i ask, you answer

Have you ever looked at a piece of your artwork and thought, "How in the hell did I come up with this?"

Remnants Collage 5

Lynn Krawczyk

Do you want to understand the creative force that works with you while you are working? Or are you content to relinquish control to it?

marked

A view of my print table's busy surface.

My most favorite place in the world.  :)

winter stretch

I've always been a winter girl. I prefer the cold weather to the hot, the dove grey skies to the blazing sun. It's my nature and I always find myself settling into the rhythm.

But this year I've been restless. Moving quickly between snow storms and thaws and incredible art projects that need to be held in reserve (you've no idea how much it's killing me to keep my mouth shut, that is not my nature) and in turn, I've gone quiet.

Reflective.

The sun was a bright incredible odd orange yesterday when I was leaving for work:

I tried to capture it with my camera but the closer I got to it, the farther it skittered away from me. It was like trying to trap a bubble between my hands, it just wouldn't be held.

It feels like the season. It can't get a grip. We're covered in snow one day and opening the windows to the house the next.

The studio seems to be in the same mode. One moment there is an incredible volume of work moving through it and the next? It is preparing for the next project.

I've never experienced this much growth in my art in such a compacted period of time.

It's left me thrilled and weary and turning my attention with expectation to the new thing waiting it's turn in line. Some things I can tell you about in a couple of weeks. The other Big Thing has a ways to go yet and I promise I won't harp on it because really, it's a little annoying to keep bringing up something that I can't discuss just yet. I have so much hope for it that you'll love it that I want to ask you what you think, to know for sure. But I'll be good and wait until it's time.

In the meantime, I'm going to share with you the photo that inspired my newest project:

I love typewriters. I dream of one day owning an ancient Underwood but the turquoise and grey bodies of these have their own kind of charm I find lovely.

I've not been happy about the void here. I feel rude, neglectful. Maybe now that the winter stretch seems to be breaking I'll find my voice again.

pondering the evolution

I love hand dyed fabric. I really do. But I rarely dye anymore for a variety of reasons. It leaves me with kind of a gap because there is nothing more soulful then that kind of coloring on fabric. It sounds a little bit odd but I often feel like it has a memory and that the hand of the dyer remains present.

Since my own hand dyes are few and far between now, I'm constantly on the look out for interesting pieces. Recently Susan Atwell of Fat Quarter Quilt Farm did some snow dyeing and I fell in love with one of her larger pieces (nearly three yards).

(photo by Susan Atwell)


The patterning really struck me and the tone of it is perfect. Not shockingly bright but colorful. It's in that sweet spot of saturation, just the right amount of moody. I immediately began covering it with printing and paint in my mind so I knew it needed to come to live with me.

And now it has:

It's sitting on the sofa next to me. I keep nudging it around, watching as the different colors shift as I move the fabric.

No doubt I'll sit with it for a while before working on it. Partly because I have deadlines that need to be met but also because I normally do that with fabric I haven't dyed myself.

I find that I step around it, studying it and trying to find my place with it. I want to respect the work that came before me but at the same time, I want to really dig into it and well, do what I do.

Think of everything that needed to happen for this fabric to come to where it is now with me. Fabric was made. Dye was made. Items were shipped to vendor. Susan bought them. The weather was just right so she had snow. She had time in her schedule to dye them. I happened upon it on her Facebook page. I bought it. And now it moves on to it's next stage.

So many steps. So many things that this fabric will go through before it finally settles into it's final state. Such an evolution, so much energy going into it.

Wonderful, isn't it? :)

finding center

Drawing is not my forte.

But I scribble and swirl with the best of them. I found myself feeling out of sorts today, needing to crawl inside my own head for a bit. I put my headphones on, scrolled to some meditation music and dug my sketchbook out of my bag. I drew a strange looking tree. And then hatched it and doodled around it.

I could feel my mind relaxing and I wrote a single line on the page: there is always time to begin.

It's true, isn't it? No matter where you are, you can always begin and move forward. In those six little words I found my center again.

thermofax screens are back in the shop & giving back! :)

Hey gang, I know it was a bit of an extended break from Thermofax screens being listed in the shop and I appreciate all your patience while Jackie and I tended to life.

