s booth at Market, talked to 2 book editors with great
Feedback, met new friends, have opportunities to f/u on.
Learned Facebook
Cut out and appliquéd center panel for personal piece.
Organized Dream Rocket project with 3 other quilt artists

November
Printed and stitched 5 ACEOs
Registered Balloon piece with AAQI
Lighthouse ornaments—YES, 12 of them to be exact including 2 new designs
“About Artist” labels for art and ACEOs ( 2up at 5x7 and 4 up at 2x5)--YES
5 new art pieces including stitching, framing, and paperwork
Attended art show
6 new ink sketches
Worked on a new art display
P/U and put out artwork at one business for Adopt an Artist
More Dr appts.

December:
Opened 1000 Markets
Website updates
Started my Cleaning of the Studio
New photos for website
More Dr appts
New quilt design
Worked at a Gallery Open House
Trip to NYC
Bulletin Board Labels for 2010 reorganization!!!!!!!!!
Finished stitching all the appliqué on the new 2010 quilt

Some YEAR END Totals:
51 Journal entries vs. ZERO in 2008
Sold my first artwork!! Sold 7 all together up from ZERO in 2008.
1 New Workshop
3 New Lectures
Finished a Book proposal—Rejected and waiting to be reworked
I entered 3 new opportunities for my art
27 blog posts up from 14 in 2008
New art= 23 new small pieces (under 11x14) and 3 larger pieces (under 30”).

Even with all the 'rejection', I learned so much and accomplished artist goals that had been waiting for me to catch up. My mom always tells me that education is never a waste. Everything I learned this year will help me down the road in some capacity... of that I am sure. All in all I feel FANTASTIC !!!

If you actually stayed to the end, here is a pic of Times Square taken on Christmas Eve. In the distance at the top, you can see the ball that was dropped on NYE. I love the vibrancy of this place and hope to keep it in my heart all year long.

NYC Mood Fabrics

PICK A BOLT...ANY BOLT?

For Christmas this year, my family went to NYC. My youngest daughter and I are big Project Runway fans and so MOOD was top on our list of places to go. As we walked through the garment district, my daughter was fascinated by all the wonderful fabrics full of sequins in the windows. I was busy reading the addresses looking for MOOD. It is more elusive than that, based in an older business building with a lobby and old elevators shuffled up and down by uniformed gentlemen. For those of you who don't know me, I am very easily entertained and find wonder in all kinds of inconsequential things that most don't notice, so riding in the elevator run by an operator was a fun little treat for me.
We arrived on the 3rd floor and not knowing what to expect, I was blown away. My husband who sat reluctantly through this past season with me so I wouldn't have to watch alone, commented that the show does not do the store justice and he is absolutely right. As a quilter, I am used to quilt shops with little bolts of fabric I can carry around with me...I was not physically in shape to do the same here. I arrived with a specific idea in mind of what I was looking for and that was helpful or I would have left empty-handed due to my indecisive nature.
My find was this beautiful lightweight knit that will eventually be an artistic jacket to be worn all winter and spring.

I didn't even look at all the trims and buttons that were available or I would have gone insane with envy. The wall in the background is just one of 5 or 6 walls of trims. The button boards in the foreground are again just a teeny tiny example of what is available. Being completely enmeshed in my own fabric search, I didn't realize (fortunately) until the end when getting fabric cut that there were other floors of fabrics. The above picture also shows a Project Runway board that has photos of some of the outfits along with fabric swatches...just in case you need to own the same fabric from a show fashion.All the fabrics are labeled and I will watch season 7 with a new eye. The staff was very very helpful and cheerful even.

Now I don't have a picture but the crazy little tidbit to this story is this: I had forgotten my camera the first go around and luckily our hotel was only 4 blocks away. My family was forced to go back, get the camera, and return to MOOD (where I refrained from more shopping) so I could have pictures. On our way back to the shop, my daughter and I spotted Nicolas Putvinski from season 6 leaving the block and he walked right past us but I was too chicken to call him out. He wasn't our favorite from this season due to his catty behavior. I hope he was edited badly and still wish him luck. It must be very difficult to work in those rushed conditions and the heavy competition of the NYC fashion industry.

