SilkQuilt

Whatever It Takes

This weekend I will be an artist-in-residence at Allegheny College in Meadville. Two talks, four classes, one workshop makes for a productive experience for all of us. My visit is part of The Year of Sustainable Communities at Allegheny College, a series of activities, workshops and events aimed at inspiring the campus and community toContinue reading “Whatever It Takes”

The Quilts of Gee’s Bend

In 2003, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York introduced American to the dynamic quilts created by a group of women who live in the isolated, African-American hamlet of Gee’s Bend, Ala. Gee’s Bend is located in southwest Alabama on a sliver of land five miles long and eight miles wide, a virtualContinue reading “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend”

From Anger To Affirmation

In August, I discussed the importance of creating an anger list to uncover the many repressed emotions that lead to self-sacrifice, self sabotage and self blame. Now, being so successful at list building, I find myself overflowing with spontaneous anger that often feels explosive and unregulated. Enough! I am ready for the middle way whereContinue reading “From Anger To Affirmation”

Transformed Remnants

Many years ago, I caught Steve going though my garbage removing the discarded ends of t-shirts cut away in the process of making memory quilt commissions. He thought it was a crime for all of that unused fabric to go into a landfill. That brought me to the potential of these remnants and with thatContinue reading “Transformed Remnants”

Rejection

I really wish I were less of a thinking man and more of a fool not afraid of rejection. Billy Joel The business of an artist is a tough road fraught with multitudes of rejection. Artists have to have tough skin, not take it personally and keep searching for the right showcase for the work.Continue reading “Rejection”

The Loss of A Mother

Today, my cousins are here from California to bury their mother in our family cemetery. This is also where my parents, our grandparents and our great-grandparents are all buried. Having a family burial plot is an important part of our legacy binding us together. If we are fortunate enough to live according to nature’s cycleContinue reading “The Loss of A Mother”

The Good With The Bad

Here’s the good news: My “Tree of Life” quilt from Quilt National 2011 was purchased by one of the jurors, Eleanor McCain. It’s great to sell a piece and particularly exciting that the person who judged the competition picked my work to be worthy of her collection. It reminded me of time in 1984 whenContinue reading “The Good With The Bad”

What’s in a name?

This is my life and I’m going to live it. I never liked the middle ground, the most boring place in the world.Louise Nevelson I never liked my given name. I always thought it was out-of-date and dull. On paper it was often mistaken for Lousie or Lois or even Louis. Most of my adultContinue reading “What’s in a name?”

It’s All in the Process

The creative process is a process of surrender, not control. Julia Cameron These days I’m writer as much as I am a fiber artist. I write the blog BubbeWisdom three times a week. I work on this Container Blog, and I’m creating a novel. No matter which product I’m engaged with my efforts flower whenContinue reading “It’s All in the Process”

Reflect, React, Renew 2011/5771

Here we are having completed Rosh Hashanah, Taslich and the Fast of Gedaliah processing our way to Yom Kippur. At our Rosh Hashanah we adapted the 10 questions from Reboot a network working toward the rebooting inherited culture, rituals, and traditions to make them vital and resonant for today’s life. After you answering, treat yourselfContinue reading “Reflect, React, Renew 2011/5771”