But we are back and so are the screens! :)

(Like the new shop banner?)

The shop is fully stocked again for all your Thermofax screen pleasure. I think that taking a break from running the shop is always a good thing because it allows me to really assess what's working and what isn't.

There are a couple of small changes that I'd like to point out:

1. We still have LOTS of awesome Ready-to-Print screens but the category has shrunk down to the ones that are selling the best. It will be easier to manage and prevent us from standing in the middle of our studios hunting for that print out that we haven't used in a while like crazy women. And of course, we are looking forward to working with you to create custom screens of your own artwork - I always love seeing what you all are doing! :)

2. I have a limited paint color selection at the moment. The most populars like black and white are out of stock. I've gotten word that our beloved Simply Screen may not be made anymore so I'm working on getting more in stock but it will be a bit. In the meantime, there are still plenty of cool colors in the shop for you to fling paint at will!

3. Shipping prices have creeped. I know, I know. Bugs me too. I did my best to minimize it but the USPS is hiking their prices again and I have to follow suit. Know that I gnashed my teeth and said unladly like words when I found out.

4. I'm going to slowly be adding different things beyond Thermofax Screens to the shop over the course of the next year. Right now you'll notice The Written Sketchbook online class, the Secret Keeper Owl pattern and some of my smaller textile art pieces. Everything in the shop is tidied into categories so if these things don't interest you and you are ninja focused on Thermofax screens (which I so don't blame you), just look at the right hand sidebar of the shop's home page and you can click the category you want to only see those listings.

And now to the part that I'm most excited about...did you notice in my new shop banner where it lists what the shop carries it says, "GIVING BACK BY SUPPORTING CHARITY"? Yeah, I figured you did, you are all a smart bunch. :)

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately. Gratitude for a good life, for being an artist but most of all for being part of the art community. When I think about the way you all welcome me into your homes via blog or facebook or online instruction, well. I get all choked up to be honest.

And because I feel so fortunate, I've decided that it's time to pay it forward.

I'm instituting a giveback program in the shop. 15% of all Thermofax screen sales will be donated to charity. The charity will change every two months and I'll list the current recipient in the shop announcement (which appears just below the shop's banner on the shop home page.)

I'm a firm believer that the world changes not by big leaps and bounds but rather by tiny helping hands and one inch at a time. I'm feeling such peace at the idea of helping things move toward that goal.

Want to know who the first charity is? Thought you might. 15% of  Thermofax screen sales from January 25 - March 31, 2013 will be donated to charity:water.

It is entirely unfathomable to me in this day and age that ONE BILLION people still do not have clean water sources. And watch this video because there are heartbreaking elements to this situation that you may not have considered before (I know I hadn't, I was shocked).

They have many more videos on their YouTube channel.

I'm thrilled to play even a very small role in changing this - and with your help as well! So that's what's going on with the shop and the exciting new giving back program and I think that you'll love it as much as I do! :)

If you know of a charity that you think I should consider, please leave me a comment. I can't promise it will make it into rotation but I'd love to know about it! :)

Happy Printing everyone!!!

building a new website - choosing a web designer

In between everything else going on, I'm continuing on with the rebranding of my business to Smudged Textiles Studio.  As promised, I'm taking you along with me through the process.

I'm still at the designing a new website/blog stage. Last time we talked about websites was here. The debate was about whether or not I actually needed one. (I guess the title of this blog post is a spoiler since I'm talking about choosing a web design).

Today I'd like to talk a little bit about choosing a web designer. Because truly, I think this is the hardest part when it comes to deciding to have a site professionally built. Even though I'll be involved in the entire process, I'm giving up a lot of control by allowing someone else to create it. So the decision cannot be taken lightly.

Let's face it, everyone and their brother claims that they can design sites these days. Which makes it hard to tell if you'll be happy with the job that someone does for you. Add to it a couple of horror stories from people who have had bad experiences and it's pretty difficult to persevere in the search.

