Friday, December 28, 2012

Impromptu


All the print scraps in my stash distracted me, so putting them away and finding lots of solids in my scrap bins got me sewing bits together. I made a glob, put it on the wall and started in on a second one. That one began to look much better, so I ignored the first bit. It wasn't long before I found my rhythm and the thing began to come to life.
Working with scraps is delicious. It makes me include details that add something to the overall idea. Not that I had any ideas to start. In fact, I thought this might just be a small work when I started. It is now 38x40", unquilted. It could become a larger work or stay this size, I haven't decided. And I never had any intention of making it wonky, but the unsquare fabrics made that happen.

I might have just left it at this stage, but the royal blue insisted on more presence, so the yellow orange idea got wrenched from the spotlight and now is balanced out with lots more blue and turquoise. Can't go wrong with yellow and blue, as my Swedish husband says. Ikea colors.
The feeling of having created this piece is just what I needed.
All these years I have made fused art quilts, and have wondered what is the secret to piecing them instead? That may sound nutty, but it was a mystery to me. Now I feel like I understand and have found the solution. Not having a plan is also a boon. It makes the brain wake up and make decisions right when they need to be made. I felt ALIVE while making this.
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Speaking of alive...today I am 65 years old. How did that happen? It feels like a big milestone, and I am having the urge to make some big decisions. I don't know about what, but is does feel like when I was 18 or 21 or 30 and had to look at my life and make a plan. Did I then? Not really. But I did remember thinking it's 'Now or never' somewhat. I thought I would have been an artist by then, but that didn't  automatically happen, so I needed to increase the focus to make it come about. Surprisingly, it took doing the work. Imagine that. ha!
Now that I have stumbled onto a way of making art quilts by piecing, maybe I can put my energies toward that as a new goal. Do I have the same mental energy, or focus? In the past I had to support myself with my art, but now that I am retired, I don't have to work so hard. So perhaps a less grand goal can be implemented. We'll just have to see.
Anyway. I am happy to be healthy and pain free. That means a lot.
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My constant companions, Chester and Chumley. Bored and grumpy, waiting for the rain to cease so they can run outside.





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31 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday
    I have enjoyed your blog for some time now. Thank you

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  2. Happy Birthday! Thank you for the gift of your generous, sharing blog! I'm always happy to see a new post on your blog. Celebrate!

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  3. Happy Birthday!

    And beautiful quilt- I love your sense of color.

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  4. Happy birthday! Isn't this a wonderful time of life? No "work" unless we want to, no alarms and we can do pretty much whatever we want. Who would have thought retirement would be so fun when we were young? Makes all those years of working so hard worth it!
    So funny that you're "discovering" piecing since most of us started piecing and then, because of you and a few others, found the joy of fusing. I still am pushing for a web cam in your studio!
    Perfect pic of the boys. They do look so pouty!

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  5. Happy Birthday! Enjoy each day and have a wonderful, happy and healthy year ahead. Thanks for your blog. I look forward to your quilting, knitting, garden, and other adventures!

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  6. Judy Morningstar9:41 AM

    Happy happy happy birthday! I could wish you a creative, joyful year ahead, but I know you will have that anyway. And your sharing your processes and thoughts is your gift to all the rest of us. Thank you!!! Have a fabulous day! Your goals will sort themselves out just like your quilts sort themselves out while you work on them.

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  7. Happy Birthday! Nice to see you don't HAVE to slow down when you're 65!

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  8. Happy Birthday. Nice to have learned something new. Nice to not have the pressure to perform. Enjoy what evolves your way. It'll be amazing. Have a fabulous 2013.

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  9. Happy birthday you young artist. Improv is a wonderful thing and is very satisfying. You go girl.

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  10. Happy Birthday, Melody! I hope you have a creative, colorful year--your blog inspires me every day.

    Beautiful new piece!

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  11. Happy Birthday Melody and thank you for all the inspiration and instruction you give out so freely in your blog.

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  12. Happy Birthday, Melody! I continue to totally enjoy looking at your gorgeous tulip quilt hanging in my raspberry/orange/lemon sherbet bathroom.

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  13. Janet in Portland11:05 AM

    Happy Birthday, and welcome to Medicare.

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  14. I hope your birthday is a delight!

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  15. Happy birthday to you!

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  16. Happy birthday Melody. I've been reading your blog for sometime and when I finally read your bio I was gobsmacked to discover that you weren't some 20something. You are a young spirit and an inspiration to this 55 year old mom who often wonders if she will ever get the hang of quilting. My secret wish is to be your buddy and have you help me decorate my house! Enjoy your day.

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  17. Happy Birthday and welcome to old age! lol And yeah for Medicare and Social Security! I'm right there with ya....even a bit older than you! Do what you love, that's my theory! Who knows how long you'll last. lol

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  18. Happy Birthday, Melody!!! Make a plan? I hope it's to give us, your faithful readers, more fabulous eye candy as you continue to explore, and make, all the wonderful art you carry around in your head.....and, or course, to show us the DAWGS....gotta love them! Best wishes for a happy & healthy year to come.

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  19. Happy Birthday Melody!
    Thank you for sharing your gifts of color,candor,humor and tempting foodie treats with us! when you hit 65 it is a great idea to celebrate all month long.being just a few years ahead, i celebrate often each day.
    wishing you many more!

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  20. Happy Birthday!!! Isn't it funny how some milestone years hold a certain 'meaning' for us? I turned 40 this year, and while my German childhood urgently asks me to have plan, I still haven't - in fact just have my second mayor career change within 6 months - and neither of them in art lol which I would love to. There's plenty of time I suppose if an accomplished artist like you can delve into sth. new for her - piecing - at another milestone birthday! Celebrate and be happy, you are giving us a present with every post in sharing your artisitc gifts!

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  21. Laurie Olson4:01 PM

    Happy Birthday Melody!

    I love your art quilts. Your sense of color is simply sublime.

    Enjoy your birthday month (the 30 days after your birthday also count as birthday time).

    Laurie

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  22. Couldn't leave without saying "Happy Birthday". Birthdays are important and a good time in ones life. Here's wishing you many,many more.

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  23. Anonymous4:42 PM

    Happy Birthday greetings Melody!

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  24. Happy Birthday! I love your new piece and isn't it nice that you've got a new focus for your 65 year.

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  25. Of all days I pop into your blog, it is your birthday! Wishing you the time of your life full steam ahead as you celebrate 65 years of living!

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  26. Happy Birthday Mel! I'm gobsmacked at that number - You are certainly proof that you are no older than you feel! How about 21?

    I hope there are some great gifts for you today - your blog is that for us! Thank you

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  27. Happy Birthday and many more. I love reading your blog and often wish you were closer so I could take another class from you. Took a class from you at Quilting by the Sound when we were both a sight younger! :-)

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  28. I hope that you had a fun birthday! Keep on celebrating (my great-aunt, who wore a sequined dress and high heels at her 100th birthday party, always celebrated for at least a month after the actual day...) Have a wonderful year of quilting, knitting, painting, and anything else that you like to do. I love seeing your quilts, and you continue to be an inspiration---thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

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  29. Happy Happy Birthday!

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  30. Happy Birthday, Mel! May your next year be full of the creative, curious, inspired work that you always do whether it's quilting, painting, knitting, gardening, or cooking! Happy New Year, too!
    Leslie :-)

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com