A Wordless May?

Not much to say ....

     ....other than I love my kids and I am enjoying the season. One graduation done and two more to occur in the next two weeks.

      I have definitely kept up with my art but telling you about what I have been doing there- will  have to wait!

Class Review: Lisa Call's "Setting Goals"

     When I looked at the title, I have to admit that I really didn't want to take another class about "time management" and "how to" make the best of my goals with skills I had. I thought about it and really struggled with whether to take this class. I had been in a management position for many years and had taken probably three classes in the past paid for by my employers on time management and goal setting.   I am highly motivated to move forward. Why would I need this?

    But with my art,  I knew I needed to push forward soon- as in NOW.

     And I knew that Lisa Call accomplishes lots of art in one year. And in order to move ahead, I needed a little info on what I was doing wrong.  So in I jumped.

      Four weeks later in an online class with Lisa and a handful of other students, I had a 10 year plan in place. I had a new direction for focusing on what was important on a daily and weekly basis. I know how to plan for the expected and unexpected. I am accountable to myself and a friend on a weekly basis. And I have stuck with weekly goals since February. I have changed and modified these goals. I am learning to not cave in and call myself a failure when I don't meet my goals. I re-adjust to meet the goal.  I know what I need to do today in order to meet my art goals for the year. I  am a daily studio junkie and crave more time there. If it doesn't happen, I get right back in there.

     You devote one month of homework to dreaming big and being honest with yourself about what you want for your art career.  You are involved with the larger group for questions and the 3 times weekly emails full of info in a private blog format. The assignments are private and assignment posting is only done between you and Lisa . (Whew -yes goals are fragile and very private.) She gives lots of feedback with weekly assignments and gives you constructive criticism as to your plan. And she calls you on foolish things that you are doing. Time wasters. But all of this is done in an effective manner as Lisa is a great coach and teacher.

    If you have the opportunity, jump to work with Lisa. I didn't say run. I said jump. Leap. It will be worth it. I couldn't have imagined having a 10 year plan in place before this class. Now I am just smiling and doing the work because I have a plan to make it happen.

    Lisa Call is also at the Barn in the fall 2013 for two classes.

   

10 Things I Learned About Machine Quilting

         It feels so good to be finished with this piece. I really struggled with it but only because I had never used free motion quilting to finish a piece this large. So, as I was documenting and taking pictures, I wrote a long list of what I learned:

1. Always test your thread tension before you start stitching on your finished top. It took me awhile to remember this but after picking out endless yucky stitches, I did it consistently.

2. Keep your machine clean of lint lint and well oiled.

3. Use a new needle often!

4. Do not start stitching unless the needle is down and your hands are on the quilt. Those gloves are helpful too.

5. If the machine sounds funny, chances are the back of your quilt looks awful. Ignorance is not bliss in free motion quilting. So stop and figure out the noise.

6. Make sure you are set up correctly and use as much support for the quilt on all sides so you aren't losing it off the table. Lessen anything you are fighting with and change it so you are comfortable.

7. Be fearless. I started out with all kinds of books and patterns to look at. Heck, the ones I like the most are the ones I just felt free enough to improvise with and make my own.

8. Doodling before I started on my day's stitching really helped and my stitching was much freer.

9. The stitch should be intentional to the piece. The stitch on this piece is more of a sampler smorgasbord.  I knew that when I started out. But for the next piece, I want the stitch to compliment the work.

10. After the first few pieces, I never looked at the back and let all the mistakes stay there-large stitches, bad tension and little knots when I didn't keep going. I'll check more often next. Or maybe not. It will get better!

FINISHED is a very good place to be.

©Colleen Kole, 2013, "Set Free", 68x71

©Colleen Kole, 2013, close up of "Set Free"

Thanks for your kind comments and encouragement. Review of Lisa Call's class tomorrow.

The Never Ending One

     I thought I would be showing you a finished piece at the end of this week.  It always takes longer than I think it will. When I went to put the binding on tonight, I realized that I had a huge spot of machine oil on my piece.

     I took a really deep breath . I didn't hyperventilate but went back and read the directions on the wool batting I used. ( For the first time)  No hot water and no agitation.

     Ok then. Mmm.... I shoved it in the washing machine with cold water setting and some synthrapol. I was worried that the fuschia would run like crazy.  It didn't.

Colleen Kole, 2013,  "Set Free" blocking 

     Blocked, fans on and waiting for it's binding.

     These are the days that I think I may be a bit crazy for estimating could finish 20 total by December .
 But, I always love challenge.

A Shout Out and a Catch Up

      Just wanted to shout out about the wonderful Elizabeth Brandt who had a piece at .Fiber Art International 2013.  Congrats Elizabeth for making it in to this prestigious event.  I can't wait to hear about the opening.

     This will also be a catch up post as I keep meaning to tell you about these things:

1. I am about 75 percent done on my large piece that I am free motion quilting. It is getting easier     although I still bribe myself to work on it. I guess that's why they call it work.

2. I took an online class at the beginning of the year called "Setting Goals" given by Lisa Call. It was a great class and I haven't taken the time to blog about it. One of my goals was to blog more consistently and I am finding , that if I don't meet the mark on a goal , I just feel more and more guilty so I do nothing about it. Oops-time to correct that. Upcoming post on that class this week.

3. Because of that class, I have had my head down working on a piece for the upcoming Artprize exhibition in September. It is where it needs to be to apply , but not yet quilted. Again, I'll share once I get my artist profile up.

4. The house in Vermont has not sold so at this point, we will go there this summer with the kids. I will wait and do the majority of the fabric dyeing there.

5. Historic flooding here in Grand Rapids. I am going to try to take pictures tomorrow when it peaks.

6.  3 kids graduating in May: 8th grade, high school and college.

I hate the phrase "I am so busy".  Everybody is busy. So, I am saying instead that I am using my time wisely and keeping my head down.. :)