I decided that I would look for certain elements when I was shopping around. Here's my list:

1. An extensive portfolio of sites that he/she has already designed. Sites I could visit, not just snapshots showing the front page. I want to visit examples of current work so I can spend time on the sites and see if I like them.

2. Variety. I want a designer with a portfolio of sites that all look different. Why? Because to me it means two things: (1) He/she listens to the wants of the client and (2) I'm getting something unique. I don't care for web designers that use templates because I feel that if I'm paying for it, I'd like it to be custom.

3. A general sense of price. I'm wary of anyone who gives a blanket price without knowing my needs. I'm equally cautious of anyone who doesn't offer any kind of pricing at all. Makes me worry that I could be paying more then someone else.

4. A questionnaire. Web designer is not another term for mind reader. I want to be asked what I want - extensively. And not only that, I want to be asked what I dislike. It not only helps put me at ease regarding the not-entirely-in-control thing but also let's me know that my opinions will be respected. Important stuff.

5. Good communication. I don't want to wait a month in between emails. I'd like a realistic time frame for when things can be done and if I've asked for something that will take longer to build, I want to know. No promises that can't be kept just to give me an answer I want to hear.

6. Being able to do some updates myself. I know, might sound contradictory but I want to be able to add photos of new work on my own. I've no desire to learn to alter the site (which is why I'm hiring a pro) but simple details like a couple new pieces of artwork or changing text is something I'd like to do.

7. Testimonials. I want to talk to people who have worked with him/her and can give me specific examples of what they liked and disliked. If I don't know anyone personally in the portfolio, then I'll email someone in there who's site I like. Might sound forward but a polite email is perfectly okay.


I started by looking at sites of other textile artists and keeping a list of ones that I liked and who designed them. Does it sound like it took a while? Well yeah, it did. This is like shopping for a house or a car or even dating. You don't just randomly pick someone and hope for the best. I decided to take my time and really think about who I wanted to work with.

In the end I was down to two designers. My final choice is Holly Knott.

She ticked every box on the list.

There are many other designers out there and I'm not thumbing my nose at anyone at all. Holly and I are working through my wants for the site right now and I'm really impressed with her professionalism. I'm also impressed with her portfolio. You can tell that she is the designer for all the sites but if you visit the sites, they vary. That means she tailored it.

She also offers something I hadn't thought of - training. What a great idea!

Did it matter to me that Holly is also a textile artist? I'm not sure. I looked at all styles of designers but I did notice that I kept gravitating back toward textile artists who also did professional web design. To be honest, it's really appealing to work with someone who gets what I do.

So there we are. My thoughts on how to choose. It might sound a little general but it took me a while to figure out that those things were my top wants in a designer, I'm hoping that if you've been considering working with a pro that they will help you decide too.

In the next post about this topic I'll go over how to decide what will go on the site.

reclaimed textiles project - i need your help

I've got new artwork series on the brain lately. Probably because I have a solo show coming up later this year and possibly a couple of other selling opportunities.

I've also longed to do a type of large scale collaboration series for some time but the details of it were hiding from me. It decided to become clear in the middle of the night when I was supposed to be sleeping (isn't that always the way?).

I'm giddy and excited and can't wait to get started on it but there's one thing - I need your help with it. I'm excited to announce the Reclaimed Textiles Project.

My vision is a series of work that is created with discarded or unwanted textiles. This could be anything - clothing, tabelcloths, unfinished quilt projects that you'd rather bury in the yard then finish. Anything that is fabric, any content, anything you simply don't want anymore.

The work that I create from them will be available for sale and I will donate 30% of each sale to The Salvation Army. I love this charity and am warmed at the idea of helping them with their work.

If you want to send some orphaned textiles to me, here are the guidelines for doing so:

1. The textiles can be any fabric content - cotton, poly, rayon, whatever you have.

2. ONLY textiles please! I know textiles is a pretty big category but I'm looking for fabric or yarn. At this time I'm not looking to use baskets or paper.

3. Please send only clean textiles. They don't need to be pristine, in fact, worn out grungy items are welcome but please give them a spin through the washing machine before you mail them to me. Especially if they've been lurking in a part of the house unseen for several years.

