Sue Benner Workshop

I took a workshop by Sue Benner on Saturday called Self-Portrait: The Artist as Quilt. I've been wanting to do an art-themed self-portrait quilt for a couple of years. I had heard the phrase "Think Art... Just Start!" and wanted to incorporate it into a self-portrait quilt. When I heard Sue was teaching this workshop, I signed up right away.

Sue had us fill out a questionnaire at the beginning of the class that included questions like: How would you describe yourself with three adjectives?; What are your strengths?; Your flaws? One of my flaws is the fear of beginning which is why I liked the phrase "Think Art... Just Start!" A yoga class I took last spring ended with the "No Fear" pose, see the quilt below. I knew I should use the pose for a self-portrait about beginning.

I've been collecting similar phrases that I will incorporate in the quilting.

Begin!

Make time for Art!

Art is... Three letters, One syllable, A lifetime of exploration.

If you know of a similar phrase, please send it to me.

I did a miserable job of taking pictures during the class but here are a few.

Deborah blogged about her experience.

I loved the leaf hair on this one.

The hair is 3D on Linda's.

Fannie and Jo also blogged about the workshop.

I really enjoyed the class and plan to complete my self-portrait when I've finished a few deadlines.

Wiggly Field

I took Rusty to the Wiggly Field dog park this morning.

It has three fenced areas where dogs can run free off leash.

One for under 30 pounds, one for over 30 pounds and another for training.

He was in heaven.

He ran and ran and ran.

He play chase with some new friends.

What a great place for dogs.

Time for Beading

I've been blessed with lots of graphic design work lately. The need to get a bunch of quilts ready for a show deadline has consumed all my spare time. When the entry form was in the mail, I took some time to play with the beads that have been calling to me.

My friend Cheryl made this cute pendant for me. It says "she works magic with her needle" on this side and "quilting pixie" on the other side. I restrung it with some green and turquoise beads so I could wear it with more things.

Pat gave me five beautiful white ceramic buttons from South Africa for Christmas. For the bracelet, I strung four on leather cord with a thrift store belt decoration and some glass beads. I used a similar treatment on the necklace.

It was fun to work on something different for a while.

Happy New Year!

Update

It's a busy time but I'm catching up.

We attended Berek's winter high school choir concert.

For the last song, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" the combined choirs crowd onto the stage. The director invited all the choir alumni to join them as well. Beautiful!

They did a great job.

I finished my quilt All I Want For Christmas... in time for the

Show & Tell at the Denton Quilt Guild party.

I used one of my favorite photos from 1st grade for reference.

It's 27 x 33".

I took this photo of my friend's dog Norman at book club one night.

I thought it would be a fun 12x12" quilt someday.

Norman died unexpectedly at the end of October so I moved this quilt up on the schedule.

Here's the finished quilt. I printed the image on muslin by fusing it to 11x17" freezer paper and feeding it through an inkjet printer.

I'm pleased with the result.

Busy, busy

Lots of graphic design work! Good!

Not much time for gift-making.

A few gifts complete.

Some started.

Some close.

A beautiful end to the day.

Thanksgiving fun.

My parents joined us for Thanksgiving.

Rusty thought their little dog Winston was a new toy.

Berek helped Dad cut and weld some steel into a fire pit.

It works really well.

Dad and Mom brought their trike with them.

Dad gave Grace a quick ride.

We went on our traditional Thanksgiving morning ride...

... and to Greenwood for a burger on Saturday.

I even managed to put together this little quilt.

Today it's back to work.