A Crazy Idea
I’ve been working quite hard the past few weeks on some quilts that are related to a new idea I started in the Nancy Crow Workshop from October. I thought it would be great to have a few of these newer pieces in my solo show coming up in February. Here’s how it’s going:
- Structures #52 Designed and pieced (ie sewed it together) in the workshop. Turned out nice but I wanted to improve on the concept so I put it aside.
- Structures #53 Designed and pieced in November. Wow – really nice. So I quilted it last week.
- Structures #54 Designed and pieced in December. It’s good but it lacks the wow factor. Set aside.
- Structures #55 Designed and pieced Christmas weekend. I vacillate between “wow” and “what was I thinking” on this one. Took a risk on the wow and am now quilting it.
- Structures #56 Designed Christmas weekend. Has potential for wow, need to do the sewing to see if the idea can be fleshed out in fabric.
So I’m most pleased as I think this was a good chunk of work for November and December.
And then I got a crazy idea. “Hey, I should enter Visions with these quilts”. The deadline for the slides to be in California for this show is Jan 10. I can fed ex on the 9th. But I need slides. I can order them Jan 5th and pay overnight delivery to receive them the 6th. So quilts must be done the 4th.
Why would I do this? There are 2 areas on my resume that I would like to concentrate on for 2006, that being Solo Shows and Publications. The Visions show produces a soft cover book with the quilts in the show. It’s an expensive show to enter, I’d have to pay for double shipping plus the cost of 2 overnight mail deliveries. So I needed to decide if the prize is worth the cost. I came to the conclusion that the carrot of the publication was a goal so I’m going to try to do this.
I haven’t entered Visions in 10 (or maybe 12) years and didn’t get it so I have no idea if my work will get in or not. We shall see!
What’s left to do:
- Structures #53 Binding (3 hours).
- Structures #55 Finish quilting (10 hours) + Binding(3 hours).
- Structures #56 Sewing (10 hours) + Basting (1 hour) + Quilting(16 hours) + Binding (3 hours).
So that’s 46 hours in 1 week. Maybe doable except that pesky thing called a job. BUT I am taking next week off. So I can do this. BUT I’m taking next week off because my kids are out of school. Hm – dilemma – art vs. playing Magic the Gathering with my son. We’ll see how this plays out but right now I’m planning on going for it.
I know I can finish the first 2, I might just send in the entry with those and skip the third. We’ll see.
So Goals for the week:
Dec 28-Jan 5:
- Complete the 3 quilts above.
- Photograph quilts (digital), order slides from digital.
- Ship quilt to Form not Function. Show opens Jan 13th.
- Actually mail my stuff to Art Quilts at the Sedgwick like I said I would do last week (it’s almost ready).
- Ditto for sending things to the curator for my solo show.
- Mail invitations to Quirk Gallery Show in Richmond that opens on Jan 6th.
- Send lecture proposal to Front Range Contemporary Quilters.
- Cut & piece quilt top for my son.
So there it is public. Now I’ve got the motivation to follow through. Down to the studio to quilt I go….
Posted by Lisa in: Goals and Intention
If you don’t get the third quilt finished for the Visions entry, how about entering a previous quilt? Your work has a strong continuity, I bet one from before this new series would make a cohesive entry. Good luck with it all!
Go for it! if anyone cna get all this done in time you can. P.S loved the trees from your previous post, the artist statement pretty much descriebd how I’m feeling now and maybe there’s something about stepping up to a new level that does this to you and it’s a necessary part of the process- thank you.
Lisa,
You are amazing. I can’t believe you even hesitate entering Visions. Go for it!!!!!!!!
Go for it Lisa! I know you can do it!
I love how you know how much time it will take you on certain tasks toward completion. I really admire the focus and time management as it is such an illusive characteristic for me.
Nancy Crow in Sandpoint, Idaho? Sandpoint is where I hope to relocate in 2006! Where I spent part of my vacation last June. A couple hours from where I grew up. Plenty of draws for me, but art quilt workshops too??? That does it, I’m going!
Thank you all for the encouragement. I’ll be doing my best.
Shelia, can we all come visit you in Sandpoint? What a beautiful place.