4. I'm unable to reimburse for shipping - this is a donation on your part for me to make work that could result in a donation to The Salvation Army if sold. 

5. This is an ongoing project with no deadline. No deadline for you for sending something, and no deadline for me to complete the work. I'm like you, I have a lot going at once so if you feel that you will be unhappy with an undetermined wait period for work to be produced, please give your textiles a hug and keep them in your home.

6. I will credit you in the artist statement of the piece as having donated fabric so please make sure I know your name and where you live.

7. Textiles from all over the world are wanted, not just the USA.

8. By sending me something, you are giving me full permission to cut them up, stitch them, print on them. Basically do what I please with them. So if your Aunt Edna gave you something that has great sentimental value to you and you'd be upset to see it altered, please don't send it.

9. Email me at FibraArtysta@earthlink.net if you'd like to send something and I'll provide the shipping address.

I hope you are as excited as I am! Can't wait to get started!!! :)

Edited to add: I've had some emails asking just how much stuff can be sent. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I don't have the room to store tonnage. So if you could keep the size of the box you are sending to absolutely no larger then a 12" square max, that would be fantastic! Thanks! :)

stepping back

This week is flying by. And I'm spending each moment thinking about what I need to do next.

But what I really want is to live each moment fully.

I want to honor all the good things, slow down and really feel each one as it passes through. It's sometimes difficult to find the space to take a deep breath. Stitching helps, it's meditation breaks the spell of hurry hurry hurry.

...and the winner is!

The handy dandy all knowing Random Number Generator has given me the number 31.

So that means the winner of Lyric's Bead It Like You Mean It DVD is (drumroll, please!):

Nancy Gilpin

Congrats Nancy and I'll email you for your details! :)

Lyric's Beading DVD giveaway! :)

Do you put beads on your quilts? I do. I've got a giant collection in my studio to prove it. Adding beads is really meditative, much like hand stitching. It makes you slow down and you can create some really stunning effects!

But where to start? No worries, Lyric Montgomery Kinard has answered pretty much every question you could have about basic beading on quilts in her DVD, Bead It Like You Mean It.

She pretty much covers it all from what tools you need and how to handle different style of beads - seed beads in different sizes, bugle beads, chunky beads, what to use for the middle layer of your quilt, and tons more.

My personal favorite was the part where she discusses what to do with cabachons - which are giant beads that are normally pretty spectacular but have no holes. She shows you how to add them to quilts - it's great!

I love Lyric's teaching style, she's light hearted and really knows her stuff. Check out this promo she made for her DVD:

So great, right? :)

The thing I love best about learning from DVDs is that I can do it whenever and where ever I want. Here's how I enjoyed her DVD:

In my PJs, on the sofa, with the westie snoring nearby. Bliss. :)

Lyric is offering a very generous giveaway here on the blog. Anyone who leaves a comment on this post by January 15th will be in the running to win. (This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Sorry!)

So leave a comment, any comment (although I'd love to know if you are a beading addict) and be sure to include a way for me to contact you. (Anonymous comments can't be counted because I simply can't reach you!)

living a creative life - transforming my newsletter

I've got a newsletter.

Yep, got one. Haven't sent anything in a while. Just sort of sits there starting at me, making me feel all twitchy because over 500 people have signed up to hear what I have to say.

I've struggled with it. I've even talked about it several times here that I just don't know what to do with it. I don't want to send you junk. And I don't want to mail something once a month simply because I want to tick a box off my marketing list.

I've given it a huge think and have finally realized that I'm making it far too difficult. I have a lot of tips on how to integrate creativity into a busy life, they are things that I live by so that I can fit in everything that I do.

And I'm going to use my newsletter to share them with you.

I've sent out my first newsletter just this morning and the topic is The Written Sketchbook.

I can't tell you how passionately I feel about the role writing plays in creativity. It's gotten me through some really rough patches in my life.

At any rate, I will do my level best to keep the newsletters different from the blog. May not always happen (like this month's for example) but I hope you'll sign up and join me as we navigate through our busy live. The sign up is in the sidebar at the very top.