In closing: Thank you MOOD and my family for indulging me.

Hand-Painted Traditions

Sugar Plum Ornament ©2008

3" sq on point to 4 1/2"

The history of Christmas ornaments dates back to the 1800's and although I do not collect them myself, I am constantly drawn to them and find them fascinating. First of all, they are miniature and most of them are shiny and that is a double threat for me. I think females in general have those same 2 downfalls (most I know anyway). All that needs to be thrown in is a hidden compartment or box and the urge to possess said item is overwhelming.

My mother collects ornaments as do many of my friends. My children are forever scarred that I didn't save every single handmade "what is it?" that came home with them to hang on my tree. Before I get "how could you?" responses, I have saved specific items that touched my heart but being military, it just isn't practical to save it all. As a child I grew up with a Christmas tree full of the multi colored lights and ornaments full of memories. I am a very sentimental person but I had always been completely and utterly in love with the department store trees that were themed with just white lights. After 6-7 years of doing what I had grown up with, I decided that I could have my own tree and changed it to white lights and big and small poinsettia ornaments in deep reds....just what I had always dreamed of.

2006 Christmas Tree with "Las Flores de Amigas" © 2005 in the background

Last year I decided that even if I didn't collect ornaments, I could make them. My first ornament was the Sugar Plum ornament shown above. It is still my favorite but running a close second is the holly ornament shown below.
Both are hand-painted and finished by free motion stitching leaves in metallic thread across the surface. I enjoy the look of a traditional binding with beaded hang and tassles. They are a labor of love for what they cost and they are beautiful to me.

Holly Ornament ©2008 3" sq on point at 4 1/2"

This year I added lighthouses to the ever growing list of available ornaments. I started with Cape Lookout, NC since this was the 150th anniversary of it's lighting. I have added Bodie Island, NC and Cape Hatteras, NC. All are lighthouses on the Historic Outer Banks of NC. They are hand-inked, free motion stitched, and beaded.
To read more about the local lighthouse see my previous post here.

Cape Hatteras Ornament © 2009 3"sq on point to 4 1/2"
I sell these through a local gallery and also online. Today is the last day for orders to be delivered by Christmas. If you are not a collector, I bet you know one. These are miniature and shiny...sorry no hidden compartments. Maybe that should be my next ornament:)

Have a wonderful holiday season to my followers and online friends.

Threadscapes

"Last Autumn"

©2009 by Robin Koehler

Once upon a military- life time, I was afforded the opportunity to own my very own home. We had been nomads for 15 years and wanted to see what all this 'ownership' was about. Starting in NJ with 11 homes to look at, found on the internet, we headed west to St. Louis to house hunt. By the time we arrived, there were 6 houses left...definately a seller's market. We headed out to see the remaining 6: NO, no, eh, no, NO, I love it!! My husband was not as impressed but time was running short and with not too many other prospects, we put in a bid.

In 2003 we moved to Illinois into our very first home and I had a room all to myself for the very first time...no more dining room table. Everytime I was in that room it was like Christmas to me. My imagination really started to soar and skills became sharpened while learning about fabric companies and new techniques. After dreams in other states of starting my own greeting card company or mural design company ("Off The Wall", of which I still have the box of business cards for), I started NESTLINGS by Robin. I grew in leaps and bounds and loved every minute of it even though I had no idea of what I was doing.

The ownership lasted 4 years until we moved again but the dream of NESTLINGS lives on. As with anything, it has grown and changed and now includes art as well as quilt patterns. My art includes inspiration from that beautiful home I was once so fortunate to drive up to everyday and call mine.

Above is a Threadscape of the gorgeous sugar maple that adorned our front yard. Below is a Threadscape of the Mother's Day gift of a rose trellis and rose bush I was given one year by my family. These two lovelies have since sold and moved on to grace another's home but the memories warm my heart constantly. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to have had my own place to decorate and do as I wish along with rising up to my dreams with the love and support of my wonderful family.

"Mother's Roses"

©2009 by Robin Koehler