Nature enhances Art

I have to be honest, I'm loving the warm weather. 

The last two weeks have been really exciting in more ways than I can explain. Before I left to teach at the Minnesota Quilters Show in St. Cloud, MN last week, my family and I took a short little trip to Devil's Lake at dusk to photograph my new favorite machine stitched quilt ever! It was inspired by the Tri-Tri Again pattern and made into a no-waste quilt by using the pieces cut to create other blocks.

I have shared photos of the quilt in sections but I wanted to share with you how stunning the lake made the quilt (just kidding, I made the quilt stunning). Our natural surroundings blessed the quilt with its glow and bestowed a sense of calmness both on the quilt and in me, allowing me to feel at ease for having completed such a big project when so many other deadlines loomed, as well as doctor appointments for which I could not prepare. 

As I have shared before, the quilt is very large and contains fabric from many different sources, some given to me and some purchased.

We had to stand on a table so that the quilt would not drag on the grass! My sweet child took the photographs and waited patiently while the soft breeze moved the quilt, to take the photos. 

The backing of the quilt comprises of an indigo dyed coverlet completed in India and purchased by me in Maiden Rock, WI last year at Cultural Cloth. I pieced the sides using what feels like a blend of cotton and linen and quilted it using a wavy line stitch on my Janome 9400 QCP. The quilt measures 96" squared. The binding fabric includes different colors of batiks. 

I just love it. It brings me great happiness and a great sense of accomplishment. 

I hope you have a blessed week.

Cheers!

M.

Art & Design - Creating to Energize

Happy April 20th !

The birds are back to singing instead of freezing and the critters are running around the yard, doing the happy spring dance that we, nature lovers, have come to cherish.

I wanted to leave the best images from the Chicago workshop I partook in on April 7 with designer Lotta Jansdotter, for a better time and today is it.

Besides being a delightful Saturday afternoon in the city, it was a "sense-sational"  and visually stimulating time. By now you all know how much I love plants and how I love to share them with the whole community (I maintain a little garden space close to coffee bean connection downtown Baraboo, now on its 4th year).

I came back from that weekend with a clearer sense of what I wanted to do with my studio and living space. A few years ago I started to remove unnecessary furniture from the living quarters and the result is a clearer, airier space that welcomes any crowd size within reason of course! There was some hesitation from my home dwellers but we worked through it and made small changes at a time.

It is not a secret that any space that includes plants in home or business decor, it's a more welcoming space because it breathes life and infuses your space with color and texture! 

I have been known a few times to "assist" in decluttering efforts for others, I would not say that it was a loving experience for the recipients but in time they came to appreciate a clean and open space. It takes time and intention not to simply throw away items but have a plan of action so we don't end up buying more because we have less. For me, less, is enough. I need enough space to think and create but I don't want to have more space to clean.

Home & Studio of designer Sage Reed.

Sage Reed created a space in Chicago that is calming, artistic and her own. It is an amazing studio space filled with light that she rents out for special events. I enjoyed my time in her studio and if you are curious, please look up her installations. 

This April has been filled with such great company, new experiences and wonderment.

You don't need to climb a mountain to feel accomplished or travel to exotic places. Make a space of your own where you are, that embodies your views and aesthetics and you will feel always "at home."

Celebrate all of your accomplishments, no matter how large they are. 

I leave you with a few photos of April!

P.S There is still time to join me for the April 26 & 28 Sewing classes in Baraboo and Middleton respectively.

Cheers & xoxo,

M.

Workshop in Chicago with Lotta Jansdotter

Welcome!

This year I set a few creative goals for myself and once I made up my mind, I knew what workshop would take the lead. I have had a workshop with Lotta, fabric designer and artist, in my bucket list since 2012 but the timing was never right, until now! I knew that I would be able to attend after the Midwest Fiber Arts Trail weekend and a few days' gap was just what the creative doctor ordered. 

It was wonderful to be on the "student" side, eager and happy to be there surrounded by professional and inspiring women and one gentleman, ranging from stay at home artists to writers and restaurant owners. It was a delightfully sunny afternoon of art, camaraderie and relaxation for me in this beautiful loft, the home of Chicago based artist, Sage Reed. 

If you follow me, you know that I love photographs so I have included a few of my favorites here to give you a taste of what a great day this was. I came back recharged and even though it was a fast trip to the city, I'm energized and in love with a new paint (but more of that later). 

I went looking for a creative spark to compliment my Sashiko retreats and I was not disappointed. 

There is always something to glean creatively that opens up our senses and gives us a sense of perspective and hope when we engage with others; it's something that we don't usually get when we work alone. The city is part of my DNA and always invigorates me; the noise, the dust, the smells, all things I yearn for on a daily basis. 

I hope you take a class or two this year, be with others that love art or your hobby as much as you do. Search for a spark every day and minute you can and Don't Give Up, ever!

xoxo,

M.