 Here's to a creative life in 2013! :)

tangled

There's always that odd little tangle of threads that collects no matter how hard I try to keep things tidy.

Picking through it to get to the needle I need is like stepping lightly through a labyrinth, a tiny little map of the stitching I've just completed.

what color are your studio walls?

Mine are yellow. (In case you didn't notice from the previous post.)

Regina left a comment on the last post asking this:

"I have a question about your photo, not the actual post. I'm getting an addition put onto our house so that I can have a studio instead of just the dining room table and closet space. I wanted to paint the walls yellow (and I see that's what you have). Another artist suggested white so that there isn't any color reflection on photos or on the fabric and the true colors are seen. Do you find any problem with having yellow walls?"

Good question. Thought we'd give it a little talk.

My studio used to be my bedroom. I'm fond of the color yellow, find it peaceful so I painted it that color when I slept in there. I admit, I was too lazy to change it when the space became my studio and now that I'm so deeply entrenched in that room, I shudder to think of the effort and fortitude that will be needed to empty it so the walls can be patched and painted.

Do I like the yellow for a studio wall color?  Yes. And no.

I love color. I'm actually a bit of junkie about it. So I like being surrounded by something so lovely.

At the same time, it does create issues when I take photos. The camera does not appreciate the competition and it often adjusts itself to take it into account.

Last April I decided to have my artwork photos professionally done. Best decision I ever made. There were a lot of factors involved with that - mostly revolving around wanting to work larger - but I admit that the color issues I had with taking photos in my studio contributed. Can I blame it all on the yellow walls? No. There is inadequate lighting and my undying optimism that I don't actually have to hang a piece on the wall to get a good photo to take into account as well. But, yes, the yellow walls didn't help.

I really don't think it effects my color selection when working with fabric. I'm really myopic when I'm working on something. A bomb could go off next to me and I wouldn't notice.

I guess this is the long way of saying that when I finally do muster the courage to do an overhaul of the studio - one that involves emptying the room and patching/painting the walls - I'll most likely go with a neutral color wall. White or off white of some sort. I am more often finding myself wanting barer walls, maybe to offset the riot that goes along with art making.

How about you? What color are your studio walls? Do you think it matters?

nano second printing...

This week is busy.

It makes me anxious, the separation from my studio. My normal routine revolves around large blocks of concentrated work time toward the end of the week.

But I'm craving the stillness that settles on me when I stand at my print table and push paint into fabric.

So I'll rush in, print and head back out, letting the time that I'm needed elsewhere serve as the drying period for the new work. I'll do nano second printings, quick and to the point but oh so necessary.

"a month of moments" daily practice

First day of the new year.

A wide open schedule of possibility and a clean slate.

Its been on my mind that I want to do a daily art project. But let's be honest, who am I kidding? While the idea of making something every day appeals to every part of me, there isn't enough time to do it.

I used to lament that I didn't have enough time to do everything that I wanted to. I realized something this past year: I have the same amount of time as everyone else and I just need to get over that I won't get more. In other words, I learned to suck it up and work with what I've got.

It doesn't stop me from wanting some kind of daily practice, though. I really loved my Where I Stand Sunday posts but after five solid years of that weekly photo post, I ran out of material. And that's fine. But there was a great satisfaction that came with the project and I've been missing it. I felt that I was building something, I felt that no matter what else was going on in my life, it would always be there.

So I've been brooding on the topic. I do a lot, how in the world could I fit in more?

Then it became clear. I was watching a news special about social media and a portion of it was dedicated to Twitter.

I've not been able to get into Twitter. Partly because I resented the idea that I needed to keep up with something else but also because I had no clue what to say. Still, its always something I've kept in my peripheral vision.

And now I know why.

The problem with how I viewed Twitter was that I couldn't imagine anyone being interested in what I'm having for lunch or where I went shopping. And I don't really want to make it a regurgitation of the blog.

But what if it was simply a daily reflection? What it if was a brief condensed pause about a feeling or small thought? What if it was a mini journal?

I love the idea. But I admit I panicked slightly because let's face it, the day is jam packed and I'm not sure I can always come up with something. Then I noticed this in my news feed on Facebook:

Its a really cute, simple no-stress project from JustB. blog.

