For some reason, I have had a hard time crafting another post about sweaters. I have it in my head that I want to tell the exact step one, step two story of these felted sweaters, but linear narratives can be down right BORING. I want this to have drama, excitement, and panache. So, I’ve been thinking about that. Which has me thinking about this–
Why exactly am I doing this?
Here are the reasons I came up with.
I want to share this journey with my friends. Most of the time I work in complete isolation for days at a time–okay that is not really true. I have a built-in entourage of three boys, a husband, two cats, and ROXANNE who has been (more than once) mistaken for a bear by naive tourists. Still, I frequently go for long periods of time without seeing or talking to my friends. This is a way for me to do my work and still communicate with those I care about.
This is an older photo of Roxanne, but it clearly demonstrates all that she is.
The boys on Christmas Eve getting ready to feast on crab legs.
I REALLY wish I had had the nerve to be this public about my work when I first started quilting. To have documentation of my growth over the last ten years would tell me so many things about my art, my work habits, my successes, and my failures.
This is one of my first art quilts. Libby Leiman–one of the godmothers of the art quilt world–gave me my first blue ribbon for this quilt many years ago.
This is a more recent piece, but I am still messing around with traditional quilt blocks. These are all log cabin blocks. I’ll be teaching students how to make their own version of this quilt at the Quilt Zone this spring.
I started out my creative journey as a writer. I gave up the word for the stitch. And somehow at this moment it seems right to connect the two, and I think this is the way to do it.
I am at the very beginning of a new adventure. Maybe it seems mundane–they are just sweaters. But somehow I keep thinking that whenever I get this excited about something it means it is going to be BIG in my life. And if I don’t start writing about it right now, that moment will forever be lost. I want ten years from now to look back and say, oh yeah, that is what I did in the beginning. That is how I got here.
And finally, I have this weird hunch that the writing and the quilting and the felting are all going to get in bed together and make some interesting babies.
Okay- I think I have adequately answered that question for myself. This has been a good exercise for me. It has helped define my creative mission here. Any questions or comments before we proceed with a down and dirty sweater narrative?
Here is my most recent sweater–the last one I got to make before Walt put the hammer down and said I REALLY needed to help him reconfigure my studio. I took this picture today at high noon. It is very hard this time of year to get good lightening. So,I put the dress form on our front stoop.
Way to get the new year going. Keeping up the blog will be a great way to keep in touch.
Thank you Mark. I’ve been thinking a lot about our recent email conversation. You are absolutely right- routine is key to getting it done.
I love the Thea Tunic, Maria – great colors!
You sure have an eagle eye for the right color combinations. Loved this sweater with the pattern in front.