Ok, Universe, I can take a hint.

So here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to take the little prompt from this project each day and write a Twitter post about it. I don't promise that it will be spectacular or life changing but I like the idea that the word is provided and I can do it with it as I please. I also love that it keeps me writing each and every day.

Some might be silly, some might be flash fiction and some might just be downright boring. But I'll be there. Everyday.

If you'd like to follow along with me, here I am on Twitter.

Here's to a new daily practice. :)

the written sketchbook - student giveaway & class preview

I love these cuties, don't you?? :)

I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for a little journal. So I decided that I'd whip some custom screen printed ones. Its something I've been thinking about carrying in the shop for a while and what better way to start then to make some for my upcoming online class, The Written Sketchbook?

There are six journals for sale in my etsy shop but I'm also doing a giveaway for three of them.

If you register for the class by January 10, 2013, your name will go

into a drawing to win a journal.  

I'll pop it in the mail to you straight away and if the post office gods are on our side, you'll have it by the time class begins on January 19. (**Please note that only people registered for the class will go into the giveaway. This isn't a general giveaway.**)

And just in case you were still on the fence about whether or not you wanted to register for The Written Sketchbook, here is the Introduction chapter for the class. It captures why I love writing so much and my hope to get you to fall for this art form as well. Enjoy reading them and hope to see you in class!

**To register for the class, simply purchase a listing from my Etsy shop.**

Hope to see you in class! :)

owl pattern now available in my etsy shop! :)

You've seen these fellows around the blog plenty of times:

They're a little bit like crack. I can't tell you how many dozens of these guys I've made and how many times I've been asked how to make them.

They've gotten some good air time. I demonstrated their awesome cuteness when I was on Quilting Arts TV Episode 801:

And then the pattern for them was published in the 2011 International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene.

And now I'm really really excited to bring the pattern to you directly through my Etsy shop:

You'll notice that their name has changed a couple of times. Originally when I created them back in 2009 I called them Wishing Owls. And that's the name I use on QA TV. But then a business was started with that name and they copyrighted it. Since I never copyrighted mine, I decided to just change it.

So the pattern in the magazine was called Fabric Owls and while that's all fine and well, its not super exciting. I gave it some thought and since I think the thing that makes them special is the little pocket on their tummies for holding secrets and tiny trinkets, I decided to name them Secret Keeper Owls.

Whatever you call them, I think you'll agree they are adorable!

Now I often get weird looks when I mention these fellows because they are pretty different from what I normally make. But what can I say? I'm a crafter at heart and I like them too well to sweep them under the rug just because they aren't my normal gig.

The pattern is only $4 and when you purchase it in my shop, you'll get an email from my YouSendIt dropbox within 24 hours so you can download it. Easy peasy.

And if you make a little owl (or twenty), do send me an email and I'll post a photo here on my blog for everyone to admire. :)

And just because I've been asked many times - yes, you can sell any owls you make from this pattern. You just can't re-sell the pattern itself. So go hog wild and become known as the crazy owl making lady. :)

building a new website - do i need one?

Since I'm taking the wild ride of re-branding my business in 2013 to Smudged Textiles Studio - a process that promises a certain degree of madness - I thought I'd take you all along with me. So I'm going to check in with a blog post about the process as I plug along with it.

There are a whole lot of steps involved in it, the first of which is a new website and blog. And I always have a weird sense of let down when someone puts up a post that says "I've got a new website! Go look!" Like it came out of thin air. I always want to know how in the world they got from point A to point B.

I admit, I've never had a site designed. Up until this point in my art career, a website was simply a place to park photos of my artwork. But I do a few more things now and its time to go pro.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. The first question I needed to answer was this: Do I even need a website?

Its kind of an annoying question. Between websites, blogs, etsy shops, facebook pages and who knows what else, I sometimes feel like I need a plug installed in my head to power everything. The honest truth is that I've considered dumping my website many many times. In the end I always come back to the same conclusion:

A website is a professional snapshot of the things I do and the art I make.

I've gotten solo shows from galleries that have visited my site, sold work that didn't even have a price on it, and its nice to just give someone a link and not worry about whether or not they will have to weed through pictures of Dooley or a YouTube video I thought was funny. (Not that Dooley love isn't worth perusing.)

So the website stays. As well as the blog. I like both. The website is static and professional and I can be silly on the blog. They both have their own kind of pulse. I like to think of a website like the mellow guy sitting in bar having a drink and chilling while the blog is like a kid hopped up on pixie sticks and making her brother scream "Mom! She's staring at me!"

The trick then became how in the world would I create a new one so that I can make Smudged Textiles Studio a reality? Time is not exactly sitting around in unused stacks. The answer is simple: hire a web designer.

Major scary decision. But a relief once its made.

So that will be the next post in the website saga - how to choose a web designer. More soon...

In the meantime - tell me what you think: do you think you need both a website and a blog?

demanding

The studio and I were seamless today.

That quiet kind of disconnect where the remainder of the world fades into the background and the only thing remaining is the making. It builds as a small quiet thing and then works itself into a tiny tornado.

No matter how often it happens, I am taken aback.

It has a mind of its own, my studio. And some days I simply move as it wishes, keeping my head bowed as I work steadily.

loving wishes...

My favorite chubby caroler ornament on our tree this year. :)

I was watching the news the other night and the very serious and disapproving news anchor was lamenting about how people are so tied into the internet and all the toys that come along with keeping us connected. He clucked his tongue and shook his head and did quite a fabulous job getting the point across that he felt the internet is simply the most horrible thing in the world.

I just smiled.

I smiled because he didn't understand.

Without the internet, I wouldn't know so many wonderful artists. Many of you I've never met in person but feel as if we are friends because we "talk" all the time. And the internet has brought me face to face with people I most likely would not have crossed paths with otherwise.

Its given me the opportunity to talk with you about art. And to teach. A passion I have that is possible to share with online classes. I get to write and not feel like some weirdo talking to myself. (Well, I do that too but I don't feel as weird.) I share blogging, photos, surface design, happiness, sadness - all the things that make up life.

So as the year winds down and I turn my sights toward the new year and all the art that I want to make for you and with you, I just want to take this moment to say this:

T H A N K     Y O U

My life and my art would be so much duller without all of you and of all the things art has brought into my world, the people are by far the most precious.

I wish you the very happiest of holidays and I can't wait to spend another year with you! Here's to 2013 and a very very artful year! :)

coffee sketch

I splurged and picked up an iPad mini. I'm an admitted Apple junkie but I had resisted the iPad tractor beam for a long time (it wasn't easy). But once they shrunk it down and made it lighter, I turned into a nattering idiot as I debated over getting one.

I got curious about the different art apps that I could get and came across Paper 53.

I'm in love.

Now I don't consider myself a sketcher by any stretch but there is something very freeing about being able to remove something I don't care for with a simple swipe of the finger.

So I tried out all the features by creating a silly little homage to my love, dear coffee:



Its very painterly, not really something I do in my real life sketchbooks. But its fun to experiment. I'm interested to see if I can meld my normal sketchbook/journaling style with this app. Maybe even use it for writing.

It seems that there is always an opportunity to make art no matter what. How thrilling! :)

Fiber Art Now subscription winner!

Drummmmrroolllll please! :)

The winner of the Fiber Art Now subscription is Carol E.!

Congrats Carol and thanks so much to everyone who left a comment! If you're just learning about Fiber Art Now, I'm happy to have introduced you - a subscription would make a great holiday gift too so drop a hint to the Santa in your life and be inspired for a year! :)

"Fiber Art Now" subscription giveaway!!!!

Do you know about Fiber Art Now?  If you don't, you really want to, trust me. :)

The photo above is the cover of their Winter 2012 issue. I'm a subscriber and I love it. The magazine is chock full of all types of fiber art.

Here is the mission statement from their website:

At Fiber Art Now, our mission is to connect and inspire the fiber arts & textiles community with the most compelling work in basketry, felting, knitting, needle arts, paper/book arts, dyeing, mixed media, surface design, quilting, sculpture, wearable art, weaving, collage, encaustic, mixed media and more.  We are a worldwide community in support of what we love.

 

Its a thrill to see people doing things with fiber that I would have never considered. Makes my mind stretch and want to grow my own art. Its not a how-to magazine. Instead it focuses on exhibits and artists and takes a close look at the fiber art world as a whole. Its like holding a fiber art encyclopedia in your hands, getting to know artists over a conversation (you all know how I love a good interview) and even traveling to other parts of the world. Its very special.

 

You can get a really good glimpse into what the magazine covers if you head on over to their website. They even have a complimentary article that you can read too. (Its in the right hand sidebar just beneath the header of the webpage. Click the photo that says "Lindsay Ketterer Gates" beneath it and the article will download for you.)  I admit, I'm also a sucker for the incredible writing that they do.

 

They even have a free newsletter so all the fibery goodness can land straight in your inbox. They are really passionate and love what they do and it shows in every way possible.

 

And the wonderful people that publish the magazine want to share it with you. They are offering a one year subscription giveaway to anyone who leaves a comment on this blog post!

 

They are a quarterly publication. Here are the covers from the past year:

 

  Wouldn't you want that in your mailbox every couple of months?? :)

Just leave a comment here about why you love being a fiber artist and you'll be in the running to win. You MUST leave a contact email with your comment if you don't have a blog link I can reach you through. If I can't get in touch with you, you won't go in the drawing. I'll announce the winner on December 17 in the evening and your subscription will begin with the next issue.

 

Good luck! :)

 

"the written sketchbook" online class - join me!

Its not a giant secret that I love to write.

When I wrote about how I keep my sketchbook for Quilting Arts' Off the Page feature, I got a lot of emails. Most were surprised that my sketchbook looks so...basic:

As an abstract artist, I don't spend a lot of time drawing. Most of it is ideas and writing.

Lots of writing.

I realized some time ago that writing helps me be a better artist. And when the inside of my sketchbook got exposed, there was a lot of curiosity about what I write about.  And how to write.

I'm not an editor nor am I claiming to know everything that there is to know about writing. But I love it. I love it in a way that can't really be explained because it gives me comfort, it empowers me, it helps me see the world in a clearer way.

And I want to share that with you.

So I'm extremely pleased to offer my first online class, The Written Sketchbook. Here's what the class includes:

Once a month over the course of six months you'll receive a link to download a PDF with a writing prompt. (Class begins on January 19, 2013. On January 5, 2013 you will receive an invitation to join a Yahoo group to discuss your writing with Lynn and other students, this is optional.)

Here's what you'll receive in each prompt:

* A different form of writing will be featured, such as haiku and photo essays.

* An exercise that explores that form of writing. Lynn will do the exercise as an example and then ask you to do the same.

* Three additional prompts to serve as jumping off points for additional writing over the course of the month.

* A Featured Artist that has made writing an integrated part of her art process. She will share her own personal writings as well as show artwork that relates to it. Featured Artists include Virginia Spiegel, Karen Anne Glick, Lynn Krawczyk, Lesley Riley and Sue Bleiweiss.

I'm really excited to introduce you to the writing of these other artists. I have a lot to share with you but so do they and their perspective is very special. 

This is a creative writing class. I won't be critiquing your work, I won't be telling you you did something wrong. Because I truly believe that writing is intensely personal and its what you want it to be. It can't be wrong.

I've set up a Facebook page for the class that is open for viewing. I'll be indulging my geeky love of writing there with inspirational quotes and the like. But the class conversations will be held privately through the Yahoo group so don't worry, the entire world won't see what you write. :)

You can enroll through the class by purchasing a spot through my Etsy shop. I set up listings there to make it easy, especially since Etsy takes credit cards now.

The class is only $28. 

And if you'd like to purchase it as a gift for someone, just let me know in the notes section when you check out through Etsy.

Enrollment is open up until the day before the class begins so you have until January 18, 2013. I promise you that the class is not scary. It will be a simple easy way to try out a writing practice and I think we'll have a lovely time together.

Hope to see you in class. :)